6-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of August 2020    Commission File Number: 1-31349

 

 

THOMSON REUTERS CORPORATION

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

333 Bay Street, Suite 300

Toronto, Ontario M5H 2R2, Canada

(Address of principal executive office)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F   ☐            Form 40-F  ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  ☐

The information contained in Exhibit 99.1, Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 101 of this Form 6-K is incorporated by reference into, or as additional exhibits to, as applicable, the registrant’s outstanding registration statements.

Thomson Reuters Corporation is voluntarily furnishing certifications by its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as Exhibits 99.3-99.6 of this Form 6-K. 

 

 

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

THOMSON REUTERS CORPORATION

(Registrant)

By:  

/s/ Marc E. Gold

  Name:   Marc E. Gold
  Title:     Deputy Company Secretary

Date: August 7, 2020


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

99.1    Management’s Discussion and Analysis
99.2    Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
99.3    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.4    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.5    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.6    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
EXHIBIT 99.1 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

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EXHIBIT 99.1

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

This management’s discussion and analysis is designed to provide you with a narrative explanation through the eyes of our management of how we performed, as well as information about our financial condition and future prospects. As the management’s discussion and analysis is intended to supplement and complement our financial statements, we recommend that you read this in conjunction with our consolidated interim financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and our 2019 annual consolidated financial statements, as well as our 2019 annual management’s discussion and analysis. This management’s discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our 2020 outlook, our expectations related to general economic conditions (including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. and global economies) and market trends and their anticipated effects on our business segments and expectations related to the proposed London Stock Exchange Group plc/Refinitiv transaction. For additional information related to forward-looking statements, material assumptions and material risks associated with them, please see the “Outlook,” “Additional Information—Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Risk Factors” sections of this management’s discussion and analysis. This management’s discussion and analysis is dated as of August 4, 2020.

We have organized our management’s discussion and analysis in the following key sections:

 

  Executive Summary – an overview of our business and key financial highlights     3  
  COVID-19 Update – a description of the impact on our business and our response     5  
  Outlook – our financial outlook and material assumptions and material risks related to the outlook     6  
  Results of Operations – a comparison of our current and prior-year period results     9  
  Liquidity and Capital Resources – a discussion of our cash flow and debt     17  
  Related Party Transactions – a discussion of transactions with our principal and controlling shareholder, The Woodbridge Company Limited (Woodbridge)     22  
  Proposed LSEG/Refinitiv Transaction – the proposed sale of Refinitiv to LSEG     22  
  Subsequent Events – a discussion of material events occurring after June 30, 2020 and through the date of this management’s discussion and analysis     22  
  Changes in Accounting Policies – a discussion of changes in our accounting policies     22  
  Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments – a discussion of critical estimates and judgments made by our management in applying accounting policies     23  
  Additional Information – other required disclosures     24  
  Risk Factors – risk factors that supplement and update those in our 2019 annual report     26  
  Appendix – supplemental information, including regarding Refinitiv’s performance     28  

Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this discussion to “we,” “our,” “us”, “the company”, ”TRC” and “Thomson Reuters” are to Thomson Reuters Corporation and our subsidiaries.

COVID-19 pandemic

In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized a novel strain of the coronavirus, known as COVID-19, as a pandemic. The global economy continues to experience substantial disruption due to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, as well as from the measures intended to mitigate its impact. Throughout this management’s discussion and analysis, we discuss the evolving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Basis of presentation

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in U.S. dollars in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). See the “Additional Information” section of this management’s discussion and analysis for more information regarding adjustments to prior-period segment results and revisions to prior-period financial statements.

Other than EPS, we report our results in millions of U.S. dollars, but we compute percentage changes and margins using whole dollars to be more precise. As a result, percentages and margins calculated from reported amounts may differ from those presented, and growth components may not total due to rounding.

 

 

 

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Use of non-IFRS financial measures

In this management’s discussion and analysis, we discuss our results on both an IFRS and non-IFRS basis. Our IFRS and non-IFRS results include the results of acquired businesses from the date of purchase. We use non-IFRS measures as supplemental indicators of our operating performance and financial position as well as for internal planning purposes and our business outlook. We believe non-IFRS financial measures provide more insight into our performance. Non-IFRS measures do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to the calculation of similar measures used by other companies, and should not be viewed as alternatives to measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS.

Our non-IFRS financial measures include:

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA and the related margin;

   

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures and the related margin;

   

Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share (EPS);

   

Net debt and our leverage ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA; and

   

Free cash flow.

We also report changes in our revenues, operating expenses, adjusted EBITDA and the related margin, and adjusted EPS before the impact of foreign currency or at “constant currency”. These measures remove the impacts from changes in foreign currency exchange rates to provide better comparability of our business trends from period to period. To provide greater insight into the revenue growth of our existing businesses on a constant currency basis, we report organic revenue growth (as defined in the glossary below and in Appendix A).

See Appendix A of this management’s discussion and analysis for a description of our non-IFRS financial measures, including an explanation of why we believe they are useful measures of our performance, including our ability to generate cash flow. Refer to the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of this management’s discussion and analysis and Appendix B for reconciliations of our non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures.

Glossary of key terms

We use the following terms in this management’s discussion and analysis.

 

Term

  Definition

“Big 3” segments

 

Our Legal Professionals, Corporates and Tax & Accounting Professionals segments, which comprised 80% of our revenues in each of the second quarter and first six months of 2020

Blackstone

 

The Blackstone Group and its subsidiaries

bp

 

Basis points — one basis point is equal to 1/100th of 1%; “100bp” is equivalent to 1%

constant currency

 

A non-IFRS measure derived by applying the same foreign currency exchange rates to the financial results of the current and equivalent prior-year period

COVID-19

 

A novel strain of coronavirus that was characterized a pandemic by the World Health Organization during March 2020

EPS

 

Earnings per share

F&R

  Our former Financial & Risk business, now known as Refinitiv

F&R sale or F&R transaction

 

Our sale of a 55% interest in F&R to private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone, which closed on October 1, 2018

LSEG

 

London Stock Exchange Group plc

n/a

 

Not applicable

n/m

  Not meaningful

organic or organically

 

A non-IFRS measure that represents changes in revenues of our existing businesses at constant currency. The metric excludes the distortive impacts of acquisitions and dispositions from not owning the business in both comparable periods

Proposed LSEG/Refinitiv transaction

 

Our agreement with private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone to sell Refinitiv to LSEG

Refinitiv

 

The name of our former F&R business as of the closing of the F&R transaction. We have owned 45% of Refinitiv since October 1, 2018

$ and US$

 

U.S. dollars

 

 

 

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Executive Summary

Our company

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world’s most global news service - Reuters.

We derive most of our revenues from selling information and software solutions, primarily electronically and on a recurring subscription basis. Our solutions blend deep domain knowledge with software and automation tools. We believe our workflow solutions make our customers more productive by streamlining how they operate, enabling them to focus on higher value activities. Many of our customers use our solutions as part of their workflows, which has led to strong customer retention. We believe that our customers trust us because of our history and dependability and our deep understanding of their businesses and industries, and they rely on our services for navigating a rapidly changing and increasingly complex digital world. Over the years, our business model has proven to be capital efficient and cash flow generative, and it has enabled us to maintain leading and scalable positions in our chosen market segments.

We are organized in five reportable segments supported by a corporate center:

 

    

 

 

Second-Quarter 2020 Revenues

 

 

 

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Legal Professionals

Serves law firms and governments with research and workflow products, focusing on intuitive legal research powered by emerging technologies and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools and analytics.

 

 

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LOGO

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Corporates

Serves corporate customers, including the seven largest global accounting firms, with our full suite of offerings across legal, tax, regulatory and compliance functions.

 

 

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Tax & Accounting Professionals

Serves tax, accounting and audit professionals in accounting firms (other than the seven largest firms, which are served by our Corporates segment) with research and workflow products, focusing on intuitive tax offerings and automating tax workflows.

 

 

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Reuters News

Supplies business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, including through Refinitiv, the world’s media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.

 

 

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Global Print

Provides legal and tax information primarily in print format to customers around the world.

 

  

Our corporate center centrally manages commercial and technology operations, including those around our sales capabilities, digital customer experience and product and content development. Our corporate center also centrally manages functions such as finance, legal and human resources.

 

 

 

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Key Financial Highlights

As expected, COVID-19 began to negatively impact our revenue performance in the second quarter, primarily reflecting the cancellation of in-person events, customer requests to defer shipments of print materials, and the extension of the U.S. Federal tax filing deadline from the second quarter to the third quarter. However, we met or exceeded each of the revenue performance metrics in our second-quarter 2020 outlook communicated in May 2020, as set forth below, and we continue to believe that the second quarter will represent the most significant impact that we will experience from COVID-19 during 2020. In August 2020, we increased our free cash flow outlook and reaffirmed the rest of our full-year 2020 business outlook that was updated in May 2020 to reflect our estimated impact of COVID-19. Please see the “Outlook” section of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information on our business outlook, including information about our new third-quarter outlook.

Consolidated results

 

     

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

 
                  

 

Change

 

 

   (millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts and margins)

 

  

2020

 

    

2019

 

    

Total

 

    

 

Constant
Currency

 

 

IFRS Financial Measures

           

Revenues

     1,405        1,423        (1%)     

Operating profit

     365        447        (18%)     

Diluted EPS

   $ 0.25      $ 0.36        (31%)     

Cash flow from operations

    

 

422

 

 

 

    

 

113

 

 

 

    

 

288%

 

 

 

        

Non-IFRS Financial Measures(1)

           

Revenues

     1,405        1,423        (1%)        -  

Organic revenue growth

              (2%)  

Adjusted EBITDA

     479        355        35%        34%  

Adjusted EBITDA margin

     34.1%        25.0%        910bp        840bp  

Adjusted EPS

     $0.44        $0.29        52%        48%  

Free cash flow

    

 

305

 

 

 

    

 

1

 

 

 

    

 

n/m

 

 

 

        

Supplemental financial results – “Big 3” Segments – Legal Professionals, Corporates and Tax & Accounting Professionals Combined

 

     

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

 
                  

 

Change

 

 
   (millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)   

2020

 

    

2019

 

    

Total

 

    

 

Constant
Currency

 

 

Non-IFRS Financial Measures(1)

           

Revenues

     1,117        1,102        1%        3%  

Organic revenue growth

              2%  

Adjusted EBITDA

     426        386        10%        11%  

Adjusted EBITDA margin

    

 

38.1%

 

 

 

    

 

34.9%

 

 

 

    

 

320bp

 

 

 

    

 

270bp

 

 

 

 

(1)

Refer to Appendices A and B of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information and reconciliations of our non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

Revenues decreased 1% in total and were essentially unchanged in constant currency, despite a benefit from acquisitions. On an organic basis, revenues decreased 2%, as 3% growth in recurring revenues, which comprised 81% of total revenues, was more than offset by declines in transactions and Global Print revenues.

Revenues for our “Big 3” segments, which comprised 80% of total revenues, grew 1% in total and 3% in constant currency. On an organic basis, revenues for the “Big 3” segments increased 2%, as 4% growth in recurring revenues, which comprised 89% of total revenues for the “Big 3” segments, more than offset a decline in transactions revenues.

 

 

 

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Operating profit decreased 18% as the prior-year period included a significantly higher benefit from the revaluation of warrants that we hold in Refinitiv relating to the proposed sale of Refinitiv to LSEG. Adjusted EBITDA and the related margin, which excludes the impact of the warrant revaluation among other items, increased due to the completion of the program, in 2019, to reposition our company following the separation of F&R as well as lower expenses from our COVID-19 related efforts to mitigate 2020 annual costs by $100 million, which we discuss later in this management’s discussion and analysis.

Diluted EPS decreased to $0.25 per share from $0.36 per share in the prior-year period primarily due to lower operating profit, which reflects the impact of the Refinitiv warrant revaluation. Adjusted EPS, which excludes the Refinitiv warrant revaluation as well as other adjustments, increased to $0.44 per share from $0.29 per share primarily due to higher adjusted EBITDA.

Cash flow from operations increased primarily because the prior-year period included significantly higher costs and investments to reposition our company following the separation of F&R, favorable working capital movements and savings from our COVID-19 related cost mitigation efforts. Free cash flow increased for the same reasons and also included proceeds from the sale of some real estate.

Below is a comparison of our actual revenue performance for the second-quarter 2020 compared to the outlook.

 

       
Non-IFRS Financial Measures (1)    Second-Quarter 2020
Outlook
   Second-Quarter 2020
Performance
   Actual

Total Thomson Reuters

 

Revenue growth (before currency)

  

Between (1%) and (2%)

  

Increased 0.3%

  

Organic revenue growth

  

Between (2%) and (3%)

  

(1.6%)

  

Legal Professionals, Corporates and Tax & Accounting Professionals combined (“Big 3”)

 

Revenue growth (before currency)

  

Between 2.5% and 3.5%

  

2.9%

  

Organic revenue growth

  

Between 2% and 3%

  

2.2%

  

 

(1)

Refer to Appendices A and B of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information and reconciliations of our non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

COVID-19 Update

The information in this section is forward-looking and should be read in conjunction with the sections entitled “Additional Information - Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Risk Factors”.

The global economy continues to experience substantial disruption due to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, as well as from the measures intended to mitigate its impact. The duration of the crisis and the long-term impacts on the global economy remain uncertain. In the second quarter of 2020, COVID-19 cases increased and then declined in some areas, which resulted in phased re-openings. However, various areas have seen a rise in COVID-19 cases, which has led to slowdowns, pauses and reversals of the re-opening process.

Thomson Reuters has not experienced any significant disruptions to its business as a result of COVID-19 and continues to be fully operational. Most employees continue to work remotely from their homes, enabled by technology that allows them to collaborate with customers and each other. We are developing detailed plans for a gradual, safe re-opening of our offices around the world, though we expect that the number of people who return to our offices in the next few months will be small and on a voluntary basis. Essential employees who cannot work from home, such as Reuters News journalists and those working in the company’s Global Print facilities, follow various health and safety standards. We continue to act and plan based on guidance from global health organizations, relevant governments and evolving best practices.

We have approximately 500,000 customers that are largely comprised of legal and tax professionals in corporations and professional service firms, many of whom are also working remotely. Our products enable our customers to remain productive while they work remotely, because they can access most of our products and services through the Internet. While we have cancelled or postponed nearly all in-person conferences, primarily in our Reuters Events business, we replaced some of these events with virtual meetings.

 

 

 

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We continue to believe we are well positioned to weather the economic crisis. We have strong businesses that serve large, diverse and historically stable markets and our businesses have historically generated substantial free cash flow, as they are predominantly subscription based with high rates of retention. We believe our business is supported by a solid financial foundation with access to liquidity resources that we believe is adequate to support us through a gradual recovery. As further described in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of this management’s discussion and analysis, our principal sources of liquidity continue to be cash on hand, cash provided by our operations, our $1.8 billion syndicated credit facility and our $1.8 billion commercial paper program. From time to time, we also issue debt securities under a prospectus. As set forth in our full-year 2020 outlook, we now expect to generate between $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion of free cash flow this year. As of June 30, 2020, we had $946 million of cash on hand and $120 million of current indebtedness. None of our debt securities are scheduled to mature until 2023. We expect to pay our 2020 annualized dividend of $1.52 per common share and do not anticipate repurchasing more of our shares for the remainder of the year.

Our business plan continues to assume that the global economy will gradually recover throughout the second half of 2020. We believe that legal and accounting professionals are critical to the effective functioning of world markets and will continue to purchase our products and services. We believe it is possible that COVID-19 may result in more lawyers and accountants migrating to technology-driven products like ours, given their own experiences working remotely. Our core businesses were resilient during past economic downturns, including the downturn that began in 2008. However, given the subscription nature of our business, it is possible that potential negative effects of COVID-19 might not be fully reflected in our results of operations until later in 2020 or into 2021.

Outlook

The information in this section is forward-looking and should be read in conjunction with the sections entitled “Additional Information—Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Risk Factors”.

We recently increased our outlook for free cash flow and reaffirmed the remainder of our 2020 full-year outlook that we previously communicated in May 2020. While our second quarter performance provides us with increasing confidence about our outlook, it is still too early to predict with certainty how and when world markets may recover. We have also provided an outlook for the third quarter of 2020.

Our outlook for 2020 below continues to assume constant currency rates and excludes the impact of any future acquisitions or dispositions that may occur in 2020. We believe that this type of guidance provides useful insight into the performance of our businesses.

 

2020 Full-Year Outlook- Re-affirmed outlook previously provided on May 5, 2020(1)
         
Non-IFRS Financial Measures(2)    Total Thomson Reuters
Outlook
    

 

   “Big 3” Segments
Outlook
    

 

    

Before currency and excluding the impact of future


acquisitions/dispositions

 

 Revenue growth

  

1.0% - 2.0%

    

3.0% - 4.0%

 

Organic revenue growth

  

0% - 1.0%

      

3.0% - 4.0%

   

 Adjusted EBITDA margin

  

31.0% - 32.0%

      

36.0% - 37.0%

   

 Corporate costs

  

$140 million - $150 million

            

 Free cash flow

  

$1.0 billion - $1.1 billion

            

 Capital expenditures, as a percentage of revenues

  

7.5% - 8.0%

            

 Depreciation and amortization of computer software

  

$625 million - $650 million

            

 Interest expense

  

$190 million - $215 million

            

 Effective tax rate on adjusted earnings

  

Approximately 17% - 19%

            

 

(1)

Our company increased its free cash flow outlook from approximately $1.0 billion to between $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion in August 2020.

(2)

Refer to Appendix A of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information of our non-IFRS financial measures.

While experience is not predictive of the future, our outlook is partially grounded in our experience from the prior economic downturn in 2008. We estimate that our former Legal Professionals business, excluding Global Print, grew about 2% organically in 2009 and 2010 following that financial crisis. We believe our Legal Professionals business is better positioned today, primarily because we employ a subscription model for many of our products rather than a usage model. We have improved price transparency and are more deeply embedded in our legal customers’ work because we offer more diverse assets such as Westlaw Edge, Practical Law, HighQ and Contract Express. Our former Tax & Accounting Professionals business never grew less than 3% organically in 2009 and 2010 following the downturn that began in 2008. Our Tax & Accounting Professionals business consists primarily of the sale of software, which customers do not tend to replace frequently.

 

 

 

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We expect to mitigate the loss of revenue from COVID-19 on our adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow through a $100 million cost savings program, which contemplates reduced spending on consulting and advisory services, travel and entertainment, certain development projects and other discretionary spend. Our free cash flow outlook assumes that we will experience temporary delays in collecting payments from some customers, but we believe this cash will be collected as the economy improves. We continue to expect to generate strong free cash flow, that, in combination with our other liquidity resources, we believe will be sufficient to fund our cash requirements for the next 12 months. Refer to the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information regarding our financial condition.

Third-Quarter 2020 Outlook

We expect total revenues on a constant currency basis and total organic revenues for the third quarter of 2020 to grow between 1.0% and 2.0%. Our revenue growth continues to be negatively affected by the Reuters News business and delays in shipping certain Global Print materials.

Our “Big 3” segments (Legal Professionals, Corporates and Tax & Accounting Professionals) collectively are expected to achieve revenue growth on a constant currency basis and organic revenue growth of between 3.0% and 4.0% in the third quarter of 2020.

Material Assumptions and Risks

The following table summarizes our material assumptions and risks that may cause actual performance to differ from our expectations underlying our current 2020 financial outlook, which reflects the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

 

   Revenues

 

   Material assumptions

 

  

 

   Material risks

 

 

 Diminished economic activity through the second quarter followed by a gradual recovery through the second half of 2020

 

 The financial and operational health of our customer base in both the U.S. and global economies will gradually improve, which we believe will coincide with the easing of lockdowns and other restrictions

 

 We will incur limited cancellations of subscription contracts during the economic crisis, as our products and services will remain critical for legal and tax professionals

 

 During the extended work from home period, our customers will continue to access our products remotely and will value high quality information and tools that drive productivity and efficiency

 

 We will maintain our ability to acquire some new customers during the economic crisis, as we enhance our digital platforms and propositions or through other sales initiatives

 

 Reuters News will experience a significant reduction in demand in its Reuters Events business due to the cancellation of in-person events, as well as lower demand in its consumer and news agency business

 

 Our workforce will continue to be effective in a remote working environment for an extended period, including the ability to implement new products and service and support existing products for our customers

 

 Our Global Print facility will continue to remain open and our Reuters News journalists will continue to be able to report on global events

 

 Customer requested shipment delays of print materials will be temporary and that shipments delayed in the second quarter will resume in the third and fourth quarters of 2020

 

 A limited number of our smaller customers will be unable to pay us or will seek financial accommodations or alternative payment terms due to their financial condition

 

 Customers will continue to seek software-as-a-service or other cloud-based offerings

 

  

 

 Business disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including government enforced quarantines and stay-at-home orders, may continue longer than we expect or may be interrupted by secondary outbreaks of the virus, delaying the anticipated recovery of the global economy

 

 Global economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as related regulatory reform and changes in the political environment may lead to limited business opportunities for our customers, creating significant cost pressures for them and potentially constraining the number of professionals employed, which could lead to lower demand for our products and services

 

 Competitive pricing actions and product innovation could impact our revenues

 

 Our sales, commercial simplification and product initiatives may be insufficient to retain customers or generate new sales

 

 Factors that we cannot anticipate may reduce the effectiveness of our employees working remotely, including the inability to execute on key product or customer support initiatives or to perform implementation services remotely

 

 Factors that we cannot anticipate may require us to suspend or cease operations at our Global Print facility or may limit the ability of Reuters News journalists to report on certain global events

 

 Our decline in Global Print revenues may be larger than we anticipate if customers do not resume shipments because they are not able to return to their business locations or for other reasons

 

 

 

 

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   Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

 

   Material assumptions

 

  

 

   Material risks

 

 Our ability to achieve revenue growth targets

 

 Business mix continues to shift to higher-growth product offerings

 

 Continued investment in growth markets, customer service, product development and digital capabilities

 

 We will be able to mitigate a significant portion of the impact of lost revenues on adjusted EBITDA through our cost savings programs, including reduced spending on consulting and advisory services, travel and entertainment, certain development initiatives and other discretionary spend

 

  

 Same as the risks above related to the revenue outlook

 

 The costs of required investments exceed expectations or actual returns are below expectations

 

 Acquisition and disposal activity may dilute our adjusted EBITDA margin

 

 Our cost savings programs may be insufficient to offset lost revenues

 

 

   Free Cash Flow

 

 

   Material assumptions

 

  

 

   Material risks

 

 

 Our ability to achieve our revenue and adjusted EBITDA margin targets

 

 Capital expenditures expected to be approximately between 7.5% and 8.0% of revenues in 2020

 

 A limited number of our smaller customers will be unable to pay us or will seek financial accommodations or alternative payment terms due to their financial condition

 

 Deferrals of payments from our customers will be limited, and our access to credit facilities will be sufficient to bridge any gap

  

 

 Same as the risks above related to the revenue and adjusted EBITDA margin outlook

 

 Capital expenditures may be higher than currently expected resulting in higher cash outflows

 

 The timing and amount of tax payments to governments may differ from our expectations

 

 A significant deterioration in the macroeconomic environment could negatively impact the ability of our customers to pay us leading to reduced free cash flow. The tightening of credit markets could limit our ability to bridge gaps in payments leading to unexpected operational impacts on our business

 

 

 

   Effective tax rate on adjusted earnings

 

 

   Material assumptions

 

  

 

   Material risks

 

 Our ability to achieve our adjusted EBITDA target

 

 The mix of taxing jurisdictions where we recognized pre-tax profit or losses in 2019 does not significantly change

 

 No unexpected changes in tax laws and treaties within the jurisdictions where we operate

 

 The completion of the proposed sale of Refinitiv to LSEG, or the sale of another significant, but non-strategic, equity investment at a significant gain by the end of 2020

 

 Depreciation and amortization of computer software between $625 million and $650 million

 

 Interest expense between $190 million and $215 million

 

  

 Same as the risks above related to adjusted EBITDA

 

 A material change in the geographical mix of our pre-tax profits and losses

 

 A material change in current tax laws or treaties to which we are subject, and did not expect

 

 The tax rates and calculations that apply to our taxable income could be impacted if these transactions do not occur

 

 Depreciation and amortization of computer software as well as interest expense may be significantly higher or lower than expected

Our outlook contains various non-IFRS financial measures. We believe that providing reconciliations of forward-looking non-IFRS financial measures in our outlook would be potentially misleading and not practical due to the difficulty of projecting items that are not reflective of ongoing operations in any future period. The magnitude of these items may be significant. Consequently, for outlook purposes only, we are unable to reconcile these non-IFRS measures to the most comparable IFRS measures because we cannot predict, with reasonable certainty, the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates which impact (i) the translation of our results reported at average foreign currency rates for the year and (ii) other finance income or expense related to intercompany financing arrangements. Additionally, we cannot reasonably predict the occurrence or amount of other operating gains and losses, which include fair value adjustments relating to warrants we hold in Refinitiv as well as gains or losses that generally arise from business transactions we do not currently anticipate.

