TORONTO (Standard&Poor's) Sept. 24, 2007--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services today said it lowered its long-term corporate credit ratings on Montreal, Que.-based holding company BCE Inc. and wholly owned subsidiary Bell Canada to 'BB-' from 'A-'. The ratings on both companies remain on CreditWatch with negative implications where they were placed April 17, 2007. "The downgrade, an interim step, follows BCE's Sept. 21, 2007, announcement that its shareholders have approved the company's C$52 billion leveraged buyout," said Standard&Poor's credit analyst Madhav Hari. "Once we have the opportunity to review the proposed capital structure, and the financial and operating strategies of the new owners, we could affirm or lower the ratings further," Mr. Hari added. The ratings on
