For the month of: July 2006 | Commission File Number: 1-8481 |
Form 20-F o | Form 40-F þ |
Yes o | No þ |
SIGNATURE |
BCE Inc. | ||||
(signed) Patricia Olah
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Patricia A. Olah | ||||
Corporate Secretary and | ||||
Lead Governance Counsel | ||||
Date: July 11, 2006 |
Certificate of Arrangement
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Certificat darrangement | |
Canada Business Corporations Act
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Loi canadienne sur les sociétés par actions |
BCE INC.
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425229-2 | |
BCE INC. |
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Name of CBCA corporation(s) involved - Dénomination(s) de la (des) société(s) LCSA concernée(s) |
Corporation number Numéro de la société | |
I hereby certify that the
arrangement set out in
the attached articles of
arrangement, involving
the above-referenced
corporation(s), has been
effected under section
192 of the Canada
Business Corporations Act.
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Je certifie que larrangement mentionné dans les clauses darrangement annexées, concernant la (les) société(s) susmentionnée(s), a pris effet en vertu de larticle 192 de la Loi canadienne sur les sociétés par actions. | |
July 10, 2006 / le 10 juillet 2006 | ||
Richard G Shaw
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Date of Arrangement Date de 1arrangement | |
Director Directeur
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Industry Canada Canada Business Corporations Act |
Industrie Canada Loi canadienne sur les sociétés par actions |
FORM 14.1 ARTICLES OF ARRANGEMENT (SECTION 192) |
FORMULAIRE 14.1 CLAUSES DARRANGEMENT (ARTICLE 192) |
1 Name of the applicant
corporation(s) Dénomination
sociale de la(des) requérante(s)
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2 Corporation No.(s) N°(s) de la(des) société(s) | ||
BCE Inc.
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425229-2 |
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3 Name of the corporation(s) the
articles of which are amended, if
applicable Dénomination sociale de
la(des) société(s) dont les statuts
sont modifiés, le cas échéant
|
4 Corporation No (s) N°(s) de
la(des) société(s) |
||
5 Name of the corporation(s)
created by amalgamation, if
applicable Dénomination sociale de
la(des) société(s) issue(s) de
la(des) fusion(s), le cas échéant
|
6 Corporation No (s) N°(s) de
la(des) société(s) |
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7 Name of the dissolved
corporation(s), if applicable
Dénomination sociale de la(des) société(s) dissoute(s), le cas échéant |
8 Corporation No (s) N°(s) de
la(des) société(s) |
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9 Name of other corporations
involved, if applicable Dénomination sociale des autres sociétés en cause, le cas échéant |
10 Corporation No.(s) or
Jurisdiction of Incorporation N°(s)
de la(des) société(s)/ou loi sous le
régime de laquelle elle est
constituée |
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11
In accordance with the order approving the arrangement
Conformément aux termes de lordonnance approuvant larrangement |
a | o | The articles of the above named corporation(s) are amended in accordance with the attached plan of
arrangement Les statuts de la(des) société(s) susmentionnée(s) sont modifiés en conformité avec le plan darrangement ci-joint |
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The name of | is changed to | |||||||||
La dénomination sociale de | est modifiée pour | |||||||||
b | o | The following bodies
corporate are amaigamated in accordance with the attached plan of arrangement
Les personnes morales suivantes sont fusionnées conformément au plan darrangement ci-joint |
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c | o | The above named
corporation(s) is(are) liquidated and dissolved in accordance with the attached
plan of arrangement La(les) société(s) susmentionnée(s) est(sont) liquidée(s) et dissoute(s) conformément au plan darrangement ci-joint |
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d | þ | The plan of arrangement
attached hereto, involving the above named body(ies), corporate is hereby
effected Le plan darrangement ci-joint portant sur la(les) personne(s) morale(s) susmentionnée(s) prend effet |
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at 5:01 p.m. (Montréal time) on July 10, 2006 |
Signature
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Printed Name - Nom en lettres moulées | 12 Capacity of - En qualité de | 13 Tel. No - N° de tél | |||||||
