Cleared by the US, derailed by the UK: Getty’s Shutterstock merger falls apart
Getty Images has terminated its $3.7 billion merger agreement with Shutterstock after UK regulators imposed restrictive conditions on the deal. Despite receiving US antitrust clearance, the companies decided to abandon the merger rather than comply with the UK's demand to sell off parts of the editorial business.
Why it matters
This highlights the increasing power of international regulators to block large-scale corporate mergers, even when they have domestic approval.
Getty is planning to axe its $3.7 billion merger agreement with Shutterstock after a UK regulator imposed restrictions that would prevent part of Shutterstock’s business from being included in the deal. The move comes despite the US Department of Justice granting the deal “unconditional antitrust clearance” in February.
The article provides a factual account of corporate decision-making and regulatory hurdles without editorializing.
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