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C$3.9 billion deal still requires regulatory approvals, due to close late this year or early 2017.
The shareholders of Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) late last week voted overwhelmingly in favour of the company’s takeover by Bell Canada parent BCE.
99.66% of those that voted at a special shareholders meeting in Winnipeg approved the C$3.9 billion buyout announced last month, BCE announced.
It reiterated that it expects the deal to close in late 2016 or early next year, subject to the usual conditions, including court and regulatory approvals.
The transaction requires the green light from the Competition Bureau, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, amongst others.
"We look forward to working with the MTS team to complete the transaction, and to investing in the network and service innovations that will put Manitoba at the forefront of Canadian communications," said BCE and Bell Canada chief executive George Cope, in a statement.
BCE also repeated its earlier pledge to invest C$1 billion to fibre and mobile broadband services in Manitoba over a five-year period, once the deal closes. This will include the launch of its Gigabit Fibe Internet services and broadband television offer Fibe TV, and the extension of its LTE network.
In addition, BCE reminded the market that its new operations in Manitoba will be badged as Bell MTS.
