rogerd - 9:35 pm on Feb 25, 2008 (gmt 0)

[iht.com...]

NEW YORK: Getty Images, the biggest distributor of pictures and video in the world, agreed Monday to sell itself to the private equity firm Hellman Friedman for $2.4 billion, including debt. The price, based on a bid of $34 a share, represents a 55 percent premium over the company's share price on Jan. 18, the day before it announced it was "exploring strategic options." Hellman Friedman's offer is 39 percent higher than Getty's closing stock price Friday of $24.45.

Getty also owns istockphoto.com, a popular royalty-free image site with prices far below those at the flagship site.