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Canada: Largest newspaper publishers face competition probe

By  |  March 13, 2018

Canada’s competition watchdog announced on Monday, March 12, an investigation of the country’s largest newspaper publishers Torstar and Postmedia after the pair swapped and shuttered dozens of dailies last year.

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    “The Competition Bureau is investigating alleged anti-competitive conduct contrary to the conspiracy provisions of the Competition Act,” Commissioner John Pecman said in a statement, adding he was also examining possible merger violations.

    Torstar is cooperating fully with the review, the company said in a statement, adding that it had already told the Bureau it would voluntarily provide additional company documents relating to the transaction. It also said it does not believe it has contravened the Competition Act.

    A Competition Bureau spokesperson said soon after the transaction was announced that a review would take place. Such reviews are undertaken to determine if the deal would result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition.

    Competition Bureau officials also conducted a search Monday at Postmedia’s headquarters in Toronto. Postmedia said in a press release that it “is strongly of the view that there has been no contravention” of the federal act.

    John Pecman, commissioner of competition, issued a statement Monday saying he could confirm that the Bureau is gathering evidence to determine if there has been any violation of the Competition Act.

    Full Content: The Star

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