MONTREAL--March 30, 2005-- Transcontinental has become the first Canadian printer to print one of the world's most prestigious newspapers, The New York Times, thanks to its unique newspaper printing model. The 10-year contract, which does not include newsprint, commences in autumn, 2005. Some 15,000-20,000 copies a day from Monday to Saturday, and 30,000-35,000 on Sundays, will be produced at the Transcontinental Interweb Toronto facility for the Ontario market and for the regions of Buffalo and Rochester, New York. "We are extremely pleased to add yet another prestigious newspaper to our growing stable of long-term printing contracts," said Luc Desjardins, president and CEO of Transcontinental Inc. "Our choice of newspaper printing as one of our strategic niches for development rests on our conviction that outsourcing is an irreversible trend. This contract is recognition of our unique model, combining the latest technology with a self-managed work force, which allows publishers to concentrate on their strengths - content and product development - while we focus on ours - providing greater deadline flexibility, more colour capability and, ultimately, a superior-looking printed product. It also allows newspapers to avoid significant capital expenditures in order to keep pace with printing's rapidly evolving technology. Furthermore, publishers can rest assured that, thanks to the backup capacity provided by our network of plants, we will be a reliable partner to serve them every day." Francois Olivier, senior vice president of the newspaper group at Transcontinental Printing - Information Products, commented: "This contract with The New York Times is a promising partnership for the future of our expansion in newspaper printing. I am also pleased to announce that as part of our deal with The New York Times, it will be distributed in Ontario by the same service that delivers The Globe and Mail, which we print at the same Toronto-area plant. Transcontinental is proud to be in partnership with The New York Times and The Globe and Mail, both recognized for their commitment to high-quality printed products by being named to the elite International Newspaper Color Quality Club." Marc Kramer, senior vice president of circulation for The New York Times, said, "This new partnership continues our mission to better serve readers, with faster, more complete service than ever before in Ontario and the Buffalo and Rochester, NY markets. It signals the continued commitment by The New York Times to provide high-quality journalism to our readers in partnership with Transcontinental's experience and expertise in printing." Transcontinental is Canada's top newspaper printer, printing nearly 200 newspapers, including 19 dailies. In addition to the 145 newspapers it publishes through its Media sector, Transcontinental also prints, among others, North America's leading French-language daily, La Presse, as well as The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper, whose Toronto edition, also printed at Transcontinental Interweb Toronto, has been recognized for printing quality by being named to the elite International Newspaper Color Quality Club for the past six years, an honour bestowed upon only 50 newspapers in the world, including The New York Times.