UK Regulator Ends Probe Into Getty-Shutterstock Merger After Deal Scrapped

The UK Competition and Markets Authority concluded its inquiry on the proposed merger between Getty Images (L2S.F) and peer Shutterstock (S3T.F) after the stock image companies terminated the deal. Getty Images called off the planned merger after refusing to comply with the CMA's condition that the acquisition could proceed if it sells Shutterstock's editorial business to an approved buyer. The CMA called the deal termination a "commercial choice," noting that the companies initially agreed to the condition at an earlier stage of the merger review.