MONTRÉAL and HALIFAX – BCE has formally commenced its offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Bell Aliant Inc., other than the common shares that it already holds.
BCE already controls Bell Aliant and is acquiring the remaining approximately 127.5 million common shares that are owned by the public minority shareholders in a deal announced last month and valued at approximately $3.95 billion. BCE obtained Competition Act clearance for the Bell Aliant privatization on August 5, 2014.
Under the terms of the common share offer, each Bell Aliant shareholder can elect to receive consideration per common share of either (a) $31.00 in cash, subject to pro-ration; (b) 0.6371 of a BCE common share, subject to pro-ration; or (c) $7.75 in cash and 0.4778 of a BCE common share.
At the same time, BCE also initiated its offer to exchange all of the issued and outstanding preferred shares of Bell Aliant Preferred Equity Inc. (Prefco) for newly issued preferred shares of BCE, with the same financial terms as the existing Prefco preferred shares.
The offers will be open for acceptance until 5:00 PM ET on September 19, 2014, unless extended or withdrawn by BCE.
