Transcontinental acquires Sun Media Newspapers

Transcontinental Inc. completed its acquisition of 74 community newspapers owned by Sun Media Corporation, a subsidiary of Québecor Média Inc. (QMI), in Quebec and their related web properties for $75 million.

The closing follows clearance from the Competition Bureau which required that Transcontinental offer for sale 34 of the 154 weekly newspapers in its portfolio for a 60-day period, including certain newspapers which were sold to Transcontinental as part of the transaction.

Transcontinental was represented in-house by Christine Desaulniers, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, and was assisted by Stikeman Elliott LLP with a team including Steeve Robitaille, Sidney Horn, Marie-Ève Ferland and Alexandra Tremblay (M&A and corporate); Franco Gadoury (tax), Jonathan Auerbach (intellectual property), Michel Legendre (pension and benefits), and Lawson Hunter, Michael Kilby and Marisa Muchnik (competition).

QMI was represented in-house by Marc Tremblay, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Public Affairs; Christian Marcoux, Director of Legal Affairs, Financing and M&A; Jean-Pierre Huard, legal counsel, financing and M&A; and Dominique Poulin-Gouin, Director, Corporate Secretariat; and was assisted by Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP with a team including Niko Veilleux, Constantinos Ragas and Jimmy Triassi (M&A and corporate); Claude Jodoin (tax), Jean-Nicolas Delage (intellectual property); and by McMillan LLP with a team including Neil Campbell and Casey Halladay (competition).