Cogeco

Press release details

COGECO reports strong results for the third quarter of fiscal 2014

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
COGECO reports strong results for the third quarter of fiscal 2014
Adjusted EBITDA
(1)
increased by 5.5% and 18.3% compared to the third quarter and the first nine
months periods of the prior year; and
Quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share, an increase of 15.8% compared to the same period last year.
Montréal, July 9, 2014 Today, COGECO Inc. (TSX: CGO) (“COGECO” or the “Corporation”) announced its financial results
for the third quarter of fiscal 2014, ended May 31, 2014, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).
For the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2014:
Third quarter revenue increased by $31.6 million, or 6.3%, to reach $536.1 million mainly driven by growth in the Cable
segment through the organic growth from all of our operating segments as well as favorable foreign exchange rates
in our foreign operations. For the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014, revenue reached close to $1.6 billion, an
increase of $242.0 million or 18.2%. Revenue increase is mainly attributable to the full year impact of the acquisitions,
in the Cable segment, of Atlantic Broadband and Peer 1 Hosting
(2)
("the recent acquisitions") which both occurred
during fiscal 2013 combined with the organic growth from all of our operating segments and the favorable foreign
exchange rates in our foreign operations;
Adjusted EBITDA
(1)
increased by 5.5% to $233.1 million compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2013, and by 18.3% to
$678.9 million for the first nine months when compared to the same period of the prior year. The rapid progression for
both periods resulted mainly from the recent acquisitions and the organic growth as well as the favorable foreign
exchange rates from our foreign operations compared to the same period of last year;
During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, the Corporation's indirect cable subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Canada, recognized
an impairment of $32.2 million of property, plant and equipment, capitalized wages and borrowing costs related to an
Internet Protocol Television ("IPTV") solution project on which its Canadian operations had worked. As a result of the
unexpected performance issues encountered with the platform, it had to be abandoned by Cogeco Cable Canada.
Subsequently, in order to enhance its competitiveness, the Cogeco Cable Canada subsidiary has concluded a
partnership with TiVo Inc. (“TiVo”), a global leader in next-generation television services that enable viewers to consume
content across all screens in and out-of-the home to be launched at Cogeco Cable Canada by mid-fiscal 2015. The
TiVo solution was successfully launched in the first half of fiscal 2014 at Cogeco Cable's subsidiary, Atlantic Broadband
with great customer acceptance;
(1) The indicated terms do not have standard definitions prescribed by IFRS and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other
companies. For more details, please consult the "Non-IFRS financial measures" section of the Management's discussion and analysis.
(2) Peer 1 Hosting refers to Peer 1 Network (USA) Holdings Inc., Peer 1 (UK) Ltd. and Peer 1 Network Enterprises, Inc.
Profit for the third quarter amounted to $35.6 million of which $11.5 million, or $0.69 per share, is attributable to owners
of the Corporation compared to profit of $50.0 million for the same period in fiscal 2013 of which $17.2 million, or $1.03
per share, is attributable to owners of the Corporation. The decline for the quarter is attributable to the impairment of
property, plant and equipment explained above, partly offset by the improvement of the adjusted EBITDA. For the first
nine months of fiscal 2014, profit for the period amounted to $150.9 million of which $51.9 million, or $3.10 per share,
is attributable to owners of the Corporation compared to profit for the period of $146.1 million for the first nine months
of fiscal 2013 of which $50.4 million, or $3.01 per share is attributable to owners of the Corporation. Profit progression
for the period is mostly attributable to the improvement of the Cable segment's adjusted EBITDA stemming from the
recent acquisitions and organic growth as well as the decrease in integration, restructuring and acquisition costs, partly
offset by the impairment of property, plant and equipment explained above as well as the increases in financial expense
and depreciation and amortization expense essentially related to the recent acquisitions;
Third quarter free cash flow
(1)
reached $91.5 million compared to $44.7 million in the comparable quarter of the prior
year. This increase is mainly due to the improvement of adjusted EBITDA explained above and the decrease in
acquisitions of property, plant and equipment due to the timing of certain initiatives. For the nine-month period, free
cash flow amounted to $255.6 million, compared to $97.1 million for the same period of fiscal 2013. The increase is
mostly attributable to the improvement of adjusted EBITDA, the decrease in acquisitions of property, plant and
equipment due to the timing of certain initiatives as well as the decrease in integration, restructuring and acquisition
costs, partly offset by the increase in financial expense as a result of higher indebtedness level from the recent
acquisitions;
Fiscal 2014 third-quarter cash flow from operating activities reached $184.7 million compared to $167.6 million, an
increase of $17.1 million or 10.2%, compared to the same period of the prior year. The increase is mainly attributable
to the improvement of the adjusted EBITDA and the increase in non-cash operating activities, partly offset by the
increase in financial expense paid. For the first nine months of fiscal 2014, cash flow from operating activities reached
$432.6 million compared to $318.7 million, an increase of $113.8 million, or 35.7%, compared to the same period in
fiscal 2013. The increase is mainly attributable to the improvement of the adjusted EBITDA as well as the decreases
in integration, restructuring and acquisition costs and income taxes paid, partly offset by the increase in financial
expense paid;
A quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share was paid to the holders of subordinate and multiple voting shares, an increase
of $0.03 per share, or 15.8%, when compared to a dividend of $0.19 per share paid in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.
Dividend payments in the first nine-months totaled $0.66 per share in fiscal 2014, compared to $0.57 per share in
fiscal 2013; and
On March 5, 2014, the Corporation completed, pursuant to a private placement, the issuance of $50 million of Senior
Unsecured Notes for net proceeds of $48.7 million, net of transaction costs of approximately $1.3 million. These
unsecured notes bear interest at 6.00% per annum payable semi-annually and mature on March 5, 2020. The net
proceeds of the Senior Unsecured Notes was used to reimburse a portion of the Corporation's Term Revolving Facility
of $100 million which facility was consequently reduced to $50 million.
"I am happy to report that COGECO has generated solid financial results for its third quarter of 2014. The cable segment continues
to grow and most of our performance indicators are on target with our objectives. These solid results demonstrate that with
strong cost controls and a dynamic marketing strategy, Cogeco Cable continues to grow in this highly competitive industry,”
declared Louis Audet, President and Chief Executive Officer of COGECO Inc.
“Moreover, I am delighted that we were able to build on the success achieved by the TiVo video platform at our Atlantic Broadband
subsidiary by extending our partnership to bring this world leading platform to our Canadian customers at our Cogeco Cable
Canada subsidiary. We expect to launch by mid-fiscal 2015. Excluding the impact of the impairment related to the prior attempt
at developing an alternate IPTV video platform, we expect to meet our fiscal 2014 guidance” added Louis Audet.
“We are also pleased with the financial results of our media business. The radio ratings of Cogeco Diffusion confirm our leadership
in the Montreal market and good performance in most of our other markets across the province of Quebec. Furthermore, our
transit advertising business, Cogeco Métromédia, continues to show improvements,” concluded Louis Audet.
(1) The indicated terms do not have standard definitions prescribed by IFRS and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other
companies. For more details, please consult the "Non-IFRS financial measures" section of the Management's discussion and analysis.
ABOUT COGECO
COGECO (www.cogeco.ca) is a diversified holding corporation. Through its Cogeco Cable Inc. subsidiary, COGECO provides to its residential
and business customers analogue and digital television, high speed Internet and telephony services with its two-way broadband fibre networks.
Cogeco Cable Inc. operates in Canada under the Cogeco Cable Canada name in Quebec and Ontario, and in the United States under the Atlantic
Broadband name in Western Pennsylvania, Southern Florida, Maryland/Delaware and South Carolina. Through its subsidiaries, Cogeco Data
Services and Peer 1 Hosting, Cogeco Cable Inc. provides to its commercial customers a suite of information technology services (colocation,
managed and dedicated Hosting, managed IT, cloud and connectivity services) with 20 data centres, extensive fibre networks in Montreal and
Toronto as well as points-of-presence in North America and Europe. Through its subsidiary, Cogeco Diffusion, COGECO owns and operates 13
radio stations across most of Quebec with complementary radio formats serving a wide range of audiences as well as Cogeco News, its news
agency. COGECO also operates Métromédia, an out-of-home advertising company specialized in the public transit sector. COGECO’s subordinate
voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGO). The subordinate voting shares of Cogeco Cable Inc. are also listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA).
- 30 -
Source: COGECO Inc.
Pierre Gagné
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Tel.: 514-764-4700
Information: Media
René Guimond
Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications
Tel.: 514-764-4700
Analyst Conference Call: Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) Media representatives may attend
as listeners only.
Please use the following dial-in number to have access to the conference call by dialing five minutes
before the start of the conference:
Canada/USA Access Number: 1 800-820-0231
International Access Number: + 1 416-640-5926
Confirmation Code: 2083261
By Internet at www.cogeco.ca/investors
A rebroadcast of the conference call will be available until July16, 2014, by dialing:
Canada and US access number: 1 888-203-1112
International access number: + 1 647-436-0148
Confirmation code: 2083261
SHAREHOLDERS’ REPORT
Three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014
COGECO INC. Q3 2014 2
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Quarters ended Nine months ended
(in thousands of dollars, except percentages and per share
data)
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(2)
Change
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(2)
Change
$ $ % $ $ %
Operations
Revenue 536,067 504,434 6.3 1,571,515 1,329,543 18.2
Adjusted EBITDA
(1)
233,083 220,878 5.5 678,930
574,034
18.3
Impairment of property, plant and equipment 32,197 32,197
Profit for the period 35,635 49,995 (28.7) 150,941
146,051
3.3
Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Corporation 11,469 17,185 (33.3) 51,915 50,391 3.0
Cash Flow
Cash flow from operating activities 184,706 167,641 10.2 432,552
318,731
35.7
Cash flow from operations
(1)
176,491 158,172 11.6 509,128
399,797
27.3
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and
other assets 84,960 113,492 (25.1) 253,537
302,666
(16.2)
Free cash flow
(1)
91,531 44,680 255,591 97,131
Financial Condition
(3)
Property, plant and equipment 1,794,227 1,874,866
(4.3
)
Total assets 5,407,774 5,453,835
(0.8
)
Indebtedness
(4)
2,964,153 3,054,275
(3.0
)
Equity attributable to owners of the Corporation 500,119
456,905
9.5
Per Share Data
(5)
Earnings per share
Basic 0.69 1.03 (33.0) 3.10 3.01 3.0
Diluted 0.68 1.02 (33.3) 3.08 2.99 3.0
(1) The indicated terms do not have standardized definitions prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and therefore, may not be
comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For more details, please consult the “Non-IFRS financial measures” section of the
Management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”).
(2) Comparative figures have been adjusted to comply with the adoption of IAS 19 - Employee Benefits. For further details, please refer to Note 2 of the condensed
interim consolidated financial statements.
(3) At May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013.
(4) Indebtedness is defined as the aggregate of bank indebtedness, principal on long-term debt, balance due on a business combination and obligations under
derivative financial instruments.
(5) Per multiple and subordinate voting share.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (MD&A)
Three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 4
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of
securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to COGECO’s future outlook and anticipated events, business, operations, financial
performance, financial condition or results and, in some cases, can be identified by terminology such as "may"; "will"; "should"; "expect"; "plan";
"anticipate"; "believe"; "intend"; "estimate"; "predict"; "potential"; "continue"; "foresee", "ensure" or other similar expressions concerning matters
that are not historical facts. In particular, statements regarding the Corporation’s future operating results and economic performance and its
objectives and strategies are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected
growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities, which COGECO believes are reasonable as of the current
date. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Corporation, they may
prove to be incorrect. The Corporation cautions the reader that the economic downturn experienced over the past few years makes forward-
looking information and the underlying assumptions subject to greater uncertainty and that, consequently, they may not materialize, or the results
may significantly differ from the Corporation’s expectations. It is impossible for COGECO to predict with certainty the impact that the current
economic uncertainties may have on future results. Forward-looking information is also subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties
(described in the “Uncertainties and main risk factors” section of the Corporation’s 2013 annual MD&A as well as in the present MD&A) that could
cause actual results to differ materially from what COGECO currently expects. These factors include namely risks pertaining to markets and
competition, technology, regulatory developments, operating costs, information systems, disasters or other contingencies, financial risks related
to capital requirements, human resources, controlling shareholder and holding structure, many of which are beyond the Corporation’s control.
Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what management currently foresees. The reader should not place undue
importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While management may elect to, the
Corporation is under no obligation and does not undertake to update or alter this information at any particular time, except as may be required
by law.
All amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. This report should be read in conjunction with the Corporation’s condensed
interim consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, prepared in accordance
with the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and the MD&A included in the Corporation’s 2013 Annual Report.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 5
CORPORATE OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES
COGECO's objectives are to provide outstanding service to its customers and maximize shareholder value by increasing profitability and ensuring
continued revenue growth. The strategies employed to reach these objectives, supported by tight controls over costs and business processes,
are specific to each segment. The main strategies used to reach COGECO's objectives in the Cable segment focus on expanding its service
offering, enhancing its existing services and bundles, improving customer experience and business processes as well as keeping a sound capital
management and a strict control over spending. The radio activities focus on continuous improvement of its programming in order to increase its
market share and thereby its profitability. The Corporation measures its performance, with regard to these objectives by monitoring adjusted
EBITDA
(1)
and free cash flow
(1)
.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
ADJUSTED EBITDA
For the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014, adjusted EBITDA increased by 18.3% to reach $678.9 million compared to the same period of
fiscal 2013. Improvement in the adjusted EBITDA is mainly attributable to the acquisitions, in the Cable segment, of Atlantic Broadband and Peer
1 Hosting
(2)
(the "recent acquisitions") which occurred at the end of the first quarter and in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, respectively, combined
with the favorable foreign exchange rates benefiting our foreign operations and the financial results improvement from organic growth.
FREE CASH FLOW
For the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014, COGECO reported free cash flow of $255.6 million, an increase of $158.5 million compared to
$97.1 million for the same period of the previous fiscal year. This variance is mostly attributable to the improvement of adjusted EBITDA explained
above, the decrease in acquisitions of property, plant and equipment due to the timing of certain initiatives as well as the decrease in integration,
restructuring and acquisition costs, partly offset by the increase in financial expense due to higher indebtedness level from the recent acquisitions.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS AND OTHER
BBM Canada's spring 2014 survey in the Montréal region, conducted with the Portable People Meter (“PPM”), reported that 98.5 FM is the leading
radio station in the Montreal French market amongst all listeners as well as men two years old and over (“2+”), while Rythme FM has maintained
its leadership position in the women 2+ segment among the musical stations. Regarding the Montreal English market, The Beat is the leading
radio station in the women 35-64 segment. In most of the Quebec regions, our radio stations registered good ratings.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, the Corporation's indirect cable subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Canada, recognized an impairment of $32.2
million of property, plant and equipment, capitalized wages and borrowing costs related to an Internet Protocol Television ("IPTV") solution project
on which its Canadian operations had worked. As a result of the unexpected performance issues encountered with the platform, it had to be
abandoned by Cogeco Cable Canada. Subsequently, in order to enhance its competitiveness, the Cogeco Cable Canada subsidiary has concluded
a partnership with TiVo Inc. (“TiVo”), a global leader in next-generation television services that enable viewers to consume content across all
screens in and out-of-the home to be launched at Cogeco Cable Canada by mid-fiscal 2015. The TiVo solution was successfully launched in the
first half of fiscal 2014 at Cogeco Cable's subsidiary, Atlantic Broadband with great customer acceptance.
