Getty Images Advances Financial Restructuring to Strengthen Balance Sheet and Support Future Growth
Oct 20, 2026
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Paves Way for Equity Investment of Up to $533 Million from Getty Family and Koch Equity Development, Significant Debt Reduction, and Resolution of Non‑Operating Legal Liabilities
Initiates Prepackaged Chapter 11 Process to Implement Agreed‑Upon Plan of Reorganization, With No Impact on Operations, Employees, Contributors, Partners, or Customers
NEW YORK, October 21, 2026 – Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (OTCPK: GETY) (“Getty Images” or the “Company”), the preeminent source of authentic global visual content and coverage, today announced that it has moved forward to implement its previously disclosed financial restructuring, which includes an equity investment of up to $533 million from members of the Getty family, through certain of their affiliated entities, and affiliates of Koch Equity Development (“KED”) (together, the “Equity Investors”), as well as a significant reduction in the Company’s outstanding debt. With non‑operating legal liabilities addressed and a substantially strengthened balance sheet, Getty Images will be well positioned to invest in future growth, continue serving customers and supporting contributors globally, and execute against its long‑term strategy.
The Company has launched a solicitation process for formal approval of the prepackaged plan of reorganization and, to implement the plan in the most efficient manner, has commenced voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Court”) for certain of its U.S. entities. Under a Restructuring Support Agreement entered into on October 12, 2026, the plan already has the support of the Company’s major financial stakeholder groups, including the Equity Investors and lenders across the capital structure.
Getty Images will continue operating in the ordinary course throughout the process. There is no anticipated impact on content contributors, partners, customers, employees, or vendors, and the Company expects to continue fulfilling obligations and serving stakeholders as usual.
The Company expects to complete the restructuring by year end after customary regulatory approvals are obtained and emerge as a privately held company owned by the Equity Investors.
Additional Information about the Court Process
As part of the process, the Company has filed with the Court a series of customary motions to facilitate fulfilling commitments to employees, serving customers, and making pre‑ and post‑filing payments to vendors in the ordinary course. The Company expects to fund the restructuring with financing from an affiliate of KED of up to $143 million, in addition to cash generated from ongoing operations.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Cole Schotz P.C. are serving as counsel, Guggenheim Securities, LLC is serving as investment banker, Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC is serving as financial advisor, and Kekst CNC is serving as strategic communications advisor to the Company. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal counsel and Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. is serving as investment banker to the ad hoc group of secured creditors. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is serving as legal counsel and Perella Weinberg Partners LP is serving as investment banker to the ad hoc committee of unsecured creditors. Milbank LLP is serving as legal advisor to the agent for the revolving lenders. Jones Day is serving as legal advisor and Rothschild & Co is serving as financial advisor to KED. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal advisor and Moelis & Company LLC is serving as financial advisor to members of the Getty Family, through certain of their affiliated entities.
About Getty Images
Getty Images (OTCPK: GETY) is the preeminent source of global visual content and coverage that offers a full range of content solutions to meet the needs of any customer around the globe, no matter their size. Through its Getty Images, iStock and Unsplash brands, websites and APIs, Getty Images serves customers in almost every country in the world and is the first‑place people turn to discover, purchase and share powerful visual content from the world’s best photographers and videographers. Getty Images works with over 600,000 content creators and over 360 content partners to deliver this powerful and comprehensive content. Each year Getty Images covers more than 160,000 news, sport and entertainment events providing depth and breadth of coverage that is unmatched. Getty Images maintains one of the largest and best privately‑owned photographic archives in the world with millions of images dating back to the beginning of photography.
For company news and announcements, visit our Newsroom.
Koch Equity Development is the principal investment and acquisition arm of Koch, Inc. ("Koch"), one of the largest privately held businesses in America. Since 2012, KED has deployed more than $40 billion in equity investments and acquisitions. With revenues that have exceeded $125 billion, Koch companies employ about 130,000 people worldwide, with nearly half of those in the United States.
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward‑looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward‑looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “target” or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward‑looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Restructuring Support Agreement, the financial restructuring, the Chapter 11 proceedings, the prepackaged plan of reorganization, the solicitation process, the equity investment by the Equity Investors, the financing from KED, the expected timing of completion of the restructuring and emergence, the Company’s expected operations during the Chapter 11 proceedings and the expected treatment of claims and interests. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the Company’s control.
Any new securities to be issued pursuant to the restructuring transactions may not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws but may be issued pursuant to an exemption from such registration provided in the U.S. bankruptcy code and/or another exemption under the Securities Act and any state securities laws. Such new securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or buy, nor the solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, any securities referred to herein, nor is this press release a solicitation of consents to or votes to accept any Chapter 11 plan. Any solicitation or offer will only be made pursuant to a confidential offering memorandum and/or disclosure statement and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law.
