15.05.2007 08:02:00
|
The Thomson Corporation and Reuters Group Plc Recommended Transaction
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTOAUSTRALIA
OR JAPAN
SUMMARY
Further to the announcements of 4, 7 and 8 May 2007, the boards of
Thomson and Reuters (NASDAQ:RTRSY)(LSE:RTR) announce that they have
today agreed to combine the two groups. The boards of Thomson and
Reuters intend to recommend the Transaction to their shareholders.
Woodbridge, the Thomson family holding company which controls
approximately 70% of Thomson, has irrevocably committed to vote in
favour of the Transaction and the Reuters Founders Share Company, which
controls a special share in Reuters, has resolved to support the
Transaction.
The boards of Thomson and Reuters believe there is a natural fit and
compelling logic in creating a global leader in electronic information
services, trading systems and news:
Customers will benefit from seamless access to richer content and
broader capabilities across financial and professional markets from a
trusted provider
The Combined Business will be positioned to benefit from the
continuing shift towards electronic delivery of information to
professional and financial customers
Complementary geographic and product markets
Diversified revenue streams and a larger capital base will provide a
stable platform from which to invest and grow
Thomson and Reuters brands will be maintained in their key areas of
strength
Synergies at an annual run-rate of in excess of US$500 million
expected by the end of the third year after closing
Complementary management culture and values
Dual listed company structure will allow the Combined Business to have
listings in Canada, the UK and the US and will enable both sets of
shareholders to participate in further value creation
The Combined Business will adopt the Reuter Trust Principles
The combination will be effected through a dual listed company
structure. The companies will be separate legal entities but will be
managed and operated as if they were a single economic enterprise. The
companies' economic interests will be aligned and they will pursue
common objectives. The boards of the two companies will be identical and
the Combined Business will be managed by a single senior executive
management team. Thomson will be renamed Thomson-Reuters Corporation.
The Combined Business will be called Thomson-Reuters and the combined
Thomson Financial unit and Reuters financial and media businesses will
be called Reuters. The existing Thomson professional businesses –
Legal, Tax & Accounting, Scientific and Healthcare –
will together be known as Thomson-Reuters Professional.
To effect the Transaction, Reuters will be acquired by a newly formed UK
holding company, Thomson-Reuters PLC, through a scheme of arrangement in
which each Reuters Share will be entitled to 352.5 pence per share in
cash and 0.16 Thomson-Reuters PLC shares. Each Thomson-Reuters PLC Share
will be equivalent to one Thomson-Reuters Corporation Share. Based on
the closing Thomson share price of C$48.46 on the Toronto Stock Exchange
on Thursday 3 May 2007, the day before the initial announcement by
Reuters (and at an exchange rate of £1:
C$2.19795), this would value each Reuters share at approximately 705
pence representing a premium of approximately 43% to the closing share
price of Reuters on Thursday 3 May 2007. Based on the closing Thomson
share price of C$46.36 and exchange rate of £1:
C$2.19360 on 14 May 2007, the day before this announcement, this would
value each Reuters Share at approximately 691 pence and values the
entire existing issued share capital of Reuters at approximately £8.7
billion. The cash consideration for the Transaction will be funded by
Thomson.
Based on current issued share capital, 201,095,235 shares in
Thomson-Reuters PLC will be issued to Reuters Shareholders in the
Transaction on completion. On that basis, Woodbridge will own
approximately 53% of the Combined Business, other Thomson Shareholders
approximately 23% and Reuters Shareholders approximately 24%.
The Combined Business will adopt the Reuter Trust Principles and Reuters
Founders Share Company structure. Woodbridge has agreed that it will use
its voting control to support the Reuter Trust Principles.
The Transaction is subject to the pre-conditions of anti-trust
clearances, all of which are waivable. Thomson has undertaken to take
whatever steps are required to procure such clearances. Upon receipt of
anti-trust clearances, documentation will be posted to Reuters
Shareholders to approve a court-approved scheme of arrangement to
establish Thomson-Reuters PLC as the new holding company of Reuters.
Around the same time, documentation will be posted to Thomson
Shareholders to effect a court-approved Ontario Plan of Arrangement to
effect the Transaction.
Reuters CEO, Tom Glocer, 47, will become CEO of the Combined Business at
the time the Transaction closes. Thomson President and CEO, Richard J.
Harrington, 60, who led the transformation of the company from
traditional publishing to electronic solutions, software and services,
will retire at the completion of the Transaction. Devin Wenig, currently
COO of Reuters, will be CEO of Reuters (the combined Thomson Financial
unit and Reuters financial and media businesses) and Jim Smith,
currently COO of Thomson, will be CEO of Thomson-Reuters Professional.
Other members of the senior management team will include Bob Daleo
(currently Thomson CFO) as CFO, Michael Wilens (currently Thomson CTO)
as CTO, Stephen Dando (currently Reuters Group HR Director) as Chief
Human Resources Officer, and David Schlesinger (currently Reuters
Editor-in-Chief) as Editor-in-Chief.
The Chairman will be David Thomson, and the Deputy Chairmen will be W.
Geoffrey Beattie and Niall FitzGerald who will also serve as Senior
Independent Director.
David Thomson, Chairman of Thomson, said "We
are enormously proud of the evolution of The Thomson Corporation and the
value it has created for all our shareholders. We recognize the rich
history of Reuters and are committed to uphold the Reuter Trust
Principles. I am pleased to welcome Niall and Tom and look forward to
working with them to grow our business.”
Niall FitzGerald, Chairman of Reuters, said "This
is an historic day for Reuters and represents an important chapter in
the development of our company and the commitment to our heritage. The
shared expertise and complementary strengths of these two companies
makes for a strategically compelling and financially attractive
combination. I am especially proud that Reuters journalism will continue
to be governed by the powerful Reuter Trust Principles of independence,
integrity and freedom from bias.”
Thomson President and CEO, Richard J. Harrington, said "This
combination marks a strategic milestone for both companies. For Thomson,
it is a defining moment in our journey to become the information
provider of choice for the world's business and professional markets.
Thomson has a long history of creating value for all its stakeholders
and this Transaction builds on that tradition.”
Tom Glocer, CEO of Reuters, said "I am looking
forward to the opportunity of being the first CEO of Thomson-Reuters.
The combination of these two great businesses will create an exceptional
global information company guided by the Reuter Trust Principles. It
will provide a broader offering to our customers, deliver value to our
shareholders and create great opportunities for our people.”
Pehr Gyllenhammar, Chairman of the Trustees, said "The
Trustees are pleased to give their support to the proposed business
combination of Thomson and Reuters. We believe that the formation of
Thomson-Reuters marks a watershed in the global information business,
and will underpin the strength, integrity and sustainability of Reuters
as a global leader in news and financial information for many years to
come.”
This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of this
announcement.
A Thomson and Reuters briefing for investors and analysts will be
webcast live today at 09:30 BST / 04:30 EDT and available for replay at
14:00 BST / 09:00 EDT at http://www.thomson.com/investor_relations/
and http://about.reuters.com/investors/
announcements/.
Thomson and Reuters will also hold a conference call and webcast for
U.S. investors at 08:30 EDT / 13:30 BST. To participate in the call and
webcast, please register online at http://www.thomson.com/investor_relations/
or http://about.reuters.com/
investors/announcements/.
The directors of Thomson and Reuters accept responsibility for the
information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge
and belief of the directors of Thomson and Reuters (who have taken all
reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained
herein for which they accept responsibility is in accordance with the
facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such
information.
Bear Stearns is acting as financial adviser to Thomson and no one else
in connection with the Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone
other than Thomson for providing the protections afforded to the clients
of Bear Stearns nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction
or any other matter referred to herein.
Perella Weinberg is acting as financial adviser to Thomson and no one
else in connection with the Transaction and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Thomson for providing the protections afforded to the
clients of Perella Weinberg nor for providing advice in relation to the
Transaction or any other matter referred to herein.
