Breaking News Update
WHO:
Fast Company - Getty Images is co-founded by Mark Getty, who is also the chairman of the board.
Bloomberg Markets - Koch Equity Development is the investment arm of Koch, Inc.
WHAT:
GeekWire - Getty Images expects no impact on its roughly 300 Seattle employees as it goes private through bankruptcy.
Bloomberg Markets - Getty Images Holdings Inc. will receive an equity injection from existing shareholders as part of the prepackaged bankruptcy.
Fast Company - Getty Images is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to go private.
Fast Company - Koch Equity Development will invest up to $533 million as part of the restructuring.
Bloomberg Markets - Getty Images Holdings Inc. will undergo a prepackaged bankruptcy to restructure and take the company private.
WHERE:
Fast Company - The restructuring will ultimately see complete control and ownership of Getty Images in the hands of the Getty family and Koch Equity Development.
WHEN:
Fast Company - The company plans to begin the process of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the weeks ahead.
WHY:
Fast Company - Getty Images has faced significant challenges due to the advent of AI-generated imagery, leading to declining agency demand and disruption to the iStock eCommerce business.
Fast Company - Company leadership believes that going private and restructuring will help regain its footing.
HOW:
Fast Company - The company plans to continue operating in the normal course during the restructuring process, with vendors being unaffected and paid in full.
Fast Company - The company will continue to operate in the normal course during the restructuring process, with vendors being unaffected and paid in full.
Fast Company - Mark Getty expressed confidence in the partnership with Koch Equity Development to improve capital structure and seize new growth opportunities.
Fast Company - Mike Harris stated that the equity investment will provide Getty Images with a firm financial foundation and greater flexibility for future investments.
(UPDATED October 14, 2026 03:02 UTC)
Getty Images Holdings Inc. is set to go private through bankruptcy, but the company expects no impact on its approximately 300 Seattle employees. As part of this prepackaged bankruptcy, Getty Images will receive an equity injection from existing shareholders and plans to continue operating normally during the restructuring process. Vendors will remain unaffected and will be paid in full throughout this transition.
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(UPDATED October 13, 2026 16:06 UTC)
Getty Images is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to go private, with Koch Equity Development set to invest up to $533 million as part of the restructuring. The process will ultimately place complete control of Getty Images in the hands of the Getty family and Koch Equity Development, while the company will continue normal operations during this time. Leadership believes that this move is essential to regain footing after facing challenges from AI-generated imagery, and they express confidence that the partnership will enhance their capital structure and open up new growth opportunities.