TC Media Acquires Sun Media's Portfolio of Community Weeklies

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Dec 5, 2013) - Sun Media and TC Media, a division of TC Transcontinental, announce the closing of a transaction whereby TC Media will acquire Sun Media's 74 Québec weeklies for $75 million.

"The digital revolution has brought profound changes in local print media markets," noted Robert Dépatie, President and CEO of Quebecor Media, the parent corporation of Sun Media. "Advertisers now have a multitude of platforms available to them that did not even exist little more than 10 years ago. We believe in the future of print media but we cannot ignore the new market realities".

"We are very pleased with this deal," Mr. Dépatie continued. "We are ensuring these newspapers will stay in Québec hands by selling them to another major Québec company, Transcontinental."

"Acquiring Sun Media's 74 community papers in Quebec is in line with our strategy to strengthen the core assets of TC Media and develop a local digital media offering for businesses and communities," said François Olivier, President and CEO of TC Transcontinental. "This transaction will also give us the opportunity to continue building multiplatform offerings across all of Quebec by drawing on the talents of our people and on all those who work on the Sun Media community papers in Quebec. We are keen to welcome them into our midst soon."

The transaction is subject to approval by regulatory authorities, specifically the Competition Bureau. While it is under review, Sun Media will continue publishing the weeklies in question.

"After this transaction, Quebecor Media will remain an important player on the Québec media landscape," said Mr. Dépatie. "We will still be the owners of the dailies Le Journal de Montréal, Le Journal de Québec and 24 Heures, as well as QMi Agency."

In conclusion, Mr. Dépatie added: "We thank all the employees who have made it possible for these newspapers to inform the communities they serve over the decades. It is thanks to them that Quebecor Media has become the major corporation it is today."

About Sun Media Corporation

Sun Media Corporation, a subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is Canada's largest newspaper publisher, based on paid and free circulation, publishing over 15.1 million copies each week. With 36 paid-circulation daily newspapers and 3 free dailies in 9 of the 10 largest urban markets in Canada, each with its own dedicated website, and almost 200 community newspapers, shopping guides and other specialty publications, Sun Media Corporation's English and French language newspapers and websites make it a leading provider of local news and information. Sun Media Corporation includes the activities of Osprey Media and Canoe.ca, an integrated enterprise offering e-commerce, information and communication services that operates a network of Internet portals that attracts over 10.5 million unique visitors per month in Canada, including 5.7 million in Québec. Sun Media Corporation also provides a range of commercial printing and related services as well as distribution services for newspapers, flyers and magazines.

List of the 74 community papers acquired by TC Media

Le Citoyen de la Vallée de l'Or	Val-d'Or, Amos

Le Citoyen de l'Harricana	Val-d'Or, Amos

Le Citoyen Rouyn Noranda	Rouyn-Noranda

Le Citoyen Abitibi Ouest	Rouyn-Noranda

Éclaireur Progrès	Saint-Georges

Hebdo Régional	Saint-Georges

Beauce Media	Sainte Marie

Les Actualités d'Asbestos	Asbestos

Le Plein Jour de Baie Comeau	Baie-Comeau

Le Port-Cartois	Port Cartier

Le Nord Est	Sept-Îles

Le Saint-Laurent Portage	Rivière-du-Loup

Le Mirabel	Saint-Jérôme

L'Information du Nord - Mont Tremblant	Tremblant

L'Information du Nord - Ste-Agathe	Sainte-Agathe

L'Information du Nord - Vallée de la rouge	L'Annonciation

L'Écho de la lièvre	Mont-Laurier

Le Peuple Lotbinière	Laurier Station

Le Peuple Lévis	Lévis / Montmagny

Courrier du Sud	Longueuil

Le Journal de Sherbrooke	Sherbrooke

L'Oeil Régional	Beloeil

La Seigneurie	Boucherville

Le Journal de Chambly	Chambly

Le Soleil de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield	Valleyfield

Le Reflet	Delson

Le Journal de St-Bruno	St-Bruno

Le Soleil du Samedi	Châteauguay

Le Soleil du Mercredi	Châteauguay

L'Information Ste-Julie	Ste-Julie

Le Journal St-François	Valleyfield

Les 2 Rives	Sorel

L'Écho Abitibien	Val-d'Or

La Frontière	Rouyn-Noranda

Businest	Rimouski

Le Transgaspésien	Gaspé

L'Avant-Poste	Amqui

L'Écho de la Baie	New-Richmond

L'Aviron	Campbelton, Nouveau-Brunswick

Le Havre	Chandler

Le Pharillon	Gaspé

L'Information Mont-Joli	Mont-Joli

Le Riverain	Ste-Anne-des-Monts

Le Sentinelle de Chibougamau	Chibougamau

Le Jamésien	Chibougamau

Brossard-éclair	Brossard

Le Journal de St-Hubert	St-Hubert

The Gleaner - La Source	Huntingdon

Sortir	Boucherville

Agri-Vallée	Valleyfield

L'Information d'Affaires Rive-Sud	Beloeil

La Voix	Sorel

La Voix de la Matanie	Matane

La Voix Gaspésienne	Matane

Le Courier du Fleuve	Rimouski

Le Journal des Pays d'en-Haut La Vallée	Saint Sauveur / Sainte-Adèle

Le Progrès Écho	Rimouski

Le Réveil	Saguenay

Le Rimouskois	Rimouski

VISION	Rimouski

L'Écho du Nord	St-Jérôme

L'Écho de St-Eustache	St-Eustache

L'Impact de Drummondville	Drummondville

Pub Extra	Laval-Laurentides

L'Écho de Victoriaville	Victoriaville

L'Écho de la Rive Nord	Ste-Thérèse

L'Écho de Laval	Laval

Le Journal de Magog	Magog

Le Point du Lac St-Jean	Lac St-Jean

Le Journal de Joliette	Joliette

L'Écho de Repentigny	Repentigny

L'Écho de Trois-Rivières	Trois-Rivières

L'Écho de Shawinigan	Shawinigan

L'Écho de St-Jean-sur-Richelieu	St-Jean-sur-Richelieu