Thomson Reuters to Sell 51% of Global Print Business to KKR for $500 Million

Thomson Reuters has agreed to sell a majority stake in its Global Print business to private equity firm KKR for approximately $500 million. The deal, announced Tuesday, will establish a new joint venture focused on distributing legal and tax information in print and digital book formats.

Transaction Details

Under the terms of the agreement, KKR will acquire a 51% interest in the business, while Thomson Reuters will retain the remaining 49% stake. The newly formed venture will hold an exclusive license to distribute Thomson Reuters' content through print and digital books.

Thomson Reuters confirmed it will maintain full intellectual property rights and editorial control over its content portfolio. The Global Print business supplies legal and tax information to customers worldwide and provides commercial printing services to other book publishers.

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Strategic Rationale

This transaction allows KKR, a major global investment firm, to acquire a specialized publishing unit from a larger corporation refocusing on its core digital operations. The move is consistent with strategies seen across the media landscape where parent companies divest slower-growth legacy assets.

For Thomson Reuters, the partnership is intended to provide the print division with dedicated resources and operational focus. "This transaction with KKR provides our Global Print business with the focused investment, operational capabilities, and independence to thrive as a standalone business," said Steve Hasker, CEO of Thomson Reuters, in a statement. Thomson Reuters is the parent company of Reuters News.