Thomson Completes Bond Offering

On August 8, 2003, the Thomson Corp. completed a US$450 million global bond offering comprised of US$200 million 4.25 per cent notes due in 2009 and US$250 million 5.25 per cent notes due in 2013. Barclays Capital and JPMorgan were joint book running managers for the six-year notes.
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., RBC Capital Markets Inc. and TD Securities Inc. were joint book running managers for the 10-year notes. The proceeds from the offering were used by Thomson: (a) to redeem US$250 million of outstanding preferred shares held by a subsidiary of Thomson’s principal shareholder, the Woodbridge Company Ltd.; (b) to repay existing indebtedness; and (c) for general corporate purposes.

This southbound multijurisdictional disclosure system offering, which included private placements in Europe and a listing of the notes in Luxembourg, was made pursuant to a prospectus supplement to Thomson’s $3 billion debt securities short form base shelf prospectus.

Thomson was represented by in-house counsel Marc Gold; and by Torys LLP, with a team that included Andy Beck, Alexandra Kau, Hilary Paterson and Stephanie Weissglas in New York and Michael Siltala and Cornell Wright in Toronto. The underwriters were represented by Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York, with a team that included Lisa Jacobs and Scott Graziano.