HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL INC
8-K, EX-2.2, 2000-12-01
NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING
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                                                            Exhibit 2.2

                   HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL INC., SOUTHAM INC.,
             HOLLINGER CANADIAN NEWSPAPERS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND
                            HCN PUBLICATIONS COMPANY




                                      -AND-




                    CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                            AMENDING AGREEMENT TO THE
                              TRANSACTION AGREEMENT

                                November 15, 2000


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                          Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP







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THIS AMENDING AGREEMENT TO THE TRANSACTION AGREEMENT ("Amending Agreement") is
made November 15, 2000

BETWEEN:

               HOLLINGER  INTERNATIONAL INC., a corporation  governed by the
               laws of Delaware, ("Hollinger")

                                     - and -

               SOUTHAM INC., a corporation governed by the laws of Nova Scotia,
               ("Southam")

                                     - and -

               HOLLINGER CANADIAN NEWSPAPERS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited
               partnership governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario,
               ("Newspapers Partnership")

                                     - and -

               HCN PUBLICATIONS  COMPANY,  a corporation  governed by the laws
               of Nova Scotia, ("HCN Publications")

                                     - and -

               CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS  CORPORATION,  a corporation
               governed by the laws of Canada, ("CanWest")

RECITALS:

A.       Hollinger,  Southam,  Newspapers  Partnership,  HCN  Publications  and
         CanWest  entered into a Transaction Agreement made July 30, 2000 (the
         "Transaction Agreement"); and

B.       Hollinger, Southam, Newspapers Partnership, HCN Publications and
         CanWest wish to make certain amendments to the Transaction Agreement
         (the Transaction Agreement as amended hereby is hereinafter referred to
         as the "Agreement").

         THEREFORE the parties agree as follows:

1.       DEFINITIONS

All terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Transaction Agreement.


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                                      -4-


2.       AMENDMENTS

         (a)      Canada.com Company -- The definition of "Canada.com Company"
                  in Section 1.1 of the Transaction Agreement is amended by
                  deleting the definition and substituting the following:

                  "means, collectively, the two newly incorporated indirect
                  subsidiaries of Hollinger to which the Canada.com Assets and
                  Assumed Canada.com Liabilities are transferred pursuant to the
                  Reorganization in accordance with a transfer agreement;"

         (b)      Canada.com Company Holdco -- The definition of "Canada.com
                  Company Holdco" in Section 1.1 of the Transaction Agreement is
                  amended by deleting the definition and substituting the
                  following:

                  "means, collectively, the two newly incorporated indirect
                  subsidiaries of Hollinger which, on and after the
                  Reorganization Date, will collectively own all of the issued
                  and outstanding shares in the capital of Canada.com Company;"

         (c)      Closing Date -- The definition of "Closing Date" in Section
                  1.1 of the Transaction Agreement is amended by deleting the
                  definition and substituting the following:

                  "means the fifteenth (15 th) day of November, 2000."

         (d)      Excluded Employees -- The definition of "Excluded Employees"
                  in Section 1.1 of the Transaction Agreement is amended by
                  adding at the end of the definition the words "and (f) all
                  persons employed by the Vendors or their subsidiaries
                  principally in connection with the Excluded Businesses;"

         (e)      HCN Publications Employees -- Section 1.1 of the Transaction
                  Agreement is amended by adding the following definition of
                  "HCN Publications Employees":

                  "means the Employees of HCN Publications other than the
                  Excluded Employees;"

                  The definitions of "Accrued Liabilities" and "Transferred
                  Employees" in Section 1.1 of the Transaction Agreement are
                  amended by inserting the words ", HCN Publications Employees"
                  after the words "Southam Employees" wherever they appear. The
                  definition of "Newspapers Partnership Employees" is amended by
                  inserting the words "(excluding, for this purpose, HCN
                  Publications)" after the word "subsidiaries". Sections 2.7,
                  7.1(l), 9.8(c) and 9.8(d) are amended by inserting the words
                  "and HCN Publications Employees" after the words "Southam
                  Employees" wherever they appear. Section 7.1(r) is amended by
                  deleting the words ", HCN Publications". Section 9.8 (a) is
                  amended by deleting the words "HCN Publications".