Media Contact
Getty Images
Anne Flanagan
Anne.Flanagan@gettyimages.com
Investor Contact
Getty Images
Steven Kanner
Investorrelations@gettyimages.com
Initiates Prepackaged Chapter 11 Process to Implement Agreed‑Upon Plan of Reorganization, With No Impact on Operations, Employees, Contributors, Partners, or Customers
NEW YORK, October 21, 2026 – Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (OTCPK: GETY) (“Getty Images” or the “Company”), the preeminent source of authentic global visual content and coverage, today announced that it has moved forward to implement its previously disclosed financial restructuring, which includes an equity investment of up to $533 million from members of the Getty family, through certain of their affiliated entities, and affiliates of Koch Equity Development (“KED”) (together, the “Equity Investors”), as well as a significant reduction in the Company’s outstanding debt. With non‑operating legal liabilities addressed and a substantially strengthened balance sheet, Getty Images will be well positioned to invest in future growth, continue serving customers and supporting contributors globally, and execute against its long‑term strategy.
The Company has launched a solicitation process for formal approval of the prepackaged plan of reorganization and, to implement the plan in the most efficient manner, has commenced voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Court”) for certain of its U.S. entities. Under a Restructuring Support Agreement entered into on October 12, 2026, the plan already has the support of the Company’s major financial stakeholder groups, including the Equity Investors and lenders across the capital structure.
Getty Images will continue operating in the ordinary course throughout the process. There is no anticipated impact on content contributors, partners, customers, employees, or vendors, and the Company expects to continue fulfilling obligations and serving stakeholders as usual.
The Company expects to complete the restructuring by year end after customary regulatory approvals are obtained and emerge as a privately held company owned by the Equity Investors.
Additional Information about the Court Process
As part of the process, the Company has filed with the Court a series of customary motions to facilitate fulfilling commitments to employees, serving customers, and making pre‑ and post‑filing payments to vendors in the ordinary course. The Company expects to fund the restructuring with financing from an affiliate of KED of up to $143 million, in addition to cash generated from ongoing operations.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Cole Schotz P.C. are serving as counsel, Guggenheim Securities, LLC is serving as investment banker, Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC is serving as financial advisor, and Kekst CNC is serving as strategic communications advisor to the Company. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal counsel and Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. is serving as investment banker to the ad hoc group of secured creditors. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is serving as legal counsel and Perella Weinberg Partners LP is serving as investment banker to the ad hoc committee of unsecured creditors. Milbank LLP is serving as legal advisor to the agent for the revolving lenders. Jones Day is serving as legal advisor and Rothschild & Co is serving as financial advisor to KED. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal advisor and Moelis & Company LLC is serving as financial advisor to members of the Getty Family, through certain of their affiliated entities.
About Getty Images
Getty Images (OTCPK: GETY) is the preeminent source of global visual content and coverage that offers a full range of content solutions to meet the needs of any customer around the globe, no matter their size. Through its Getty Images, iStock and Unsplash brands, websites and APIs, Getty Images serves customers in almost every country in the world and is the first‑place people turn to discover, purchase and share powerful visual content from the world’s best photographers and videographers. Getty Images works with over 600,000 content creators and over 360 content partners to deliver this powerful and comprehensive content. Each year Getty Images covers more than 160,000 news, sport and entertainment events providing depth and breadth of coverage that is unmatched. Getty Images maintains one of the largest and best privately‑owned photographic archives in the world with millions of images dating back to the beginning of photography.
For company news and announcements, visit our Newsroom.
Koch Equity Development is the principal investment and acquisition arm of Koch, Inc. ("Koch"), one of the largest privately held businesses in America. Since 2012, KED has deployed more than $40 billion in equity investments and acquisitions. With revenues that have exceeded $125 billion, Koch companies employ about 130,000 people worldwide, with nearly half of those in the United States.
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward‑looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward‑looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “target” or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward‑looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Restructuring Support Agreement, the financial restructuring, the Chapter 11 proceedings, the prepackaged plan of reorganization, the solicitation process, the equity investment by the Equity Investors, the financing from KED, the expected timing of completion of the restructuring and emergence, the Company’s expected operations during the Chapter 11 proceedings and the expected treatment of claims and interests. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the Company’s control.
Any new securities to be issued pursuant to the restructuring transactions may not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws but may be issued pursuant to an exemption from such registration provided in the U.S. bankruptcy code and/or another exemption under the Securities Act and any state securities laws. Such new securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or buy, nor the solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, any securities referred to herein, nor is this press release a solicitation of consents to or votes to accept any Chapter 11 plan. Any solicitation or offer will only be made pursuant to a confidential offering memorandum and/or disclosure statement and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law.
Media Contact
Getty Images
Anne Flanagan
Anne.Flanagan@gettyimages.com
Investor Contact
Getty Images
Steven Kanner
Investorrelations@gettyimages.com
