Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Gold/Mining/Energy : T.TSE Telus Corp. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Crusader who wrote (52)	5/8/1998 12:46:00 AM
From: Steve P	Respond to of 107

BCE CEO is quoted in the May 7th Globe & Mail as saying BCE has no plans to acquire either BC Tel or Telus. This was in response to a question from the floor during the recent AGM. It seems that our friends at BCE don't seem to be too concerned about the competitive threats lurking ahead that we've discussed on the thread, and are not looking to solidify their holdings in Canada. I guess that BCE, as a typical "monopoly", is bureaucratic and not very aggressive and may not see the headlights coming towards it down the information superhighway. Maybe they could use a few Canadian bankers at the head office. As Matthew Barrett of Bank of Montreal said in defense of the proposed merger with Royal Bank - I don't want to be the corner hardware store waiting for Home Depot to move in next door and drive me out of business. Also Call-Net bid for Fonorola seems to have bitten the dust. Where do we from here ? Telus takes a run at Fonorola, or talks to BC Tel re. a merger. Or on the other hand, is there anyone out there who could take a run at Telus ? Any thoughts out there ?

To: Crusader who wrote (52)	5/8/1998 1:03:00 AM
From: Steve P	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 107

Crusader, how does the purchase of the shares of Telesat reposition BCE in anticipation of the breakup of the consortium. It seems to me that BCE is moving away from their core business and moving into the satellite transmission business. Given the CEO's comments re. potential non-acquisitions (see my previous post), it seems BCE is diversifying away from telco business. What's also interesting is that the CEO of BCE also focused much of his speech at the AGM on Nortel as a future earnings driver for BCE. Why would anyone buy BCE shares given this stance - why not just buy Nortel shares - particularly given the lack of focus on core business and move into satellite business. As someone who has no stake in BCE, long or short, I find this mystifying. Aren't all the gurus saying that telecommunication (data transmission) is the business of the future, BCE leadership doesn't seem to think that the telco business is that relevant. BCE leadership seems to lack a clear focus. Comments ?