The information above in this section is forward-looking and should be read in conjunction with the sections in this document entitled “Additional Information—Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Risk Factors”.

 

 

 

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Results of Operations

Our revenues and operating profit on a consolidated basis do not tend to be significantly impacted by seasonality as we record a large portion of our revenues ratably over a contract term and our costs are generally incurred evenly throughout the year. However, our revenues from quarter to consecutive quarter can be impacted by the release of certain tax products, which tend to be concentrated in the fourth quarter and, to a lesser extent, in the first quarter of the year. We believe that our revenues in the second quarter of 2020 reflected the lowest level we will report for any of the four quarters in the full year of 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19. In 2019, the seasonality of our operating profit was impacted by significant costs to reposition our business following the sale of a majority interest in F&R.

Consolidated results

 

     
    Three months ended June 30,     Six months ended June 30,  
                Change                 Change  

   (millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts

   and margins)

  2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
 

   IFRS Financial Measures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Revenues

    1,405       1,423       (1%)    

 

 

 

    2.925       2,910       1%    

 

 

 

   Operating profit

    365       447       (18%)    

 

 

 

    655       721       (9%)    

 

 

 

   Diluted EPS

    $0.25       $0.36       (31%)      

 

 

 

 

 

    $0.64       $0.56       14%      

 

 

 

 

 

   Non-IFRS Financial Measures(1)

               

   Revenues

    1,405       1,423       (1%)       -       2,925       2,910       1%       2%  

   Organic revenue growth

          (2%)             -  

   Adjusted EBITDA

    479       355       35%       34%       959       752       27%       27%  

   Adjusted EBITDA margin

    34.1%       25.0%       910bp       840bp       32.8%       25.8%       700bp       650bp  

   Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures

    334       253       32%         672       512       31%    

   Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures margin

    23.8%       17.9%       590bp         23.0%       17.6%       540bp    

   Adjusted EPS

    $0.44       $0.29       52%       48%       $0.92       $0.65       42%       40%  

Supplemental financial results – “Big 3” Segments – Legal Professionals, Corporates and Tax & Accounting Professionals Combined

 

    

 

Three months ended June 30,

   

 

Six months ended June 30,

 
                Change                 Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)   2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
 

   Non-IFRS Financial Measures(1)

               

   Revenues

    1,117       1,102       1%       3%       2,328       2,270       3%       4%  

   Organic revenue growth

          2%             3%  

   Adjusted EBITDA

    426       386       10%       11%       857       818       5%       5%  

   Adjusted EBITDA margin

    38.1%       34.9%       320bp       270bp       36.8%       36.0%       80bp       60bp  

 

(1)

Refer to Appendices A and B of the management’s discussion and analysis for additional information and reconciliations of our non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

Revenues

 

    

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

   

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
                Change                 Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars)   2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    Organic     2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    Organic  

   Recurring revenues

    1,139       1,115       2%       4%       3%       2,307       2,250       3%       4%       4%  

   Transactions revenues

    133       143       (8%)       (6%)       (19%)       331       331       -       1%       (11%)  

   Global Print revenues

    134       164       (19%)       (17%)       (17%)       289       329       (12%)       (11%)       (11%)  

   Eliminations/Rounding

    (1)       1                               (2)       -                          

Revenues

    1,405       1,423       (1%)       -       (2%)       2,925       2,910       1%       2%       -  

 

 

 

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Revenues decreased 1% in total and were essentially unchanged in constant currency in the second quarter, despite a benefit from acquisitions. Growth in recurring revenues, which comprised 81% of our revenues, was offset by declines in transactions and Global Print revenues. COVID-19 impacted our second-quarter revenue performance as declines in transaction revenues reflected lower activity in our Tax & Accounting Professionals segment due to the U.S. Government extending the Federal tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15, and declines in our Global Print revenues included the impact of shipping delays requested by customers who continue to work remotely. In the six-month period, revenues increased 1% in total and 2% in constant currency as growth in recurring revenues more than offset a decline in Global Print revenues. Transactions revenues increased in constant currency due to a benefit from acquisitions.

On an organic basis, revenues decreased 2% in the second quarter and were essentially unchanged in the six-month period. In both periods, growth in recurring revenues was offset by declines in transactions and Global Print revenues.

Revenues for our “Big 3” segments, which comprised 80% of total revenues in both periods, grew 1% in total and 3% in constant currency in the second quarter and increased 3% in total and 4% in constant currency in the six-month period. On an organic basis, revenues for the “Big 3” segments increased in both periods as higher recurring revenues more than offset declines in transactions revenues.

Foreign currency negatively impacted revenue growth in both periods due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar primarily against the British pound sterling, Brazilian real and Argentine peso, compared to the prior-year periods.

Operating profit, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures

Operating profit decreased 18% in the second quarter and 9% in the six-month period as the prior-year periods included a significantly higher benefit from the revaluation of warrants that we hold in Refinitiv relating to the proposed sale of Refinitiv to LSEG. This unfavorable impact was partly offset by lower costs, which reflected the completion of the program in 2019 to reposition our company following the separation of F&R as well as COVID 19-related cost mitigation efforts. In May 2020, we announced that we planned to mitigate our loss of revenues from COVID-19 by reducing our costs by $100 million. We achieved about two-thirds of our targeted costs savings in the second quarter of 2020.

Adjusted EBITDA and the related margin, which excludes the impact from the warrant revaluation, among other items, increased in both periods in total and in constant currency due to lower costs. The improvement in our adjusted EBITDA margin was distorted by the benefit from significantly lower costs due to completing our program to reposition our business in 2019. Excluding this benefit, our adjusted EBITDA margin increased 290bp in the second quarter and 60bp in the six-month period. Both periods included the benefits from our COVID-19 related cost reduction program. However, the margin improvement in the six-month period was partly offset by unfavorable expense timing in the first quarter compared to the prior-year period. Foreign currency benefited adjusted EBITDA margins by 70bp and 50bp in the second quarter and six-month period, respectively.

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures and the related margin increased in both periods as higher adjusted EBITDA more than offset higher capital expenditures.

Operating expenses

 

     
    

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
                  

Change

 

                  

Change

 

 
   (millions of U.S. dollars)

 

  

2020

 

    

2019

 

    

Total

 

    

Constant
Currency

 

    

2020

 

    

2019

 

    

Total

 

    

Constant
Currency

 

 

Operating expenses

  

 

929

 

  

 

1,070

 

  

 

(13%)

 

  

 

(11%)

 

  

 

1,946

 

  

 

2,161

 

  

 

(10%)

 

  

 

(7%)

 

Operating expenses in both periods decreased in total and in constant currency. In both periods, lower costs reflected the completion of our program in 2019 to reposition our company following the separation of F&R and the benefits of our COVID 19-related cost reduction program, which more than offset higher expenses due to acquisitions. The six-month period also included unfavorable expense timing in the first quarter compared to the prior year period. The second quarter and six-month period included additional reserves for estimated bad debt expense related to customers who may become financially distressed due to COVID-19.

 

 

 

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Depreciation and amortization

 

     

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

 

  

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

Change

 

    

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

Change

 

 

Depreciation

     43        38        14%        83        72        15%  

Amortization of computer software

     118        104        14%        229        209        10%  

Subtotal

     161        142        14%        312        281        11%  

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

     30        25        15%        60        52        14%  

 

   

Depreciation and amortization of computer software on a combined basis increased in both periods as higher expenses from newly acquired assets, including those associated with recently acquired businesses, more than offset the completion of depreciation and amortization for certain assets acquired in previous years.

   

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets increased in both periods as expenses associated with recent acquisitions more than offset the completion of amortization of assets acquired in previous years.

Other operating gains, net

 

     

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

 

  

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

 

Other operating gains, net

     80        261        48        305  

Other operating gains, net, included a benefit, in all periods, from the revaluation of warrants that we hold in Refinitiv due to an increase in the share price of LSEG in connection with the proposed transaction to sell Refinitiv to LSEG (see the “Proposed LSEG/Refinitiv Transaction” section of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information). Operating gains, net, included $54 million (2019 – $256 million) and $1 million (2019 – $275 million) in the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively, related to the warrants. The three months and six months ended June 30, 2020 included gains associated with the sale of certain real estate and the six months ended June 30, 2020 also included a gain associated with a distribution from an investment. The six months ended June 30, 2019 also included gains from the sale of several small businesses.

Net interest expense

 

     

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

 

  

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

Change

 

    

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

Change

 

 

Net interest expense

     52        37        40%        97        72        35%  

The increase in net interest expense in both periods was due to lower interest income, as the 2019 periods included interest income on proceeds from the F&R transaction that had been set aside to fund acquisitions.

Other finance costs (income)

 

     

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

 

  

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

 

Other finance costs (income)

     13        18        (34)        29  

Other finance costs (income) primarily included gains or losses from fluctuations of foreign currency exchange rates on certain intercompany funding arrangements. The 2020 period also included gains related to changes in foreign exchange contracts and the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges.

Share of post-tax (losses) earnings in equity method investments

 

     

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

 

  

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

 

Refinitiv (45% ownership interest)

     (155)        (141)        (213)        (259)  

Other equity method investments

     2        3        6        8  

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

     (153)        (138)        (207)        (251)  

 

 

 

 

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Our share of the post-tax losses from our 45% interest in Refinitiv reflects interest expense for Refinitiv’s debt, as well as expenses to scale the business to facilitate a targeted cost savings run rate of up to $650 million by the end of 2020. The reduction of Refinitiv’s loss in the six-month period reflects a benefit from the repricing of debt. Refinitiv achieved run-rate savings of $567 million as of June 30, 2020 and believes it is on track to achieve its full annual cost savings run-rate target by the end of 2020. We provide additional information about the performance of our investment in Refinitiv in Appendix C of this management’s discussion and analysis.

Tax expense

 

     

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

 (millions of U.S. dollars)

 

  

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

 

 Tax expense

  

 

16

 

  

 

47

 

  

 

63

 

  

 

48

 

The tax expense in each period reflected the mix of taxing jurisdictions in which pre-tax profits and losses were recognized. Because the geographical mix of pre-tax profits and losses in interim periods may be different from that for the full year, tax expense or benefit in interim periods is not necessarily indicative of tax expense for the full year.

We assess the recoverability of deferred tax assets at the end of each reporting period. The evolution of our business and changes in tax laws in various jurisdictions may provide opportunities to utilize tax loss carryforwards or other tax attributes for which the company has not recognized deferred tax assets. To the extent that recent trends continue, it is possible that the company will recognize deferred tax assets ranging from $50 million to $100 million within the next 12 months.

The comparability of our tax expense was impacted by various transactions and accounting adjustments during each period. The following table sets forth certain components within income tax expense that impact comparability from period to period, including tax expense associated with items that are removed from adjusted earnings:

 

     

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

 

  

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

 

 Tax expense (benefit)

           

 Tax items impacting comparability:

           

 Corporate tax laws and rates(1)

  

 

19

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

46

 

  

 

-

 

 Deferred tax adjustments(2)

  

 

(10)

 

  

 

(4)

 

  

 

(7)

 

  

 

(15)

 

 Subtotal

  

 

9

 

  

 

(4)

 

  

 

39

 

  

 

(15)

 

 Tax related to:

           

 Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

  

 

(7)

 

  

 

(4)

 

  

 

(13)

 

  

 

(9)

 

 Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

  

 

(39)

 

  

 

(36)

 

  

 

(53)

 

  

 

(67)

 

 Other operating gains, net

  

 

18

 

  

 

70

 

  

 

5

 

  

 

77

 

 Other items

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

-

 

 Subtotal

  

 

(28)

 

  

 

30

 

  

 

(59)

 

  

 

1

 

 Total

  

 

(19)

 

  

 

26

 

  

 

(20)

 

  

 

(14)

 

 

(1)

Primarily relates to a minimum tax that we do not expect to ultimately pay due to the taxable gains that would arise on the anticipated closing of the LSEG transaction or the sale of another significant, but non-strategic, equity investment at a significant gain by the end of 2020. However, IFRS requires that we accrue the tax until such time as that transaction takes place. This amount also includes changes in deferred tax liabilities due to changes in tax laws and rates, and changes to U.S. state deferred tax liabilities resulting from changes in apportionment factors.

(2)

Relates primarily to the recognition of deferred tax assets that arose in prior years and adjustments required due to acquisitions and disposals.

 

 

 

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Because the items described above impact the comparability of our tax expense or benefit for each period, we remove them from our calculation of adjusted earnings, along with the pre-tax items to which they relate. The computation of our adjusted tax expense is set forth below:

 

     
    

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

 (millions of U.S. dollars)

 

  

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

    

 

2020

 

    

 

2019

 

 

 

 Tax expense

 

     16        47        63        48  

 

 Remove: Items from above impacting comparability

 

     19        (26)        20        14  

 

 Other adjustment:

 

           

 

 Interim period effective tax rate normalization(1)

 

     10        8        6        8  

 

 Total tax expense on adjusted earnings

 

     45        29        89        70  

 

(1)

Adjustment to reflect income taxes based on estimated full-year effective tax rate. Earnings or losses for interim periods under IFRS generally reflect income taxes based on the estimated effective tax rates of each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. The non-IFRS adjustment reallocates estimated full-year income taxes between interim periods, but has no effect on full-year income taxes.

Results of Discontinued Operations

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, includes the following:

 

     
    

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
 (millions of U.S. dollars)    2020      2019      2020      2019  

 Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

  

 

5

 

  

 

27

 

  

 

3

 

  

 

37

 

The results of discontinued operations included residual income and expenses which were borne by our company following the sale of a majority interest in F&R in October 2018.

Net earnings and diluted EPS

 

     
    

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
 (millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)    2020      2019      Change      2020      2019      Change  

 Net earnings

     126        180        (30%)        319        284        12%  

 Diluted EPS

  

 

$0.25

 

  

 

$0.36

 

  

 

(31%)

 

  

 

$0.64

 

  

 

$0.56

 

  

 

14%

 

Net earnings and diluted EPS decreased in the second quarter due to lower operating profit. In the six-month period, net earnings and diluted EPS increased as lower losses from the company’s 45% equity interest in Refinitiv, currency benefits from the revaluation of certain intercompany funding arrangements and a lower loss from discontinued operations more than offset higher income tax expense and lower operating profit.

Adjusted earnings and adjusted EPS

 

     
   

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

   

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
                Change                 Change  
 (millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts))   2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
 

 Adjusted earnings

 

 

221

 

 

 

146

 

 

 

51%

 

   

 

460

 

 

 

327

 

 

 

41%

 

 

 Adjusted EPS

 

$

0.44

 

 

$

0.29

 

 

 

52%

 

 

 

48%

 

 

$

0.92

 

 

$

0.65

 

 

 

42%

 

 

 

40%

 

Adjusted earnings and the related per share amount increased in both periods as higher adjusted EBITDA more than offset higher depreciation and amortization of computer software and higher interest expense.

 

 

 

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Segment results

The following is a discussion of our five reportable segments and our Corporate costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020. We assess revenue growth for each segment, as well as the businesses within each segment, in constant currency.

See Appendix A of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information.

Legal Professionals

 

     
   

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

   

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
                Change                 Change  
 (millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)   2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    Organic     2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    Organic  

 Recurring revenues

 

 

580

 

 

 

557

 

 

 

4%

 

 

 

5%

 

 

 

3%

 

 

 

1,167

 

 

 

1,113

 

 

 

5%

 

 

 

6%

 

 

 

4%

 

 Transactions revenues

 

 

40

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

(18%)

 

 

 

(17%)

 

 

 

(19%)

 

 

 

79

 

 

 

92

 

 

 

(15%)

 

 

 

(14%)

 

 

 

(13%)

 

 Revenues

    620       605       2%       3%       1%       1,246       1,205       3%       4%       3%  

 Segment adjusted EBITDA

    254       229       11%       11%         484       458       6%       6%    

 Segment adjusted EBITDA margin

    40.9%       37.8%       310bp       280bp               38.8%       38.0%       80bp       70bp          

Revenues in total and in constant currency increased in both periods. The increase in constant currency was driven by growth in recurring revenues (94% of the segment in the second quarter) and contributions from the acquisitions of HighQ and Pondera Solutions, which were partly offset by a decline in transactions revenues (6% of the segment in the second quarter). Revenues from law firms, which includes revenues from large global law firms and represent just over two-thirds of the segment’s revenues, increased 1% in the second quarter (3% in the six-month period), and the segment’s Global business, representing smaller law firms outside the U.S., increased 3% in both periods. U.S. Government revenues grew 11% in both periods, which included the benefits from contracts signed in the fourth quarter of 2019 with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. We expect the U.S. Government revenue growth rate in the second half of 2020 will be similar to the growth rate experienced in the second quarter.

Organic revenues increased in both periods as growth in recurring revenues led by Westlaw Edge, the newest version of our legal research platform, more than offset an expected decline in transactions revenues due to delays in Elite installations, slower sales, and the cancellation of some in-person events.

Segment adjusted EBITDA and the related margin increased in both periods due to higher revenues and the benefits from COVID-19 related cost mitigation efforts, which more than offset higher bad debt expense related to customers who may become financially distressed due to COVID-19. The six-month period was negatively impacted by unfavorable expense timing in the first quarter compared to the prior-year period. Foreign currency benefited the year-over-year change in segment adjusted EBITDA margin by 30bp and 10bp in the second quarter and six-month period, respectively.

Corporates

 

    

Three months ended June 30,

 

 

   

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
               

Change

 

               

Change

 

 
(millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)

 

 

2020

 

   

2019

 

   

Total

 

   

Constant
Currency

 

   

Organic

 

   

2020

 

   

2019

 

   

Total

 

   

Constant
Currency

 

   

Organic

 

 

Recurring revenues

    282       267       6%       7%       7%       563       530       6%       8%       7%  

Transactions revenues

    47       48       (4%)       (2%)       (2%)       133       131       1%       2%       (2%)  

Revenues

    329       315       4%       6%       5%       696       661       5%       6%       5%  

Segment adjusted EBITDA

    118       98       21%       21%         235       209       13%       13%    

Segment adjusted EBITDA margin

    35.9%       30.9%       500bp       450bp               33.8%       31.5%       230bp       180bp          

Revenues in total and in constant currency increased in both periods. The increase in constant currency was driven by growth in recurring revenues (86% of the Corporates segment in the second quarter). Transactions revenues (14% of the Corporates segment in the second quarter) declined slightly in the second quarter and increased slightly in the six-month period. Both periods included the benefits from the July 2019 acquisitions of Confirmation and HighQ which were essentially offset by the loss of revenues from the sale of the Pangea3/Legal Managed Services (LMS) business in May 2019.

 

 

 

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On an organic basis, revenue growth in both periods reflected the growth in recurring revenues due to the strong performance of our legal and tax products, which more than offset organic declines in transactions revenues.

Segment adjusted EBITDA and the related margins increased in both periods due to higher revenues and the benefits from COVID-19 related cost mitigation efforts. Foreign currency benefited the year-over-year change in segment adjusted EBITDA margin by 50bp each in the second quarter and six-month period.

Tax & Accounting Professionals

 

    

Three months ended June 30,

 

 

   

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
               

Change

 

               

 

Change

 

 
(millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)

 

 

2020

 

   

2019

 

   

Total

 

   

Constant
Currency

 

   

Organic

 

   

2020

 

   

2019

 

   

Total

 

   

Constant
Currency

 

   

Organic

 

 

Recurring revenues

    136       147       (7%)       (3%)       4%       294       320       (8%)       (5%)       1%  

Transactions revenues

    32       35       (8%)       (6%)       (14%)       92       84       11%       12%       (4%)  

Revenues

    168       182       (8%)       (4%)       -       386       404       (4%)       (1%)       -  

Segment adjusted EBITDA

    54       59       (9%)       (6%)         138       151       (8%)       (6%)    

Segment adjusted EBITDA margin

    31.9%       32.3%       (40)bp       (80)bp               35.7%       37.3%       (160)bp       (190)bp          

As expected, revenues in total and in constant currency declined in both periods. On both bases, recurring revenues (81% of the segment in the second quarter) declined due to the loss of revenues from the sale of the Aumentum government business in November 2019. Transactions revenues (19% of the segment in the second quarter) declined in the second quarter, despite a benefit from the acquisition of Confirmation, due to the delay of transactional Pay-Per-Return tax filings resulting from the extended U.S. Federal tax filing deadline to July 15, 2020. In the six-month period, transactions revenues increased in total and in constant currency due to contributions from the acquisition of Confirmation.

On an organic basis, revenues in both periods were essentially unchanged as growth in recurring revenues was offset by declines in transactions revenues. In the second quarter, Tax & Accounting’s Professionals revenues would have increased by 3% on an organic basis if the Pay-Per-Return tax filings had not been delayed until the third quarter. In the six-month period, recurring organic revenue growth was negatively impacted by the permanent acceleration of the release date of some of our UltraTax state software from January 2020 to December 2019 to align with the traditional December release of our U.S. federal tax software. Recurring revenue growth would have been 6% without this impact. We expect Tax & Accounting Professionals to achieve above 5% organic revenue growth in the third and fourth quarters of 2020.

Segment adjusted EBITDA and the related margins decreased in both periods primarily due to lower revenues. Foreign currency benefited the year-over-year change in segment adjusted EBITDA margin by 40bp and 30bp in the second quarter and six-month period, respectively.

Tax & Accounting Professionals is a more seasonal business relative to our other businesses, with a higher percentage of its segment adjusted EBITDA historically generated in the fourth quarter and to a slightly lesser extent, the first quarter, due to the release of certain tax products. Small movements in the timing of revenues and expenses can impact quarterly margins.

Reuters News

 

    

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

   

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
                Change                

 

Change

 
(millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)   2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    Organic     2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    Organic  

Recurring revenues

    141       144       (2%)       (2%)       (2%)       283       287       (2%)       (1%)       (1%)  

Transactions revenues

    14       12       19%       26%       (54%)       27       24       14%       15%       (45%)  

Revenues

    155       156       (1%)       -       (11%)       310       311       -       -       (8%)  

Segment adjusted EBITDA

    25       19       24%       6%         44       42       3%       (12%)    

Segment adjusted EBITDA margin

    15.6%       12.5%       310bp       70bp               14.1%       13.6%       50bp       (170)bp          

 

 

 

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Revenues in total declined slightly in both periods. On an organic basis, revenues declined 11% and 8% for the three and six month periods, respectively. The decline in organic revenues related to the cancellation of in-person conferences in response to COVID-19 in our Reuters Events business, which we acquired in the fourth quarter of 2019. While we were able to convert some of these conferences to virtual events, we were not able to recoup all of the lost revenue from the cancellations. Reuters News revenues on a constant currency basis were essentially unchanged in both periods because the loss of in-person events revenues does not impact our comparison of the current and prior-period actual results, since we did not own the Reuters Events business in the prior-year period. However, the loss of revenues caused a decline in organic revenues because we include the organic impact from recently acquired businesses in our computation of organic growth, as though we had owned the Reuters Events business in both periods.

In the third quarter of 2020, we expect Reuters News total revenues in constant currency to decline between 2% and 4% and we have postponed all in-person conferences in our Reuters Events business through the third quarter of 2020. If we are unable to resume in-person conferences, we plan to host virtual events in the second half of the year. However, these events are only expected to recoup a small portion of the revenue that would be lost to in-person conferences. Full-year total revenues for Reuters News are expected to decline between 4% and 6%.

Segment adjusted EBITDA and the related margin increased in the second quarter due to currency and certain one-time benefits. In the six-month period, segment adjusted EBITDA and the related margin increased due to currency, which more than offset higher expenses associated with Reuters Events in-person conferences that were cancelled and higher investments. Foreign currency benefited the year-over-year change in segment adjusted EBITDA margin by 240bp and 220bp in the second quarter and six-month period, respectively.

