Getty Images (GETY) and Shutterstock (SSTK) Receive Antitrust Clearance for Merger

By Chris Stiles • Monday, February 23 10:22 • Permanent Link

Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GETY) and Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) recently received unconditional antitrust clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice for their proposed merger of equals. This development marks a significant step forward in the process of bringing the two companies together.

The merger transaction is anticipated to yield substantial synergies across Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses and Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) following the close of the merger.

Prior to this clearance, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the United Kingdom issued its interim report on February 19 as part of the ongoing phase 2 review. Getty Images and Shutterstock are actively engaged with the CMA, aiming to further the CMA’s understanding of the editorial market and how the merger enhances the combined company’s ability to serve customers, contributors, and partners in a highly competitive marketplace. The companies remain hopeful that the CMA will reach a conclusion consistent with the DOJ and other regulators globally.

Getty Images, a preeminent global visual content creator and marketplace, serves customers in almost every country in the world. The company works with almost 600,000 content creators and more than 355 content partners, covering over 160,000 news, sport, and entertainment events annually.

Moreover, Shutterstock, powered by a global network of millions of creators and cutting-edge technology, provides businesses, creatives, and brand leaders with a vast collection of high-quality licensable assets, data, AI solutions, advertising and distribution solutions, exclusive editorial content, and full-service studio production.

The merging of these two entities is expected to unlock opportunities to strengthen their financial foundation and invest in their future, delivering even better service and support for customers and contributors over time.

As the companies progress through the regulatory approvals, they are poised to create a combined entity with enhanced capabilities to cater to the visual content needs of a diverse global customer base. Today the company's shares have moved 0.0% to a price of $1.30. For the full picture, make sure to review Getty Images's 8-K report.

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