         (f)      Reorganization Date -- The definition of "Reorganization Date"
                  in Section 1.1 of the Transaction Agreement is amended by
                  deleting the definition and substituting the following:

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                                       -5-


                  "means, in respect of Southam, the date on which step III of
                  the Reorganization is completed and in respect of Newspapers
                  Partnership and HCN Publications, the date on which steps VII
                  and XI of the Reorganization are completed, and
                  "Reorganization Dates" means, collectively, both of those
                  dates;"

         (g)      Schedule 3.2(e) -- Schedule 3.2(e) is amended to provide that
                  the interest rate on the Subordinated Debentures will be
                  12.125% provided that, effective on the date upon which any of
                  the Subordinated Debentures are sold to any Person other than
                  an Affiliate of Hollinger, the interest rate shall become the
                  lesser of (i) the current market rate for instruments of like
                  nature issued at par by issuers with similar credit ratings as
                  that of the issuer of the Subordinated Debentures and (ii)
                  13%.

         (h)      Effective Date Financial Statements and Working Capital --
                  Schedule 3.7 of the Transaction Agreement is amended by
                  deleting the existing item #6 and substituting the following:

                  "For purposes of determining the Working Capital Adjustment,
                  the Vendors' Auditor shall ensure a complete and accurate
                  transaction cut-off at the Effective Date and shall assume a
                  materiality level of $500,000 in the aggregate provided that
                  all audit differences in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate
                  are included in the calculation of the Working Capital
                  Adjustment."

         (i)      The Parties acknowledge that pursuant to the Reorganization
                  certain of the Purchased assets were transferred to
                  CanWest-Montreal R.P. Holdings ULC, CanWest-Windsor R.P.
                  Holdings ULC and CanWest-St. Catharines R.P. Holdings ULC and
                  that all of the shares in the capital of such companies will
                  be owned on the Closing Date by one of the Vendors.
                  Accordingly, the terms "Purchased Shares" and "NewsMediaCo
                  Shares", wherever they appear in the Transaction Agreement,
                  shall include all of the shares of each of CanWest-Montreal
                  R.P. Holdings ULC, CanWest-Windsor R.P. Holdings ULC and
                  CanWest-St. Catharines R.P. Holdings ULC, mutatis mutandis.

         (j)      Capitalization -- Section 4.6(a) of the Transaction Agreement
                  is amended by deleting the phrase "National Post Company
                  General Partner Inc.,".

         (k)      Southam News -- The Vendors acknowledge notice from CanWest
                  pursuant to section 9.35 of the Transaction Agreement that
                  Central Services Company will acquire the assets relating to
                  the Southam News division and offer employment to the
                  employees employed by the Southam News division with the
                  consequential amendments to the definitions of Excluded
                  Businesses, Excluded Employees, Purchased Assets and Purchased
                  Businesses.

         (l)      Purchase Price Adjustment -- The parties agree that:

                  (i) the Southam Magazine & Information Group, the Sarnia
                  Observer Group and the Chatham Daily News Group (collectively,
                  the "Adjustment Assets") are to be excluded from the Purchased
                  Assets and will continue to be owned by the Vendors. All
                  applicable Schedules including Schedules 1.1(c), 1.1(d),
                  1.1(e), 3.6(b), 3.6(c), 4.26, 4.27 and 4.30 have been or shall
                  be amended to reflect such


<PAGE>   5

                                      -6-


                  change and are included in Appendix A appended hereto. The
                  Purchase Price payable pursuant to Section 3.1 is reduced by
                  $194,540,000; the Purchase Price payable pursuant to Section
                  3.1(a) is reduced by $194,540,000; the amount payable pursuant
                  to Section 3.2(d), before giving effect to the amendments
                  described in clause (ii) below, is reduced by $194,540,000;
                  the references in Section 3.6(b) to $398,276,000 are reduced
                  by $19,454,000 to $378,822,000;

                  (ii) the amount payable pursuant to Section 3.2(d), after
                  giving effect to the amendments described in clause (i) above,
                  is decreased by $100,000,000 and the amount payable pursuant
                  to Section 3.2(e) is increased by $100,000,000;