Global Print

 

     
   

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

   

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
                Change                 Change  
 (millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)   2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    Organic     2020     2019     Total     Constant
Currency
    Organic  

 Revenues

 

 

134

 

 

 

164

 

 

 

(19%)

 

 

 

(17%)

 

 

 

(17%)

 

 

 

289

 

 

 

329

 

 

 

(12%)

 

 

 

(11%)

 

 

 

(11%)

 

 Segment adjusted EBITDA

 

 

54

 

 

 

72

 

 

 

(25%)

 

 

 

(24%)

 

   

 

117

 

 

 

146

 

 

 

(20%)

 

 

 

(19%)

 

 

 Segment adjusted EBITDA margin

 

 

40.5%

 

 

 

44.1%

 

 

 

(360)bp

 

 

 

(390)bp

 

         

 

40.5%

 

 

 

44.4%

 

 

 

(390)bp

 

 

 

(420)bp

 

       

Revenues decreased in total, in constant currency, and on an organic basis in both periods, as expected, exacerbated by the continuing delay in shipments requested by some of our customers.

In the third quarter of 2020, we expect Global Print’s revenues to decline between 7% and 15%, partially due to continuing delays in shipping print materials as many customers continue to work from home and are not at their offices to accept shipments due to the phased re-opening of the U.S. and other countries, which have experienced slowdowns from resurgences of COVID-19 cases. As these print materials have historically been viewed as critical content by law firms and government agencies, we currently expect most of these shipments will eventually take place by the end of 2020. We expect Global Print’s revenues to decline between 7% and 11% for the full year.

Segment adjusted EBITDA and the related margins decreased in both periods primarily due to lower revenues. Foreign currency benefited the year-over-year change in segment adjusted EBITDA margin by 30bp each in the second quarter and six-month period.

Corporate costs

 

     
   

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

   

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
 (millions of U.S. dollars)   2020     2019     2020     2019  

 Corporate costs

 

 

26

 

 

 

122

 

 

 

59

 

 

 

254

 

Corporate costs decreased in both periods primarily because the 2019 periods included costs and investments to reposition our business following the separation of F&R from the rest of our company, including acceleration of digital strategies, replication of capabilities that we lost with the separation from Refinitiv and severance. In the first six months of 2020, corporate costs were lower than planned in the first half of the year because of certain timing benefits that are not expected to continue in the second half of the year.

 

 

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have historically maintained a disciplined capital strategy that balances growth, long-term financial leverage, credit ratings and returns to shareholders. Our approach has provided us with a strong capital structure and liquidity position that we believe will enable us to weather the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. In the first quarter of 2020, before the designation of COVID-19 as a pandemic, we redeemed about $640 million of debt prior to its scheduled maturity in 2021, using borrowings under our commercial paper program. As the economic crisis began to emerge, we borrowed $1.0 billion under our $1.8 billion syndicated credit facility, primarily to repay commercial paper, but also as a precautionary measure given the economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19. In the second quarter of 2020, we repaid the $1.0 billion of borrowings under our credit facility using proceeds from a new issuance of long-term debt that matures in 2025. At June 30, 2020, we had $946 million of cash on hand. Our net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio as of June 30, 2020 was approximately 1.9:1, which is lower than our target of 2.5:1. As calculated under our credit facility covenant, our net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio at the end of the second quarter of 2020 was 1.7:1, which is well below the maximum leverage ratio allowed under the credit facility of 4.5:1. None of our debt securities are scheduled to mature until 2023.

We intend to pay an annualized dividend of $1.52 per share in 2020 to our common shareholders and to maintain our target to pay 50% to 60% of our expected free cash flow as dividends to our shareholders. We completed the repurchase of $200 million of our common shares in February 2020, and do not anticipate repurchasing more of our shares for the remainder of the year.

We expect that our existing sources of liquidity, cash on hand, cash generated from our operations and funds available from our credit and commercial paper facilities, will be sufficient to fund our projected cash requirements for the next 12 months.

The information above and in this section is forward-looking and should be read in conjunction with the sections entitled “Additional Information—Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Risk Factors”.

Cash flow

Summary of consolidated statement of cash flow

 

     
    

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 (millions of U.S. dollars)

  

2020

    

2019

    

$ Change

    

2020

    

2019

    

$ Change

 

 Net cash provided by operating activities

  

 

422

 

  

 

113

 

  

 

309

 

  

 

598

 

  

 

83

 

  

 

515

 

 Net cash used in investing activities

  

 

(93)

 

  

 

(77)

 

  

 

(16)

 

  

 

(342)

 

  

 

(153)

 

  

 

(189)

 

 Net cash used in financing activities

  

 

(205)

 

  

 

(186)

 

  

 

(19)

 

  

 

(125)

 

  

 

(527)

 

  

 

402

 

 Increase (decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts

  

 

124

 

  

 

(150)

 

  

 

274

 

  

 

131

 

  

 

(597)

 

  

 

728

 

 Translation adjustments

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

(10)

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

(12)

 

 Cash and bank overdrafts at beginning of period

  

 

822

 

  

 

2,258

 

  

 

(1,436)

 

  

 

825

 

  

 

2,703

 

  

 

(1,878)

 

 Cash and bank overdrafts at end of period

  

 

946

 

  

 

2,108

 

  

 

(1,162)

 

  

 

946

 

  

 

2,108

 

  

 

(1,162)

 

 Non-IFRS Financial Measure(1)

                 

 Free cash flow

  

 

305

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

304

 

  

 

340

 

  

 

(176)

 

  

 

516

 

 

(1)

Refer to Appendices A and B of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information and reconciliations of our non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measure.

Operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities increased in both periods primarily because the prior-year periods included (i) significantly higher costs and investments to reposition our company following the separation of F&R, (ii) residual employee-related costs and tax expenditures related to the operations of our former F&R business, and (iii) in the six-month period, a $167 million contribution to a pension plan. Both periods also benefited from savings from our COVID-19 related cost mitigation efforts and lower tax payments. The second quarter of 2020 also included favorable working capital movements.

Investing activities. Net cash used in investing activities increased in the second quarter of 2020 primarily due to higher capital expenditures which were $145 million (2019- $102 million). In the six-month period of 2020, net cash used in investing activities increased due to higher capital expenditures, which were $287 million (2019- $240 million), and higher acquisition spending. In the first quarter of 2020, we acquired Pondera Solutions, a provider of technology and advanced analytics to combat fraud, waste and abuse in healthcare and large government programs. Both periods of 2020 included proceeds from the sale of certain real estate and both periods in 2019 included proceeds from the sales of several small businesses.

 

 

 

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Financing activities. Net cash used in financing activities increased slightly in the second quarter of 2020 due to higher dividend payments. In the six-month period of 2020, net cash used in financing activities decreased because the period included $492 million in proceeds from net borrowings of debt. Refer to the “Commercial paper program”, “Credit facility”, and “Long-term debt” subsections below for additional information regarding our debt activity. In the first six months of 2020, we returned $564 million to shareholders (2019- $539 million) through dividends and share repurchases.

Cash and bank overdrafts. The reduction in cash and cash equivalents in both periods was driven by spending on acquisitions that was funded from proceeds that we set aside from the F&R transaction.

Free cash flow. Free cash flow increased in both periods primarily due to higher cash from operating activities.

Additional information about our debt, dividends and share repurchases is as follows:

 

   

Commercial paper program. Our $1.8 billion commercial paper program provides cost-effective and flexible short-term funding. In January 2020, we issued $630 million of commercial paper, the proceeds of which were used to redeem debt obligations early ahead of their maturity. Most of our commercial paper borrowings were repaid in February and March 2020, primarily from funds borrowed under our credit facility, as discussed below. At June 30, 2020, we had $120 million of outstanding commercial paper. In July 2020, we repaid all of our outstanding commercial paper.

 

   

Credit facility. We have a $1.8 billion syndicated credit facility agreement which matures in December 2024 and may be used to provide liquidity for general corporate purposes (including acquisitions or support for our commercial paper program). There were no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility at June 30, 2020. We borrowed $1.0 billion under this facility in the first quarter of 2020, which was repaid in the second quarter of 2020. Based on our current credit ratings, the cost of borrowing under the facility is priced at LIBOR/EURIBOR plus 112.5 basis points. We have the option to request an increase, subject to approval by applicable lenders, in the lenders’ commitments in an aggregate amount of $600 million for a maximum credit facility commitment of $2.4 billion.

 

  

In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. As a result, public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify an alternative reference rate.

 

  

If our debt rating is downgraded by Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s, our facility fees and borrowing costs may increase, although availability would be unaffected. Conversely, an upgrade in our ratings may reduce our facility fees and borrowing costs. We also monitor the lenders that are party to our facility and believe they continue to be able to lend to us.

 

  

We guarantee borrowings by our subsidiaries under the credit facility. We must also maintain a ratio of net debt as defined in the credit agreement (total debt after swaps less cash and cash equivalents) as of the last day of each fiscal quarter to EBITDA as defined in the credit agreement (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and other modifications described in the credit agreement) for the last four quarters ended of not more than 4.5:1. If we complete an acquisition with a purchase price of over $500 million, the ratio of net debt to EBITDA would temporarily increase to 5.0:1 for three quarters after completion, at which time the ratio would revert to 4.5:1. As of June 30, 2020, we were in compliance with this covenant as our ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA, as calculated under the terms of our syndicated credit facility, was 1.7:1.

 

   

Long-term debt. The following table provides information regarding notes that we issued and repaid in the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

MONTH/YEAR    TRANSACTION    PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (IN MILLIONS)
     Notes issued     
May 2020    2.239% Notes, due 2025    C$1,400
     Notes repaid     
January 2020    3.309% Notes, due 2021    C$550
January 2020    3.95% Notes, due 2021    US$139

 

  

The new notes issued in May 2020 were immediately swapped into U.S. dollars and we used the $999 million of net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which included repayment of borrowings under our credit facility.

 

  

In January 2020, we repaid notes prior to their scheduled maturity dates for $640 million. This amount included early redemption premiums and the settlement of cross-currency swaps. The repayments were funded with commercial paper borrowings.

 

 

 

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In July 2020, we filed a new base shelf prospectus pursuant to which Thomson Reuters Corporation and one of its U.S. subsidiaries, TR Finance LLC, may collectively issue up to $3.0 billion of unsecured debt securities from time to time through August 6, 2022. Any debt securities issued by TR Finance LLC will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured basis by Thomson Reuters Corporation and three U.S. subsidiary guarantors, which are also indirect 100%-owned and consolidated subsidiaries of Thomson Reuters Corporation. Except for TR Finance LLC and the subsidiary guarantors, none of Thomson Reuters Corporation’s other subsidiaries have guaranteed or would otherwise become obligated with respect to any issued TR Finance LLC debt securities. As of August 4, 2020, neither Thomson Reuters Corporation nor TR Finance LLC has issued any debt securities under the prospectus.

 

  

TR Finance LLC is an indirect 100%-owned subsidiary of Thomson Reuters Corporation and was formed with the sole purpose of issuing debt securities. TR Finance LLC has no significant assets or liabilities, as well as no subsidiaries or ongoing business operations of its own. The ability of TR Finance LLC to pay interest, premiums, operating expenses and to meet its debt obligations will depend upon the credit support of Thomson Reuters Corporation and the subsidiary guarantors. Please refer to Appendix E of this management’s discussion and analysis for consolidating summary financial information about TR Finance LLC and the subsidiary guarantors.

 

   

Credit ratings. Our access to financing depends on, among other things, suitable market conditions and the maintenance of suitable long-term credit ratings. Our credit ratings may be adversely affected by various factors, including increased debt levels, decreased earnings, declines in customer demand, increased competition, a deterioration in general economic and business conditions and adverse publicity. Any downgrades in our credit ratings may impede our access to the debt markets or result in higher borrowing rates.

 

  

In June 2020, Moody’s affirmed our credit ratings and raised our Outlook to Stable from Negative, citing the strength of our business and strong liquidity position, among other items.

 

  

The following table sets forth the credit ratings from rating agencies in respect of our outstanding securities as of the date of this management’s discussion and analysis:

 

     

Moody’s

  

S&P Global Ratings

  

DBRS Limited

 

Fitch

Long-term debt

  

Baa2

  

BBB

  

BBB (high)

 

BBB+

Commercial paper

  

P-2

  

A-2

  

R-2 (high)

 

F1

Trend/Outlook

  

Stable

  

Stable

  

Stable

 

Stable

 

  

These credit ratings are not recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell securities and do not address the market price or suitability of a specific security for a particular investor. Credit ratings may not reflect the potential impact of all risks on the value of securities. We cannot assure you that our credit ratings will not be lowered in the future or that rating agencies will not issue adverse commentaries regarding our securities.

 

   

Dividends. Dividends on our common shares are declared in U.S. dollars. In February 2020, we announced an $0.08 per share increase in the annualized dividend to $1.52 per common share (beginning with the common share dividend that we paid in March 2020). In our consolidated statement of cash flow, dividends paid on common shares are shown net of amounts reinvested in our company under our dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). Registered holders of common shares may participate in our DRIP, under which cash dividends are automatically reinvested in new common shares. Common shares are valued at the weighted-average price at which the shares traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) during the five trading days immediately preceding the record date for the dividend.

 

  

Details of dividends declared per common share and dividends paid on common shares are as follows:

 

     

Three months ended June 30,

    

Six months ended June 30,

 

(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

  

        2020        

    

        2019        

    

        2020        

    

        2019        

 

Dividends declared per share

  

$

0.38        

 

  

$

0.36        

 

  

$

0.76        

 

  

$

0.72        

 

Dividends declared

  

 

188        

 

  

 

180        

 

  

 

376        

 

  

 

361        

 

Dividends reinvested

  

 

(6)        

 

  

 

(5)        

 

  

 

(12)        

 

  

 

(12)        

 

Dividends paid

  

 

182        

 

  

 

175        

 

  

 

364        

 

  

 

349        

 

 

 

 

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Share repurchases. We may buy back shares (and subsequently cancel them) from time to time as part of our capital strategy. Our share repurchases are typically effected under a normal course issuer bid (NCIB). Under the NCIB, we may repurchase up to 25 million common shares between August 19, 2019 and August 18, 2020 in open market transactions on the TSX, the NYSE and/or other exchanges and alternative trading systems, if eligible, or by such other means as may be permitted by the TSX and/or NYSE or under applicable law, including private agreement purchases if we receive an issuer bid exemption order from applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada for such purchases. The price that our company will pay for shares in open market transactions under the NCIB will be the market price at the time of purchase or such other price as may be permitted by TSX. We intend to renew our NCIB in August 2020 for an additional 12 month period, but we do not anticipate repurchasing more of our shares for the remainder of the year.

 

  

In October 2019, we announced plans to repurchase up to an additional $200 million of our common shares in 2020. These repurchases were completed in February 2020.

 

  

We did not repurchase any shares in the second quarter of 2020 and 2019. Details of share repurchases for the six-month periods were as follows:

 

     

Six months ended June 30,

 
     

        2020        

    

        2019        

 

Share repurchases (millions of U.S. dollars)

  

 

200        

 

  

 

190        

 

Shares repurchased (number in millions)

  

 

2.6        

 

  

 

3.5        

 

Share repurchases – average price per share in U.S. dollars

  

$

78.37        

 

  

$

53.93        

 

 

  

Decisions regarding any future repurchases will depend on factors such as market conditions, share price and other opportunities to invest capital for growth. We may elect to suspend or discontinue our share repurchases at any time, in accordance with applicable laws. From time to time when we do not possess material nonpublic information about ourselves or our securities, we may enter into a pre-defined plan with our broker to allow for the repurchase of shares at times when we ordinarily would not be active in the market due to our own internal trading blackout periods, insider trading rules or otherwise. Any such plans entered into with our broker will be adopted in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Financial position

Our total assets were $16.9 billion at June 30, 2020, relatively unchanged from $17.3 billion at December 31, 2019. At June 30, 2020, the carrying amounts of our total current assets exceeded the carrying amounts of our total current liabilities by $0.9 billion. Normally, our total current liabilities exceed our total current assets principally because current liabilities include a significant amount of deferred revenue, which arises from the sale of subscription-based products and services that many customers pay for in advance. The cash received from these advance payments is used to currently fund the operating, investing and financing activities of our business. However, for accounting purposes, these advance payments must be deferred and recognized over the term of the subscription. As such, we typically reflect a negative working capital position in our consolidated statement of financial position. In the ordinary course of business, deferred revenue does not represent a cash obligation, but rather an obligation to perform services or deliver products, and therefore when we are in that situation, we do not believe it is indicative of a liquidity issue, but rather an outcome of the required accounting for our business model.

 

 

 

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Net debt and leverage ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA

 

     
    

June 30,

    

December 31,

 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

  

2020

    

2019

 

Current indebtedness

  

 

120

 

  

 

579

 

Long-term indebtedness

  

 

3,699

 

  

 

2,676

 

Total debt

  

 

3,819

 

  

 

3,255

 

Swaps

  

 

(17)

 

  

 

62

 

Total debt after swaps

  

 

3,802

 

  

 

3,317

 

Remove fair value adjustments for hedges

  

 

(12)

 

  

 

-

 

Total debt after currency hedging arrangements

  

 

3,790

 

  

 

3,317

 

Remove transaction costs and discounts included in the carrying value of debt

  

 

40

 

  

 

36

 

Add: Lease liabilities (current and non-current)

  

 

324

 

  

 

322

 

Less: cash and cash equivalents(2)

  

 

(946)

 

  

 

(825)

 

Net debt (1)

  

 

3,208

 

  

 

2,850

 

Leverage ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA

     

Adjusted EBITDA(1)(3)

  

 

1,700

 

  

 

1,493

 

Net debt / adjusted EBITDA(1)

  

 

1.9:1

 

  

 

1.9:1

 

 

(1)

Amounts represent non-IFRS measures. For additional information about our liquidity given the COVID-19 economic crisis, we provide our leverage ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA. Refer to Appendix A of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information of our non-IFRS financial measures.

 

(2)

Includes cash and cash equivalents of $45 million and $34 million at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, held in subsidiaries which have regulatory restrictions, contractual restrictions or operate in countries where exchange controls and other legal restrictions apply and are therefore not available for general use by our company.

 

(3)

For purposes of this calculation, adjusted EBITDA is computed on a rolling twelve-month basis and includes adjusted EBITDA of $479 million, $480 million, $396 million and $345 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020, March 31, 2020, December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively. Refer to Appendix B of this management’s discussion and analysis and Appendix C of our 2019 annual management’s discussion and analysis, which is contained in our 2019 annual report, for additional information regarding the calculation of adjusted EBITDA in each of these periods.

At June 30, 2020, our total debt position was $3.8 billion. The maturity dates for our term debt are well balanced with no significant concentration in any one year. At June 30, 2020, the average maturity of our term debt was approximately 10 years at an average interest rate of less than 5%, all of which is fixed. Our leverage ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA was below our target ratio of 2.5:1. The increase in our net debt is primarily due to an increase in our total debt (refer to the “Cash Flow” section of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information).

Off-balance sheet arrangements, commitments and contractual obligations

For a summary of our other off-balance sheet arrangements, commitments and contractual obligations please see our 2019 annual management’s discussion and analysis. There were no material changes to these arrangements, commitments and contractual obligations during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Contingencies

Lawsuits and legal claims

We are engaged in various legal proceedings, claims, audits and investigations that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. These matters include, but are not limited to, employment matters, commercial matters, defamation claims and intellectual property infringement claims. The outcome of all of the matters against us is subject to future resolution, including the uncertainties of litigation. Based on information currently known to us and after consultation with outside legal counsel, management believes that the ultimate resolution of any such matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition taken as a whole.

Uncertain tax positions

We are subject to taxation in numerous jurisdictions and we are routinely under audit by many different taxing authorities in the ordinary course of business. There are many transactions and calculations during the course of business for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain, as taxing authorities may challenge some of our positions and propose adjustments or changes to our tax filings.

 

 

 

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As a result, we maintain provisions for uncertain tax positions that we believe appropriately reflect our risk. These provisions are made using our best estimate of the amount expected to be paid based on a qualitative assessment of all relevant factors. We review the adequacy of these provisions at the end of each reporting period and adjust them based on changing facts and circumstances. Due to the uncertainty associated with tax audits, it is possible that at some future date, liabilities resulting from such audits or related litigation could vary significantly from our provisions. However, based on currently enacted legislation, information currently known to us and after consultation with outside tax advisors, management believes that the ultimate resolution of any such matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition taken as a whole.

For additional information, please see the “Risk Factors” section of our 2019 annual report, which contains further information on risks related to legal and tax matters.

Related Party Transactions

As of August 4, Woodbridge beneficially owned approximately 66% of our shares.

There were no new significant related party transactions during the first six months of 2020. Refer to the “Related Party Transactions” section of our 2019 annual management’s discussion and analysis, which is contained in our 2019 annual report, as well as note 32 of our 2019 annual consolidated financial statements for information regarding related party transactions.

Proposed LSEG/Refinitiv Transaction

On August 1, 2019, we and private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone agreed to sell Refinitiv to LSEG in an all share transaction for a total enterprise value of approximately $27 billion (as of the announcement date). Refinitiv is currently owned 55% by Blackstone and 45% by Thomson Reuters. We expect that the transaction will result in Blackstone and Thomson Reuters ultimately holding a combined 37% economic interest in LSEG (of which a 15% economic interest would be attributed to Thomson Reuters) and a combined voting interest in LSEG of less than 30%. Thomson Reuters’ interest in LSEG shares will be held in an entity jointly owned by Blackstone and Thomson Reuters (the “Blackstone/Thomson Reuters Entity”). Upon the closing of this transaction, Thomson Reuters is projected to indirectly own approximately 82.5 million LSEG shares, which would have a market value of approximately $9.1 billion based on LSEG’s closing share price on August 4, 2020. Our estimated ownership interest above reflects our expected acquisition of an additional interest in Refinitiv pursuant to a warrant agreement entered into with Blackstone, which will be exercised in connection with the transaction closing. The proposed transaction is subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of 2020 or early in 2021. Although it is currently expected that LSEG will only issue shares as consideration for the transaction, LSEG may, at its option, settle up to $2.5 billion of the consideration in cash. Payment of any cash consideration will reduce the number of LSEG shares issued to the Blackstone/Thomson Reuters Entity.

We expect that the LSEG transaction will be predominantly tax-deferred for Thomson Reuters. We estimate that $500 million to $600 million of tax will become payable when the deal closes, depending on the price of LSEG shares at that time. We intend to fund this tax liability by either selling down some of our LSEG shares (as permitted under a lock-up agreement the Blackstone/Thomson Reuters Entity has agreed to be subject to for their LSEG shares) and/or by employing other means such that we do not expect the tax payment to materially impact our liquidity position. At the time we can exercise our right to sell our shares, in years 3 and 4 after the closing of the transaction, we would pay tax on such sales at the U.S. corporate tax rate, which is currently 25%.

After the transaction closes, Thomson Reuters’ free cash flow will benefit from any future dividends paid by LSEG to its shareholders. Once applicable post-closing lock-up periods expire, if we sell LSEG shares, we will generate cash which we would decide at the time how to best utilize. Additionally, Reuters News’ 30-year agreement with Refinitiv signed in October 2018 will continue after the closing of the transaction within the combined business.

For additional information about the proposed LSEG/Refinitiv transaction, please see the “Proposed LSEG/Refinitiv Transaction” section of our 2019 annual management’s discussion and analysis, which is contained in our 2019 annual report.

Subsequent Events

There were no material events occurring after June 30, 2020 through the date of this management’s discussion and analysis.

Changes in Accounting Policies

Please refer to the “Changes in Accounting Policies” section of our 2019 annual management’s discussion and analysis, which is contained in our 2019 annual report, for information regarding changes in accounting policies. Since the date of our 2019 annual management’s discussion and analysis, there have not been any significant changes to our accounting policies.

 

 

 

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Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments – Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

The global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has created significant uncertainty about the future. As a result, some of the estimates and judgments that management makes in preparing its financial statements may be more variable and may change materially in the future. Management initially assessed its critical accounting estimates and judgments in light of COVID-19 in conjunction with its interim report for the three months ended March 31, 2020. In the second quarter, management re-assessed these estimates and judgments and made no significant changes. For purposes of its business planning and valuation estimates, the company continues to assume that the global economy will gradually recover throughout the second half of 2020. The following provides information regarding management’s critical accounting estimates and judgments relative to the global economic crisis caused by COVID-19.

Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales adjustments

The company provided additional reserves of $6 million and $15 million in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2020 to reflect that some of its smaller legal and tax customers may not be able to pay for the products and services the company has provided and, in limited situations, for credits the company may issue to customers in financial distress. While we have offered payment plans to some of our smaller customers who may require more time to pay, very few have elected this option to date.

