Who is Stephen Smith buying a stake in?

Stephen Smith is buying a stake in The Economist Group, the publisher of the premium magazine The Economist.

How much of The Economist Group is Stephen Smith acquiring?

Stephen Smith is acquiring a 26.9 per cent stake in The Economist Group.

What is the significance of this acquisition for The Economist?

This acquisition represents the first change in ownership for The Economist Group in a decade and is intended to support its longstanding tradition of editorial independence.

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Billionaire Buys Stake in Economist Group

17 Mar

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Summary

Stephen Smith acquires over quarter of The Economist Group.
This marks the first ownership change in a decade.
The deal is subject to trustee and board approval.

Billionaire Buys Stake in Economist Group

Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith has agreed to purchase a substantial 26.9 per cent stake in The Economist Group, marking the first shift in ownership for the esteemed publication in a decade. Smith Financial, his family's holding company, is the entity making the acquisition from Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, her family, and foundation.

This investment, announced on 2026-03-17T12:36:34+00:00, is intended to affirm Smith's commitment to The Economist's renowned editorial independence. Consequently, the publisher's strategic direction and daily operations are anticipated to remain unchanged.