                  (iii) the references to 76% and 24% in Sections 3.8, 3.10 and
                  3.11 are amended to refer to 70 % and 30 %, respectively;

                  (iv) the "Real Estate News (Weekly, Free)", the lease for the
                  premises at 3355 Grandview Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. and the
                  Kodiak Press located at such premises (collectively, the
                  "Restricted Assets") are to be excluded from the Purchased
                  Assets and will continue to be owned by the Vendors subject to
                  a right of first refusal in favour of The Madison Group
                  expiring on November 6, 2002 ("Existing Right of First
                  Refusal"). All applicable Schedules including Schedules
                  1.1(c), 1.1(d), 1.1(e), 4.27 and 4.30 have been amended to
                  reflect such change and are appended hereto and included in
                  Appendix A. The Purchase Price payable pursuant to Section
                  3.1, after giving effect to the amendments described in clause
                  (i) above, is further reduced by $21,970,000; the Purchase
                  Price payable pursuant to Section 3.1(a), after giving effect
                  to the amendments described in clause (i) above, is further
                  reduced by $21,970,000; the amount payable pursuant to Section
                  3.2(d), after giving effect to the amendments described in
                  clauses (i) and (ii) above, is further reduced by $15,379,000;
                  the principal amount of Subordinated Debentures deliverable
                  pursuant to Section 3.2(e), after giving effect to the
                  amendments described in clause (ii) above, is reduced by
                  $6,591,000; the references in section 3.6(b) to $398,276,000,
                  as amended pursuant to clause (i) above to $378,822,000, is
                  further reduced by $2,197,000 to $376,625,000;

                  (v) the Vendors shall not sell, transfer or assign or permit
                  the assignment of the Restricted Assets to any other party
                  (other than to an Affiliate or pursuant to an exercise of the
                  Existing Right of First Refusal) unless it has first provided
                  CanWest with a written offer to sell the Restricted Assets to
                  CanWest in accordance with the Procedures for Right of First
                  Refusal, as defined in section 2(m) below. The Vendors agree
                  that, so long as they have control over the Restricted Assets,
                  they will not make any fundamental change in the nature
                  thereof;

                  (vi) as a result of the amendments in clauses (i), (ii) and
                  (iv) above, the Purchase Price payable pursuant to Section 3.1
                  is $3,621,250,000; the Purchase Price payable pursuant to
                  Section 3.1(a) is $3,411,250,000; the amount payable pursuant
                  to Section 3.2(d) is $2,020,664,000; the amount payable
                  pursuant to Section 3.2(e) is $868,961,000; and the references
                  in Section 3.6(b) to $398,276,000 are reduced to $376,625,000;
                  and

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                                      -7-


                  (vii) following execution and delivery of this Amending
                  Agreement, the Vendors shall notify the holder of the shares
                  of Fundata not owned by the Vendors (the "Fundata Shares")
                  that the Vendors no longer intend to sell their shares of
                  Fundata to CanWest. If, however, CanWest subsequently acquires
                  the Fundata Shares as a result of the exercise by the holder
                  of the Fundata Shares of its right of first refusal, then
                  CanWest shall offer to sell the Fundata Shares to the Vendors
                  at the price at which CanWest pays to acquire such Fundata
                  Shares. If the Vendors do not accept such offer within 10
                  Business Days of the offer, or if the sale to the Vendors is
                  not completed within 15 Business Days of the date of the
                  offer, the Vendors shall transfer the shares of Fundata owned
                  by the Vendors to or at the direction of CanWest on the
                  twentieth Business Day following the date of the CanWest offer
                  for no consideration and, in that event, the definition of
                  "Print News Media Business EBITDA" shall be amended by adding
                  the following sentence at the end thereof:

                   "Print News Media Business EBITDA shall include 35% (being
                  50% of 70%) of the earnings of Fundata for the 12 month period
                  ending December 31, 2000 calculated without duplication before
                  the items noted above to the extent applicable."

