Windstream Holdings Inc. sold its EarthLink consumer internet business to Dallas-based private equity firm Trive Capital Management LLC in a cash deal worth $330 million.

Windstream acquired the business in its merger with Earthlink Holdings Corp. in February 2017.

"This transaction enables us to divest a noncore segment and focus exclusively on our two largest business units," Windstream President and CEO Tony Thomas said in a Dec. 31 statement, adding that the deal also "improves our credit profile and metrics in 2019 and beyond."

The legacy EarthLink consumer internet business offers internet access, online backup, managed web design, web hosting and various email services to more than 600,000 customers throughout the U.S.