RNS Number:0934A
Thomson Corporation
7 March 2001

( BW)(THOMSON-CORPORATION) Thomson Reports Full-year and

Fourth-quarter Results 2000 Revenues Grew 20%; Operating Profit Up 19%



   Business Editors



   TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2001--



       (Unless otherwise stated, all amounts are in US dollars)



   The Thomson Corporation (TSE:TOC) today reported 20% growth in

revenues and 19% growth in operating profit for the year ended

December 31, 2000.

   "This was an extraordinary year for The Thomson Corporation,"

stated Richard J. Harrington, president and chief executive officer.

"We made a series of strategic acquisitions and divestitures which

accelerated our transformation into a focused e-information and

solutions provider. At the same time, we delivered solid growth in our

core businesses by enhancing our customer offerings and expanding our

Internet-based and proprietary online products. For the first time,

electronic products and services now account for the majority of

Thomson revenues."

   Revenues from continuing operations, excluding disposals,

increased 20% to $5.9 billion, supported by key strategic acquisitions

made in 2000. Revenues from core operations, in constant currencies,

increased 8%.

   Electronic products and services accounted for 53% of revenues,

led by the doubling of Internet-based revenues, which were

approximately $800 million.

   EBITDA from continuing operations increased 17% to $1.5 billion,

and operating profit grew 19% to $1.1 billion for the year.

   Earnings from continuing operations increased 40% to $571 million,

or $0.92 per common share, compared with $0.66 per common share in

1999. These earnings include one-time tax benefits principally

associated with the sale of The Globe and Mail in January 2001.

Excluding tax benefits and one-time items, earnings were $468 million,

or $0.75 per common share, in line with 1999.

   Fourth-quarter revenues from continuing operations increased 23%

to $1.9 billion over the comparable 1999 period. Operating profit from

continuing operations increased 16% to $488 million and earnings

increased 41% to $371 million, or $0.59 per common share. Excluding

the one-time benefits previously mentioned, earnings were $286

million, or $0.46 per common share, in line with last year.



PERFORMANCE BY MARKET GROUP



LEGAL & REGULATORY

   Thomson Legal & Regulatory revenues for 2000 increased 12% to $2.6

billion. The increase was primarily attributable to newly acquired

businesses, double-digit growth in the Westlaw online service and

increased trademark search volume in Europe. Revenue gains were partly

offset by adverse currency translation effects. Operating profit for

the year increased 11% to $647 million.

   Revenues for the fourth quarter were $813 million, an increase of

10%. Operating profit for the quarter increased 13% to $259 million.



FINANCIAL

   Thomson Financial revenues for 2000 increased to $1.3 billion, up

31% over 1999. The strong revenue gain was driven by double-digit

growth in core operations and the acquisition of Primark, which was

completed in September. Operating profit for the year increased 19% to

$230 million, despite lower initial operating margins of recently

acquired businesses and higher technology-related investments.

   Revenues for the fourth quarter increased 68% to $427 million

reflecting a full quarter of Primark results. Operating profit

increased 34% to $83 million in the fourth quarter.

   In February 2001, Thomson announced its intention to sell certain

non-core businesses within the Thomson Financial market group. The

businesses being sold include several publications, print directories,

and business products and services targeted primarily to the

commercial banking sector, as well as several niche markets. The sale

of these businesses is expected to be completed by the end of the

year.



LEARNING

   Thomson Learning revenues for 2000 were $1.4 billion, an increase

of 40% over 1999. Higher revenues were primarily attributable to the

strategic acquisitions made during the year and above-market growth in

the higher education sector. Operating profit for the year increased

56% to $233 million.

   Revenues for the fourth quarter increased 31% to $438 million and

operating profit increased 25% to $110 million.

   On October 27, 2000, Thomson announced its intention to acquire

select Harcourt businesses from Reed Elsevier for $2.06 billion in

cash. These businesses will become part of the Thomson Learning market

group. This acquisition will expand the company's higher education

portfolio, strengthen its leadership position in the corporate

training market, and accelerate its ability to provide end-to-end

e-learning solutions to customers worldwide. Thomson has completed its

submission for additional information requested by the U.S. Department

of Justice and anticipates completing the transaction in the third

quarter.

