Reuters
Global news organization and financial data provider owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation.
Company Type
public
Founded
1851
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
About Reuters
Who owns Reuters?
Reuters is a division of Thomson Reuters Corporation, a publicly traded Canadian multinational company. Thomson Reuters is controlled by the Woodbridge Company (Thomson family), which holds approximately 70% of the company's shares. Thomson Reuters trades on NYSE and TSX under ticker TRI.
Reuters is a division of Thomson Reuters Corporation, a publicly traded Canadian multinational company. Thomson Reuters is controlled by the Woodbridge Company (Thomson family), which holds approximately 70% of the company's shares. Thomson Reuters trades on NYSE and TSX under ticker TRI.
When was Reuters founded?
Reuters was founded in 1851 by Paul Julius Reuter in London. Reuter initially used carrier pigeons to transmit stock prices before establishing a telegraph-based news service.
Reuters was founded in 1851 by Paul Julius Reuter in London. Reuter initially used carrier pigeons to transmit stock prices before establishing a telegraph-based news service.
When did Thomson Reuters acquire Reuters?
Thomson Reuters completed its acquisition of Reuters in April 2008, through a merger between The Thomson Corporation and Reuters Group PLC valued at approximately $17.25 billion.
Thomson Reuters completed its acquisition of Reuters in April 2008, through a merger between The Thomson Corporation and Reuters Group PLC valued at approximately $17.25 billion.
Is Reuters editorially independent?
Reuters maintains formal editorial independence as a division of Thomson Reuters, governed by the Reuters Trust Principles. Editorial decisions are made by Reuters journalists and editors, though the organization is ultimately owned and controlled by Thomson Reuters.
Reuters maintains formal editorial independence as a division of Thomson Reuters, governed by the Reuters Trust Principles. Editorial decisions are made by Reuters journalists and editors, though the organization is ultimately owned and controlled by Thomson Reuters.
What is the difference between Reuters and Thomson Reuters?
Reuters is the news agency division of Thomson Reuters Corporation. Thomson Reuters is the parent company, which also operates legal (Westlaw), tax and accounting (Checkpoint), and other professional information businesses. Thomson Reuters is publicly traded on NYSE and TSX under ticker TRI.
Reuters is the news agency division of Thomson Reuters Corporation. Thomson Reuters is the parent company, which also operates legal (Westlaw), tax and accounting (Checkpoint), and other professional information businesses. Thomson Reuters is publicly traded on NYSE and TSX under ticker TRI.
History of Reuters
Reuters was founded in 1851 by Paul Julius Reuter, a German-born entrepreneur who established a news agency in London. Reuter initially used carrier pigeons to transmit stock prices between Brussels and Aachen, bridging a gap in the telegraph network. He then established a telegraph-based news service in London, providing financial news to banks and brokers.
Reuters expanded rapidly through the second half of the 19th century, establishing bureaus across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The agency became one of the world's most important sources of international news, providing coverage to newspapers and financial institutions globally.
Throughout the 20th century, Reuters expanded its financial data services alongside its news operations. The company became a major provider of real-time market data, trading platforms, and financial analytics, serving banks, investment firms, and other financial institutions.
Reuters went public on the London Stock Exchange in 1984, raising capital to fund its technology investments. The company continued to expand its financial data business through the 1990s and 2000s, competing with Bloomberg and other financial data providers.
The Thomson Corporation, a Canadian media and information company controlled by the Thomson family, announced a merger with Reuters Group PLC in May 2007. The deal was completed in April 2008, creating Thomson Reuters Corporation. The Thomson family's Woodbridge Company retained approximately 70% of the combined company.
Following the merger, Thomson Reuters reorganized its operations around its core professional information businesses: legal (Westlaw, Practical Law), tax and accounting (Checkpoint), corporates (Practical Law, Contract Express), and Reuters News. The company sold its financial and risk business to a private equity consortium in 2018, which was rebranded as Refinitiv. Refinitiv was subsequently acquired by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) in 2021.
For full-year 2024, Thomson Reuters reported revenue of approximately $7 billion, with growth driven by its legal, tax and accounting, and corporates segments.
Brands Owned by Reuters
Reuters owns 0 brands in our database.
Reuters Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Access to Thomson Reuters' extensive technology and financial resources
- +Global network of journalists and bureaus in more than 200 locations
- +Strong reputation for accuracy, impartiality, and journalistic integrity
- +Integration with Thomson Reuters' professional information platform
- +Thomson family's long-term ownership provides strategic stability
Considerations
- -Editorial independence concerns as a subsidiary of a commercial company
- -Competition from Bloomberg, AP, and AFP in news agency market
- -Digital disruption affecting traditional news agency business models
- -Thomson family's controlling stake limits public shareholder influence
- -Declining revenue from traditional news agency services
Frequently Asked Questions About Reuters
Who owns Reuters?
Reuters is a division of Thomson Reuters Corporation, a publicly traded Canadian multinational company. Thomson Reuters is controlled by the Woodbridge Company (Thomson family), which holds approximately 70% of the company's shares. Thomson Reuters trades on NYSE and TSX under ticker TRI.
When was Reuters founded?
Reuters was founded in 1851 by Paul Julius Reuter in London. Reuter initially used carrier pigeons to transmit stock prices before establishing a telegraph-based news service.
When did Thomson Reuters acquire Reuters?
Thomson Reuters completed its acquisition of Reuters in April 2008, through a merger between The Thomson Corporation and Reuters Group PLC valued at approximately $17.25 billion.
Is Reuters editorially independent?
Reuters maintains formal editorial independence as a division of Thomson Reuters, governed by the Reuters Trust Principles. Editorial decisions are made by Reuters journalists and editors, though the organization is ultimately owned and controlled by Thomson Reuters.
What is the difference between Reuters and Thomson Reuters?
Reuters is the news agency division of Thomson Reuters Corporation. Thomson Reuters is the parent company, which also operates legal (Westlaw), tax and accounting (Checkpoint), and other professional information businesses. Thomson Reuters is publicly traded on NYSE and TSX under ticker TRI.
Jobs at Reuters
Latest News About Reuters
Related Articles About Reuters
View more articles
News & Updates
Monthly M&A Roundup: February 2026 Brand Ownership Changes
From Keurig Dr Pepper's planned split to the Netflix-WBD saga, here is every major brand ownership change and deal in February 2026.
Who Brands StaffFeb 12, 2026
m-and-a-roundupacquisitionsnews
Industry Analysis
The Most Acquired Categories: Tech vs CPG vs Pharma
Which industries see the most brand acquisitions? We compared technology, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals to find out where the most M&A activity happens and why.
Who Brands StaffFeb 11, 2026
acquisitionsindustry-analysistechnology
Consumer Education
The Truth About 'Made in America' Brand Claims
Many brands market themselves as American-made. But what does that actually mean when the parent company is foreign, the parts come from overseas, and 'assembled in USA' is not the same as 'made in USA'?
Who Brands StaffFeb 11, 2026
made-in-americaconsumer-educationbrand-claims