Thomson Reuters reviews options for intellectual property and science unit

TORONTO – Thomson Reuters (TSX:TRI) is exploring “strategic options” for a relatively small division that focuses on intellectual property and science.

The company says it would use any proceeds from a sale to invest in its core businesses, repay debt or buy back shares.

Thomson Reuters now focuses primarily on professional information services but originated as a Canadian media business that at times owned the Globe and Mail, the Times of London and dozens of smaller daily newspapers around the world.

In the first nine months of 2015, its revenue totalled US$9 billion — more than half from its financial and risk segment. During the same period, the intellectual property and science segment generated $731 million of revenue.