Stephen Smith has agreed to acquire more than a quarter of The Economist Group from Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, marking the first change in ownership for a decade at the publisher of the premium magazine. Photograph : Simon Dawson/BloombergCanadian billionaire Stephen Smith has agreed to acquire more than a quarter of The Economist Group from Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, marking the first change in ownership for a decade at the publisher of the premium magazine. Smith’s family holding company, Smith Financial, is to acquire a 26.9 per cent stake in the group from Forester de Rothschild, her family and her family foundation. The Economist Group – which includes the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research and analysis business – reported revenues of £368.5 million (€447 million) in 2025, up from £359.5 million the year before. Exor, the investment vehicle of the Agnelli family, owns a 43.4 per cent stake in the group, including all of its special “B” class shares.

Source: The Irish Times March 18, 2026 03:57 UTC