Thomson Reuters reported full-year revenues from ongoing businesses of $12.9 billion, an increase of 5% before currency from the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA increased 20% from the prior year with the corresponding margin up 280 basis points to 26.4%. Underlying operating profit increased 9% from the prior year with the corresponding margin up 50 basis points to 20.0%. The reorganization charge had a 40 basis point negative impact on both the full-year adjusted EBITDA and underlying operating profit margins.
After significant management changes in 2011 the company now resorts to further measures to prune its balance sheet. The 2011 results include a $50 million charge primarily related to a reorganization of the former Markets division incurred in the fourth quarter. The company also announced it had taken a $3.0 billion non-cash goodwill impairment charge related to its financial services business. This charge is excluded from adjusted earnings, adjusted EBITDA and underlying operating profit.
In its Lex Column of Friday February 10, 2012 the Ft remarked that the benefits with were expected from the Thomson Reuters merger had not materialized and may be the financial crisis doomed the merger at the outset.
