Hearst Ups Stake in Ratings Agency

Publisher’s $426 million increases ownership in Fitch to 40 percent.

By Jason Fell
07/27/2009

Hearst Corp. has acquired an additional 20 percent stake in global credit ratings agency the Fitch Group from French financial services and data group Fimalac for approximately $426.2 million.

The investment ups Hearst’s ownership in Fitch to 40 percent. Hearst acquired its initial investment in the agency in March 2006.

A Hearst spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment.

The Fitch Group includes Fitch Ratings and Algorithmics. Through the first nine months of fiscal 2009, Fitch reported roughly $589.2 million in revenue, down 7.7 percent from the same period last year.

Earlier this summer, Hearst’s Interactive Media division said it agreed to sell its stake in E Ink, the electronic paper display firm that developed the technology for Amazon's Kindle and the Sony Reader. Hearst is said to be developing a wireless e-reader device—similar to the Kindle—featuring a large-format screen that’s conducive to reading magazines.

"Hearst has invested in a separate company that is creating an entire e-reading ecosystem for consumers, featuring a broad range of content from multiple publishers," a Hearst spokesperson said at the time.

The transaction is subject to the approval of Hearst’s board of directors, the publisher said. The deal is expected to close sometime this fall.