Thomson Issues Debentures

The Thomson Corporation returned to the public debt markets in Canada after a four-year absence with three offerings in recent months. Thomson issued $250 million principal amount of 6.20 per cent debentures due January 30, 2006, in an offering that was underwritten by CIBC World Markets Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., TD Securities Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc. and was completed on January 30, 2001. Thomson issued US$125 million principal amount of Extendible Floating Rate Debentures in an offering that was underwritten by TD Securities Inc. and was completed on April 17, 2001.

Thomson established a medium term note program in principal amount of up to $1.25 billion by a prospectus supplement dated April 9, 2001, and selected BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., TD Securities Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc. as its initial dealers for the Program. Thomson issued $400 million principal amount of 6.85 per cent medium term notes series 1 on April 23, 2001, in an underwritten offering in which each of the dealers participated, led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

Torys acted for Thomson on all three offerings with a team that included Michael Siltala, Paul Noble (securities/corporate) and Jim Welkoff (tax). McCarthy Tétrault acted for the investment dealers on all three financings with a team that included Christopher Hoffmann, Edward Kerwin, David Woollcombe, Frank DeLuca (securities/ corporate) and James Morand (tax).