Getty Images Scraps Shutterstock Merger After UK Regulator Blocks Path Forward

Getty Images terminated its merger with Shutterstock on June 30, 2026, after the UK Competition and Markets Authority ordered a Phase 2 deep-dive review. The US Department of Justice had cleared the deal unconditionally in February. The CMA's referral effectively stalled the transaction by extending timelines and raising remedies discussions that either party deemed unacceptable. The collapse underscores how UK regulators now exert decisive gatekeeping power over data-heavy consolidations that US authorities approve.