NEW YORK, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI; TSX: TRI; LSE: TRIL; Nasdaq: TRIN), the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, today reported results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2008. As The Thomson Corporation's acquisition of Reuters Group PLC was completed on April 17, 2008, first-quarter results reflect the performance of the two legacy companies reported under Canadian GAAP in U.S. dollars. Thomson had first-quarter revenues of $1.8 billion, an increase of 10% over the first quarter of 2007, while Reuters had revenues of $1.4 billion, a 13% increase.
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Assuming that Thomson's acquisition of Reuters had been completed on January 1, 2007, pro forma revenue for Thomson Reuters for the quarter would have been $3.3 billion, an increase of 12% over the prior year period. (1)
"Our combined first quarter results and guidance for the full year reflect the robustness of our business, even in turbulent markets. Our Markets Division holds leading positions in higher growth segments of the financial markets, including foreign exchange, commodities, energy and emerging markets. Our leading positions in the less cyclical Professional markets of legal, tax & accounting, scientific and healthcare information also grew strongly in the quarter. These are high quality businesses with attractive profit margins and strong cash flow characteristics," said Thomas H. Glocer, chief executive officer of Thomson Reuters.
"Thomson Reuters is extremely well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand across the world's business and professional communities for intelligent information -- insightful, high value content that can be used by human beings and machines. As an enlarged global business, Thomson Reuters will now also benefit from the value created by more diversified revenue streams, a larger capital base and synergies resulting from the combination of our businesses."
Consolidated Pro Forma Financial Highlights for Thomson Reuters -- First-Quarter 2008*
Professional Division
Thomson Reuters Professional Division is made up of four business segments: Legal, Tax & Accounting, Scientific and Healthcare.
Markets Division
The Markets Division is made up of four businesses - Sales & Trading, Investment & Advisory, Enterprise and Media. With the acquisition of Reuters, Thomson Financial became part of the Markets Division. For the purpose of this release, first-quarter results are provided for the four legacy Reuters Group PLC businesses, as well as Thomson Financial.
2008 Business Outlook for Thomson Reuters
The following represents Thomson Reuters current business outlook for full-year 2008 on a pro forma basis (assumes Thomson acquired Reuters on January 1, 2007).
Share Buyback Program
On April 18, 2008, Thomson Reuters commenced its previously announced $500 million share repurchase program. Through April 30, 2008, Thomson Reuters has repurchased approximately 3.3 million ordinary shares of Thomson Reuters PLC, for a total cost of approximately $103 million. Thomson Reuters share repurchase activity underscores its financial strength and commitment to a strong capital structure. Thomson Reuters will manage its capital structure and set its cash distribution policy in order to maintain a strong and efficient balance sheet.
Decisions regarding the timing of future repurchases will be based on market conditions, share price and other factors. Thomson Reuters may elect to suspend or discontinue the program at any time. Shares repurchased will be cancelled.
Dividend
The first Thomson Reuters dividend will be paid on September 15, 2008 to shareholders of record as of August 21, 2008, in the amount of $0.22253 per share. This dividend is based on the 2008 quarterly dividend rate per share of $0.27 as adjusted for an interim dividend payment paid on May 1, 2008 in connection with the closing of the Reuters acquisition. Thomson Reuters will return to a normal quarterly dividend payment of $0.27 per share in December 2008.
Thomson Reuters declares dividends in U.S. dollars. Holders of Thomson Reuters Corporation common shares will receive their dividends in U.S. dollars, unless they elect to receive their dividends in Canadian dollars or British pounds sterling. Holders of Thomson Reuters PLC ordinary shares will receive their dividends in British pounds sterling, unless they elect to receive their dividends in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars and certain other local currencies. Holders of Thomson Reuters PLC ADSs will receive their dividends in U.S. dollars. Information for Thomson Reuters shareholders who wish to elect to receive dividends in other currencies is provided in the Investor Relations section of www.thomsonreuters.com under "Dividend Timetable".
