Canadian Competition Authorities Clear Shaw/Canwest Deal

CALGARY: Canada’s Competition Bureau has given the greenlight to Shaw Communications’ acquisition of Canwest Global’s free-to-air and specialty television businesses.

The regulator has ruled that the deal is "not likely give rise to a substantial lessening or prevention of competition under the Competition Act because of a number of factors, including effective remaining competition, the effect of the regulatory environment, the absence of relevant concerns expressed by market participants and numerous alternatives available to advertisers."

Shaw is still awaiting approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which is set to hold a public hearing on the matter during the week of September 30. "Canwest is now one step closer to emerging from protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act," said Jim Shaw, CEO and vice chair of Shaw. "We look forward to completing the last remaining step."