US firm snaps up Kerry company for €110m

A KERRY company, started modestly 10 years ago, was purchased yesterday for a massive €110 million by the world’s leading creator and distributor of images for use in the mass media.

Stockbyte founder and chief executive Jerry Kennelly, 45, confirmed he had sold the Tralee-based company, which was set up with IR£100,000 capital, to Getty Images, of Seattle, USA.

But he also said it was a “very bittersweet” occasion, as his 28 employees were told yesterday they were being made redundant with the closure of the Tralee office.