UK-based PA Media Group acquires Alamy, the global stock imagery business

PA Media Group, the UK-based news and information business, has acquired Alamy, a leading stock imagery supplier. Terms weren’t disclosed. Founded 20 years ago, Alamy has creative and editorial stock imagery collections comprising almost 200 million photographs, vectors, and 360-degree panoramic images. The business has close to 100,000 customers in more than 150 countries, working across a range of sectors including publishing, design, advertising and broadcast, according to a press release.

The acquisition supports the Group’s long-term strategy to diversify its business and consolidate its position as the UK’s leading provider of cross-platform news, sport and entertainment data, content and services, the company said. Alamy will complement PA Media Group’s editorial picture syndication business, PA Images, whose archive charts more than 100 years of British history, along with royal, entertainment, sport and news photography.

“This transformational acquisition will significantly increase our customer base and provide the PA Media Group with a strong presence in the international market for the first time,” says Clive Marshall, CEO, PA Media Group. “Alamy has created a fantastic ecosystem of content creators and content users around a superior e-commerce platform. The acquisition adds real scale and diversity to PA Media Group’s photo services. As a result, customers will have access to a wider, richer image portfolio that combines great editorial and stock imagery, accessible through a global platform.

“In addition, this acquisition will further strengthen the financial performance of the company and help secure the future of our core news agency business.”