Competition Bureau withdrawing its court challenge of Staples' acquisition of Office Depot

News Release

May 19, 2016 — OTTAWA, ON — Competition Bureau

The Commissioner of Competition has officially withdrawn his application to the Competition Tribunal challenging Staples’ proposed acquisition of Office Depot in light of announcements by the parties that they are abandoning the proposed merger.

This is the final action in an historic case where simultaneous court challenges were filed for the first time by Canadian and American agencies in an anti‑trust matter. The transaction was challenged by the Competition Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission on the grounds that the merger would harm competition in the office products delivery business.

Following the issuance on May 10, 2016, of an injunction in the United States preventing the parties from closing the proposed global merger, the parties announced their decision to abandon the deal, therefore eliminating the need for the Commissioner proceed with his application before the Tribunal.

Quick Facts

• Staples had proposed to acquire the global business of Office Depot, which operates in Canada under the name Grand & Toy.
• The Competition Bureau had concluded that if the acquisition were to proceed, Staples would have accounted for over 80% of business‑to‑business sales of various office products to affected customers in Canada.
• On December 7, 2015, the Commissioner filed an application with the Competition Tribunal challenging Staples’ proposed acquisition of Office Depot; a similar administrative complaint was filed by the Federal Trade Commission.

Quotes

Related Information

• May 19, 2016: After Staples and Office Depot Abandon Proposed Merger FTC Dismisses Case from Administrative Trial Process
• Case documents associated with the Competition Tribunal proceedings are available on the Competition Tribunal website.

Associated Links

• December 7, 2015: Competition Bureau challenges a merger between Canada’s two largest office supply companies

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The Competition Bureau, as an independent law enforcement agency, ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace.

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Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains Competition Bureau Information and Communications