UBS is acting as financial adviser and is also providing corporate
broking advice to Reuters and no one else in connection with the
Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone other than Reuters for
providing the protections afforded to the clients of UBS nor for
providing advice in relation to the Transaction or any other matter
referred to herein.
Blackstone is acting as financial adviser to Reuters and no one else in
connection with the Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone
other than Reuters for providing the protections afforded to the clients
of Blackstone nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction or
any other matter referred to herein.
Citi and JPMorgan Cazenove are acting as joint corporate brokers to
Reuters and are also providing financial advice to Reuters. They are
acting for no one else in connection with the Transaction and will not
be responsible to anyone other than Reuters for providing the
protections afforded to the clients of Citi and JPMorgan Cazenove,
respectively, nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction or
any other matter referred to herein.
Morgan Stanley has also provided financial advice to Reuters and is
acting for no one else in connection with the Transaction and will not
be responsible to anyone other than Reuters for providing the
protections afforded to the clients of Morgan Stanley nor for providing
advice in relation to the Transaction or any other matter referred to
herein.
DEALING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the 'Code'), if
any person is, or becomes, 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in 1%
or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of Thomson or of Reuters,
all 'dealings' in any 'relevant securities' of that company (including
by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any
such 'relevant securities') must be publicly disclosed by no later than
3.30 pm (London time) on the London business day following the date of
the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date
on which the Transaction becomes, or is declared, unconditional, lapses
or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the 'offer period' otherwise ends.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an 'interest' in
'relevant securities' of Thomson or Reuters, they will be deemed to be a
single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all 'dealings' in
'relevant securities' of Thomson or Reuters by Thomson or Reuters, or by
any of their respective 'associates', must be disclosed by no later than
12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day following the date
of the relevant transaction.
A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose 'relevant
securities' 'dealings' should be disclosed, and the number of such
securities in issue, can be found on the Takeover Panel’s
website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
'Interests in securities' arise, in summary, when a person has long
economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the
price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having
an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by
virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to,
securities.
Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be
found on the Panel’s website. If you are in
any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a 'dealing'
under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel.
CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
This press release includes forward-looking statements, such as Thomson’s
and Reuters beliefs and expectations regarding the proposed combination
of the two businesses. These statements are based on certain assumptions
and reflect Thomson's and Reuters current expectations. Forward-looking
statements also include statements about Thomson's and Reuters beliefs
and expectations related to the proposed Transaction structure and
consideration, benefits that would be afforded to customers, benefits to
the Combined Business that are expected to be obtained as a result of
the Transaction, as well as the parties' ability to enhance shareholder
value through, among other things, the delivery of expected synergies.
There can be no assurance that the proposed Transaction will be
consummated or that the anticipated benefits will be realised. The
proposed Transaction is subject to various regulatory approvals and the
fulfilment of certain conditions, and there can be no assurance that any
such approvals will be obtained and/or such conditions will be met. All
forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to a number
of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to
differ materially from current expectations. These risks and
uncertainties include: the ability to achieve the cost savings and
synergies contemplated through the proposed Transaction; the failure of
Reuters shareholders to approve the proposed Transaction; the effect of
regulatory conditions, if any, imposed by regulatory authorities; the
reaction of Thomson’s and Reuters customers,
employees and suppliers to the proposed Transaction; the ability to
promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of Thomson and
Reuters; and the diversion of management time on proposed
Transaction-related issues. Additional factors that could cause actual
results or events to differ materially from current expectations are
discussed in Thomson's and Reuters respective materials filed with the
securities regulatory authorities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the
United States (as the case may be) from time to time including The
Thomson Corporation’s 2006 Annual Report on
Form 40-F and Reuters Group PLC’s 2006 Annual
Report on Form 20-F, each of which has been filed with the US Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC). Any forward-looking statements made by or
on behalf of Thomson or Reuters speak only as of the date they are made.
Thomson and Reuters each disclaim any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
This document does not constitute an offer for sale of any securities or
an offer or an invitation to purchase any such securities. Following
satisfaction or waiver of the pre-conditions to the proposed
Transaction, documents relating to the proposed Transaction will be
furnished to or filed with the SEC. Shareholders are urged to read such
documents regarding the proposed Transaction if and when they become
available, because they will contain important information. Shareholders
will be able to obtain free copies of these documents, as well as other
filings containing information about the companies, without charge, at
the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov,
at the Canadian securities regulatory authorities’
web site at www.sedar.com (in the
case of Thomson) and from Thomson and Reuters. These documents will also
be available for inspection and copying at the public reference room
maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, US.
For further information about the public reference room, call the SEC at
+1 800 732 0330.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO
AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN
THE THOMSON CORPORATION AND REUTERS GROUP PLC RECOMMENDED TRANSACTION 1. Introduction
The boards of Thomson and Reuters announce that they have reached
agreement to combine the two companies through a dual listed company
structure.
Thomson-Reuters PLC, a new UK holding company, will acquire Reuters by
way of a Scheme for a mixture of cash and shares. Subject to certain
conditions described in this announcement, Thomson-Reuters PLC and
Thomson will enter into agreements and will modify their constitutional
documents in order to implement the Transaction. The cash consideration
will be funded by Thomson.
2. Recommendations
The Reuters Board, which has been so advised by UBS and Blackstone,
considers the terms of the Transaction to be fair and reasonable. In
providing advice to the Reuters Board, UBS and Blackstone have taken
into account the commercial assessment of the Reuters Board.
Accordingly, the Reuters Board intends unanimously to recommend that
Reuters Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme as the directors of
Reuters have undertaken to do in respect of their own respective
beneficial holdings of Reuters Shares (representing, in aggregate,
approximately 0.1% of the Reuters Shares currently in issue).
The Thomson Board intends unanimously to recommend that Thomson
Shareholders vote in favour of an Ontario Plan of Arrangement. Bear
Stearns and Perella Weinberg are acting as financial adviser to Thomson.
Bear Stearns also provided an opinion that the Transaction is fair from
a financial point of view to Thomson.
Woodbridge, the Thomson family holding company, has irrevocably
committed to vote in favour of the Transaction in respect of the
approximately 70% of the Thomson Shares it controls.
3. The Transaction
The Transaction is a means of enabling Thomson and Reuters to combine
their management and operations as if they were a single economic
enterprise, while retaining their separate legal identities. To effect
the Transaction, Thomson-Reuters PLC will acquire Reuters through a
Scheme for:
352.5p in cash and 0.16 Thomson-Reuters PLC Shares for each Reuters
Share
The equalisation ratio in the Transaction will be such that one
Thomson-Reuters PLC share will be equivalent to one Thomson-Reuters
Corporation share. Fractions of shares will be aggregated and sold in
the market with the proceeds in excess of £1
being distributed to those shareholders entitled to them. Reuters
American Depositary Shares, each of which represents six Reuters Shares,
will participate in the Transaction on an equivalent basis.
Thomson-Reuters PLC and Thomson-Reuters Corporation will then enter into
a series of contractual agreements providing for identical boards of
directors, a unified management structure and equalisation of the
economic interests of shareholders of Thomson-Reuters PLC and
Thomson-Reuters Corporation.
As part of the Transaction, Thomson will change its name to
Thomson-Reuters Corporation, a matter which will be submitted to Thomson
Shareholders at the Thomson shareholder meetings.
Thomson-Reuters Corporation will retain its existing listings on the
Toronto Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange and
Thomson-Reuters PLC will apply for its ordinary shares to be listed on
the London Stock Exchange and intends to apply for its American
Depositary Shares to be listed on Nasdaq. Thomson-Reuters Corporation
will retain its existing inclusion in the S&P/TSX series of indices and
Thomson-Reuters PLC is expected to be included in the FTSE UK series of
indices.
Based on current issued share capital, Woodbridge will own approximately
53% of the Combined Business, other Thomson Shareholders approximately
23% and Reuters Shareholders approximately 24%.
4. Background to and Reasons for the Transaction
The boards of Thomson and Reuters believe that the principal benefits of
the Transaction include:
Creation of a global leader in electronic information services,
trading systems and news
The Combined Business will benefit from significantly greater scale
together with geographic and product diversification. It will be
positioned to optimise the development of existing brands, products and
technologies and to invest in the business. It will benefit from the
continuing shift towards electronic delivery of information to
professional and financial customers.
