Pearson says in talk to sell 50 pct stake in Economist Group

British publisher and educational group Pearson Plc is in talks to divest its 50 percent stake in the Economist Group, the owner of the international news and business magazine Economist.

Two days after selling the FT Group to Japan's Nikkei Inc., Pearson said in an email statement on Saturday that:" Pearson confirms it is in discussions with the Economist Group board and trustees regarding the potential sale of our 50 percent share in the group."

"There is no certainty that this process will lead to a transaction," noted the publisher.

On the same day, Financial Times reported that the potential buyers include families such as the Schroders, the Cadburys, and Rothschilds, by citing one person close to the situation.

The Economist Group is also running information provider the Economist Intelligent Unit and CQ Roll Call. The group had operating profits of 60 million pounds in 2014, compared with the FT Group's 24 million pounds, reported FT.

Nikkei is agreed to acquire the FT Group from British publisher Pearson Plc for 844 million pounds, or 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in cash.

The deal comprises of the Financial Times newspaper, FT.com and FTChinese.com, and titles such as The Banker and Investors Chronicle, but excludes the FT Group's London property in central London and the Economist stake, said Pearson on Thursday, or July 23. (1 pound=1.55 U.S. dollars) Endit