Computer software

The company has not experienced, nor does it expect, material changes to product demand and it does not plan to discontinue any products as a result of the crisis that would require impairment or shortened useful lives.

Other identifiable intangible assets and goodwill

At October 1, 2019, the date of the company’s last impairment test, the estimated fair value less costs of disposal of each cash generating unit (CGU), which comprise each of its reportable segments, exceeded their carrying value by over 100%. The company’s sensitivity analysis demonstrated that no reasonably possible change in its assumptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher discount rates and reduction in cash flows, would cause the carrying amounts of any CGU, including the carrying value of the indefinite lived tradenames, to exceed its recoverable amount.

Equity method investments and related warrants

Equity method investments consisted primarily of the company’s 45% investment in Refinitiv. On August 1, 2019, the company and private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone agreed to sell Refinitiv to LSEG for a value that is substantially in excess of the carrying value of the company’s investment, as measured by the share price of LSEG at June 30, 2020. The proposed transaction, which was approved by LSEG shareholders in November 2019, remains subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of 2020 or early in 2021. The company expects to record a significant gain on the transaction upon closing and therefore concluded that there was no impairment to its investment in Refinitiv at June 30, 2020.

Reflecting the terms of the agreement, the company valued the related warrants in Refinitiv at June 30, 2020 primarily based on the number of incremental shares in Refinitiv to which the company is contractually entitled upon closing, the share price of LSEG on June 30, 2020, and management’s assessment that the deal remains highly probable of closing by the end of 2020 or early in 2021.

The company holds other investments aggregating $0.2 billion in a variety of industries, including real estate, technology and media, which could become impaired in the future due to economic conditions caused by the pandemic.

Employee future benefits

The assets and obligations for the company’s most significant benefit plans in the U.S. and the U.K. are remeasured each quarter with an offset to other comprehensive income or loss. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the company recorded remeasurement gains of $23 million. There were no funding requirements triggered by changes in the value of assets and liabilities associated with the company’s material defined benefit plans due to increased market volatility associated with the economic crisis.

Income taxes

Relevant tax reform related to the economic crisis, most notably the impact of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in the United States, did not have a material impact on the computation of income taxes. The company concluded that its updated projections relating to COVID-19 did not impact its ability to realize its deferred tax assets.

 

 

 

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Critical judgments in applying accounting policies

Revenue recognition

Management has elevated its focus on collectability in making its revenue recognition judgments while the crisis persists.

Uncertain tax positions

The company made no changes in its judgments of uncertain tax positions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional Information

Basis of presentation

Prior-period amounts have been revised to correct certain immaterial misstatements, as reflected in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. Refer to the “Revision of prior-period financial statements” section below and our interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 for additional information.

Additionally, we adjusted our prior-period segment amounts to reflect the current presentation. In the first quarter of 2020, in connection with the completion of our program to reposition our businesses after the separation from Refinitiv, we re-assessed our methodology for allocating costs to our business segments and adjusted our allocations. The 2019 segment amounts were also adjusted to reflect the transfer of certain revenues primarily from the Corporates segment to the Legal Professionals segment, where they are better aligned. These changes impacted the 2019 financial results of the segments, but did not change the consolidated 2019 financial results. The table below summarizes the changes:

 

     
    

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

    

Six months ended June 30,

 

 
(millions of U.S. dollars)    As Reported      Adjustments      As Revised      As Reported      Adjustments      As Revised  

Revenues

                 

Legal Professionals

     603        2        605        1,197        8        1,205  

Corporates

     318        (3)        315        670        (9)        661  

Eliminations/Rounding

     -        1        1        (1)        1        -  

Total revenues

     1,423        -        1,423        2,910        -        2,910  

Adjusted EBITDA

                 

Legal Professionals

     232        (3)        229        459        (1)        458  

Corporates

     102        (4)        98        220        (11)        209  

Tax & Accounting Professionals

     60        (1)        59        153        (2)        151  

Reuters News

     10        9        19        26        16        42  

Global Print

     73        (1)        72        147        (1)        146  

Corporate costs/Rounding

     (122)        -        (122)        (253)        (1)        (254)  

Total adjusted EBITDA

     355        -        355        752        -        752  

Revision of prior-period financial statements

On October 1, 2018, we sold a 55% interest in our F&R business to private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone. We retained a 45% interest in the business, which is now known as Refinitiv. Since October 1, 2018, we have included our share of post-tax losses from our 45% interest in Refinitiv, an equity method investment, in our net earnings. In the third quarter of 2019, a misstatement was identified that understated our share of Refinitiv’s post-tax losses since the fourth quarter of 2018. The misstatement related to an accounting principle difference for preferred stock issued by Refinitiv to the Blackstone consortium between U.S. GAAP, the basis on which Refinitiv prepares its financial statements, and IFRS, the basis on which Thomson Reuters prepares its financial statements. This misstatement did not impact our revenues, operating profit, segment measures, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EPS, cash generated from operating activities or free cash flow.

We concluded that the misstatement was immaterial to our previously issued financial statements. However, as the impact of correcting the cumulative misstatement in the third quarter of 2019 would have been material to net earnings in that quarter, we have revised our previously issued financial statements to correct the misstatement.

 

 

 

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Disclosure controls and procedures

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in applicable U.S. and Canadian securities law) as of the end of the period covered by this management’s discussion and analysis, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that all information that we are required to disclose in reports that we file or furnish under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act and applicable Canadian securities law is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal control over financial reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS

We are engaged in a long-term efficiency initiative which impacts our financial reporting. We are enhancing our order-to-cash (OTC) applications and related workflow processes in phases over multiple years. Key elements of the OTC solutions are order management, billing, cash management and collections functionality. We expect to reduce the number of applications and to streamline and automate processes across our organization through this initiative.

As we are implementing this initiative in phases over an extended period, the nature and extent of activity will vary by quarter. The initiative could result in material changes to our internal control over financial reporting depending on the nature and volume of work completed, as we will continue to modify the design, operation and documentation of the related internal control processes and procedures, as necessary.

Following the separation of the F&R business from our company in October 2018, a significant number of employees who performed accounting and reporting functions were transferred to Refinitiv. Transition services agreements have been in place between Thomson Reuters and Refinitiv since the companies separated. While a number of key controls continue to be performed under the transition services agreements, there were no material changes in key controls over our financial reporting processes.

Except as described above, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter of 2020 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Share capital

As of August 4, 2020, we had outstanding 496,555,302 common shares, 6,000,000 Series II preference shares, 3,731,678 stock options and a total of 2,976,301 time-based restricted share units and performance restricted share units. We have also issued a Thomson Reuters Founders Share which enables Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company to exercise extraordinary voting power to safeguard the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Public securities filings and regulatory announcements

You may access other information about our company, including our 2019 annual report (which contains information required in an annual information form) and our other disclosure documents, reports, statements or other information that we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities through SEDAR at www.sedar.com and in the United States with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Cautionary note concerning factors that may affect future results

Certain statements in this management’s discussion and analysis are forward-looking, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the potential or expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Thomson Reuters, its customers and the general economy, statements about the company’s 2020 business outlook and other expectations regarding the future financial and operational performance of the company and its individual business segments (notably regarding revenues for the Government business of the Legal Professionals segment, Tax & Accounting Professionals segment revenues, the Reuters Events business and Reuters News segment revenues, Global Print segment shipments and revenues, and Transactions revenues), the number of LSEG shares that Thomson Reuters is projected to indirectly own upon closing of the proposed sale of Refinitiv, the company’s current expectations regarding the timing for closing of the proposed LSEG/Refinitiv transaction, Refinitiv’s belief regarding achieving its full annual cost savings run-rate target by the end of 2020, the company’s expectations regarding its liquidity and capital resources, the company’s expectations regarding its cost savings program, and the company’s expectations regarding dividends and share repurchases. The words “will”, “expect”, “believe”, “target”, “estimate”, “could”, “should”, “intend”, “predict”, “project” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. While we believe that we have a reasonable basis for making forward-looking statements in this

 

 

 

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management’s discussion and analysis, they are not a guarantee of future performance or outcomes and there is no assurance that the events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. Forward-looking statements, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond our company’s control and the effects of them can be difficult to predict. In particular, the full extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, operations and financial results will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict. Certain factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations are discussed in the “Outlook” section above. Additional factors are discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our 2019 annual report and in materials that we from time to time file with, or furnish to, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of those risks are, and could be, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and any worsening of the global business and economic environment as a result. There is no assurance that any forward-looking statement will materialize.

Our company’s 2020 business outlook is based on information currently available to the company and is based on various external and internal assumptions made by the company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments (including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic), as well as other factors that the company believes are appropriate under the circumstances.

Our company has provided an outlook for the purpose of presenting information about current expectations for 2020. This information may not be appropriate for other purposes. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which reflect expectations only as of the date of this management’s discussion and analysis. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Risk Factors

We are updating and supplementing the risk factors disclosed in our 2019 annual report and our first-quarter 2020 management’s discussion and analysis with the risk factor below. This risk factor updates and should be read together with the risk factors in our 2019 annual report and our first-quarter 2020 management’s discussion and analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has, and likely will continue to, adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We have been, and likely will continue to be, adversely affected by uncertainty, downturns and changes in the markets that we serve, in particular in the legal, tax and accounting industries.

The global economy continues to experience substantial disruption due to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, as well as from the measures intended to mitigate its impact. COVID-19 and related containment measures have already caused a global economic downturn and it is likely that the current outbreak and continued spread of COVID-19 will cause a global recession. We are unable to predict the extent and duration of any such downturn or recession or the ultimate impact of the pandemic on demand for our products and services due to various uncertainties, such as the duration and severity of the outbreak, actions that may be taken by governmental authorities, businesses and individuals in response to the pandemic, and the effect on our customers. In the second quarter of 2020, we began to experience negative impacts from COVID-19 and related containment measures on our revenue performance. We expect to continue to be adversely affected and the impact of the pandemic on our business in the future could be material. While we have implemented measures and plans designed to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, our efforts may prove to be inadequate.

Our performance depends on the financial health and strength of our customers, which in turn is primarily dependent on the general economy in the United States (79% of our 2019 revenues) and secondarily on the general economies in Europe, Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America. Cost-cutting, reduced spending or reduced activity by any of our customer segments may decrease demand for, and usage of, some of our products and services. This could adversely affect our financial results by reducing our revenues, which could in turn reduce the profitability of some of our products and services. Cost-cutting by customers has also caused us to further simplify our organization and take additional steps beyond those we might otherwise take to optimize our own cost structure as a means to maintain or improve profitability. While we expect to mitigate the impact of lower 2020 revenues on our adjusted EBITDA and our free cash flow through a $100 million cost savings program, which contemplates reduced spending on consulting and advisory services, travel and entertainment, certain development projects and other discretionary spend, this may be insufficient and we may need to more aggressively reduce our costs in the future.

 

 

 

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Because a high proportion of our revenues are recurring (78% of our 2019 revenues), we believe that our revenue patterns are generally more stable compared to other business models that primarily involve the sale of products in discrete or one-off arrangements. However, this also means that there is often a lag in realizing the impact of current sales or cancellations in our reported revenues, as we recognize revenues over the term of the arrangement. Because of this lag effect, our revenues are typically slower to decline when economic conditions worsen, but are also often slower to return to growth when economic activity improves, as compared to other businesses that are not subscription-based. Our transactions revenues (10% of our 2019 revenues), which include professional fees from service and consulting arrangements, fluctuate when economic conditions worsen, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, we derived 78% of our revenues from our Legal Professionals, Corporates and Tax & Accounting Professionals businesses, which primarily serve professionals in the legal, tax and accounting industries. Global uncertainty and changing economic conditions can impact these industries. In the legal industry, COVID-19 and related containment measures have caused many courts to cancel or postpone legal proceedings and transactional work has slowed in various practice areas. As a result of COVID-19, our customers are focusing on the health and safety of their employees and businesses and are looking to reduce costs. Some of our customers may also slow down decision-making or delay planned renewals or implementations as a result of the pandemic, which may disrupt historical spending patterns. Slowdowns in work for law or tax and accounting firms may result in reduced demand for some of our products and services. While we expect that a limited number of our smaller customers will be unable to pay us or will seek financial accommodations or alternative payment terms due to their financial condition, if a greater number of customers or some of our larger customers are unable or unwilling to pay us, it could adversely impact our revenues and financial condition.

COVID-19 has impacted the Global Print segment, which had declining revenues prior to the pandemic. While our manufacturing plant in Minnesota remains open as it has been classified an “essential business”, in the second quarter we experienced significant customer requests to delay shipments while customers were not in their business locations to accept the shipments due to government mandated business shutdowns in the U.S. and many other countries. As these materials have historically been viewed as critical content for law firms and government agencies, we expect that most of these shipments will eventually take place in the third and fourth quarters of 2020 if the economy re-opens and stabilizes. However, there is no assurance that will occur within the time periods expected, or at all. An accelerated decline in Global Print revenues related to the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect our profitability (as Global Print has higher margins than our overall business) as well as our cash flows.

COVID-19 has impacted our Reuters News business and we currently expect the segment’s full-year 2020 revenues to decline. In the first six months of 2020, our Reuters Events business (which we acquired in the fourth quarter of 2019) cancelled or postponed nearly all in-person conferences through August 2020 in response to COVID-19. It is possible that organic revenues from Reuters News could also decline in the fourth quarter of 2020, if the Reuters Events business is unable to resume in-person conferences. We are unable to predict when Reuters Events will be able to resume in-person conferences.

COVID-19 has caused us to modify several of our business practices and operations and we may take further actions as may be required by government authorities or that we believe are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners, suppliers and other stakeholders. Most of our employees are currently working from home, which can introduce additional operational risks, including cybersecurity risks. Working from home arrangements have impacted the way that we conduct our product development, customer support, sales and other activities, which could have an adverse effect on our operations. While our sales force is pursuing new sales and renewals while working from home, prolonged restrictions or limitations on the ability of our sales force to travel to meet prospective or existing customers in person may adversely affect our ability to generate future revenues. In certain countries, such as India, we have a large number of employees performing and supporting critical operations. An extended closure of any facilities performing critical operations could in the future disrupt our ability to provide our services and solutions. Illness and workforce disruptions could also lead to the unavailability of senior management or other key personnel and adversely impact our ability to perform critical functions. We cannot provide any assurance that our measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed by COVID-19.

Many of the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of our 2019 annual report, our first-quarter 2020 management’s discussion and analysis and in this management’s discussion and analysis are, and could be, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and any worsening of the global business and economic environment as a result. Developments related to COVID-19 have been rapidly changing, and additional impacts and risks may arise that we may not currently be aware of or able to appropriately respond to, including if the pandemic is prolonged or expands more widely around the world. While we are closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19, the future impact of the pandemic is highly uncertain and cannot be predicted and there is no assurance that the pandemic will not have a material adverse impact in the future on our business, financial condition or results of operations. The extent of the impact, individually or in the aggregate, will depend on future developments, including actions taken to contain the financial and economic impact of the pandemic. Even after the pandemic and related containment measures subside, we may continue to experience adverse impacts to our business, financial condition and results of operations, the extent of which may be material.

 

 

 

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Appendix A

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

We use non-IFRS financial measures as supplemental indicators of our operating performance and financial position. Additionally, we use non-IFRS measures as performance metrics as the basis for management incentive programs. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to the calculation of similar measures used by other companies.

The following table sets forth our non-IFRS financial measures, including an explanation of why we believe they are useful measures of our performance. Reconciliations for the most directly comparable IFRS measure are reflected in Appendix B and the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of our management’s discussion and analysis.

 

     

 

  How We Define It

  

 

Why We Use It and Why It Is Useful to Investors

 

 

Most Directly Comparable
IFRS Measure/Reconciliation

 

 

  Segment adjusted EBITDA, consolidated adjusted EBITDA and the related margins

 

Segment adjusted EBITDA represents earnings from continuing operations before tax expense or benefit, net interest expense, other finance costs or income, depreciation, amortization of software and other identifiable intangible assets, our share of post-tax earnings or losses in equity method investments, other operating gains and losses, certain asset impairment charges, fair value adjustments and corporate related items.

 

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA is comprised of adjusted EBITDA from each reportable segment and Corporate costs.

 

The related margins are expressed as a percentage of revenues.

  

Provides a consistent basis to evaluate operating profitability and performance trends by excluding items that we do not consider to be controllable activities for this purpose.

 

Represents a measure commonly reported and widely used by investors as a valuation metric. Additionally, this measure is used to assess our ability to incur and service debt.

 

Earnings from continuing operations

 

  Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures and the related margin

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures. The related margin is expressed as a percentage of revenues.

  

 

Provides a basis for evaluating the operating profitability and capital intensity of a business in a single measure. This measure captures investments regardless of whether they are expensed or capitalized.

 

 

 

Earnings from continuing operations

 

 

 

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  How We Define It

  

 

Why We Use It and Why It Is Useful to Investors

 

 

Most Directly Comparable
IFRS Measure/Reconciliation

 

 

  Adjusted earnings and adjusted EPS

 

Net earnings:

 excluding the post-tax impacts of fair value adjustments, amortization of other identifiable intangible assets, other operating gains and losses, certain asset impairment charges, other finance costs or income, our share of post-tax earnings or losses in equity method investments, discontinued operations and other items affecting comparability. We calculate the post-tax amount of each item excluded from adjusted earnings based on the specific tax rules and tax rates associated with the nature and jurisdiction of each item.

 We also deduct dividends declared on preference shares.

 

   Provides a more comparable basis to analyze earnings and is also a measure commonly used by shareholders to measure our performance.   Net earnings and diluted earnings per share

Adjusted EPS is calculated from adjusted earnings using diluted weighted-average shares.

 

    

In interim periods, we also adjust our reported earnings and earnings per share to reflect a normalized effective tax rate. Specifically, the normalized effective rate is computed as the estimated full-year effective tax rate applied to pre-tax adjusted earnings of the interim period. The reported effective tax rate is based on separate annual effective income tax rates for each taxing jurisdiction that are applied to each interim period’s pre-tax income.

  

Because the geographical mix of pre-tax profits and losses in interim periods may be different from that for the full-year, our effective tax rate computed in accordance with IFRS may be more volatile by quarter. Therefore, we believe that using the expected full-year effective tax rate provides more comparability among interim periods. The adjustment to normalize the effective tax rate reallocates estimated full-year income taxes between interim periods, but has no effect on full year tax expense or on cash taxes paid.

 

 
 
  Net debt and leverage ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA

 

Net debt:

Total indebtedness (including the associated fair value of hedging instruments, but excluding the associated unamortized transaction costs and premiums or discounts and the interest-related fair value component of hedging instruments), and lease liabilities less cash and cash equivalents.

  

 

Provides commonly used measures of a company’s leverage.

 

Given that we hedge some of our debt to reduce risk, we include hedging instruments as we believe it provides a better measure of the total obligation associated with our outstanding debt. However, because we intend to hold our debt and related hedges to maturity, we do not consider the interest components of the associated fair value of hedges in our measurements. We reduce gross indebtedness by cash and cash equivalents.

 

 

Total debt (current indebtedness plus long-term indebtedness)

Net debt to adjusted EBITDA:

Net debt is divided by adjusted EBITDA for the previous twelve-month period ending with the current fiscal quarter.

  

Provides a commonly used measure of a

company’s ability to pay its debt. Our non-IFRS measure is aligned with the calculation of our internal target and is more conservative than the maximum ratio allowed under our contractual covenants in our credit facility.

  For adjusted EBITDA, refer to the definition above for the most directly comparable IFRS measure
 

Free cash flow

 

Net cash provided by operating activities, proceeds from disposals of property and equipment, and other investing activities, less capital expenditures, payments of lease principal, dividends paid on our preference shares, and dividends paid to non-controlling interests.

  

 

Helps assess our ability, over the long term, to create value for our shareholders as it represents cash available to repay debt, pay common dividends and fund share repurchases and new acquisitions.

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

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  How We Define It

  

 

Why We Use It and Why It Is Useful to Investors

 

 

Most Directly Comparable
IFRS Measure/Reconciliation

 

Changes before the impact of foreign currency or at “constant currency”

 

Applicable measures where changes are

reported before the impact of foreign currency or at “constant currency”

 

IFRS Measures:

 Revenues

 Operating expenses

 

Non-IFRS Measures:

 Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin

 Adjusted EPS

  

 

Provides better comparability of business trends from period to period.

 

Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. However, we conduct activities in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. We measure our performance before the impact of foreign currency (or at “constant currency”), which means that we apply the same foreign currency exchange rates for the current and equivalent prior period. To calculate the foreign currency impact between periods, we convert the current and equivalent prior period’s local currency results using the same foreign currency exchange rate.

 

 

For each non-IFRS measure, refer to the definitions above for the most directly comparable IFRS measure.

 

Changes in revenues computed on an “organic” basis

 

Represent changes in revenues of our existing businesses at constant currency. The metric excludes the distortive impacts of acquisitions and dispositions from not owning the business in both comparable periods.

 

 For acquisitions, we calculate organic growth as though we had owned the acquired business in both periods. We compare revenues for the acquired business for the period we owned the business to the same prior-year period revenues for that business, when we did not own it.

 For dispositions, we calculate organic growth as though we did not own the business in either period. We exclude revenues of the disposed business from the point of disposition, as well as revenues from the same prior-year period before the sale.

  

 

Provides further insight into the performance of our existing businesses by excluding distortive impacts and serves as a better measure of our ability to grow our business over the long term.

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

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Appendix B

This appendix provides reconciliations of certain non-IFRS measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measure that are not presented elsewhere in this management’s discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

Reconciliation of earnings from continuing operations to adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
   (millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)    2020      2019      2020      2019  

Earnings from continuing operations

     131        207        322        321  

Adjustments to remove:

           

Tax expense

     16        47        63        48  

Other finance costs (income)

     13        18        (34)        29  

Net interest expense

     52        37        97        72  

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

     30        25        60        52  

Amortization of computer software

     118        104        229        209  

Depreciation

     43        38        83        72  

EBITDA

     403        476        820        803  

Adjustments to remove:

           

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

     153        138        207        251  

Other operating gains, net

     (80)        (261)        (48)        (305)  

Fair value adjustments

     3        2        (20)        3  

Adjusted EBITDA

     479        355        959        752  

Deduct: Capital expenditures

     (145)        (102)        (287)        (240)  

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures

     334        253        672        512  

Adjusted EBITDA margin

     34.1%        25.0%        32.8%        25.8%  

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures margin

     23.8%        17.9%        23.0%        17.6%  

Reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted earnings and adjusted EPS

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
   (millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts and share data)    2020      2019      2020      2019  

Net earnings

     126        180        319        284  

Adjustments to remove:

           

Fair value adjustments

     3        2        (20)        3  

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

     30        25        60        52  

Other operating gains, net

     (80)        (261)        (48)        (305)  

Other finance costs (income)

     13        18        (34)        29  

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

     153        138        207        251  

Tax on above items(1)

     (28)        30        (59)        1  

Tax items impacting comparability(1)

     9        (4)        39        (15)  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     5        27        3        37  

Interim period effective tax rate normalization(1)

     (10)        (8)        (6)        (8)  

Dividends declared on preference shares

     -        (1)        (1)        (2)  

Adjusted earnings

     221        146        460        327  

Adjusted EPS

     $0.44        $0.29        $0.92        $0.65  

Diluted weighted-average common shares (millions)

     497.6        503.0        497.6        503.2  

 

(1)

See the “Results of Operations—Tax expense” section of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information.

