Telecom giant Rogers Communications has signed an agreement to acquire the 37.5 percent shares of rival Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE Inc.) in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), the company that owns most of Toronto’s professional sports team and venues, in a deal valued at $4.7 billion.

Davies is serving as legal counsel to Rogers with a team including Melanie Shishler, Aaron Atkinson, and Marc Pontone (M&A); David Wilson and Daniel Pearlman (capital markets); and Anita Banicevic and Teraleigh Stevenson (regulatory).

Blakes is serving as legal counsel to Bell with a team including partners Shlomi Feiner and Jacob Gofman (M&A); Micah Wood and Jonathan Bitran (competition & antitrust); Paul Stepak and Evan Schmid (tax); and Michael Matheson (financing).

The deal is expected to close in mid-2025, subject to league and regulatory approvals.