Fact Sheet Postmedia to Acquire Sun Media’S English Language Newspapers and Digital Properties TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT • Postmedia Network Canada Corp
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Fact Sheet Postmedia to Acquire Sun Media’s English Language Newspapers and Digital Properties TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT • Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (“Postmedia” or the “Company”) has entered into a definitive agreement with Quebecor Media Inc. (“QMI”) to purchase Sun Media Corporation’s stable of 175 English language newspapers, specialty publications and digital properties (“Sun Media”) TERMS OF THE DEAL • Purchase price of approximately $316 million in cash and is subject to a $10M adjustment, related primarily to real estate properties to be disposed of by Sun Media prior to closing, to be credited to Postmedia at closing and other customary price adjustments to be determined subsequent to closing. • The acquisition is being financed by a combination of a new rights offering and debt • The acquisition is pending review by the Competition Bureau of Canada. WHAT IS INCLUDED? • Included are 175 English language publications and associated digital properties o Major market daily newspapers – The Toronto Sun, The Ottawa Sun, The Winnipeg Sun, The Edmonton Sun, The Calgary Sun and The London Free Press o Free commuter weekday publications: 24 Hours Toronto and 24 Hours Vancouver o More than 160 community newspapers, trade publications and magazines o Corresponding online properties for all publications being acquired o Canoe portal outside of Quebec • QMI’s Islington printing plant in Ontario • A total of 35 owned real estate properties in Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba. • Approximately 2,400 active full time employees IMMEDIATE PLANS • Postmedia and Sun Media will seek all necessary regulatory approvals. • During the regulatory review period, Sun Media will continue to operate the English-language publications included in the agreement. • Following the close of the acquisition, Postmedia’s intention is to keep open all of the major market daily newspapers in the Sun Media portfolio. DUAL MARKETS • The intention is to continue operating Postmedia and Sun brands in the markets where both have local brands: Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa. • In Vancouver, Postmedia has been operating two brands successfully for more than 30 years: The Province and The Vancouver Sun (not a Sun Media property).These newspapers have separate newsrooms, editorial staff, unique voices and a substantial unduplicated audience with certain shared back office functions. OTHER FACTS • Paul Godfrey, Postmedia’s president and CEO was formerly president and CEO of Sun Media and spent 16 years at the organization. • Wayne Parrish, Postmedia’s COO formerly held senior executive positions with Sun Media including general manager and executive editor of the Toronto Sun, and chairman, president & CEO of the CANOE Online Network. .