Either Way, BCE is Still a Buy

Article Excerpt

BCE INC. $37 (Toronto symbol BCE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 806.2 million; Market cap: $29.8 billion; SI Rating: Above average) continues to trade 13.5% below the $42.75-a-share takeover offer from a group headed by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. That’s mainly due to concerns that the credit crisis will prompt lenders to break their commitments to provide the necessary financing. However, we still feel the takeover will close as planned by December 11, 2008. If the deal does fall through, the consortium would have to pay BCE a break-up fee of $1.2 billion. BCE would probably use the cash to resume quarterly dividend payments of $0.365 a share, for a current yield of 3.9%. The company could also buy back stock. BCE is a buy. buy…