MONTREAL, Jan. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE:
BCE) today announced that 7,904,105 of its 14,577,100 fixed-rate
Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series AF ("Series AF
Preferred Shares") have been tendered for conversion on
February 1, 2015, on a one-for-one
basis, into floating-rate Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred
Shares, Series AE ("Series AE Preferred Shares"). In addition,
34,872 of its 1,422,900 Series AE Preferred Shares have been
tendered for conversion on February 1,
2015, on a one-for-one basis, into Series AF Preferred
Shares. Consequently, on February 1,
2015, BCE will have 6,707,867 Series AF Preferred Shares and
9,292,133 Series AE Preferred Shares issued and outstanding. The
Series AF Preferred Shares and the Series AE Preferred Shares will
continue to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the
symbols BCE.PR.F and BCE.PR.E, respectively.
The Series AF Preferred Shares will pay on a quarterly basis,
for the five-year period beginning on February 1, 2015, as and when declared by the
Board of Directors of BCE, a fixed cash dividend based on an annual
dividend rate of 3.110%.
The Series AE Preferred Shares will continue to pay a monthly
floating adjustable cash dividend for the five-year period
beginning on February 1, 2015, as and
when declared by the Board of Directors of BCE. The monthly
floating adjustable dividend for any particular month will continue
to be calculated based on the prime rate for such month and using
the Designated Percentage for such month representing the sum of an
adjustment factor (based on the market price of the Series AE
Preferred Shares in the preceding month) and the Designated
Percentage for the preceding month.
About BCE
BCE is Canada's largest
communications company, providing a comprehensive and innovative
suite of broadband communication services to residential and
business customers under the Bell Canada and Bell Aliant brands.
Bell Media is Canada's premier
multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out of
home and digital media, including CTV, Canada's #1 television network, and the
country's most-watched specialty channels. To learn more, please
visit BCE.ca.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health
with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns, like Clara's Big
Ride for Bell Let's Talk and Bell Let's Talk Day, and significant
Bell funding of community care and access, research, and workplace
initiatives. Bell Let's Talk Day 2015 is on January 28. To learn more, please visit
Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
SOURCE BCE Inc.