The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

The Thomson Corp To Sell Mitchell International

23 February 2000

The Thomson Corporation To Sell Mitchell International To Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners

    TORONTO, Ontario--February 22, 2000--The Thomson Corporation (TSE: TOC), a leading e-information and solutions company in the business and professional marketplace, today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its Mitchell International division to Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners IV, L.P.
    Mitchell International is a leading supplier of information products and software for the insurance and automotive collision repair industries. Mitchell has more than 700 employees and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
    Richard J. Harrington, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Thomson Corporation, said, "The sale of Mitchell International is consistent with Thomson's continuing focus on our core, global information businesses in the legal & regulatory, financial services, learning, scientific, reference and healthcare markets. While Mitchell is a terrific franchise with a superb brand name, it has limited synergies with Thomson's other businesses."
    Thomson expects the divestiture to be completed around the end of March. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
    Hellman & Friedman LLC is a private equity firm founded in 1984. The firm has raised and managed more than US$4.8 billion of committed capital which it has invested in 38 companies. Limited partners in Hellman & Friedman funds include many of the nation's leading government, corporate, and nonprofit institutions.
    With annual revenues of more than US$6 billion, The Thomson Corporation is a leading e-information and solutions company in the business and professional marketplace. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the Toronto and London Stock Exchanges. For more information, visit The Thomson Corporation's Internet address at www.thomson.com.