KKR has agreed to acquire a 51% stake in Thomson Reuters’ Global Print business in a transaction valued at approximately $500m, with the parties forming a joint venture to manage the business as demand continues to shift from print to digital products, according to a report by Reuters.
Under the agreement, KKR will hold a controlling interest in the new venture, while Thomson Reuters will retain a 49% stake, along with ownership of its intellectual property and editorial control over its content. The joint venture will hold the exclusive licence to distribute Thomson Reuters’ content through print and digital book formats.
The Global Print business provides legal and tax information to customers worldwide through printed and digital publications, while also offering commercial printing services to book publishers. The business generated approximately $490 million in revenue last year, although sales are expected to continue declining as customers increasingly adopt online products.
The transaction forms part of Thomson Reuters’ strategy to concentrate investment on its core growth businesses serving legal professionals, corporates, and tax and audit customers, while accelerating the development of artificial intelligence-powered products for those markets.
Steve Hasker, president and CEO of Thomson Reuters, said the partnership would provide the Global Print business with dedicated investment and operational expertise as a standalone company, while enabling Thomson Reuters to sharpen its focus on AI-driven solutions for legal, tax, audit and compliance professionals.
For KKR, the acquisition continues its strategy of investing in established publishing and media assets that are being carved out by corporate owners pursuing faster-growing digital businesses. The private equity firm has been an active buyer of non-core information and publishing businesses in recent years.
As part of the agreement, Thomson Reuters will provide certain financial support mechanisms designed to guarantee KKR a minimum return on its investment under specified circumstances.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
