GoDaddy is up for sale

A news alert from the Wall Street Journal:

GoDaddy.com, the closely-held company that registers Internet domain names, has put itself up for sale in an auction that could fetch more than $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said.

Qatalyst Partners has been hired to shop The Go Daddy Group. Private-equity firms are expected to bid for the company, which currently has more than 43 million domains under management.

More:

Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., GoDaddy.com is owned by Bob Parsons, who founded the company in 1997 and is its chief executive—a man the company website describes as “not shy to speak his mind.” The company is well known for its edgy advertising, including Super Bowl commercials and ads featuring different “Go Daddy Girls,” including racing car driver Danica Patrick.

In addition to registering domain names, GoDaddy.com sells e-commerce, security and other services to people and businesses looking to manage their online presence. The company posted revenue between $750 million and $800 million in 2009, according to people familiar with the matter.