Getty Images stock has moved to the over-the-counter market after the New York Stock Exchange suspended trading and began delisting proceedings over what it described as abnormally low selling prices.
The company said its Class A common shares began trading on the OTC Pink Limited Market under the symbol GETY on September 30, 2026.
Getty Images does not intend to appeal the NYSE decision and expects the delisting process to continue.
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Why Getty Images left the NYSE
The NYSE notified Getty Images on September 29 that it was starting proceedings to remove the company from the exchange under the exchange’s continued-listing rules.
Trading on the NYSE was suspended immediately.
The exchange is expected to apply to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to complete the delisting, which would become effective 10 days after the NYSE files a Form 25.
Getty Images said the move to the OTC market does not change its business operations.
However, the company warned that it cannot guarantee that its shares will continue to trade over the counter, that broker-dealers will continue providing public quotes or that trading volume will be sufficient to create an efficient market.
For investors, the change means that Getty Images shares are no longer trading on one of the largest U.S. stock exchanges.
OTC trading can involve less liquidity, wider bid-and-ask spreads and more limited public information than exchange-listed trading.
Annual shareholder meeting postponed
Getty Images had planned to hold its 2026 annual meeting virtually on October 8.
The company has now postponed that meeting while it evaluates financing and balance-sheet options.
In a filing, Getty Images said it and its advisers are engaged in discussions with key debt and equity holders.
The company did not announce a new date for the shareholder meeting.
The postponement adds to a period of uncertainty that began after Getty Images abandoned its proposed combination with Shutterstock in July.
Company paid overdue bond interest
Getty Images separately disclosed that it made interest payments on September 30 for its 9.750 per cent senior notes due in 2027 and 14.000 per cent senior notes due in 2028.
The payments were made during the available 30-day grace periods that followed the September 1 due date.
Because the payments were made within those periods, Getty Images said no event of default occurred under the relevant bond agreements.
The company’s use of the grace periods had heightened attention on its liquidity position.
The subsequent payments avoided an immediate default under those two debt agreements, but Getty Images continues to review its broader capital structure.
Getty Images has warned about its financial position
In its second-quarter filing for the period ended June 30, Getty Images said it had approximately US$51.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and US$30 million available under its revolving credit facility at quarter-end.
The company said it drew that remaining credit availability in July.
Management also disclosed substantial costs linked to litigation, the failed Shutterstock transaction and merger-related financing.
The company reported paying approximately US$110.9 million in judgment and related interest during the second quarter, while maintaining a litigation reserve of about US$99.5 million at June 30.
Getty Images also reported approximately US$60.4 million in legal, accounting and other direct costs connected with the proposed Shutterstock merger through the end of the second quarter.
Net interest expense associated with merger financing reached about US$30.1 million, with a further US$13.5 million in related financing fees.
Based on the timing and size of its obligations, management said there was substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year after the financial statements were issued.
Getty Images said it had hired Guggenheim Securities to advise on strategic financing alternatives and balance-sheet management initiatives.
What happened to the Shutterstock merger
Getty Images and Shutterstock announced a proposed merger in January 2025 that would have combined two major visual-content businesses.
The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority concluded in May 2026 that the transaction could proceed only if Shutterstock sold its editorial business.
Getty Images decided not to proceed with that sale process and delivered notice terminating the merger agreement on July 7, 2026.
The failed transaction left Getty Images with financing arrangements and expenses that had been incurred in anticipation of the merger, while removing the larger scale and projected cost savings the combination was intended to provide.
What comes next for investors
Getty Images now faces several unresolved questions: whether it can secure new financing, how it will manage debt and litigation obligations, and when it will reschedule its annual shareholder meeting.
The company’s latest filing does not say that a bankruptcy filing is planned.
It does, however, identify continued access to capital, liquidity management and the ability to remain a going concern as material risks.
Existing shareholders should also note that OTC trading does not represent a new listing on a comparable national exchange.
The availability of quotes and the ability to buy or sell shares may vary by broker and market conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Getty Images stock suspended from the NYSE?
The NYSE said it was beginning delisting proceedings because Getty Images shares had reached abnormally low selling-price levels under its continued-listing rules.
Where is Getty Images stock trading now?
Getty Images shares began trading on the OTC Pink Limited Market under the symbol GETY on September 30, 2026.
Has Getty Images been delisted completely?
The NYSE has started the delisting process, but the formal delisting is expected to become effective after the exchange files a Form 25 with the SEC and the applicable waiting period ends.
Did Getty Images default on its bonds?
Getty Images said it paid interest due on two senior note issues within their 30-day grace periods, so no event of default occurred under those indentures.
Why was Getty Images’ annual meeting postponed?
The company said its board postponed the meeting while Getty Images and its advisers continue discussions with debt and equity holders about financing alternatives and balance-sheet management.
Fact-Checked: Key dates, trading-status changes, interest payments, meeting postponement and liquidity disclosures were checked against Getty Images filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not investment, legal or financial advice.