Pearson is finally entertaining takeover offers for the Financial Times newspaper, according to Bloomberg News, in what could lead to a sale that had been anticipated for years.
But the British publishing company quickly moved to try and knock down the report by deeming it untrue.
Per Bloomberg's story, Pearson “has decided to consider offers†for the famously pink-colored newspaper this year, as it prepares for the impending departure of Marjorie Scardino as chief executive. She will be succeeded by John Fallon, the head of the company's international education unit.
Though well known, the F.T. is seen by analysts as a much slower-growing business compared to Pearson's education assets, and a transaction has been regarded as a way to pump new life into the company's stock.
Bloomberg speculated that potential buyers may include deep-pocketed magnates and Bloomberg LP; other potential buyers, like the News Corporation or Thomson Reuters, may hold off.
But Pearson, which has tried to squelch speculation about a possible sale of the F.T., released a public statement fairly quickly after the Bloomberg report was published. A company spokesman said in a statement: “We have said many times that the F.T. is a valued and valuable part of Pearson. We are not in the habit of responding to rumors, speculation or reports about our portfolio, however this particular Bloomberg story is wrong.â€
