Luminar Technologies CEO Austin Russell will buy a majority stake in Forbes Global Media Holdings in a deal that values the business news publisher at nearly $800 million, Russell and Integrated Whale Media Investments (IWM) said in a statement, Report informs referring to Reuters.
The automotive tech billionaire has agreed to acquire 82% of Forbes, which includes the remaining portion of the company owned by the Forbes family.
Russell will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the company, the statement said, adding that capital for the acquisition is independent of his stake in Luminar.
As part of the deal, which was first reported by Wall street Journal, Forbes’ Hong Kong-based parent IWM will retain a minority stake in the company and also keep one board seat. Forbes will also add a new board to the company consisting of American media, tech, and AI experts, the statement added.
Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media, will remain involved in the company, the statement said.
Forbes, one of the oldest media outlets in the US, publishes its eponymous flagship magazine which reaches 5 million readers.