On June 30, 2014, Cogeco Cable's subsidiary, Atlantic Broadband, amended its First Lien Credit Facilities. Pursuant to the amendment, US$15
million of the Term Loan A Facility was converted into the Revolving Facility. In addition, the Revolving Facility was increased by US$35 million
of which the proceeds were used to reimburse a portion of the Term Loan B. Giving effect to this amendment, the combined amounts borrowed
under the Term Loan A, Term Loan B and the Revolving Facility have not changed. All other terms and conditions related to covenants, interest
rates and maturity remained the same. In connection with the amendment, transaction costs of US$0.4 million were incurred which are expected
to be more than off-set by interest expense savings over the next year.
(1) The indicated terms do not have standardized definitions prescribed by IFRS and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other
companies. For more details, please consult the "Non-IFRS financial measures" section.
(2) Peer 1 Hosting refers to Peer 1 Network (USA) Holdings Inc., Peer 1 (UK) Ltd. and Peer 1 Network Enterprises, Inc.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 6
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
OPERATING RESULTS
Quarters ended Nine months ended
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
Change
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
Change
(in thousands of dollars, except percentages) $ $ % $ $ %
Revenue 536,067 504,434 6.3 1,571,515 1,329,543 18.2
Operating expenses 302,984 283,556 6.9 892,585
755,509
18.1
Adjusted EBITDA 233,083 220,878 5.5 678,930
574,034
18.3
(1) Comparative figures have been adjusted to comply with the adoption of IAS 19 - Employee Benefits. For further details, please refer to Note 2 of the condensed
interim consolidated financial statements.
REVENUE
Fiscal 2014 third-quarter revenue increased by $31.6 million or 6.3%, to reach $536.1 million. For the first nine months, revenue amounted to
approximately $1.6 billion, an increase of $242.0 million, or 18.2% compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2013. The increase for both periods
is mainly attributable to the Cable segment as explained below as well as from the improvement of the media business activities for the first nine
months.
In the Cable segment, fiscal 2014 third-quarter revenue increased by $32.0 million, or 6.9%, to reach $496.4 million compared to the same period
of last year. Revenue increased organically from all of our operating units combined with favorable foreign exchange rates for our foreign
operations. For the first nine months of fiscal 2014, revenue amounted to approximately $1.5 billion, an increase of $235.4 million, or 19.3%,
compared to the same period of fiscal 2013. Revenue increased was mainly attributable to the full year impact of the recent acquisitions which
both occurred during fiscal 2013 combined with the organic growth from all of our operating segments and favorable foreign exchange rates in
our foreign operations. For further details on the Cable segment's revenue, please refer to the "Cable segment" section.
OPERATING EXPENSES
For the third quarter of fiscal 2014, operating expenses increased by $19.4 million, to reach $303.0 million, an increase of 6.9% compared to the
prior year. For the first nine months of the fiscal year, operating expenses amounted to $892.6 million, an increase of $137.1 million, or 18.1%,
compared to the same period of fiscal 2013. The increase is mainly attributable to the Cable segment operating results.
Operating expenses in the Cable segment for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 increased by $17.7 million, to reach $267.1 million, an increase of
7.1% compared to the prior year. For the first nine months of the fiscal year, operating expenses amounted to $785.2 million, an increase of
$130.9 million, or 20.0%, compared to the same period of fiscal 2013. Operating expenses increased was due to the full year impact of the recent
acquisitions and the appreciation of the US dollar and British Pound currency compared to the Canadian dollar.
ADJUSTED EBITDA
Fiscal 2014 third-quarter adjusted EBITDA increased by $12.2 million, or 5.5%, to reach $233.1 million, of which the Cable segment contributed
$229.4 million to the consolidated adjusted EBITDA. For the first nine months of fiscal 2014, the adjusted EBITDA increased by $104.9 million,
or 18.3%, to reach $678.9 million, of which $662.5 million was contributed by the Cable segment. The increase for the quarter in the Cable
segment is mainly attributable to the improvement from all of our operating segments as well as the favorable foreign exchange rates from our
foreign operations compared to the same periods of last year while the increase for the first nine months is largely attributable to the full impact
of the recent acquisitions. For further details on Cogeco Cable's operating results, please refer to the "Cable segment" section.
FIXED CHARGES
Quarters ended Nine months ended
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
Change
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
Change
(in thousands of dollars, except percentages) $ $ % $ $ %
Depreciation and amortization 118,926
112,867
5.4 350,475
272,831
28.5
Financial expense 34,071 36,776 (7.4) 102,485 84,899 20.7
(1) Comparative figures have been adjusted to comply with the adoption of IAS 19 - Employee Benefits. For further details, please refer to Note 2 of the condensed
interim consolidated financial statements.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 7
For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, depreciation and amortization expense amounted to $118.9 million and $350.5 million,
respectively, compared to $112.9 million and $272.8 million for the same periods of last year. The increase for the quarter is mostly attributable
to the appreciation of the US dollar and the British Pound currency compared to the Canadian dollar. The increase for the first nine months of
fiscal 2014 results mainly from the full year impact of the recent acquisitions, which occurred at the end of the first quarter and in the second
quarter of fiscal 2013 and by the currency appreciation of the US dollar and the British Pound compared to the Canadian dollar.
Fiscal 2014 third-quarter financial expense decreased by $2.7 million, or 7.4%, amounting to $34.1 million compared to $36.8 million in fiscal
2013 third-quarter as a result of a lower indebtedness level. For the first nine months of fiscal 2014, financial expense increased by $17.6 million,
or 20.7%, at $102.5 million, compared to $84.9 million in the prior year as a result of the full year impact of financing costs related to the recent
acquisitions in the Cable segment.
IMPAIRMENT OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, the Corporation's indirect cable subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Canada, recognized an impairment of $32.2
million of property, plant and equipment, capitalized wages and borrowing costs related to an IPTV solution project on which its Canadian operations
had worked. As a result of the unexpected performance issues encountered with the platform, it had to be abandoned by Cogeco Cable Canada.
INCOME TAXES
For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, income tax expense amounted to $9.1 million and $39.1 million, respectively, compared
to $19.1 million and $53.3 million, respectively, for the comparable periods in the prior year. The decrease is mostly attributable to the impairment
of property, plant and equipment, the increase in fixed charges as well as the favorable impact of the tax structure following the recent acquisitions
in the Cable segment, partly offset by the improvement in adjusted EBITDA.
PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD
For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, profit for the period amounted to $35.6 million and $150.9 million, of which $11.5
million and $51.9 million, or $0.69 and $3.10 per share, are attributable to owners of the Corporation. For the comparable periods of fiscal 2013,
profit for the period amounted to $50.0 million and $146.1 million, of which $17.2 million and $50.4 million, or $1.03 and $3.01 per share, was
attributable to owners of the Corporation. The decline for the third quarter is attributable to the impairment of property, plant and equipment
explained above, partly offset by the improvement of the adjusted EBITDA. Profit progression for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 is mostly
attributable to the improvement of the adjusted EBITDA explained above as well as the decrease in integration, restructuring and acquisition
costs, partly offset by the impairment of property, plant and equipment and the increase in fixed charges explained above.
The non-controlling interest represents a participation of approximately 68% in Cogeco Cable's results. For fiscal 2014 three and nine-month
periods, the profit for the period attributable to non-controlling interest amounted to $24.2 million and $99.0 million compared to $32.8 million and
$95.7 million in fiscal 2013.
CASH FLOW ANALYSIS
Quarters ended Nine months ended
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(2)
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(2)
(in thousands of dollars)
$ $ $ $
Cash flow from operations
(1)
176,491 158,172
509,128 399,797
Changes in non-cash operating activities 13,340 (5,443) (82,379) (80,194)
Amortization of deferred transaction costs and discounts on long-term debt (2,007) (3,520)
(5,856
)
(7,237
)
Income taxes paid (16,672) (17,031) (55,888) (79,490)
Current income tax expense 23,693 27,563 72,378 76,227
Financial expense paid (44,210) (28,876) (107,316) (75,271)
Financial expense 34,071 36,776
102,485
84,899
Cash flow from operating activities 184,706 167,641
432,552 318,731
Cash flow from investing activities (84,935) (135,812) (252,932) (2,308,490)
Cash flow from financing activities (123,482) (35,540) (194,277) 1,812,085
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents denominated in
foreign currencies (535) 1,089
1,390 1,794
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (24,246) (2,622) (13,267) (175,880)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period 54,772 42,265 43,793
215,523
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period 30,526 39,643 30,526 39,643
(1) The indicated terms do not have standard definitions prescribed by IFRS and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other
companies. For more details, please consult the "Non-IFRS financial measures" section of the Management's discussion and analysis.
(2) Comparative figures have been adjusted to comply with the adoption of IAS 19 - Employee Benefits. For further details, please refer to Note 2 of the condensed
interim consolidated financial statements.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 8
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Fiscal 2014 third-quarter cash flow from operating activities reached $184.7 million compared to $167.6 million, an increase of $17.1 million or
10.2%, compared to the same period of prior year. The increase is mainly explained by the improvement of adjusted EBITDA of $12.2 million
and by the increase of $18.8 million in non-cash operating activities as a result of an increase in trade and other payables compared to a decrease
in the comparable period, partly offset by an increase of financial expense paid of $15.3 million. For the first nine months of fiscal 2014, cash
flow from operating activities reached $432.6 million compared to $318.7 million, an increase of $113.8 million, or 35.7%, compared to the same
period in fiscal 2013. The increase is mainly explained by the improvement of adjusted EBITDA of $104.9 million combined with a decrease of
$23.6 million in income taxes paid and a decrease of $13.1 million in integration, restructuring and acquisition costs, partly offset by an increase
of financial expense paid of $32.0 million.
For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, cash flow from operations amounted to $176.5 million and $509.1 million, respectively,
compared to $158.2 million and $399.8 million for the comparable periods in fiscal 2013 representing increases of $18.3 million, or 11.6%, and
$109.3 million, or 27.3%, respectively. For both periods, the increases are mainly explained by the improvement of adjusted EBITDA of $12.2
million and $104.9 million, respectively.
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, investing activities amounted to $84.9 million and $252.9 million, respectively, mainly
due to the acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets. For the comparable periods of fiscal 2013, investing activities
amounted to $135.8 million and $2.3 billion explained below.
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS IN FISCAL 2013
On January 31, 2013 and on April 3, 2013, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares
of Peer 1 Hosting one of the world's leading internet infrastructure providers, specializing in managed hosting, dedicated servers, cloud services
and colocation. During the second quarter of fiscal 2014, Cogeco Cable finalized the purchase price allocation of Peer 1 Hosting which had no
impact on the statement of profit or loss and comprehensive income for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2013. The impact of
the finalization on the statement of financial position at August 31, 2013, increased income tax receivable by $0.7 million, increased deferred tax
assets by $4.4 million, decreased intangibles assets by $0.9 million, decreased goodwill by $2.8 million, increased deferred tax liabilities by $2.5
million, decreased accumulated other comprehensive income by $0.4 million and decreased non-controlling interest by $0.8 million.
On November 30, 2012, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., completed the acquisition of all the outstanding shares of Atlantic
Broadband, an independent cable system operator formed in 2003, providing Analogue and Digital Television, as well as HSI and Telephony
services to residential and small and medium business customers. During the first quarter of fiscal 2014 Cogeco Cable finalized the purchase
price allocation of Atlantic Broadband which remained unchanged since the last adjustments made in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.
The final purchase price allocations of Atlantic Broadband and Peer 1 Hosting are as follows:
Peer 1
Hosting
Atlantic
Broadband TOTAL
Final Final Final
$ $ $
Consideration
Paid
Purchase of shares 494,796
337,779 832,575
Working capital adjustments
5,415 5,415
Repayment of secured debts and settlement of options outstanding 170,872 1,021,854 1,192,726
665,668 1,365,048 2,030,716
Net assets acquired
Cash and cash equivalents 10,840
5,480
16,320
Restricted cash 8,729
8,729
Trade and other receivables 12,772 12,012 24,784
Prepaid expenses and other 3,855
1,370 5,225
Income tax receivable 2,797
3,907 6,704
Other assets 2,462
2,462
Property, plant and equipment 150,013
302,211 452,224
Intangible assets 144,231
711,418 855,649
Goodwill 410,454
522,215 932,669
Deferred tax assets 8,872 98,592
107,464
Trade and other payables assumed (26,512) (27,620) (54,132)
Provisions
(721
)
(721
)
Deferred and prepaid revenue and other liabilities assumed (3,388)
(7,697
) (11,085)
Long-term debt assumed (1,735)
(1,735
)
Deferred tax liabilities (57,722) (256,119) (313,841)
665,668 1,365,048 2,030,716
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 9
ACQUISITIONS OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, INTANGIBLE AND OTHER ASSETS
For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, acquisition of property, plant and equipment amounted to $80.0 million and $239.9
million compared to $109.0 million and $289.0 million for the same periods of fiscal 2013, respectively, mainly as a result of the following factors
in the Cable segment:
A decrease in the quarter and for the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014 in scalable infrastructure and network upgrades and
rebuild due to the deployment in fiscal 2012 and early fiscal 2013 of advanced technologies such as DOCSIS 3.0 and Switched Digital
Video in existing areas served; and
An increase in customer premise equipment for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014 mainly due to the launch of
TiVo's digital entertainment services in the United States.
For the third quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2014, the acquisition of intangible and other assets amounted to $4.9 million and $13.7
million, compared to $4.5 million and $13.7 million for the same periods last year, respectively.
FREE CASH FLOW AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
In the third quarter of fiscal 2014, free cash flow amounted to $91.5 million, an increase of $46.9 million compared to fiscal 2013. This increase
is mainly due to the improvement of adjusted EBITDA and the decrease in acquisitions of property, plant and equipment due to the timing of
certain initiatives for the Cable segment. For the nine-month period, free cash flow amounted to $255.6 million, $158.5 million, higher than the
same period of last year. This variance is mostly attributable to the improvement of adjusted EBITDA, the decrease in acquisitions of property,
plant and equipment due to the timing of certain initiatives as well as the decrease in integration, restructuring and acquisition costs, partly offset
by the increase in financial expense due to higher indebtedness level from the recent acquisitions in the Cable segment.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2014, cash decrease of $110.4 million was mainly due to a lower Indebtedness level provided from repayments of
$163.6 million under the revolving facilities and of long-term debt amounting to $4.8 million, partly offset by an increase in bank indebtedness of
$9.4 million and the issuance by COGECO Inc. of long-term debt of $48.7 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2013, a higher Indebtedness level
provided a cash increase of $22.0 million mainly due to the issuance, in the Cable segment, of $300 million Senior Secured Debentures Series
"4" (the "Debentures") for a net proceed of $297.1 million, net of transaction costs of $2.9 million and the issuance of $410.4 million (US$400
million) Senior Unsecured Notes (the "2020 Notes") for a net proceed of $402.6 million (US$392.4 million), net of transaction costs of $7.8 million
(US$7.6 million). In addition, the net proceeds under the Debentures and the 2020 Notes were used to repay the Canadian Term Facility amounting
to $175 million, the US Term Facility amounting to $230.8 million (US$225 million), the $114.7 Revolving loan in connection with the financing of
the acquisition of Peer 1 Hosting in the Cable segment and $192.4 million Term Revolving Facility.
