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Spreadsheet for product 9B09N015.

Spreadsheet for product 9B09N018.

BCE Inc. (BCE), one of Canada's leading telecommunications companies, had struggled under its weak stock price performance and low valuation relative to its comparable peers, and faced increasing pressure from its largest shareholder, the powerful Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (Teachers'). On March 29, 2007, it was reported that private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) had held informal meetings with BCE executives in the hopes of launching a friendly takeover bid for the company. This essentially put BCE "in play" with the leadership team confirming, on April 17, 2007, that it would be reviewing its strategic alternatives, which included discussions with various Canadian-led consortiums to explore the possibility of a privatization. As the deadline to the bid date drew closer, four contending bidding consortiums emerged, including three consortiums of financial buyers and one strategic buyer. The case provides a good opportunity to discuss private equity investments as well as valuation in a mergers and acquisition context. This case is a follow-up to Ivey case "BCE Inc.: Facing the Future," product # 909N15.

BCE Inc. (BCE), one of Canada's leading integrated communications companies, faced numerous challenges. In the key wireless communications market, BCE was trailing its competitors on growth and revenue. BCE's share price was underperforming and shareholders, including the powerful Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, were becoming concerned. In addition there were regulatory changes on the horizon that could have a serious impact on BCE's wireless division. BCE's chief executive officer (CEO) was faced with the task of improving BCE's competitiveness and shareholder value in a dynamic industry. What options did the CEO and his leadership team have, which ones were better for BCE and how could the better ones be executed in order to satisfy BCE's shareholders? The case provides a good opportunity to assess financial performance and assist in understanding the interaction of strategy and finance.

BCE Inc. (BCE), one of Canada's leading telecommunications companies, had struggled under its weak stock price performance and low valuation relative to its comparable peers, and faced increasing pressure from its largest shareholder, the powerful Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (Teachers'). On March 29, 2007, it was reported that private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) had held informal meetings with BCE executives in the hopes of launching a friendly takeover bid for the company. This essentially put BCE in play with the leadership team confirming, on April 17, 2007, that it would be reviewing its strategic alternatives, which included discussions with various Canadian-led consortiums to explore the possibility of a privatization. As the deadline to the bid date drew closer, four contending bidding consortiums emerged, including three consortiums of financial buyers and one strategic buyer. The case provides a good opportunity to discuss private equity investments as well as valuation in a mergers and acquisition context. This case is a follow-up to Ivey case BCE Inc.: Facing the Future, product # 9B09N015.