   Also in the fourth quarter of 2000, Gale Group was moved from the

Scientific, Reference & Healthcare market group into the Academic

business group within Thomson Learning. This reorganization will

enable the businesses to develop enhanced electronic solutions for the

education market by capitalizing on shared content and technology

platforms.



SCIENTIFIC & HEALTHCARE

   Thomson Scientific & Healthcare revenues for 2000 were $697

million, an increase of 7% over 1999. Operating profit for the year

increased 30% to $146 million. The growth was attributable to

increased global Internet-based sales at the Institute for Scientific

Information (ISI), improved performance in Healthcare, and the

leveraging of initiatives across the market group.

   Revenues for the fourth quarter increased 7% to $216 million, and

operating profit increased 21% to $70 million.



OTHER FINANCIAL ITEMS



   Corporate and other expenses doubled to $34 million in the fourth

quarter due to increased costs associated with stock appreciation

rights.

   Acquisitions resulted in earnings dilution of approximately $0.12

per common share for the full year, and $0.06 per common share for the

fourth quarter, due to the amortization and financing costs associated

with their purchase.

   In January 2001, Thomson, BCE Inc., and The Woodbridge Company

Limited (the Thomson family holding company) announced the creation of

Bell Globemedia -- Canada's premier multimedia company. Thomson

contributed certain assets to this new company, including The Globe

and Mail, Globe Interactive, and 50% of ROBTv, in exchange for a 20%

interest in Bell Globemedia.

   The results of Thomson interests in newspapers and related gain on

sale are reflected as discontinued operations in the consolidated

statements of earnings and cash flow.



OUTLOOK FOR 2001



   Excluding Harcourt, but including the full-year effects of

acquisitions made in 2000, revenues and EBITDA from continuing

operations are expected to increase about in line with the growth

experienced in 2000. Earnings growth will be offset by higher

amortization and financing costs associated with the acquisitions made

in 2000.

   "This year, we will concentrate on fully integrating the

outstanding businesses we have acquired as we strive to continue to

expand our suite of product offerings, tools and electronic solutions

for our global client base. We continue to make substantial

investments in our businesses in line with last year," said Mr.

Harrington.



About The Thomson Corporation

   The Thomson Corporation, with 2000 revenues of approximately $6.0

billion, is a leading, global e-information and solutions company in

the business and professional marketplace. The Corporation's common

shares are listed on the Toronto and London stock exchanges. For more

information, visit The Thomson Corporation Internet address at

www.thomson.com.



This news release includes forward-looking statements, which are based

on the Corporation's current expectations and assumptions, and are

subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual

results to materially differ from those anticipated. Such risks and

uncertainties include, among others, general business and economic

conditions and competitive actions.



Note: The Thomson Corporation will webcast a discussion of

fourth-quarter and full-year results beginning at 10:30 am EST today.

To participate in the webcast, please visit www.thomson.com and click

on the appropriate link located in the Thomson News box.



-0-



                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

        (millions of US dollars, except per common share data)


                                           (unaudited)

                                     3 months ended Dec. 31

                                      ----------------------

                                         2000     1999

                                         ----     ----


Revenues                                2,024     1,721

Cost of sales,

 selling, marketing,

 general and

 administrative expenses               (1,415)   (1,165)

                                       ------    ------

Earnings before

 interest, tax, depreciation,

 amortization, restructuring

 charges and Year 2000 costs              609       556

Depreciation                             (111)     (105)

                                       ------    ------

Operating profit before

 amortization, restructuring

 charges and

 Year 2000 costs                          498       451

Amortization (note 5)                    (106)      (59)

Restructuring charges (note 1)            (11)      (17)

Year 2000 costs                             -       (16)

                                       ------    ------

Operating profit after

 amortization, restructuring charges

 and Year 2000 costs                      381       359

Net (losses) gains

 on disposals of

 businesses and investments               (14)        1

Net interest expense

 and other financing costs                (49)      (50)

