Carlyle Group Said to Be Leading Bidder for Getty Images

Carlyle Group LP has taken the lead in bidding for Getty Images Inc., the photo archive being sold by private-equity firm Hellman & Friedman LLC, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

CVC Capital Partners Ltd., which is also bidding, has so far declined to top Carlyle’s offer, said one of the people, who sought anonymity because the talks are private. CVC could come back and raise its bid later, said this person. Getty is likely to sell for about $3.3 billion to $3.4 billion, less than the $4 billion that Hellman & Friedman had been seeking, another one of the people said.