The combination will bring together adjacent businesses and
complementary assets that fit together well. This will offer the
marketplace a new choice of complementary content, applications and
transactional services that can help make clients more efficient and
create greater opportunity to participate profitably in markets.
The Thomson and Reuters brands will be maintained in their key areas of
strength.
Significant value creation through deliverable synergies
The combination of Thomson and Reuters is expected to deliver synergies
at an annual run-rate of in excess of US$500 million by the end of the
third year after closing. Synergies are expected to be generated through
creating efficiencies and rationalisation in key areas such as shared
technology platforms, third party content and corporate services. These
synergies are in addition to the anticipated cost-savings benefits from
the previously announced THOMSONplus and Reuters Core Plus
initiatives.
Combination of two strong, experienced management teams
The combination creates an opportunity to bring together a world-class
management team. The team has the depth of market and customer
experience necessary to ensure clients will benefit strongly from the
opportunities created by the Combined Business. Between them they also
have substantial integration experience and are well equipped to lead
the formation of the new group.
The dual listed company structure allows the Combined Business to have
listings in Canada, the UK and the US and enables both sets of
shareholders to participate in further value creation.
5. Reuters Founders Share Company and the Reuter Trust
Principles
Customers in all parts of the world depend on Reuters to provide them
with reliable and objective news and information. Reuters share
structure therefore includes two mechanisms to safeguard its
independence and integrity:
No person may hold 15% or more of Reuters.
If any person acquires, or seeks to acquire, 30% or more of Reuters,
the Reuters Founders Share Company, through the Founders Share which
it holds in Reuters, may exercise whatever votes are necessary to pass
or defeat any resolution of shareholders.
Upon implementation of the Transaction the following changes will be
made:
The Reuters Founders Share Company will hold similar Founders Shares
in both Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC, which
will each adopt the Reuter Trust Principles. The voting powers of the
Reuters Founders Share Company will be modified as described in
Appendix I.
Woodbridge has undertaken to use its shareholding to support the
Reuter Trust Principles and an exemption from the shareholding limits
will be available to it so long as it remains under the control of the
Thomson family.
Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC agree to provide
Reuters Founders Share Company with regular information meetings and
presentations. Reuters Founders Share Company will expand its programme
of visits, presentations etc, especially to Thomson-Reuters Corporation
entities to facilitate the discharge of Reuters Founders Share Company’s
functions.
Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC will consult with
the Chairman of Reuters Founders Share Company before the appointment or
removal of the Editor-in-Chief.
See Appendix I for more information on the Reuter Trust Principles and
the Reuters Founders Share Company.
6. Dividends and accounting
Reuters has declared a dividend of 12p for 2007, with 5p payable as an
interim dividend and 7p payable as a final dividend subject to
proportionate adjustment if closing occurs before year end. If closing
occurs after the year end, a proportionate 2008 dividend will also be
paid. Relative to the 2007 dividend, the Reuters 2008 dividend will
change in the same proportion as the Thomson 2008 dividend. Any dividend
subject to proportionate adjustment will be paid around completion.
Thomson will pay dividends in the ordinary course prior to completion of
the Transaction, subject to proportionate adjustment if completion
occurs before the end of a financial period. Any dividend subject to
proportionate adjustment will be paid around completion.
Following completion of the Transaction, Reuters Shareholders will
receive dividends declared by Thomson-Reuters PLC and Thomson
Shareholders will continue to receive dividends declared by
Thomson-Reuters Corporation. Dividends in respect of both
Thomson-Reuters PLC shares and Thomson-Reuters Corporation shares
declared after completion of the Transaction will be paid at about the
same time and in equalised amounts in accordance with the equalisation
ratio. Payments will be equalised on a gross basis, disregarding any
amounts required to be deducted or withheld in respect of taxes and the
amount of any applicable tax credits.
The boards of Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC will
declare quarterly dividends in US dollars. Thomson-Reuters Corporation
Shareholders will continue to be able to elect to receive the dividend
in US dollars, Canadian dollars or pounds sterling, based on the
exchange rates prevailing on the record date. Thomson-Reuters PLC
Shareholders will have the option to elect to receive dividends in US
dollars, Canadian dollars or pounds sterling, based on the exchange
rates prevailing on the record date.
The Combined Business will report combined financial statements in US
dollars.
7. Key features of the Transaction
Thomson, Thomson-Reuters PLC, Reuters and Woodbridge have entered into
an Implementation Agreement which contains provisions governing the
implementation of the Transaction.
The key features of the Transaction are summarised below.
7.1 Name changes
Thomson will change its name to Thomson-Reuters Corporation. Reuters
will be known as Thomson-Reuters PLC. The combined Thomson Financial
unit and Reuters financial and media businesses will be called Reuters.
The existing Thomson professional businesses –
Legal, Tax & Accounting, Scientific and Healthcare –
will together be known as Thomson-Reuters Professional.
7.2 Common economic interests
Agreements between Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC,
including an equalisation agreement and deeds of guarantee, will align
the economic interests of the two companies to ensure that they will be
operated as a single economic enterprise. Thomson-Reuters Corporation
Shareholders and Thomson-Reuters PLC Shareholders will have equalised
rights to income and capital distributions from the Combined Business.
The economic interests represented by an individual share in one company
relative to the economic interests of an individual share in the other
company will be determined by reference to the equalisation ratio. The
equalisation ratio will initially be one Thomson-Reuters Corporation
share to each Thomson-Reuters PLC share. Accordingly, one
Thomson-Reuters PLC share will initially have rights to income and
capital equivalent to that of one Thomson-Reuters Corporation share.
The equalisation ratio will be subject to change if one group of
shareholders receives a benefit which is not also received by the other
group of shareholders.
7.3 Separate entities with identical boards and management
Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC will be separate
legal entities but will be managed and operated as if they were a single
economic enterprise. The companies' economic interests will be aligned
and they will pursue common objectives. The boards of Thomson-Reuters
Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC will be identical and the Combined
Business will be managed by a single senior executive management team.
In addition to their normal fiduciary duties, the directors of each
company will be required to have regard to the interests of the other
company and to the Reuter Trust Principles.
The boards of the companies will be identical and initially consist of
15 Directors, five of whom will be current Directors of Reuters and an
additional one of whom will be the CEO. Of the remaining nine, four will
be from Woodbridge. Woodbridge will be entitled to nominate the
Chairman. The Chairman will be David Thomson, and the Deputy Chairmen
will be W. Geoffrey Beattie and Niall FitzGerald who will also serve as
Senior Independent Director.
Tom Glocer, 47, the CEO of Reuters, will become CEO of both
Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC. Thomson President
and CEO, Richard J. Harrington, 60, who led the transformation of the
company from traditional publishing to electronic solutions, software
and services, will retire at the completion of the Transaction.
Devin Wenig, currently COO of Reuters, will be CEO of Reuters (the
combined Thomson Financial unit and Reuters financial and media
businesses) and Jim Smith, currently COO of Thomson, will be CEO of
Thomson-Reuters Professional. Other members of the senior management
team will include Bob Daleo (currently Thomson CFO) as CFO, Michael
Wilens (currently Thomson CTO) as CTO, Stephen Dando (currently Reuters
Group HR Director), as Chief Human Resources Officer, and David
Schlesinger (currently Reuters Editor-in-Chief) as Editor-in-Chief.
Resolutions relating to the appointment, election, removal and
re-election of directors after completion will be considered as a Joint
Electorate Action and voted upon by the shareholders of each company
effectively voting together as a single decision-making body.
The Combined Business will, after completion, comply with applicable
corporate governance standards in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the
United States.
7.4 Voting arrangements
As part of the Transaction, special voting arrangements will be
implemented through the constitutional documents of the two companies,
an equalisation agreement and special voting shares. In most cases the
shareholders of both companies will effectively vote together as a
single decision-making body on matters requiring the approval of
shareholders of either company, except in cases where an issue affects
the shares of one company differently from the shares of the other. The
voting interests represented by an individual share in one company
relative to the voting interests of an individual share in the other
company will be determined by reference to the equalisation ratio. One
Thomson-Reuters PLC share will initially have voting rights equivalent
to those of one Thomson-Reuters Corporation share.
