Reflecting our goal to achieve the highest environmental, social
and governance standards.
MONTRÉAL, April 29, 2021
/PRNewswire/ - As part of our commitment to environmental, social
and governance (ESG) leadership, BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE) (NYSE:
BCE) today announced a new Sustainable Financing Framework to guide
its future issuances of green, social and sustainability bonds and
other sustainable financings that will provide capital for
investments with positive environmental and social impacts.
"Our commitment to environmental sustainability and investments
in our customers, our team and the communities we serve is critical
to Bell's goal to advance how Canadians connect with each other and
the world," said Mirko Bibic,
President and CEO of BCE Inc. and Bell
Canada. "Our Sustainable Financing Framework is a concrete
step to ensure the highest ESG standards are reflected in all our
sustainable financing initiatives as part of a holistic approach
across our business."
Under the framework, BCE will provide ongoing reporting and
transparency to investors and other stakeholders, including annual
updates on allocation and impact metrics until the net proceeds of
a sustainable financing are fully allocated to eligible green
and/or social projects.
The BCE Sustainable Financing Framework has been reviewed by
Sustainalytics, a global leader in providing ESG research and
analysis. Sustainalytics issued a second party opinion confirming
that BCE's Sustainable Financing Framework aligns with the
International Capital Markets Association's Green and Social Bond
Principles and Sustainability Bond Guidelines, along with the Loan
Market Association's and the Loan Syndications and Trading
Associations' Green Loan Principles.
The Sustainable Financing Framework links to several of the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, designed to support
positive environmental and social impacts in our communities and
across the country. BMO Capital Markets and Bank of America acted
as structuring agents for the Sustainable Financing Framework.
A copy of BCE's Sustainable Financing Framework, the second
party opinion from Sustainalytics and further information on our
sustainability strategy can be found at BCE.ca.
About BCE
BCE is Canada's largest communications
company, providing advanced Bell broadband wireless, TV, Internet
and business communications services alongside the country's
premier content creation and media assets from Bell Media. To learn
more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
Bell supports the social and economic prosperity of our
communities with a focus on achieving the highest environmental,
social and governance (ESG) standards. We measure our progress in
increasing environmental sustainability, achieving a diverse and
inclusive workplace, leading data governance and protection, and
building stronger and healthier communities. This includes
confronting the challenge of mental illness with the Bell Let's
Talk initiative, which drives mental health awareness and
action with programs like the annual Bell Let's Talk Day and Bell
funding for community care, research and workplace programs
nationwide all year round.
Media inquiries:
Marie-Eve
Francoeur
514-391-5263
marie-eve.francoeur@bell.ca
@Bell_News
Investor inquiries:
Richard
Bengian
514-786-8219
richard.bengian@bell.ca
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain
statements made in this news release are forward-looking
statements, including statements relating to our strategies, goals,
objectives and plans, the intended use of proceeds of future
financings, 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 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. For
additional information on assumptions and risks underlying certain
of our forward-looking statements made in this news release, please
consult BCE's 2020 Annual MD&A dated March 4, 2021 (included in BCE's 2020 Annual
Report), as updated in BCE's 2021 First Quarter MD&A dated
April 28, 2021 and BCE's news release
dated April 29, 2021 announcing its
2021 first quarter results, 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.
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bce-announces-sustainable-financing-framework-301280758.html
SOURCE Bell Canada