         (m)      Procedures for Right of First Refusal -- The parties agree
                  that the procedures set forth in Schedule 2(m) to this
                  Amending Agreement shall be the agreed procedures (the
                  "Procedures for Right of First Refusal") for the purpose of
                  Section 9.21 of the Transaction Agreement and 2(l) of this
                  Amending Agreement.

         (n)      Reorganization -- Schedule 2.1-1 to the Transaction Agreement
                  is amended by deleting the schedule in its entirety and
                  replacing it with Schedule 2.1-1 to this Amending Agreement,
                  provided that the Parties agree that:

                  (i) the steps of the Reorganization will be revised by the
                  Vendors to accommodate the removal of the Adjustment Assets
                  and the Restricted Assets on a basis which does not adversely
                  affect the tax position of CanWest or the Purchased Businesses
                  from the tax position contemplated by the attached revised
                  Schedule 2.1-1;


                  (ii) the consideration for the transfer by the Vendors to
                  NewsMedia Holdco, Canada.com Company Holdco and Central
                  Services Company Holdco of the shares of NewsMediaCo,
                  Canada.com Company and Central Services Company, respectively,
                  shall be in the form of shares and indebtedness of NewsMedia
                  Holdco, Canada.com Company Holdco and Central Services Company
                  Holdco, respectively, as CanWest shall direct; and


                  (iii) the Vendors, NewsMedia Holdco, Canada.com Company
                  Holdco, Central Services Company Holdco, NewsMediaCo,
                  Canada.com Company and Central Services Company will execute
                  all required general conveyances, assignments,


<PAGE>   7

                                      -8-


                  assumptions and deeds of transfer with respect to the
                  transfers and assumptions contemplated by the Reorganization
                  and will use reasonable commercial efforts to (i) effect all
                  required registrations, including in respect of real property,
                  business names, URLs and copyrights, (ii) and to obtain all
                  required Third Party Consents, in each case prior to Closing.


         (o)      Payment of Purchase Price -- Schedule 2.4(b) to the
                  Transaction Agreement is amended by deleting the schedule in
                  its entirety and replacing it with Schedule 2.4(b) to this
                  Amending Agreement.

         (p)      Section 3.1 -- Section 3.1 of the Transaction Agreement is
                  amended by adding the words ", the Non-Competition Agreements"
                  after the words "Purchased Debt" in the first line of Section
                  3.1.

         (q)      Section 4.39 -- Section 4.39 is amended by adding the
                  following paragraph (d):

                  "(d) The HCN Reorganization (as defined in Schedule 2.1-1)
                  will not, directly or indirectly, result in any liability of
                  NewsMediaCo for Taxes."

         (r)      Section  7.1(f) -- Section 7.1(f) is amended by deleting
                  clauses (iv) and (v) and substituting the following new
                  clause (iv):

                  "(iv) Purchase Certificates from the Workplace Safety and
                  Insurance Board (Ontario) in respect of the Southam Employees,
                  Clearance Certificates from the Workplace Safety and Insurance
                  Board (Ontario) in respect of all other Transferred Employees,
                  and certificates in the other provinces of Canada equivalent
                  to such certificates shall have been obtained, in each case,
                  at or before the Closing Time."

         (s)      Section 7.1(e) -- CanWest agrees that receipt of the consents
                  and approvals listed in Schedule 2(s) shall not be a condition
                  precedent under Section 7.1 of the Transaction Agreement
                  provided that the lenders providing credit facilities to
                  CanWest agree at or prior to the Closing Time that the receipt
                  of such consents and approvals shall not be a condition
                  precedent to the provision of such credit facilities or
                  funding thereunder.

         (t)      Section 9.2(b) -- The Vendors acknowledge that they have not
                  yet caused National Post Company to make offers of employment
                  to the Southam Employees identified on Schedule 9.2(b), a copy
                  of which is attached, or to assume the other costs totalling
                  at least $3 million identified on Schedule 9.2(b), as
                  contemplated by Section 9.2(b) of the Transaction Agreement
                  and, accordingly, the Vendors shall reimburse CanWest for the
                  pro rata portion of these costs incurred by the Print News
                  Media Business during the period between the Effective Date
                  and the effective date of assumption of these costs by
                  National Post Company, which effective date shall be on or
                  before the Closing Date. At Closing, the Vendors shall deliver
                  evidence satisfactory to CanWest of the offers of employment
                  and the assumption of these costs by National Post Company.