For the nine-month period of fiscal 2014, a cash decrease of $148.2 million was mainly due to a lower Indebtedness level from repayments of
$186.1 million under the revolving facilities and of long-term debt amounting to $10.9 million, partly offset by the issuance of long-term debt by
COGECO Inc. of $48.7 million. For the nine-month period of fiscal 2013, a higher Indebtedness level provided for a cash increase of $1.9 billion,
mainly due to the issuance of the 2020 Notes and the Debentures, described above, as well as draw-down on the existing Term Revolving Facility
of $411.9 million (US$420 million) including the repayments made during the quarter explained above and the First Lien Credit of $637.4 million
(US$660 million for a net proceed of US$641.5 million, net of transaction costs of US$18.5 million) to finance the acquisition of Atlantic Broadband
as well the draw-down of $125.1 million, under Secured Credit Facilities to finance the acquisition of Peer 1 Hosting, net of the repayments made
during the third quarter explained above.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share was paid to the holders of subordinate and multiple voting shares,
totaling $3.7 million, compared to a dividend of $0.19 per share, or $3.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Dividend payments in the first
nine months totaled $0.66 per share, or $11.1 million, compared to $0.57 per share, or $9.5 million the year before. In addition, dividends paid
by a subsidiary to non-controlling interest in the third quarter amounted to $9.9 million and $29.7 million for the first nine months, compared to
$8.6 million and $25.7 million, respectively, for the comparable periods of the prior year.
As at May 31, 2014, the Corporation had a working capital deficiency of $164.9 million compared to $223.1 million at August 31, 2013. The $58.2
million deficiency reduction is mainly due to the decrease of $83.9 million in trade and other payables and the increase of $14.3 million in trade
and other receivables, partly offset by the decrease of $13.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and the increase of income tax liabilities of
$21.7 million as a result of generated free cash flow. As part of the usual conduct of its business, COGECO maintains a working capital deficiency
due to a low level of accounts receivable since a large proportion of the Corporation’s customers pay before their services are rendered, unlike
trade and other payables, which are usually paid after products are delivered or services are rendered, thus enabling the Corporation to use cash
and cash equivalents to reduce Indebtedness.
At May 31, 2014, the Corporation had used $17.1 million of its $50 million Term Revolving Facility for a remaining availability of $32.9 million and
Cogeco Cable had used $476.2 million of its $800 million amended and restated Term Revolving Facility for a remaining availability of $323.8
million. In addition, two subsidiaries of Cogeco Cable also benefit from a Revolving Facility of $108.4 million (US$100 million) related to its
acquisition of Atlantic Broadband, of which $1.1 million (US$1.0 million) was used at May 31, 2014 for a remaining availability of $107.3 million
(US$99 million).
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 10
FINANCIAL POSITION
Since August 31, 2013, the following balances have changed significantly: "trade and other receivables", “property, plant and equipment”,
“goodwill”, “trade and other payables”, "income tax liabilities", "deferred tax liabilities", “cash and cash equivalents” and “long-term debt”.
Trade and other receivable increased by $14.3 million due to the timing of billings made to customers. Property, plant and equipment decreased
by $80.6 million mainly due to the impairment of property, plant and equipment of $32.2 million in the Cable segment as well as depreciation
expense exceeding the acquisitions discussed in the "Cash flow analysis" section, taking into account the impact of the US dollar and British
Pound currency appreciation against the Canadian dollar. Goodwill increased by $29.3 million as a result of the US dollar and the British Pound
currency appreciation against the Canadian dollar during the first nine months of fiscal 2014. The decrease of $83.9 million in trade and other
payables is related to the timing of payments made to suppliers. The income tax liabilities increase of $21.7 million is due to the excess of current
income tax expense over income tax paid. The decrease of $28.6 million in deferred tax liabilities result of the impairment of property, plant and
equipment and the increase in current income taxes. The decreases of $13.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and of $91.2 million in long-
term debt are due to the factors previously discussed in the "Cash flow analysis" section, partly offset by the appreciation of the US dollar and
British Pound currency compared to the Canadian dollar.
OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA
A description of COGECO’s share data at June 30, 2014 is presented in the table below. Additional details are provided in note 12 of the condensed
interim consolidated financial statements.
Number of
shares
Amount
(in thousands
of dollars)
Common shares
Multiple voting shares 1,842,860
12
Subordinate voting shares 14,989,338
121,976
FINANCING
In the normal course of business, COGECO has incurred financial obligations, primarily in the form of long-term debt, operating and finance
leases and guarantees. COGECO’s obligations, as discussed in the 2013 Annual Report, have not materially changed since August 31, 2013,
except as mentioned below.
On March 5, 2014, the Corporation completed, pursuant to a private placement, the issuance of $50 million of Senior Unsecured Notes for net
proceeds of $48.7 million, net of transaction costs of approximately $1.3 million. These unsecured notes bear interest at 6.00% per annum payable
semi-annually and mature on March 5, 2020. Half of the Senior Unsecured Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis, jointly and severally,
by its subsidiaries except for the unrestricted subsidiaries. The net proceeds of the Senior Unsecured Notes was used to reimburse a portion of
the Corporation's Term Revolving Facility of $100 million which facility was consequently reduced to $50 million.
On December 20, 2013, the Corporation amended its Term Revolving Facility. Under the terms of the amendment, the maturity was extended by
an additional year until February 1, 2018. In addition, the amendment reduced the margin for the calculation of the interest rate and reduced
restrictions on some covenants including financial ratios.
On November 22, 2013, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable, amended and restated its Term Revolving Facility of $800 million with a
syndicate of lenders. The maturity was extended until January 22, 2019 and can be further extended annually. The amendments reduced the
margin for the calculation of the interest rate and reduced restrictions on some covenants. The amended and restated Term Revolving Facility
also replaced Cogeco Cable’s Secured Credit Facilities coming to maturity on January 27, 2017 which was fully repaid on November 22, 2013.
This amended and restated Term Revolving Facility is comprised of two tranches: a first tranche, a Canadian tranche, amounting to $788 million
and the second tranche, a UK tranche, amounting to $12 million. Both Cogeco Cable and Peer 1 (UK) Ltd. can borrow under the UK tranche.
The Canadian tranche is available in Canadian dollars, US dollars, Euros and British Pound and interest rates are based on banker's acceptance,
US dollar base rate loans, LIBOR loans in US dollars, Euros or British Pound, plus the applicable margin. The UK tranche is available in British
Pounds and interest rates are based on British Pounds base rate loans and British Pounds LIBOR loans. The Term Revolving Facility is indirectly
secured by first priority fixed and floating charges and a security interest on substantially all present and future real and personal properties and
undertaking of every nature and kind of Cogeco Cable and certain of its subsidiaries, and provides for certain permitted encumbrances, including
purchased money obligations, existing funded obligations and charges granted by any subsidiary prior to the date when it becomes a subsidiary,
subject to a maximum amount. The provisions under this facility provide for restrictions on the operations and activities of Cogeco Cable. Generally,
the most significant restrictions relate to permitted investments and dividends on multiple and subordinate voting shares, as well as incurrence
and maintenance of certain financial ratios primarily linked to operating income before amortization, financial expense and total indebtedness.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., had entered into cross-currency swap agreements to set the liability for interest and principal
payments on its US$190 million Senior Secured Notes Series A maturing on October 1, 2015. These agreements have the effect of converting
the U.S. interest coupon rate of 7.00% per annum to an average Canadian dollar interest rate of 7.24% per annum. The exchange rate applicable
to the principal portion of the debt has been fixed at $1.0625 per US dollar. Cogeco Cable elected to apply cash flow hedge accounting on these
derivative financial instruments. During the first nine months of fiscal 2014, amounts due under the US$190 million Senior Secured Notes Series
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 11
A increased by $5.9 million due to the US dollar’s appreciation relative to the Canadian dollar. The fair value of cross-currency swaps asset
increased by a net amount of $6.1 million, of which an increase of $5.9 million offsets the foreign exchange loss on the debt denominated in US
dollars. The difference of $0.2 million was recorded as an increase of other comprehensive income. During the first nine months of fiscal 2013,
amounts due under the US$190 million Senior Secured Notes Series A increased by $9.7 million due to the US dollar’s appreciation over the
Canadian dollar. The fair value of cross-currency swaps liability decreased by a net amount of $9.3 million, of which a decrease of $9.7 million
offsets the foreign exchange loss on the debt denominated in US dollars. The difference of $0.4 million was recorded as a decrease of other
comprehensive income.
In addition, on July 22, 2013, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., had entered into interest rate swap agreements to fix the interest
rate on US$200 million of its LIBOR based loans. These agreements have the effect of converting the floating US LIBOR base rate at an average
fixed rate of 0.39625% under the Term Revolving Facility until July 25, 2015. Cogeco Cable elected to apply hedge accounting on these derivative
financial instruments. During the first nine months of fiscal 2014, the fair value of interest rate swaps asset decreased by a net amount of $0.8
million which was recorded as a decrease of other comprehensive income.
The sensitivity of the Corporation’s annual financial expense to a variation of 1% in the interest rate applicable to the Term Revolving Facilities
and First Lien Credit Facilities is approximately $6.5 million based on the outstanding debt at May 31, 2014.
Furthermore, Cogeco Cable’s investment in foreign operations is exposed to market risk attributable to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange
rates, primarily changes in the values of the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar and British Pound. This risk was mitigated since the major part
of the purchase prices for Atlantic Broadband and Peer 1 Hosting were borrowed directly in US dollars and British Pounds. At May 31, 2014, the
investments for Atlantic Broadband and Peer 1 Hosting amounted to US$1.1 billion and £62.7 million while long-term debt hedging these
investments were US$859.5 million and £56.0 million.The exchange rate used to convert the US dollar currency and British Pound currency into
Canadian dollars for the statement of financial position accounts at May 31, 2014 was $1.0842 per US dollar and $1.8173 per British Pound. The
impact of a 10% change in the exchange rate of the US dollar and British Pound into Canadian dollars would change other comprehensive income
by approximately $26.9 million.
Since Cogeco Cable's condensed interim consolidated financial statements are expressed in Canadian dollars but a portion of its business is
conducted in US dollar and British Pound currency, exchange rate fluctuations can increase or decrease the Corporation's operating results. For
the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, the average rates prevailing used to convert the operating results of the Cable segment
were as follows:
Quarters ended Nine months ended
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013 Change
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013 Change
$ $ % $ $ %
US dollar vs Canadian dollar 1.0997 1.0211 7.7 1.0759 1.0091 6.6
British Pound vs Canadian dollar 1.8405 1.5545 18.4 1.7664 1.5565 13.5
The following table highlights in Canadian dollars, the impact of a 10% increase in US dollar or British Pound against the Canadian dollar as the
case may be, of Cogeco Cable's operating results for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014:
Cable segment
Quarters ended Nine months ended
As reported
Exchange rate
impact
As reported
Exchange rate
impact
(in thousands of dollars) $ $ $ $
Revenue 496,448 13,990 1,457,436 40,388
Operating expenses 267,059 9,370
785,235
26,497
Management fees - COGECO Inc.
9,674
Adjusted EBITDA 229,389 4,620
662,527
13,891
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets 84,452 4,578
250,347
13,110
DIVIDEND DECLARATION
At its July 9, 2014 meeting, the Board of Directors of COGECO declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.22 per share for multiple voting and
subordinate voting shares, payable on August 6, 2014, to shareholders of record on July 23, 2014. The declaration, amount and date of any
future dividend will continue to be considered and approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation based upon the Corporation’s financial
condition, results of operations, capital requirements and such other factors as the Board of Directors, at its sole discretion, deems relevant.
There is therefore no assurance that dividends will be declared, and if declared, the amount and frequency may vary.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 12
CABLE SEGMENT
CUSTOMER STATISTICS
Consolidated
Net additions (losses) Net additions (losses)
Consolidated UNITED STATES CANADA Quarters ended Nine months ended
May 31, 2014
May 31, 2014 May 31, 2013 May 31, 2014 May 31, 2013
PSU (1) 2,452,118 495,674 1,956,444 (2,509) (1,079) (15,539) 20,783
Television service customers 1,034,991 227,160
807,831
(9,620) (8,407) (31,961) (21,143)
HSI service customers 865,597 188,795
676,802
7,811 4,603 27,152 27,340
Telephony service customers 551,530 79,719
471,811
(700) 2,725 (10,730) 14,586
(1) Represents the sum of Television, High Speed Internet ("HSI") and Telephony service customers.
At May 31, 2014, PSU reached 2,452,118 of which 1,956,444 came from Canada and 495,674 came from the United States. For the three and
nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, PSU net losses stood at 2,509 and 15,539 compared to 1,079 and net additions of 20,783 for the
comparable periods of fiscal 2013, respectively. Fiscal 2014 third-quarter and first nine months net losses for Television service customers stood
at 9,620 and 31,961 compared to 8,407 and 21,143, HSI service customers grew by 7,811 and 27,152 compared to 4,603 and 27,340 and the
Telephony service customers net losses stood at 700 and 10,730 compared to net additions of 2,725 and 14,586 for the comparable periods of
fiscal 2013. HSI net additions continued to stem from the enhancement of the product offering and the positive impact of the bundle offer.
In Canada, PSU decreased by 5,633 for the third-quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to a decrease of 1,013 for the comparable period last year.
For the first nine months of fiscal 2014, PSU decreased by 23,678, compared to an increase of 17,089 for the comparable period in 2013. The
decrease is explained by service category maturity and a much more competitive environment for all services.
In the United States, PSU increased by 3,124 for the third-quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to a decrease of 66 for the same period of prior year.
For the first nine months of fiscal 2014, PSU increased by 8,139, compared to an increase of 3,694 for the comparable period in 2013. The
increase is explained by additional HSI and Telephony services, offset by losses in the Television service.
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
OPERATING RESULTS
Quarters ended Nine months ended
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
Change
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
Change
(in thousands of dollars, except percentages) $ $ % $ $ %
Revenue 496,448 464,497 6.9 1,457,436 1,222,080 19.3
Operating expenses 267,059 249,315 7.1 785,235 654,327 20.0
Management fees – COGECO Inc. 9,674 9,569
1.1
Adjusted EBITDA 229,389 215,182 6.6 662,527 558,184 18.7
Operating margin 46.2% 46.3% 45.5% 45.7%
REVENUE
Fiscal 2014 third-quarter revenue increased by $32.0 million, or 6.9%, to reach $496.4 million driven by the organic growth from all of our operating
segments combined with favorable foreign exchange rates for our foreign operations. For the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014, revenue
reached approximately $1.5 billion, an increase of $235.4 million, or 19.3% mainly as a result of the full year impact of the recent acquisitions
which both occurred during fiscal 2013 combined with the organic growth from all of our operating segments and favorable foreign exchange
rates in our foreign operations.
OPERATING EXPENSES AND MANAGEMENT FEES
For the third quarter of fiscal 2014, operating expenses increased by $17.7 million, to reach $267.1 million, an increase of 7.1% compared to the
prior year. For the first nine months of the fiscal year, operating expenses amounted to $785.2 million, an increase of $130.9 million, or 20.0%,
compared to the same period of fiscal 2013. Operating expenses increased is due to the full year impact of the recent acquisitions and the
appreciation of the US dollar and British Pound currency against the Canadian dollar.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 13
For the third quarter of fiscal 2014 and 2013, there was no management fees paid to COGECO Inc. For the first nine months of the fiscal year
2014, management fees paid to COGECO Inc. amounted to $9.7 million, 1.1% higher compared to $9.6 million in the comparable period of fiscal
2013.
