$26B Rogers-Shaw deal gets final approval

OTTAWA, ON – Rogers Communications Inc’s $26-billion takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. cleared the last regulatory hurdle Friday, more than two years after the deal was first announced.

The federal industry minister approved the transfer of Shaw-owned Freedom Mobile’s wireless licences to Quebecor Inc. which paves the way for the deal to be completed.

Francois-Philippe Champagne says Ottawa has secured legally enforceable commitments from Rogers and Videotron, which is purchasing Freedom Mobile from Shaw as part of the deal, to bolster competition in the sector and “actually drive down prices.”

The minister’s long-awaited decision is the final approval the agreement needs to clear, bringing to a close a lengthy review that began after Rogers announced its deal to buy Shaw in March 2021.