<PAGE>   8

                                       -9-


         (u)      Sections 9.8 and 9.11 -- Subsections 9.8(c) and 9.8(d) and
                  section 9.11 of the Transaction Agreement are amended by
                  replacing the words "the Closing Date" wherever they appear
                  with "the Reorganization Date applicable to those Transferred
                  Employees".

         (v)      Section 9.8 -- Section 9.8 of the Transaction Agreement is
                  amended by adding subsection (i) as follows:

                  "(i) The Vendors acknowledge that Southam Employees have been
                  contributing less than the amount of their required
                  contributions to their respective Pension Plans from and after
                  October 11, 2000. The Vendors shall pay to CanWest or the
                  applicable Pension Plan designated by CanWest (through, at the
                  Vendors' discretion, either a cash payment or by increasing
                  the value of assets to be transferred from the applicable
                  Vendors' Pension Plan) an amount equal to the difference
                  between the Southam Employees' required contributions to the
                  Pension Plan of which they are a member from and after October
                  11, 2000 until December 31, 2000 and member contributions
                  actually remitted to such Pension Plans on their behalf during
                  that period."

         (w)      Section 9.10 -- Section 9.10 is amended by deleting the
                  existing section and substituting the following:

                  The Vendors and CanWest agree that NewsMediaCo, Central
                  Services Company and Canada.com Company shall pay directly to
                  the appropriate taxing authorities all sales and transfer
                  taxes, registration charges and transfer fees other than the
                  goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax imposed under Part
                  IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) and the Quebec sales tax
                  imposed under An Act respecting the Quebec sales tax payable
                  by it, applicable in respect of the Reorganization in
                  accordance with the terms of the Transfer Agreement, all of
                  which shall be for the account of CanWest, except that any
                  goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax or any Quebec
                  sales tax payable by any of NewsMediaCo, Central Services
                  Company or Canada.com Company as a result of or in connection
                  with, directly or indirectly, (i) the failure of such
                  NewsMediaCo, Central Services Company or Canada.com Company to
                  be registered for goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax
                  purposes or Quebec sales tax purposes, as applicable, at the
                  time such company acquired any Purchased Assets as part of the
                  Reorganization, or (ii) the failure to properly execute and,
                  where required, file on a timely basis, the appropriate forms
                  for any relevant goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax
                  election or Quebec sales tax election to be executed and/or
                  filed, as the case may be, in connection with the
                  Reorganization, shall be for the account of the Vendors. Upon
                  request of a Vendor, CanWest shall provide to that Vendor all
                  documentation evidencing the self-assessment by NewsMediaCo,
                  Central Services Company and Canada.com Company of all such
                  sales and transfer taxes applicable to the Purchased
                  Businesses transferred by that Vendor (including calculations
                  relating to those Taxes), as well as copies of all
                  documentation filed with applicable Governmental Authorities
                  in conjunction with (or in substitution for) the remittance of
                  those Taxes".

<PAGE>   9

                                      -10-


         (x)      Section 9.12 of the Transaction Agreement is amended by
                  deleting the first two sentences of that section and
                  substituting the following:

                  "In the event that the Closing shall be completed as
                  contemplated by this Agreement, then (a) the amount of all
                  cash flow after provision for the payment of Taxes by each
                  Vendor in respect of the taxable income associated with such
                  cash flow generated or used in the Purchased Businesses from
                  the Effective Date to the Reorganization Date applicable to
                  each Vendor shall be for the account of CanWest, and (b) the
                  amount of all cash flow generated or used in the Purchased
                  Businesses from the applicable Reorganization Date to the
                  Closing Date (without regard for the provision of Taxes) shall
                  be for the account of CanWest."

         (y)      Section 9.30 -- The Parties agree that the Transitional
                  Services Agreement attached as Schedule 2(y)-1 and the
                  Services Agreement attached as Schedule 2(y)-2 are the forms
                  of agreements contemplated by Section 9.30 of the Transaction
                  Agreement and the execution and delivery of such agreements
                  substantially in the form of Schedules 2(y)-1 and 2(y)-2 shall
                  be a condition precedent to Closing under Sections 7.1 and 8.1
                  of the Transaction Agreement.