ADJUSTED EBITDA
For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, adjusted EBITDA increased by $14.2 million, or 6.6%, to reach $229.4 million, and
by $104.3 million, or 18.7%, to reach $662.5 million, respectively, compared to the comparable periods of the prior year. The increases for the
quarter is mainly attributable to the improvement from all our operating segments as well as the favorable foreign exchange rates compared to
the same periods of last year while the increase for the first nine months is largely attributable to the full year impact of the recent acquisitions.
FISCAL 2014 REVISED FINANCIAL GUIDELINES
As a result of revised projections in the Cable segment described below, the Corporation revised its consolidated projection for the 2014 fiscal
year. Profit for the year should decrease from $240 million to $215 million and consequently, profit for the year attributable to owners of the
Corporation should amount to $70 million compared to $77 million for the revised projections issued on April 9, 2014.
Fiscal 2014 revised guidelines are as follows:
Revised projections
July 9, 2014
Revised projections
April 9, 2014
Fiscal 2014 Fiscal 2014
(in millions of dollars) $ $
Financial guidelines
Revenue 2,105
2,105
Adjusted EBITDA 915 915
Integration, restructuring and acquisition costs 4
Financial expense 137 137
Current income tax expense
99
103
Profit for the year 215 240
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Corporation
70 77
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets 430 430
Free cash flow
(1)
245 245
(1) Free cash flow is calculated as adjusted EBITDA less, integration, restructuring and acquisition costs, financial expense, current income tax expense and
acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets.
CABLE SEGMENT
Giving effect to the impairment of property, plant and equipment of $32.2 million which occurred during the third quarter of fiscal 2014 in the
Canadian operations as well as additional integration, restructuring and acquisitions costs related to restructuring activities, Cogeco Cable revised
downwards its fiscal 2014 projected profit for the year compared to the one issued on April 9, 2014. Profit for the year is now expected to reach
$210 million, a decrease of $25 million, or 10.6%, compared to the April 9, 2014 projections.
Fiscal 2014 revised financial guidelines are as follows:
Revised projections
July 9, 2014
Revised projections
April 9, 2014
Fiscal 2014 Fiscal 2014
(in millions of dollars, except operating margin and capital intensity) $ $
Financial guidelines
Revenue 1,955 1,955
Adjusted EBITDA 895 895
Operating margin 45.8% 45.8%
Integration, restructuring and acquisition costs 4
Depreciation and amortization 470 470
Financial expense 130 130
Current income tax expense 96 100
Profit for the year 210 235
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets 425 425
Free cash flow
(1)
240 240
Capital intensity 21.7% 21.7%
(1) Free cash flow is calculated as adjusted EBITDA less, integration, restructuring and acquisition costs, financial expense, current income tax expense and
acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 14
FISCAL 2015 PRELIMINARY FINANCIAL GUIDELINES
For fiscal 2015, COGECO expects revenue to reach $2.19 billion and adjusted EBITDA should reach $945 million, as a result of the Cable
segment's 2015 preliminary guidelines and the projected results of the radio and transit advertising activities. Free cash flow should reach
approximately $270 million and profit for the year attributable to the owners of the Corporation $88 million.
Preliminary
projections
Revised
projections
July 9, 2014
Fiscal 2015 Fiscal 2014
(in millions of dollars) $ $
Financial guidelines
Revenue
2,185 2,105
Adjusted EBITDA 945 915
Integration, restructuring and acquisition costs 4
Financial expense 132 137
Current income tax expense 105
99
Profit for the year 265 215
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Corporation
88 70
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets 438 430
Free cash flow
(1)
270 245
(1) Free cash flow is calculated as adjusted EBITDA less integration, restructuring and acquisition costs, financial expense, current income tax expense and acquisitions
of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets.
CABLE SEGMENT
Fiscal 2015 preliminary financial guidelines take into consideration the current uncertain global economic and the intense competitive environment
that prevails in Canada, the United States and Europe by the incumbent telecommunications or IT infrastructure providers, as the case may be.
In addition, these preliminary financial guidelines are supported by Cogeco Cable's objectives which are to improve profitability to create shareholder
value. Cogeco Cable focus on customer's needs by offering services at attractive prices, expanding its offering with respect to geography and
by diversifying its product and services. As Cogeco Cable operates in an industry characterized by rapid technological innovation which requires
substantial capital, Cogeco Cable will continue the expansion and upkeep of its networks and data centre facilities as well as the launch and
expansion of new or additional services. Cogeco Cable recognizes that customer service is a key brand attribute that has potential to differentiate
its services compared to its competitors and that superior customer service earns their loyalty and retention. As the cost containment is a core
element of financial performance and remains a key factor to maintain strong operating margins, Cogeco Cable intends to continue executing its
strategy of tight operating and capital cost controls and rigorous customer-related processes.
For fiscal 2015, Cogeco Cable expects to achieve revenue of $2.03 billion, representing a growth of $75 million or 3.8% compared to the revised
fiscal 2014 projection issued on July 9, 2014. In the Cable segment, revenue should stem primarily from targeted marketing initiatives to improve
penetration rates of HSI and Telephony services in the commercial and business sector while the penetration of residential Telephony and
Television services should slow in Canada, reflecting service category maturity and intense competition. Furthermore, Digital video and HSI
services should continue to benefit from customers' ongoing interest in TiVo's digital entertainment services in the United States as well as the
projected launch of TiVo services in Canada. Cable segment will also benefit from the impact of rate increases in most of its services. In its
Enterprise services operations, revenue growth should stem primarily from managed hosting and colocation services due to the expansion of
Barrie data centre facility as well as from the migration of services in the portfolio that generate revenue with higher margins. In addition, the
construction of a new data centre facility in Kirkland, Montreal,is expected be completed in the first half of fiscal 2015 and should begin generating
revenue. The revenue growth should also be driven by connectivity services as a result of network expansions and new customer installations.
Fiscal 2015 operating expenses are expected to expand by approximately $45 million, or 4.2%, compared to the 2014 revised projections due
to additional expenditures to support the Enterprise services segment growth, salary increases as well as the continuation of the marketing
initiatives and retention strategies. These increases should be partly offset by cost reduction initiatives from improved systems and processes
and by the restructuring activities that was completed in fiscal 2014.
For fiscal 2015, Cogeco Cable expects adjusted EBITDA of $925 million, an increase of $30 million, or 3.4%, compared to the 2014 revised
projections. The operating margin is expected to reach approximately 45.6% in fiscal 2015, compared to the revised projections for the 2014
fiscal year of 45.8%, reflecting lower margins business activities from the Enterprise services operations as well as operating expenses increasing
slightly faster than the revenue.
Cogeco Cable expects the depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets to decrease by $5 million for
fiscal 2015, mainly from the increase in capital expenditures with longer useful lives resulting in lower depreciation and amortization expense for
fiscal 2015. Cash flows from operations should finance capital expenditures which are expected to reach $430 million compared to $425 million
for the 2014 revised projections. Fiscal 2015 capital expenditures should increase mainly due to the completion of the expansion of the Barrie
data centre facility and the construction of a new data centre in Kirkland in the Enterprise services segment.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 15
Fiscal 2015 free cash flow is expected to amount to $270 million, an increase of $30 million, or 12.5% compared to the projected free cash flow
of $240 million due to the adjusted EBITDA growth, partly offset by additional capital expenditures. As a result, generated free cash flow will
reduce Indebtedness net of cash and cash equivalent, thus improving Cogeco Cable's net leverage ratios. Financial expense should amount to
$125 million, a decrease of $5 million, or 3.8%, from lower Indebtedness level. Finally, profit for the year should reach approximately $260 million
compared to $210 million for the 2014 revised projections.
Fiscal 2015 preliminary financial guidelines are as follows:
Preliminary
projections
Revised projections
July 9, 2014
Fiscal 2015 Fiscal 2014
(in millions of dollars, except operating margin and capital intensity) $ $
Financial guidelines
Revenue 2,030 1,955
Adjusted EBITDA 925 895
Operating margin 45.6% 45.8%
Integration, restructuring and acquisition costs 4
Depreciation and amortization 465 470
Financial expense 125 130
Current income tax expense 100 96
Profit for the year 260 210
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets 430 425
Free cash flow
(1)
270 240
Capital intensity 21.2% 21.7%
(1) Free cash flow is calculated as adjusted EBITDA less, integration, restructuring and acquisition costs, financial expense, current income tax expense and
acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Internal control over financial reporting ("ICFR") is a process designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance regarding the reliability
of financial reporting and of the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. The President and Chief
Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), together with Management, are responsible for
establishing and maintaining adequate disclosure controls and procedures ("DC&P") and ICFR, as defined in National Instrument 52-109.
COGECO’s internal control framework is based on the criteria published in the updated version released in May 2013 of the report Internal
Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
The CEO and CFO, supported by Management, evaluated the design of the Corporation's DC&P and ICFR as at May 31, 2014, and concluded
that, as described below, there exists a material weakness in ICFR at Peer 1 Hosting. A material weakness in ICFR exists if there exists a
deficiency or combination of deficiencies in ICFR such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim
consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
The Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable, acquired 96.57% of the issued and outstanding shares of Peer 1 Hosting on January 31, 2013
pursuant to the public offer made by Cogeco Cable, through its indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary 0957926 B.C. LTD. The remaining shares
of Peer 1 Hosting were acquired on April 3, 2013. Management has been working diligently since the acquisition to complete its review of the
design of ICFR at Peer 1 Hosting. Despite these efforts, Management has not to date completed its review. During the course of the portion of
the review that has been completed, Management identified certain deficiencies in ICFR at Peer 1 Hosting principally relating to the financial
statements close and inadequate segregation of duties over certain information system access controls.
Management has committed additional resources in order to complete the review of Peer 1 Hosting's ICFR and bring them in line with Cogeco
Cable's design standards by 2014 calendar year, and has progressed in terms of the implementation of a number of measures to address the
deficiencies described above. More specifically, Management has implemented several detailed review processes that provide for a more granular
level of analysis. Moreover, access rights are being adjusted to reflect proper segregation of duties, and a series of corporate policies have been
introduced to enhance Peer 1 Hosting's overall control environment. The Corporation cannot currently assess the potential impact of any further
design deficiencies which may be identified during the completion of its review of Peer 1 Hosting's ICFR.
Based on the review completed to date, the CEO and the CFO believe that (i) the Corporation's interim filings for the three and nine-month
periods ended May 31, 2014 do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or that
is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances under which it was made, and (ii) the interim financial report
together with the other financial information included in the interim filings fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, financial
performance and cash flows of COGECO for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014.
Peer 1 Hosting represents 10% of revenue, -16% of profit for the period, 15% of total assets, 17% of current assets, 15% of non current assets,
6% of current liabilities and 16% of non current liabilities of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the nine-month period
ended May 31, 2014.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 16
UNCERTAINTIES AND MAIN RISK FACTORS
A detailed description of the uncertainties and main risk factors faced by the Corporation can be found in the 2013 Annual Report, available at
<www.sedar.com> and <www.cogeco.ca>. Except as described below, there has been no significant change in the uncertainties and main risk
factors faced by the Corporation since August 31, 2013.
On October 24, 2013, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ("CRTC") issued Broadcasting Notice of Invitation
inviting Canadians to express their views on the future of the television system in Canada. The initial phases of the "Let’s Talk TV" public proceeding
and the issuance by the federal government on November 11, 2013 of Order in Council PC 2013-1167 directing the CRTC to report on the ability
of Canadian consumers to subscribe to pay and specialty television services on a service-by-service basis have led to the issuance by the CRTC
on April 24, 2014 of Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2014-190 setting up a proposed new broadcasting regulatory approach. If adopted at the
conclusion of this proceeding, the new regulatory framework would provide, among other things, that broadcasting distribution undertakings
("BDUs") offer to their customers: a) a small basic service comprised only of local television stations, mandatory services under subsection 9(1)
(h) of the Broadcasting Act, as well as the relevant provincial educational services, the community channel and the provincial legislature service
in the area served by the BDU; and b) all other licensed or exempted programming services and non-Canadian services as discretionary services
on a pick-and-pay and on a build-your-own-package basis. BDUs would however be allowed to continue offering discretionary programming
services in pre-assembled packages to subscribers in the same manner as they do now. This new regulatory framework would have a significant
impact on the broadcasting distribution business of Cogeco Cable and other BDUs by forcing the removal of American conventional television
networks and of popular sports and other specialty services from the basic service tier and requiring the handling of pick-and-pay and build-your-
own-package options for all discretionary programming services. On June 27, 2014, Cogeco Cable filed a comprehensive intervention with the
CRTC as part of this proceeding and has requested to appear at a public hearing to be held by the CRTC starting on September 8, 2014. At this
time, it is not possible to determine the final outcome of this important regulatory proceeding, the timetable for its implementation or its impact
on the broadcasting distribution activities and future financial outlook of Cogeco Cable.
On November 26, 2013, Rogers Communications and the National Hockey League ("NHL") announced that they had concluded a twelve-year
comprehensive broadcast and multimedia licensing agreement respecting all national rights to NHL games on all platforms in all languages in
Canada, beginning with the 2014-2015 season. Rogers Communications also announced that it had selected CBC and TVA for separate
sublicensing deals for English-language broadcasts of “Hockey Night in Canada” and all national French-language multimedia rights, respectively.
Cogeco Cable has concluded multi-years agreements for the distribution of the Sportsnet and TVA Sport specialty programming services which
include NHL hockey games in their respective programming. These agreements are factored into the financial guidelines issued by Cogeco Cable.
FUTURE ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS IN CANADA
A number of new standards, interpretations and amendments to existing standards issued by the International Accounting Standard Board (“IASB”)
are effective for annual periods starting on or after January 1, 2013 and have been applied in preparing the condensed interim consolidated
financial statements for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
The Corporation adopted the following new accounting standards on September 1, 2013. The impacts of the application of this standard are
described in Note 2 of the condensed interim consolidated financial statements.
Amendment to IAS 19, Employee Benefits : The principal difference in the amended standard is that the expected long-term rate of
return on plan assets will no longer be used to calculate the defined benefit pension costs. The defined benefit pension costs concepts
of "interest cost" and "expected return on plan assets" are replaced by the concept of "net interest" calculated by applying the discount
rate to the net liability or asset. The net interest cost takes into account the change any contributions and benefit payments have on
the net defined benefit liability or asset during the period.
The Corporation also adopted the following standards on September 1, 2013 which had no impact on the condensed interim consolidated financial
statements.
Amendments to IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures
IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements
IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interest in Other Entities
IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
CHANGES IN CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
There has been no significant change in COGECO’s accounting policies, estimates and future accounting pronouncements since August 31,
2013. A description of the Corporation’s policies and estimates can be found in the 2013 Annual Report, available at <www.sedar.com> and
<www.cogeco.ca>.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 17
NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES
This section describes non-IFRS financial measures used by COGECO throughout this MD&A. It also provides reconciliations between these
non-IFRS measures and the most comparable IFRS financial measures. These financial measures do not have standard definitions prescribed
by IFRS and therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measures include “cash flow from
operations”, “free cash flow” and “adjusted EBITDA”.
