by: Anupreeta Das | Wall Street Journal

The auction for a potential sale of Getty Images Inc. has progressed to the second round, with several private-equity firms putting in initial bids of around $4 billion, people familiar with the matter said.

KKR & Co. and TPG are among at least five bidders that remain interested in closely held Getty, the people said. The Seattle-based photo agency distributes stock photographs, video footage and digital images to media and other organizations around the world.