MLSE sale cuts BCE debt

Article Excerpt

BCE INC., $46.49, is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol BCE; Shares o/s: 912.3 million; Market cap: $42.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 8.6%) has now agreed to sell its 37.5% stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) to Rogers Communications Inc. MLSE is the holding company for several professional sports franchises, including the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), the Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (Major League Soccer) and the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League). After the sale, Rogers will own 75.0% of MLSE. The other owners are Larry Tanenbaum (20.0%) and the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (5.0%). BCE will receive $4.7 billion for its stake but will retain the broadcast rights for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors on TSN, its all-sports cable channel, for the next 20 years. Look for BCE to use the proceeds to pay down its long-term debt. BCE Inc. is still a buy. buy…