Private equity deal: Getty Images sold for $3.3bn

The Carlyle Group, the US private equity firm, is to acquire Getty Images in a deal worth $3.3bn (£2.1bn), as it seeks to capitalise on growing demand for digital content on the internet.

Carlyle has agreed to purchase a controlling stake in Getty, the world's largest supplier of stock photos, videos and other multi-media content, from rival Hellman & Friedman.