Acquisition

RNS Number:6328B
Thomson Corporation
4 April 2001

( BW)(THOMSON-CORPORATION)(TOC.TO) Woodbridge Acquires Jane's

Information Group From Thomson



    Business Editors



   TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2001--The Thomson Corporation

(TSE:TOC) today announced that Jane's Information Group has been

acquired by a subsidiary of The Woodbridge Company Limited, the

holding company of the Thomson family, for US$110 million.

   Richard J. Harrington, president and chief executive officer of

The Thomson Corporation said, "Jane's is an excellent business with

strong brand equity and a highly loyal customer base. However, it

falls outside our focus of being a leading e-information and solutions

provider to the legal, financial, learning, scientific and healthcare

markets."

   Jane's specializes in the collection, analysis, evaluation and

distribution of information in the defense, transport and law

enforcement sectors, supplying industry, government and military

globally.

   Alfred Rolington, chief executive officer of Jane's Information

Group said, "This is a very exciting time for Jane's. We have spent

many fruitful years as part of The Thomson Corporation. This move will

allow Jane's to continue its success and also push forward into

fulfilling its ambitions within the global information and

intelligence services market."

   UBS Warburg was retained by Thomson as financial advisor and

provided an opinion to the Thomson board of directors as to the

fairness of the transaction to Thomson from a financial point of view.



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

approximately US$6.0 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.



     --30--jgm/ny*



    CONTACT: The Thomson Corporation

             Investor Contact:


             John Kechejian,  203/328-9470


             [e-mail]


             Media Contact:

             Jason Stewart, 203/328-8339

             [e-mail]

                or

             For Jane's

             Claire Brunavs, [phone]

             [e-mail]