Over the course of 2008, Thomson Reuters controlling shareholder, The Woodbridge Company Limited, plans to reinvest the equivalent of 50% of the dividends that it receives in the first three quarters of the year. Woodbridge's dividend reinvestment in additional Thomson Reuters Corporation common shares will be in accordance with the terms of Thomson Reuters Corporation dividend reinvestment plan. Woodbridge's reinvestment decision reinforces Thomson Reuters commitment to a strong capital structure and balance sheet.
About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, scientific, healthcare and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people in 93 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TRI); Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: TRI); London Stock Exchange (LSE: TRIL); and Nasdaq (Nasdaq: TRIN). For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.
Thomson Reuters will webcast a discussion of first-quarter results beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET today. To participate in the webcast, please visit www.thomsonreuters.com and click the "Investor Relations" link located at the top of the page. A copy of this news release along with slides and other materials for the webcast are available at www.thomsonreuters.com.
Thomson Reuters Corporation is incorporated in Ontario, Canada with a registered office at Suite 2706, Toronto Dominion Bank Tower, P.O. Box 24, Toronto-Dominion Centre, Toronto, Ontario M5K 1A1, Canada. Thomson Reuters PLC (registered no. 06141013) is registered in England & Wales with a registered office at The Thomson Reuters Building, South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5EP, United Kingdom.
This news release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. We use these non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental indicators of our operating performance and financial position. These measures do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by GAAP and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to the calculation of similar measures used by other companies, and should not be viewed as alternatives to measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures are defined and reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the following tables.
PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Pro forma financial information included in this news release is for information purposes only and is unaudited. The pro forma financial information was prepared in U.S. dollars in a manner consistent with accounting policies that applied to Thomson under Canadian GAAP prior to the closing of the acquisition and which currently apply to Thomson Reuters. The pro forma financial information should not be considered indicative of actual balance sheet data or operating results that would have been achieved had Thomson acquired Reuters on January 1, 2007, or of results which may occur in the future. The pro forma financial information should be read in conjunction with historical financial results for Thomson and Reuters. The Reuters historical financial information has been converted from British pounds sterling to U.S. dollars for purposes of the pro forma financial information presented using average exchange rates applicable during the periods presented.
CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
This news release, in particular the sections under the headings "Savings Outlook" and "2008 Business Outlook for Thomson Reuters", includes forward- looking statements that are based on certain assumptions and reflect Thomson Reuters current expectations. Forward-looking statements are those that are not historical facts and also include Thomson Reuters expectations about its future prospects and share repurchase plans. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include risks related to Thomson Reuters ability to achieve the anticipated benefits from the Reuters transaction and other cost savings initiatives (including within the time periods currently expected), develop additional products and services to meet customers' needs, attract new customers, general economic conditions and actions of competitors. In addition, Thomson Reuters does not control Woodbridge and Woodbridge is not obligated to reinvest its dividends in Thomson Reuters Corporation common shares. Additional factors are discussed in materials filed by Thomson Reuters Corporation and Thomson Reuters PLC from time to time with securities regulatory authorities. In preparing its Savings Outlook and Business Outlook, Thomson Reuters material assumptions were that (i) there will be no change to existing prevailing worldwide macroeconomic conditions; (ii) there will be no material adverse events which will have a significant impact on Thomson Reuters financial results; (iii) a portion of Thomson Reuters anticipated 2008 revenue growth will come from tactical acquisitions made during the year; (iv) the anticipated 2008 underlying operating profit margin includes benefits of savings programs and excludes synergy and integration costs and acquisition-related expenses of amortization of intangibles; (v) the anticipated 2008 free cash flow margin excludes synergy and integration-related costs; (vi) the Outlooks reflect the continuing operations of Thomson Reuters business as of March 31, 2008; (vii) the Business Outlook includes integration-related costs together with various cost savings initiatives; (viii) the Outlooks assume Thomson had acquired Reuters on January 1, 2007; and (ix) the Outlooks include preliminary estimates of pro forma adjustments based on estimated fair values of assets. Thomson Reuters disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable law, rule or regulation.
SOURCE Thomson Reuters
