ROGERS, SHAW AND QUEBECOR TO CLOSE PRO-COMPETITIVE
TRANSACTIONS
Companies Welcome Approval by Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry for the Transfer of Shaws Spectrum
Licenses to Videotron
Extend outside date of closing the transactions to April 7, 2023
TORONTO, CALGARY and MONTREAL March 31, 2023 After receiving federal government approval, Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw
Communications Inc., and Quebecor Inc. announced today that they plan to close the pro-competitive transactions expeditiously.
The three companies, along with the Shaw Family Living Trust, have agreed to extend the outside date of the acquisition of Freedom Mobile by
Videotron Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quebecor (the Freedom Transaction) and the closing of the merger of Rogers and Shaw (the Rogers-Shaw Merger) to April 7, 2023 and expect the transactions to close by that
date.
The announcement follows approval of the transfer of Shaws wireless spectrum licences to Videotron by the Minister of Innovation, Science and
Industry. This was the final regulatory approval required to enable the Freedom Transaction and the Rogers-Shaw Merger (the Transactions).
The Transactions have now received all required shareholder and regulatory approvals and remain subject to customary closing conditions.
Transactions Update:
On January 24, 2023, the
Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal by the Commissioner of Competition (the Commissioner) of the December 31, 2022, decision of the Competition Tribunal. The Tribunal had rejected the Commissioners challenge of the
Freedom Transaction and the subsequent Rogers-Shaw Merger.
In addition to the decisions of the Federal Court of Appeal and the Competition Tribunal, the
Rogers-Shaw Merger has already been approved by the common shareholders of Shaw and the Court of Kings Bench of Alberta, and the transfer of Shaws broadcasting licences to Rogers has been approved by the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission.
Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information
This news release includes forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, statements
about the expected completion of both the Freedom Transaction and the Rogers-Shaw Merger and the anticipated timing for closing of the Transactions and the anticipated benefits and effects of the Rogers-Shaw Merger or the Freedom Transaction.
Forward-looking information may in some cases be identified by words such as will, anticipates, believes, expects, intends and similar expressions suggesting future events or future
performance.