Martine Turcotte | Chief Legal Off. | (514) 870-4637 | ||||||||
FOR DEPARTMENTAL USE ONLY - À LUSAGE DU MINISTÈRE SEULEMENT | ||||||||||
JUL 10 2006 | ||||||||||
IC 3189 (2003/06) |
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(a) | Headings The division of this Plan of Arrangement into Articles, Sections and Schedules and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Plan of Arrangement. | ||
(b) | References Unless otherwise indicated, all references to Articles, Sections and Schedules are to Articles, Sections and Schedules of this Plan of Arrangement. | ||
(c) | Number and Gender Unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words importing any gender include all genders. | ||
(d) | Date for Any Action In the event that the date on which any action to be taken hereunder by any Person hereunder is not a Business Day, such action shall be taken on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day. | ||
(e) | Statutory References References in this Plan of Arrangement to any statute includes all regulations made pursuant to such statute and the provisions of any statute or regulation which amends, supplements or supercedes any such statute or regulation. |
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(f) | Time Time shall be of the essence in every matter or action contemplated hereunder. All times expressed herein are local time (Montréal, Québec) unless otherwise stipulated herein or therein. | ||
(g) | Currency All references to money amounts are to the lawful currency of Canada. |
2.1 | Arrangement Binding |
(a) | all Common Shares held by Dissenting Shareholders which remain valid immediately before the Effective Date will be deemed to have been transferred to BCE and be cancelled and cease to be outstanding and such holders will cease to have any rights as Shareholders other than the right to be paid the fair value of their Common Shares as set out in Section 4.1; | ||
(b) | subject to Subsections 3.1 (d), 3.1(e) and 3.l(f), BCE shall distribute to the Shareholders as of the Effective Time, other than Dissenting Shareholders, that number of Fund Unit per Common Share equal to the Distribution Ratio (the Distribution) and, in consideration and in exchange for the Distribution, the stated capital in respect of the Common Shares shall be reduced by an amount equal to the value of all of the Fund Units distributed by BCE to the Shareholders, or on their behalf, determined by the Board at its sole discretion, such stated capital being further reduced by the amount paid by BCE pursuant to the Dissent Rights; | ||
(c) | subject to Subsection 3.l(d), all Common Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time held by Shareholders, other than Common Shares held by Dissenting Shareholders, will be consolidated on the basis of that number of Consolidated Common Share for each Common Share equal to the Consolidation Ratio (the Consolidation); |
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(d) | fractional interest in a Fund Unit or a Consolidated Common Share, as the case may be, which would otherwise be distributed to a registered Shareholder pursuant to Subsections 3.1(b) and 3.1(c), respectively, will be distributed to the Transfer Agent as agent for such registered Shareholder after aggregating all such fractional Fund Units or Consolidated Common Shares, as the case may be, and each such registered Shareholder will receive a cash payment in Canadian dollars equal to such registered Shareholders pro rata portion of the net proceeds after expenses received by the Transfer Agent upon the sale of whole Fund Units or Consolidated Common Shares, as the case may be, representing an accumulation of all fractional interests in Fund Units or Consolidated Common Shares, as the case may be, to which all such registered Shareholder would otherwise be entitled pursuant to Subsections 3.l(b) and 3.l(c); | ||
(e) | Fund Units which would otherwise be distributed pursuant to Subsection 3.1(b) to a registered or beneficial Shareholder holding a Small Interest will be distributed to the Transfer Agent as agent for such registered or beneficial Shareholder after aggregating all such Fund Units, and each such registered or beneficial Shareholder will receive a cash payment in Canadian dollars equal to such registered or beneficial Shareholders pro rata portion of the net proceeds after expenses received by the Transfer Agent upon the sale of Fund Units representing the aggregate number of the Fund Units to which all such Shareholders would otherwise be entitled pursuant to Subsection 3.1(b); | ||