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS AND FREE CASH FLOW
Cash flow from operations is used by COGECO’s management and investors to evaluate cash flows generated by operating activities, excluding
the impact of changes in non-cash operating activities, amortization of deferred transaction costs and discounts on long-term debt, income taxes
paid, current income tax expense, financial expense paid and financial expense. This allows the Corporation to isolate the cash flows from
operating activities from the impact of cash management decisions. Cash flow from operations is subsequently used in calculating the non-IFRS
measure, “free cash flow”. Free cash flow is used, by COGECO’s management and investors, to measure its ability to repay debt, distribute
capital to its shareholders and finance its growth.
The most comparable IFRS measure is cash flow from operating activities. Cash flow from operations is calculated as follows:
Quarters ended Nine months ended
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
(in thousands of dollars) $ $ $ $
Cash flow from operating activities 184,706 167,641
432,552 318,731
Changes in non-cash operating activities (13,340) 5,443 82,379 80,194
Amortization of deferred transaction costs and discounts on long-term debt 2,007 3,520
5,856 7,237
Income taxes paid 16,672 17,031 55,888 79,490
Current income tax expense (23,693) (27,563) (72,378) (76,227)
Financial expense paid 44,210 28,876
107,316
75,271
Financial expense (34,071) (36,776) (102,485) (84,899)
Cash flow from operations 176,491 158,172
509,128 399,797
(1) Comparative figures have been adjusted to comply with the adoption of IAS 19 - Employee Benefits. For further details, please refer to Note 2 of the condensed
interim consolidated financial statements.
Free cash flow is calculated as follows:
Quarters ended Nine months ended
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
(in thousands of dollars) $ $ $ $
Cash flow from operations 176,491 158,172
509,128 399,797
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (80,017) (108,976) (239,865) (289,016)
Acquisition of intangible and other assets (4,943) (4,516) (13,672) (13,650)
Free cash flow 91,531 44,680
255,591
97,131
(1) Comparative figures have been adjusted to comply with the adoption of IAS 19 - Employee Benefits. For further details, please refer to Note 2 of the condensed
interim consolidated financial statements.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 18
ADJUSTED EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is used by COGECO’s management and investors to assess the Corporation’s ability to seize growth opportunities in a cost
effective manner, to finance its ongoing operations and to service its debt. Adjusted EBITDA is a proxy for cash flows from operations excluding
the impact of the capital structure chosen, and is one of the key metrics used by the financial community to value the business and its financial
strength.
The most comparable IFRS financial measure is profit for the period. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as follows:
Quarters ended Nine months ended
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
May 31,
2014
May 31,
2013
(1)
(in thousands of dollars)
$ $ $ $
Profit for the period 35,635 49,995
150,941 146,051
Income taxes 9,068 19,080 39,052 53,341
Financial expense 34,071 36,776
102,485
84,899
Impairment of property, plant and equipment 32,197 32,197
Depreciation and amortization 118,926 112,867
350,475 272,831
Integration, restructuring and acquisitions costs 3,186 2,160
3,780
16,912
Adjusted EBITDA 233,083 220,878
678,930 574,034
(1) Comparative figures have been adjusted to comply with the adoption of IAS 19 - Employee Benefits. For further details, please refer to Note 2 of the condensed
interim consolidated financial statements.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Quarters ended May 31, February 28, November 30, August 31,
(in thousands of dollars, except per
share data)
2014 2013
(2)
2014 2013
(2)
2013 2012
(2)
2013
(2)
2012
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Revenue 536,067 504,434
518,477
458,501 516,971 366,608
504,714 356,685
Adjusted EBITDA 233,083 220,878
221,807
196,272 224,040 156,884
224,608 163,617
Impairment of property, plant and
equipment 32,197
Income taxes 9,068 19,080 14,147 15,089 15,837 19,172 10,374 33,625
Profit for the period 35,635 49,995 58,467 48,950 56,839 47,106 43,770 44,900
Profit for the period attributable to
owners of the Corporation 11,469 17,185 17,391 14,676 23,055 18,530 13,869 13,889
Cash flow from operating activities 184,706 167,641
187,611
157,095 60,235 (6,005)
233,464 203,193
Cash flow from operations 176,491 158,172
173,415
140,124 159,222 101,501
162,138 119,612
Acquisitions of property, plant and
equipment, intangible and other
assets 84,960 113,492 81,997 106,019 86,580 83,155
108,756 124,638
Free cash flow 91,531 44,680 91,418 34,105 72,642 18,346 53,382
(5,026
)
Earnings per share
(1)
Basic 0.69 1.03 1.04 0.88 1.38 1.11 0.83 0.83
Diluted 0.68 1.02 1.03 0.87 1.37 1.10 0.82 0.83
(1) Per multiple and subordinate voting share.
(2) These figures have been adjusted to comply with the adoption of IAS 19 - Employee Benefits.
Management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO INC. Q3 2014 19
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
COGECO’s operating results are not generally subject to material seasonal fluctuations except as follows. In the Cable segment, the number of
customers in the Television service and HSI service are generally lower in the second half of the fiscal year as a result of a decrease in economic
activity due to the beginning of the vacation period, the end of the television season, and students leaving their campuses at the end of the school
year. Cogeco Cable offers its services in several university and college towns such as Kingston, Windsor, St.Catharines, Hamilton, Peterborough,
Trois-Rivières and Rimouski in Canada and in the Pennsylvania region, and to a lesser extent in South Carolina, Maryland/Delaware in the United
States. In the United States, the Miami region is also subject to seasonal fluctuations due to the winter season residents returning home from
late Spring through the Fall.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This MD&A was prepared on July 9, 2014. Additional information relating to the Corporation, including its Annual Information Form, is available
on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.
/s/ Jan Peeters /s/ Louis Audet
Jan Peeters Louis Audet
Chairman of the Board President and Chief Executive Officer
COGECO Inc.
Montréal, Québec
July 9, 2014
CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
Three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 21
COGECO INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS
(unaudited)
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share data) $ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Revenue 536,067 504,434 1,571,515 1,329,543
Operating expenses (note 5) 302,984 283,556
892,585
755,509
Integration, restructuring and acquisition costs 3,186 2,160
3,780
16,912
Depreciation and amortization (note 6) 118,926 112,867
350,475
272,831
Impairment of property, plant and equipment (note 7) 32,197 32,197
Financial expense (note 8) 34,071 36,776
102,485
84,899
Income taxes (note 9) 9,068 19,080 39,052 53,341
Profit for the period 35,635 49,995
150,941
146,051
Profit for the period attributable to:
Owners of the Corporation 11,469 17,185 51,915 50,391
Non-controlling interest 24,166 32,810 99,026 95,660
35,635 49,995
150,941
146,051
Earnings per share (note 10)
Basic 0.69 1.03 3.10 3.01
Diluted
0.68 1.02 3.08 2.99
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 22
COGECO INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
(In thousands of Canadian dollars) $ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Profit for the period 35,635 49,995 150,941
146,051
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Items to be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
Cash flow hedging adjustments
Net change in fair value of hedging derivative financial instruments (4,919) 1,343
5,324 9,288
Net change in fair value of hedging derivative financial instruments
reclassified to financial expense 4,408 (1,026)
(5,928
)
(9,709
)
Income tax recovery (expense) on cash flow hedging adjustments 178 (119)
(120
)
(304
)
(333) 198
(724
)
(725
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Net foreign currency translation differences on net investments in foreign
operations (14,392) 2,394 23,087 31,487
Net changes in unrealized adjustments on translation of long-term debt
designated as hedges of net investments in foreign operations 8,524 (712) (13,234) (19,517)
(5,868) 1,682
9,853
11,970
Items not to be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
Defined benefit pension plans actuarial adjustments
Employee defined benefit pension plans actuarial re-measurements (200) 5,530 667
7,599
Income tax recovery (expense) on defined benefit pension plans actuarial
adjustments 59 (1,487)
(172
)
(2,042
)
(141) 4,043 495
5,557
Other comprehensive income (loss) for the period (6,342) 5,923
9,624
16,802
Comprehensive income for the period 29,293 55,918 160,565
162,853
Comprehensive income for the period attributable to:
Owners of the Corporation 9,291 21,060 54,948 58,177
Non-controlling interest 20,002 34,858 105,617
104,676
29,293 55,918 160,565
162,853
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 23
COGECO INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(unaudited)
Equity attributable to owners of the Corporation
Share
capital
Share-based
payment
reserve
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
Retained
earnings
Equity
attributable to
non-controlling
interest
Total shareholders'
equity
(In thousands of Canadian dollars)
$ $ $ $ $ $
(note 12) (note 12) (note 13)
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 3)(restated, note 3)
(restated,
notes 2 and 3)
Balance at August 31, 2012 117,936 5,338
1,036
273,236 806,606 1,204,152
Profit for the period 50,391 95,660
146,051
Other comprehensive income for the period
3,613
4,173
9,016
16,802
Comprehensive income for the period
3,613
54,564 104,676
162,853
Share based payment 1,757
1,596 3,353
Issuance of subordinate voting shares by a
subsidiary to non-controlling interest (81) 798 717
Dividends on multiple voting shares (1,050)
(1,050
)
Dividends on subordinate voting shares (8,484) (25,703) (34,187)
Effect of changes in ownership of a subsidiary
on non-controlling interest (36)
36
Acquisition of subordinate voting shares held in
trust under the Incentive Share Unit Plan (1,201)
(1,201
)
Distribution to employees of subordinate voting
shares held in trust under the Incentive
Share Unit Plan
1,034 (1,041) 7
Acquisition by a subsidiary from non-controlling
interest of subordinate voting shares held in
trust under the Incentive Share Unit Plan
(4,076
)
(4,076
)
Distribution by a subsidiary to non-controlling
interest of subordinate voting shares held in
trust under the Incentive Share Unit Plan (457) 3 454
Non-controlling interest acquired as a result of a
business combinations 16,962 16,962
Acquisition of non-controlling interest (17,424) (17,424)
Total contributions by and distributions to
shareholders (167) 178 (9,560) (27,357) (36,906)
Balance at May 31, 2013 117,769 5,516
4,649
318,240 883,925 1,330,099
Balance at August 31, 2013 117,769 6,007
6,177
326,952 911,311 1,368,216
Profit for the period 51,915 99,026
150,941
Other comprehensive income for the period
2,925
108
6,591 9,624
Comprehensive income for the period
2,925
52,023 105,617
160,565
Share-based payment 2,628
2,936 5,564
Issuance of subordinate voting shares by a
subsidiary to non-controlling interest (489)
5,470 4,981
Dividends on multiple voting shares (1,216)
(1,216
)
Dividends on subordinate voting shares (9,846) (29,738) (39,584)
Effect of change in ownership of a subsidiary on
non-controlling interest 131
(131
)
Acquisition of subordinate voting shares held in
trust under the Incentive Share Unit Plan (1,941)
(1,941
)
Distribution to employees of subordinate voting
shares held in trust under the Incentive
Share Unit Plan 1,629 (1,543) (86)
Acquisition by a subsidiary from non-controlling
interest of subordinate voting shares held in
trust under the Incentive Share Unit Plan
(6,934
)
(6,934
)
Distribution by a subsidiary to non-controlling
interest of subordinate voting shares held in
trust under the Incentive Share Unit Plan (1,010) 9
1,001
Total contributions by and distributions to
shareholders (312) (414) (11,008) (27,396) (39,130)
Balance at May 31, 2014 117,457 5,593
9,102
367,967 989,532 1,489,651
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 24
COGECO INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(unaudited)
May 31, 2014 August 31, 2013
(In thousands of Canadian dollars) $ $
(restated,
notes 2 and 3)
Assets
Current
Cash and cash equivalents 30,526 43,793
Trade and other receivables (note 16 A)) 132,659
118,312
Income taxes receivable 24,465 18,372
Prepaid expenses and other 18,045 14,182
205,695
194,659
Non-current
Other assets 10,037 11,046
Property, plant and equipment 1,794,227 1,874,866
Intangible assets 1,994,599 2,002,677
Goodwill 1,257,618 1,228,356
Derivative financial instruments 6,157 833
Deferred tax assets 139,441
141,398
5,407,774 5,453,835
Liabilities and Shareholders’ equity
Liabilities
Current
Bank indebtedness 13,217 13,166
Trade and other payables 210,163
294,014
Provisions 17,617 12,800
Income tax liabilities 45,608 23,924
Deferred and prepaid revenue 57,015 56,656
Balance due on a business combination, bank prime rate plus 1% 2,000
2,000
Current portion of long-term debt (note 11) 24,994 15,216
370,614
417,776
Non-current
Long-term debt (note 11) 2,893,555 2,984,740
Deferred and prepaid revenue and other liabilities 25,441 21,287
Pension plan liabilities and accrued employees benefits 16,739 21,459
Deferred tax liabilities 611,774
640,357
3,918,123 4,085,619
Shareholders’ equity
Equity attributable to owners of the Corporation
Share capital (note 12) 117,457
117,769
Share-based payment reserve 5,593
6,007
Accumulated other comprehensive income (note 13) 9,102
6,177
Retained earnings 367,967
326,952
500,119
456,905
Non-controlling interest 989,532
911,311
1,489,651 1,368,216
5,407,774 5,453,835
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 25
COGECO INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
(In thousands of Canadian dollars)
$ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Cash flow from operating activities
Profit for the period 35,635 49,995
150,941 146,051
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortization (note 6) 118,926 112,867
350,475 272,831
Impairment of property, plant and equipment (note 7) 32,197 32,197
Financial expense (note 8) 34,071 36,776
102,485
84,899
Income taxes (note 9) 9,068 19,080 39,052 53,341
Share-based payment (note 12) 2,763 1,693
7,166 4,149
Loss on disposals and write-offs of property, plant and equipment 770 13
2,065 1,837
Defined benefit pension plans contributions, net of expense (1,182) (1,433)
(6,246
)
(9,184
)
Other
(238
)
232,248 218,991
678,135 553,686
Changes in non-cash operating activities (note 14) 13,340 (5,443) (82,379) (80,194)
Income taxes paid (16,672) (17,031) (55,888) (79,490)
Financial expense paid (44,210) (28,876) (107,316) (75,271)
184,706 167,641
432,552 318,731
Cash flow from investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (80,017) (108,976) (239,865) (289,016)
Acquisition of intangible and other assets (4,943) (4,516) (13,672) (13,650)
Business combination, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired (note 3) (22,377) (2,006,129)
Other 25 57 605 305
(84,935) (135,812) (252,932) (2,308,490)
Cash flow from financing activities
Increase (decrease) in bank indebtedness 9,351 (3,993)
51 (741
)
Net increases (repayments) under the revolving facilities (163,598) (305,691) (186,088)
547,488
Issuance of long-term debt, net of discounts and transaction costs 48,670 694,651 48,670 1,728,617
Repayments of long-term debt (4,819) (406,956) (10,870) (408,640)
Increase in deferred transaction costs (1,960)
(1,346
)
(4,317
)
Repayment of balance due on a business combination (10,525)
Acquisition of subordinate voting shares held in trust under the
Incentive Share Unit Plan (note 12) (12)
(1,941
)
(1,201
)
Dividends paid on multiple voting shares (405) (350)
(1,216
)
(1,050
)
Dividends paid on subordinate voting shares (3,298) (2,807)
(9,846
)
(8,484
)
Issuance of subordinate voting shares by a subsidiary to non-controlling interest 553 130
4,981
717
Acquisition by a subsidiary from non-controlling interest of subordinate voting
shares held in trust under the Incentive Share Unit Plan (note 12)
(6,934
)
(4,076
)
Dividends paid on subordinate voting shares by a subsidiary to non-controlling
interest (9,924) (8,564) (29,738) (25,703)
(123,482) (35,540) (194,277) 1,812,085
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
denominated in foreign currencies (535) 1,089
1,390 1,794
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (24,246) (2,622) (13,267) (175,880)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period 54,772 42,265 43,793
215,523
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period 30,526 39,643 30,526 39,643
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 26
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
COGECO Inc. (the “Corporation” or the “Parent Corporation”) is a Canadian public corporation whose shares are listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (“TSX”). The Corporation is engaged in Cable Television, High Speed Internet (“HSI”), Telephony, managed information technology
and infrastructure, and other telecommunications services to its residential and commercial customers in Canada, in the United States of America
(“United States”), in the United Kingdom ("UK") and in France through Cogeco Cable Inc. ("Cogeco Cable"), in radio broadcasting through Cogeco
Diffusion Acquisitions Inc. (“Cogeco Diffusion”) and in out-of-home advertising specialized in the public transit sector through Métromédia CMR
Plus Inc. (“Métromédia”) (see note 4 for a detailed description of operations).