Income taxes (note 5)                      60       (39)

                                       ------    ------

Earnings before dividends

 declared on preference shares            378       271

Dividends declared

 on preference shares                      (7)       (7)

                                       ------    ------

Earnings from

 continuing operations                    371       264

Earnings from

 discontinued operations (note 2)          99        42

                                       ------    ------

Earnings attributable

 to common shares                         470       306

                                       ======    ======

Earnings per

 common share (note 3):

  - from continuing operations         $ 0.59    $ 0.43

  - from discontinued operations       $ 0.16    $ 0.06

                                       ------    ------

                                       $ 0.75    $ 0.49

                                       ======    ======

Supplemental earnings

 information (unaudited):

Earnings from continuing

 operations, as above                     371       264

Add back (deduct):

 Restructuring charges,

 net gains on disposals of

 businesses & investments,

 and Year 2000 costs, net of tax           20        23

Tax benefits (note 5)                    (105)        -

                                       ------    ------

Adjusted earnings

 from continuing operations               286       287

                                       ======    ======

Adjusted earnings

 per common

 share from

 continuing operations (note 3)        $ 0.46    $ 0.46

                                       ======    ======





                                       Year ended Dec. 31

                                       ------------------

                                         2000      1999

                                         ----      ----



Revenues                                6,514     5,752

Cost of sales,

 selling, marketing,

 general and

 administrative expenses               (4,980)   (4,345)

                                       ------    ------

Earnings before

 interest, tax, depreciation,

 amortization, restructuring

 charges and Year 2000 costs            1,534     1,407

Depreciation                             (416)     (386)

                                       ------    ------

Operating profit before

 amortization, restructuring

 charges and

 Year 2000 costs                        1,118     1,021

Amortization (note 5)                    (327)     (258)

Restructuring charges (note 1)            (37)      (38)

Year 2000 costs                            (4)      (91)

                                       ------    ------

Operating profit after

 amortization, restructuring charges

 and Year 2000 costs                      750       634

Net (losses) gains

 on disposals of

 businesses and investments                38        52

Net interest expense

 and other financing costs               (204)     (186)

Income taxes (note 5)                      15       (63)

                                       ------    ------

Earnings before dividends

 declared on preference shares            599       437

Dividends declared

 on preference shares                     (28)      (28)

                                       ------    ------

Earnings from

 continuing operations                    571       409

Earnings from

 discontinued operations (note 2)         652       123

                                       ------    ------

Earnings attributable

 to common shares                       1,223       532

                                       ======    ======

Earnings per

 common share (note 3):

  - from continuing operations         $ 0.92    $ 0.66

  - from discontinued operations       $ 1.04    $ 0.20


                                       ------    ------

                                       $ 1.96    $ 0.86

                                       ======    ======

Supplemental earnings

 information (unaudited):

Earnings from continuing

 operations, as above                     571       409

Add back (deduct):

 Restructuring charges,

 net gains on disposals of

 businesses & investments,

 and Year 2000 costs, net of tax            2        52

Tax benefits (note 5)                    (105)        -

                                       ------    ------

Adjusted earnings

 from continuing operations               468       461

                                       ======    ======

Adjusted earnings

 per common

 share from

 continuing operations (note 3)        $ 0.75    $ 0.75

                                       ======    ======



(see notes after Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow)





                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

                       (millions of US dollars)



                                             Year ended December 31

                                             2000             1999

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash provided by (used for):



Operations

Earnings from

 continuing operations                       571              409

  Add back (deduct) items

   not involving cash:

    Amortization of development costs         99               93

    Depreciation                             416              386

    Amortization (note 5)                    327              258

    Net gains on disposals

     of businesses and investments           (38)             (52)

    Deferred income taxes (note 5)           (71)             (58)

    Other, net                                22               78

Changes in working capital

 and other items                            (331)             (86)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                             995            1,028

----------------------------------------------------------------------



Investing activities

    Acquisitions of businesses

     and investments                      (2,824)            (337)

