Getty and Shutterstock Announce Merger

FINANCE
Getty and Shutterstock Announce Merger

Getty Images and Shutterstock have announced a merger to create a $3.7 billion visual content powerhouse, combining their extensive portfolios of still imagery, video, music, and 3D media. The merger aims to meet the growing demand for high-quality visual content across industries.

Craig Peters, Getty Images CEO, will lead the combined company, which will operate under the Getty Images name and trade on the New York Stock Exchange as "GETY." Mark Getty will remain chairman, with a board of 11 members from both companies.

Getty shareholders will own 54.7% of the new entity, while Shutterstock shareholders will hold 45.3%. Shutterstock investors can opt for cash, stock, or a mix of both as part of the merger agreement.

The merger sparked strong market reactions, with Shutterstock shares rising nearly 30% and Getty Images soaring over 73%, reflecting optimism about the combined company's future potential in the visual media industry.

TECH
Nvidia’s Market Cap Hits $3.66 Trillion

Nvidia’s market cap has soared to $3.66 trillion, surpassing the combined value of AMD, Arm, Broadcom, and Intel—and doubling it. Even after a 5% share drop on Tuesday, Nvidia’s valuation remained at $3.47 trillion, well above Microsoft’s $3.15 trillion.

Under CEO Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s market value has nearly tripled in a year, driven by its dominance in AI chips. Its stock surged 171% in 2024, fueled by innovations like the Blackwell GPU architecture and strong financial growth. Revenue jumped 93% to $35.1 billion, while net income more than doubled to $19.3 billion.

Analysts at Wedbush Securities project Nvidia could hit a $5 trillion valuation within 18 months, though some warn about overreliance on top-performing “Magnificent Seven” stocks. Nvidia’s meteoric rise underscores its leadership in AI technology but raises questions about market sustainability as it continues to dominate the chip industry.

FINANCE
Toyota Enters Space Race with Investment

Toyota Motor Corp. is entering the commercial space race with a ¥7 billion ($44 million) investment in Japanese rocket startup Interstellar Technologies Inc. through its subsidiary Woven by Toyota. The automaker will also gain a seat on Interstellar’s executive board.

Interstellar aims to mass-produce lightweight rockets, targeting 30 annual launches by the 2030s to compete with space giants like Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Toyota plans to leverage its automotive production expertise to make rocket manufacturing scalable and cost-effective, aligning with Japan’s push to grow its private space sector.

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda hinted at this move during CES 2025, emphasizing a vision of mobility extending beyond cars. The company previously collaborated with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to develop a lunar rover for NASA’s Artemis program.

This investment underscores Japan’s ambition to transform its space industry despite challenges like geography and high competition from established players.

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