Ogilvy Renault’s Montreal and Toronto offices are representing BCE Inc. and Bell Canada in their all-cash partial take-over bid for up to 15,800,000 of the common shares of Aliant Inc. to increase BCE Inc. and Bell Canada’s combined ownership of Aliant Inc. from 41% to 53%. Aliant Inc. is the product of the May 31, 1999 $3 billion four-way merger of Bruncor Inc., Island Telecom Inc, Maritime Telegraph and Telephone Company Limited and NewTel Enterprises Limited. The transaction is valued at $450 million. Michael J. Lang of the Toronto office of Ogilvy Renault and Francis R. Legault and Amar Leclair-Ghosh of the Montreal office are the lead counsel. Thomas B. Drummie, Q.C., and Ross A. Pierce of Clark, Drummie in Saint John are advising the Special Committee of Aliant’s Board of Directors.