In addition, the Reuters Founders Share Company will have a special
share in each company, further details of which are contained in
Appendix I.
7.5 Restrictions on shareholdings and takeovers
Suitable arrangements will be put in place in the constitutions of both
companies such that an offer for either Thomson-Reuters Corporation or
Thomson-Reuters PLC would require an equivalent offer to be made to the
shareholders of the other.
The constitution of Thomson-Reuters PLC will contain provisions
requiring the directors to force divestiture of any shareholding to
below 15%. Further, if any shareholder acquires 30% or more of
Thomson-Reuters PLC then the Reuters Founders Share Company will receive
further votes as described in Appendix I.
If a shareholder acquires 15% or more of the shares in Thomson-Reuters
Corporation the voting rights of all other shareholders will be
multiplied by one million so as effectively to deprive such shareholder
of votes in relation to his holding.
An exemption to these provisions will apply to Woodbridge and its
affiliates for so long as they remain controlled by the Thomson family.
7.6 Buy-Backs of Combined Business shares
Subject to applicable law and any necessary approvals, each of
Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC may purchase its own
shares or shares in the other.
7.7 Break fee
The Implementation Agreement includes a Break Fee to be paid by Thomson
or Reuters, as set out in Appendix II.
8. Pre-conditions and Conditions
The posting of the Reuters Circular and the Thomson Circular will take
place only if certain anti-trust pre-conditions are satisfied or waived
in accordance with the Implementation Agreement. These are the only
pre-conditions to the Transaction and are waivable. Further details of
the anti-trust pre-conditions are set out in Appendix III. The
conditions of the Transaction are set out in Appendix IV.
9. Shareholder approval process and timetable
Following the satisfaction or waiver of the anti-trust pre-conditions,
Reuters will, as soon as reasonably practicable, publish the Reuters
Circular and convene the Reuters shareholder meetings for a time within
six weeks after the posting of the Reuters Circular (or such other
period as may be agreed between the parties or required by the English
Court, the FSA or the Panel).
Following the satisfaction or waiver of the anti-trust pre-conditions,
Thomson will, as soon as reasonably practicable, publish the Thomson
Circular and convene the Thomson shareholder meetings for a time within
six weeks after the posting of the Thomson Circular (or such other
period as may be agreed between the parties or required by the Canadian
Court).
The documentation relating to the Transaction will be filed with the CSI
and the FSA, as applicable, as soon as practicable following the
satisfaction or waiver of the anti-trust pre-conditions.
A copy of the CSI filings will be available on the CSI website shortly
after filing. The implementation of the Transaction is subject to, among
other things, shareholder approval by both Reuters Shareholders and
Thomson Shareholders at their respective shareholder meetings. Full
details will be contained in the documentation to be sent to Reuters
Shareholders and Thomson Shareholders in advance of their shareholder
meetings.
Woodbridge has irrevocably committed to vote in favour of the
Transaction in respect of its beneficial holding of Thomson Shares
representing approximately 70% of the Thomson Shares currently in issue.
The directors of Reuters have undertaken to vote in favour of the
Transaction in respect of their own respective beneficial holdings of
Reuters Shares (representing, in aggregate, approximately 0.1% of the
Reuters Shares currently in issue).
10. Employees
The combination of Thomson and Reuters will offer employees the benefit
of a larger operating platform and a business of greater international
size and scope. Thomson confirms that the existing employment rights,
including pension rights, of Reuters employees will be fully safeguarded.
11. Interests in Reuters shares
David Thomson, Chairman of Thomson, owns 5,000 Reuters Shares.
Neither Thomson, nor any of the directors of Thomson other than David
Thomson, nor, so far as Thomson is aware, any other party acting in
concert with Thomson, owns or controls any Reuters Shares or holds any
option to purchase any Reuters Shares or has entered into any
derivatives referenced to Reuters Shares.
12. General
The Transaction is subject to the applicable provisions of the Takeover
Code. In particular, in accordance with Rule 13 of the Takeover Code,
neither Thomson-Reuters Corporation nor Thomson-Reuters PLC may rely on
certain conditions to the Implementation Agreement as a reason not to
proceed with completion of the Transaction, without prior consent from
the Panel.
13. Financing
The cash consideration payable under the Transaction will be provided to
Thomson-Reuters PLC by or on behalf of Thomson. Thomson will fund the
cash consideration using a mixture of available cash and existing and
new credit facilities including an acquisition bridge financing
commitment provided by Bear Stearns. Bear Stearns and Perella Weinberg
have confirmed that they are satisfied that the necessary cash resources
are available to Thomson to enable it to satisfy in full the cash
consideration payable under the Transaction.
The definitions used in this announcement are contained in Appendix VII.
The sources and bases of information used in this announcement are
contained in Appendix VI.
This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to
acquire shares or securities.
A Thomson and Reuters briefing for investors and analysts will be
webcast live today at 09:30 BST / 04:30 EDT and available for replay at
14:00 BST / 09:00 EDT at http://www.thomson.com/investor_relations/
and http://about.reuters.com/investors/
announcements/.
Thomson and Reuters will also hold a conference call and webcast for
U.S. investors at 08:30 EDT / 13:30 BST. To participate in the call and
webcast, please register online at http://www.thomson.com/investor_relations/
or http://about.reuters.com/
investors/announcements/.
The directors of Thomson and Reuters accept responsibility for the
information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge
and belief of the directors of Thomson and Reuters (who have taken all
reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained
herein for which they accept responsibility is in accordance with the
facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such
information.
Bear Stearns is acting as financial adviser to Thomson and no one else
in connection with the Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone
other than Thomson for providing the protections afforded to the clients
of Bear Stearns nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction
or any other matter referred to herein.
Perella Weinberg is acting as financial adviser to Thomson and no one
else in connection with the Transaction and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Thomson for providing the protections afforded to the
clients of Perella Weinberg nor for providing advice in relation to the
Transaction or any other matter referred to herein.
UBS is acting as financial adviser and is also providing corporate
broking advice to Reuters and no one else in connection with the
Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone other than Reuters for
providing the protections afforded to the clients of UBS nor for
providing advice in relation to the Transaction or any other matter
referred to herein.
Blackstone is acting as financial adviser to Reuters and no one else in
connection with the Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone
other than Reuters for providing the protections afforded to the clients
of Blackstone nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction or
any other matter referred to herein.
Citi and JPMorgan Cazenove are acting as joint corporate brokers to
Reuters and are also providing financial advice to Reuters. They are
acting for no one else in connection with the Transaction and will not
be responsible to anyone other than Reuters for providing the
protections afforded to the clients of Citi and JPMorgan Cazenove,
respectively, nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction or
any other matter referred to herein.
Morgan Stanley has also provided financial advice to Reuters and is
acting for no one else in connection with the Transaction and will not
be responsible to anyone other than Reuters for providing the
protections afforded to the clients of Morgan Stanley nor for providing
advice in relation to the Transaction or any other matter referred to
herein.
DEALING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the 'Code'), if
any person is, or becomes, 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in 1%
or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of Thomson or of Reuters,
all 'dealings' in any 'relevant securities' of that company (including
by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any
such 'relevant securities') must be publicly disclosed by no later than
3.30 pm (London time) on the London business day following the date of
the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date
on which the Transaction becomes, or is declared, unconditional, lapses
or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the 'offer period' otherwise ends.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an 'interest' in
'relevant securities' of Thomson or Reuters, they will be deemed to be a
single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all 'dealings' in
'relevant securities' of Thomson or Reuters by Thomson or Reuters, or by
any of their respective 'associates', must be disclosed by no later than
12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day following the date
of the relevant transaction.
A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose 'relevant
securities' 'dealings' should be disclosed, and the number of such
securities in issue, can be found on the Takeover Panel’s
website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
'Interests in securities' arise, in summary, when a person has long
economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the
price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having
an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by
virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to,
securities.
Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be
found on the Panel’s website. If you are in
any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a 'dealing'
under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel.
CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
This press release includes forward-looking statements, such as Thomson’s
and Reuters beliefs and expectations regarding the proposed combination
of the two businesses. These statements are based on certain assumptions
and reflect Thomson's and Reuters current expectations. Forward-looking
statements also include statements about Thomson's and Reuters beliefs
and expectations related to the proposed Transaction structure and
consideration, benefits that would be afforded to customers, benefits to
the Combined Business that are expected to be obtained as a result of
the Transaction, as well as the parties' ability to enhance shareholder
value through, among other things, the delivery of expected synergies.
There can be no assurance that the proposed Transaction will be
consummated or that the anticipated benefits will be realised. The
proposed Transaction is subject to various regulatory approvals and the
fulfilment of certain conditions, and there can be no assurance that any
such approvals will be obtained and/or such conditions will be met. All
forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to a number
of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to
differ materially from current expectations. These risks and
uncertainties include: the ability to achieve the cost savings and
synergies contemplated through the proposed Transaction; the failure of
Reuters shareholders to approve the proposed Transaction; the effect of
regulatory conditions, if any, imposed by regulatory authorities; the
reaction of Thomson’s and Reuters customers,
employees and suppliers to the proposed Transaction; the ability to
promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of Thomson and
Reuters; and the diversion of management time on proposed
Transaction-related issues. Additional factors that could cause actual
results or events to differ materially from current expectations are
discussed in Thomson's and Reuters respective materials filed with the
securities regulatory authorities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the
United States (as the case may be) from time to time including The
Thomson Corporation’s 2006 Annual Report on
Form 40-F and Reuters Group PLC’s 2006 Annual
Report on Form 20-F, each of which has been filed with the US Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC). Any forward-looking statements made by or
on behalf of Thomson or Reuters speak only as of the date they are made.
Thomson and Reuters each disclaim any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
This document does not constitute an offer for sale of any securities or
an offer or an invitation to purchase any such securities. Following
satisfaction or waiver of the pre-conditions to the proposed
Transaction, documents relating to the proposed Transaction will be
furnished to or filed with the SEC. Shareholders are urged to read such
documents regarding the proposed Transaction if and when they become
available, because they will contain important information. Shareholders
will be able to obtain free copies of these documents, as well as other
filings containing information about the companies, without charge, at
the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov,
at the Canadian securities regulatory authorities’
web site at www.sedar.com (in the
case of Thomson) and from Thomson and Reuters. These documents will also
be available for inspection and copying at the public reference room
maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, US.
For further information about the public reference room, call the SEC at
+1 800 732 0330.
APPENDIX I REUTER TRUST PRINCIPLES AND THE REUTERS FOUNDERS SHARE COMPANY The Reuter Trust Principles
Reuters is dedicated to preserving its independence, integrity and
freedom from bias in the gathering and dissemination of news and
information.
The constitution of Reuters requires Reuters directors, in the
performance of their functions, to have due regard to the Reuter Trust
Principles in so far as, by the proper exercise of their powers and in
accordance with their other duties as directors, those principles are
capable of being observed.
The Reuter Trust Principles are:
that Reuters shall at no time pass into the hands of any one interest,
group or faction;
that the integrity, independence and freedom from bias of Reuters
shall at all times be fully preserved;
that Reuters shall supply unbiased and reliable news services to
newspapers, news agencies, broadcasters and other media subscribers
and to businesses, governments, institutions, individuals and others
with whom Reuters has or may have contracts;
that Reuters shall pay due regard to the many interests which it
serves in addition to those of the media; and
that no effort shall be spared to expand, develop and adapt the news
and other services and products of Reuters so as to maintain its
leading position in the international news and information business.
The Reuters Founders Share Company
The Reuters Founders Share Company was established in 1984 at the time
of Reuters public flotation on the London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.
Under the constitution of the Reuters Founders Share Company, the
directors of Reuters Founders Share Company are required to act
generally in accordance with the Reuter Trust Principles, and to
endeavour to ensure, as far as they are able by the proper exercise of
the powers vested in them (as described below), that the Reuter Trust
Principles are complied with.
The Directors of Reuters Founders Share Company are:
Pehr Gyllenhammar (Chairman); Len Berkowitz; The Hon Mrs Anson Chan GBM
CBE JP; Sir Michael Checkland; Uffe Ellemann-Jensen; Bertrand Collomb;
Sir Christopher Mallaby GCMG GCVO; Mammen Mathew; John H McArthur; The
Rt Hon The Baroness Noakes, DBE; Sir William Purves CBE DSO; Jaakko
Rauramo; Dr Mark Wossner; Dr Frene Ginwala, Joseph Lelyveld; John
Fairfax; Jiri Dienstbier and Alejandro Junco.
Independence of Reuters
Reuters share structure includes two mechanisms designed to ensure that
a change of control in Reuters will not affect its independence:
Limitation on shareholdings:
Reuters constitution requires that no person may be interested in 15% or
more of Reuters issued shares. If any person does become interested in
15% or more of Reuters issued shares, then the Reuters directors must
serve a notice requiring that person to make a disposal of sufficient
shares to take that person’s interest below
15% again, and disenfranchising such shareholder pending such disposal.
The Founders Share:
In addition to Reuters publicly traded shares, there is a single
Founders Share, which carries certain voting powers. The Founders Share
is owned by Reuters Founders Share Company Limited. If the directors of
Reuters Founders Share Company believe that any person, together with
any associates, is seeking to obtain or has obtained control of Reuters,
they may require the special voting rights attaching to the Founders
Share to be exercised. "Control”
for this purpose means the ability to control the exercise of 30% or
more of the votes which may be cast on a poll at general meetings of
Reuters. In such circumstances, Reuters Founders Share Company, through
the exercise of these special voting rights, has the right to cast
sufficient votes at any general meeting of Reuters to pass or defeat any
resolution of Reuters Shareholders.
In addition, the voting rights attaching to the Founders Share enable
the directors of the Reuters Founders Share Company to defeat any
resolution which would alter any of the Articles of Association of
Reuters relating to the Reuter Trust Principles.
Thomson-Reuters and the Reuter Trust Principles
Following completion of the Transaction, Woodbridge, Thomson and Reuters
have agreed that the Reuter Trust Principles and the Reuters Founders
Share Company structure should apply to both Thomson-Reuters Corporation
and Thomson-Reuters PLC, and that Thomson-Reuters Corporation,
Thomson-Reuters PLC and Woodbridge should support the Trust Principles,
and Woodbridge has further agreed to exercise its voting rights to give
effect to this support.
Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC shall each adopt the
Reuter Trust Principles. The application of the Principles will be
adjusted so as to apply to each of them and their respective
subsidiaries.
Thomson-Reuters PLC’s Articles of Association
will contain the existing 15% shareholding limit, with its Board being
obliged to require a shareholder breaching this limit to sell down below
the 15% level and disfranchising such shareholder pending such disposal.
Reuters Founders Share Company would retain its right, through the
Founders Shares, to defeat any shareholders resolution of either
Thomson-Reuters Corporation or Thomson-Reuters PLC which constitutes a
variation of rights of the Founders Share (including an amendment to
designated constitutional provisions and designated provisions of the
agreements constituting the dual listed company structure).
Reuters Founders Share Company’s voting
rights at any general meeting in the event of an actual or threatened
change of control (30%+) are to be changed. At present, Reuters Founders
Share Company would have enhanced voting rights to pass or defeat any
shareholders’ resolution with respect to
Reuters. For so long as Woodbridge remains under the control of the
Thomson family and retains at least 35% of the votes in the Combined
Business, then the Reuters Founders Share Company shall have such number
of votes as exceeds the percentage of votes capable of being cast by the
person acquiring or seeking to acquire control or, if greater, such
number as when added to Woodbridge’s votes,
constitutes a majority. If Woodbridge holds 35% or less of the votes in
the Combined Business (or ceases to be controlled by the Thomson family)
the Reuters Founders Share Company’s rights
revert to those pre-existing the dual listed company structure but apply
in both Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC.
