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Bell Announces Offering of Cdn $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of Hybrid Notes

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This news release contains forward-looking statements. For a description of the related risk factors and assumptions, please see the section entitled “Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” later in this news release.

The prospectus supplement, the corresponding amended and restated base shelf prospectus and any amendment thereto in connection with the Offering will be accessible through SEDAR+ within two business days.

MONTRÉAL, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Bell Canada (Bell) today announced the offering of Cdn $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of Fixed-to-Fixed Rate Junior Subordinated Notes (the Offering).

The Cdn $1.25 billion Fixed-to-Fixed Rate Junior Subordinated Notes, Series C due 2055 will initially bear interest at a rate per annum of 5.625% and reset every five years starting on March 27, 2030 at a rate per annum equal to the five-year Government of Canada yield plus a spread of 2.950%, provided that the interest rate during any five-year interest period will not reset below 5.625% (the Notes).

The Notes are being publicly offered in all provinces of Canada through a syndicate of agents. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on March 27, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BCE Inc.

Bell intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to repurchase, redeem or repay, as applicable, its senior indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes.

The Offering is being made pursuant to Bell’s amended and restated short form base shelf prospectus dated February 6, 2025 (the amended and restated base shelf prospectus). Bell will file a prospectus supplement to the amended and restated base shelf prospectus relating to this issue with the securities regulatory authorities in all provinces of Canada.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (U.S. Securities Act), or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act).

Access to the prospectus supplement, the corresponding amended and restated base shelf prospectus and any amendment thereto in connection with the Offering is provided in accordance with securities legislation relating to procedures for providing access to a prospectus supplement, a base shelf prospectus and any amendment thereto. The prospectus supplement, the corresponding amended and restated base shelf prospectus and any amendment thereto in connection with the Offering will be accessible within two business days at www.sedarplus.ca.

An electronic or paper copy of the prospectus supplement, the corresponding amended and restated base shelf prospectus and any amendment thereto may be obtained from any one of the joint bookrunners and co-leads, without charge, by contacting BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. by email at dcmcadsyndicatedesk@bmo.com, BofA Securities, Inc. by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com, Scotia Capital Inc by email at syndicate.toronto@scotiabank.com, and TD Securities Inc. by email at TDCAN-Syndicate@tdsecurities.com, and by providing the contact with an email address or mailing address, as applicable.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements relating to the expected timing and completion of the proposed sale of the Notes, the intended use of the net proceeds of such sale and other statements that are not historical facts. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbour” provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. 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. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the proposed offering referred to above. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The timing and completion of the abovementioned proposed sale of the Notes is subject to customary closing terms and other risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the proposed sale of the Notes will occur, or that it will occur at the expected time indicated in this news release.

About Bell

Bell is Canada’s largest communications company,1 providing advanced broadband Internet, wireless, TV, media and business communication services. 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. 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.

1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections.

Media inquiries:
Ellen Murphy
media@bell.ca 

Investor inquiries: 
Richard Bengian
richard.bengian@bell.ca

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SOURCE Bell Canada (MTL)

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Barzan Holdings Joint Venture with Rheinmetall AG, Rheinmetal Barzan Advanced Technologies (RBAT), and Shield AI to advance autonomy on Qatari Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV)

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DOHA, Qatar, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shield AI, a leader in AI-powered mission autonomy, and Barzan Holdings Joint Venture RBAT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Milipol Qatar 2026 to explore the integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software into Qatari-designed maritime autonomous defense and security solutions.

This strategic partnership will build on established local capabilities in advanced maritime technologies, combining RBAT’s indigenous engineering expertise with Shield AI’s autonomy solutions into Barzan Holdings solutions.

Shield AI and RBAT will work closely to explore integration of Hivemind autonomy software, leveraging the combined expertise of both companies and building upon Qatar’s established engineering capabilities and technological strengths.

Mimi Shalash, senior director for Hivemind at Shield AI, welcomed the MoU:

“Qatar continues to demonstrate its leadership in maritime defense, leveraging its advanced capabilities to safeguard critical infrastructure while driving innovation in coastal security and defense operations. 

The integration of Hivemind with Barzan Holdings autonomous solutions will expand advanced capabilities and enable coordinated autonomous operations across multiple vessels while optimizing operational efficiency and effectiveness. We are proud to collaborate with RBAT’s highly skilled engineers, combining our respective technological strengths to advance next-generation maritime autonomy.”

Dr. Sinan Al-Obaidi, Chief Executive Officer of Rheinmetall Barzan Advanced Technologies (RBAT) said:

“Autonomy delivers its full value only when it is part of a wider operational picture. Shield AI brings proven, battle-tested autonomy through integrating Hivemind onto Barzan Holdings autonomous solutions. This elevates Qatar from individual unmanned platforms, to coordinated teams of vessels that protect our coastal waters and critical infrastructure.”

