BCE sells MTS Common Shares MONTREAL, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BCE Inc. (BCE) today announced that, based on preliminary information released by Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MTS), it expects that approximately 7.5 million of its MTS common shares will be purchased by MTS at $43.00 per share under the terms and conditions of MTS' substantial issuer bid which expired on September 21, 2004. In addition, BCE also announced today the sale, through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange, of 6 million of its MTS common shares at a price of $42.65 per share. Following these transactions, BCE will hold approximately 150,000 MTS common shares and its equity interest in MTS will decrease from 15.96% to approximately 0.2%. Total proceeds from these transactions amount to approximately $578 million. These transactions are consistent with BCE's previously announced intention to dispose of its interest in MTS. About BCE Bell Canada Enterprises is Canada's largest communications company. Through its 26 million customer connections, BCE provides the most comprehensive and innovative suite of communication services to residential and business customers in Canada. Under the Bell brand, the company's services include local, long distance and wireless phone services, high speed and wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, value-added business solutions and direct-to-home satellite and VDSL television services. Other BCE businesses include Canada's premier media company, Bell Globemedia, and Telesat, a pioneer and world leader in satellite operations and systems management. BCE shares are listed in Canada, the United States and Europe. DATASOURCE: BCE INC. CONTACT: France Poulin, Communications, (514) 786-8033, Web Site: http://www.bce.ca/ To request a free copy of this organization's annual report, please go to http://www.newswire.ca/ and click on reports@cnw

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