DBRS Morningstar Assigns Rating of BBB (high) With a Negative Trend to TELUS’ Debt Issuance

DBRS Limited (DBRS Morningstar) assigned a rating of BBB (high) with a Negative trend to TELUS Corporation’s (TELUS or the Company; rated BBB (high) with a Negative trend by DBRS Morningstar) USD 900 million 3.400% Sustainability-Linked Notes due May 13, 2032 (the Notes), which closed on February 28, 2022.

The rating being assigned is based upon the rating of an already-outstanding series of the above-mentioned debt instrument.

DBRS Morningstar expects the proceeds from the Notes will be used for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, including the repayment of commercial paper (incurred for general working capital purposes), and for other general corporate purposes.

The Notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company, will rank pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company, and will be senior in right of
payment to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness of the Company, but will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future obligations of, or guaranteed by, the Company’s subsidiaries.

A description of how DBRS Morningstar considers ESG factors within the DBRS Morningstar analytical framework can be found in the DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings at https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/373262.

Notes:
All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

The principal methodologies are Rating Companies in the Communications Industry (July 27, 2021; https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/382119), DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Commercial Paper Liquidity Support for Nonbank Issuers (March 9, 2021; https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/375001), and DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Guarantees and Other Forms of Support (May 31, 2021; https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/379424), which can be found on dbrsmorningstar.com under Methodologies & Criteria. Other applicable methodologies include the DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings (February 3, 2021; https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/373262).

The related regulatory disclosures pursuant to the National Instrument 25-101 Designated Rating Organizations are hereby incorporated by reference and can be found by clicking on the link under Related Documents or by contacting us at [email protected].

The rated entity or its related entities did participate in the rating process for this rating action. DBRS Morningstar had access to the accounts and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with this rating action.

Generally, the conditions that lead to the assignment of a Negative or Positive trend are resolved within a 12-month period. DBRS Morningstar trends and ratings are under regular surveillance.

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit www.dbrsmorningstar.com or contact us at [email protected].

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