Getty Images said on June 30 it had called off its planned merger with Shutterstock after the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority required Shutterstock to sell its editorial business as a condition for approval.

Announced in January 2025 and valued at US$3.7 billion, the deal faced UK concerns over editorial content supplied to media outlets.

The CMA defined editorial content as pictures and videos of newsworthy events, people, and landmarks, and said UK customers need both global and country-specific coverage.

A legal summary of the final report said the CMA required full divestiture of Shutterstock’s global editorial business after deciding that selling only Backgrid and Splash would not preserve the competition Shutterstock provides.

Shutterstock said its editorial business offers images from live feeds and archives across news, sports, and entertainment.

Getty said it was not required to accept that condition under the merger terms and will officially terminate the deal after the extended July 6 deadline.

The company also said its board plans to explore financing options.

The US Department of Justice had already approved the transaction without conditions.

🔗 Source: Reuters