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UK Competition Watchdog to Probe Getty-Shutterstock Merger After Remedy Offer Rejected

By  |  November 3, 2025
UK Competition Watchdog to Probe Getty-Shutterstock Merger After Remedy Offer Rejected

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on Monday that it will move forward with an in-depth investigation into the planned merger between U.S.-based Getty Images and its competitor Shutterstock. According to Reuters, the decision follows the companies’ failure to satisfy the regulator’s concerns with a set of proposed remedies.

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    Getty and Shutterstock had presented what the CMA described as a “complex package of remedies” during the first phase of its review. However, the agency determined that these proposals were insufficient to address worries that the $3.7 billion merger could lead to higher prices and a decline in the quality of stock and editorial images available to UK media and creative industries. Per Reuters, the announcement led to an immediate market reaction, with Getty shares falling more than 7% and Shutterstock dropping around 2% in U.S. premarket trading.

    The CMA said it had received feedback from a range of stakeholders—including businesses, trade associations, and the News Media Association—expressing concern that combining two of the world’s largest image licensing platforms could harm competition. The regulator warned in late October that the merger might significantly reduce service quality and limit options for UK media organizations and creative professionals.

    Read more: UK Regulator Probes Getty-Shutterstock Merger

    In a statement cited by Reuters, Getty Images said it had proposed comprehensive measures aimed at avoiding a deeper, Phase 2 probe and expressed disappointment with the CMA’s decision. Both Getty and Shutterstock said they remain committed to pursuing the merger and intend to continue working with the regulator throughout the process.

    The proposed merger, announced in January, would unite two of the biggest players in the global stock-image industry at a time when generative artificial intelligence tools are rapidly transforming the visual content landscape.

    Source: Reuters