Garry McKay
The Hamilton Spectator

(Sep 11, 2009)

Burlington businessman Michael Andlauer is now a part owner of one of Canadian sports’ greatest teams.

Andlauer, who is also the owner of the Hamilton Bulldogs, was introduced yesterday in Quebec as part of the consortium that has purchased the Montreal Canadiens from George Gillett.

No purchase price was revealed and Andlauer won’t say how much of the team he owns, nor how much he paid for it.

But he jokes that the NHL is calling his portion “significant.”

The Molson brothers, Geoff, Andrew and Justin are the lead investors in the group which includes Bell, the Woodbridge Group, the Quebec Labour Federation solidarity fund and Luc Bertrand. Two-thirds of the partnership is based in Quebec.

“I’m not going to be a passive investor,” said Andlauer, who noted he’ll have an advisory role with the Habs. The 49-year-old plans to remain as owner of the Bulldogs, the Canadiens’ American Hockey League farm team.

The lifelong Habs fan has a shot-clock, a net and several seats from the old Montreal Forum as part of a Canadiens display in his Burlington home.

Yesterday was busy for Andlauer. In addition to being introduced as one of the Canadiens’ new owners, he sold half of his trucking empire.

Montreal-based TransForce is purchasing the Retail Solutions division of ATS Andlauer Transportation Services Limited. The ATS retail solution division, headquartered in Toronto, generates approximately $120 million in annual revenues. It has 447 employees.

Andlauer said he’s keeping the health care division of his business.