         (z)      Section 9.31 -- Section 9.31 of the Transaction Agreement is
                  amended by deleting the word "limited" in the second and third
                  lines of section 9.31.

         (aa)     Section 85(1)(e.1) Election -- Article 9 of the Transaction
                  Agreement is amended by adding Section 9.38 as follows:

                  "9.38    SECTION 85(1)(E.1) ELECTION

                  Each of the Vendors covenants and agrees to designate under
                  paragraph 85(1)(e.1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any
                  equivalent provision of the income tax laws of the provinces,
                  before the prescribed time and in the manner determined by
                  CanWest, the order in which such Purchased Assets will be
                  considered to have been disposed of by the Vendor for purposes
                  of subsections 85(1)(d) and (e) and any equivalent provision
                  of the income tax laws of the provinces, provided that:

                  (i)   The Vendors determine, acting reasonably, that such
                        determination will not have an adverse effect on the
                        Vendors; and

                  (ii)  CanWest notifies the Vendors of such determination in
                        writing within 150 days after the Closing Date to
                        enable the Vendors to review and comment upon such
                        determination."

         (bb)     Section 10.1 -- Section 10.1 of the Transaction Agreement is
                  amended by adding at the end of subsection 10.1(c) the words
                  "or a breach of the representation and warranty in Section
                  4.30(e)".

         (cc)     Section 10.2 -- Section 10.2 of the Transaction Agreement is
                  amended by adding to the end of the second sentence of Section
                  10.2 the words "or incurred by any of them as a result of,
                  pursuant to or in connection with the Reorganization other

<PAGE>   10

                                      -11-


                  than any liability in respect of (i) goods and services
                  tax/harmonized sales tax imposed under Part IX of the Excise
                  Tax Act (Canada) or Quebec sales tax in respect of the
                  Reorganization or (ii) any other Taxes which are for the
                  account of CanWest pursuant to Section 9.10".

         (dd)     Indemnity -- Article 10 of the Transaction Agreement is
                  amended by adding Section 10.8 as follows:

                  "10.8    GST INDEMNITY

                  CanWest covenants and agrees with Hollinger to indemnify and
                  save harmless on an after-tax basis, Hollinger, its Affiliates
                  and their respective directors, officers, shareholders,
                  employees, agents and representatives from and against all
                  Claims which may be made or brought against any such person or
                  which they may suffer or incur, directly or indirectly as a
                  result of or in connection with any liability (i) in respect
                  of goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax imposed under
                  Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) or Quebec sales tax
                  imposed under An Act respecting the Quebec sales tax in
                  respect of the Reorganization upon NewsMediaCo, Central
                  Services Company or Canada.com Company or (ii) arising from
                  the failure by NewsMediaCo, Central Services Company or
                  Canada.com Company to properly remit to applicable
                  Governmental Authorities any Taxes for which they are
                  responsible pursuant to Section 9.10. Notwithstanding the
                  foregoing, the Vendors covenant and agree with CanWest to
                  indemnify and save harmless on an after-tax basis, CanWest,
                  its Affiliates (including for greater certainty, NewsMediaCo,
                  Central Services Company and Canada.com Company) and their
                  respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees,
                  agents and representatives from and against all Claims which
                  may be made or brought against any such person or which they
                  may suffer or incur, directly or indirectly as a result of or
                  in connection with (i) the failure of NewsMediaCo, Central
                  Services Company or Canada.com Company to be registered for
                  goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax purposes or Quebec
                  sales tax purposes, as applicable, at the time such company
                  acquired Purchased Assets as part of the Reorganization and
                  (ii) the failure to properly execute and, where required, file
                  on a timely basis, the appropriate forms for any relevant
                  goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax election or Quebec
                  sales tax election to be executed and/or filed, as the case
                  may be, in connection with the Reorganization. The foregoing
                  obligations of indemnification in respect of such claims shall
                  be subject to the requirement that the indemnifying party
                  shall, in respect of any Claim made by any third person, be
                  afforded an opportunity at its sole expense to resist, defend
                  and compromise such Claim provided the indemnifying party
                  acknowledges in writing its obligation to indemnify in
                  accordance with the terms of this Agreement."

