Thomson deal has long-term benefits

Article Excerpt

THOMSON REUTERS CORP. $51 (Toronto symbol TRI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 711.6 million; Market cap: $36.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.2; Dividend yield: 3.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.thomsonreuters.com) has agreed to sell 55% of its Financial & Risk (F&R) business to a group led by Blackstone Group LP (New York symbol BX). F&R sells specialized financial information products to banks and brokerages. It contributed 52% of Thomson’s 2017 earnings. The other 48% mainly came from its legal and accounting information products. In exchange for that 55% stake of the F&R unit, Thomson will receive $17 billion—$3 billion in cash and $14 billion in notes and preferred shares (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). The company’s Reuters news service will also supply content to F&R. For that, Thomson will receive $235 million a year for the next 30 years. The stock is down 5% since the announcement. That’s partly due to fears the sale will prevent…