Thomson Reuters has reached an agreement to transfer majority ownership of its Global Print business to investment firm KKR in a transaction valued at about $500 million. Under the terms announced, KKR will acquire a 51% stake in Global Print and the two firms will establish a jointly controlled venture that will hold the exclusive license to distribute Thomson Reuters content in book form, both in print and digital formats.
The company said it will preserve its intellectual property rights and keep editorial oversight of the content portfolio while maintaining a 49% economic and ownership interest in the venture. Global Print supplies legal and tax information to customers around the world via printed and digital books and also offers commercial printing services for book publishers.
In a prepared statement, Steve Hasker, chief executive of Thomson Reuters, said: "This transaction with KKR provides our Global Print business with the focused investment, operational capabilities, and independence to thrive as a standalone business." The company is the parent of Reuters News.
KKR, identified in the announcement as one of the world’s largest private equity firms, has been active in acquiring media and publishing assets that larger owners are divesting as they prioritize faster-growing digital operations. The deal positions Global Print as an independent entity with outside capital and operational support from KKR while keeping Thomson Reuters closely involved through retained rights and a substantial minority stake.
Business context and mechanics
The arrangement creates a venture structure in which the new entity will have the exclusive right to distribute Thomson Reuters content in book formats. Thomson Reuters will continue to own the underlying editorial content and intellectual property and will exercise editorial control even after the sale of the majority stake. The Global Print unit’s activities include providing legal and tax information in book formats and delivering commercial printing services to other book publishers.
Implications stated by management
Management framed the transaction as a way to provide the Global Print business with targeted investment and operational independence. The statement highlights planned benefits such as access to KKR’s operational capabilities while preserving Thomson Reuters’ control over its content and rights.
Limits of the public disclosure
The announcement provides detail on the stake sale, the venture’s exclusive licensing role, retention of intellectual property and editorial control, and the services that Global Print offers. It does not provide additional financial terms beyond the approximate $500 million price tag, nor does it disclose specific operational plans for the venture after closing.