Key Highlights

  • Shares are trading 29.03% higher at about $0.02 on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, on the Pink Open Market.
  • Seven Getty entities filed prepackaged Chapter 11 petitions in Delaware on October 21, 2026.
  • The plan eliminates more than $500 million of about $1.46 billion in funded debt.
  • All roughly 421 million existing shares would be cancelled with no distribution under the plan.
  • The combined plan hearing is set for December 14, with a projected effective date of December 31, 2026.

Getty Images Penny Stock: Why Are Shares Jumping 29% While the Company Is in Chapter 11?

Getty Images (OTC:GETY) shares are trading 29.03% higher at about $0.02 on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, which makes the stock one of the most actively traded penny stocks on the day. The quoted price is rounded to the cent, and the stock closed at $0.02 on October 20. No dated release explains today's rise.

Getty Images is a visual content company that licenses editorial and creative photography and video to media and corporate customers. At $0.02 and roughly 421 million shares, the equity is valued near $8.4 million (calculated).

Getty Images Chapter 11: What Does the Prepackaged Plan Do to Debt and Shareholders?

On October 21, 2026, seven Getty entities filed prepackaged Chapter 11 petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, following a restructuring agreement announced October 12.

Funded debt is about $1.46 billion, including roughly $540 million of 11.25% secured notes due 2030 and $265 million of 14% notes due 2028. The plan eliminates more than $500 million of that debt, and affiliates of the Getty family and Koch Equity Development would take 100% of the reorganized company.

For existing holders, the plan states that all roughly 421 million shares and related warrant claims would be cancelled with no distribution or recovery. Unsecured noteholders would receive about $170.2 million in cash, an estimated recovery of 62% to 63%, while trade creditors are unimpaired and expected to be paid in full.

Getty Images New Money: How Much Equity and Financing Backs the Plan?

The sponsors committed up to $533 million of new equity, according to the October 12 announcement, while the court filing describes a cash investment of about $433 million, less debtor-in-possession loans outstanding. The filing does not reconcile the two figures.

A $143 million debtor-in-possession facility from the sponsors converts into equity.

The earlier path to a stronger balance sheet has closed. Getty's roughly $3.7 billion merger with Shutterstock (NYSE:SSTK), signed in January 2025, collapsed after the UK competition regulator required a divestiture of Shutterstock's editorial business. Getty's board chose not to proceed on June 30, 2026, and the company says it spent more than $100 million on the attempt.

Getty Images Operations: Is the Business Itself Still Producing Cash?

Revenue was about $978 million over the twelve months to the second quarter of 2026, with adjusted EBITDA of about $307 million. Management projects $910.6 million for 2027.

Second-quarter results showed pressure in the agency and iStock ecommerce businesses alongside more resilient enterprise demand.

The NYSE halted trading on September 29, 2026, and the stock was delisted on October 12, so it now trades over the counter, where one-cent steps create large percentage swings.

What to Watch Next: Voting Deadline, Confirmation Hearing and Year-End Effective Date

The voting and objection deadline is November 30, 2026, followed by the voting report on December 7 and the combined disclosure statement and plan hearing on December 14. The projected effective date is December 31, 2026.