The Bridge assets include content and trading applications for US institutional securities businesses and consist of the following units:
* Bridge Information Systems (in North America), which provides a range of information and trading analytics products including BridgeStation, BridgeChannel and Active 1, targeted at institutional equities traders and portfolio managers;
* EJV, which provides bond pricing, fixed income data and analytics services;
* Bridge Trading Technologies (BTT), which provides software, information and transaction services to connect brokers and their buy-side clients, including indications of interest, order routing and order management;
* Bridge Trading, a licensed broker dealer, primarily in NYSE-listed securities;
* eBridge which provides Internet solutions to the financial industry; and
* CRB Index which provides US commodity index prices.

The total purchase consideration was $373 million, which comprised $275 million in cash, $30 million paid to Bridge for interim funding prior to the close, and $38 million of debt financing for Savvis Communications Corporation, Bridge’s network provider. Additionally, Reuters is paying some $30 million cash for deal costs and the settlement of certain existing Bridge liabilities.

Tom Glocer, Reuters chief executive, states: “The completion of the Bridge acquisition marks the achievement of an important strategic goal for Reuters, and the beginning of a period of operational focus."

Reuters now has more than 663,200 information and transaction accesses worldwide, of which some 75,000 came from Bridge. The purchase also included 400,000 passwords for Internet use of eBridge services.

An integration team consisting of staff from both organisations has been formed with a brief to determine the best functionality and features to be developed from Reuters and Bridge products.

Reuters estimates that the acquired assets will generate approximately $100 million of revenue in the fourth quarter, 2001 (net of third party soft dollar costs). The estimated associated losses (before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) are currently running at approximately $3.5 million per month. This compares to an estimated $6 million per month disclosed at the time Reuters won the auction for the Bridge assets in April.

Integration costs are now expected to be around $80 million, higher than the original estimate of $65 million, due mainly to increases in employee-related and consultancy support costs.

As part of the Bridge acquisition, Reuters has reached a preliminary agreement to provide MoneyLine, the approved bidder for the Telerate business and certain international Bridge assets, with transitional services for up to four years, from which Reuters expects to receive revenue.

Reuters has also a right to vote and an option to purchase Bridge’s 48% interest in Savvis until three months after closing.