         (ee)     Schedules -- The form of schedules attached to the Transaction
                  Agreement as replaced or amended by the schedules delivered to
                  counsel for CanWest on or prior to the date hereof and
                  appended hereto as Appendix A are the final form of schedules
                  to the Agreement.

<PAGE>   11

                                      -12-


         (ff)     Actuarial Methods and Assumptions -- The actuarial methods and
                  assumptions to be used for purposes of the Pension and
                  Benefits Plan Agreement are those set forth in Schedule
                  2(ff)-1 hereto. The actuarial methods and assumptions to be
                  used for purposes of the calculation of accrued liabilities as
                  of the Effective Date relating to a SERA and post-employment
                  and post-retirement benefits relating to Transferred Employees
                  which were to be determined in accordance with Schedule 1.1(a)
                  to the Transaction Agreement are those set forth in Schedule
                  2(ff)-2 hereto, except that the actuarial methods and
                  assumptions to be used for purposes of the calculation of the
                  accrued liabilities as of the Effective Date of the
                  post-employment and post-retirement benefits identified in
                  Schedule 2(ff)-3 (including whether the benefits should be
                  included for the purposes of determining the value of the
                  accrued liabilities) have not been agreed upon and, if
                  agreement on any actuarial assumption in relation to any
                  benefit identified in Schedule 2(ff)-3 (including whether such
                  benefits should be included for the purposes of determining
                  the value of the accrued liabilities) is not reached within 10
                  days of Closing, or such longer period as the Parties may
                  agree, any such matter upon which agreement has not been
                  reached shall be determined by binding arbitration in
                  accordance with the Arbitration Procedures, provided that for
                  the purpose of this arbitration only, "Approved Arbitrator"
                  shall mean a qualified actuary or chartered accountant.

         (gg)     Section 4.5 -- Section 4.5 of the Transaction Agreement is
                  amended as follows:

                  (i) the words ", the Purchased Debt and the Purchased National
                  Post Company Interest" in the first sentence are deleted and
                  the words "and the Purchased Debt" are substituted therefor;

                  (ii) the following new sentence is added as a second sentence:
                  "At the Closing Time, 3048510 Nova Scotia Company, a
                  wholly-owned subsidiary of Southam, will be the sole
                  registered and beneficial owner of the Purchased National Post
                  Company Interest free and clear of all Encumbrances except as
                  created pursuant to this Agreement."; and

                  (iii) the words ",3048510 Nova Scotia Company" shall be
                  inserted after the words "Newspapers Partnership" in the third
                  sentence.

3.       FULL FORCE AND EFFECT

The Parties confirm that, save and except as amended pursuant to this Amending
Agreement, the Transaction Agreement remains in full force and effect,
unamended, as of the date hereof.

4.       COUNTERPARTS

This Amending Agreement may be executed by the Parties in separate counterparts,
including by way of facsimile, each of which when so executed and delivered
shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one
and the same instrument.



<PAGE>   12

                                      -13-


IN WITNESS OF WHICH the Parties have duly executed this Amending Agreement.


                             HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL INC.

                             By:  "P.Y. ATKINSON"
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:

                             By:  "FRED CREASEY"
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:


                             SOUTHAM INC.

                             By:  "P.Y. ATKINSON"
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:

                             By:
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:


                             HOLLINGER CANADIAN NEWSPAPERS,
                             LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                             BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER, HOLLINGER
                             CANADIAN NEWSPAPERS G.P.


                             By:  "J. BLAIR MACKENZIE"
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:

                             By:
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:

<PAGE>   13

                                      -14-


                             HCN PUBLICATIONS COMPANY


                             By:  "J. BLAIR MACKENZIE"
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:

                             By:
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:



                             CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION


                             By:  "LEONARD ASPER"
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:

                             By:  "PAMELA HARROD"
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                  Title:






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