DOJ Grants Unconditional Approval for $3.7B Getty-Shutterstock Merger

The United States Department of Justice has concluded its antitrust review and the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act has expired, without conditions, clearing a major U.S. regulatory hurdle for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GETY) and Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) in their proposed merger of equals, the companies said in a GlobeNewswire press release datelined New York on Feb. 23, 2026.

Getty’s chief executive, Craig Peters, framed the DOJ action as a material step toward closing. “We are very pleased with the DOJ’s decision in recognizing the merits of this transaction,” Peters said in the release, adding, “With today’s DOJ clearance, we take a significant step forward in bringing together these two companies and unlocking opportunities to strengthen our financial foundation and invest in our future.”

The companies say the combination is expected to deliver substantial SG&A and CAPEX synergies after close and that DOJ clearance “advances the proposed merger and enables steps to strengthen [the] financial foundation,” language echoed in TradingView’s summary of the announcement. Getty and Shutterstock referenced an SEC Form 8‑K filed Feb. 23, 2026 in their distribution; that filing is the primary corporate record to confirm legal terms and closing mechanics.

Regulatory work remains outside the U.S. In the United Kingdom, the Competition and Markets Authority issued an interim report on Feb. 19 as part of a Phase 2 review, and Getty’s newsroom copy says, “Getty Images and Shutterstock are actively engaged with the CMA ahead of the CMA’s final decision due by April 19, 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 said they remain hopeful the CMA will reach a conclusion consistent with the DOJ and other regulators.

Earlier regulatory filings and market reporting set the scene for the Feb. 23 clearance. MLex reporter Flavia Fortes wrote on Oct. 13, 2025 that “Getty Images and Shutterstock have certified compliance with a request for additional information about their $3.7 billion deal with the US Department of Justice, MLex has learned. No remedies are currently being discussed as a condition for clearance, it's understood. The companies expect the merger reviews in the US and the UK to conclude within the next 30 days.” That MLex piece is the explicit source for the $3.7 billion figure referenced in market reporting.

The press release was distributed via GlobeNewswire and reprinted across outlets including Yahoo Finance, TradingView, and Stocktitan; Stocktitan’s GlobeNewswire copy carried a New York dateline and included a media contact for Getty: anne.flanagan@gettyimages.com. With the HSR waiting period expired without conditions in the U.S., the deal advances materially, but the April 19 CMA decision and other global reviews will determine whether the combination moves from regulatory clearance into integration and the pursuit of the promised synergies.