TORONTO – Moody’s Investors Service has confirmed BCE’s and Bell Canada’s debt ratings, calling the companies’ outlook “stable”.
Moody’s placed the companies’ ratings on review for possible downgrade back on April 17, 2007, when BCE announced that it had entered into discussions regarding the possible acquisition of the company with a group of investors.
But with the potential sale transaction terminated, Moody’s has reviewed the anticipated business and financial performance and policies with respect to capital structure and leverage, and has concluded that BCE’s credit profile is “fully supportive of the ratings that prevailed prior April 17, 2007."
The ratings have been confirmed as Baa2 senior unsecured and Prime-2 commercial paper ratings of BCE Inc. and the Baa1 senior unsecured, Baa2 subordinated, and Prime-2 commercial paper ratings of Bell Canada.
Approximately $7.9 billion of rated debt instruments are affected.
