BCE's Proposed Acquisition of Manitoba Telecom and Sale of Dealer Locations and Wireless Subscribers to TELUS

News Release

Competition Bureau Invites Canadians to Share Their Views

May 10, 2016 — OTTAWA, ON — Competition Bureau

The Competition Bureau is inviting Canadians to share their views on the proposed acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) by BCE through a form on the Bureau’s website.

The Bureau is currently reviewing the proposed acquisition by BCE, as well as the sale of a portion of the acquired MTS wireless business by BCE to TELUS, in order to assess any potential impact on competition.

As part of the Bureau’s usual approach in examining a merger, it consults with a wide range of industry participants to obtain their views regarding the competitive implications of a proposed transaction.

Suppliers, competitors, industry associations, customers and industry experts help the Bureau with its considerations of many different factors relating to competition, including the definition of relevant markets, market concentration, effective remaining competitors and barriers to future entry or expansion by potential competitors.

Quick Facts

• On May 2, 2016, BCE announced that it intends to acquire MTS in a transaction valued at approximately $3.9 billion. In a separate announcement, BCE stated that it intends to subsequently sell some of the wireless business acquired from MTS to TELUS.
• Under the Competition Act, the Bureau has a mandate to review mergers to determine whether they are likely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition.
• The goal of a merger review is to obtain the necessary evidence for careful analysis and consideration before reaching a conclusion as to whether a merger is likely to substantially lessen or prevent competition.

Related Information

• Learn more about the merger review process

Associated Link

• Share your views on this proposed transaction

Contacts

For media enquiries, please contact:
Media Relations
Telephone: 819-994-5945
Email: media-cb-bc@cb-bc.gc.ca

For general enquiries, please contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
Telephone: 819-997-4282
Toll free: 1-800-348-5358
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-866-694-8389
www.competitionbureau.gc.ca
Enquiries/Complaints
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The Competition Bureau, as an independent law enforcement agency, ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace.

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Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains Competition Bureau Information and Communications