Who is the owner of The Economist?

           LONDON — The Agnelli and Rothschild families will share control of The Economist after buying out Pearson’s 50 percent stake in the magazine, according to a person familiar with the sale negotiations.

A deal is expected to be finalized this week that will prevent the esteemed magazine from being controlled by a single shareholder. Pearson has owned half of the Economist since 1957 but is selling its holding to concentrate on its core education business. It is expected to get between £400 million and £500 million.

The company’s intention to sell was first reported by POLITICO last month, soon after Pearson sold its other prized media holding, the Financial Times, to Nikkei for £844 million. As part of the deal, Exor, the Agnelli family’s investment company, will raise its stake in the magazine from 4.7 percent to around 40 percent, Reuters reported Tuesday.

That would make the Italians the largest shareholders in the publishing company. However, a source close to the talks said that the Rothschilds, who currently own about 21 percent, will emerge from the buyout with the same voting rights and as many board seats as Exor. The Rothschilds, led by Lady Lynn de Rothschild, have been shareholders in the Economist for decades and regard themselves as custodians of the magazine’s legacy.

They are determined to protect their investment and ensure that the company does not fall under the control of another owner, according to people familiar with the talks.

The Economist’s independence is protected by a unique, complicated corporate structure that was put in place in the 1920s. Ownership is widely dispersed among wealthy English families, descendants of past editors, and numerous current and former employees. Significant changes must be approved by four independent trustees charged with preserving the magazine’s legacy.

Pearson’s holding has given it half of the voting rights, six of 13 board seats and more than £20 million a year in dividend payments, but the company has never been able to exert majority control.

That lack of influence dissuaded media groups that would have been eager to own the Economist from buying Pearson’s shares. Any buyout will have to be approved by the independent trustees.

The Agnellis are led by John Elkann, grandson and heir of Gianni Agnelli. He has sat on the Economist’s board since 2009. The family’s interests also include Fiat Chrysler, Juventus football club and several prominent Italian newspapers.