Canada’s Rogers, Shaw, watchdog agree to start mediation

Rogers Communications Inc Shaw Communications Inc SJRb.TO, and Canada’s competition bureau want to participate in a mediation process for the companies’ proposed C$20 billion ($15.5 billion) merger in the Competition Tribunal in July, the tribunal said on Friday.

“The parties have advised the tribunal that they wish to participate in the mediation set for July 4th and 5th,” the tribunal said in a statement to Reuters, adding that all information related to any mediation would be confidential.

Canada’s competition bureau has blocked Rogers’ proposed purchase of Shaw on the grounds that it will lessen competition in the telecom sector, leading to increased mobile bills for consumers.

The fate of the deal appears to be a step closer to being determined with the parties agreeing to the mediation process.

The bureau was expected to ask Rogers to sell Shaw’s cellular business to overcome antitrust concerns.

The bureau has previously said that the sale of Freedom Mobile, which Rogers has agreed to sell to Montreal-based Quebecor Inc QBRb.TO for C$2.85 billion, was insufficient to bolster competition in the Canadian market. Nasdaq