Transcontinental: Business As Usual for SF Plant

MONTREAL—This week's announcement that Hearst Publishing is seeking a buyer for its troubled San Francisco Chronicle, which could face closure, has to be a bit disconcerting for Transcontinental Inc. The two parties previously signed an agreement that sees the Chronicle's printing outsourced to Transcontinental, which is slated to began printing the paper in a specially built plant later this year.

Transcontinental released a statement this week that noted the preparation of its plant in San Francisco continues as scheduled, with print production on track for the June startup. The printer pointed out that the contract with Hearst provides for indemnification should the paper cease publication or be sold.