Mr. Curtis Millen of BCE's Bell reports

BMO AND BELL CANADA EXECUTE INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABILITY-LINKED DERIVATIVE TIED TO AMBITIOUS GHG EMISSION REDUCTION TARGETS

Bank of Montreal and BCE Inc.'s Bell Canada have entered into a sustainability-linked derivative (SLD). The SLD leverages Bell's ambitious sustainability performance targets (SPT), and includes a pricing adjustment that increases the derivative's cost if Bell is unable to meet or exceed its science-based target to reduce its operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 58 per cent by 2030 from a 2020 base year in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SPT will be measured as of 2030, and a limited assurance review of Bell's targets will be performed by an independent third party. Any payments received by BMO in relation to a coupon increase will be donated to a charity focused on mitigating climate change.

"Aligned with our focus on integrating sustainability within our financial performance, we are proud to enter into one of the first sustainability-linked derivatives in Canada," said Curtis Millen, senior vice-president, corporate strategy and treasurer, Bell. "This transaction further reinforces our ESG [environmental, social, governance] objectives to make a positive difference with our investments, including as it relates to achieving our ambitious GHG emission reduction targets to support a more sustainable and prosperous future."

"Bell's sustainability-linked derivative represents an innovative way that organizations can continue to leverage BMO's leadership and expertise in sustainable finance to achieve real results and continue to make progress toward their sustainability targets," said Jonathan Hackett, head of sustainable finance at BMO. "At BMO, our purpose is to boldly grow the good in business and life, which informs our strategy, drives our ambition, and reinforces our commitments to progress for a thriving economy, a sustainable future and an inclusive society."

BMO Capital Markets has worked closely with Bell and a wide range of clients to build ESG financing frameworks and products that enable them to achieve their sustainability goals.

BMO and sustainability

As part of its purpose, to boldly grow the good in business and life, BMO is driving progress toward a more sustainable future. Carbon neutral in its own operations since 2010, BMO announced its climate ambition, to be its clients' lead partner in the transition to a net-zero world, in March, 2021, alongside the launch of the BMO Climate Institute. The bank's climate ambition builds on a previous commitment to mobilize $300-billion in sustainable lending and underwriting to companies pursuing sustainable outcomes by 2025. In 2021, BMO established a dedicated energy transition group, to support clients' pursuit of opportunities driven by the increasing momentum of the global economy's shift in production and consumption of energy.

BMO's sustainability leadership continues to be recognized on global rankings, including No. 1 bank on the World Benchmarking Alliance's 2022 financial system benchmark released at COP 27, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Ethisphere Institute's list of the world's most ethical companies and the most sustainable bank in North America for the fourth year in a row on Corporate Knights' 2023 ranking of the world's 100 most sustainable corporations.

BMO is a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Banking, the Operating Principles for Impact Investment and the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials. BMO has been recognized for world-class sustainability disclosure in line with the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board. In 2021, BMO was named chair of the Cross-Sector Biodiversity Initiative to develop and share good practices related to biodiversity and ecosystem services in the extractive industries.

About Bank of Montreal

Bank of Montreal is the eighth-largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.25-trillion as of April 30, 2023. Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets, and investment banking products and services to over 13 million customers across Canada, the United States and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to boldly grow the good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future and inclusive society.