The Corporation's registered office is located at 5 Place Ville Marie, Suite 1700, Montréal, Québec, H3B 0B3.
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
These condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standards
(“IAS”) 34 Interim Financial Reporting and do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements. Certain information
and footnote disclosure normally included in annual financial statements were omitted or condensed where such information is not considered
material to the understanding of the Corporation's interim financial information. As such, these condensed interim consolidated financial
statements should be read in conjunction with the Corporation's 2013 annual consolidated financial statements.
These condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared with the accounting policies the Corporation adopted in its
2013 annual consolidated financial statements. The accounting policies have been applied consistently to all periods presented in the
condensed interim consolidated financial statements unless otherwise indicated.
The condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis using historical cost except for
derivative financial instruments and cash-settled share-based payment arrangements, which are measured at fair value and for the pension
plan liabilities and accrued employee benefits, which are measured at present value.
Financial information is presented in Canadian dollars, which is the functional currency of COGECO Inc.
The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year. The Corporation
does not expect seasonality to be a material factor in quarterly results except for the number of customers in the Cable Television and HSI
service of the Cable segment which are generally lower in the second half of the fiscal year as a result of a decrease in economic activity
due to the beginning of the vacation period, the end of the television season, and students leaving their campuses at the end of the school
year in Canada, and in the US, due to the winter season residents returning home from late spring through the fall in the Miami area.
The condensed interim consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors of COGECO Inc. at its meeting held on
July 9, 2014.
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 27
2. ACCOUNTING POLICY DEVELOPMENTS
As described in note 3 of the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2013, the following standards issued
by the International Accounting Standard Board ("IASB") were adopted by the Corporation on September 1, 2013, and unless otherwise
indicated, have no effect on the financial performance of the Corporation:
Amendments to IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures
IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements
IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interest in Other Entities
IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
Amendments to IAS 19 Employee Benefits: Relative to the pre-fiscal 2014 accounting policies, presentation and disclosure practices,
the principal difference in the amended standard impacting the Corporation is that the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets
will no longer be used to calculate the defined benefit pension costs. The defined benefit pension costs concepts of "interest cost" and
"expected return on plan assets" are replaced by the concept of "net interest". The Employee defined benefit pension plans net interest
is the product of the plan's surplus (deficit) multiplied by the discount rate. The amended standard does not prescribe the classification
within the statement of profit or loss of Employee defined benefit pension plans net interest. The Corporation has decided to include
the net interest expense or income in financial expense.
The variance between the actual rate of return on defined plan assets and the discount rate, as well as the related impact of the limit
on defined benefit assets, if any, is included in other comprehensive income as employee defined benefit pension plans re-
measurements.
The amended standard has been applied retrospectively for all prior periods presented in these condensed interim consolidated financial
statements. The impact on profit or loss and other comprehensive income (loss) is as follows:
Three months ended May 31, 2013
As previously
reported
Effects of
amended IAS 19
As currently
reported
$ $ $
Operating expenses
Salaries, employee benefits and outsourced services 96,811 (304) 96,507
Financial expense 36,487 289 36,776
Income taxes 19,076 4 19,080
Profit for the period 49,984
11
49,995
Other comprehensive income
Employee defined benefit pension plans re-measurements 5,461
69 5,530
Income tax expense on defined benefit pension plan actuarial adjustments (1,469) (18)
(1,487
)
Earnings per share
Basic 1.02 1.03
Diluted 1.02 1.02
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 28
Nine months ended May 31, 2013
As previously
reported
Effects of
amended IAS 19
As currently
reported
$ $ $
Operating expenses
Salaries, employee benefits and outsourced services 256,093 (912)
255,181
Financial expense 84,032 867 84,899
Income taxes 53,329
12
53,341
Profit for the period 146,018
33 146,051
Other comprehensive income
Employee defined benefit pension plans re-measurements 7,392 207
7,599
Income tax expense on defined benefit pension plan actuarial adjustments (1,988) (54)
(2,042
)
Earnings per share
Basic 3.01 3.01
Diluted 2.99 2.99
The impact on the retained earnings is as follows:
As previously
reported
Effects of
amended IAS 19
As currently
reported
$ $ $
Retained earnings, balance at August 31, 2012 273,489 (253)
273,236
Retained earnings, balance at August 31, 2013
326,964 (12)
326,952
3. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS IN FISCAL 2013
On November 30, 2012, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., completed the acquisition of all the outstanding shares of Atlantic
Broadband, an independent cable system operator formed in 2003, then serving about 485,000 primary service units and providing Analogue
and Digital Television, as well as HSI and Telephony services. The acquisition is an attractive entry point into the American market, providing
a significant increase in Primary Service Units base with further growth potential, a high quality network infrastructure and the ability for the
Corporation’s management to leverage its core knowledge and operational experience. The transaction, valued at US$1.36 billion, was
financed through a combination of cash on hand, a draw-down on the existing Term Revolving Facility of approximately US$588 million and
US$660 million of borrowings under a new committed non-recourse debt financing at Atlantic Broadband. Atlantic Broadband operates cable
systems in Western Pennsylvania, Southern Florida, Delaware/Maryland and South Carolina.
On January 31, 2013, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., acquired approximately 96.57% of the issued and outstanding shares
of Peer 1 Network Enterprises, Inc. ("Peer 1 Hosting”). The transaction, valued at approximately $649 million, was financed by new secured
revolving credit facilities in the amount of approximately $250 million as well as new secured term credit facilities in the amount of approximately
$400 million both having a maturity of four years. On April 3, 2013, Cogeco Cable completed the acquisition of the remaining 3.43% of the
issued and outstanding shares of Peer 1 Hosting pursuant to the compulsory acquisition provisions in Section 300 of the Business Corporations
Act ("British Columbia") for a cash consideration of $17 million. Peer 1 Hosting is one of the world's leading internet infrastructure providers,
specializing in managed hosting, dedicated servers, cloud services and colocation. This acquisition enhances Cogeco Cable's footprint and
builds on its strategic initiatives by increasing scale in an attractive industry segment with significant growth prospects in the state of the art
data centre platforms. Cogeco Cable has the resources to serve additional businesses worldwide through 20 data centres and 56 points-
of-presence across North America and Europe. Peer 1 Hosting's primary network centre and head office are located in Vancouver, Canada.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, Cogeco Cable finalized the purchase price allocation of Atlantic Broadband which remained unchanged
from that presented in the 2013 Annual consolidated financial statements. The purchase price allocation of Peer 1 Hosting was finalized
by Cogeco Cable during the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 29
The final purchase price allocations of Atlantic Broadband and Peer 1 Hosting are as follows:
Peer 1
Hosting
Atlantic
Broadband TOTAL
Final Final Final
$ $ $
Consideration
Paid
Purchase of shares 494,796 337,779
832,575
Working capital adjustments 5,415
5,415
Repayment of secured debts and settlement of options outstanding 170,872 1,021,854 1,192,726
665,668 1,365,048 2,030,716
Net assets acquired
Cash and cash equivalents 10,840 5,480 16,320
Restricted cash 8,729
8,729
Trade and other receivables 12,772 12,012 24,784
Prepaid expenses and other 3,855 1,370
5,225
Income tax receivable 2,797 3,907
6,704
Other assets 2,462
2,462
Property, plant and equipment 150,013 302,211
452,224
Intangible assets 144,231 711,418
855,649
Goodwill 410,454 522,215
932,669
Deferred tax assets 8,872 98,592
107,464
Trade and other payables assumed (26,512) (27,620) (54,132)
Provisions (721)
(721
)
Deferred and prepaid revenue and other liabilities assumed (3,388) (7,697) (11,085)
Long-term debt assumed (1,735)
(1,735
)
Deferred tax liabilities (57,722) (256,119) (313,841)
665,668 1,365,048 2,030,716
The finalization of the purchase price allocation of Peer 1 Hosting during the second quarter ended February 28, 2014 had no impact on
the statement of profit or loss and comprehensive income for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2013 while the impact on
the statement of financial position at August 31, 2013 is as follows:
As previously
reported Adjustments
As currently
reported
$ $ $
Income tax receivable 17,714 658 18,372
Intangible assets 2,003,581 (904) 2,002,677
Goodwill 1,231,140 (2,784) 1,228,356
Deferred tax assets 137,046 4,352
141,398
Deferred tax liabilities 637,883 2,474
640,357
Accumulated other comprehensive income
6,545
(368)
6,177
Non-controlling interest
912,095
(784)
911,311
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 30
4. OPERATING SEGMENTS
The Corporation's profit for the year are reported in two operating segments: Cable and other.
The Cable segment provides a wide range of Television, HSI and Telephony services primarily to residential customers. It also provides
business solutions, including data networking, Ethernet, Web hosting, HSI access and Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) services, to
small and medium sized businesses. The segment also provides through its data centres, colocation, managed and dedicated hosting,
managed IT and cloud services to small, medium and large enterprises and public sector customers as well as connectivity services
provisioned over its optical networks.
The Other segment is comprised of radio, out of home advertising specialized in the public transit sector, head office activities as well as
inter-segment eliminations.
The activities of the Cable segment are carried out in Canada, in the United States and in Europe, mostly in the United Kingdom, and the
activities of the Other segment are carried out in Canada.
The Corporation assesses the performance of each segment based on segment profit. Transactions between segments are measured at
agreed to amounts between the parties.
Three months ended May 31,
Cable Other Consolidated
2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Revenue
(1)
496,448 464,497 39,619 39,937 536,067
504,434
Operating expenses 267,059 249,315 35,925 34,241 302,984
283,556
Integration, restructuring and acquisition
costs 3,186 2,101 59 3,186
2,160
Depreciation and amortization 117,653 111,445 1,273 1,422 118,926
112,867
Impairment of property, plant and equipment 32,197 32,197
Financial expense 32,038 35,146 2,033 1,630 34,071 36,776
Income taxes 8,801 18,411 267 669 9,068 19,080
Profit for the period 35,514 48,079 121 1,916 35,635 49,995
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 79,509 108,325 508 651 80,017
108,976
Acquisition of intangible and other assets 4,943 4,516 4,943
4,516
(1) For the three-month period ended May 31, 2014, revenue by geographic market included $396,172 in Canada ($381,388 in 2013), $129,833 in the
United States ($115,931 in 2013) and $10,062 in Europe ($7,115 in 2013).
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 31
Nine months ended May 31,
Cable Other Consolidated
2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $ $ $
(restated,
notes 2 and 3) (restated, note 2)
(restated,
notes 2 and 3)
Revenue
(1)
1,457,436 1,222,080 114,079 107,463 1,571,515 1,329,543
Operating expenses 785,235 654,327 107,350 101,182 892,585
755,509
Management fees – COGECO Inc. 9,674 9,569 (9,674) (9,569)
Integration, restructuring and acquisition
costs 3,780 16,865 47 3,780 16,912
Depreciation and amortization 346,540 268,611 3,935 4,220 350,475
272,831
Impairment of property, plant and equipment 32,197 32,197
Financial expense 97,505 80,068 4,980 4,831 102,485 84,899
Income taxes 36,912 51,615 2,140 1,726 39,052 53,341
Profit for the period 145,593 141,025 5,348 5,026 150,941
146,051
Total assets
(2)
5,206,189 5,254,419 201,585 199,416 5,407,774 5,453,835
Property, plant and equipment
(2)
1,773,325 1,854,155 20,902 20,711 1,794,227 1,874,866
Intangible assets
(2)
1,902,947 1,910,089 91,652 92,588 1,994,599 2,002,677
Goodwill
(2)
1,218,493 1,189,231 39,125 39,125 1,257,618 1,228,356
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 236,675 286,457 3,190 2,559 239,865
289,016
Acquisition of intangible and other assets 13,672 13,650 13,672 13,650
(1) For the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014 revenue by geographic market included $1,167,506 in Canada ($1,110,256 in 2013), $376,042 in the United
States ($209,851 in 2013) and $27,967 in Europe ($9,436 in 2013).
(2) At May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013.
The following table sets out certain geographic information at May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013:
At May 31, 2014
Canada United States Europe Total
$ $ $ $
Property, plant and equipment 1,347,276 392,988 53,963 1,794,227
Intangible assets 1,174,486 808,260 11,853 1,994,599
Goodwill 372,835 832,938 51,845 1,257,618
At August 31, 2013
Canada United States Europe Total
$ $ $ $
(restated, note 3) (restated, note 3) (restated, note 3) (restated, note 3)
Property, plant and equipment 1,430,471 394,359 50,036 1,874,866
Intangible assets 1,186,613 804,034 12,030 2,002,677
Goodwill 372,835 808,968 46,553 1,228,356
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 32
5. OPERATING EXPENSES
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Salaries, employee benefits and outsourced services
103,999
96,507 302,680
255,181
Service delivery costs
(1)
148,808
141,135 445,907
373,739
Customer related costs
(2)
20,891 20,713 60,415 54,764
Other external purchases
(3)
29,286 25,201 83,583 71,825
302,984
283,556 892,585
755,509
(1) Include cost of equipment sold, content and programming costs, payments to other carriers, data US center expenses, franchise fees and network
costs.
(2) Include advertising and marketing expenses, selling costs, billing expenses, bad debts and collection expenses.
(3) Include office building expenses, professional service fees, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (“CRTC”) fees and other
administrative expenses.
6. DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $
Property, plant and equipment
103,209
96,622 302,775 237,990
Intangible assets 15,717 16,245 47,700 34,841
118,926
112,867 350,475 272,831
7. IMPAIRMENT OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, the Corporation's indirect cable subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Canada, recognized an impairment of $32.2
million of property, plant and equipment, capitalized wages and borrowing costs related to an Internet Protocol Television ("IPTV") solution
project on which its Canadian operations had worked. As a result of the unexpected performance issues encountered with the platform, it
had to be abandoned by Cogeco Cable Canada. At May 31, 2014, these costs were not yet depreciated.
8. FINANCIAL EXPENSE
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Interest on long-term debt 33,304 36,993 99,293 83,216
Net foreign exchange losses (gains)
(336
) 186 (373) 924
Amortization of deferred transaction costs 488 (141) 1,454
1,038
Capitalized borrowing costs
(1)
(867
) (995) (2,232)
(2,792
)
Other
1,482
733 4,343
2,513
34,071 36,776 102,485 84,899
(1) For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, the weighted average interest rate used for the capitalization of borrowing costs was 4.5%
(6% in 2013).
