SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of October 2002 Commission File Number 1-8481
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BCE Inc.
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
1000, rue de La Gauchetiere Ouest, Bureau 3700, Montreal, Quebec H3B 4Y7,
(514) 397-7000
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F Form 40-F X
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Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- .
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This Form 6-K is not incorporated by reference in the registration statement
filed by BCE Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Form F-3
on June 15, 2000 (Registration No. 333-12130), under Form S-8 on October 16,
2000 (Registration No. 333-12780), under Form S-8 on November 1, 2000
(Registration No. 333-12802) and under Form S-8 on November 1, 2000
(Registration No. 333-12804). Notwithstanding any reference to BCE Inc.'s
Web site on the World Wide Web in the documents attached hereto, the
information contained in BCE Inc.'s Web site or any other site on the World
Wide Web referred to in BCE Inc.'s site is not a part of this Form 6-K and,
therefore, is not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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For Immediate Release
BCE ANNOUNCES PUBLIC DEBT OFFERING
Montreal (Quebec), October 22, 2002 -- BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE) announced
that further to its August 1st, 2002 shelf prospectus filing, it has initiated
a public offering of BCE debt securities today to raise approximately Cdn
$1.5 billion. A draft prospectus supplement relating to this public offering
has been filed with all Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities.
BCE has invited a syndicate of underwriters to place the BCE public debt
offering. TD Securities Inc. will act as lead manager and book-runner and
Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. will act as co lead-manager.
The net proceeds resulting from this offering will be used to pay part of the
acquisition price of SBC Communications Inc.'s indirect minority interest in
Bell Canada.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation
of any offer to buy nor will there be any sale of these securities in any
province, state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale
would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities
laws of any such province, state or jurisdiction.
ABOUT BCE
BCE is Canada's largest communications company. It has 24 million customer
connections through the wireline, wireless, data/Internet and satellite
services it provides, largely under the Bell brand. BCE leverages those
connections with extensive content creation capabilities through Bell
Globemedia which features some of the strongest brands in the industry --
CTV, Canada's leading private broadcaster, The Globe and Mail, the leading
Canadian daily national newspaper and Sympatico.ca, the leading Canadian
Internet portal. As well, BCE has extensive e-commerce capabilities provided
under the BCE Emergis brand. BCE shares are listed in Canada, the United
States and Europe.
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CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements made in this press release are forward-looking and are
subject to important risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The results or
events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially
from actual results or events. There can be no assurance that BCE Inc. will
complete the public offering of any debt securities, or that it will raise all
or part of the proceeds, as set forth in this news release. The forward-looking
statements contained in this press release represent BCE Inc.'s expectations
as of October 22, 2002 and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date.
However, BCE Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
For further information:
Nick Kaminaris
Communications
(514) 786-3908
Web site: www.bce.ca
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BCE Inc.
(Signed Michael T. Boychuk)
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Michael T. Boychuk
Senior Vice-President and Corporate Treasurer
Date: October 22, 2002