Thomson Delmar Learning Acquires ASPEN Publishers; Clinical Manuals Bring Rich Content to Professional Health Care Markets.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers/Education Writers

ALBANY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 2003

Thomson Delmar Learning, a leading provider of educational resources for lifelong learning and part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE:TOC; TSX:TOC), today announced the acquisition of Aspen Publishers' Clinical Manuals list from the Wolters Kluwer Company. The Gaithersburg, Md. company's rich health care content will be integrated into existing Delmar Learning content and professional resources. Products will be available for hospital training markets as well as for corporations, healthcare organizations and associations, retail outlets, and various local, state and federal agencies. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Aspen clinical manuals provide accurate, timely, and authoritative health information covering a variety of topics including brain injury survivors, diabetes patients, geriatric patients, hospice care planning, infection control management, health care quality management, and pain management. The manuals and supplements are available on a subscription basis and come in a binder format.

"As a leading provider of health care training products, we're thrilled to be adding the Aspen manuals to our portfolio," commented Greg Burnell, president of Delmar Learning. "We're committed to providing training materials at all stages of an individual's career, from high school through college and beyond. These journals provide critical content that we can use to enrich our offerings to practicing professionals."

Bill Brottmiller, vice president of Delmar Learning's Health Care Strategic Business Unit, adds, "These Manuals offer clinically focused content in great demand in the nation's health care facilities. They will greatly augment Delmar Learning's ability to provide a total training solution for America's working nurses and allied health professionals." Although the content is currently available in print form only, Delmar Learning will make the information available in a variety of electronic formats, Brottmiller added. "Our objective is to provide these professionals with the information they need, when they need it, and in the format they most desire."

For additional information on this acquisition or on purchasing a clinical manual and its supplements, please visit our website at www.delmarhealthcare.com.