Getty case shows UK antitrust watchdog still game to intervene in global mergers
By Jon Menon ( May 15, 2026, 17:09 GMT | Comment) -- The UK antitrust regulator's requirement for Getty Images to divest the editorial business of Shutterstock to gain clearance for its acquisition of the US rival shows the watchdog is still willing to intervene in global mergers despite government pressure for it to have a lighter touch. The Competition and Markets Authority concluded that the merger, which has been cleared elsewhere, would substantially lessen competition in the supply of editorial content in the UK.Getty Images must divest the editorial business of US rival Shutterstock to gain UK antitrust clearance for the deal, the UK antitrust watchdog concluded on Friday in a sign that it remains willing to intervene in global mergers where it identifies unresolved country-specific concerns....
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