The new units of Bell Aliant are actually up and running and finished their first week of trading at $34.05.
On Friday, I had a chance to follow up on the concerns that I had mentioned in my posting earlier in the week. Based on my conversations with the company, I have a greater level of comfort in the structure of inter-company transactions.
There are interesting marketing opportunities that arise from a company focused on serving the second tier markets.
In addition, it should also help BCE clarify its own business focus, aided by the consolidated mobile wireless assets and the uncoupling of the regional operations.
It will be a very different model to examine. As we noted a few months ago, MTS rejected the idea of income trusts for telcos more than two years ago. We disagreed with that decision then.
Bell Aliant will prove one of these viewpoints correct. I’m prepared to place a bet.