May 1, 2012

Thomson Reuters Reports First-Quarter 2012 Results

  • Revenues grew 4% before currency
  • Adjusted EBITDA grew 15% to $825 million with a margin of 25.9%
  • Underlying operating profit up 2% to $545 million with a margin of 17.1%
  • Adjusted earnings per share were $0.44 vs. $0.37 in the first quarter 2011
  • 2012 Outlook affirmed

NEW YORK - Thomson Reuters (TSX / NYSE: TRI), the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. The company reported revenues from ongoing businesses of $3.2 billion, a 4% increase before currency. Adjusted EBITDA increased 15% with the corresponding margin up 260 basis points to 25.9%. Underlying operating profit increased 2% with a corresponding margin of 17.1% versus 17.4% in the prior-year period.

Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.44 compared to $0.37 in the first quarter of 2011.

"The first-quarter performance was consistent with our full-year expectations," said James C. Smith, chief executive officer of Thomson Reuters. "The Legal, Tax & Accounting and IP & Science businesses each performed well. Our Financial & Risk business continues to make progress in a very difficult environment. We are executing against a more focused strategy. In all, we are on track and affirm our full-year outlook."

"Last week, we announced an agreement to sell our Healthcare business for $1.25 billion. The transaction will enable us to redeploy capital to a number of alternatives, including accelerating development of our core businesses, as well as those in fast-growing geographies around the world."

Consolidated Financial Highlights

Three Months Ended March 31,

(Millions of U.S. dollars, except EPS and margins)

IFRS Financial Measures 2012 2011 Change  
Revenues $3,354 $3,330 1%  
Operating profit $386 $396 -3%  
Diluted earnings per share (EPS) $0.38 $0.30 27%  
Cash flow from operations $273 $200 37%  

 

 
Non-IFRS Financial Measures1 2012 2011 Change Change Before Currency
Revenues from ongoing businesses $3,187 $3,077 4% 4%
Adjusted EBITDA $825 $717 15% 15%
Adjusted EBITDA margin 25.9% 23.3% 260bp 250bp
Underlying operating profit $545 $536 2% 2%
Underlying operating profit margin 17.1% 17.4% -30bp -30bp
Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) $0.44 $0.37 19%  
Free cash flow ($6) ($60) 90%  
Free cash flow from ongoing operations ($41) ($145) 72%  

1 These and other non-IFRS financial measures are defined and reconciled to the most directly comparable IFRS measures in the tables appended to this news release. Additional information is provided in the explanatory note at the end of this news release.

 

  • Revenues from ongoing businesses were $3.2 billion, a 4% increase before currency.
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased 15%, and the corresponding margin was 25.9% versus 23.3% in the prior-year period primarily due to the elimination of integration expenses and flow-through from higher revenues.
  • Underlying operating profit increased 2% and the corresponding margin was 17.1% versus 17.4% in the prior-year period as higher revenues were offset by higher depreciation and amortization from new product launches.
  • Adjusted EPS was $0.44 compared to $0.37 in the prior-year period. The increase was largely attributable to the elimination of integration expenses and higher underlying operating profit.

First-Quarter Business Segment Highlights

Unless otherwise noted, all revenue growth comparisons in this news release are before the impact of foreign currency as Thomson Reuters believes this provides the best basis to measure the performance of its business. Effective January 1, 2012, Thomson Reuters is organized as four reportable segments: Financial & Risk, Legal, Tax & Accounting and Intellectual Property & Science. Results for the first quarter of 2011 have been reclassified to reflect the current reportable segments.

Financial & Risk

  • Revenues increased 1%. Good growth in Marketplaces and Governance, Risk & Compliance was offset by declines in revenues from the Trading (Exchange Traded Instruments and Fixed Income) and Investors (Investment Management) business units.
  • Recurring subscription-related revenues grew 1%. Transactions-related revenues increased 4%. Recoveries revenues increased 2% and Outright revenues rose 9%.
  • By geography, revenues in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) rose 2%, revenues in the Americas were up 1% while revenues in Asia were flat.
  • EBITDA was $459 million, down 1%, with a related margin of 25.3%. Excluding currency, EBITDA increased 1% and the related margin was unchanged from the prior-year period.
  • Operating profit was $302 million, down 8%, with a related margin of 16.7%. Excluding currency, operating profit decreased 4% and the related margin decreased 100 basis points due to higher depreciation and amortization related to new product investments.
  • Eikon desktops now total over 16,000, up 30% from the fourth quarter of 2011.

