Getty Images Holdings, Inc. and several of its subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The filings were made on October 21, 2026, with the goal of implementing a prepackaged plan of reorganization. This restructuring is intended to be carried out pursuant to a previously signed restructuring support agreement (RSA) with the company's majority shareholders and holders of its funded indebtedness.
The petitioning entities include Getty Images Holdings, Inc., Getty Images, Inc., Griffey Midco (DE), LLC, Abe Investment Holdings, Inc., Getty Images (US), Inc., Getty Images News Services (PRC), Inc., and Getty Images (Seattle), Inc. The company has requested that the bankruptcy court administer the cases jointly under the caption In re Getty Images Holdings, Inc., et al.
As part of the process, the company has filed customary "first day" motions to ensure operations continue in the ordinary course. These motions seek authority to pay employee wages and benefits, as well as vendors, suppliers, and content contributors. Additionally, the company has filed a motion seeking approval for debtor-in-possession financing.
The filing details the specific debt instruments that constitute events of default following the commencement of the Chapter 11 cases. These include approximately $40.1 million in U.S. dollar-denominated term loans and approximately €407 million in euro-denominated term loans under a Credit Agreement dated February 19, 2019. The default also covers approximately $150 million in revolving loans, approximately $539.9 million in 11.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2030, approximately $264.7 million in 14.000% Senior Notes due 2028, and approximately $5.3 million in 9.750% Senior Notes due 2027. Under the terms of these instruments, principal and interest become immediately due and payable upon the filing.
The company has distributed a Disclosure Statement and Plan of Reorganization to certain creditors to solicit votes. The solicitation is open to holders of Class 3 (Revolving Loan Claims), Class 4 (Secured Funded Debt Claims), and Class 5 (Unsecured Notes Claims). The deadline for submitting ballots is November 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Under the terms of the proposed plan, all existing equity interests in the company, including shares of Class A common stock, are to be cancelled, discharged, and extinguished upon the plan's effective date. Holders of these equity interests will not receive any distribution or recovery if the plan is confirmed.
