Rothschilds sell stake in The Economist

The sale of a 27 per cent stake in The Economist entered a crucial phase this week, with bidders submitting expressions of interest by Friday. According to three sources familiar with the situation, it is one of the largest transactions in the publication's history over the past decade.

One of the sources said at least a dozen entities, including ultra-wealthy individuals and media companies, had expressed preliminary interest in the stake.

The current sale is being initiated by philanthropist Lynn Forester de Rothschild, who is offering the family's 27 per cent stake three years after the death of her husband, Evelyn de Rothschild, the one-time head of The Economist. The Rothschild family has not commented on the transaction.

The sale of the Rothschild stake, comprising about 20 per cent of voting rights, could value the media company at about £800m, a source familiar with the matter said.

The weekly, founded in 1843, has nearly 1,000 shareholders. The largest is Exor, with a 43.4 per cent stake. A special corporate governance set-up prohibits any investor from acquiring a controlling stake, which is intended to protect editorial independence.

The sale comes at a time when there are few opportunities in the British media market for acquisitions of prestigious titles. Regulators have recently blocked the possibility of foreign ownership of British newspapers, which has also affected the planned takeover of the Telegraph Media Group by RedBird Capital and its Abu Dhabi-backed partner IMI.

The Economist is profitable and increasing subscriber numbers. In the six months to 30 September 2025, it achieved sales of £170m and operating profit of £20m, up 23 per cent year-on-year.

Two US media executives said the stake may be attractive to ultra-rich buyers who see it as a means of gaining social influence. "The Economist brings you respect," one of them added.

(reuters, mmi)