BCE battle continues

Article Excerpt

BCE INC. $34.47 (Toronto symbol BCE; SI Rating: Above-Average) is now appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn a ruling by the Quebec Supreme Court in favour of a lawsuit launched by the company’s bondholders to block the takeover. The bondholders felt it reduced the security of their investments. The Quebec ruling threatens BCE’s $42.75- a-share takeover by a consortium headed by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. It could delay the takeover beyond the June 30, 2008 target date. It could also force the consortium to re-price or scrap the takeover. Depending on the circumstances, BCE may receive a $1 billion or $1.24 a share break-up fee from the consortium if the deal falls through. That’s equal to 3% of its market cap of $30 billion. The company could use that cash to expand its wireless and high-speed Internet services, or increase its $1.46 dividend (4.2% yield). BCE could also unlock some of its value by spinning off some of its…