 

 

 

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Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
   (millions of U.S. dollars)    2020      2019      2020      2019  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     422        113        598        83  

Capital expenditures

     (145)        (102)        (287)        (240)  

Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment

     45        2        64        2  

Other investing activities

     1        1        2        4  

Payments of lease principal

     (18)        (12)        (36)        (23)  

Dividends paid on preference shares

     -        (1)        (1)        (2)  

Free cash flow

     305        1        340        (176)  

Reconciliation of changes in revenues excluding the effects of foreign currency (constant currency) as well as acquisitions/divestitures (organic basis)(1)

 

   
     Three months ended June 30,  
                   Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars)    2020      2019      Total      Foreign
Currency
     Subtotal
Constant
Currency
     Acquisitions/
(Divestitures)
     Organic  

   Revenues

                    

   Legal Professionals

     620        605        2%        (1%)        3%        2%        1%  

   Corporates

     329        315        4%        (2%)        6%        1%        5%  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     168        182        (8%)        (4%)        (4%)        (3%)        -  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     1,117        1,102        1%        (2%)        3%        1%        2%  

   Reuters News

     155        156        (1%)        (1%)        -        11%        (11%)  

   Global Print

     134        164        (19%)        (1%)        (17%)        -        (17%)  

   Eliminations/Rounding

     (1)        1                                               

   Total revenues

     1,405        1,423        (1%)        (2%)        -        2%        (2%)  

Reconciliation of changes in recurring revenues excluding the effects of foreign currency (constant currency) as well as acquisitions/divestitures (organic basis)(1)

 

   
     Three months ended June 30,  
                   Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars)    2020      2019      Total      Foreign
Currency
     Subtotal
Constant
Currency
     Acquisitions/
(Divestitures)
     Organic  

   Recurring Revenues

                    

   Legal Professionals

     580        557        4%        (1%)        5%        2%        3%  

   Corporates

     282        267        6%        (2%)        7%        1%        7%  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     136        147        (7%)        (4%)        (3%)        (7%)        4%  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     998        971        3%        (2%)        4%        -        4%  

   Reuters News

     141        144        (2%)        -        (2%)        -        (2%)  

   Total recurring revenues

     1,139        1,115        2%        (1%)        4%        -        3%  

 

(1)

Growth percentages are computed using whole dollars. Accordingly, percentages calculated from reported amounts may differ from those presented, and components of growth may not total due to rounding.

 

 

 

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Reconciliation of changes in transactions revenues excluding the effects of foreign currency (constant currency) as well as acquisitions/divestitures (organic basis)(1)

 

   
     Three months ended June 30,  
                   Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars)    2020      2019      Total      Foreign
Currency
     Subtotal
Constant
Currency
     Acquisitions/
(Divestitures)
     Organic  

   Transactions Revenues

                    

   Legal Professionals

     40        48        (18%)        (1%)        (17%)        2%        (19%)  

   Corporates

     47        48        (4%)        (1%)        (2%)        -        (2%)  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     32        35        (8%)        (2%)        (6%)        8%        (14%)  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     119        131        (10%)        (1%)        (9%)        3%        (12%)  

   Reuters News

     14        12        19%        (8%)        26%        80%        (54%)  

   Total transactions revenues

     133        143        (8%)        (2%)        (6%)        14%        (19%)  

Reconciliation of changes in revenues excluding the effects of foreign currency (constant currency) as well as acquisitions/divestitures (organic basis)(1)

 

   
     Six months ended June 30,  
                   Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars)    2020      2019      Total      Foreign
Currency
     Subtotal
Constant
Currency
     Acquisitions/
(Divestitures)
     Organic  

   Revenues

                    

   Legal Professionals

     1,246        1,205        3%        (1%)        4%        1%        3%  

   Corporates

     696        661        5%        (1%)        6%        1%        5%  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     386        404        (4%)        (3%)        (1%)        (1%)        -  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     2,328        2,270        3%        (1%)        4%        1%        3%  

   Reuters News

     310        311        -        (1%)        -        8%        (8%)  

   Global Print

     289        329        (12%)        (1%)        (11%)        -        (11%)  

   Eliminations/Rounding

     (2)        -                                               

   Total revenues

     2,925        2,910        1%        (1%)        2%        2%        -  

Reconciliation of changes in recurring revenues excluding the effects of foreign currency (constant currency) as well as acquisitions/divestitures (organic basis)(1)

 

   
     Six months ended June 30,  
                   Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars)    2020      2019      Total      Foreign
Currency
     Subtotal
Constant
Currency
     Acquisitions/
(Divestitures)
     Organic  

   Recurring Revenues

                    

   Legal Professionals

     1,167        1,113        5%        (1%)        6%        2%        4%  

   Corporates

     563        530        6%        (1%)        8%        1%        7%  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     294        320        (8%)        (3%)        (5%)        (6%)        1%  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     2,024        1,963        3%        (1%)        4%        -        4%  

   Reuters News

     283        287        (2%)        -        (1%)        -        (1%)  

   Total recurring revenues

     2,307        2,250        3%        (1%)        4%        -        4%  

 

(1)

Growth percentages are computed using whole dollars. Accordingly, percentages calculated from reported amounts may differ from those presented, and components of growth may not total due to rounding.

 

 

 

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Reconciliation of changes in transactions revenues excluding the effects of foreign currency (constant currency) as well as acquisitions/divestitures (organic basis)(1)

 

   
     Six months ended June 30,  
                   Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars)    2020      2019      Total      Foreign
Currency
     Subtotal
Constant
Currency
     Acquisitions/
(Divestitures)
     Organic  

   Transactions Revenues

                    

   Legal Professionals

     79        92        (15%)        (1%)        (14%)        (1%)        (13%)  

   Corporates

     133        131        1%        (1%)        2%        4%        (2%)  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     92        84        11%        (2%)        12%        16%        (4%)  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     304        307        (1%)        (1%)        -        5%        (5%)  

   Reuters News

     27        24        14%        (1%)        15%        60%        (45%)  

   Total transactions revenues

     331        331        -        (1%)        1%        12%        (11%)  

 

(1)

Growth percentages are computed using whole dollars. Accordingly, percentages calculated from reported amounts may differ from those presented, and components of growth may not total due to rounding.

Reconciliation of changes in adjusted EBITDA and the related margin, and consolidated operating expenses and adjusted EPS, excluding the effects of foreign currency(1)

 

   
     Three months ended June 30,  
                   Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars, except margins and per share amounts)    2020      2019      Total      Foreign
Currency
     Constant
Currency
 

   Adjusted EBITDA

              

   Legal Professionals

     254        229        11%        -        11%  

   Corporates

     118        98        21%        -        21%  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     54        59        (9%)        (3%)        (6%)  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     426        386        10%        (1%)        11%  

   Reuters News

     25        19        24%        18%        6%  

   Global Print

     54        72        (25%)        (1%)        (24%)  

   Corporate costs

     (26)        (122)        n/a        n/a        n/a  

   Consolidated adjusted EBITDA

     479        355        35%        1%        34%  
           

   Adjusted EBITDA Margin

              

   Legal Professionals

     40.9%        37.8%        310bp        30bp        280bp  

   Corporates

     35.9%        30.9%        500bp        50bp        450bp  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     31.9%        32.3%        (40)bp        40bp        (80)bp  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     38.1%        34.9%        320bp        50bp        270bp  

   Reuters News

     15.6%        12.5%        310bp        240bp        70bp  

   Global Print

     40.5%        44.1%        (360)bp        30bp        (390)bp  

   Corporate costs

     n/a        n/a        n/a        n/a        n/a  

   Consolidated adjusted EBITDA margin

     34.1%        25.0%        910bp        70bp        840bp  

   Consolidated operating expenses

     929        1,070        (13%)        (2%)        (11%)  

   Consolidated adjusted EPS

     $0.44        $0.29        52%        3%        48%  

 

(1)

Growth percentages and adjusted EBITDA margins are computed using whole dollars. Accordingly, percentages and margins calculated from reported amounts may differ from those presented, and components of growth may not total due to rounding.

 

 

 

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Reconciliation of changes in adjusted EBITDA and the related margin, and consolidated operating expenses and adjusted EPS, excluding the effects of foreign currency(1)

 

   
     Six months ended June 30,  
                   Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars, except margins and per share amounts)    2020      2019      Total      Foreign
Currency
     Constant
Currency
 

   Adjusted EBITDA

              

   Legal Professionals

     484        458        6%        (1%)        6%  

   Corporates

     235        209        13%        -        13%  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     138        151        (8%)        (2%)        (6%)  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     857        818        5%        (1%)        5%  

   Reuters News

     44        42        3%        15%        (12%)  

   Global Print

     117        146        (20%)        -        (19%)  

   Corporate costs

     (59)        (254)        n/a        n/a        n/a  

   Consolidated adjusted EBITDA

     959        752        27%        -        27%  
           

   Adjusted EBITDA Margin

              

   Legal Professionals

     38.8%        38.0%        80bp        10bp        70bp  

   Corporates

     33.8%        31.5%        230bp        50bp        180bp  

   Tax & Accounting Professionals

     35.7%        37.3%        (160)bp        30bp        (190)bp  

   “Big 3” Segments Combined

     36.8%        36.0%        80bp        20bp        60bp  

   Reuters News

     14.1%        13.6%        50bp        220bp        (170)bp  

   Global Print

     40.5%        44.4%        (390)bp        30bp        (420)bp  

   Corporate costs

     n/a        n/a        n/a        n/a        n/a  

   Consolidated adjusted EBITDA margin

     32.8%        25.8%        700bp        50bp        650bp  

   Consolidated operating expenses

     1,946        2,161        (10%)        (3%)        (7%)  

   Consolidated adjusted EPS

     $0.92        $0.65        42%        2%        40%  

 

(1)

Growth percentages and adjusted EBITDA margins are computed using whole dollars. Accordingly, percentages and margins calculated from reported amounts may differ from those presented, and components of growth may not total due to rounding.

 

 

 

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Appendix C

Information about Refinitiv

Our company owns a 45% interest in Refinitiv, which was formerly our wholly owned F&R business. 55% of Refinitiv is owned by private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone. An affiliate of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and an affiliate of GIC invested alongside Blackstone. Our IFRS results include our 45% share of Refinitiv’s results reported in a single line item on our consolidated income statement titled “Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments.” Our non-IFRS measures, including adjusted earnings, exclude our share of post-tax results in Refinitiv and other equity method investments.

The table below sets forth selected financial information for 100% of Refinitiv for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 on both an IFRS and non-IFRS basis. Refinitiv reports on a US GAAP basis and provides a reconciliation to IFRS in accordance with Thomson Reuters’ accounting policies. A reconciliation from the IFRS measures to the related non-IFRS measures is included in this appendix.

On August 1, 2019, we and private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone agreed to sell Refinitiv to LSEG in an all share transaction, but LSEG may, at its option, settle up to $2.5 billion of the consideration in cash. Please see the “Proposed LSEG/Refinitiv Transaction” section of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information.

The following information, which has been provided by Refinitiv, is unaudited.

 

     
    Three months ended June 30     Six months ended June 30  
                Change                 Change  
   (millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)   2020     2019     Total     Before Currency
& Excluding
Businesses
Disposed
    2020     2019     Total     Before Currency
& Excluding
Businesses
Disposed
 

   IFRS Measures

               

   Revenues

    1,588       1,550       2%       3%       3,221       3,117       3%       4%  

   Net loss

    (326)       (302)           (419)       (545)      

   Cash flow from operations

    403       273           349       73      

   Capital expenditures, less proceeds from disposals

    157       106           343       237      

   Debt at June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019

            14,128       13,983      

   Non-IFRS Measures

               

   Adjusted EBITDA

    611       555           1,231       1,112      

   Adjusted EBITDA margin

    38.5%       35.8%           38.2%       35.7%      

   Free cash flow

    238       89                       (7)       (252)                  

 

 

 

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The following reconciliations of IFRS measures to non-IFRS measures are based on Refinitiv’s definition of non-GAAP measures, which is not the same as the definitions used by Thomson Reuters.

Reconciliation of net loss to adjusted EBITDA

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
   (millions of U.S. dollars, except margins)    2020      2019      2020      2019  

   Net loss

     (326)        (302)        (419)        (545)  

   Adjustments to remove:

           

   Tax expense (benefit)

     8        (38)        8        (60)  

   Finance costs

     277        269        443        504  

   Depreciation and amortization

     486        482        957        945  

   EBITDA

     445        411        989        844  

   Adjustments to remove:

           

   Share of post-tax earnings in equity method investments

     (1)        (1)        (2)        (1)  

   Other operating losses (gains)

     45        -        (9)        1  

   Fair value adjustments

     15        16        21        38  

   Share-based compensation

     8        3        21        7  

   Transformation-related costs

     99        126        211        223  

   Adjusted EBITDA

     611        555        1,231        1,112  

   Adjusted EBITDA margin

     38.5%        35.8%        38.2%        35.7%  

Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
   (millions of U.S. dollars)    2020      2019      2020      2019  

   Net cash provided by operating activities

     403        273        349        73  

   Capital expenditures, less proceeds from disposals

     (157)        (106)        (343)        (237)  

   Other investing activities

     -        1        1        -  

   Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

     (8)        (79)        (14)        (88)  

   Free cash flow

     238        89        (7)        (252)  

 

 

 

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Appendix D

Quarterly information (unaudited)

The following table presents a summary of our consolidated operating results for the eight most recent quarters.

 

   
 

 

  Quarters ended  

    (millions of U.S. dollars, except per share

    amounts)

  June 30,
2020
    March 31,
2020
    December 31,
2019
    September 30,
2019
    June 30,
2019
    March 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
    September 30,
2018
 

Revenues

    1,405       1,520       1,583       1,413       1,423       1,487       1,527       1,284  

Operating profit

    365       290       216       262       447       274       135       173  

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations

    131       191       1,321       (72)       207       114       (103)       (47)  

(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax

    (5)       2       3       28       (27)       (10)       3,478       349  
                 

Net earnings (loss)

    126       193       1,324       (44)       180       104       3,375       302  

Earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders

    126       193       1,324       (44)       180       104       3,375       272  
                 
 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From continuing operations

    $0.26       $0.38       $2.64       $(0.14)       $0.41       $0.23       $(0.19)       $(0.06)  

From discontinued operations

    (0.01)       0.01       0.01       0.05       (0.05)       (0.02)       6.32       0.45  
                 
 

 

    $0.25       $0.39       $2.65       $(0.09)       $0.36       $0.21       $6.13       $0.39  

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From continuing operations

    $0.26       $0.38       $2.63       $(0.14)       $0.41       $0.22       $(0.19)       $(0.06)  

From discontinued operations

    (0.01)       0.01       0.01       0.05       (0.05)       (0.02)       6.32       0.45  
 

 

    $0.25       $0.39       $2.64       $(0.09)       $0.36       $0.20       $6.13       $0.39  

Revenues – Our revenues do not tend to be significantly impacted by seasonality as we record a large portion of our revenues ratably over a contract term. However, our revenues from quarter to consecutive quarter can be impacted by the release of certain tax products, which tend to be concentrated in the fourth quarter and, to a lesser extent, in the first quarter of the year. Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2018, our revenues included new revenues in our Reuters News business for providing news and editorial content to Refinitiv under a 30-year agreement signed in October 2018. Foreign currency had a slightly negative impact on our revenues for most of the eight-quarter period, while acquisitions positively impacted revenues beginning in the third quarter of 2019 when we acquired HighQ and Confirmation.

Operating profit – Similarly, our operating profit does not tend to be significantly impacted by seasonality, as most of our operating expenses are fixed. As a result, when our revenues increase, we become more profitable, and when our revenues decline, we become less profitable. Operating profit was significantly impacted by costs and investments to reposition our business following the closing of the F&R transaction from the second quarter of 2018 through the fourth quarter of 2019 when the program was completed. In the second quarter of 2019, operating profit benefited from a significant gain on the revaluation of warrants that we hold in Refinitiv. In 2020, operating profit benefited from lower costs, due to the completion of our program in 2019, to reposition Thomson Reuters following its separation from F&R.

Net earnings (loss) – The increase in net earnings in the fourth quarter of 2019 was due to a $1.2 billion deferred tax benefit associated with the reorganization of certain foreign operations. The increase in net earnings in the fourth quarter of 2018 was due to a $3.4 billion gain on the sale of a majority interest in our F&R business.

 

 

 

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Appendix E

Guarantor Supplemental Financial Information

The following tables set forth consolidating summary financial information in connection with the full and unconditional guarantee by Thomson Reuters Corporation and three U.S. subsidiary guarantors, which are also indirect 100%-owned and consolidated subsidiaries of Thomson Reuters Corporation (referred to as the Guarantor Subsidiaries), of any debt securities issued by TR Finance LLC under a trust indenture to be entered into between Thomson Reuters Corporation, TR Finance LLC, the Guarantor Subsidiaries, Computershare Trust Company of Canada and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. TR Finance LLC is an indirect 100%-owned subsidiary of Thomson Reuters Corporation and was formed with the sole purpose of issuing debt securities. TR Finance LLC has no significant assets or liabilities, as well as no subsidiaries or ongoing business operations of its own. See the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of this management’s discussion and analysis for additional information.

The tables below contain consolidating summary financial information for the following:

 

   

Parent – Thomson Reuters Corporation, the direct or indirect owner of all of its subsidiaries

   

Subsidiary Issuer – TR Finance LLC

   

Guarantor Subsidiaries on a combined basis

   

Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries – Other subsidiaries of Thomson Reuters Corporation on a combined basis that will not guarantee TR Finance LLC debt securities

   

Eliminations – Consolidating adjustments

   

Thomson Reuters on a consolidated basis

The Guarantor Subsidiaries referred to above are comprised of the following indirect 100%-owned and consolidated subsidiaries of Thomson Reuters Corporation.

 

   

Thomson Reuters Applications Inc., which operates part of the company’s Legal Professionals, Tax & Accounting Professionals and Corporates businesses;

   

Thomson Reuters (Tax & Accounting) Inc., which operates part of the company’s Tax & Accounting Professionals business; and

   

West Publishing Corporation, which operates part of the company’s Legal Professionals, Corporates and Global Print businesses.

Thomson Reuters Corporation accounts for its investments in subsidiaries using the equity method for purposes of the condensed consolidating financial information. Where subsidiaries are members of a consolidated tax filing group, Thomson Reuters Corporation allocates income tax expense pursuant to the tax sharing agreement among the members of the group, including application of the percentage method whereby members of the consolidated group are reimbursed for losses when they occur, regardless of the ability to use such losses on a standalone basis. We believe that this allocation is a systematic, rational approach for allocation of income tax balances. Adjustments necessary to consolidate the Parent, Guarantor Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries are reflected in the “Eliminations” column.

This basis of presentation is not intended to present the financial position of Thomson Reuters Corporation and the results of its operations for any purpose other than to comply with the specific requirements for guarantor reporting and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated interim financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, our 2019 annual consolidated financial statements, as well as our 2019 annual management’s discussion and analysis included in our 2019 annual report.

The following consolidating summary financial information is provided in compliance with the requirements of Section 13.4 of National Instrument 51-102Continuous Disclosure Obligations providing for an exemption for certain credit support issuers. Thomson Reuters Corporation has also elected to provide the following supplemental financial information in accordance with Article 13 of Regulation S-X, as adopted by the SEC on March 2, 2020 and set forth in SEC Release No. 33-10762 in advance of the effective date of January 4, 2021, as permitted by the adopting release.

 

 

 

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The following condensed consolidating financial information has been prepared in accordance with IFRS, as issued by

the IASB and is unaudited.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENT

 

 
Three months ended June 30, 2020  
(millions of U.S. dollars)    Parent      Subsidiary
Issuer
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Eliminations      Consolidated  

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

                 

Revenues

     -        -        995        740        (330)        1,405  

Operating expenses

     (5)        -        (863)        (391)        330        (929)  

Depreciation

     -        -        (17)        (26)        -        (43)  

Amortization of computer software

     -        -        (6)        (112)        -        (118)  

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

     -        -        (14)        (16)        -        (30)  

Other operating (losses) gains, net

     -        -        (14)        94        -        80  

Operating (loss) profit

     (5)        -        81        289        -        365  

Finance (costs) income, net:

                 

Net interest expense

     (39)        -        (1)        (12)        -        (52)  

Other finance costs

     (9)        -        -        (4)        -        (13)  

Intercompany net interest income (expense)

     26        -        (13)        (13)        -        -  

(Loss) income before tax and equity method investments

     (27)        -        67        260        -        300  

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

     -        -        -        (153)        -        (153)  

Share of post-tax earnings in subsidiaries

     153        -        6        31        (190)        -  

Tax (expense) benefit

     -        -        (36)        20        -        (16)  

Earnings from continuing operations

     126        -        37        158        (190)        131  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     -        -        -        (5)        -        (5)  

Net earnings

     126        -        37        153        (190)        126  

Earnings attributable to common shareholders

     126        -        37        153        (190)        126  

 

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENT

 

   
Three months ended June 30, 2019       
(millions of U.S. dollars)    Parent      Subsidiary
Issuer
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Eliminations      Consolidated  

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

                 

Revenues

     -        -        986        776        (339)        1,423  

Operating expenses

     (2)        -        (890)        (517)        339        (1,070)  

Depreciation

     -        -        (19)        (19)        -        (38)  

Amortization of computer software

     -        -        (4)        (101)        1        (104)  

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

     -        -        (15)        (10)        -        (25)  

Other operating (losses) gains, net

     -        -        (1)        262        -        261  

Operating (loss) profit

     (2)        -        57        391        1        447  

Finance (costs) income, net:

                 

Net interest (expense) income

     (40)        -        -        3        -        (37)  

Other finance income (costs)

     18        -        -        (36)        -        (18)  

Intercompany net interest income (expense)

     112        -        (5)        (107)        -        -  

Income before tax and equity method investments

     88        -        52        251        1        392  

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

     -        -        -        (138)        -        (138)  

Share of post-tax earnings in subsidiaries

     92        -        4        38        (134)        -  

Tax expense

     -        -        (14)        (33)        -        (47)  

Earnings from continuing operations

     180        -        42        118        (133)        207  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     -        -        -        (27)        -        (27)  

Net earnings

     180        -        42        91        (133)        180  

Earnings attributable to common shareholders

     180        -        42        91        (133)        180  

 

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENT

 

   
Six months ended June 30, 2020       
(millions of U.S. dollars)    Parent      Subsidiary
Issuer
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Eliminations      Consolidated  

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

                 

Revenues

     -        -        2,065        1,549        (689)        2,925  

Operating expenses

     (8)        -        (1,801)        (826)        689        (1,946)  

Depreciation

     -        -        (33)        (50)        -        (83)  

Amortization of computer software

     -        -        (12)        (218)        1        (229)  

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

     -        -        (27)        (33)        -        (60)  

Other operating (losses) gains, net

     -        -        (11)        59        -        48  

Operating (loss) profit

     (8)        -        181        481        1        655  

Finance (costs) income, net:

                 

Net interest expense

     (75)        -        (1)        (21)        -        (97)  

Other finance income (costs)

     84        -        (1)        (49)        -        34  

Intercompany net interest income (expense)

     52        -        (25)        (27)        -        -  

Income before tax and equity method investments

     53        -        154        384        1        592  

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

     -        -        -        (207)        -        (207)  

Share of post-tax earnings in subsidiaries

     266        -        11        84        (361)        -  

Tax (expense) benefit

     -        -        (70)        7        -        (63)  

Earnings from continuing operations

     319        -        95        268        (360)        322  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     -        -        -        (3)        -        (3)  

Net earnings

     319        -        95        265        (360)        319  

Earnings attributable to common shareholders

     319        -        95        265        (360)        319  

 

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENT

 

   
Six months ended June 30, 2019       
(millions of U.S. dollars)    Parent      Subsidiary
Issuer
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Eliminations      Consolidated  

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

                 

Revenues

     -        -        2,038        1,528        (656)        2,910  

Operating expenses

     (6)        -        (1,801)        (1,010)        656        (2,161)  

Depreciation

     -        -        (38)        (34)        -        (72)  

Amortization of computer software

     -        -        (9)        (201)        1        (209)  

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

     -        -        (31)        (21)        -        (52)  

Other operating gains, net

     -        -        16        305        (16)        305  

Operating (loss) profit

     (6)        -        175        567        (15)        721  

Finance (costs) income, net:

                 

Net interest (expense) income

     (78)        -        -        6        -        (72)  

Other finance (costs) income

     (134)        -        -        105        -        (29)  

Intercompany net interest income (expense)

     175        -        (9)        (166)        -        -  

(Loss) income before tax and equity method investments

     (43)        -        166        512        (15)        620  

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

     -        -        -        (251)        -        (251)  

Share of post-tax earnings in subsidiaries

     327        -        1        115        (443)        -  

Tax (expense) benefit

     -        -        (51)        3        -        (48)  

Earnings from continuing operations

     284        -        116        379        (458)        321  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     -        -        -        (37)        -        (37)  

Net earnings

     284        -        116        342        (458)        284  

Earnings attributable to common shareholders

     284        -        116        342        (458)        284  

 

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

   

    June 30, 2020

 

      

    (millions of U.S. dollars)

   Parent      Subsidiary
Issuer
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Eliminations      Consolidated  

Cash and cash equivalents

     4        -        282        660        -        946  

Trade and other receivables

     1        -        692        400        -        1,093  

Intercompany receivables

     3,327        -        325        3,089        (6,741)        -  

Other financial assets

     -        -        6        486        -        492  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2        -        187        320        -        509  

