Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith buys 27% stake in the Economist

The Guardian - World News Economic ImpactNews ReportEN 3 min read 100% complete by Mark SweneyMarch 17, 2026 at 03:50 PM

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Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith, through his Smith Financial Corp, has acquired a 26.9% stake in the Economist Group (TEG) from Lynn Forester de Rothschild, marking a significant ownership shift in the 183-year-old company. The deal, subject to approval by independent trustees and TEG's board, involves an undisclosed sum and represents Smith's support for the Economist's editorial independence. TEG, parent company of the Economist magazine and other publications, reported revenues of £369m and a profit of £48m in the year to March 2025, with subscriber numbers increasing to 1.25 million. The Rothschilds began exploring a sale of their stake last year. Exor remains the largest single shareholder in the Economist with a 43.4% stake.

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Key Claims (5)

AI-Extracted

Exor is the largest single shareholder in the Economist with a 43.4% stake.

factual100% confidence

Subscriber numbers to the Economist increased by 3% to 1.25 million.

statistic100% confidence

The Economist Group reported revenues of £369m and a profit of £48m in the year to the end of March 2025.

statistic100% confidence

The deal is subject to approval by the company’s four independent trustees.

factual100% confidence

Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith bought a 26.9% stake in the Economist Group.

factual100% confidence

Claims are automatically extracted and should be independently verified. Attribution indicates the stated source of the claim.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Lazard 30% Royal Ontario Museum 35% John Elkann 40% Historica Canada 40% Exor 50% Canada ×260% Glass Lewis ×260% Lynn Forester de Rothschild ×270% Smith Financial Corp ×275% Economist ×480% Economist Group (TEG) ×785% Stephen Smith ×690%

Keywords

economist group 100% stephen smith 90% stake acquisition 90% financial investment 70% media ownership 70% lynn forester de rothschild 60% editorial independence 60% shareholder 50% glass lewis 50%

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The Guardian - World News

Article Type

News Report

Classification Confidence

90%

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Canada

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economist group stephen smith stake acquisition financial investment media ownership lynn forester de rothschild editorial independence shareholder glass lewis

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