Acquisition

RNS Number:0088G
Thomson Corporation
27 June 2001

( BW)(THOMSON-CORPORATION)(TOC.TO) The Thomson Corporation

Acquisition of Select Harcourt Businesses Receives United States

Department of Justice Clearance



    Business Editors



    TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2001--The Thomson Corporation

(TSE:TOC) today announced that the United States Department of Justice

has cleared its proposed US$2.06 billion acquisition of select

Harcourt General, Inc. (NYSE:H) businesses from Reed Elsevier plc

(LSE:REED, ASE:ESL).

    After a thorough review, Thomson has agreed with the Justice

Department to sell certain overlapping products and services resulting

from the acquisition. Thomson will sell certain college textbook

products and intends to sell portions of Assessment Systems, Inc.

(ASI) over a 120-day period commencing immediately.

    The assets Thomson has agreed to sell account for less than 1

percent of Thomson 2001 pro forma revenues. Thomson has retained

Berkery, Noyes & Co. to manage the sale of the college education

titles and Merrill Lynch to coordinate the sale of the ASI assets.



About The Thomson Corporation



    The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 2000 revenues of

approximately US$6 billion, is a leading global 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.



    This news release includes forward looking statements, which are

based on the Corporation's current expectations and assumptions, and

are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause

actual results to materially differ from those anticipated. Such risks

and uncertainties include, among others, general business and economic

conditions and competitive actions.



    CONTACT:  Investor Contact:
              The Thomson Corporation
              John Kechejian, 203/328-9470
              [e-mail]

                            or

              Media Contact:                                             
              The Thomson Corporation
              Jason Stewart, 203/328-8339  
              [e-mail]