TORONTO, Ontario and STAMFORD, Conn., December 17, 2007 — The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC), a leading provider of information solutions to business and professional customers worldwide, today announced that it will be the primary corporate partner to Mike Weir, one of the greatest Canadian professional golfers. The five-year sponsorship agreement begins in January 2008 and will see Mr. Weir wearing the Thomson logo on the front of his hat as he competes on the PGA Tour and around the world. Financial terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed.
Thomson’s new relationship with Mr. Weir represents the company’s first major foray into the athletic sponsorship arena.
“As an industry leader, we are extremely proud to be aligning our brand with one of the major stars of the golfing world. Like Mike, Thomson has a reputation for being a quiet achiever, building success upon success,” said Richard J. Harrington, Thomson President and Chief Executive Officer. “Mike is known for his keen preparation and flawless execution, qualities that our employees aspire to each day and which are fully engrained in the Thomson culture. And golf is a sport that truly resonates with our business and professional customers. We see tremendous potential in joining Team Weir.”
“I am thrilled to be sponsored by Thomson, a company that I have a great deal of respect for, and one that represents exactly what I believe in: hard work, the development of talent and the ability to consistently deliver high performance,” said Mr. Weir, the first male Canadian to win a major golf championship. “I am looking forward to sharing many future successes, in golf and in business, with The Thomson Corporation. At the same time, I am thankful to Bell Canada for their belief in me over the past 14 years. They were an important part of my success on the PGA Tour and I appreciate their support.”
Global Stage
While Thomson and Weir both represent strong Canadian brands, both made great strides this year to extend their international presence. With events in Hong Kong, China, Thailand and the United Kingdom, Mr. Weir played the most international tournaments of his PGA Tour career in 2007. Earlier this year, Thomson announced its intention to acquire the global news and financial data company Reuters, in a move that will significantly increase its global footprint.
With the closure of the Reuters acquisition in 2008, Mr. Weir will wear the new Thomson Reuters logo on his cap.
“I am always very proud to represent Canada wherever I play, and it will be an honor to also represent an esteemed Canadian company like Thomson,” said Mr. Weir. “After a strong finish this past season, I was already quite excited about 2008, and this new relationship with Thomson makes me even more so.”
Mr. Weir enjoyed a resurgence on the PGA Tour in 2007 capturing his 8th career victory in October at the Fry’s Electronics Open tying him with the late George Knudson for most PGA Tour victories by a Canadian. Mr. Weir’s win came just three weeks after he thrilled Canadian fans with an impressive showing at the Presidents Cup in Montreal where he defeated the world’s top-ranked player, Tiger Woods, in a final-day match-up.
The Thomson Corporation
The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com) is a global leader in providing essential electronic workflow solutions to business and professional customers. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, scientific research and healthcare. The Corporation’s common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC).
Contact:
Dave Haggith
Director, Communications
(416) 960-5312 ext. 120
dave.haggith@imgworld.com
