The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday edition that BCE, the Canadian telco that recently announced sweeping layoffs as part of a broader effort to boost income, has raised $1.45-billion (U.S.) from the U.S. bond market to refinance debt. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post says that the company sold senior unsecured notes in two parts. The longest-dated portion, $750-million (U.S.) of debt maturing in 30 years, yields 1.2 percentage points over U.S. Treasuries. Initial talk for pricing on that security was in the area of 1.4 percentage points. The funds will go toward repaying notes due in March and paying for 3,800-megahertz spectrum licences. A representative for BCE confirmed the debt issue, adding that it is normal course and intended for refinancing existing obligations. The company last week announced it will cut jobs by about 9 per cent, kicking off one of the largest rounds of layoffs in corporate Canada in recent years. It is also reducing capital expenditures. BCE closed Tuesday at $50.33, down 78 cents on the Toronto Stock Exchange.