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 33
9. INCOME TAXES
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Current 23,693 27,563 72,378 76,227
Deferred (14,625) (8,483) (33,326) (22,886)
9,068
19,080 39,052 53,341
The following table provides the reconciliation between income tax expense at the Canadian statutory federal and provincial income tax
rates and the consolidated income tax expense:
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Profit before income taxes 44,703 69,075 189,993 199,392
Combined Canadian income tax rate 25.81% 25.47% 26.62% 26.60%
Income tax expense at combined income tax rate 11,537 17,604 50,576 53,031
Adjustment for losses or profit subject to lower or higher tax rates 1,726 3,191 1,770 2,798
Income taxes arising from non-deductible expenses 1,368 819 103 5,241
Tax impacts related to investments in foreign operations (4,928) (3,501) (13,445) (6,908)
Changes in valuation allowance (961) (2,203)
Other (635) 1,928 48 1,382
Income tax expense 9,068 19,080 39,052 53,341
10. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table provides the reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share:
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Corporation 11,469 17,185 51,915 50,391
Weighted average number of multiple and subordinate voting shares
outstanding
16,729,177
16,725,074 16,729,701
16,725,745
Effect of dilutive incentive share units
102,646
107,124 103,475
107,810
Weighted average number of diluted multiple and subordinate voting
shares outstanding
16,831,823
16,832,198 16,833,176
16,833,555
Earnings per share
Basic 0.69 1.03 3.10 3.01
Diluted 0.68 1.02 3.08 2.99
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 34
11. LONG-TERM DEBT
Maturity Interest rate May 31, 2014 August 31, 2013
% $ $
Parent Corporation
Term Revolving Facility
a)
Revolving loans February 2018
(1)
2.83
(2)
14,972 72,891
Unsecured Debentures November 2021 6.50 34,734 34,707
Senior Unsecured Notes
a)
March 2020 6.00 48,716
Finance lease January 2017 3.23 73
93
Subsidiaries
Term Revolving Facility
b)
Canadian Revolving Facility
Revolving loan – US$244.5 million
(US$206 million at August 31, 2013) January 2019 1.85
(2) (3)
265,087
216,918
Revolving loans January 2019 2.89
(2)
104,801
219,561
Revolving loan – £56 million January 2019 2.19
(2)
101,769
Secured Credit Facilities
b)
Revolving Facility
Revolving loan – £52.2 million at August 31, 2013 85,180
Revolving loan – US$21.9 million at August 31, 2013 23,061
UK Revolving Facility – £3.4 million at August 31, 2013
5,548
Senior Secured Notes
Series A – US$190 million October 2015 7.00
(4)
205,528
199,349
Series B October 2018 7.60 54,715 54,672
Senior Secured Notes - US$215 million June 2025 4.30 231,656
224,872
Senior Secured Debentures Series 2 November 2020 5.15 198,801
198,686
Senior Secured Debentures Series 3 February 2022 4.93 198,497
198,379
Senior Secured Debentures Series 4 May 2023 4.18 297,180
296,989
Senior Unsecured Debenture March 2018 5.94 99,856 99,829
Senior Unsecured Notes – US$400 million May 2020 4.88 426,886
413,674
First Lien Credit Facilities
Term Loan A Facility – US$184 million
(US$190 million at August 31, 2013) November 2017 2.28
(2)
195,522
195,193
Term Loan B Facility – US$413.7 million
(US$416.85 million at August 31, 2013) November 2019 3.25
(2)
434,434
423,528
Revolving Facility – US$33 million at August 31, 2013 November 2017
(2)
34,749
Term Revolving Facility
b)
UK Revolving Facility – £2.3 million January 2019 2.20
(2)
4,180
Finance leases January 2015 3.27
(5)
1,142
2,077
2,918,549 2,999,956
Less current portion 24,994 15,216
2,893,555 2,984,740
(1) On December 20, 2013, the Corporation amended its Term Revolving Facility of which the maturity was extended by an additional year until February 1,
2018.
(2) Interest rate on debt includes applicable margin.
(3) Interest rate swap agreements have resulted in an effective interest rate of 2.10% at May 31, 2014 on a notional amount of US$200 million, including
applicable margin.
(4) Cross-currency swap agreements have resulted in an effective interest rate of 7.24% on the Canadian dollar equivalent of the US denominated debt.
(5) Weighted average interest rate on finance leases.
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 35
a) On March 5, 2014, the Corporation completed, pursuant to a private placement, the issuance of $50 million of Senior Unsecured Notes
for net proceeds of $48.7 million, net of transaction costs of approximately $1.3 million. These unsecured notes bear interest at 6.00%
per annum payable semi-annually and mature on March 5, 2020. Half of the Senior Unsecured Notes are guaranteed on a senior
unsecured basis, jointly and severally, by its subsidiaries except for the unrestricted subsidiaries. The net proceeds of the Senior
Unsecured Notes was used to reimburse a portion of the Corporation's Term Revolving Facility of $100 million which facility was
consequently reduced to $50 million.
b) On November 22, 2013, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., amended and restated its Term Revolving Facility of $800
million with a syndicate of lenders. The maturity was extended until January 22, 2019 and can be further extended annually. The
amendments also reduced the margin for the calculation of the interest rate and reduced restrictions on certain covenants. The amended
and restated Term Revolving Facility also replaced Cogeco Cable’s Secured Credit Facilities coming to maturity on January 27, 2017
which was fully repaid on November 22, 2013. This amended and restated Term Revolving Facility is comprised of two tranches: a first
tranche, a Canadian tranche, amounting to $788 million and the second tranche, a UK tranche, amounting to $12 million. Both Cogeco
Cable and Peer 1 (UK) Ltd. can borrow under the UK tranche. The Canadian tranche is available in Canadian dollars, US dollars, Euros
and British Pounds and interest rates are based on banker's acceptance, US dollar base rate loans, LIBOR loans in US dollars, Euros
or British Pounds, plus the applicable margin. The UK tranche is available in British Pounds and interest rates are based on British
Pounds base rate loans and British Pounds LIBOR loans. The Term Revolving Facility is indirectly secured by first priority fixed and
floating charges and a security interest on substantially all present and future real and personal properties and undertaking of every
nature and kind of Cogeco Cable and certain of its subsidiaries, and provides for certain permitted encumbrances, including purchased
money obligations, existing funded obligations and charges granted by any subsidiary prior to the date when it becomes a subsidiary,
subject to a maximum amount. The provisions under this facility provide for restrictions on the operations and activities of Cogeco Cable.
Generally, the most significant restrictions relate to permitted investments and dividends on multiple and subordinate voting shares, as
well as incurrence and maintenance of certain financial ratios primarily linked to operating income before amortization, financial expense
and total indebtedness.
12. SHARE CAPITAL
A) AUTHORIZED
Unlimited number of:
Preferred shares of first and second rank, issuable in series and non-voting, except when specified in the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation or in the Law.
Multiple voting shares, 20 votes per share.
Subordinate voting shares, 1 vote per share.
B) ISSUED AND PAID
May 31, 2014 August 31, 2013
$ $
1,842,860 multiple voting shares 12
12
14,989,338 subordinate voting shares 121,976
121,976
121,988
121,988
102,846 subordinate voting shares held in trust under the Incentive Share Unit Plan (107,124 at
August 31, 2013)
(4,531)
(4,219
)
117,457
117,769
During the first nine months of fiscal 2014, subordinate voting shares held in trust under the Incentive Share Unit Plan transactions were as
follows:
Number of shares Amount
$
Balance at August 31, 2013 107,124
4,219
Subordinate voting shares acquired 40,074
1,941
Subordinate voting shares distributed to employees (44,352)
(1,629
)
Balance at May 31, 2014 102,846
4,531
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 36
C) DIVIDENDS
For the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014, quarterly dividends of $0.22 per share, for a total of $0.66 per share, were paid to the holders
of multiple and subordinate voting shares, totaling $11.1 million, compared to quarterly dividends of $0.19 per share, for a total of $0.57 per
share or $9.5 million for the nine-month period ended May 31, 2013.
D) SHARE-BASED PAYMENT PLANS
The Corporation and its subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., offer to certain of its executives Stock Option Plans, which are described in the
Corporation’s annual consolidated financial statements. For the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014 and 2013, no stock options were
granted to employees by COGECO Inc. under the Stock Option Plan of the Corporation and no options were outstanding at May 31, 2014
and August 31, 2013. However, for the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., granted
311,650 stock options (207,142 in 2013) with an exercise price of $50.10 to $58.12 ($38.08 to $45.60 in 2013) of which 84,250 stock options
(71,233 in 2013) were granted to COGECO Inc.’s senior executives who are also executives of Cogeco Cable. These options vest equally
over a period of five years beginning one year after the day such options are granted and are exercisable over ten years. During the three
and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, Cogeco Cable charged COGECO Inc. amounts of $124,000 and $286,000 ($99,000 and
$275,000 in 2013) with respect to its options granted to COGECO Inc.’s senior executives. As a result, a compensation expense of $301,000
and $820,000 ($200,000 and $549,000 in 2013) was recorded for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014.
The weighted average fair value of stock options granted by Cogeco Cable for the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014 was $10.56 ($7.77
in 2013) per option. The weighted average fair value of each option granted was estimated at the grant date for purposes of determining
stock-based compensation expense using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the following assumptions:
2014 2013
% %
Expected dividend yield 2.05 2.60
Expected volatility 24.87 26.59
Risk-free interest rate 1.87 1.49
Expected life in years 6.3 6.2
Under the Stock Option Plan of Cogeco Cable, the following options were granted and are outstanding at May 31, 2014:
Options
Weighted
average
exercise
price
$
Outstanding at August 31, 2013 725,093 37.14
Granted 311,650 50.12
Exercised
(1)
(161,563) 30.83
Cancelled (77,824) 45.29
Balance at May 31, 2014 797,356 42.71
Exercisable at May 31, 2014 297,899 36.83
(1) The weighted average share price for options exercised during the period was $51.91.
The Corporation and its subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., also offer to certain of its executive and designated employee Incentive Share Unit
Plans (“ISU Plans”), which are described in the Corporation’s annual consolidated financial statements. For the nine-month period ended
May 31, 2014, the Corporation and its subsidiary granted 40,074 (35,630 in 2013) and 137,071 (103,947 in 2013) incentive share units
(“ISUs”), respectively. The Corporation and its subsidiary establish the value of the compensation related to the ISUs granted based on the
fair value of the subordinate voting shares at the date of grant and a compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period, which is
three years less one day. Two trusts were created for the purpose of purchasing these shares on the stock market in order to protect against
stock price fluctuation. The Corporation and its subsidiary instructed the trustees to purchase 40,074 (35,630 in 2013) and 137,416 (101,047
in 2013) subordinate voting shares on the stock market. These shares were purchased for cash consideration aggregating $1,941,000
($1,201,000 in 2013) and $6,934,000 ($4,076,000 in 2013) and are held in trust for the participants until they are fully vested. The trusts,
considered as special purpose entities, are consolidated in the Corporation’s financial statements with the value of the acquired shares
presented as subordinate voting shares held in trust under the ISU Plan in reduction of share capital or non-controlling interest. A compensation
expense of $1,703,000 and $4,744,000 ($978,000 and $2,804,000 in 2013) was recorded for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31,
2014, respectively, related to these plans. During the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, Cogeco Cable Inc. charged COGECO
Inc. amounts of $122,000 and $440,000 ($117,000 and $336,000 in 2013), respectively, with respect to ISUs granted to COGECO's senior
executives.
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 37
Under the ISU Plan of the Corporation, the following ISUs were granted and are outstanding at May 31, 2014:
Outstanding at August 31, 2013
107,124
Granted 40,074
Distributed (44,352)
Outstanding at May 31, 2014
102,846
Under the ISU Plan of Cogeco Cable Inc., the following ISUs were granted and are outstanding at May 31, 2014:
Outstanding at August 31, 2013
209,608
Granted
137,071
Distributed (73,171)
Cancelled (14,700)
Outstanding at May 31, 2014
258,808
The Corporation and its subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., offer Deferred Share Unit Plans (“DSU Plans”) for members of the Board of directors
which is described in the Corporation’s annual consolidated financial statements. For the nine-month period ended May 31, 2014, the
Corporation and its subsidiary issued respectively 9,120 and 7,228 deferred share units (“DSUs”) (8,139 and 5,573 in 2013) to the participants
in connection with the DSU Plans. A compensation expense of $759,000 and $1,602,000 ($275,000 and $556,000 in 2013) was recorded for
the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2014, respectively, for the increase in liability related to this plan.
Under the DSU Plan of the Corporation, the following DSUs were issued and are outstanding at May 31, 2014:
Outstanding at August 31, 2013 30,854
Issued
9,120
Dividend equivalents 470
Outstanding at May 31, 2014 40,444
Under the DSU Plan of Cogeco Cable Inc., the following DSUs were issued and are outstanding at May 31, 2014:
Outstanding at August 31, 2013 23,745
Issued
7,228
Dividend equivalents 481
Outstanding at May 31, 2014
31,454
13. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Cash flow hedge
reserve
Foreign currency
translation Total
$ $ $
(restated, note 3) (restated, note 3)
Balance at August 31, 2012 1,005
31 1,036
Other comprehensive income (loss) (232) 3,845
3,613
Balance at May 31, 2013 773 3,876
4,649
Balance at August 31, 2013 846 5,331
6,177
Other comprehensive income (loss) (232) 3,157
2,925
Balance at May 31, 2014 614 8,488
9,102
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 38
14. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
CHANGES IN NON-CASH OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $
Trade and other receivables
(2,847
) (3,835) (14,505)
(6,942
)
Prepaid expenses and other 420 (378) (3,773) 427
Trade and other payables 13,339 (3,862) (70,759) (80,722)
Provisions
(768
) 122 2,938
(960
)
Deferred and prepaid revenue and other liabilities
3,196
2,510 3,720
8,003
13,340 (5,443) (82,379) (80,194)
15. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The Corporation and its subsidiaries offer their employees contributory defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution pension plans or
collective registered retirement savings plans, which are described in the Corporation’s annual consolidated financial statements.
The total expense related to these plans is as follows:
Three months ended May 31, Nine months ended May 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
$ $ $ $
(restated, note 2) (restated, note 2)
Recognized in:
Operating expenses
Salaries, employee benefits and outsourced services
Current service costs
2,705
2,598 9,910
7,989
Past service costs 565
Financial expense
Other 199 289 614 867
2,904
2,887 11,089 8,856
16. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
A) FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
Management’s objectives are to protect COGECO Inc. and its subsidiaries against material economic exposures and variability of results,
and against certain financial risks including credit, liquidity, interest rate and foreign exchange risk.
Credit risk
Credit risk represents the risk of financial loss for the Corporation if a customer or counterparty to a financial asset fails to meet its contractual
obligations. The Corporation is exposed to credit risk arising from the derivative financial instruments, cash and cash equivalents and trade
accounts receivable, the maximum exposure of which is represented by the carrying amounts reported on the statement of financial position.
Credit risk from derivative financial instruments arises from the possibility that counterparties to the cross-currency swaps and interest rate
swaps may default on their obligations in instances where these agreements have positive fair values for the Corporation. The Corporation
reduces this risk by completing transactions with financial institutions that carry a credit rating equal to or superior to its own credit rating.
