Getty Images has ended its $3.7 billion merger with Shutterstock after the UK's Competition and Markets Authority required divestiture of Shutterstock's global editorial business. The collapse demonstrates that US antitrust approval is not always enough when other jurisdictions raise competition concerns.
Although the US Department of Justice had granted unconditional antitrust clearance earlier this year, the British demands proved fatal.
The episode illustrates how local regulatory hurdles can still derail transactions that cleared US review.
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The European Union has approved the $55bn acquisition of Electronic Arts by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The leveraged buyout, if completed, would become the largest in history and has drawn criticism over sportswashing concerns.
Goldman Sachs agreed to acquire NEOS Investments for up to $2.25 billion, adding three crypto-income ETFs that use derivatives rather than direct holdings. The deal expands Goldman's active ETF business to roughly $80 billion and is expected to close in Q1 2027 pending regulatory approval.
A dozen state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit to halt Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery one month after Department of Justice approval, alleging the $110 billion deal would lessen competition in theatrical film distribution and basic cable licensing.
Gavin Newsom has signed seven bills that require AI data centers to cover the cost of upgrades to local power grids and water systems while also disclosing projected water consumption and satisfying specific efficiency standards. The legislation prevents utility expenses from being transferred to residents as data center activity expands.
Paramount settled an antitrust lawsuit with 12 states seeking to block its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing a key hurdle days before a costly ticking fee would have started. The deal includes commitments to 30+ films per year, an additional $1.5 billion in U.S. film production spending over 2025 levels, a News Editorial Independence Board for CNN and CBS, and penalties including Miramax divestiture for shortfalls.