Trading

  • Revenues decreased 2% with growth in Commodities & Energy and Foreign Exchange offset by desktop cancellations in Exchange Traded Instruments and Fixed Income.
  • Recoveries revenues increased 2%.

Investors

  • Revenues declined 3%. A 16% increase in Enterprise Content revenues was offset by a decline in Investment Management (down 10%) due to prior-year cancellations and weakness in Europe. Wealth Management declined 3%.
  • Investment Management net sales, though negative in the first quarter, improved from the fourth quarter of 2011.
  • Corporates revenues increased 1% and Investment Banking revenues were flat.

Marketplaces

  • Revenues increased 10% (4% organic) driven by acquisitions and Tradeweb, which was up 11% on an organic basis.
  • Foreign exchange-related revenues rose slightly, impacted by lower volumes compared to the prior-year period.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

  • Revenues grew 122% (16% organic) to $51 million driven by acquisitions, new sales and strong demand for risk and compliance solutions.
  • Thomson Reuters Accelus Compliance Manager was launched in March 2012 with strong interest from customers.

Legal

  • Revenues increased 3%. US Law Firm Solutions grew 2% driven by a 12% increase in Business of Law revenues (FindLaw and Elite) with research-related revenues flat. Corporate, Government and Academic revenues rose 4%. Global businesses grew 7% with good growth in Latin America.
  • EBITDA increased 5% and the associated margin increased 60 basis points to 34.7%.
  • Operating profit increased 5% and the associated margin was 25.7% compared to 25.2% in the prior-year period.
  • WestlawNext has been sold to approximately 65% of Westlaw’s revenue base.

Tax & Accounting

  • Revenues increased 31% (9% organic) driven by acquisitions and strong growth across the business.
  • EBITDA increased 50% and the corresponding margin increased 410 basis points to 31.0%.
  • Operating profit increased 58% and the corresponding margin increased 380 basis points to 21.9% due to strong revenue flow-through and efficiency initiatives, partly offset by the dilutive effect of acquisitions.
  • Tax & Accounting is a seasonal business with a significant percentage of its operating profit traditionally generated in the fourth quarter. Small movements in the timing of expenses can impact margins in any given quarter for the Tax & Accounting business. Full-year margins are more reflective of the segment’s underlying performance.

Intellectual Property & Science

  • Revenues were up 4% driven by growth in the IP Solutions and Scientific & Scholarly Research businesses, partly offset by a 1% decline in Life Sciences revenues due to timing of renewals and a difficult comparable in the first quarter of 2011.
  • EBITDA increased 9% with the corresponding margin increasing 160 basis points to 34.4%.
  • Operating profit increased 6% with the corresponding margin increasing 40 basis points to 26.3%.
  • Small movements in the timing of expenses can impact margins in any given quarter for the Intellectual Property & Science business. Full-year margins are more reflective of the segment's underlying performance.

Corporate & Other (Including Media)

Media revenues totaled $82 million, unchanged from the prior-year period. Corporate and Other costs totaled $80 million compared to $76 million in the prior-year period.

Recent Developments

On April 23, 2012, Thomson Reuters announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Healthcare business to an affiliate of Veritas Capital for $1.25 billion. The sale is not subject to any financing condition but is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The sale is expected to close in the next few months.

The Healthcare business provides data, analytics and performance benchmarking solutions and services to hospitals, health systems, employers, health plans, government agencies and healthcare professionals.

Business Outlook (Before Currency)

Thomson Reuters today reaffirmed its business outlook for 2012 that was previously communicated in February.

Thomson Reuters expects its revenues to grow low-single digits in 2012.

