Pearson denies FT sale

07.11.12 | Bookseller Staff

Pearson has denied reports that it is about to sell off the Financial Times, with a spokesperson for the current Penguin parent company saying the newspaper is a "valued and valuable part of Pearson".

Bloomberg reported last night that Pearson was "planning to explore a sale" of the FT this year. However, a Pearson spokesperson said: "We have said many times that the FT is a valued and valuable part of Pearson. We are not in the habit of responding to rumours, speculation or reports about our portfolio, however this particular Bloomberg story is wrong."

Speculation over the possible sale of the newspaper has increased after Pearson agreed to merge Penguin with Random House last week, and after Pearson c.e.o. Dame Marjorie Scardino, who famously said she would sell the FT "over my dead body", announced plans to step down at the end of the year.