Federal court dismisses competition bureau’s appeal to block Rogers, Shaw deal
Posted January 24, 2023 3:08 pm.
Last Updated January 24, 2023 6:53 pm.
The Federal Court of Appeal has rejected the Competition Bureau’s appeal on the Rogers–Shaw deal.
The Court of Appeal found the Competition Bureau’s arguments did not meet the high threshold needed to overturn the decision by the Competition Tribunal approving Rogers Communications Inc.’s takeover of Shaw Communications Inc.
The Competition Bureau’s arguments had focused on what they said were four key legal errors that focused especially on how the proposed sale of Shaw’s Freedom Mobile to Videotron factored into the tribunal’s decision.
RELATED: Competition Tribunal clears path for Rogers-Shaw merger
The Court of Appeal said the tribunal made it clear that the deal would not substantially lessen competition and that the decision wouldn’t change even with the approach argued by the bureau.
The deal, which Rogers hopes to close by Jan. 31, still requires approval from Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
Minister Champagne issued a statement saying he would closely review the decision.
My statement regarding the Federal Court of Appeal’s ruling on the Rogers-Shaw transaction: pic.twitter.com/ujvwznTVrl
— François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) ???????? (@FP_Champagne) January 24, 2023
The Competition Tribunal approved the deal on Dec. 30 at the end of more than four weeks of hearings, while Rogers and Shaw first announced the deal in March 2021.
Rogers is the parent company of CityNews.