The MoU was signed on Day 2 of Milipol Qatar 2026 by Mimi Shalash, senior director for Hivemind at Shield AI, and Dr. Sinan Al-Obaidi, Chief Executive Officer of Rheinmetall Barzan Advanced Technologies (RBAT).

Notes to Editors:

About Shield AI and Hivemind

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.

Hivemind has piloted more than 40 platforms, including F-16s, jet-powered uncrewed aircraft, helicopters, uncrewed surface vessels, ground vehicles, and a satellite in low Earth orbit. This collaboration follows similar partnerships and successful demos with Taiwan’s Thunder Tiger Corp. and with Kraken Technology Group Ltd in the UK for autonomy on maritime platforms.

Media Contact: Serene Koh; media@shield.ai

About Barzan Holdings

Barzan Holdings is a leading defense and security company that aims to strengthen Qatar’s sovereignty and strategic position by investing in the long-term development of its human capital and armed forces capabilities.

As the commercial gateway for the country’s military industry, Barzan Holdings prioritizes impactful collaborations and global partnerships that foster knowledge exchange and investments into innovative defense technologies to keep Qatar at the forefront of present and future market opportunities.

Through its global portfolio of investments and joint ventures, Barzan Holdings serves as a knowledge and technology hub that drives efficiencies in delivery and execution to meet the various needs of Qatar’s defense and security sector.

About RBAT

Founded in 2017, Rheinmetall Barzan Advanced Technologies is a joint venture company between Barzan Holdings and Rheinmetall AG, with the mission of designing, developing and integrating advanced defense and security technologies, leveraging sovereign engineering and software expertise to deliver scalable, AI-enabled, mission-ready systems. RBAT product portfolio includes advanced Command and Control (C2) software, a comprehensive family of unmanned systems (UXV) and field-proven Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) solutions.

For more information on Barzan Holdings and RBAT, please visit the official Barzan Holdings website at www.barzanholdings.com

For media inquiries, please contact: groupcomm@barzanholdings.com

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Multiplier Reveals Global Hiring Trends: International Hiring for Leadership Roles Rises, US-to-Canada Hiring Expands by 170%, and Commercial Roles Outpace Tech

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Based on data from over 38,000 cross-border hires, Multiplier’s Talent Trends reveals the ways companies are fundamentally changing how, where, and why they recruit globally.

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Multiplier, the Global Exchange for Work, released its Talent Trends data, uncovering major shifts in how organizations build and manage international teams. Based on an analysis of more than 38,000 hires across 2,700+ companies, the data demonstrates that global hiring strategies are increasingly driven by commercial expansion, nearshore market growth, and geographical splits between leadership and operational delivery roles.

The continued volatility of H-1B visas has remained a driving force for global engineering and data hiring. Those positions mark the largest single function at 25% of all hires through Multiplier. Sales and customer support roles, however, saw the fastest acceleration over the past year. Sales hiring grew 108%, and customer support grew 59%, significantly outpacing overall hiring through Multiplier (53%) and engineering and data roles, which grew 34%.

“As work goes global, decisions can no longer rely on blind instinct or outdated surveys,” said Sagar Khatri, Co-Founder and CEO of Multiplier. “Talent Trends leverages real contracts and real wages from Multiplier’s Global Exchange for Work to show what work is worth, where talent runs deep, and where it’s heading. The data is cleaned rigorously, broken down by country, role, seniority and industry, and refreshed every quarter. It shows the market as it is today, not as it was a year ago, which provides HR leaders, finance teams, and global talent the real intelligence needed to make confident, evidence-based moves.”

Key Insights from the Talent Trends data:

International Leadership Roles are Rising: Director-level or above hires grew 84% in the 12 months to June 2026, faster than hiring overall through Multiplier (53%). Leadership roles make up 29% of hires in the UK and 26% in Singapore.Commercial Roles Outpacing Technical Hiring: Sales is now the top hiring function in mature international markets, including Germany (26%), Australia (28%), and the UK (22%).The Leadership vs. Delivery Divide: Director-level and executive roles are heavily concentrated in regional hubs: they account for 29% of hires in the UK, 26% in Singapore, and nearly 23% in the US and Canada.Surge in Nearshore and Secondary Growth Markets: Nearshore corridors experienced exponential growth, led by Canada (+302%) and Colombia (+210%) in the 12 months to June 2026, driven largely by US companies. US-to-Canada hiring also expanded 170% year-over-year in Q2 2026, becoming the single largest cross-border hiring corridor through Multiplier.Prevalence of USD Pay for Contractors: Contractors are paid differently from Employer of Record (EOR) employees. In Brazil, 75% of contractors and freelancers receive pay in USD, while 100% of EOR employees are paid in other currencies.Backfill vs. Net New Growth: Replacement hiring varies more than tenfold across borders. Nearly a quarter of hires in India and 20% in the Philippines replace departing employees, compared to just 7% in the US and 2% in Canada.Localized Hiring Calendars: Peak hiring seasons vary significantly by geography. Onboarding peaks in April in Australia (16% of starts), whereas January is the busiest month for China (18%), Spain (15%), and Germany (13%).