    Proceeds from disposals of

     businesses and investments              387              412

    Additions to property

     and equipment                          (585)            (472)

    Other investing activities              (226)            (162)

    Proceeds from disposal of

     newspaper operations, net of tax       1,868               -



----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                          (1,380)            (559)

----------------------------------------------------------------------



Financing activities

    Proceeds from debt                       990               13

    Repayments of debt                      (425)            (273)

    Dividends paid on

     common shares (note 4)                 (271)            (255)



----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                             294             (515)

----------------------------------------------------------------------



 Translation adjustments                      (2)              (8)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Decrease in cash and

 cash equivalents                            (93)             (54)

Discontinued operations  (note 2)            101               89

Cash and cash equivalents

 at beginning of period                      329              294



----------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash and cash equivalents

 at end of period                            337              329


----------------------------------------------------------------------



(see notes below)



    Notes to consolidated statements of earnings and cash flow:



(1) Restructuring charges include mainly employee severance and other

    exit costs arising principally from the realignment of businesses

    within Thomson Legal & Regulatory and Thomson Financial.



(2) On February 15, 2000, Thomson announced its intention to sell the

    newspaper interests of Thomson Newspapers (TN), excluding The

    Globe and Mail. For all periods presented, the results and cash

    flows of the interests being divested have been accounted for as

    discontinued operations. In 2000, discontinued operations includes

    gains on disposals of $590 million and $86 million, net of tax,

    for the full year and fourth quarter, respectively.



(3) Earnings per common share calculations are based on the weighted

    average number of common shares for the twelve months of

    623,242,191 (1999 - 618,092,000) and for the three months of

    624,850,946 (1999 - 620,046,317). As of March 7, 2001, 625,768,585

    common shares were outstanding as well as options to purchase

    4,455,730 common shares under the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan. As

    the effect of including stock options is anti-dilutive, there is

    no need to report fully diluted earnings per common share.



(4) Dividends paid on common shares are shown net of $9 million (1999

    - $15 million) reinvested in common shares issued under the

    dividend reinvestment plan and $147 million (1999 - $136 million)

    by way of private placements of common shares to Thomson's major

    shareholders. These private placements, together with common

    shares acquired under the dividend reinvestment plan, discharged

    the commitment of Thomson's major shareholders to participate in

    the plan to the extent of at least 50% of the dividends received

    on the common shares directly and indirectly owned by them.



(5) (a) The income tax credit in 2000 reflects the recognition of $105

    million of tax benefits principally associated with the sale of

    The Globe and Mail in January 2001. (b) Effective January 1, 2000,

    Thomson adopted the new accounting recommendations for income

    taxes in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Chartered

    Accountants (CICA) Handbook. The revised tax accounting standard

    has the effect of lowering the effective book tax rates for both

    the current and prior periods, with no effect on cash taxes paid.

    Under the new income tax standard, goodwill and deferred income

    taxes have each been increased by approximately $1.3 billion to

    account for the cumulative differences between the book and tax

    values of all assets and liabilities, excluding goodwill, which

    were not previously recorded. The principal impact of the new

    standard arises from restating business combinations where, as a

    result of purchasing stock, the excess purchase price over the tax

    basis of the net assets acquired is not deductible for tax

    purposes. The comparative earnings for 1999 have been restated to

    reflect the amortization of the additional goodwill and the

    release of the related additional deferred income tax resulting

    from the retroactive adoption of the revised income tax standard.



(6) Effective January 1, 2000, Thomson adopted the new accounting

    recommendations for employee future benefits in accordance with

    the CICA Handbook. The employee future benefits standard has been

    adopted without restatement.



(7) Comparative figures have been reclassified where necessary to

    conform to the current period's presentation.







