New York - What was to be the most expensive takeover of a firm by investors collapsed Thursday as a deal to acquire Canadian telecom giant BCE fell through.

The 52-billion-Canadian-dollar (41-billion-US-dollar) deal was to have been completed today, but fell through as auditor KPMG said it would leave the parent of Bell Canada insolvent, Bloomberg financial news reported.

The buyers that have now pulled out of the deal were to have included the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and several US private equity firms. (dpa)