International Thomson Organization (ITO) was a Canadian

holding company A holding company is a company whose primary business is holding a controlling interest in the Security (finance), securities of other companies. A holding company usually does not produce goods or services itself. Its purpose is to own Share ...

that was active from 1978 to 1989, with interests in publishing, travel, and natural resources. It was created as a part of a corporate restructuring of the Thomson Organization, originally founded by

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet Roy Herbert Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, (5 June 1894 – 4 August 1976) was a Canadian-born British newspaper proprietor who became one of the moguls of Fleet Street in London. He first came to prominence when he was selling radios in ...

in 1959. It merged with Thomson Newspapers to become the

Thomson Corporation Thomson Corporation was one of the world's largest information companies. It was established in 1989 following a merger between International Thomson Organization and Thomson Newspapers. In 2008, it purchased Reuters Group to form Thomson Reut ...

in 1989.

History

ITO was formed in 1978 to serve as the new corporate parent for Thomson's global operations. This coincided with the relocation of its operating base from Britain to Canada, so that it would not be subject to British monopolies legislation, foreign-exchange controls and dividend limitation. Under Roy Thomson's son

Kenneth Thomson Kenneth Roy Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet (September 1, 1923 – June 12, 2006), known in Canada as Ken Thomson, was a Canadian/British businessman and art collector. At the time of his death, he was listed by ''Forbes'' as the richest pe ...

, ITO sold its natural resources and continued expanding in publishing and media. In 1980, Thomson acquired

Jane's Janes is a global open-source intelligence company specialising in military, national security, aerospace and transport topics, whose name derives from British author Fred T. Jane. History Jane's Information Group was founded in 1898 by Fred ...

, an publishing company specializing in military intelligence. In 1981, it acquired the publishing operations of

Litton Industries Litton Industries, Inc., was an American defense contractor that specialized in shipbuilding, aerospace, electronic components, and information technology. The company was founded in 1953 and was named after inventor Charles Litton Sr., who was ...

, including the ''

Physicians' Desk Reference The ''Physicians' Desk Reference'' (''PDR''), renamed ''Prescriber's Digital Reference'' after its physical publication was discontinued, is a compilation of manufacturers' prescribing information (package insert) on prescription drugs, updated ...

''. By 1986, International Thomson had acquired business publisher Warren, Gorham & Lamont; legal publishers Callaghan & Company and Clark Boardman; and automotive publishers

Ward's Ward's is an American organization that has covered the automotive industry for over a century. The organization is responsible for several publications including, '' Ward's AutoWorld'', and '' Ward's Dealer Business''. Ward's also publish the ...

. Other publishers acquired include

Gale A gale is a strong wind; the word is typically used as a descriptor in nautical contexts. The U.S. National Weather Service defines a gale as sustained surface wind moving at a speed between .

, Mitchell, and Thomson & Thomson. In 1988, ITO acquired the British company Associated Book Publishers, which included

Sweet & Maxwell Sweet & Maxwell is a British publisher specialising in legal publications. It joined the Associated Book Publishers in 1969; ABP was purchased by the International Thomson Organization in 1987, and is now part of Thomson Reuters. Its British ...

Chapman & Hall Chapman & Hall is an imprint owned by CRC Press, originally founded as a British publishing house in London in the first half of the 19th century by Edward Chapman and William Hall. Chapman & Hall were publishers for Charles Dickens (from 1840 ...

, The Law Book Company of Australasia, and

Routledge Routledge ( ) is a British multinational corporation, multinational publisher. It was founded in 1836 by George Routledge, and specialises in providing academic books, academic journals, journals and online resources in the fields of the humanit ...

. In 1989, ITO acquired Lawyers Cooperative Publishing, including subsidiaries Bancroft-Whitney and Research Institute of America.

References

Thomson Reuters Defunct companies of Ontario Holding companies established in 1978 Publishing companies disestablished in 1989 Publishing companies established in 1978 1989 disestablishments in Ontario Canadian companies established in 1978 Canadian companies disestablished in 1989 1978 establishments in Ontario 1989 mergers and acquisitions Companies formerly listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange {{Canada-company-stub