Getty Images and Shutterstock Announce Merger
Deal News | Jan 07, 2025 | EIN
Getty Images and Shutterstock, two of the world's largest stock photo companies, have announced a merger in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $3.7 billion. The merger sees Getty, the larger of the two, effectively acquiring Shutterstock. Post-merger, Getty shareholders will hold approximately 54.7 percent of the combined entity, which will continue to operate under the Getty Images name and ticker symbol 'GETY' on the New York Stock Exchange. The merger aims to expand and enhance their creative content library and product offerings, amidst rising AI trends presenting both opportunities and challenges in the visual content sector. The announcement has significantly boosted share prices for both companies.
Sectors
- Stock Photography
- Technology and AI
- Media and Advertising
Geography
- United States – Both Getty Images and Shutterstock are headquartered in the U.S., and the merger will have significant implications for the American and global markets.
Industry
- Stock Photography – The merger involves two of the largest companies in the stock photography industry, aiming to consolidate their market presence and enhance their content library.
- Technology and AI – The potential use of the combined image libraries as datasets for AI training highlights the growing intersection between stock photography and technology sectors.
- Media and Advertising – Getty and Shutterstock provide extensive image licensing for media outlets and ad agencies, indicating the significance of this industry post-merger.
Financials
- $3.7 Billion – The total valuation of the Getty Images and Shutterstock merger deal.
- 54.7% – The percentage of the new combined company to be owned by Getty Images' shareholders.
- 45.3% – The percentage of the new combined company to be owned by Shutterstock's shareholders.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images | Bidding Company | Companies | Getty Images is one of the largest stock photo companies and is leading the acquisition of Shutterstock. |
| Shutterstock | Target Company | Companies | Shutterstock is the target company in this $3.7 billion merger deal with Getty Images. |
| Craig Peters | CEO of Getty Images | People | Craig Peters is the CEO of Getty Images and will continue to lead the merged entity. |
| Paul Hennessy | CEO of Shutterstock | People | Paul Hennessy is the CEO of Shutterstock who commented on the future opportunities of the merger. |