CUSIP NO. 05534B109

13G

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13G

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 1)*

 

BCE Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

 

Common Shares, no par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

05534B109

(CUSIP Number)

 

December 31, 2005

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

 

x Rule 13d-1(b)

o Rule 13d-1(c)

o Rule 13d-1(d)

 

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

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1.

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.

 

 

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY).

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc. (13-2670991)

 

 

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b) X

 

3.

SEC USE ONLY

 

4.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

 

Delaware

 

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

 

 

5.

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

6.

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

 

0

 

 

7.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

8.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

0

 

9.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

 

47,223,665

 

10.

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

 

CERTAIN SHARES o

 

 

 

11.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

 

5.1%

 

12.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

 

HC (See Item 4)

 

 

 

 

 

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1.

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.

 

 

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY).

 

 

Charles B. Johnson

 

 

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b)

X

 

3.

SEC USE ONLY

 

4.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

 

USA

 

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

 

 

5.

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

6.

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

 

0

 

 

7.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

8.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

0

 

9.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

 

47,223,665

 

10.

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

 

CERTAIN SHARES o

 

 

 

11.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

 

5.1%

 

12.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

 

HC (See Item 4)

 

 

 

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1.

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.

 

 

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY).

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

 

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b)

X

 

3.

SEC USE ONLY

 

4.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

 

USA

 

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

 

5.

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

6.

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

 

0

 

 

7.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

(See Item 4)

 

 

8.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

 

0

 

9.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

 

47,223,665

 

10.

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

 

CERTAIN SHARES o

 

 

 

11.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

 

5.1%

 

12.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

 

HC (See Item 4)

 

 

 

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Item 1.

(a) Name of Issuer

 

 

BCE Inc.

 

(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

 

 

1000 rue de La Gauchetiere Ouest

 

 

Bureau 3700

 

 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 4Y7

 

Item 2.

(a) Name of Person Filing

 

(i):

Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

(ii): Charles B. Johnson

 

 

(iii): Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

 

(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence

 

 

(i), (ii), and (iii):

 

 

One Franklin Parkway

 

 

San Mateo, CA 94403-1906

 

(c) Citizenship

 

 

(i): Delaware

 

 

(ii) and (iii): USA

 

(d) Title of Class of Securities

 

 

Common Shares, no par value

 

(e) CUSIP Number

 

 

05534B109

 

 

 

 

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Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

 

 

(a)

o Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

 

(b)

o Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

 

(c)

o Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

 

(d)

o Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8).

 

(e)

o An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

 

(f)

o An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

 

(g)

x A parent holding company or control person in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

 

(h)

o A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

 

(i)

o A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

 

(j)

o Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(J).

 

Item 4. Ownership

 

The securities reported herein (the “Securities”) are beneficially owned by one or more open or closed-end investment companies or other managed accounts that are investment advisory clients of investment advisers that are direct and indirect subsidiaries (each, an “Adviser Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Adviser Subsidiaries”) of Franklin Resources, Inc. (“FRI”), including the Adviser Subsidiaries listed in Item 7. Advisory contracts grant to the Adviser Subsidiaries all investment and/or voting power over the securities owned by such advisory clients, unless otherwise noted in this Item 4. Therefore, for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Act, the Adviser Subsidiaries may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of the Securities.

 

Beneficial ownership by investment advisory subsidiaries and other affiliates of FRI is being reported in conformity with the guidelines articulated by the SEC staff in Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998) relating to organizations, such as FRI, where related entities exercise voting and investment powers over the securities being reported independently from each other. The voting and investment powers held by Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC (“FMA”), an indirect wholly-owned Adviser Subsidiary, are exercised independently from FRI and from all other Adviser Subsidiaries (FRI, its affiliates and the Adviser Subsidiaries other than FMA are collectively, “FRI affiliates”). Furthermore, internal policies and procedures of FMA and FRI establish informational barriers that prevent the flow between FMA and the FRI affiliates of information that relates to the voting and investment powers over the securities owned by their respective advisory clients. Consequently, FMA and the FRI affiliates report the securities over which they hold investment and voting power separately from each other for purposes of Section 13 of the Act.

 

Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (the “Principal Shareholders”) each own in excess of 10% of the outstanding common stock of FRI and are the principal stockholders of FRI. FRI and the Principal Shareholders may be deemed to be, for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Act, the beneficial owners of securities held by persons and entities advised by FRI subsidiaries. The number of shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned and the percentage of the

 

 

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class of which such shares are a part are reported in Items 9 and 11 of the cover pages for FRI and each of the Principal Shareholders. FRI, the Principal Shareholders and each of the Adviser Subsidiaries disclaim any pecuniary interest in any of the Securities. In addition, the filing of this Schedule 13G on behalf of the Principal Shareholders, FRI and FRI affiliates, as applicable, should not be construed as an admission that any of them is, and each disclaims that it is, the beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3, of any of the Securities.

 

FRI, the Principal Shareholders, and each of the Adviser Subsidiaries believe that they are not a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Act and that they are not otherwise required to attribute to each other the beneficial ownership of the Securities held by any of them or by any persons or entities advised by FRI subsidiaries.