Current assets

     3,334        -        1,492        4,955        (6,741)        3,040  

Property and equipment, net

     -        -        254        330        -        584  

Computer software, net

     -        -        36        861        (4)        893  

Other identifiable intangible assets, net

     -        -        1,176        2,269        -        3,445  

Goodwill

     -        -        3,726        2,095        -        5,821  

Equity method investments

     -        -        -        1,291        -        1,291  

Other non-current assets

     17        -        127        542        -        686  

Intercompany receivables

     377        -        -        778        (1,155)        -  

Investments in subsidiaries

     11,631        -        41        3,935        (15,607)        -  

Deferred tax

     -        -        -        1,143        -        1,143  

Total assets

     15,359        -        6,852        18,199        (23,507)        16,903  

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

                 

Liabilities

                 

Current indebtedness

     120        -        -        -        -        120  

Payables, accruals and provisions

     58        -        314        773        -        1,145  

Deferred revenue

     -        -        546        216        -        762  

Intercompany payables

     2,171        -        926        3,644        (6,741)        -  

Other financial liabilities

     -        -        19        113        -        132  

Current liabilities

     2,349        -        1,805        4,746        (6,741)        2,159  

Long-term indebtedness

     3,699        -        -        -        -        3,699  

Provisions and other non-current liabilities

     2        -        77        1,166        -        1,245  

Intercompany payables

     -        -        778        377        (1,155)        -  

Deferred tax

     -        -        216        275        -        491  

Total liabilities

     6,050        -        2,876        6,564        (7,896)        7,594  

Equity

                 

Total equity

     9,309        -        3,976        11,635        (15,611)        9,309  

Total liabilities and equity

     15,359        -        6,852        18,199        (23,507)        16,903  

 

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

   

    December 31, 2019

 

      
    (millions of U.S. dollars)    Parent      Subsidiary
Issuer
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Eliminations      Consolidated  

Cash and cash equivalents

     5        -        169        651        -        825  

Trade and other receivables

     1        -        749        417        -        1,167  

Intercompany receivables

     3,289        -        440        2,699        (6,428)        -  

Other financial assets

     -        -        6        527        -        533  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1        -        194        351        -        546  

Current assets

     3,296        -        1,558        4,645        (6,428)        3,071  

Property and equipment, net

     -        -        272        343        -        615  

Computer software, net

     -        -        47        859        (6)        900  

Other identifiable intangible assets, net

     -        -        1,203        2,315        -        3,518  

Goodwill

     -        -        3,658        2,195        -        5,853  

Equity method investments

     -        -        -        1,551        -        1,551  

Other non-current assets

     -        -        124        487        -        611  

Intercompany receivables

     283        -        -        778        (1,061)        -  

Investments in subsidiaries

     11,605        -        27        4,025        (15,657)        -  

Deferred tax

     -        -        -        1,176        -        1,176  

Total assets

     15,184        -        6,889        18,374        (23,152)        17,295  

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

                 

Liabilities

                 

Current indebtedness

     578        -        -        1        -        579  

Payables, accruals and provisions

     44        -        484        845        -        1,373  

Deferred revenue

     -        -        583        250        -        833  

Intercompany payables

     2,031        -        668        3,729        (6,428)        -  

Other financial liabilities

     262        -        19        153        -        434  

Current liabilities

     2,915        -        1,754        4,978        (6,428)        3,219  

Long-term indebtedness

     2,676        -        -        -        -        2,676  

Provisions and other non-current liabilities

     33        -        82        1,149        -        1,264  

Intercompany payables

     -        -        778        283        (1,061)        -  

Deferred tax

     -        -        223        353        -        576  

Total liabilities

     5,624        -        2,837        6,763        (7,489)        7,735  

Equity

                 

Total equity

     9,560        -        4,052        11,611        (15,663)        9,560  

Total liabilities and equity

     15,184        -        6,889        18,374        (23,152)        17,295  

 

 

 

Page 45


LOGO

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

 

             
(millions of U.S. dollars)   Parent     Subsidiary
Issuer
    Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  
Three months ended June 30, 2020      

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (65)       -       346       141       -       422  

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    28       -       (9)       101       (213)       (93)  

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    40       -       (139)       (319)       213       (205)  

Increase (decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts

    3       -       198       (77)       -       124  
           
Three months ended June 30, 2019      

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (58)       -       67       104       -       113  

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    -       -       26       (53)       (50)       (77)  

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    44       -       (100)       (180)       50       (186)  

Decrease in cash and bank overdrafts

    (14)       -       (7)       (129)       -       (150)  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

 

             
(millions of U.S. dollars)   Parent     Subsidiary
Issuer
    Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  
Six months ended June 30, 2020      

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (101)       -       427       272       -       598  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (47)       -       (11)       (96)       (188)       (342)  

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    147       -       (303)       (157)       188       (125)  

(Decrease) increase in cash and bank overdrafts

    (1)       -       113       19       -       131  
           
Six months ended June 30, 2019      

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (54)       -       158       (21)       -       83  

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    -       -       49       (152)       (50)       (153)  

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    50       -       (128)       (499)       50       (527)  

Decrease in cash and bank overdrafts

    (4)       -       79       (672)       -       (597)  

 

 

 

Page 46

EXHIBIT 99.2 - UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

LOGO

 

EXHIBIT 99.2

THOMSON REUTERS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

(unaudited)

 

       
            Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
    (millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)    Notes              2020              2019              2020              2019  

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

              

Revenues

  

 

3

 

  

 

1,405

 

  

 

1,423

 

  

 

2,925

 

  

 

2,910

 

Operating expenses

  

 

6

 

  

 

(929)

 

  

 

(1,070)

 

  

 

(1,946)

 

  

 

(2,161)

 

Depreciation

     

 

(43)

 

  

 

(38)

 

  

 

(83)

 

  

 

(72)

 

Amortization of computer software

     

 

(118)

 

  

 

(104)

 

  

 

(229)

 

  

 

(209)

 

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

     

 

(30)

 

  

 

(25)

 

  

 

(60)

 

  

 

(52)

 

Other operating gains, net

  

 

7

 

  

 

80

 

  

 

261

 

  

 

48

 

  

 

305

 

Operating profit

     

 

365

 

  

 

447

 

  

 

655

 

  

 

721

 

Finance costs, net:

              

Net interest expense

  

 

8

 

  

 

(52)

 

  

 

(37)

 

  

 

(97)

 

  

 

(72)

 

Other finance (costs) income

  

 

8

 

  

 

(13)

 

  

 

(18)

 

  

 

34

 

  

 

(29)

 

Income before tax and equity method investments

     

 

300

 

  

 

392

 

  

 

592

 

  

 

620

 

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

  

 

9

 

  

 

(153)

 

  

 

(138)

 

  

 

(207)

 

  

 

(251)

 

Tax expense

  

 

10

 

  

 

(16)

 

  

 

(47)

 

  

 

(63)

 

  

 

(48)

 

Earnings from continuing operations

     

 

131

 

  

 

207

 

  

 

322

 

  

 

321

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

           

 

(5)

 

  

 

(27)

 

  

 

(3)

 

  

 

(37)

 

Net earnings

           

 

126

 

  

 

180

 

  

 

319

 

  

 

284

 

Earnings attributable to common shareholders

     

 

126

 

  

 

180

 

  

 

319

 

  

 

284

 

Earnings (loss) per share:

  

 

11

 

           

Basic and diluted earnings per share:

              

From continuing operations

     

 

$0.26

 

  

 

$0.41

 

  

 

$0.65

 

  

 

$0.64

 

From discontinued operations

           

 

(0.01)

 

  

 

(0.05)

 

  

 

(0.01)

 

  

 

(0.08)

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share

           

 

$0.25

 

  

 

$0.36

 

  

 

$0.64

 

  

 

$0.56

 

The related notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Page 47


LOGO

 

THOMSON REUTERS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(unaudited)

 

       
          Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
    (millions of U.S. dollars)    Notes    2020      2019      2020      2019  

Net earnings

       

 

126

 

  

 

180

 

  

 

319

 

  

 

284

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

              

Items that have been or may be subsequently reclassified to net earnings:

              

Cash flow hedges adjustments to net earnings

  

8

  

 

(37)

 

  

 

(10)

 

  

 

(34)

 

  

 

(19)

 

Cash flow hedges adjustments to equity

     

 

17

 

  

 

5

 

  

 

14

 

  

 

14

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments to equity

     

 

22

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

(195)

 

  

 

35

 

Share of other comprehensive income (loss) in equity method investments

  

9

  

 

54

 

  

 

5

 

  

 

(47)

 

  

 

(26)

 

Related tax (expense) benefit on share of other comprehensive income (loss) in equity method investments

     

 

(14)

 

  

 

(2)

 

  

 

11

 

  

 

6

 

Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustments on disposal of businesses

       

 

-

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

9

 

         

 

42

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

(251)

 

  

 

19

 

Items that will not be reclassified to net earnings:

              

Fair value adjustments on financial assets

  

12

  

 

13

 

  

 

3

 

  

 

5

 

  

 

1

 

Remeasurement on defined benefit pension plans

     

 

65

 

  

 

(3)

 

  

 

23

 

  

 

(10)

 

Related tax (expense) benefit on remeasurement on defined benefit pension plans

     

 

(15)

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

(2)

 

  

 

2

 

Share of other comprehensive income (loss) in equity method investments

  

9

  

 

3

 

  

 

15

 

  

 

(3)

 

  

 

9

 

Related tax (expense) benefit on share of other comprehensive income (loss) in equity method investments

       

 

(1)

 

  

 

(3)

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

(2)

 

         

 

65

 

  

 

12

 

  

 

24

 

  

 

-

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

       

 

107

 

  

 

21

 

  

 

(227)

 

  

 

19

 

Total comprehensive income

       

 

233

 

  

 

201

 

  

 

92

 

  

 

303

 

Comprehensive income (loss) for the period attributable to:

              

Common shareholders:

              

Continuing operations

     

 

238

 

  

 

228

 

  

 

95

 

  

 

340

 

Discontinued operations

       

 

(5)

 

  

 

(27)

 

  

 

(3)

 

  

 

(37)

 

Total comprehensive income

       

 

233

 

  

 

201

 

  

 

92

 

  

 

303

 

The related notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Page 48


LOGO

 

THOMSON REUTERS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(unaudited)

 

       
            June 30,      December 31,  
    (millions of U.S. dollars)    Notes      2020      2019  

Cash and cash equivalents

  

 

12

 

  

 

946

 

  

 

825

 

Trade and other receivables

     

 

1,093

 

  

 

1,167

 

Other financial assets

  

 

12

 

  

 

492

 

  

 

533

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

           

 

509

 

  

 

546

 

Current assets

     

 

3,040

 

  

 

3,071

 

Property and equipment, net

     

 

584

 

  

 

615

 

Computer software, net

     

 

893

 

  

 

900

 

Other identifiable intangible assets, net

     

 

3,445

 

  

 

3,518

 

Goodwill

     

 

5,821

 

  

 

5,853

 

Equity method investments

  

 

9

 

  

 

1,291

 

  

 

1,551

 

Other non-current assets

  

 

13

 

  

 

686

 

  

 

611

 

Deferred tax

           

 

1,143

 

  

 

1,176

 

Total assets

           

 

16,903

 

  

 

17,295

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

        

Liabilities

        

Current indebtedness

  

 

12

 

  

 

120

 

  

 

579

 

Payables, accruals and provisions

  

 

14

 

  

 

1,145

 

  

 

1,373

 

Deferred revenue

     

 

762

 

  

 

833

 

Other financial liabilities

  

 

12

 

  

 

132

 

  

 

434

 

Current liabilities

     

 

2,159

 

  

 

3,219

 

Long-term indebtedness

  

 

12

 

  

 

3,699

 

  

 

2,676

 

Provisions and other non-current liabilities

  

 

15

 

  

 

1,245

 

  

 

1,264

 

Deferred tax

           

 

491

 

  

 

576

 

Total liabilities

           

 

7,594

 

  

 

7,735

 

Equity

        

Capital

  

 

16

 

  

 

5,413

 

  

 

5,377

 

Retained earnings

     

 

4,924

 

  

 

4,965

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

           

 

(1,028)

 

  

 

(782)

 

Total equity

           

 

9,309

 

  

 

9,560

 

Total liabilities and equity

           

 

16,903

 

  

 

17,295

 

Contingencies (note 19)

The related notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Page 49


LOGO

 

THOMSON REUTERS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

(unaudited)

 

       
            Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
(millions of U.S. dollars)    Notes      2020      2019      2020      2019  

Cash provided by (used in):

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Earnings from continuing operations

  

 

 

 

  

 

131

 

  

 

207

 

  

 

322

 

  

 

321

 

Adjustments for:

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Depreciation

  

 

 

 

  

 

43

 

  

 

38

 

  

 

83

 

  

 

72

 

Amortization of computer software

  

 

 

 

  

 

118

 

  

 

104

 

  

 

229

 

  

 

209

 

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

  

 

 

 

  

 

30

 

  

 

25

 

  

 

60

 

  

 

52

 

Net (gains) losses on disposals of businesses and investments

  

 

 

 

  

 

(2

  

 

3

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

(21

Deferred tax

  

 

 

 

  

 

(34

  

 

(12

  

 

(37

  

 

(80

Other

  

 

17

 

  

 

138

 

  

 

(67

  

 

200

 

  

 

77

 

Pension contribution

  

 

 

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

(167

Changes in working capital and other items

  

 

17

 

  

 

(7

  

 

(120

  

 

(250

  

 

(258

Operating cash flows from continuing operations

  

 

 

 

  

 

417

 

  

 

178

 

  

 

608

 

  

 

205

 

Operating cash flows from discontinued operations

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

5

 

  

 

(65

  

 

(10

  

 

(122

Net cash provided by operating activities

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

422

 

  

 

113

 

  

 

598

 

  

 

83

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

  

 

18

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

(1

  

 

(122

  

 

(5

Proceeds from disposals of businesses and investments

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

23

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

57

 

Capital expenditures

  

 

 

 

  

 

(145

  

 

(102

  

 

(287

  

 

(240

Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment

  

 

 

 

  

 

45

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

64

 

  

 

2

 

Other investing activities

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

4

 

Investing cash flows from continuing operations

  

 

 

 

  

 

(93

  

 

(77

  

 

(342

  

 

(182

Investing cash flows from discontinued operations

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

29

 

Net cash used in investing activities

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

(93

  

 

(77

  

 

(342

  

 

(153

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Proceeds from debt

  

 

12

 

  

 

999

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

2,019

 

  

 

-

 

Repayments of debt

  

 

12

 

  

 

(1,000

  

 

-

 

  

 

(1,645

  

 

-

 

Net borrowings under short-term loan facilities

  

 

12

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

118

 

  

 

-

 

Payments of lease principal

  

 

 

 

  

 

(18

  

 

(12

  

 

(36

  

 

(23

Repurchases of common shares

  

 

16

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

(200

  

 

(190

Dividends paid on preference shares

  

 

 

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

(1

  

 

(1

  

 

(2

Dividends paid on common shares

  

 

16

 

  

 

(182

  

 

(175

  

 

(364

  

 

(349

Other financing activities

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

(4

  

 

2

 

  

 

(16

  

 

37

 

Net cash used in financing activities

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

(205

  

 

(186

  

 

(125

  

 

(527

Increase (decrease) in cash and bank overdrafts

  

 

 

 

  

 

124

 

  

 

(150

  

 

131

 

  

 

(597

Translation adjustments

  

 

 

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

(10

  

 

2

 

Cash and bank overdrafts at beginning of period

  

 

 

 

  

 

822

 

  

 

2,258

 

  

 

825

 

  

 

2,703

 

Cash and bank overdrafts at end of period

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

946

 

  

 

2,108

 

  

 

946

 

  

 

2,108

 

Cash and bank overdrafts at end of period comprised of:

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

946

 

  

 

2,108

 

  

 

946

 

  

 

2,108

 

Supplemental cash flow information is provided in note 17.

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Interest paid, net of debt related hedges

  

 

 

 

  

 

(62

  

 

(82

  

 

(83

  

 

(96

Interest received

  

 

 

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

10

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

27

 

Income taxes paid

     17        (18      (62      (34      (169

Interest received and interest paid are reflected as operating cash flows.

Income taxes paid are reflected as either operating or investing cash flows depending on the nature of the underlying transaction.

The related notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Page 50


LOGO

 

THOMSON REUTERS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(unaudited)

 

                   
    (millions of U.S. dollars)   Stated
share
capital
    Contributed
surplus
    Total
capital
      

 

    Retained
earnings
    Unrecognized
loss on financial
instruments
    Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
    Total
accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss (“AOCL”)
    Total
equity
 

Balance, December 31, 2019

    3,576       1,801       5,377    

 

 

 

    4,965       (3)       (779)       (782)       9,560  

Net earnings

    -       -       -    

 

 

 

    319       -       -       -       319  

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    -       -       -      

 

 

 

 

 

    19       (29)       (217)       (246)       (227)  

Total comprehensive income (loss)

    -       -       -      

 

 

 

 

 

    338       (29)       (217)       (246)       92  

Dividends declared on preference shares

    -       -       -    

 

 

 

    (1)       -       -       -       (1)  

Dividends declared on common shares

    -       -       -    

 

 

 

    (376)       -       -       -       (376)  

Shares issued under Dividend Reinvestment
Plan (“DRIP”)

    12       -       12    

 

 

 

    -       -       -       -       12  

Repurchases of common shares (see note 16)

    2       -       2    

 

 

 

    (2)       -       -       -       -  

Stock compensation plans

    96       (74)       22      

 

 

 

 

 

    -       -       -       -       22  

Balance, June 30, 2020

    3,686       1,727       5,413      

 

 

 

 

 

    4,924       (32)       (996)       (1,028)       9,309  

 

    (millions of U.S. dollars)   Stated
share
capital
    Contributed
surplus
    Total
capital
      

 

    Retained
earnings
    Unrecognized
gain (loss) on
financial
instruments
    Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
            AOCL             Total
equity
 

Balance, December 31, 2018

    3,443       1,905       5,348    

 

 

 

    4,739       10       (887)       (877)       9,210  

Impact of IFRS 16

    -       -       -      

 

 

 

 

 

    11       -       -       -       11  

Balance after IFRS 16 adoption

    3,443       1,905       5,348    

 

 

 

    4,750       10       (887)       (877)       9,221  

Net earnings

    -       -       -    

 

 

 

    284       -       -       -       284  

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    -       -       -      

 

 

 

 

 

    2       (25)       42       17       19  

Total comprehensive income (loss)

    -       -       -      

 

 

 

 

 

    286       (25)       42       17       303  

Dividends declared on preference shares

    -       -       -    

 

 

 

    (2)       -       -       -       (2)  

Dividends declared on common shares

    -       -       -    

 

 

 

    (361)       -       -       -       (361)  

Shares issued under DRIP

    12       -       12    

 

 

 

    -       -       -       -       12  

Repurchases of common shares

    (18)       -       (18)    

 

 

 

    (133)       -       -       -       (151)  

Stock compensation plans

    140       (101)       39      

 

 

 

 

 

    -       -       -       -       39  

Balance, June 30, 2019

    3,577       1,804       5,381      

 

 

 

 

 

    4,540       (15)       (845)       (860)       9,061  

The related notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

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Thomson Reuters Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(unless otherwise stated, all amounts are in millions of U.S. dollars)

Note 1: Business Description and Basis of Preparation

General business description

Thomson Reuters Corporation (the “Company” or “Thomson Reuters”) is an Ontario, Canada corporation with common shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and Series II preference shares listed on the TSX. The Company is a major provider of news and business information services to professionals.

Basis of preparation

The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements (“interim financial statements”) were prepared using the same accounting policies and methods as those used in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. The interim financial statements comply with International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting (“IAS 34”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”), have been omitted or condensed.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IAS 34 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgment in applying the Company’s accounting policies. The areas involving more judgment or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements have been disclosed in note 2 of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized a novel strain of the coronavirus, known as COVID-19, as a pandemic. The global economy continues to experience substantial disruption due to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, as well as from the measures intended to mitigate its impact. Refer to note 2 of these interim consolidated financial statements for a description of how COVID-19 impacted the Company’s critical accounting estimates that were used to prepare the interim financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

The accompanying interim financial statements include all adjustments, composed of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary by management to fairly state the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, which are included in the Company’s 2019 annual report.

Prior-period amounts have been revised to correct certain immaterial misstatements as reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. Refer to the sections below and note 3 of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 for additional information.

 

 

 

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Additionally, the Company adjusted its prior-period segment amounts to reflect the current presentation. In the first quarter of 2020, in connection with the completion of the Company’s program to reposition its businesses after the separation of Refinitiv, the Company re-assessed its methodology for allocating costs to its business segments and adjusted its allocations. The 2019 segment amounts were also adjusted to reflect the transfer of certain revenues primarily from the Corporates segment to the Legal Professionals segment, where they are better aligned. These changes impacted the 2019 financial results of the segments, but did not change the consolidated 2019 financial results. The table below summarizes the changes:

 

       
 

 

   Three months ended June 30, 2019      

 

     Six months ended June 30, 2019  
  

 

   As Reported      Adjustments      As Revised      

 

     As Reported      Adjustments      As Revised  

Revenues

                   

Legal Professionals

     603        2        605          1,197        8        1,205  

Corporates

     318        (3)        315          670        (9)        661  

Eliminations/Rounding

     -        1        1          (1)        1        -  

Total revenues

     1,423        -        1,423                2,910        -        2,910  

Adjusted EBITDA

                   

Legal Professionals

     232        (3)        229          459        (1)        458  

Corporates

     102        (4)        98          220        (11)        209  

Tax & Accounting Professionals

     60        (1)        59          153        (2)        151  

Reuters News

     10        9        19          26        16        42  

Global Print

     73        (1)        72          147        (1)        146  

Corporate costs/Rounding

     (122)        -        (122)                (253)        (1)        (254)  

Total adjusted EBITDA

     355        -        355                752        -        752  

References to “$” are to U.S. dollars and references to “C$” are to Canadian dollars.

Revision of prior-period financial statements

On October 1, 2018, the Company sold a 55% interest in its Financial & Risk business to private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone. The Company retained a 45% interest in the business, which is now known as Refinitiv. Since October 1, 2018, the Company has included its share of post-tax losses from its 45% interest in Refinitiv, an equity method investment, in its net earnings. In the third quarter of 2019, a misstatement was identified that understated the Company’s share of Refinitiv’s post-tax losses since the fourth quarter of 2018. The misstatement related to an accounting principle difference for preferred stock issued by Refinitiv to the Blackstone consortium between U.S. GAAP, the basis on which Refinitiv prepares its financial statements, and IFRS, the basis on which Thomson Reuters prepares its financial statements. Specifically, Refinitiv accounts for its preferred stock under U.S. GAAP as equity, but these securities should have been recorded as debt under IFRS. Accordingly, the Company’s share of Refinitiv’s post-tax losses under IFRS should have been higher to reflect the associated interest expense. This misstatement did not impact revenues, operating profit, segment measures or cash generated from operating activities.

The Company performed a materiality evaluation in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 99, Materiality, and SAB No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, and concluded that the misstatement was immaterial to its previously issued financial statements. However, as the impact of correcting the cumulative misstatement in the third quarter of 2019 would have been material to net earnings in that quarter, the Company revised its previously issued financial statements. Additionally, in conjunction with this revision, the Company corrected other unrelated misstatements in the applicable prior periods, which were also not material to any of its previously issued financial statements.

