Equinix completes $1.041-billion acquisition of 13 Bell data centres in Canada

On Oct. 1, Equinix, Inc., a digital infrastructure company, announced the completion of its acquisition of 13 data centres in Canada and their operations from BCE Inc. (Bell). The $1.041-billion all-cash transaction includes more than 600 customers, of which more than 500 are new to Equinix, and approximately 1.2 million gross square feet of data centre space.

The deal solidifies Equinix’s position as a leading digital infrastructure provider in Canada and reinforces Bell's strategy to focus investment on the network infrastructure, content and services necessary to advance how Canadians connect with each other and the world. Equinix and Bell have begun a strategic partnership that delivers industry-leading joint offers in Canada and globally.

Scott Hettema, VP, legal, Americas represented Equinix.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP also represented Equinix with a team comprised of
Cheryl Satin,
Vivian Kung,
Samantha Breaks (corporate/M&A),
Paul Stepak,
Amanda Heale,
Zvi Halpern-Shavim (tax),
Kevin MacDonald,
Julia Potter,
Psalm Cheung (competition),
Alexis Levine,
Ora Morison (regulatory),
Holly Reid,
Daryl Cukierman,
Aldona Gudas,
Alysha Sharma (labour and employment),
Lindsay McLeod,
Maggie Carmichael (pensions and benefits),
Daniel Kofman,
Daniel Ferreira,
Joseph Grignano,
Rachel Lehman (real estate),
Rob Percival (IT).

Bell was represented by
Martin Cossette, VP, legal,
Alexis Cloutier, senior legal counsel (M&A),
Carolyn Ruby, senior legal counsel (real estate),
Nick Koutsoukis, senior legal counsel (commercial).

Stikeman Elliott LLP also represented Bell with a team composed of
Jean Marc Huot,
Sophie Lamonde,
David Massé,
Dominique Rolland,
Michael Ball,
Patricia Larouche,
Alexandra Vall (corporate/M&A),
Franco Gadoury,
Adam Drori,
Nicholas Blach (tax),
Jean-Guillaume Shooner (sales taxes),
Michael Kilby,
Michael Rosenstock (competition),
David Elder (regulatory),
Nancy Ramalho,
Stephanie Weschler,
Stephanie Pasternyk (labour and employment),
Natasha vandenHoven,
Allyson Martha (pensions and benefits),
Bertrand Ménard,
Jordana Levine (real estate).