THE RISE OF PRIVATE EQUITY Private equity has become a bigger part of a pension fund's portfolio allocation as some of the biggest funds are in talks to take BCE private. This special section has The battle for BCE, our web-exclusive feature, and Pension funds eye Ma Bell, a column by industry expert Josephine E. Marks, plus a guide to private equity and the major players in the field.

The Battle for BCE It’s shaping up to be one of the biggest deals in Canadian history, as the country’s biggest pension funds vie for ownership of Bell Canada Enterprises Inc.(BCE). > Click here for more Pension Funds Eye Ma Bell It’s spring and a young man's fancy turns to joining a private equity consortium to take over one of Canada's most blue chip public market institutions. It seems that just about every pension fund in the country is salivating at the thought of the potential returns(and fees) associated with the possible privatization of BCE. > Click here for more Who's Who in Private Equity This handy guide shows who are the major players in the private equity game. > Click here for more   Timeline This timeline shows the history of the deal to buy BCE. > Click here for more   The Inner Workings of Private Equity Advertisement Private equity is attracting its share of headlines. Although the focus tends to be on the multi-billion dollar buyout funds doing multi-billon deals, the reality is that private equity is going through a period of unprecedented growth. While the numbers aren't final, it looks as though a record US$275 billion will have been raised in private equity in 2005, with the rate of capital-raising accelerating into 2006. In the first quarter of 2006, 110 funds closed, raising an additional US$80 billion. > Click here for more   BCE-Related Stories BCE, Teachers' Group Reach Final Agreement Teachers' Expects to Close BCE Deal in Q3 Supreme Court Backs Teachers’, BCE BCE Deal on Hold BCE Purchase by Teachers' Group Gets Approval CRTC Approves BCE Acquisition by Teachers' Group BCE Lawsuit Dismissed Lamoureux to Join BCE Board: Report BCE Shareholders Approve Acquisition by Teachers’ Group CRTC Hearings Could Delay BCE Deal: Report Teachers’ Group to Raise $34 Billion for BCE Purchase Teachers' Group Committed to BCE Deal TD to Help Finance BCE Takeover BCE agrees to takeover bid of $51.7 billion BCE reviewing offers Telus, Caisse won’t bid for BCE Telus in talks to buy BCE Onex joins CPPIB group bidding for BCE Teachers' joins BCE privatization talks Teachers' increases stake in BCE HOOPP, OPTrust join Cerberus bid: report CPP, Caisse face competition from Cerberus Cerberus preparing BCE bid: report PSPIB drops out of BCE bid: report Nobrega expects Teachers’ to bid for BCE Three funds to join BCE bid: report OMERS unit may join Teachers' in BCE bid: report Teachers' considers BCE bid Pension funds, KKR in talks to buy BCE Teachers' gets support for BCE bid: report Teachers' board member resigns Teachers' exploring its options regarding BCE Teachers' may facilitate biggest leveraged buyout in Canadian history