Canada's BCE Agrees to Buyout

BCE(BCE Quote) has agreed to be taken private in an all-cash deal valued at $48.5 billion, the Canadian telecom company announced Saturday.

It's the largest buyout in Canadian corporate history, according to the investor group that has agreed to buy BCE. The group is led by Teachers Private Capital (the private investment arm of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan), Providence Equity Partners and Madison Dearborn Partners.

The investors plan to pay $40.13, or C$42.75, per share for BCE, which owns the Bell brand in Canada. The deal also includes $15.9 billion, or C$16.9 billion, worth of debt, preferred equity and minority interests. ...