When the Transaction is implemented, an exemption will be provided, in
respect of both the 15% and 30% limits, in relation to Woodbridge’s
holding for so long as Woodbridge remains under the control of the
Thomson family.
The constitution of Thomson-Reuters Corporation will be amended to
create a Special Voting A Share and a Founders Share and add provisions
which may not be amended without the approval of Reuters Founders Share
Company.
In the event that a shareholder acquires 15% or more of the voting
rights in Thomson-Reuters Corporation, the Special Voting A Share will
multiply the rights of all shares other than those held by such
shareholder. This is designed to give substantially the same level of
protection under Canadian law as is conferred by provisions in
Thomson-Reuters PLC’s Articles.
The Founders Share in Thomson-Reuters Corporation will be held by
Reuters Founders Share Company, and will have rights which have
substantially the same effect as in Thomson-Reuters PLC.
Provisions relating to a shareholder holding 15% or 30%, or acquiring or
seeking to acquire control, also apply to persons acting together.
Founders Share Company Agreement
Woodbridge, Thomson-Reuters Corporation, Thomson-Reuters PLC and Reuters
Founders Share Company will enter into an agreement (the "FSC
Agreement”), which will contain the following
provisions.
Woodbridge will undertake to use its best endeavours as a shareholder
itself, or through its subsidiaries as shareholders, to ensure that the
Reuter Trust Principles are complied with in their application to both
Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC.
In connection with any shareholders’
resolution of Thomson-Reuters Corporation or Thomson-Reuters PLC,
Woodbridge shall give notice to Reuters Founders Share Company as to
whether, and, if so, the manner in which, it will vote its shares. If
Reuters Founders Share Company believes that the manner in which
Woodbridge will vote its shares is inconsistent with the Reuter Trust
Principles, Reuters Founders Share Company shall notify Woodbridge. If
Reuters Founders Share Company and Woodbridge cannot agree, the matter
shall be referred for resolution through binding international
arbitration, and the meeting shall be deferred until the issue is
resolved.
Woodbridge shall not increase its holdings in Thomson-Reuters
Corporation or Thomson-Reuters PLC so as to result in either ceasing to
be a publicly-traded company in Canada or the United States, or the
United Kingdom, respectively.
Woodbridge shall cause each of its affiliates (including Thomson family
members) that beneficially owns shares in either Thomson-Reuters
Corporation or Thomson-Reuters PLC to comply with the provisions of the
Reuters Founders Share Company Agreement on the same basis as Woodbridge
and shall be responsible for any breach thereof by any affiliate. Any
shares disposed of to non-affiliates will be governed by the 15% and 30%
limits.
If Reuters Founders Share Company does not have the right to convene a
Thomson-Reuters Corporation shareholders’
meeting itself, and Thomson-Reuters Corporation does not convene a
shareholders’ meeting when so requested by
Reuters Founders Share Company, Woodbridge will agree to use its rights
as a shareholder to convene such a meeting.
Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC agree to provide
Reuters Founders Share Company with regular information meetings and
presentations. Reuters Founders Share Company will expand its programme
of visits, presentations etc, especially to Thomson-Reuters Corporation
entities to facilitate the discharge of Reuters Founders Share Company
functions.
Thomson-Reuters Corporation and Thomson-Reuters PLC will consult with
the Chairman of Reuters Founders Share Company before the appointment or
removal of the Editor-in-Chief.
APPENDIX II BREAK FEE
As an inducement to both Thomson and Reuters to achieve an agreement
such that they can announce a firm intention to implement the
Transaction:
(a) Reuters undertakes to Thomson that it shall pay to Thomson the
Standard Break Fee if either:
(i) the Reuters Board fails to make a unanimous and unqualified
recommendation in the Reuters Circular to the Reuters Shareholders to
vote in favour of the Reuters Resolutions at the Reuters EGM, or
withdraws, qualifies or adversely modifies that recommendation, or
agrees or resolves prior to the date on which the obligations in this
agreement lapse (or, as applicable, the Transaction fails to become
effective) to recommend an Alternative Proposal; and
(ii) prior to the date on which the Transaction lapses (or, as
applicable, fails to become effective), any Alternative Proposal (or an
amended, varied or revised version of any Alternative Proposal) is
announced and subsequently (whether or not prior to the date on which
the Transaction lapses (or as applicable fails to become effective) or
is withdrawn) that Alternative Proposal or any other Alternative
Proposal announced prior to that date becomes or is declared
unconditional in all respects or is otherwise completed;
or:
(iii) Thomson terminates this agreement as a consequence of Reuters
breach of obligations not to solicit Alternative Proposals and, within
12 months thereafter, any Alternative Proposal is announced and
subsequently that Alternative Proposal (or any other Alternative
Proposal announced prior to the date the first Alternative Proposal
lapses or is withdrawn) becomes or is declared unconditional in all
respects or is otherwise completed.
(b) Thomson undertakes to Reuters that it shall pay to Reuters the
Standard Break Fee if the Thomson Resolutions are not approved at a duly
convened shareholder meeting on or prior to the Long-Stop Date.
The relevant party shall pay the Standard Break Fee by not later than
five business days after the date on which the Standard Break Fee
becomes payable pursuant to the above. Payment shall be made in
immediately available funds (without any deduction or withholding and
without regard to any lien, right of set-off, counterclaim or otherwise
save in each case as required by law) to such bank account as may be
notified to the relevant party by the other party for such purposes.
Reuters warrants that it has not agreed to pay any form of break fee,
inducement fee or similar fee in relation to any Alternative Proposal.
Reuters shall not be required to pay any amount pursuant to this
agreement to the extent that the Panel determines that any such payment
would not be permitted by Rule 21.2 of the Code.
APPENDIX III REGULATORY PRE-CONDITIONS
The Transaction and the posting of the Reuters Circular and Thomson
Circular, will take place only if the following Regulatory
Pre-conditions are satisfied or waived:
(a) insofar as the proposed combination of Reuters with Thomson
constitutes a concentration with a Community dimension within the scope
of Council Regulations (EC) 139/2004 (as amended) (the "Merger
Regulation”):
(i) the European Commission shall have made a decision declaring the
concentration compatible with the common market under Articles 6(1)(b),
8(1) or 8(2) of the Merger Regulation; or
(ii) the European Commission shall not have taken a decision in
accordance with Articles 6(1)(b), 6(1)(c), 8(1) 8(2) or 8(3) of the
Merger Regulation within the time limits set in Articles 10(1) and 10(3)
and is thereby deemed to have declared the concentration compatible with
the common market pursuant to the presumption in Article 10(6) of the
Merger Regulation; or
(iii) in the event that the European Commission makes a referral to one
or more competent authorities under Articles 4(4) or 9(1) of the Merger
Regulation in connection with the proposed combination of Reuters with
Thomson, or in the event that one or more competent authorities takes
appropriate measures to protect its legitimate interests pursuant to
Article 21(4) of the Merger Regulation, such competent authorities shall
have issued a decision, finding or declaration approving the proposed
acquisition and permitting its closing without any breach of applicable
law or of the Merger Regulation; and
(b) all applicable filings having been made and all or any applicable
waiting periods (including any extensions thereof) under the United
States Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and the
regulations thereunder having expired, lapsed or been terminated as
appropriate in each case in respect of the proposed combination of
Reuters with Thomson and neither of the parties being subject to any
order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in the United
Sates that prohibits consummation of the Transaction as a result of
action brought by the US Federal Trade Commission or US Department of
Justice.
Thomson and Reuters each reserve the unilateral right to waive all or
any of these Regulatory Pre-conditions in whole or in part.
