TORONTO -- Rogers Communications Inc. announced an agreement Monday to buy Shaw Communications Inc. in a deal valued at $26 billion, including debt.
The transaction, which would combine Canada's two largest cable companies as well as their wireless networks, will require a variety of approvals from federal agencies.
Rogers chief executive Joe Natale told analysts in a morning conference call that it's too early to speculate on whether the competitors will be required to divest any of their operations.
"But we feel confident this transaction will be approved," Natale said.
There's little overlap between the Shaw and Rogers cable and internet businesses, which are in western and Eastern Canada respectively, so Natale said he thinks most of the focus will be on their wireless businesses.
"And I won't get into sort of what is our thinking on that, for obvious reasons," Natale said.
