v3.25.2
Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Unconditional purchase obligations and other obligations
As of June 30, 2025, the Company had total non-lease obligations in the amount of approximately $28.8 million, which consisted primarily of minimum royalty guarantees and unconditional purchase obligations related to contracts for infrastructure and other business services. As of June 30, 2025, the Company’s non-lease obligations for the remainder of 2025 and for the years ending December 31, 2026, and 2027 were approximately $15.9 million, $11.0 million, and $1.9 million, respectively.
Legal Matters
From time to time, the Company may become party to litigation in the ordinary course of business, including direct claims brought by or against the Company with respect to intellectual property, contracts, employment and other matters, as well as claims brought against the Company’s customers for whom the Company has a contractual indemnification obligation. The Company assesses the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes with respect to these matters and determines loss contingency assessments on a gross basis after assessing the probability of incurrence of a loss and whether a loss is reasonably estimable. In addition, the Company considers other relevant factors that could impact its ability to reasonably estimate a loss. A determination of the amount of reserves required, if any, for these contingencies is made after analyzing each matter. The Company reviews reserves, if any, at least quarterly and may change the amount of any such reserve in the future due to new developments or changes in strategy in handling these matters. Although the results of litigation and threats of litigation, investigations and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company currently believes that the final outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its business, consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on the Company because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors. Except as described below, the Company currently has no material active litigation matters and, accordingly, no material reserves related to litigation.
Since the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 30, 2025 (the “Proxy Statement”), two complaints have been filed against Shutterstock and each member of Shutterstock’s board of directors (the “Individual Defendants”). The two complaints are captioned as follows: Johnson v. Shutterstock, Inc., et al., 682860/2025 (filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, Commercial Division (the “Johnson Action”) and Weiss v. Shutterstock, Inc., et al., 652853/2025 at ECF No. 1, filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, Commercial Division (the “Weiss Action”, and together with the Johnson Action, the “Stockholder Actions”). The Stockholder Actions allege that, among other things, the Proxy Statement contains false and misleading and/or incomplete information regarding the Merger. The Stockholder Actions assert claims for (i) negligent misrepresentation and concealment, and (ii) negligence in connection with the filing of the allegedly false and misleading Proxy Statement. The Stockholder Actions seek an injunction enjoining the consummation of the Merger unless and until the Individual Defendants disclose the allegedly omitted material information, in the event that the Merger are consummated, rescission of the Merger and awarding actual and punitive damages to plaintiff, and an award of attorneys’ and experts’ fees.
In addition to the Stockholder Actions, beginning on April 25, 2025, certain purported stockholders of Shutterstock and Getty Images sent demand letters (the “Demand Letters”, and together with the Stockholder Actions, the “Matters”) alleging similar deficiencies regarding the disclosures made in the Proxy Statement and seeking additional disclosures to address those alleged deficiencies.
Shutterstock believes it has substantial defenses in connection with the Matters and no supplemental disclosure is required under applicable law. However, in order to avoid the risk that the Matters may delay or otherwise adversely affect the implementation of the Merger, to minimize the costs, risks and uncertainties inherent in litigation, and without admitting any liability or wrongdoing, Shutterstock has determined to voluntarily supplement the Proxy Statement as described in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 30, 2025, to provide additional information to Shutterstock stockholders. Nothing in said Current Report on Form 8-K shall be deemed an admission of the legal necessity or materiality under applicable law of any of the disclosures set forth therein or in the Proxy Statement. To the contrary, Shutterstock denies all allegations in the Matters that any additional disclosure was or is required.
Indemnification
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into contractual arrangements under which it agrees to provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to customers with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of the breach of the Company’s intellectual property warranties for damages to the customer directly attributable to the Company’s breach. The Company is not responsible for any damages, costs, or losses to the extent such damages, costs or losses arise as a result of the modifications made by the customer, or the context in which an image is used. The standard maximum aggregate obligation and liability to any one customer for all claims is generally limited to ten thousand dollars. The Company offers certain of its customers greater levels of indemnification, including unlimited indemnification, and believes that it has appropriate insurance coverage in place to adequately cover indemnification claims, if necessary. As of and for the six months ended June 30, 2025, the Company made no material payments for losses on customer indemnification claims and recorded no liabilities related to indemnification for loss contingencies, before considering any insurance recoveries.
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
The Company has entered into employment arrangements and indemnification agreements with certain executive officers and with certain employees. The agreements specify various employment-related matters, including annual compensation, performance incentive bonuses, and severance benefits in the event of termination with or without cause.