Onex Corporation (“Onex”) (TSX: OCX) and Baring Private Equity Asia (“Baring Asia”) today announced their affiliated private equity funds have agreed to acquire the Intellectual Property & Science business (“IP&S”) from Thomson Reuters, for $3.55 billion. IP&S owns a collection of leading subscription-based businesses that provide a diverse customer base with access to scientific literature, patent, trademark, pharmaceutical and other curated content. The transaction is expected to close later this year subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

IP&S provides comprehensive intellectual property and scientific information, decision support tools and services that enable academia, corporations, governments and the legal community to discover, protect and commercialize content, ideas and brands that are important to them. Its portfolio includes Web of Science, Thomson CompuMark, Thomson Innovation, MarkMonitor, Cortellis and Thomson IP Manager. Headquartered in Philadelphia, IP&S employs approximately 4,100 people across more than 75 offices in over 40 countries.

“IP&S is a diversified portfolio of high-quality, well-positioned businesses providing proprietary, curated content through products and services that are entrenched in their customers’ day-to-day activities,” said Kosty Gilis, a Managing Director with Onex. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to acquire the company and partner with management and Baring Asia to enhance IP&S’ operations and support its growth in the years to come.”

“We look forward to partnering with IP&S management and Onex to support the development of the company globally, particularly in Asia where we see a differentiated growth opportunity,” said Jean Eric Salata, Founder and Chief Executive of Baring Asia. “Already an established leader in China and across the region, we believe the outlook for the business is underpinned by an increasing shift towards more knowledge driven economies and a continued emphasis on research and development.”

“We are pleased to announce the agreement today to sell our Intellectual Property & Science business to Onex and Baring Asia,” said Jim Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thomson Reuters. “With the completion of this divestiture, Thomson Reuters will be even more focused on operating at the intersection of global commerce and regulation.”

The transaction is expected to be funded with an equity investment of approximately $1.6 billion for 100% ownership of IP&S. Onex’ portion of the equity investment (approximately $1.2 billion) will be made by Onex Partners IV and certain limited partners as co-investors, including Onex.
Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal advisor to Onex and Baring Asia on the transaction.


This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and are subject to known and unknown uncertainties and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Onex and Baring Asia are under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information, please contact:

For Onex:
Emilie Blouin – Director, Investor Relations
416.362.7711

For Baring Private Equity Asia:
Newgate Communications
Richard Barton or Dan Billings
+852 3758-2686
richard.barton@newgate.asia or Dan.billings@newgate.asia