Thomson Reuters expects its adjusted EBITDA margin to range between 27% and 28% in 2012.

The company forecasts its underlying operating profit margin to range between 18% and 19% in 2012 due to higher depreciation and amortization expense.

Thomson Reuters expects reported free cash flow to grow 5% to 10% and free cash flow from ongoing operations to grow 15% to 20% in 2012.

The information in this section is forward-looking and should be read in conjunction with the section below entitled "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements, Material Assumptions and Material Risks."

Dividend and Share Repurchases

As previously announced, Thomson Reuters increased its 2012 annual dividend by $0.04 per share to $1.28 per share. A quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share is payable on June 15, 2012 to shareholders of record as of May 24, 2012.

As of May 1, 2012, the company has repurchased 11.6 million shares for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $350 million pursuant to its Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB). The current NCIB program authorizes the company to purchase up to 15 million shares.

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 and risk, legal, tax and accounting, intellectual property and science 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 approximately 60,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges (symbol: TRI). For more information, go to thomsonreuters.com.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Thomson Reuters prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

This news release includes certain non-IFRS financial measures. Thomson Reuters uses these non-IFRS financial measures as supplemental indicators of its operating performance and financial position. These measures do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS 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 IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures are defined and reconciled to the most directly comparable IFRS measures in the appended tables.

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, MATERIAL ASSUMPTIONS AND MATERIAL RISKS

Certain statements in this news release, including, but not limited to, statements in the "Business Outlook (Before Currency)" section and Mr. Smith’s comments, are forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and reflect our company’s current expectations. As a result, 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. There is no assurance that the events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. A business outlook is provided for the purpose of presenting information about current expectations for 2012. This information may not be appropriate for other purposes. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which reflect expectations only as of the date of this news release. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

The company's 2012 business outlook is based on various external and internal assumptions. Economic and market assumptions include, but are not limited to, positive GDP growth in the countries where Thomson Reuters operates led by rapidly developing economies and a continued increase in the number of professionals around the world and their demand for high quality information and services. Internal financial and operational assumptions include, but are not limited to, the successful execution of the company’s ongoing product release programs, globalization strategy, other growth initiatives and efficiency initiatives.

Some of the material risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, changes in the general economy (including the current European Union debt crisis); actions of competitors; failure to develop new products, services, applications and functionalities to meet customers' needs, attract new customers or expand into new geographic markets; increased accessibility to free or relatively inexpensive information sources; failures or disruptions of network systems or the Internet; failure to maintain a high renewal rate for subscription-based services; dependency on third parties for data, information and other services; changes to law and regulations, including the impact of the Dodd-Frank legislation and similar financial services laws around the world; failure to adapt to recent organizational changes; failure to recruit, motivate and retain high quality management and key employees; failure to meet the challenges involved in operating globally; failure to protect the brands and reputation of Thomson Reuters; additional impairment of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets; inadequate protection of intellectual property rights; threat of legal actions and claims; risk of antitrust/competition-related claims or investigations; downgrading of credit ratings and adverse conditions in the credit markets; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates; the effect of factors outside of the control of Thomson Reuters on funding obligations in respect of pension and post-retirement benefit arrangements; actions or potential actions that could be taken by the company's principal shareholder, The Woodbridge Company Limited, and failure to derive fully the anticipated benefits from existing or future acquisitions, joint ventures, investments or dispositions. These and other factors are discussed in materials that Thomson Reuters from time to time files with, or furnishes to, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Thomson Reuters annual and quarterly reports are also available in the "Investor Relations" section of www.thomsonreuters.com.

Thomson Reuters will webcast a discussion of its first-quarter 2012 results today beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). You can access the webcast by visiting the "Investor Relations" section of www.thomsonreuters.com. An archive of the webcast will be available following the presentation.

 

CONTACT

Media
David Crundwell

Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Tel: +1 646 223 5285
Email: david.crundwell@tr.com

Investors
Frank J. Golden

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 646 223 5288
Email: frank.golden@tr.com