BCE announces renewal of Normal Course Issuer Bid for Preferred Shares
November 04, 2021 at 11:15 am
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This news release contains forward-looking statements. For a description of the related risk factors and assumptions, please see the section entitled "Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" later in this news release.
MONTRÉAL, Nov. 4, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - BCE Inc. (BCE) today announced that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") has accepted a notice filed by BCE of its intention to renew its normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") to purchase up to 10% of the public float of each series of BCE's outstanding First Preferred Shares that are listed on the TSX (the "Preferred Shares"). The period of the NCIB will extend from November 9, 2021 to November 8, 2022, or an earlier date should BCE complete its purchases under the NCIB. BCE will pay the prevailing market price at the time of acquisition for any Preferred Shares purchased plus brokerage fees payable by BCE, and all Preferred Shares acquired by BCE under the NCIB will be cancelled.
The actual number of Preferred Shares repurchased under the NCIB and the timing of such repurchases will be at BCE's discretion and shall be subject to the limitations set out in the TSX Company Manual.
The NCIB will be conducted through the facilities of the TSX as well as alternative trading systems in Canada, if eligible, or by such other means as may be permitted by securities regulatory authorities, including pre-arranged crosses, exempt offers, private agreements under an issuer bid exemption order issued by securities regulatory authorities and block purchases of Preferred Shares. Purchases made under an issuer bid exemption order will be at a discount to the prevailing market price.
Under the NCIB, BCE is authorized to repurchase shares of each respective series of the Preferred Shares as follows:
Series
Ticker
Issued and Outstanding Shares(1)
Public Float(1)
Average Daily Trading Volume(2)
Maximum Number of Shares Subject to Purchase
Total(3)
Daily(4)
R
BCE.PR.R
7,998,900
7,998,900
10,368
799,890
2,592
S
BCE.PR.S
2,128,267
2,128,267
6,498
212,826
1,624
T
BCE.PR.T
5,870,133
5,870,133
9,172
587,013
2,293
Y
BCE.PR.Y
8,079,291
8,079,291
7,814
807,929
1,953
Z
BCE.PR.Z
1,918,509
1,918,509
1,921
191,850
1,000
AA
BCE.PR.A
11,397,196
11,397,196
6,564
1,139,719
1,641
AB
BCE.PR.B
8,599,204
8,599,204
11,875
859,920
2,968
AC
BCE.PR.C
10,027,991
10,027,991
5,977
1,002,799
1,494
AD
BCE.PR.D
9,963,209
9,963,209
11,981
996,320
2,995
AE
BCE.PR.E
6,512,913
6,512,913
11,494
651,291
2,873
AF
BCE.PR.F
9,481,487
9,481,487
5,720
948,148
1,430
AG
BCE.PR.G
8,979,530
8,979,530
8,712
897,953
2,178
AH
BCE.PR.H
5,017,570
5,017,570
3,439
501,757
1,000
AI
BCE.PR.I
9,535,040
9,535,040
11,166
953,504
2,791
AJ
BCE.PR.J
4,464,960
4,464,960
7,263
446,496
1,815
AK
BCE.PR.K
22,735,621
22,735,621
33,413
2,273,562
8,353
AL
BCE.PR.L
2,254,079
2,254,079
1,071
225,407
1,000
AM
BCE.PR.M
10,439,978
10,439,978
12,773
1,043,997
3,193
AN
BCE.PR.N
1,054,722
1,054,722
732
105,472
1,000
AO
BCE.PR.O
4,600,000
4,600,000
5,682
460,000
1,420
AQ
BCE.PR.Q
9,200,000
9,200,000
5,001
920,000
1,250
(1)
As of November 3, 2021.
(2)
For the 6 months ended October 31, 2021.
(3)
Represents approximately 10% of the public float in respect of each series of Preferred Shares.
(4)
Represents the maximum number of shares of each series of Preferred Shares that may be purchased over the TSX (or alternative trading systems in Canada, if eligible) during the course of one trading day. This amount is equal to the greater of (i) 25% of the average daily trading volume on the TSX calculated in accordance with the rules of the TSX, and (ii) 1,000 shares. This limitation does not apply to purchases made pursuant to block purchase exemptions.
BCE is making this NCIB because it believes that, from time to time, the Preferred Shares may trade in price ranges that do not fully reflect their value. BCE believes that, in such circumstances, the repurchase of its Preferred Shares represents an appropriate use of its available funds.
As of November 3, 2021, under its current normal course issuer bid that commenced on November 9, 2020 and will expire on November 8, 2021, and which the company received approval from the TSX, BCE purchased, through the facilities of the TSX and alternative eligible trading systems, Preferred Shares as follows:
Series
Ticker
Maximum Number of Shares Subject to Purchase
Number of Shares Purchased
Weighted Average Price Paid per Security
R
BCE.PR.R
800,000
1,100
$12.8136
S
BCE.PR.S
351,344
1,600
$13.3082
T
BCE.PR.T
448,655
-
-
Y
BCE.PR.Y
808,149
2,200
$13.2455
Z
BCE.PR.Z
191,850
-
-
AA
BCE.PR.A
1,139,839
1,200
$13.5317
AB
BCE.PR.B
860,015
2,400
$13.2154
AC
BCE.PR.C
1,002,969
1,700
$14.4853
AD
BCE.PR.D
997,030
7,100
$13.2945
AE
BCE.PR.E
651,531
2,400
$13.1138
AF
BCE.PR.F
948,468
3,200
$14.6953
AG
BCE.PR.G
498,535
500
$13.0260
AH
BCE.PR.H
901,464
2,400
$13.1488
AI
BCE.PR.I
594,988
-
-
AJ
BCE.PR.J
805,011
-
-
AK
BCE.PR.K
2,274,592
10,300
$12.1929
AL
BCE.PR.L
225,407
-
-
AM
BCE.PR.M
954,661
4,000
$12.9874
AN
BCE.PR.N
195,338
1,300
$12.1500
AO
BCE.PR.O
460,000
-
-
AQ
BCE.PR.Q
920,000
-
-
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements relating to potential future purchases by BCE of its Preferred Shares pursuant to the NCIB. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that BCE will repurchase all or any of the numbers of Preferred Shares referred to in this news release under the NCIB. In particular, the purchase by BCE of its Preferred Shares pursuant to the NCIB will depend, among other, on the prevailing market price from time to time of the Preferred Shares. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward–looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the potential future purchases of Preferred Shares by BCE pursuant to the NCIB. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. For additional information on assumptions and risks underlying forward-looking statements made in this news release, please consult BCE's 2020 annual management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) dated March 4, 2021 as updated in BCE's 2021 first, second and third quarter MD&As dated April 28, 2021, August 4, 2021 and November 3, 2021, respectively, filed by BCE with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (available at Sedar.com) and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (available at SEC.gov). These documents are also available at BCE.ca.
About BCE BCE is Canada's largest communications company, providing advanced Bell broadband wireless, Internet, TV, media and business communications services. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities. This includes the Bell Let's Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
BCE Inc. is a Canada-based communications company. The Company provides wireless and fiber networks. The Company operates through one segment: Bell Communication and Technology Services (Bell CTS). Bell CTS segment provides a range of communication products and services to consumers, businesses and government customers across Canada. Its wireless products and services include mobile data and voice plans and devices and are available nationally. Its wireline products and services comprise data (including Internet access, Internet protocol television (IPTV), cloud-based services and business solutions), voice, and other communication services and products, which are available to its residential, small and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises customers primarily in Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic provinces and Manitoba. This segment includes its wholesale business, which buys and sells local telephone, long-distance, data, and other services from or to resellers and other carriers.