Interfax And Thomson Financial Announce Strategic Partnership In Russia

London and Moscow, 11/21/2005, Thomson Financial, an operating unit of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) and leading provider of information and technology solutions to the worldwide financial community, and Interfax Business Service, part of Interfax Information Services Group, Russia’s leading provider of information and services to the financial market, today announced a strategic partnership to market professional solutions for the corporate community in Russia.

Under the terms of the agreement, Interfax Business Service will act as an exclusive agent offering Thomson Financial’s market leading information, analytical and consulting services aimed at helping Russian companies access the global capital markets. In addition, the agreement allows scope for Thomson Financial and Interfax Group to cooperate on the development of joint business operations in Russia.

The agreement with Thomson Financial will provide Russian clients seeking to raise capital from foreign equity and bond investors with vital intelligence about the global capital markets. This suite of investor relations (IR) solutions includes analysis of the potential international investor base, assessment of a company’s perception amongst the world-wide financial community, analysis of a company’s shareholder base, arrangement of institutional investor road-shows and development of customizable tools to undertake a coordinated IR programme.

Mikhail Komissar, Chairman, Interfax Group commented: “Against the backdrop of globalization in the world’s capital markets, Russian companies are equally interested in dealing with investors in Russia and abroad. Our cooperation with Thomson Financial broadens our spectrum of services with market leading technology and international content tailored to the needs of the corporate community. Combined with our own IR offering for Russian companies accessing the domestic capital markets, this offering for Russian companies accessing the global capital markets will increase the profile of Russian business among both domestic and foreign investors. It will also enhance the standard of Russian IR services, making our market more attractive to both issuers and investors.”

Donal Smith, President and Chief Operating Officer – Europe & Asia, Thomson Financial added: “We are unique in our ability to offer tailored information solutions aimed at improving the performance of the corporate, buy-side and sell-side communities around the world. Our Corporate Services Group provides a truly integrated, end-to-end IR solution. This agreement with Interfax will play a significant role in helping Russian companies access the global capital markets by providing invaluable insight on market and investor trends, enabling them to undertake best practice investor relations.”

Thomson Financial offers corporations a competitive edge in investor relations communications through a blend of technology and financial data solutions. This allows a corporate client in Russia to:

Assess its own valuation, investment profile and positioning relative to the peer group through Thomson Analytical Services

Understand the implications of capital flows through Capital Markets Intelligence (CMI)

Deliver targeted communications to key investors with bespoke messaging services

Manage analysis of financial information and contacts through Thomson IRChannel

Outsource management of its own IR Website, through Web Hosting

Reach investors by webcasting results presentations and distribution through Thomson Financial’s unparalleled network


Interfax Business Service offers corporations and financial institutions Investor Relations services based on a unique blend of information resources and expertise. This allows a corporate client in Russia to:

Understand expectations on investors in debt and equity markets

• feedback on the company’s activities and business from the investor community

Improve dissemination of corporate information to current and potential investors in Russia and internationally

Improve corporate presentations to investors through professional disclosure services, IR Website, and corporate presentation materials

Manage the database of contact information of investors, analysts and other relevant parties for corporate communication


About Interfax Information Services Group
Interfax (www.interfax.com) provides news and other information products that are essential for decision-makers in politics and business. Set up in 1989, Interfax Group brings together a network of national, regional, and specialized news agencies operating throughout Russia and other CIS countries, as well as in China and Central Europe. The Group includes companies and divisions that provide news, analytical services, market data, fundamental information and develop software solutions. Moody’s Investors Service is Interfax’s partner in Moody’s Interfax Rating Agency, Russia’s leading national rating agency. At the end of 2004, the Group set up the Experian-Interfax credit bureau, which is a joint venture with the global leading information solutions company Experian.

About Thomson Financial
Thomson Financial is a US$1.73 billion provider of information and technology solutions to the worldwide financial community. Through the widest range of products and services in the industry, Thomson Financial helps clients in more than 70 countries make better decisions, be more productive and achieve superior results. Thomson Financial is part of The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to more than 20 million business and professional customers in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, corporate e-learning and assessment, scientific research and healthcare. With revenues of US$8.10 billion, The Thomson Corporation lists its common shares on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC).

Contact Information

Alex Brog

Director, Public Relations, Europe

Thomson Financial

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