(f) | Fund Units that are to be distributed pursuant to Subsection 3.1(b) to a Non- Qualified U.S Shareholder, or to a Non-Resident if it appears to BCE that it would be contrary to applicable law to distribute such Fund Units to such Non- Resident, will be distributed to the Transfer Agent as agent for such Non- Qualified U.S. Shareholder or Non-Resident, as the case may be, and each such Person will only be entitled to receive a cash payment in Canadian dollars equal to such Persons pro rata portion of the net proceeds after expenses received by the Transfer Agent upon the sale of the aggregate of such Fund Units to which all such Shareholders would otherwise be entitled pursuant to Subsection 3.1(b); | ||
(g) | subject to applicable laws and regulatory requirements, the terms of the Stock Option Plans and of the outstanding Stock Options as of the Effective Time shall be adjusted to provide that, notwithstanding the Distribution and the Consolidation, the number of outstanding Stock Options held by any Person under the Stock Option Plans, as well as the exercise price thereof, will remain the same; and | ||
(h) | subject to applicable laws and regulatory requirements, the terms of the Deferred Share Unit Plans and of the outstanding Deferred Share Units shall be adjusted to provide that (i) BCE shall credit to each Participant as of the Effective Time that number of notional Fund Units (Notional Fund Units) per Deferred Share Unit equal to the Distribution Ratio, (ii) all Deferred Share Units outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be consolidated on the basis of that number of Consolidated Deferred Share Unit for each Deferred Share Unit equal |
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to the Consolidation Ratio, (iii) Notional Fund Units shall be the economic equivalent of Fund Units and Participants shall be credited on a quarterly basis with additional Deferred Share Units during the term of their Participant Agreement(s) to reflect monthly distributions made on the Notional Fund Units during such period, such number of additional Deferred Share Units to be equal to the amount of the notional distribution on Notional Fund Units divided by the Market Value of a Common Share as at the payment date of such notional distributions, and (iv) in satisfaction of the number of Notional Fund Units recorded in a Participants account on the Entitlement Date, a number of Deferred Share Units equal to the Market Value of the Notional Fund Units divided by the Market Value of a Common Share shall be credited to the Participant, provided that if required regulatory consents, including a favourable ruling confirmation from the Canada Revenue Agency, are not obtained prior to the Final Order, BCE shall be entitled to make such other adjustment to the terms of the Deferred Share Unit Plans and of the outstanding Deferred Share Units such that they provide for benefits which, to the extent possible, are the economic equivalent of the Distribution and the Consolidation, the whole as determined by the Board acting reasonably. |
3.2 | Transfers Free and Clear of Title Restrictions |
4.1 | Rights of Dissent |
(a) | are ultimately entitled to be paid fair value for their Common Shares, shall be deemed to have transferred their Common Shares to BCE as of the Effective Time and shall be entitled to be paid the fair value of such Common Shares, and will not be entitled to any other payment or consideration, including any payment that would be payable under the Arrangement had such holders not exercised their Dissent Rights; or | ||
(b) | are ultimately not entitled, for any reason, to be paid fair value for their Common Shares shall be deemed to have participated in the Arrangement on the same basis as any non-Dissenting Shareholder. |
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(a) | BCE shall, as soon as practicable following the later of the Effective Date and the date of deposit with the Transfer Agent by a registered Shareholder of a duly completed Letter of Transmittal and the certificates representing the Common Shares held by such registered Shareholder prior to the Effective Date or other documentation as provided in the Letter of Transmittal, cause the Transfer Agent either: |
(i) | to forward or cause to be forwarded by first class mail (postage prepaid) to the registered Shareholder at the address specified in the Letter of Transmittal; or | ||
(ii) | if requested by the registered Shareholder in the Letter of Transmittal, to make available at an office of the Transfer Agent specified in the Letter of Transmittal for pick-up by the registered Shareholder; or | ||
