Competition Bureau Publishes Consent Agreement Template For Mergers

OTTAWA, May 1, 2007 – The Competition Bureau today published an Outline Consent Agreement to complement the Information Bulletin on Merger Remedies in Canada, released on September 22, 2006. The Bulletin provides guidance to businesses and legal counsel on the objectives and general principles applied by the Bureau when it seeks, designs, and implements remedies to resolve competition concerns arising from proposed transactions.

The Outline Consent Agreement is a generic model from which the Bureau will prepare future consent agreements with merging parties. It will only serve as a starting point as the terms and conditions of each agreement will be tailored to the specific facts and circumstances of each merger. However, it should provide direction to parties on negotiating consent agreements with the Bureau. The Outline will be a living document; the Bureau will introduce changes to it as our policy and practice continue to develop in this area.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency. We contribute to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Pamela Wong
Communications Advisor
External Relations and Public Affairs Branch
819-953-7734

For general enquiries, please contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
819-997-4282
1-800-348-5358