 

 

 

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The effects of the revision are set forth in the table below:

 

       
 

 

  Three months ended June 30, 2019           Six months ended June 30, 2019  
    CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT   As Reported     Revision     As Revised       

 

    As Reported     Revision     As Revised  

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

    (126)       (12)       (138)    

 

 

 

    (223)       (28)       (251)  

Tax expense

    (50)       3       (47)    

 

 

 

    (55)       7       (48)  

Earnings from continuing operations

    216       (9)       207    

 

 

 

    342       (21)       321  

Net earnings

    189       (9)       180    

 

 

 

    305       (21)       284  

Earnings attributable to common shareholders

    189       (9)       180    

 

 

 

    305       (21)       284  

Basic earnings per share from continuing operations

    $0.43       ($0.02)       $0.41    

 

 

 

    $0.68       ($0.04)       $0.64  

Basic earnings per share

    $0.38       ($0.02)       $0.36    

 

 

 

    $0.60       ($0.04)       $0.56  

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

    $0.43       ($0.02)       $0.41    

 

 

 

    $0.68       ($0.04)       $0.64  

Diluted earnings per share

    $0.37       ($0.01)       $0.36         $0.60       ($0.04)       $0.56  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

    189       (9)       180    

 

 

 

    305       (21)       284  

Total comprehensive income

    210       (9)       201    

 

 

 

    324       (21)       303  

Comprehensive income for the period attributable to common shareholders: continuing operations

    237       (9)       228         361       (21)       340  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from continuing operations

    216       (9)       207    

 

 

 

    342       (21)       321  

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax

    (9)       (3)       (12)    

 

 

 

    (73)       (7)       (80)  

Other

    (79)       12       (67)    

 

 

 

    49       28       77  

Changes in working capital and other items

    (92)       (28)       (120)    

 

 

 

    (258)       -       (258)  

Operating cash flows from continuing operations

    206       (28)       178    

 

 

 

    205       -       205  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    141       (28)       113    

 

 

 

    83       -       83  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

    (130)       28       (102)    

 

 

 

    (240)       -       (240)  

Investing cash flows from continuing operations

    (105)       28       (77)    

 

 

 

    (182)       -       (182)  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (105)       28       (77)      

 

 

 

 

 

    (153)       -       (153)  

Note 2: Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments – Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

The global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has created significant uncertainty about the future. As a result, some of the estimates and judgments that management makes in preparing its financial statements may be more variable and may change materially in the future. Management initially assessed its critical accounting estimates and judgments in light of COVID-19 in conjunction with its interim report for the three months ended March 31, 2020. In the second quarter of 2020, management re-assessed these estimates and judgments and made no significant changes. For purposes of its business planning and valuation estimates, the Company continues to assume that the global economy will gradually recover throughout the second half of 2020. The following provides information regarding management’s critical accounting estimates and judgments relative to the global economic crisis caused by COVID-19.

Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales adjustments

The Company provided additional reserves of $6 million and $15 million in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2020 to reflect that some of its smaller legal and tax customers may not be able to pay for the products and services the Company has provided and, in limited situations, for credits the Company may issue to customers in financial distress. While the Company has offered payment plans to some of its smaller customers who may require more time to pay, very few have elected this option to date.

Computer software

The Company has not experienced, nor does it expect, material changes to product demand and it does not plan to discontinue any products as a result of the crisis that would require impairment or shortened useful lives.

 

 

 

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Other identifiable intangible assets and goodwill

At October 1, 2019, the date of the Company’s last impairment test, the estimated fair value less costs of disposal of each cash generating unit (“CGU“), which comprise each of its reportable segments, exceeded their carrying value by over 100%. The Company’s sensitivity analysis demonstrated that no reasonably possible change in its assumptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher discount rates and reduction in cash flows, would cause the carrying amounts of any CGU, including the carrying value of the indefinite lived tradenames, to exceed its recoverable amount.

Equity method investments and related warrants

Equity method investments consisted primarily of the Company’s 45% investment in Refinitiv. On August 1, 2019, the Company and private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone agreed to sell Refinitiv to London Stock Exchange Group plc (“LSEG”) (see note 9) for a value that is substantially in excess of the carrying value of the Company’s investment, as measured by the share price of LSEG at June 30, 2020. The proposed transaction, which was approved by LSEG shareholders in November 2019, remains subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of 2020 or early in 2021. The Company expects to record a significant gain on the transaction upon closing and therefore concluded that there was no impairment to its investment in Refinitiv at June 30, 2020.

Reflecting the terms of the agreement, the Company valued the related warrants (see note 12) in Refinitiv at June 30, 2020 primarily based on the number of incremental shares in Refinitiv to which the Company is contractually entitled upon closing, the share price of LSEG on June 30, 2020, and management’s assessment that the deal remains highly probable of closing by the end of 2020 or early in 2021.

The Company holds other investments aggregating $0.2 billion in a variety of industries, including real estate, technology and media, which could become impaired in the future due to economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Employee future benefits

The assets and obligations for the Company’s most significant benefit plans in the U.S. and the U.K. are remeasured each quarter with an offset to other comprehensive income or loss. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company recorded remeasurement gains of $23 million. There were no funding requirements triggered by changes in the value of assets and liabilities associated with the Company’s material defined benefit plans due to increased market volatility associated with the economic crisis.

Income taxes

Relevant tax reform related to the economic crisis, most notably the impact of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act in the United States, did not have a material impact on the computation of income taxes. The Company concluded that its updated projections relating to COVID-19 did not impact its ability to realize its deferred tax assets.

Critical judgments in applying accounting policies

Revenue recognition

Management has elevated its focus on collectability in making its revenue recognition judgments while the crisis persists.

Uncertain tax positions

The Company made no changes in its judgments of uncertain tax positions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note 3: Revenues

Revenues by type and geography

The following tables disaggregate revenues by type and geography and reconciles them to reportable segments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (see note 4).

 

                         
Revenues by type   Legal
Professionals
          Corporates           Tax & Accounting
Professionals
          Reuters News           Global Print           Total        
Three months ended June 30,   2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019         

Recurring

 

 

580

 

 

 

557

 

   

 

282

 

 

 

267

 

   

 

136

 

 

 

147

 

   

 

141

 

 

 

144

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

1,139

 

 

 

1,115

 

 

Transactions

 

 

40

 

 

 

48

 

   

 

47

 

 

 

48

 

   

 

32

 

 

 

35

 

   

 

14

 

 

 

12

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

133

 

 

 

143

 

 

Global Print

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

134

 

 

 

164

 

   

 

134

 

 

 

164

 

 

Eliminations/Rounding

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

(1)

 

 

 

1

 

       

Total

    620       605               329       315               168       182               155       156               134       164               1,405       1,423          

 

 

 

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Revenues by type   Legal
Professionals
          Corporates           Tax & Accounting
Professionals
          Reuters News           Global Print          

Total

       
Six months ended June 30,   2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019         

Recurring

 

 

1,167

 

 

 

1,113

 

   

 

563

 

 

 

530

 

   

 

294

 

 

 

320

 

   

 

283

 

 

 

287

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

2,307

 

 

 

2,250

 

 

Transactions

 

 

79

 

 

 

92

 

   

 

133

 

 

 

131

 

   

 

92

 

 

 

84

 

   

 

27

 

 

 

24

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

331

 

 

 

331

 

 

Global Print

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

289

 

 

 

329

 

   

 

289

 

 

 

329

 

 

Eliminations/Rounding

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

(2)

 

 

 

-

 

       

Total

    1,246       1,205               696       661               386       404               310       311               289       329               2,925       2,910          

 

Revenues by geography
(country of destination)
  Legal
Professionals
          Corporates           Tax & Accounting
Professionals
          Reuters News           Global Print           Total        
Three months ended June 30,   2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019         

U.S.

 

 

499

 

 

 

493

 

   

 

270

 

 

 

253

 

   

 

131

 

 

 

143

 

   

 

107

 

 

 

104

 

   

 

97

 

 

 

117

 

   

 

1,104

 

 

 

1,110

 

 

Canada (country of domicile)

 

 

13

 

 

 

12

 

   

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

   

 

8

 

 

 

8

 

   

 

1

 

 

 

-

 

   

 

16

 

 

 

20

 

   

 

40

 

 

 

43

 

 

Other

 

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

         

 

11

 

 

 

15

 

         

 

17

 

 

 

20

 

         

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

         

 

4

 

 

 

6

 

         

 

42

 

 

 

51

 

       

Americas (North America, Latin
America, South America)

    519       512         283       271         156       171         111       107         117       143         1,186       1,204    

U.K.

 

 

58

 

 

 

49

 

   

 

28

 

 

 

30

 

   

 

6

 

 

 

7

 

   

 

5

 

 

 

7

 

   

 

7

 

 

 

9

 

   

 

104

 

 

 

102

 

 

Other

 

 

13

 

 

 

18

 

         

 

10

 

 

 

6

 

         

 

2

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

25

 

 

 

28

 

         

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

         

 

54

 

 

 

56

 

       

EMEA (Europe, Middle East
and Africa)

    71       67         38       36         8       7         30       35         11       13         158       158    

Asia Pacific

 

 

30

 

 

 

26

 

   

 

8

 

 

 

8

 

   

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

   

 

14

 

 

 

14

 

   

 

6

 

 

 

8

 

   

 

62

 

 

 

60

 

 

Eliminations/Rounding

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

(1)

 

 

 

1

 

       

Total

 

 

620

 

 

 

605

 

         

 

329

 

 

 

315

 

         

 

168

 

 

 

182

 

         

 

155

 

 

 

156

 

         

 

134

 

 

 

164

 

         

 

1,405

 

 

 

1,423

 

       

 

Revenues by geography
(country of destination)
  Legal
Professionals
          Corporates           Tax & Accounting
Professionals
          Reuters News           Global Print           Total        
Six months ended June 30,   2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019            2020     2019         

U.S.

 

 

1,002

 

 

 

987

 

   

 

578

 

 

 

537

 

   

 

313

 

 

 

328

 

   

 

211

 

 

 

206

 

   

 

212

 

 

 

236

 

   

 

2,316

 

 

 

2,294

 

 

Canada (country of domicile)

 

 

26

 

 

 

22

 

   

 

5

 

 

 

6

 

   

 

17

 

 

 

17

 

   

 

2

 

 

 

1

 

   

 

32

 

 

 

38

 

   

 

82

 

 

 

84

 

 

Other

 

 

11

 

 

 

13

 

         

 

23

 

 

 

30

 

         

 

38

 

 

 

41

 

         

 

5

 

 

 

5

 

         

 

8

 

 

 

11

 

         

 

85

 

 

 

100

 

       

Americas (North America, Latin
America, South America)

    1,039       1,022         606       573         368       386         218       212         252       285         2,483       2,478    

U.K.

 

 

117

 

 

 

100

 

   

 

55

 

 

 

53

 

   

 

10

 

 

 

11

 

   

 

12

 

 

 

13

 

   

 

16

 

 

 

19

 

   

 

210

 

 

 

196

 

 

Other

 

 

29

 

 

 

31

 

         

 

19

 

 

 

19

 

         

 

2

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

52

 

 

 

56

 

         

 

7

 

 

 

8

 

         

 

109

 

 

 

114

 

       

EMEA (Europe, Middle East
and Africa)

    146       131         74       72         12       11         64       69         23       27         319       310    

Asia Pacific

 

 

61

 

 

 

52

 

   

 

16

 

 

 

16

 

   

 

6

 

 

 

7

 

   

 

28

 

 

 

30

 

   

 

14

 

 

 

17

 

   

 

125

 

 

 

122

 

 

Eliminations/Rounding

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

         

 

(2)

 

 

 

-

 

       

Total

 

 

1,246

 

 

 

1,205

 

         

 

696

 

 

 

661

 

         

 

386

 

 

 

404

 

         

 

310

 

 

 

311

 

         

 

289

 

 

 

329

 

         

 

2,925

 

 

 

2,910

 

       

Note 4: Segment Information

The Company is organized as five reportable segments reflecting how the businesses are managed. The accounting policies applied by the segments are the same as those applied by the Company. The segments offer products and services to target customers as described below.

Legal Professionals

The Legal Professionals segment serves law firms and governments with research and workflow products, focusing on intuitive legal research powered by emerging technologies and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools and analytics.

Corporates

The Corporates segment serves corporate customers, including the seven largest global accounting firms, with the Company’s full suite of offerings across legal, tax, regulatory and compliance functions.

 

 

 

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Tax & Accounting Professionals

The Tax & Accounting Professionals segment serves tax, accounting and audit professionals in accounting firms (other than the seven largest firms, which are served by the Corporates segment) with research and workflow products, focusing on intuitive tax offerings and automating tax workflows.

Reuters News

The Reuters News segment supplies business financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, including through Refinitiv, the world’s media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.

Global Print

The Global Print segment provides legal and tax information primarily in print format to customers around the world.

The Company also reports “Corporate costs”, which includes expenses for corporate functions and does not qualify as a reportable segment.

 

     
    

Three months ended June 30,

    

Six months ended June 30,

 
     

2020

     2019      2020      2019  

Revenues

           

Legal Professionals

  

 

620

 

  

 

605

 

  

 

1,246

 

  

 

1,205

 

Corporates

  

 

329

 

  

 

315

 

  

 

696

 

  

 

661

 

Tax & Accounting Professionals

  

 

168

 

  

 

182

 

  

 

386

 

  

 

404

 

Reuters News

  

 

155

 

  

 

156

 

  

 

310

 

  

 

311

 

Global Print

  

 

134

 

  

 

164

 

  

 

289

 

  

 

329

 

Eliminations/Rounding

  

 

(1)

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

(2)

 

  

 

-

 

Consolidated revenues

  

 

1,405

 

  

 

1,423

 

  

 

2,925

 

  

 

2,910

 

Adjusted EBITDA

           

Legal Professionals

  

 

254

 

  

 

229

 

  

 

484

 

  

 

458

 

Corporates

  

 

118

 

  

 

98

 

  

 

235

 

  

 

209

 

Tax & Accounting Professionals

  

 

54

 

  

 

59

 

  

 

138

 

  

 

151

 

Reuters News

  

 

25

 

  

 

19

 

  

 

44

 

  

 

42

 

Global Print

  

 

54

 

  

 

72

 

  

 

117

 

  

 

146

 

Corporate costs

  

 

(26)

 

  

 

(122)

 

  

 

(59)

 

  

 

(254)

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  

 

479

 

  

 

355

 

  

 

959

 

  

 

752

 

Fair value adjustments (see note 6)

  

 

(3)

 

  

 

(2)

 

  

 

20

 

  

 

(3)

 

Depreciation

  

 

(43)

 

  

 

(38)

 

  

 

(83)

 

  

 

(72)

 

Amortization of computer software

  

 

(118)

 

  

 

(104)

 

  

 

(229)

 

  

 

(209)

 

Amortization of other identifiable intangible assets

  

 

(30)

 

  

 

(25)

 

  

 

(60)

 

  

 

(52)

 

Other operating gains, net

  

 

80

 

  

 

261

 

  

 

48

 

  

 

305

 

Consolidated operating profit

  

 

365

 

  

 

447

 

  

 

655

 

  

 

721

 

Net interest expense

  

 

(52)

 

  

 

(37)

 

  

 

(97)

 

  

 

(72)

 

Other finance (costs) income

  

 

(13)

 

  

 

(18)

 

  

 

34

 

  

 

(29)

 

Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

  

 

(153)

 

  

 

(138)

 

  

 

(207)

 

  

 

(251)

 

Tax expense

  

 

(16)

 

  

 

(47)

 

  

 

(63)

 

  

 

(48)

 

Earnings from continuing operations

  

 

131

 

  

 

207

 

  

 

322

 

  

 

321

 

In accordance with IFRS 8, Operating Segments, the Company discloses certain information about its reportable segments based upon measures used by management in assessing the performance of those reportable segments. These measures are defined below and may not be comparable to similar measures of other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA

 

   

Segment adjusted EBITDA represents earnings from continuing operations before tax expense or benefit, net interest expense, other finance costs or income, depreciation, amortization of software and other identifiable intangible assets, the Company’s share of post-tax earnings or losses in equity method investments, other operating gains and losses, certain asset impairment charges, fair value adjustments, and corporate related items.

 

 

 

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The Company does not consider these excluded items to be controllable operating activities for purposes of assessing the current performance of the reportable segments.

   

Each segment includes an allocation of costs, based on usage or other applicable measures, for centralized support services such as technology, commercial sales operations, facilities, and product and content development, as well as an allocation of product costs when one segment sells products managed by another segment.

   

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA is comprised of adjusted EBITDA from reportable segments and Corporate costs.

Note 5: Seasonality

The Company’s revenues and operating profit on a consolidated basis do not tend to be significantly impacted by seasonality as it records a large portion of its revenues ratably over a contract term and its costs are generally incurred evenly throughout the year. However, the Company’s revenues from quarter to consecutive quarter can be impacted by the release of certain tax products, which tend to be concentrated in the fourth quarter and, to a lesser extent, in the first quarter of the year. The Company believes that its revenues in the second quarter of 2020 reflected the lowest level it will report for any of the four quarters in the full year of 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19. In 2019, the seasonality of the Company’s operating profit was impacted by significant costs to reposition its business following the sale of a majority interest in Financial & Risk.    

Note 6: Operating Expenses

The components of operating expenses include the following:

 

     
    

Three months ended June 30,

    

Six months ended June 30,

 
     

2020

     2019      2020      2019  

Salaries, commissions and allowances

     531     

 

609

 

     1,092     

 

1,231

 

Share-based payments

     18     

 

15

 

     35     

 

27

 

Post-employment benefits

     35     

 

34

 

     68     

 

68

 

Total staff costs

     584     

 

658

 

     1,195     

 

1,326

 

Goods and services(1)

     252     

 

313

 

     582     

 

645

 

Content

     63     

 

66

 

     131     

 

129

 

Telecommunications

     14     

 

13

 

     26     

 

23

 

Facilities

     13     

 

18

 

     32     

 

35

 

Fair value adjustments(2)

     3     

 

2

 

     (20)     

 

3

 

Total operating expenses

     929     

 

1,070

 

     1,946     

 

2,161

 

 

(1)

Goods and services include professional fees, consulting and outsourcing services, contractors, selling and marketing, and other general and administrative costs.

 

(2)

Fair value adjustments primarily represent gains or losses due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on intercompany balances that arise in the ordinary course of business.

Note 7: Other Operating Gains, Net

Other operating gains, net, were $80 million and $261 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $48 million and $305 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. All periods included a benefit from the revaluation of warrants that the Company holds in Refinitiv due to an increase in the share price of LSEG in connection with the proposed transaction to sell Refinitiv to LSEG (see note 9). Operating gains, net, included $54 million (2019—$256 million) and $1 million (2019—$275 million) in the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively, related to the warrants. The three months and six months ended June 30, 2020 included gains associated with the sale of certain real estate and the six months ended June 30, 2020 also included a gain associated with a distribution from an investment. The six months ended June 30, 2019 also included gains from the sale of several small businesses.

 

 

 

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Note 8: Finance Costs, Net

The components of finance costs, net, include interest expense (income) and other finance costs (income) as follows:

 

     
    

Three months ended June 30,

    

Six months ended June 30,

 
     

2020

    

2019

    

2020

    

2019

 

Interest expense:

           

Debt

  

 

39

 

  

 

39

 

  

 

76

 

  

 

77

 

Derivative financial instruments – hedging activities

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

1

 

Other, net

  

 

5

 

  

 

5

 

  

 

8

 

  

 

9

 

Fair value gains on cash flow hedges, transfer from equity

     (30)        (10)        (27)        (19)  

Net foreign exchange losses on debt

  

 

30

 

  

 

10

 

  

 

27

 

  

 

19

 

Net interest expense — debt and other

     44        44        84        87  

Net interest expense — leases

     3        1        5        3  

Net interest expense — pension and other
post-employment benefit plans

     6        7        11        13  

Interest income

  

 

(1)

 

  

 

(15)

 

  

 

(3)

 

  

 

(31)

 

Net interest expense

  

 

52

 

  

 

37

 

  

 

97

 

  

 

72

 

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
      2020      2019      2020      2019  

Net losses (gains) due to changes in foreign currency
exchange rates

     21        18        (15)        29  

Net gains on derivative instruments

  

 

(8)

 

  

 

-

 

  

 

(19)

 

  

 

-

 

Other finance costs (income)

  

 

13

 

  

 

18

 

  

 

(34)

 

  

 

29

 

Net losses (gains) due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates

Net losses (gains) due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates were principally comprised of amounts related to certain intercompany funding arrangements.

Net gains on derivative instruments

Net gains on derivative instruments were principally comprised of amounts relating to foreign exchange contracts and the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges (see note 12).

Note 9: Equity Method Investments

Equity method investments are primarily comprised of the Company’s 45% investment in Refinitiv.

The Company’s share of post-tax (losses) earnings in equity method investments as reported in the consolidated income statement is comprised of the following:

 

     
    

Three months ended June 30,

    

Six months ended June 30,

 
     

2020

    

2019

    

2020

    

2019

 

Refinitiv (45% ownership interest)

  

 

(155)

 

  

 

(141)

 

  

 

(213)

 

  

 

(259)

 

Other equity method investments

  

 

2

 

  

 

3

 

  

 

6

 

  

 

8

 

Total share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

  

 

(153)

 

  

 

(138)

 

  

 

(207)

 

  

 

(251)

 

The composition of equity method investments as reported in the consolidated statement of financial position is comprised of the following:

 

     
    

June 30,

    

December 31,

 
     

2020

    

2019

 

Refinitiv (45% ownership interest)

  

 

1,125

 

  

 

1,387

 

Other equity method investments

  

 

166

 

  

 

164

 

Total equity method investments

  

 

1,291

 

  

 

1,551

 

 

 

 

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Set forth below is summarized financial information for 100% of Refinitiv, and a reconciliation to the Company’s carrying value of its investment.

 

     
     

Three months ended June 30,

    

Six months ended June 30,

 
     

2020

    

2019

    

2020

    

2019

 

Revenues

     1,588        1,550        3,221        3,117  

Net loss

     (326)        (302)        (419)        (545)  

Remove: Net earnings attributable to non-controlling interests

     (18)        (11)        (54)        (29)  

Net loss attributable to Refinitiv

     (344)        (313)        (473)        (574)  

Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Refinitiv

     128        46        (111)        (31)  

Total comprehensive loss attributable to Refinitiv

     (216)        (267)        (584)        (605)  

 

     
    

June 30,

    

December 31,

 
     

2020

    

2019

 

Assets

     

Current assets

  

 

2,285

 

  

 

2,031

 

Non-current assets

  

 

20,252

 

  

 

20,709

 

Total assets

  

 

22,537

 

  

 

22,740

 

Liabilities

     

Current liabilities

  

 

3,559

 

  

 

3,398

 

Non-current liabilities

  

 

13,944

 

  

 

13,964

 

Total liabilities

  

 

17,503

 

  

 

17,362

 

Net assets

  

 

5,034

 

  

 

5,378

 

Non-controlling interests

  

 

(2,298)

 

  

 

(2,100)

 

Other(1)

  

 

(237)

 

  

 

(195)

 

Net assets attributable to Refinitiv

  

 

2,499

 

  

 

3,083

 

Net assets attributable to Refinitiv - beginning period

  

 

3,083

 

  

 

4,514

 

Net loss attributable to Refinitiv

  

 

(473)

 

  

 

(1,353)

 

Other comprehensive loss attributable to Refinitiv

  

 

(111)

 

  

 

(78)

 

Net assets attributable to Refinitiv - ending period

  

 

2,499

 

  

 

3,083

 

Thomson Reuters % share

  

 

45%

 

  

 

45%

 

Thomson Reuters carrying amount

  

 

1,125

 

  

 

1,387

 

 

(1)

Consists primarily of equity transactions excluded from Thomson Reuters 45% share of total comprehensive loss.

Proposed LSEG/Refinitiv Transaction

On August 1, 2019, the Company and private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone agreed to sell Refinitiv to LSEG in an all share transaction for a total enterprise value of approximately $27 billion (as of the announcement date), but LSEG may, at its option, settle up to $2.5 billion of the consideration in cash. The transaction is expected to result in Blackstone’s consortium and Thomson Reuters ultimately holding a combined 37% economic interest in LSEG (of which a 15% economic interest would be attributed to Thomson Reuters) and a combined voting interest in LSEG of less than 30%. The proposed transaction, which was approved by LSEG shareholders in November 2019, remains subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions. The Company expects the transaction to close by the end of 2020 or early in 2021 and expects to record a significant gain on the transaction upon closing.

Note 10: Taxation

Tax expense was $16 million and $47 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $63 million and $48 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The tax expense in each period reflected the mix of taxing jurisdictions in which pre-tax profits and losses were recognized. Because the geographical mix of pre-tax profits and losses in interim periods may be different from that for the full year, tax expense or benefit in interim periods is not necessarily indicative of tax expense for the full year.

 

 

 

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Note 11: Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share was calculated by dividing earnings attributable to common shareholders less dividends declared on preference shares by the sum of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and vested deferred share units (“DSUs”) outstanding during the period. DSUs represent common shares that certain employees have elected to receive in the future upon vesting of share-based compensation awards or in lieu of cash compensation.

Diluted earnings per share was calculated using the denominator of the basic calculation described above adjusted to include the potentially dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and time-based restricted share units (“TRSUs”).