 

 

(a) Amount beneficially owned:

 

 

47,223,665

 

 

(b) Percent of class:

 

 

5.1%

 

 

(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:

 

 

(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.:

0

 

 

Charles B. Johnson:

0

 

 

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:

0

 

 

Templeton Global Advisors Limited:

30,370,891

 

Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC:

10,485,099

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.:

2,298,386

 

 

Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited:

956,953

 

 

Franklin Templeton Portfolio Advisors, Inc.[1]:

570,191

 

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Australia Limited:

77,849

 

 

Franklin Templeton Alternative Strategies, Inc.:

85,819

 

 

Fiduciary Trust Company International:

51,700

 

 

Franklin Templeton Investments (Asia) Limited:

52,195

 

 

Templeton Asset Management Ltd.:

41,200

 

 

 

(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote

 

 

0

 

 

(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

 

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.:

0

 

Charles B. Johnson:

0

_________________________

 Franklin Templeton Portfolio Advisors, Inc. (FTPA) may beneficially own these securities pursuant to various separately managed account investment management arrangements. Under these arrangements, each underlying client may, from time to time, either retain, delegate to FTPA entirely, or delegate to FTPA only with respect to certain matters, the power to vote such securities. To the extent that FTPA has voting power over any such securities, it has sole voting power. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that an underlying client retains voting power over any shares, FTPA disclaims any power to vote or direct the vote of such securities.

 

 

 

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Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:

0

 

 

Templeton Global Advisors Limited:

30,361,573

 

Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC:

11,135,969

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.:

2,576,015

 

 

Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited:

2,078,862

 

 

Franklin Templeton Portfolio Advisors, Inc.:

570,191

 

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Australia Limited:

34,871

 

 

Franklin Templeton Alternative Strategies, Inc.:

80,089

 

 

Fiduciary Trust Company International:

51,700

 

 

Franklin Templeton Investments (Asia) Limited:

52,195

 

 

Templeton Asset Management Ltd.:

41,200

 

 

 

(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

 

 

Templeton Global Advisors Limited:

160,718

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Australia Limited:

42,978

 

 

Franklin Templeton Alternative Strategies, Inc.:

5,730

 

 

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

 

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [].

 

Not Applicable

 

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

 

The clients of the Adviser Subsidiaries, including investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or power to direct the receipt of dividends from, as well as the proceeds from the sale of, such securities reported on in this statement.

 

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company

 

See Attached Exhibit C

(See also Item 4)

 

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

 

 

Not Applicable (See also Item 4)

 

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group

 

 

Not Applicable

 

 

 

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Item 10. Certification

 

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

 

This report shall not be construed as an admission by the persons filing the report that they are the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this report.

 

SIGNATURE

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Dated: February 13, 2006

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.

Charles B. Johnson

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

 

By: /s/BARBARA J. GREEN

 

-----------------------

 

 

Barbara J. Green

 

 

Vice President, Deputy General Counsel,

 

 

and Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

Attorney-in-Fact for Charles B. Johnson pursuant to Power of Attorney attached to this Schedule 13G

 

Attorney-in-Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. pursuant to Power of Attorney attached to this Schedule 13G

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

 

In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby agree to the joint filing with each other of the attached statement on Schedule 13G and to all amendments to such statement and that such statement and all amendments to such statement are made on behalf of each of them.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this agreement on

February 13, 2006.

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.

Charles B. Johnson

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

By: /s/BARBARA J. GREEN

 

-----------------------

 

 

Barbara J. Green

 

 

Vice President, Deputy General Counsel,

 

 

and Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

Attorney-in-Fact for Charles B. Johnson pursuant to Power of Attorney attached to this Schedule 13G

 

Attorney-in-Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. pursuant to Power of Attorney attached to this Schedule 13G

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

CHARLES B. JOHNSON hereby appoints BARBARA J. GREEN his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any Schedule 13G or 13D, any amendments thereto or any related documentation which may be required to be filed in his individual capacity as a result of his position as an officer, director or shareholder of Franklin Resources, Inc. and, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing which he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Date: 9-11-03

/s/Charles B. Johnson

 

-------

---------------------

Charles B. Johnson

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

RUPERT H. JOHNSON hereby appoints BARBARA J. GREEN his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any Schedule 13G or 13D, any amendments thereto or any related documentation which may be required to be filed in his individual capacity as a result of his position as an officer, director or shareholder of Franklin Resources, Inc. and, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing which he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Date: Sept 4, 2003

/s/Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

------------

-------------------------

 

Rupert H. Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Exhibit C

 

 

Templeton Global Advisors Limited

Item 3 Classification: 3(e)

 

Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC

Item 3 Classification: 3(e)

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.

Item 3 Classification: 3(e)

 

Franklin Templeton Investment Management

 

 

Limited

Item 3 Classification: 3(e)

 

Franklin Templeton Portfolio Advisors, Inc.

Item 3 Classification: 3(e)

Franklin Templeton Alternative Strategies,

 

Inc.

Item 3 Classification: 3(e)

 

Fiduciary Trust Company International

Item 3 Classification: 3(b)

 

Franklin Templeton Investments (Asia) Limited

Item 3 Classification: 3(e)

 

Templeton Asset Management Ltd.

Item 3 Classification: 3(e)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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