Exhibit (a)(12) - Press Release issued by Thomson on August 2, 2000.
The Thomson Corporation [LOGO]
Toronto Dominion Bank Tower, Suite 2706
PO Box 24, Toronto-Dominion Centre
Toronto, Ontario M5K 1A1
Tel (416) 360-8700 Fax (416) 360-8812
www.thomson.com
News Release
Investor Contact: Media Contact:
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John Kechejian Pascale Wiedenroth
Vice President, Investor Relations Director, Public Relations
(203) 969-8700 Thomson Financial
[email protected] (617) 856-1418
[email protected]
For Immediate Release
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THE THOMSON CORPORATION EXTENDS
EQUITY AND DEBT TENDER OFFERS FOR PRIMARK
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TORONTO, ONTARIO, August 2, 2000 - The Thomson Corporation (TSE: TOC)
announced today that Marquee Acquisition Corporation ("Marquee"), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Thomson, is extending its offer to acquire all outstanding shares
of common stock of Primark Corporation until Wednesday, August 30, 2000 at 5:00
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). In accordance with the terms of the Offer to
Purchase, dated June 14, 2000, Marquee is extending the offer to allow the
satisfaction of certain closing conditions. The offer to acquire the common
stock of Primark was previously scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight EDT on
Friday, August 4, 2000.
In addition, Thomson announced that Marquee is extending its offer to
acquire all of the outstanding Primark 9 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
(the "Notes") until Thursday, August 31, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The offer to
acquire the Notes was previously scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight EDT on
Monday, August 7, 2000.
Based on the latest count of tendered shares and Notes, as of 5:00 p.m.
EDT on August 1, 2000, 16,242,815 shares of Primark common stock (constituting
80% of the outstanding common stock) had been tendered and not withdrawn, and
US$149.9 million in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (constituting
99.9% of the outstanding Notes) had been tendered and not withdrawn.
The tender offer for the Primark common stock is being made through,
and the foregoing announcement is qualified in its entirety by reference to,
Marquee's Offer to Purchase dated June 14, 2000, and the related letter of
transmittal. The tender offer for the Notes is being made through, and the
foregoing announcement is qualified in its entirety by reference to, Marquee's
Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated June 22, 2000, and
the related letter of transmittal. Primark stockholders and noteholders should
read the applicable Offer to Purchase and related letter of transmittal in their
entirety prior to making any decision as to the respective tender offers.
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The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 1999 revenues of US$5.8
billion, is a leading, global e-information and solutions company in the
business and professional marketplace. Thomson's common shares are listed on the
Toronto and London Stock Exchanges.
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