Competition Bureau Reaches Consent Agreement in Transcontinental/Quebecor Deal

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 28, 2014) - The Competition Bureau announced today that it has reached a Consent Agreement with Transcontinental Inc. (Transcontinental) with regards to its proposed acquisition of 74 community newspapers from Quebecor Media Inc. (Quebecor Media). The Consent Agreement aims at preserving competition in the sale of advertising in community newspapers in several areas in Quebec by requiring that 34 community newspapers be put up for sale.

In each regional market where the Bureau found that the transaction could potentially result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition for advertising space in community newspapers, the Consent Agreement requires that at least one newspaper be offered for sale. This proposed sale process aims to preserve competition by providing the opportunity for a third-party to purchase and operate the newspapers independently, to the benefit of both readers and advertisers.

In order to support the sale of the newspapers, the Consent Agreement requires that they be offered for sale by an independent party at no minimum price and that Transcontinental provide distribution and printing services to any potential purchaser, upon request, for a specific period of time.

In reaching this Consent Agreement, the Bureau considered the financial distress of many newspapers and the ongoing transformation of the community newspaper industry.

Quick Facts

• As part of the transaction, Transcontinental will acquire from Quebecor Media the web, mobile and printed formats of Quebecor Media's community newspapers in Quebec, as well as regional offices and pre-press hubs located in Rimouski, Saint-Georges and Val-d'Or.
• Shortly after announcing the proposed acquisition by Transcontinental, Quebecor Media announced that it was ceasing its door-to-door distribution activities and ultimately shut down its distribution network. The Bureau examined this decision and concluded that Quebecor Media's exit from distribution is unlikely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition as a result of the proposed transaction.

Quotes

"The Bureau understands that many communities are concerned and do not want to lose their local newspaper. As many newspapers are in financial distress owing to the ongoing transformation of the community newspaper industry, the Bureau's Consent Agreement seeks to maintain competition in local markets through a sale process in regions where the parties strongly compete against one another."
John Pecman,
Commissioner of Competition

Related Information

Position Statement: Competition Bureau Statement Regarding the Acquisition by Transcontinental of Quebecor Media's Community Newspapers in Quebec.

Associated Links

A copy of the Consent Agreement will be available shortly on the Competition Tribunal Web site.

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The Competition Bureau, as an independent law enforcement agency, ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace.