Wireless gains help power 32.5% lift in Q4 profits at BCE

MONTREAL – Lower restructuring costs combined with growth in BCE’s wireless and wireline divisions helped boost fourth quarter profits by 32.5%, the company said Thursday.For the period ended December 30, 2016, net earnings attributable to common shareholders jumped 32.5% to $657 million from $496 million year-over-year. The company attributed the increase to growth in operating revenue that drove higher adjusted EBITDA, as well as decreased severance, acquisition and other costs and lower other expense, partly offset by increased amortization expense and higher income taxes. Severance, acquisition and other costs were lower this quarter due mainly to higher wireline and media workforce...