Lynn Forester de Rothschild explores sale of The Economist Group stake: Bloomberg
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The news: American-British businesswoman Lynn Forester de Rothschild is exploring a sale of a significant minority stake in The Economist Group in the first ownership shake-up in a decade at the 182-year-old magazine, Bloomberg reported citing unnamed sources.
The numbers: A sale process for around 20% in voting shares could kick off in the coming weeks to fetch about GBP 200 million ($408.1 million) to GBP 400 million, the publication said.
The Economist Group includes the Economist magazine, website, app, podcasts, the Economist Intelligence Unit and Economist Impact. The group employs 1,540 staff in 26 countries and reported revenue of GBP 369 million and operating profit of about GBP 48 million in the year to 31 March 2025. Subscriptions rose 3% year-on-year to 1.25 million, with digital accounting for 85% of new starts, Bloomberg said citing its annual report.
Forester de Rothschild is working with adviser Lazard, and any sale is expected to attract high-net-worth individuals, family offices and strategic investors looking for deals in the premium media sector, the news agency said. No final decision has been made and the size and details of the divestment could still change, according to its sources.
The context: Forester de Rothschild is reviewing her stake as part of a longer-term reshaping of her portfolio, according to the report.
The last significant ownership change of the group took place in 2015, when Pearson sold most of its half stake to Italy’s Agnelli family, whose Exor NV investment firm became the largest investor with a 43.4% stake.
The Economist has a complex ownership structure involving ordinary shares, A and B special shares and trust shares designed to protect editorial independence. The Rothschild family controls 26.7% of the issued share capital, according to its latest annual report. Other shareholders include the Cadbury and Schroder families.
Evelyn de Rothschild, who married Lynn Forester in 2000 and died in 2022, had been a driving force in the family’s business ambitions. Earlier this year, Bloomberg and The Guardian reported he had been accused of sexually assaulting several women over a period of three decades.
The source: Bloomberg