Earnings used in determining consolidated earnings per share and earnings per share from continuing operations are as follows:

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
      2020      2019      2020      2019  

Earnings attributable to common shareholders

     126        180        319        284  

Less: Dividends declared on preference shares

     -        (1)        (1)        (2)  

Earnings used in consolidated earnings per share

     126        179        318        282  

Less: Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     5        27        3        37  

Earnings used in earnings per share from continuing operations

     131        206        321        319  

The weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, as well as a reconciliation of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used in the basic earnings per share computation to the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used in the diluted earnings per share computation, is presented below:

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
      2020      2019      2020      2019  

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

     495,903,023        500,705,054        495,842,141        501,035,457  

Weighted-average number of vested DSUs

     414,092        526,158        418,929        522,677  

Basic

     496,317,115        501,231,212        496,261,070        501,558,134  

Effect of stock options and TRSUs

     1,263,224        1,809,524        1,318,061        1,594,354  

Diluted

     497,580,339        503,040,736        497,579,131        503,152,488  

Note 12: Financial Instruments

Financial assets and liabilities

Financial assets and liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position were as follows:

 

June 30, 2020   Assets/
(Liabilities)
at
Amortized
Cost
    Assets/
(Liabilities)
at Fair
Value
through
Earnings
    Assets at Fair
Value through
Other
Comprehensive
Income or Loss
    Derivatives
Used for
Hedging
    Total  

Cash and cash equivalents

    291       655       -       -       946  

Trade and other receivables

    1,093       -       -       -       1,093  

Other financial assets - current

    56       436       -       -       492  

Other financial assets - non-current (see note 13)

    38       -       42       17       97  

Current indebtedness

    (120)       -       -       -       (120)  

Trade payables (see note 14)

    (177)       -       -       -       (177)  

Accruals (see note 14)

    (609)       -       -       -       (609)  

Other financial liabilities - current(1)

    (130)       (2)       -       -       (132)  

Long-term indebtedness

    (3,699)       -       -       -       (3,699)  

Other financial liabilities - non current (see note 15)(2)

    (245)       (5)       -       -       (250)  

Total

    (3,502)       1,084       42       17       (2,359)  

 

 

 

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December 31, 2019   Assets/
(Liabilities)
at
Amortized
Cost
    Assets/
(Liabilities)
at Fair
Value
through
Earnings
    Assets at Fair
Value through
Other
Comprehensive
Income or Loss
    Derivatives
Used for
Hedging
    Total  

Cash and cash equivalents

    335       490       -       -       825  

Trade and other receivables

    1,167       -       -       -       1,167  

Other financial assets - current

    98       435       -       -       533  

Other financial assets  - non-current (see note 13)

    45       -       29       -       74  

Current indebtedness

    (579)       -       -       -       (579)  

Trade payables (see note 14)

    (265)       -       -       -       (265)  

Accruals (see note 14)

    (801)       -       -       -       (801)  

Other financial liabilities - current(1)(3)

    (365)       (7)       -       (62)       (434)  

Long-term indebtedness

    (2,676)       -       -       -       (2,676)  

Other financial liabilities - non current (see note 15)(2)

    (253)       (3)       -       -       (256)  

Total

    (3,294)       915       29       (62)       (2,412)  

 

(1)

Includes lease liabilities of $79 million (2019—$69 million).

(2)

Includes lease liabilities of $245 million (2019—$253 million).

(3)

Includes a commitment to repurchase up to $200 million of common shares related to the Company’s pre-defined plan with its broker to repurchase the Company’s shares during its internal trading blackout period. See note 16.

Cash and cash equivalents

Of total cash and cash equivalents, $45 million and $34 million at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, were held in subsidiaries which have regulatory restrictions, contractual restrictions or operate in countries where exchange controls and other legal restrictions apply and were therefore not available for general use by the Company.

Debt-related activity

The following table provides information regarding notes that the Company issued and repaid in the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

MONTH/YEAR    TRANSACTION    PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (IN MILLIONS)
     Notes issued     
May 2020    2.239% Notes, due 2025    C$1,400
     Notes repaid     
January 2020    3.309% Notes, due 2021    C$550
January 2020    3.95% Notes, due 2021    US$139

The new notes issued in May 2020 were immediately swapped into U.S. dollars and the Company used the $999 million of net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which included repayment of borrowings under the Company’s credit facility.

In January 2020, the Company repaid notes prior to their scheduled maturity dates for $640 million. This amount included early redemption premiums and settlement of cross-currency swaps. The repayments were funded with commercial paper borrowings.

Cross-currency interest rate swaps

The Company uses fixed-to-fixed cross-currency interest rate swaps to hedge its currency exposures on indebtedness. These instruments swap Canadian dollar denominated principal and interest payments into U.S. dollars. In connection with the issuance of new Canadian dollar denominated notes in May 2020, the Company entered into cross-currency interest rate swaps. At June 30, 2020, the Company recorded the swaps outstanding in the consolidated statement of financial position at fair value, which was an asset of $17 million. The swaps were designated as cash flow hedges.

 

 

 

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The details of these instruments are set forth below:

 

         
Received    Paid    Hedged Risk    Year of Maturity    Principal Amount
2020 Cash flow hedges            
Canadian dollar fixed    U.S. dollar fixed    Foreign exchange    2025    US$999

The ineffective portion of the cash flow hedges recognized through earnings was a gain of $7 million, which was recorded in “Other finance (costs) income” in the consolidated income statement, was reclassified from “Cash flow hedges adjustments to net earnings” in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

Commercial paper

Under its commercial paper program, the Company may issue up to $1.8 billion of notes. In January 2020, the Company issued $630 million of commercial paper, most of which was repaid in February and March 2020. At June 30, 2020, current indebtedness included $120 million of outstanding commercial paper within the consolidated statement of financial position.

Credit facility

The Company has a $1.8 billion syndicated credit facility agreement which matures in December 2024 and may be used to provide liquidity for general corporate purposes (including acquisitions or support for its commercial paper program). There were no outstanding borrowings under the facility at June 30, 2020. The Company borrowed $1.0 billion in the first quarter of 2020, which it repaid in the second quarter of 2020. Based on the Company’s current credit ratings, the cost of borrowing under the facility is priced at LIBOR/EURIBOR plus 112.5 basis points. The Company has the option to request an increase, subject to approval by applicable lenders, in the lenders’ commitments in an aggregate amount of $600 million for a maximum credit facility commitment of $2.4 billion.

In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. As a result, public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify an alternative reference rate.

The Company must maintain a ratio of net debt as defined in the credit agreement (total debt after swaps less cash and cash equivalents) as of the last day of each fiscal quarter to EBITDA as defined in the credit agreement (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and other modifications described in the credit agreement) for the last four quarters ended of not more than 4.5:1. If the Company were to complete an acquisition with a purchase price of over $500 million, the ratio of net debt to EBITDA would temporarily increase to 5.0:1 for the following three quarters after completion, after which time the ratio would revert to 4.5:1. At June 30, 2020, the Company’s ratio of 1.7:1 was in compliance with this covenant.

Fair Value

The fair values of cash, trade and other receivables, trade payables and accruals approximate their carrying amounts because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. The fair value of long-term debt and related derivative instruments is set forth below.

Debt and Related Derivative Instruments

Carrying Amounts

Amounts recorded in the consolidated statement of financial position are referred to as “carrying amounts”. The carrying amounts of primary debt are reflected in “Long-term indebtedness” and “Current indebtedness” and the carrying amounts of derivative instruments are included in “Other financial assets” and “Other financial liabilities”, both current and non-current, in the consolidated statement of financial position, as appropriate.

Fair Value

The fair value of debt is estimated based on either quoted market prices for similar issues or current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same maturity. The fair value of interest rate swaps is estimated based upon discounted cash flows using applicable current market rates and considering non-performance risk.

 

 

 

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The following is a summary of debt and related derivative instruments that hedged the cash flows of debt:

 

     

Carrying Amount

 

            

Fair Value

 

 
June 30, 2020    Primary
Debt
Instruments
     Derivative
Instruments
(Asset)
             Primary
Debt
Instruments
     Derivative
Instruments
(Asset)
 

Commercial paper

     120        -           120        -  

C$1,400, 2.239% Notes, due 2025

     1,022        (17)           1,053        (17)  

$600, 4.30% Notes, due 2023

     596        -           662        -  

$450, 3.85% Notes, due 2024(1)

     240        -           262        -  

$500, 3.35% Notes, due 2026

     497        -           544        -  

$350, 4.50% Notes, due 2043(1)

     116        -           126        -  

$350, 5.65% Notes, due 2043

     342        -           470        -  

$400, 5.50% Debentures, due 2035

     395        -           498        -  

$500, 5.85% Debentures, due 2040

     491        -           630        -  

Total

     3,819        (17)                 4,365        (17)  

Current portion

     120        -           

Long-term portion

     3,699        (17)           

 

     

Carrying Amount

 

            

Fair Value

 

 
December 31, 2019    Primary
Debt
Instruments
     Derivative
Instruments
Liability
             Primary
Debt
Instruments
     Derivative
Instruments
Liability
 

Bank and other

     1        -           1        -  

C$550, 3.309% Notes, due 2021

     435        62           435        62  

$350, 3.95% Notes, due 2021(1)

     143        -           143        -  

$600, 4.30% Notes, due 2023

     596        -           639        -  

$450, 3.85% Notes, due 2024(1)

     240        -           254        -  

$500, 3.35% Notes, due 2026

     496        -           513        -  

$350, 4.50% Notes, due 2043(1)

     116        -           120        -  

$350, 5.65% Notes, due 2043

     342        -           412        -  

$400, 5.50% Debentures, due 2035

     395        -           447        -  

$500, 5.85% Debentures, due 2040

     491        -           592        -  

Total

     3,255        62                 3,556        62  

Current portion

     579        62           

Long-term portion

     2,676        -           

 

(1)

Notes were partially redeemed in October 2018.

Fair value estimation

The following fair value measurement hierarchy is used for financial instruments that are measured in the consolidated statement of financial position at fair value:

 

   

Level 1  - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

   

Level 2 - inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices); and

   

Level 3 - inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is, unobservable inputs).

 

 

 

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The levels used to determine fair value measurements for those instruments carried at fair value in the consolidated statement of financial position are as follows:

 

         
 June 30, 2020                         Total  

 Assets

     Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Balance  

     Money market accounts

     -        655        -        655  

     Warrants(1)

     -        -        436        436  

 Financial assets at fair value through earnings

     -        655        436        1,091  

 Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income(2)

     21        21        -        42  

 Derivatives used for hedging(3)

     -        17        -        17  

 Total assets

     21        693        436        1,150  

 Liabilities

           

 Contingent consideration(4)

     -        -        (7)        (7)  

 Financial liabilities at fair value through earnings

     -        -        (7)        (7)  

 Total liabilities

     -        -        (7)        (7)  

 

         
 December 31, 2019                         Total  

 Assets

     Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Balance  

     Money market accounts

     -        490        -        490  

     Warrants(1)

     -        -        435        435  

 Financial assets at fair value through earnings

     -        490        435        925  

 Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income(2)

     2        27        -        29  

 Total assets

     2        517        435        954  

 Liabilities

           

     Forward exchange contracts(5)

     -        (7)        -        (7)  

     Contingent consideration(4)

     -        -        (3)        (3)  

 Financial liabilities at fair value through earnings

     -        (7)        (3)        (10)  

 Derivatives used for hedging(3)

     -        (62)        -        (62)  

 Total liabilities

     -        (69)        (3)        (72)  

 

(1)

Warrants related to the Company’s equity method investment in Refinitiv (see note 9).

(2)

Investments in entities over which the Company does not have control, joint control or significant influence.

(3)

Comprised of fixed-to-fixed cross-currency swaps on indebtedness.

(4)

Obligations to pay additional consideration for prior acquisitions, based upon performance measures contractually agreed at the time of purchase.

(5)

Used to manage foreign exchange risk on cash flows excluding indebtedness.

The following reflects the change in the fair value of the Refinitiv warrants, which are a level 3 in the fair value measurement hierarchy, for the six months ended June 30, 2020:

 

   
     Six months ended June 30,  
      2020  

December 31, 2019

  

 

435

 

Gain recognized within other operating gains, net

  

 

1

 

June 30, 2020

  

 

436

 

The Company recognizes transfers into and out of the fair value measurement hierarchy levels at the end of the reporting period in which the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer occurred. There were no transfers between hierarchy levels for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

 

 

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Valuation Techniques

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market (for example, over-the-counter derivatives) is determined by using valuation techniques. These valuation techniques maximize the use of observable market data where it is available and rely as little as possible on entity specific estimates. If all significant inputs required to fair value an instrument are observable, the instrument is included in level 2. If one or more of the significant inputs is not based on observable market data, the instrument is included in level 3.

Specific valuation techniques used to value financial instruments include:

 

   

quoted market prices or dealer quotes for similar instruments;

   

the fair value of cross-currency interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts are calculated as the present value of the estimated future cash flows based on observable yield curves; and

   

the fair value of contingent consideration is calculated based on estimates of future revenue performance.

Valuation of the Refinitiv Warrants

On August 1, 2019, the Company and private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone agreed to sell Refinitiv, in which the Company owns a 45%(1) interest, to LSEG, in an all share transaction that valued Refinitiv at $27 billion (as of the announcement date), but LSEG may, at its option, settle up to $2.5 billion of the consideration in cash (see note 9). Under the terms of the warrant agreement, the proposed transaction will constitute a change in control whereby the exercise of the warrants in connection with the closing of the transaction will increase the Company’s ownership of Refinitiv from 45%(1) to 47.6%(1). Reflecting the entry into a definitive agreement for the sale of the Refinitiv business, the value of the warrants at June 30, 2020 is primarily based on the number of incremental shares in Refinitiv to which the Company is entitled upon closing and the share price of LSEG on June 30, 2020. The valuation also incorporates (on a weighted-average basis) other outcomes based on the likelihood of the proposed transaction closing. In future periods, the warrants will be revalued based on the share price of LSEG at each reporting date and will reflect management’s continuing assessment about the likelihood that the proposed transaction will close, including progress towards obtaining regulatory clearances and satisfying customary closing conditions.

The Monte Carlo simulation approach, which is incorporated into the valuation of the Refinitiv warrants, generates values based on the random outcomes from a probability distribution. Key inputs under the Monte Carlo approach include: the estimated equity value of Refinitiv; the capitalization structure of Refinitiv; the expected volatility; the risk-free rate of return; annual dividends or distributions; and assumptions about the timing of a liquidity event. An increase in the equity value would typically result in an increase in the fair value of the warrants and conversely, a decrease would typically result in a decrease in the fair value of the warrants.

 

(1)

Represents ownership interest before dilution for management equity triggered by a change in control.

Note 13: Other Non-Current Assets

 

     
     June 30,      December 31,  
      2020      2019  

Net defined benefit plan surpluses

     133        85  

Cash surrender value of life insurance policies

     320        320  

Deferred commissions

     89        82  

Other financial assets (see note 12)

     97        74  

Other non-current assets

     47        50  

Total other non-current assets

     686        611  

Note 14: Payables, Accruals and Provisions

 

     
     June 30,      December 31,  
      2020      2019  

Trade payables

     177        265  

Current tax liabilities(1)

     185        124  

Accruals

     609        801  

Provisions

     94        119  

Other current liabilities

     80        64  

Total payables, accruals and provisions

     1,145        1,373  

 

(1)

Includes $214 million (2019—$204 million) of uncertain tax positions, that were partially offset by tax receivables in the same jurisdictions.

 

 

 

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Note 15: Provisions and Other Non-Current Liabilities

 

     
     June 30,      December 31,  
      2020      2019  

Net defined benefit plan obligations

     761        714  

Other financial liabilities (see note 12)

     250        256  

Deferred compensation and employee incentives(1)

     104        141  

Provisions

     120        126  

Other non-current liabilities

     10        27  

Total provisions and other non-current liabilities

     1,245        1,264  

 

(1)

In June 2020, the Company amended its non-employee director compensation plan such that the Directors no longer control the decision on whether DSUs earned as part of their compensation are settled in cash or common shares. As a result, Director DSUs are now classified as equity settled and $27 million was reclassified to “Contributed surplus” in the consolidated statement of changes in equity.

Note 16: Capital

Share repurchases

The Company may buy back shares (and subsequently cancel them) from time to time as part of its capital strategy. Share repurchases are typically effected under a normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”). Under the NCIB, the Company may repurchase up to 25 million common shares between August 19, 2019 and August 18, 2020 in open market transactions on the TSX, the NYSE and/or other exchanges and alternative trading systems, if eligible, or by such other means as may be permitted by the TSX and/or NYSE or under applicable law, including private agreement purchases if the Company receives an issuer bid exemption order from applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada for such purchases. The price that the Company will pay for shares in open market transactions under the NCIB will be the market price at the time of purchase or such other price as may be permitted by TSX.

The Company did not repurchase any shares in the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. Details of share repurchases for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

   
     Six months ended June 30,  
                  2020      2019  

   Share repurchases (millions of U.S. dollars)

     200        190  

   Shares repurchased (number in millions)

     2.6        3.5  

   Share repurchases - average price per share in U.S. dollars

     $78.37        $53.93  

In October 2019, the Company announced plans to repurchase up to an additional $200 million of its common shares in 2020. These share repurchases were completed in February 2020. Decisions regarding any future repurchases will depend on factors such as market conditions, share price, and other opportunities to invest capital for growth. The Company may elect to suspend or discontinue its share repurchases at any time, in accordance with applicable laws. From time to time when the Company does not possess material nonpublic information about itself or its securities, it may enter into a pre-defined plan with its broker to allow for the repurchase of shares at times when the Company ordinarily would not be active in the market due to its own internal trading blackout periods, insider trading rules or otherwise. Any such plans entered into with the Company’s broker will be adopted in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company entered into such a plan with its broker on December 20, 2019. As a result, the Company recorded a $200 million liability in “Other financial liabilities” within current liabilities at December 31, 2019 with a corresponding amount recorded in equity in the consolidated statement of financial position.

Dividends

Dividends on common shares are declared in U.S. dollars. In the consolidated statement of cash flow, dividends paid on common shares are shown net of amounts reinvested in the Company under its dividend reinvestment plan. Details of dividends declared per common share and dividends paid on common shares are as follows:

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
          2020          2019          2020          2019  

   Dividends declared per common share

     $0.38        $0.36        $0.76        $0.72  

   Dividends declared

     188        180        376        361  

   Dividends reinvested

     (6)        (5)        (12)        (12)  

   Dividends paid

     182        175        364        349  

 

 

 

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Note 17: Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Details of “Other” in the consolidated statement of cash flow are as follows:

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
          2020          2019          2020          2019  

   Non-cash employee benefit charges

     44        39        84        81  

   Net losses (gains) on foreign exchange and derivative financial instruments

     13        18        (33)        28  

   Share of post-tax losses in equity method investments

     153        138        207        251  

   Revaluation of Refinitiv warrants (see note 12)

     (54)        (256)        (1)        (275)  

   Fair value adjustments

     3        2        (20)        3  

   Other

     (21)        (8)        (37)        (11)  
       138        (67)        200        77  

Details of “Changes in working capital and other items” are as follows:

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
          2020          2019          2020          2019  

   Trade and other receivables

     30        (47)        65        96  

   Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     18        23        (8)        49  

   Other financial assets

     2        (2)        41        33  

   Payables, accruals and provisions

     (40)        (171)        (275)        (396)  

   Deferred revenue

     (21)        98        (54)        28  

   Other financial liabilities

     (2)        -        (41)        (33)  

   Income taxes

     23        12        62        14  

   Other

     (17)        (33)        (40)        (49)  
       (7)        (120)        (250)        (258)  

Details of income taxes (paid) received are as follows:

 

     
     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
          2020          2019          2020          2019  

Operating activities - continuing operations

     (25)        (49)        (36)        (114)  

Operating activities - discontinued operations

     7        (12)        2        (54)  

Investing activities – continuing operations

     -        (1)        -        (1)  

Total income taxes paid

     (18)        (62)        (34)        (169)  

Note 18: Acquisitions

Acquisitions primarily comprise the purchase of businesses that are integrated into existing operations to broaden the Company’s range of offerings to customers as well as its presence in global markets. The results of acquired businesses are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Acquisitions also include investments in equity method investments.

Acquisition activity

The Company acquired one business in the six months ended June 30, 2020, and the related total consideration was as follows:

 

   
     

Six months ended June 30,

 
   Total consideration   

2020

 

   Business acquired

     121  

   Less: Cash acquired

     (1)  

   Business acquired, net of cash

     120  

   Contingent consideration payments

     2  
   
      122  

 

 

 

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The following provides a brief description of the acquisition completed during the six months ended June 30, 2020:

 

       
   Date      Company    Acquiring Segment   Description

   March 2020

    

Pondera Solutions

  

Legal Professionals

  A provider of technology and advanced analytics to combat fraud, waste and abuse in healthcare and large government programs.

Purchase price allocation

Purchase price allocations related to certain acquisitions may be subject to adjustment pending completion of final valuations.

The details of net assets acquired were as follows:

 

   
    

Six months ended June 30,

 
     

2020

 

Cash and cash equivalents

     1  

Trade receivables

     3  

Current assets

     4  

Computer software

     16  

Other identifiable intangible assets

     6  

Total assets

     26  

Payables and accruals

     (2)  

Deferred revenue

     (1)  

Other financial liabilities

     (2)  

Current liabilities

     (5)  

Provisions and other non-current liabilities

     (1)  

Deferred tax

     (3)  

Total liabilities

     (9)  

Net assets acquired

     17  

Goodwill

     104  

Total

     121  

The excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill and reflects synergies and the value of the acquired workforce. The majority of goodwill for the acquisition completed in 2020 is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

The acquisition transaction was completed by acquiring all equity interests of the acquired business.

Other

The revenues and operating profit of the acquired business since the date of acquisition was not material to the Company’s results of operations.

 

 

 

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Note 19: Contingencies

Lawsuits and legal claims

The Company is engaged in various legal proceedings, claims, audits and investigations that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. These matters include, but are not limited to, employment matters, commercial matters, defamation claims and intellectual property infringement claims. The outcome of all of the matters against the Company is subject to future resolution, including the uncertainties of litigation. Based on information currently known to the Company and after consultation with outside legal counsel, management believes that the ultimate resolution of any such matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition taken as a whole.

Uncertain tax positions

The Company is subject to taxation in numerous jurisdictions and is routinely under audit by many different taxing authorities in the ordinary course of business. There are many transactions and calculations during the course of business for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain, as taxing authorities may challenge some of the Company’s positions and propose adjustments or changes to its tax filings.

As a result, the Company maintains provisions for uncertain tax positions that it believes appropriately reflect its risk. These provisions are made using the Company’s best estimates of the amount expected to be paid based on a qualitative assessment of all relevant factors. The Company reviews the adequacy of these provisions at the end of each reporting period and adjusts them based on changing facts and circumstances. Due to the uncertainty associated with tax audits, it is possible that at some future date, liabilities resulting from such audits or related litigation could vary significantly from the Company’s provisions. However, based on currently enacted legislation, information currently known by the Company and after consultation with outside tax advisors, management believes that the ultimate resolution of any such matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition taken as a whole.

Note 20: Related Party Transactions

As of June 30, 2020, the Company’s principal shareholder, The Woodbridge Company Limited, beneficially owned approximately 66% of the Company’s shares.

There were no new significant related party transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2020. Refer to “Related party transactions” disclosed in note 32 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, which are included in the Company’s 2019 annual report, for information regarding related party transactions.

 

 

 

Page 70

EXHIBIT 99.3 - CEO 302 CERTIFICATION

EXHIBIT 99.3

CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Steve Hasker, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this report on Form 6-K of Thomson Reuters Corporation;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 7, 2020

 

/s/ Steve Hasker

Steve Hasker
President and Chief Executive Officer
EXHIBIT 99.4 - CFO 302 CERTIFICATION

EXHIBIT 99.4

CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Michael Eastwood, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this report on Form 6-K of Thomson Reuters Corporation;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 7, 2020

 

/s/ Michael Eastwood

Michael Eastwood
Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT 99.5 - CEO 906 CERTIFICATION

EXHIBIT 99.5

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the report of Thomson Reuters Corporation (the “Corporation”) on Form 6-K for the period ended June 30, 2020, as furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Steve Hasker, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.

Date: August 7, 2020

 

/s/ Steve Hasker

Steve Hasker

President and Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Corporation and will be retained by the Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

EXHIBIT 99.6 - CFO 906 CERTIFICATION

EXHIBIT 99.6

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the report of Thomson Reuters Corporation (the “Corporation”) on Form 6-K for the period ended June 30, 2020, as furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael Eastwood, Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.

Date: August 7, 2020

 

/s/ Michael Eastwood

Michael Eastwood

Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Corporation and will be retained by the Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.