Namecheap, one of the world’s leading domain registrars and hosting providers, is set to welcome a new majority owner. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, private equity giant CVC Capital Partners has reached an agreement to acquire a controlling stake in the company, valuing the transaction at approximately $1.5 billion, including debt.

Despite the deal, Namecheap’s founder, Richard Kirkendall, will retain a significant ownership stake, ensuring continuity in the company’s leadership and vision.

Namecheap has grown into a major force in the domain industry, generating around $400 million in revenue over the past year. It is currently recognized as the second-largest domain registrar globally, with more than 11.5 million .com domains under management as of May, alongside millions of registrations across other extensions.

The company has built its reputation on affordable domain pricing and outspoken leadership, with Kirkendall often publicly challenging industry rival GoDaddy, the market’s largest registrar.

Beyond its core registrar and hosting services, Namecheap also operates Spaceship, a domain registration and sales platform tailored to domain investors, further broadening its reach within the digital infrastructure ecosystem.