MONTREAL and TORONTO, Sept. 2,
2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell and Distributel together
announced that Distributel intends to join the Bell group of
companies to support its growth strategy in the residential and
business segments for Internet services. With this acquisition,
Distributel will continue delivering world class, innovative
products and services to Canadian consumers and businesses across
the country.
Bell is committed to providing world-leading, resilient networks
to Canadians, and offering consumers and businesses an array of
services that best meet their needs. Investing in a successful
company such as Distributel and its family of brands aligns with
Bell's efforts to provide customers with a choice in service
options. With Bell's investment, Distributel will benefit from
expanded resources and access to technology required to support the
next stage in its business growth and to continue to enhance the
services it already successfully delivers to customers.
"Distributel is a highly successful company with experienced
industry talent and we're excited for them to join the Bell group
of companies. As part of Bell, Distributel will enhance its
innovative services for residential and small and medium business
customers, backed by Bell's resources and technology."
-
Blaik Kirby, Group President,
Consumer and Small & Medium Business (SMB), Bell
"With this announcement, Distributel is better positioned to
compete and deliver on our decades-long commitment to bringing
choice and affordability to Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
We hope Canadians are as excited as we are about the many benefits
that will result from this partnership. Our teams remain focused on
serving our customers with excellence across all our brands as we
leverage Bell's resources to expand and enhance our product
offerings."
- Matt Stein, CEO,
Distributel
Upon the acquisition close, Distributel will continue to operate
independently and existing operations will continue under the
leadership of Matt Stein, CEO of
Distributel. The details of the transaction were not disclosed and
the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing
advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet, media and business
communication services throughout the country. Founded in Montréal
in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. 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 with a commitment to the highest
environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. 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 leadership initiatives throughout
the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About Distributel
Established in 1988, Distributel is a national, award-winning,
independent communications provider offering a wide range of
consumer, business and wholesale communications services. In 2020,
the company proudly achieved certification as a Great Place to
Work®, earning recognition for its progressive, collaborative
workplace. 100% Canadian-owned, with offices across the country and
a national network, Distributel is focused on providing choice and
value to Canadians. With the acquisition of Primus
Telecommunications, the company is even better positioned to offer
solutions to consumers and businesses of all sizes. Distributel
offers high speed internet, TV, mobile and home phone products
through its consumer brands. It delivers business solutions through
the Primus and ThinkTel brands as a provider of advanced voice and
data offerings for the SMB and Enterprise markets throughout
Canada. The company also forges new partnerships and brings
innovative services to the wholesale market. For more information,
visit www.distributel.ca.
Bell
Media
inquiries
Caroline
Audet
caroline.audet@bell.ca
Investor inquiries
Richard
Bengian
richard.bengian@bell.ca
Distributel
Media inquires
Rosa
Montes
rosa.montes@distributel.ca
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking
statements, including statements relating to the proposed
acquisition of Distributel by Bell and Bell's plans regarding
Distributel, certain benefits expected to result from the
acquisition for both Distributel and Bell, Bell's business outlook,
objectives, plans and strategic priorities, and other statements
that are not historical facts. All such forward-looking statements
are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of applicable
Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are
based on several assumptions which give rise to the possibility
that actual results or events could differ materially from our
expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance or events, and we caution you against relying on any of
these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements
contained in this news release describe Bell's 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, Bell does 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.
The completion of the proposed acquisition is subject to customary
closing conditions, termination rights and other risks and
uncertainties including, without limitation, regulatory approvals.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the proposed
acquisition will occur, or that it will occur on the terms and
conditions contemplated in this news release. The proposed
acquisition could be modified, restructured or terminated. There
can also be no assurance that the benefits expected to result from
the proposed acquisition will be realized. For additional
information on assumptions and risks underlying certain of the
forward-looking statements made in this news release, please
consult BCE Inc.'s (BCE) 2021 Annual MD&A dated March 3, 2022, BCE's 2022 First Quarter MD&A
dated May 4, 2022, BCE's 2022 Second
Quarter MD&A dated August 3, 2022
and BCE's news release dated August 4,
2022 announcing its financial results for the second quarter
of 2022, filed by BCE with the Canadian provincial 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.
SOURCE Bell Canada