Case Documents

Reference: Commissioner of Competition v. Transcontinental Inc., 2014 Comp. Trib. 11

File No.: CT-2014-005

Registry Document No.: 4

IN THE MATTER OF the Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34, as amended; and the Competition Tribunal Rules, SOR/2008-141;

AND IN THE MATTER OF the proposed acquisition by Transcontinental Inc., or a wholly- owned affiliate thereof, of all of the shares of 8706182 Canada Inc., thereby resulting in the acquisition of the weekly newspaper publishing business carried on in Quebec by Quebecor Media Inc., consisting of 74 weekly newspapers including web, mobile and printed formats, regional offices and prepress hubs located in Rimouski, Saint-Georges and Val-d’Or;

AND IN THE MATTER OF the filing and registration of a consent agreement pursuant to section 105 of the Competition Act;

AND IN THE MATTER OF an Application pursuant to paragraph 106(1)(b) of the Competition Act.

Decided on the basis of the written record.

Before : Rennie J. (Chairman), Crampton C.J. and Dr. D. McFetridge

Date of Order: July 24, 2014

Order signed by: Mr. Justice D. Rennie

ORDER ALLOWING AN APPLICATION UNDER PARAGRAPH 106(1)(b) OF THE COMPETITION ACT TO VARY A CONSENT AGREEMENT

[1]  FURTHER to the Consent Agreement filed on May 28, 2014 by the Commissioner of Competition (the “Commissioner”) in relation to the proposed acquisition by Transcontinental Inc., or a wholly-owned affiliate thereof, of all of the shares of 8706182 Canada Inc., thereby resulting in the acquisition of the weekly newspaper publishing business carried on in Quebec by Quebecor Media Inc., consisting of 74 weekly newspapers including web, mobile and printed formats, regional offices and prepress hubs located in Rimouski, Saint-Georges and Val-d’Or ;

[2]  AND FURTHER to an Application made on consent pursuant to paragraph 106(1)(b) of the Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34 (the “Act”), by Transcontinental Inc. and the Commissioner, to vary the Consent Agreement;

[3]  AND UPON considering the Application, the information and the reasons set out therein for the variation of the Consent Agreement, and the additional explanations provided by counsel in their correspondence of July 17, 2014;

[4]  AND UPON being satisfied with the reasons and information provided;

[5]  AND UPON noting that the amendment of the Consent Agreement is on consent but is nevertheless a discretionary matter for the Tribunal;

THE TRIBUNAL ORDERS THAT:

[6]  The Consent Agreement is herewith varied by removing Le Courrier du Saguenay from Schedule A2 of the Consent Agreement.

COUNSEL:

For the applicant:

For the respondent: