The process of selling a significant minority stake in The Economist is coming to a head this week, as prospective investors are invited to submit a formal expression of interest for 27% of the shares by Friday, according to three sources cited by Reuters.

More than a dozen investors have expressed initial interest in acquiring the stake, according to one of the sources. It is the first time in a decade that such a large block of Economist shares has been put up for sale. In 2015, Britain’s Pearson sold the 50% stake it held to the Agnelli family’s Exor group for £469 million, ending nearly 60 years of ownership of the magazine.

Lynn Forrester de Rothschild decided to dispose of the Rothschild family’s stake three years after the death of her husband, Evelyn de Rothschild, who served as chairman of The Economist from 1972 to 1989. According to the same sources—who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is private—the move ends a historic period of family involvement in the publication.

The magazine, founded in 1843, now has nearly 1,000 shareholders. The Agnelli family’s Exor group owns 43.4%, and the Rothschilds own 27%, according to the latest financial results. The sale is complicated by The Economist’s unique governance model, which ensures that editorial independence remains absolute by prohibiting any investor from holding majority control.

Reuters reports that The Economist remains profitable and is expanding its subscription base. For the six months ended 30 September 2025, revenue was £170 million and operating profit was £20 million, up 23% year-on-year. The stake on offer, which includes about 20% of the voting shares, could value the company at roughly £800 million, according to a person with knowledge of the process.

Two senior executives at US media companies believe that a stake in The Economist could attract ultra-wealthy individuals who see it as a means of accessing otherwise closed international power circles. As one CEO put it: “Even if you’re in Davos, it’s crowded. But The Economist gives you prestige. It will open a lot of interesting doors for you.”