APPENDIX IV CONDITIONS OF THE TRANSACTION
The Transaction will be conditional upon:
(a) the Scheme becoming unconditional and becoming effective, subject to
the Code, by not later than the Long-Stop Date, or such later date (if
any) as Thomson and Reuters may agree and (if required) the Court may
allow. The Scheme will be conditional upon:
(i) approval of the Scheme by a majority in number, representing 75% or
more in value, of the Reuters Shareholders (or the relevant class or
classes thereof) present and voting, either in person or by proxy, at
the Reuters Court Meeting or at any adjournment thereof;
(ii) all resolutions necessary to implement the Scheme as set out in the
notice of the Reuters EGM (including, without limitation, the Reuters
EGM Resolutions) being duly passed by the requisite majority at the
Reuters EGM or at any adjournment thereof; and
(iii) the sanction (without modification or with modification as agreed
by Reuters, Newco and Thomson) of the Scheme and the confirmation of any
reduction of capital involved therein by the English Court, an office
copy of the UK Order and the minute of such reduction attached thereto
being delivered for registration to the Registrar of Companies in
England and Wales and, in relation to the reduction of capital, being
registered by him; and
(b) Admission.
In addition, the Scheme will be subject to the following conditions
being satisfied or waived, prior to the necessary action being taken to
make the Scheme effective:
(c) the passing at the Thomson EGM of the Thomson Resolution in
accordance with its terms;
(d) the Canadian Interim Order and the Canadian Final Order having been
obtained by Thomson;
(e) in the event that the Regulatory Pre-condition set out in paragraph
(a) of Appendix III above is waived, the European Commission notifying
Thomson that it will neither initiate proceedings under Article 6(1)(c)
of the Merger Regulation in relation to the proposed Transaction or any
matter arising from or relating to the proposed Transaction nor refer
the proposed Transaction or any matter arising from or relating to the
proposed Transaction to the competent authorities of one or more Member
States under Article 9 of the Regulation;
(f) in the event that the Regulatory Pre-condition set out in paragraph
(b) of Appendix III above is waived, all applicable filings having been
made and all applicable waiting periods under the United States
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and the regulations
thereunder having expired or been terminated as appropriate in each case
in connection with the Transaction;
(g) either:
(i) an advance ruling certificate having been issued by the Commissioner
of Competition (the Commissioner) under section 102(1) of the
Competition Act (Canada) (the Competition Act) in respect of the
Transaction; or
(ii) any applicable waiting period under section 123 of the Competition
Act having expired or having been earlier terminated or waived by the
Commissioner and Thomson having been advised by the Commissioner in
writing that she has determined that grounds do not then exist for her
to make an application to the Competition Tribunal under section 92 of
the Competition Act for an order in respect of the Transaction;
(h) no Relevant Authority having instituted any action, proceeding,
suit, investigation, enquiry or reference or enacted or made and there
not continuing to be outstanding any statute, regulation, order or
decision (other than any statute, regulation, order or decision relating
to taxes on the date hereof) that would or might be reasonably expected
to:
(i) make the Transaction void, unenforceable or illegal or directly or
indirectly prohibit or otherwise materially restrict, delay or interfere
with the implementation of, or impose material additional conditions or
obligations with respect to, or otherwise challenge, the Transaction;
(ii) require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture (or alter the
terms of any proposed divestiture) by the Wider Thomson Group or the
Wider Reuters Group of all or any substantial part of their respective
businesses, assets or properties or impose any material limitation on
their ability to conduct all or any part of their respective businesses
and to own any of their respective assets or properties in each case to
an extent which is material in the context of the Wider Combined Group;
(iii) require any member of the Wider Thomson Group or of the Wider
Reuters Group to acquire or offer to acquire any shares or other
securities (or the equivalent) in any member of the Wider Reuters Group
or any member of the Wider Thomson Group, where such acquisition would
be material in the context of the Wider Combined Group; or
(iv) otherwise materially and adversely affect the business, assets,
financial or trading position or profits of any member of the Wider
Thomson Group or of the Wider Thomson Group to an extent which is
material in the context of the Wider Combined Group;
and all applicable waiting and other time periods during which any such
Relevant Authority could decide to take, institute or threaten any such
action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference having
expired, lapsed or been terminated;
(i) all necessary filings having been made and all relevant waiting
periods (including any extensions thereof) under any applicable
legislation or regulation of any jurisdiction having expired, lapsed or
been terminated, in each case in respect of the Transaction and all
authorisations, orders, grants, recognitions, confirmations, licences,
consents, clearances, permissions and approvals (authorisations)
necessary in any jurisdiction for or in respect of the Transaction being
obtained from appropriate Relevant Authorities or from any persons or
bodies with whom any member of the Wider Thomson Group or the Wider
Reuters Group has entered into contractual arrangements (in each case
where the absence of such authorisation would have a material adverse
effect on the Thomson Group or, as the case may be, the Reuters Group
taken as a whole) and such authorisations together with all
authorisations necessary or appropriate for any member of the Wider
Reuters Group to carry on its business (where such business is material
in the context of the Reuters Group taken as a whole or, as the case may
be, the Thomson Group taken as a whole) remaining in full force and
effect and there being no notice to revoke, suspend or not renew any of
the same and all statutory or regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction
having been complied with;
(j) since 31 December 2006, except as disclosed in the Annual Report and
Accounts of Reuters for the year then ended or as publicly announced to
a Regulatory Information Service by or on behalf of Reuters before the
date of this announcement or as otherwise fairly disclosed prior to the
date of this announcement in writing to Thomson or its advisers by or on
behalf of Reuters:
(i) no adverse change having occurred in the business, assets, financial
or trading position or profits of any member of the Wider Reuters Group
which is material in the context of the Reuters Group taken as a whole,
provided that such change has not resulted from factors generally
affecting the markets in which the affected entities operate or from
external factors unrelated to their business and beyond their reasonable
control (such as acts of war, terrorism or natural disasters); and
(ii) other than in connection with or arising out of the Transaction, no
litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or other legal
proceedings having been threatened, announced, instituted or remaining
outstanding by, against or in respect of any member of the Wider Reuters
Group or to which any member of the Wider Reuters Group is a party
(whether as claimant or defendant or otherwise) and no investigation by
any Relevant Authority or other investigative body against or in respect
of any member of the Wider Reuters Group having been threatened,
announced, instituted or remaining outstanding by, against or in respect
of any member of the Wider Reuters Group which would or might reasonably
be expected to materially and adversely affect the Reuters Group taken
as a whole; and
(k) since 31 December 2006, except as disclosed in the Annual Report and
Accounts of Thomson for the year then ended or as publicly announced to
a Regulatory Information Service by or on behalf of Thomson before the
date of this announcement or as otherwise fairly disclosed prior to the
date of this announcement in writing to Reuters or its advisers by or on
behalf of Thomson:
(i) no adverse change having occurred in the business, assets, financial
or trading position or profits of any member of the Wider Thomson Group
which is material in the context of the Thomson Group taken as a whole,
provided that such change has not resulted from factors generally
affecting the markets in which the affected entities operate or from
external factors unrelated to their business and beyond their reasonable
control (such as acts of war, terrorism or natural disasters); and
(ii) other than in connection with or arising out of the Transaction, no
litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or other legal
proceedings having been threatened, announced, instituted or remaining
outstanding by, against or in respect of any member of the Wider Thomson
Group or to which any member of the Wider Thomson Group is a party
(whether as claimant or defendant or otherwise) and no investigation by
any Relevant Authority or other investigative body against or in respect
of any member of the Wider Thomson Group having been threatened,
announced, instituted or remaining outstanding by, against or in respect
of any member of the Wider Thomson Group which would or might reasonably
be expected to materially and adversely affect the Thomson Group taken
as a whole.
Thomson and Reuters together reserve the right to waive jointly the
conditions contained in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this Appendix.
Thomson reserves the right to waive the condition contained in paragraph
(j) herein.
Reuters reserves the right to waive the condition contained in paragraph
(k) of herein.
