May 2 (Reuters) - Canadian telecom and media company BCE Inc
BCE.TO said it would buy Manitoba Telecom Services Inc
MBT.TO for about C$3.1 billion ($2.5 billion) to expand its
services in the western Canadian province.
BCE will pay C$40 per share, which represents a premium of
22 percent to Manitoba Telecom's close on Friday.
Montreal-based BCE will also assume the company's
outstanding debt of about C$800 million.
BCE said it would divest about one-third of Manitoba
Telecom's postpaid wireless subscribers to Telus Corp T.TO
following the completion of the deal. = 1.2517 Canadian dollars)