M&A Deal Summary

The Carlyle Group Acquires Getty Images

On August 15, 2012, private equity firm The Carlyle Group acquired digital media company Getty Images from Hellman & Friedman and Farallon Capital Management for 3.3B USD

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is The Carlyle Group’s 1st transaction in the Digital Media sector.
  • This is The Carlyle Group’s 25th largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is The Carlyle Group’s 233rd transaction in the United States.
  • This is The Carlyle Group’s 5th transaction in Washington.
Investment Fate
  • Getty Images was sold to management in 2018.
  • Getty Images was sold to a financial buyer in 2022.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2012-08-15
Target Getty Images
Sector Digital Media
Buyer(s) The Carlyle Group
Sellers(s) Hellman & Friedman
Farallon Capital Management
Deal Type Secondary Buyout
Deal Value 3.3B USD
Advisor(s) Goldman Sachs
J.P. Morgan Securities (Financial)
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Weil Gotshal & Manges (Legal)

Target

Getty Images

Seattle, Washington, United States
Getty Images offers a full range of content solutions to meet the needs of customers around the world. With a broad portfolio that includes the Getty Images, Stock, and Unsplash brands, the Company reaches and empowers a broad base of global customers ranging from international enterprises to amateur creators. Getty Images was formed in 1995 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

The Carlyle Group

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1987
PE ASSETS 435.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION
Carlyle's corporate headquarters on Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, DC.
Carlyle's corporate headquarters on Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, DC.

The Carlyle Group is a global investment firm that pursues private equity, credit, and real estate investments worldwide. Carlyle's private equity practice practice pursues buyouts, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations and buildups, and growth capital financings. With offices in 19 countries, Carlyle can easily target opportunities throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East/North Africa and Latin America. Broad sectors of interest include aerospace, defense, automotive and transportation, consumer, retail, energy and power, financial services, healthcare, industrial, infrastructure, technology services, business services, telecommunications and media. The Carlyle Group was formed in 1987 and is based in Washington DC.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 440 of 744
Sector (Digital Media) 1 of 3
Type (Secondary Buyout) 45 of 130
State (Washington) 5 of 7
Country (United States) 233 of 349
Year (2012) 20 of 37
Size (of disclosed) 25 of 137
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2012-08-15 Pexco

Johns Creek, Georgia, United States

Pexco is a North American designer and fabricator of engineered plastic components. It provides standard and specialty parts and components to manufacturers and end-users for a broad range of custom applications, including the specialty industrial, fluid-handling, lighting, traffic safety, fence, and electrical insulation industries. Pexco offers a full range of custom design, engineering, and fabrication services, including ISO 9001:2015 registration, across its manufacturing operations.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2012-08-29 Goodman Global

Houston, Texas, United States

Goodman Global, Inc. is the largest domestic unit manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning products for residential and light-commercial use.

Sell $3.7B

Seller(S) 2

SELLER

Hellman & Friedman

San Francisco, California, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1984
PE ASSETS 50.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Hellman & Friedman (H&F) is a large private equity firm on the West Coast of the US. H&F focuses on control and minority investments in a variety of transaction structures and will consider opportunities across the US and Europe. H&F seeks buyouts and business in need of restructurings that operate in defensible markets with predictable revenue and earnings growth. Target sectors include financial services, healthcare, indusrial, energy, insurance, media, marketing, professional services, software, and information services. H&F's target equity investment size is $300 million to $1 billion. Hellman & Friedman was formed in 1984 and has offices in San Francisco, New York City, and London.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 31 of 59
Sector (Digital Media) 1 of 2
Type (Secondary Buyout) 9 of 15
State (Washington) 2 of 2
Country (United States) 23 of 43
Year (2012) 4 of 5
Size (of disclosed) 6 of 19
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2012-07-03 Wood Mackenzie

London, United Kingdom

Wood Mackenzie is a provider of commercial intelligence for the energy, metals, and mining industries, The company provides objective analysis and advice on assets, companies, and markets, giving clients the insight they need to make better strategic decisions. Wood Mackenzie was formed in 1973 and is based in London.

Buy €1.1B
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2012-08-29 Goodman Global

Houston, Texas, United States

Goodman Global, Inc. is the largest domestic unit manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning products for residential and light-commercial use.

Sell $3.7B
SELLER

Farallon Capital Management

San Francisco, California, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

Category Asset Manager
Founded 1986
Size Large
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Farallon Capital Management is a private investment firm that targets a variety of investment strategies throughout the world. The Firm pursues investments that include public and private debt and equity securities, direct investments in private companies, and real estate. Farallon is especially interested in investments that include a key event (such as a merger, restructuring, recapitalization or other major change) that has the potential for an appreciation of the value of a particular investment. Farallon's direct investment group makes debt, preferred stock or equity investments in businesses with substantial franchise value, healthy cash flow, and motivated management who have invested alongside the Firm. Farallon Capital Management was formed in 1986 and is based in San Francisco, California.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 1 of 5
Sector (Digital Media) 1 of 1
Type (Secondary Buyout) 1 of 1
State (Washington) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 1 of 3
Year (2012) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2012-02-08 Contech Engineered Solutions

West Chester, Ohio, United States

Contech Engineered Solutions is a provider of engineering and site solutions for the residential, commercial and infrastructure markets. The company's primary end markets are the US infrastructure, commercial and residential construction markets. Contech Engineered Solutions was formed in 1986 and is based in West Chester, Ohio.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2016-08-04 GO-JEK

Jakarta, Indonesia

GO-JEK is a mobile application-based platform in Indonesia that provides a range of services such as ride-hailing, food delivery, lifestyle services, and mobile payments. GO-JEK was founded in 2010 and is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Buy -
Mergr

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