As used in this herein:
(a) Wider Thomson Group means Thomson and its subsidiary
undertakings, associated undertakings and any other undertakings in
which Thomson and such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a
substantial interest;
(b) Wider Reuters Group means Reuters and its subsidiary
undertakings, associated undertakings and any other undertakings in
which Reuters and such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a
substantial interest; and
(c) Wider Combined Group means the Wider Thomson Group and the
Wider Reuters Group taken together; and
for these purposes subsidiary undertaking, associated undertaking and
undertaking have the meanings given by the Companies Act (but for
these purposes ignoring paragraph 20(1)(b) of Schedule 4A to the
Companies Act) and substantial interest means a direct or
indirect interest in 10% or more of the equity capital of an undertaking.
APPENDIX V IRREVOCABLE COMMITMENTS
The Reuters Directors who hold Reuters Shares, have irrevocably
undertaken to vote in favour of the Scheme, in respect of their own
beneficial holdings totalling 1,258,598 Reuters Shares, representing
approximately 0.10% of Reuters’s issued share
capital.
These irrevocable undertakings will cease to be binding if:
The Transaction lapses or is withdrawn
The Implementation Agreement between Reuters and Thomson dated 15 May
2007 in regard to the Transaction, terminates by effluxion of time or
otherwise
The Scheme terminates or lapses in accordance with its terms or
otherwise becomes incapable of becoming effective
Irrevocable undertakings have been received from the following:
Director
Number of Reuters shares
Percentage of Reuters issued share capital
Niall FitzGerald
80,000
0.01%
Thomas Glocer
669,261
Thomas Glocer held by Thomas H Glocer Life Interest Trust
52,451
(In aggregate) 0.06%
David Grigson
185,425
0.01%
Devin Wenig
216,019
0.02%
Dick Olver
10,000
0.00%
Ian Strachan
15,500
0.00%
Penny Hughes
2,392
0.00%
Lawton Fitt
25,000
0.00%
Ken Olisa
2,550
0.00%
Total
1,258,598
0.10%
Sir Deryck Maughan and Mr. Nandan Nilekani do not hold any interest in
securities of Reuters.
APPENDIX VI SOURCES AND BASES OF INFORMATION
Unless otherwise stated:
(i) information relating to Thomson has been extracted from the
published audited financial statements and SEC filings of Thomson for
the relevant financial year; and
(ii) information relating to Reuters has been extracted from published
annual reports and accounts and interim reports of Reuters for the
relevant published year.
Share prices for Thomson were obtained from the Toronto Stock Exchange
and the share prices for Reuters were closing mid-market prices from the
Daily Official List.
The £1:C$2.19795 exchange rate was obtained
from Datastream.
The £1:C$2.1936 exchange rate was obtained
from the Daily Official List.
Reuters current issued share capital is 1,256,845,219 shares in issue as
per the Reuters 2.10 announcement dated 14 May 2007.
In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers,
The Thomson Corporation confirms that as of the close of business on 14
May 2007, it had 639,962,083 common shares in issue.
APPENDIX VII DEFINITIONS Admission
Admission of Thomson-Reuters PLC Shares to listing on the official
list maintained by the FSA and to trading on the London Stock
Exchange's main market for listed securities
Alternative Proposal
An offer or possible offer or proposal put forward by any third
party meeting certain requirements as specified in the
Implementation Agreement
Bear Stearns
Bear, Stearns International Limited
Blackstone
Blackstone Advisory Services L.P.
Break Fee
The fee payable by one party to the other if certain events occur
which result in the Transaction not being completed, as detailed in
Appendix II
C$
Canadian dollar
Canadian Court
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Canadian Final Order
The final order of the Canadian Court approving the Ontario Plan of
Arrangement
Canadian Interim Order
The interim order of the Canadian Court in respect of the Ontario
Plan of Arrangement
Citi
Citigroup Global Markets Limited
Code or Takeover Code
The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
Combined Business
The combined businesses of Thomson and Reuters which will be
operated as a single entity as a consequence of the Transaction
CSI
Canadian Securities Institute
English Court
The High Court of Justice in England and Wales
Founders Share
The existing Founders Share in Reuters held by Reuters Founders
Share Company Limited in accordance with the Articles of Association
of Reuters; the new Founders Share to be issued to the Reuters
Founders Share Company by Thomson-Reuters Corporation as part of the
Transaction; or both of them, as applicable
FSA
The UK Financial Services Authority
FSC Agreement
The agreement between Woodbridge, Thomson-Reuters Corporation,
Thomson-Reuters PLC and Reuters Founders Share Company as described
in Appendix I
Implementation Agreement
The agreement between Thomson, Reuters, Woodbridge and
Thomson-Reuters PLC setting out the key terms of the Transaction
Joint Electorate Action
An action which, when put forward for shareholder approval, must be
voted upon by Thomson-Reuters Corporation Shareholders and
Thomson-Reuters PLC Shareholders as a single decision-making body
JPMorgan Cazenove
JPMorgan Cazenove Limited
Long-Stop Date
31-Dec-08
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited
Ontario Plan of Arrangement
The plan of arrangement of Thomson to be approved by Thomson
Shareholders pursuant to section 182 of the Business Corporations
(Ontario) Act in connection with the Transaction
Panel
The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
Perella Weinberg
Perella Weinberg Partners UK LLP
Regulatory Pre-conditions
The pre-conditions to the Transaction and the posting of the Reuters
Circular and Thomson Circular, as specified in the Implementation
Agreement and detailed in Appendix II
Reuters
Reuters Group PLC
Reuters Circular
The circular to Reuters Shareholders containing the Scheme and
notices of the Reuters EGM and Reuters Court Meeting
Reuters Court Meeting
The meeting of Reuters Shareholders to be convened by the English
Court for the purposes of approving the Reuters Court Resolution
Reuters Court Resolution
The resolution required by the English Court to be passed at the
Reuters Court Meeting in order to approve the Scheme
Reuters EGM
The extraordinary general meeting to be held by Reuters to approve
the Reuters EGM Resolutions
Reuters EGM Resolutions
The resolutions to be considered by Reuters Shareholders at the
Reuters EGM, being all resolutions required to be approved by
Reuters Shareholders in connection with the Transaction, other than
the Reuters Court Resolution
Reuters Founders Share Company
Reuters Founders Share Company Limited, the holder of the Founders
Shares
Reuters Share
An ordinary share of 25p in the capital of Reuters
Reuters Shareholder
A person who holds Reuters Shares
Reuter Trust Principles
The principles governing the operation of Reuters, which are set out
in the Articles of Association of Reuters
SEC
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Scheme
A scheme of arrangement between Reuters, Reuters Shareholders and
Reuters Founders Share Company under section 425 of the Companies
Act 1985 to implement the Transaction on the terms contained in the
Implementation Agreement
Special Voting A Share
The share of that description to be issued by Thomson-Reuters
Corporation to Reuters Founders Share Company on the terms described
in Appendix I
Standard Break Fee £86.8 million
Thomson
The Thomson Corporation (to be renamed Thomson-Reuters Corporation)
Thomson Circular
The circular to Thomson Shareholders containing notice of the
Thomson EGM
Thomson EGM
The special meeting of Thomson Shareholders to be convened for the
purposes of approving the Thomson Resolutions
Thomson Resolutions
The special resolution to approve the Ontario Plan of Arrangement
and such other matters as may be necessary or desirable to implement
the Transaction, to be set out in the Thomson Circular
Thomson Shareholder
A person who holds Thomson shares
Thomson-Reuters Corporation
The new name to be adopted by Thomson at the Thomson EGM
Thomson-Reuters Corporation Share
A common share in the capital of Thomson-Reuters Corporation
Thomson-Reuters PLC
Thomson-Reuters Limited, the company that will acquire the Reuters
Shares from the Reuters Shareholders pursuant to the Scheme, and
through which the Reuters Shareholders will participate in the
Combined Business
Thomson-Reuters PLC Share
An ordinary share of 25p in the capital of Thomson-Reuters PLC
Transaction
The alignment of the economic interests of Reuters and Thomson in
accordance with the terms contained in the Implementation Agreement,
pursuant to which the business of Thomson and Reuters will be merged
on a unified basis
UBS
UBS Limited, registered in England and Wales (no. 2035362)
UK Order
The order of the English Court
Woodbridge
The Woodbridge Company Limited
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