(iii) | if the Letter of Transmittal neither specifies an address nor contains a request as described in (ii), to forward or cause to be forwarded by first class mail (postage prepaid) to such registered Shareholder at the address of such registered Shareholder as shown on the central securities register of BCE, |
(b) | BCE shall, as soon as practicable following the Effective Date, cause the Transfer Agent to forward or cause to be forwarded by first class mail (postage prepaid) to the registered Shareholder at the address of such registered Shareholder as shown on the central securities register of BCE, certificates representing the number of Fund Units distributed to such registered Shareholder as determined in accordance with the provisions hereof, BCE shall ensure that the Fund will provide the Transfer Agent with sufficient certificates representing Fund Units duly registered for this purpose. |
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(c) | Each registered Shareholder entitled to receive Consolidated Common Shares and Fund Units under the Arrangement shall be the registered holder for all purposes as of the Effective Time of the number of Consolidated Common Shares and of the number of Fund Units to which such Shareholder is entitled. All dividends paid or other distributions paid on or after the Effective Time on or in respect of any Consolidated Common Shares or Fund Units which a Shareholder is entitled to receive pursuant to the Arrangement, but for which a certificate is not yet delivered to such Shareholder in accordance with Subsections 5.l(a) and 5.l(b), shall be paid or made to such Shareholder when such certificate is delivered to such Shareholder in accordance with Subsections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b). | ||
(d) | Subject to Section 4.1, after the Effective Time, any certificate formerly representing Common Shares shall represent only the right to receive Consolidated Common Shares and Fund Units, or cash payments pursuant to Subsections 3.1(d), 3.1(e) and 3.1(f) in accordance with this Plan of Arrangement and any dividend or other distributions to which the registered Shareholder is entitled under Subsection 5.l(c). |
(a) | The Transfer Agent shall cause to be sold, on behalf of the affected Shareholders, all Consolidated Common Shares and Fund Units mentioned in Subsections 3.l(d), 3.1(e) and 3.1(f) through the facilities of any stock exchange upon which the Consolidated Common Shares or Fund Units, as the case may be, are then listed as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Date on such dates and at such prices as the Transfer Agent determines in its sole discretion. Neither BCE nor the Transfer Agent shall be liable for any loss arising out of any such sales. | ||
(b) | The aggregate net proceeds after expenses of such sales shall be distributed by the Transfer Agent among the Persons entitled to receive same as provided in Subsections 3.l(d), 3.l(e) and 3.1(f) by the delivery, on behalf of BCE, to each such Person of a cheque or other form of payment agreed to by such Person. | ||
(c) | No dividend, distribution, split or other change in the capital structure of BCE or the Fund, as the case may be, will have any effect on any Consolidated Common Shares and Fund Units mentioned in Subsections 3.l(d), 3.1(e) and 3.l(f) and such securities will not entitle the holder thereof to exercise any rights as a security holder of BCE or the Fund. |
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(a) | BCE reserves the right to amend, modify and/or supplement this Plan of Arrangement from time to time at any time prior to the Effective Time provided that any such amendment, modification or supplement must be contained in a written document that is: (i) filed with the Court and, if made following the Meeting, approved by the Court, and (ii) communicated to Shareholders in any manner ordered by the Court. | ||
(b) | Any amendment, modification or supplement to this Plan of Arrangement which is approved by the Court following the Meeting shall be effective only: (i) if it is consented to by BCE, and (ii) if required by the Court or applicable law, it is consented to by the Shareholders. | ||
(c) | Subject to applicable law, any amendment, modification or supplement to this Plan of Arrangement may be made following the Effective Date unilaterally by BCE, provided that it concerns a matter which, in the reasonable opinion of BCE, is of an administrative nature required to better give effect to the implementation of this Plan of Arrangement and is not adverse to the financial or economic interests of any Shareholder. |
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