Thomson Reuters sold 51% of its print business to KKR for about $500 million
The $490M-revenue Global Print unit moves into a KKR venture; Thomson Reuters keeps 49%, the IP and editorial control, and its focus on AI.
What was changed
Thomson Reuters announced on July 14, 2026 that it would sell a 51% stake in its Global Print business to KKR for about $500 million, forming a venture with the private equity firm that takes an exclusive license to distribute its content in print and digital books. Thomson Reuters keeps the intellectual property rights and editorial control over the content portfolio, along with a 49% stake, and expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Global Print supplies legal and tax information worldwide in print and digital book formats and runs commercial printing services for book publishers. It brought in $490 million in revenue the year before, but its sales were expected to decline annually as customers migrated online. Divesting it sharpens Thomson Reuters' concentration on its 'Big 3' segments - legal professionals, corporates, and tax and audit.
CEO Steve Hasker framed the twin rationale: the transaction gives Global Print 'the focused investment, operational capabilities, and independence to thrive as a standalone business,' while it 'sharpens Thomson Reuters focus on providing innovative fiduciary-grade AI solutions for the legal, tax, audit and compliance industries.' KKR has been acquiring media and publishing units that larger owners shed for digital growth; under the deal Thomson Reuters would provide some financial support guaranteeing KKR a minimum return in certain circumstances.
Why it worked
The unit's revenue was forecast to decline every year, making it a shrinking home for capital and management attention.
The Big 3 segments and AI products offered higher growth, so concentration beat conglomerate symmetry.
Print still generated reliable revenue, so a majority sale captured value without abandoning it entirely.
KKR's record buying shed media units meant an owner whose playbook fits a standalone print business.
What can be applied
Shedding a declining but still-profitable unit to a specialist owner monetizes it while it retains value - and completes, piece by piece, a pivot to data begun decades earlier.
Aftermath
The deal was announced July 14, 2026 with closing expected in the fourth quarter of 2026; Thomson Reuters retains a 49% stake, the content IP and editorial control, while guaranteeing KKR a minimum return in specified circumstances.