                     BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

                       (millions of US dollars)

                              (unaudited)



                                         3 months ended Dec. 31

                                    2000           1999        change

                                    ----           ----        ------

CONTINUING OPERATIONS:



Revenues:

    Legal & Regulatory                813            739         10%

    Financial                         427            255         68%

    Learning                          438            335         31%

    Scientific & Healthcare           216            202          7%

    Intergroup revenues               (14)             -


                               -----------    -----------

    Total ongoing operations        1,880          1,531         23%

    Disposals (1)                     144            190

                               -----------    -----------

                                    2,024          1,721         18%

                               ===========    ===========



EBITDA: (2)

    Legal & Regulatory                289            264         10%

    Financial                         121             85         42%

    Learning                          146            121         21%

    Scientific & Healthcare            75             63         19%

    Corporate and other (3)           (34)           (17)

                               -----------    -----------

    Total ongoing operations          597            516         16%

    Disposals (1)                      12             40

                               -----------    -----------

                                      609            556         10%

                               ===========    ===========



Operating profit before

 amortization, restructuring

 charges and

 Year 2000 costs: (4) (5)

    Legal & Regulatory                259            230         13%

    Financial                          83             62         34%

    Learning                          110             88         25%

    Scientific & Healthcare            70             58         21%

    Corporate and other (3)           (34)           (17)

                               -----------    -----------

    Total ongoing operations          488            421         16%

    Disposals (1)                      10             30

                               -----------    -----------

                                      498            451         10%

                               ===========    ===========







                                         Year ended Dec. 31

                                 2000            1999        change

                                 ----            ----        ------





CONTINUING OPERATIONS:



Revenues:

    Legal & Regulatory              2,619          2,347         12%


    Financial                       1,260            960         31%

    Learning                        1,389            989         40%

    Scientific & Healthcare           697            652          7%

    Intergroup revenues               (29)             -

                               -----------   ------------



    Total ongoing operations        5,936          4,948         20%

      Disposals (1)                   578            804

                               -----------   ------------

                                    6,514          5,752         13%

                               ===========   ============

  EBITDA: (2)




    Legal & Regulatory                775            709          9%

    Financial                         348            289         20%

    Learning                          358            248         44%

    Scientific & Healthcare           172            139         24%

    Corporate and other (3)          (141)           (95)

                                ------------  -----------

    Total ongoing operations        1,512          1,290         17%

    Disposals (1)                      22            117

                                ------------  -----------

                                    1,534          1,407          9%

                                ===========  ============





Operating profit before

 amortization, restructuring

 charges and

 Year 2000 costs: (4) (5)

     Legal & Regulatory               647            581         11%

     Financial                        230            194         19%

     Learning                         233            149         56%

     Scientific & Healthcare          146            112         30%

     Corporate and other (3)         (141)           (95)

                                -----------   ------------

     Total ongoing operations       1,115            941         19%

     Disposals (1)                      3             80

                                -----------   ------------

                                    1,118          1,021         10%

                                ===========   ============





   Notes to business segment information for continuing operations



1)  Disposals includes the results of businesses sold or held for sale.



2)  EBITDA is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation,

    amortization, restructuring charges and Year 2000 (Y2K) costs.



3)  Corporate and other principally comprises corporate costs,

    minority interests and costs associated with Thomson's Stock

    Appreciation Rights.



4)  Restructuring charges were incurred in 2000 principally within

    Legal & Regulatory and Financial and were $37 million (1999 - $38

    million) for the twelve months and $11 million (1999 - $17

    million) for the fourth quarter.



5)  Y2K compliance costs were $4 million (1999 - $91 million) for the

    twelve months and nil (1999 - $16 million) for the fourth quarter.



    --30--



    CONTACT: The Thomson Corporation

             (Investor)


             John Kechejian, 203/328-9470


             john.kechejian@thomson.com


             or (Media)


             Janey Loyd

             203/328-8342

             janey.loyd@thomson.com

             or Jason Stewart

             203/328-8339

             jason.stewart@thomson.com



END













Hsbc Bk. 21 (LSE:11PT)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Jul 2024 até Ago 2024 Click aqui para mais gráficos Hsbc Bk. 21.
Hsbc Bk. 21 (LSE:11PT)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Ago 2023 até Ago 2024 Click aqui para mais gráficos Hsbc Bk. 21.