Talent Trends draws on more than 38,000 hires through Multiplier’s Global Exchange for Work, covering 24 months ending in June 2026. It covers Employer of Record (EOR) employees, contractors and freelancers. Every figure rests on at least 50 hires, and figures where a single customer makes up more than 35% of the data were omitted, with a few exceptions marked as indicative.

To explore the Talent Trends tool and explore detailed profiles for 20 key global hiring markets, visit https://www.usemultiplier.com/talent-trends.

About Multiplier

Multiplier is the Global Exchange for Work, precision-built for companies to hire, manage, and pay global teams across more than 160 countries. By combining Employer of Record, COR, and Global Payroll, with a vast network of owned entities and human-first support, Multiplier empowers companies of all sizes to expand globally with confidence. Since 2020, the global-first infrastructure has processed over $1.81 billion in cross-border wages, reshaping the global economy and the future of work. 

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SOURCE Multiplier

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The Digimon Card Game Heads to the Digital World in DIGIMON ALYSION! Pre-Register Today!!

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Pre-registration for the mobile version of the popular card game begins today in 49 countries and regions!

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — After years of building a thriving and competitive community of Digimon Tamers, BANDAI CO., LTD. is thrilled to share that the Digimon Card Game is making the jump to mobile platforms with DIGIMON ALYSION! Pre-registration for this mobile title is now available to all curious Digi-Destined in 49 countries and regions across the globe!

Pre-Register for DIGIMON ALYSION: HERE

Taking place in the world of the DIGIMON LIBERATOR webcomic and light novel, which are both available to read for free on the Digimon Card Game official website, DIGIMON ALYSION is set to expand the card game through the inclusion of exclusive new cards, as well as the lore of the extended Digimon universe with a new Story Mode!

In DIGIMON ALYSION’s Story Mode, players follow along as card game newcomer Kanata Hondo learns the rules and systems of the Digimon Card Game with support from her best friend Futre, and plays card battles by following the in-game guide. Beyond helping new players learn how to play the Digimon Card Game, the Story Mode will also feature performances from famed voice actors who are bringing these characters to life. This cast of characters and performers will include:

Kanata Hondo voiced by Shu UchidaAn energetic, upbeat casual gamer who has played games of all kinds but is new to card games.Futre voiced by Hikari KubotaA girl who games with Kanata. They have never met in real life, but they are so close that each considers the other a best friend.Valner Dragnogh voiced by Fairouz AiA girl who is the guild master of [Di:WO], the guild Futre once belonged to.Renamon voiced by Miyuki SawashiroValner’s partner Digimon. Renamon rarely shows emotion, but is always looking out for Valner.Aliol voiced by Ayumu MuraseThe guide for DIGIMON LIBERATOR, a near-future full-dive game.

With deep gameplay that supports a wide variety of viable decks, plus battle and strategy design built for competitive play such as ranked matches and tournaments, the game delivers a full-fledged TCG experience that card game fans and Digimon fans alike are sure to love!

Game Info:

Title: DIGIMON ALYSION
Genre: Online card game
Developer/Operator: BANDAI CO., LTD.
Platforms: App Store / Google Play (iOS / Android)
System Languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean
Card Languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Korean
Price: Free-to-play (in-app purchases)
Pre-registration start: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Official release: Planned for 2026

Related Links:

Official website: https://www.digimon-alysion.com
Official X: https://x.com/DIGIMON_ALYSION
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Digimon-Alysion/61573960307458/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digimon_alysion
Digimon Card Game Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@digimontcgen
Read Digimon Liberator: https://digimoncard.com/digimon_liberator/en/
App Store / Google Play: https://app.adjust.com/25feumqt

Company and Copyright Info: 
Company Profile: BANDAI CO., LTD.
Website: https://www.bandai.com/ 

Please include the following copyright information for all images, videos, and all other assets sourced from DIGIMON ALYSION:
©Akiyoshi Hongo, Toei Animation ©BANDAI

Additional Assets: HERE

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-digimon-card-game-heads-to-the-digital-world-in-digimon-alysion-pre-register-today-302921597.html

SOURCE BANDAI CO., LTD.

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