Similar concerns have been raised in the United States with respect to its own anti-trust regulations in this instance. Further, the association questions whether the sale violates the Competition Act, given that the outcome of this transaction will severely diminish competition in the market. Independent publishers do this while engaging readers in creative and innovative ways, and while continuing to invest in Canadian writers-particularly new and emerging writers-whose work is central to their publishing programs.”ĪCP notes that the Revised Foreign Investment Policy on Book Publishing, Retail and Distribution (1992) requires that indirect foreign acquisitions resulting from larger international transactions be reviewed by the Minister of Canadian Heritage to determine whether they will provide net benefit to Canada and to the Canadian-controlled book sector. All of this will increase pressure on independent presses who already struggle to compete in a concentrated market dominated by large global companies. A culture of ‘blockbuster’ publishing will become more entrenched. “Canadian authors will have fewer houses to present their manuscripts to, jobs will inevitably be lost as operations are combined, and S&S/PRH will have greater ability to demand even better terms of trade with retailers and suppliers. “It is impossible to imagine how a combined S&S/PRH will have a positive effect on the Canadian book business or benefit Canadian readers,” said ACP Executive Director Kate Edwards. A combined S&S/PRH will make these challenges even more acute. This would be particularly challenging for the independent Canadian-owned sector, which competes with multinational publishers for authors, media coverage, retail shelf space, and staff. A combined S&S/PRH would overshadow all other companies active in the Canadian market. S&S and PRH, which operate in Canada as Simon & Schuster Canada and Penguin Random House Canada, already enjoy significant competitive advantage in the business. The $2 billion (USD) deal would create a behemoth in the global publishing industry and have a direct and deleterious impact on the ability of Canadian-owned publishing houses to compete in their own market. NovemThe Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) is calling on the Competition Bureau and the Department of Canadian Heritage to review the pending sale of Simon & Schuster (S&S) to Bertelsmann, parent company of Penguin Random House (PRH).
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