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UK Flags Editorial Content Concerns in Getty-Shutterstock Merger

By  |  February 19, 2026
Getty Images

Britain’s competition regulator has raised provisional concerns about the impact of the proposed merger between U.S.-based Getty Images and its rival Shutterstock on the supply of editorial content in the United Kingdom, while indicating that it does not see competition issues in the broader global stock content market, according to Reuters.

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    The Competition and Markets Authority said on Thursday that its initial assessment found potential problems related to the provision of editorial imagery and related services to UK customers. However, the watchdog concluded that the tie-up does not appear to substantially reduce competition in the worldwide market for stock images and other creative content, per Reuters.

    The $3.7 billion deal would combine two of the largest providers of visual content globally, serving media organizations, advertisers and creative professionals. The CMA’s provisional findings represent a hurdle for the transaction, which is already under scrutiny from regulators in both the United Kingdom and the United States, according to Reuters.

    Related: Getty Images Warns UK Operations Could Shrink if CMA Blocks Shutterstock Merger

    Both Getty Images and Shutterstock said they disagreed with the regulator’s initial conclusions regarding editorial content. The companies plan to submit formal responses to the CMA by the March 12 deadline, per Reuters. They also confirmed that they are continuing to engage with the U.S. Department of Justice as it conducts its own review of the proposed merger.

    The British watchdog had previously announced in November that it would move the transaction into a more in-depth Phase 2 investigation after determining that remedies proposed by the companies did not sufficiently address its competition concerns, according to Reuters. That step signaled that regulators believed the deal could have significant implications for certain segments of the market.

    Despite the provisional concerns, investor reaction appeared relatively muted. Shares in Getty rose 1.9% in U.S. premarket trading, while Shutterstock’s stock edged up 0.9%, according to Reuters.

    The CMA’s findings are not final, and the regulator is expected to consider submissions from the companies before reaching a definitive conclusion on whether the merger can proceed in its current form or requires changes.

    Source: Reuters