The Corporation assesses the creditworthiness of the counterparties in order to minimize the risk of counterparties default under the
agreements. At May 31, 2014, management believes that the credit risk relating to its derivative financial instruments is minimal, since the
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 39
lowest credit rating of the counterparties to the agreements is “A” by Standard & Poor’s rating services (“S&P”) and “AA (low)” by Dominion
Bond Rating Services (“DBRS”).
Cash and cash equivalents consist mainly of highly liquid money market short-term investments. The Corporation has deposited the cash
and cash equivalents with reputable financial institutions, for which management believes the risk of loss to be remote. At May 31, 2014,
management believes that the credit risk relating to its short-term investments is minimal, since the credit rating related to such investment
is “A-1+” by S&P.
The Corporation is also exposed to credit risk in relation to its trade accounts receivable. To mitigate such risk, the Corporation continuously
monitors the financial condition of its customers and reviews the credit history or worthiness of each new large customer. At May 31, 2014
and August 31, 2013, no customer balance represented a significant portion of the Corporation’s consolidated trade accounts receivable.
The Corporation establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on specific credit risk of its customers by examining such factors as
the number of overdue days of the customer’s balance outstanding as well as the customer’s collection history. The Corporation believes
that its allowance for doubtful accounts is sufficient to cover the related credit risk. The Corporation has credit policies in place and has
established various credit controls, including credit checks, deposits on accounts and advance billing, and has also established procedures
to suspend the availability of services when customers have fully utilized approved credit limits or have violated existing payment terms.
Since the Corporation has a large and diversified clientele dispersed throughout its market areas in Canada, in the United States and in
Europe, there is no significant concentration of credit risk.
The following table provides further details on the Corporation's trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts:
May 31, 2014 August 31, 2013
$ $
Trade accounts receivable 128,150
112,018
Allowance for doubtful accounts (7,782)
(4,687
)
120,368
107,331
Other accounts receivable 12,291 10,981
132,659
118,312
Trade accounts receivable past due is defined as amount outstanding beyond normal credit terms and conditions for the respective customers.
A large portion of the Corporation’s customers are billed and pay before their services are rendered. The Corporation considers amount
outstanding at the due date as trade accounts receivable past due. The following table provides further details on trade accounts receivable
past due net of allowance for doubtful accounts at May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013:
May 31, 2014 August 31, 2013
$ $
Less than 60 days overdue 48,333 44,161
60 to 90 days overdue 4,948 4,062
More than 90 days overdue 5,833 2,860
59,114 51,083
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Corporation will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they become due. The Corporation manages
liquidity risk through the management of its capital structure and access to different capital markets. It also manages liquidity risk by
continuously monitoring actual and projected cash flows to ensure sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations when due. At May 31, 2014, the
available amount of the Corporation’s Term Revolving Facility and Cogeco Cable Inc.'s Term Revolving Facility was $356.7 million.
Management believes that the committed Term Revolving Facilities will, until their maturities in February 2018 and January 2019, provide
sufficient liquidity to manage its long-term debt maturities and support working capital requirements. Two subsidiaries of Cogeco Cable also
benefit from a Revolving Facility of US$100 million related to its acquisition of Atlantic Broadband, of which US$99 million ($107.3 million)
was available at May 31, 2014.
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 40
The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of the financial liabilities and related capital amounts:
Contractual cash flows
Carrying
amount
$
2014
$
2015
$
2016
$
2017
$
2018
$
Thereafter
$
Total
$
Bank indebtedness
13,217 13,217 13,217
Trade and other payables
(1)
191,827 191,827
191,827
Long-term debt
(2)
2,917,334 4,391 27,322 240,475 35,779 231,878 2,411,999 2,951,844
Balance due on a business combination
2,000 2,000
2,000
Other liabilities
1,955 736 1,253 1,253 48
3,290
Derivative financial instruments
(6,157) (4,123)
(4,123
)
Finance leases
(3)
1,215 349 842 28 12
1,231
3,121,391 211,784 28,900 237,633 37,044 231,926 2,411,999 3,159,286
(1) Excluding accrued interest.
(2) Principal excluding finance leases.
(3) Including interest.
The following table is a summary of interest payable on long-term debt (excluding interest on finance leases) that is due for each of the next
five years and therereafter, based on the principal amount and interest rate prevailing on the outstanding debt at May 31, 2014 and their
respective maturities:
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Thereafter Total
$ $ $ $ $ $ $
Interest payments on long-term debt 17,515 123,557
115,494
107,336 104,370 272,936
741,208
Interest receipts on derivative financial
instruments
(81) (14,718)
(7,210
) (22,009)
Interest payments on derivative financial
instruments
215 15,401
7,307
22,923
17,649 124,240
115,591
107,336 104,370 272,936
742,122
Interest rate risk
The Corporation is exposed to interest rate risks for both fixed interest rate and floating interest rate instruments. Fluctuations in interest
rates will have an effect on the valuation and collection or repayment of these instruments. At May 31, 2014, all of the Corporation’s long-
term debt was at fixed rate, except for the Corporation’s Term Revolving Facilities and First Lien Credit Facilities. To mitigate such risk,
Cogeco Cable has entered on July 22, 2013 into interest rate swap agreements to fix the interest rate on $US200 million of its LIBOR based
loans. These agreements have the effect of converting the floating US LIBOR base rate at an average fixed rate of 0.39625% under the
Term Revolving Facility until July 25, 2015. Cogeco Cable elected to apply hedge accounting on these derivative financial instruments. The
sensitivity of the Corporation’s annual financial expense to a variation of 1% in the interest rate applicable to the Term Revolving Facilities
and First Lien Credit Facilities is approximately $6.5 million based on the outstanding debt at May 31, 2014.
Foreign exchange risk
The Corporation is exposed to foreign exchange risk related to its long-term debt denominated in US dollars that is not designated as a
hedge on its US dollar net investments. In order to mitigate this risk, the Corporation has established guidelines whereby cross-currency
swap agreements can be used to fix the exchange rates applicable to its US dollar denominated long-term debt. All such agreements are
exclusively used for hedging purposes. Accordingly, on October 2, 2008, the Corporation's subsidiary, Cogeco Cable Inc., entered into cross-
currency swap agreements to set the liability for interest and principal payments on its US$190 million Senior Secured Notes Series A issued
on October 1, 2008. These agreements have the effect of converting the US interest coupon rate of 7.00% per annum to an average Canadian
dollar interest rate of 7.24% per annum. The exchange rate applicable to the principal portion of the debt has been fixed at $1.0625. The
Corporation elected to apply cash flow hedge accounting on these derivative financial instruments. The impact of a 10% change in the
exchange rate of the US dollar and British Pounds into Canadian dollars would change financial expense by approximatively $5.8 million
based on the outstanding debt at May 31, 2014.
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 41
The Corporation is also exposed to foreign exchange risk on cash and cash equivalents, bank indebtedness, trade and other receivables
and trade and other payables and provisions denominated in US dollars, Euros or British Pounds. The Corporation’s exposure to foreign
currency risk is as follows:
May 31, 2014 August 31, 2013
US Euros
British
Pounds
US Euros
British
Pounds
$ $ $ $ $ $
Financial assets (liabilities)
Cash and cash equivalents 353 265 7,536
1,171
257
Trade and other receivables 2,449
Bank indebtedness (508)
Trade and other payables and provisions (4,874) (7,390) (16,554) (6,933 )
(2,933) (7,037) 265 (9,018) (5,762) 257
Due to their short-term nature, the risk arising from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates is usually not significant. The impact of a 10%
fluctuation in the foreign exchange rates (US dollar, Euro and British Pound) would change financial expense by approximately $1 million.
Furthermore, Cogeco Cable’s investment in foreign operations is exposed to market risk attributable to fluctuations in foreign currency
exchange rates, primarily changes in the values of the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar and British Pounds. This risk was mitigated
since the major part of the purchase prices for Atlantic Broadband and Peer 1 Hosting were borrowed directly in US dollars and British
Pounds. At May 31, 2014, the investments for Atlantic Broadband and Peer 1 Hosting amounted to US$1.1 billion and £62.7 million while
long-term debt hedging these investments were US$859.5 million and £56 million.The exchange rate used to convert the US dollar currency
and British Pounds currency into Canadian dollars for the statement of financial position accounts at May 31, 2014 was $1.0842 per US
dollar and $1.8173 per British Pound. The impact of a 10% change in the exchange rate of the US dollar and British Pound into Canadian
dollars would change other comprehensive income by approximately $26.9 million.
Fair value of financial instruments
Fair value is the amount at which willing parties would accept to exchange a financial instrument based on the current market for instruments
with the same risk, principal and remaining maturity. Fair values are estimated at a specific point in time, by discounting expected cash flows
at rates for debts of the same remaining maturities and conditions. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and
matters of significant judgement, and therefore, cannot be determined with precision. In addition, income taxes and other expenses that
would be incurred on disposition of these financial instruments are not reflected in the fair values. As a result, the fair values are not necessarily
the net amounts that would be realized if these instruments were settled. The Corporation has determined the fair value of its financial
instruments as follows:
a) The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, bank indebtedness and trade and other payables
approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments.
b) Interest rates under the terms of the Corporation’s Term Revolving Facilities and First Lien Credit Facilities are based on Bankers’
acceptance, LIBOR, EURIBOR, bank prime rate loan or US or British Pounds base rate loan plus applicable margin. Therefore, the
carrying value approximates fair value for these facilities, since they have conditions similar to those currently available to the Corporation.
c) The fair value of the Senior Secured Debentures Series 2, 3 and 4, Senior Secured Notes Series A and B, Senior Secured Notes,
Senior Unsecured Notes, Senior Unsecured Debenture and Unsecured Debentures are based upon current trading values for similar
financial instruments.
d) The fair values of finance leases are not significantly different from their carrying amounts.
The carrying value of all the Corporation’s financial instruments approximates fair value, except as otherwise noted in the following table:
May 31, 2014 August 31, 2013
Carrying value Fair value Carrying value Fair value
$ $ $ $
Long-term debt 2,918,549 3,045,366 2,999,956 3,039,908
COGECO INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
May 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(amounts in tables are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except number of shares and per share data)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements COGECO INC. Q3 2014 42
All financial instruments recognized at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial position must be measured based on the three
fair value hierarchy levels, which are as follows:
Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e., as prices)
or indirectly (i.e., derived from prices); and
Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).
The Corporation considers that its derivative financial instruments are classified as Level 2 under the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of
derivative financial instruments are estimated using valuation models that reflect projected future cash flows over contractual terms of the
derivative financial instruments and observable market data, such as interest and currency exchange rate curves.
B) CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
The Corporation’s objectives in managing capital are to ensure sufficient liquidity to support the capital requirements of its various businesses,
including growth opportunities. The Corporation manages its capital structure and makes adjustments in light of general economic conditions,
the risk characteristics of the underlying assets and the Corporation’s working capital requirements. Management of the capital structure
involves the issuance of new debt, the repayment of existing debts using cash generated by operations and the level of distribution to
shareholders.
The capital structure of the Corporation is composed of shareholders’ equity, cash and cash equivalents, bank indebtedness, long-term debt,
balance due on business combination and assets or liabilities related to derivative financial instruments.
The provisions of the financing agreements provide for restrictions on the operations and activities of the Corporation. Generally, the most
significant restrictions relate to permitted investments and dividends on multiple and subordinate voting shares, as well as the maintenance
of certain financial ratios primarily linked to the operating income before depreciation and amortization, financial expense and total
indebtedness. At May 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013 the Corporation was in compliance with all of its debt covenants and was not subject
to any other externally imposed capital requirements.
The following table summarizes certain of the key ratios used to monitor and manage the Corporation’s capital structure:
May 31, 2014 August 31, 2013
Net senior indebtedness
(1)(2)
/ operating income before depreciation and amortization
(3)
2.3 2.7
Net indebtedness
(2)(4)
/ operating income before depreciation and amortization
(3)
3.1 3.4
Operating income before depreciation and amortization
(3)
/ financial expense
(3)
6.3 6.2
(1) Net secured indebtedness is defined as the total of bank indebtedness, principal on long-term debt and obligations under derivative financial instruments,
less cash and cash equivalents and principal on Unsecured Debentures, Senior Unsecured Debenture and Senior Unsecured Notes.
(2) Excluding Atlantic Broadband and other non-significant unrestricted subsidiaries' cash and cash equivalents and non-recourse First Lien Credit Facilities.
(3) Calculation based on operating income before depreciation and amortization and financial expense for the twelve-month period ended May 31, 2014 and
August 31, 2013 excluding Atlantic Broadband and other non-significant unrestricted subsidiaries and including Peer 1 Hosting results for the twelve-
month period ended May 31, 2014 and seven-month period ended August 31, 2013.
(4) Net indebtedness is defined as the total of bank indebtedness, principal on long-term debt and obligations under derivative financial instruments, balance
due on a business combination less cash and cash equivalents.
17. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On June 30, 2014, Cogeco Cable's subsidiary, Atlantic Broadband, amended its First Lien Credit Facilities. Pursuant to the amendment, US
$15 million of the Term Loan A Facility was converted into the Revolving Facility. In addition, the Revolving Facility was increased by US$35
million of which the proceeds were used to reimburse a portion of the Term Loan B. Giving effect to this amendment, the combined amounts
borrowed under the Term Loan A, Term Loan B and the Revolving Facility have not changed. All other terms and conditions related to
covenants, interest rates and maturity remained the same. In connection with the amendment, transaction costs of US$0.4 million were
incurred.
Cable segment customer statistics COGECO INC. Q3 2014 43
CABLE SEGMENT CUSTOMER STATISTICS
May 31,
2014
February 28,
2014
November 30,
2013
August 31,
2013
May 31,
2013
Primary service units
(1)
2,452,118 2,454,627 2,464,932 2,467,657 2,481,017
CANADA
1,956,444 1,962,077 1,975,502 1,980,122 1,992,143
UNITED STATES
495,674 492,550 489,430 487,535 488,874
Television service customers
1,034,991 1,044,611 1,057,859 1,066,952 1,079,285
CANADA
807,831 815,852 827,649 834,771 845,344
Penetration as a percentage of homes passed 47.9% 48.5% 49.3% 49.9% 50.7%
UNITED STATES 227,160 228,759 230,210 232,181 233,941
Penetration as a percentage of homes passed 43.8% 44.2% 44.5% 44.9% 45.3%
High Speed Internet service customers
865,597 857,786 848,897 838,445 837,348
CANADA
676,802 672,981 668,257 661,337 661,178
Penetration as a percentage of homes passed
40.2% 40.0% 39.8% 39.5% 39.7%
UNITED STATES
188,795 184,805 180,640 177,108 176,170
Penetration as a percentage of homes passed
36.4% 35.7% 34.9% 34.3% 34.1%
Telephony service customers
551,530 552,230 558,176 562,260 564,384
CANADA 471,811 473,244 479,596 484,014 485,621
Penetration as a percentage of homes passed
28.0% 28.1% 28.6% 28.9% 29.1%
UNITED STATES
79,719 78,986 78,580 78,246 78,763
Penetration as a percentage of homes passed
15.4% 15.3% 15.2% 15.1% 15.2%
(1) Represents the sum of Television, High Speed Internet (“HSI”) and Telephony service customer.