And, yes, it's the biggest buyout in Canada's history. It's even bigger than the TXU (NYSE: TXU) deal.
The transaction involved several other potential suitors, such as KKR and Cerberus Capital.
Because of increased competition and slower growth, BCE was ripe for a buyout. It also helps that the company has juicy cash flows.
So, by being a private company, BCE will have more leeway in making some key operational changes (such as layoffs and spin-offs).
The biggest winners are BCE's shareholders. After all, since late March, the shares have surged about 40%.
Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.
