Westbridge Print now operates independently after KKR acquired a 51% stake.
Why it matters: The deal separates a mature print and information-services operation from Thomson Reuters while preserving its content economics and a 49% equity stake. It also shifts Thomson Reuters' portfolio toward recurring legal, tax, audit, compliance and AI products.
- The transaction closed October 1, 2026, after being announced July 14.
- KKR-advised capital accounts own 51%; Thomson Reuters retains 49%.
- Westbridge Print serves legal and tax professionals across 13 countries.
- Thomson Reuters expected approximately $500 million in gross proceeds.
Thomson Reuters said it closed the sale of a majority stake in its Global Print business to capital accounts advised by KKR on October 1, 2026. The carved-out operation now operates independently as Westbridge Print, according to the closing announcement.
The joint venture gives KKR-advised capital accounts a 51% stake, while Thomson Reuters retains 49%. Westbridge Print provides information primarily in print and through ProView, Thomson Reuters' e-book platform, to legal and tax professionals, governments, law schools and corporations. It also provides commercial printing services to book publishers.
The business serves customers primarily in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with an overall customer base spanning 13 countries. Its Global Print revenue was approximately $490 million in the preceding year, but sales were expected to decline annually as customers moved to online products, Reuters reported.
Thomson Reuters said it expected approximately $500 million in gross proceeds. It retained the intellectual-property rights and full editorial control over its content portfolio, while the joint venture received an exclusive license to distribute the content in print and through ProView.
"We believe this transaction with KKR provides our Global Print business with the focused investment, operational capabilities, and independence to thrive as a standalone business," Thomson Reuters CEO Steve Hasker said in the company's announcement.
Thomson Reuters said the transaction would sharpen its focus on fiduciary-grade artificial-intelligence solutions for legal, tax, audit and compliance industries. Global Print will be classified as a discontinued operation beginning in the third quarter of 2026 and will no longer be reported as a segment.
By the numbers
- 51% - KKR-advised capital accounts' ownership stake
- 13 countries - Westbridge Print's geographic reach
- $490 million - Global Print revenue in the preceding year
Yes, but: This is a partial carve-out, not a full divestiture: Thomson Reuters retains 49% ownership, the content intellectual property and editorial control. The business also faces annual sales declines as customers migrate to online products.