Cogeco Releases its Financial Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2023

• Revenue increased by 1.2% (decrease of 1.6% in constant currency⁽¹⁾) compared to the same period of the prior year to $757.2 million;
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was $351.7 million, an increase of 0.7% (decrease of 1.8% in constant currency⁽¹⁾);
• Profit for the period amounted to $102.6 million, a decrease of 13.6%;
• Earnings per share on a diluted basis was $2.15, a decrease of 6.1%;
• Net capital expenditures⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ amounted to $156.8 million, an increase of 10.1% (4.6% in constant currency⁽¹⁾).
• Excluding network expansion projects⁽¹⁾, net capital expenditures amounted to $114.6 million, an increase of 8.6% (2.5% in constant currency⁽¹⁾);
• Acquisition of property, plant and equipment amounted to $173.7 million, an increase of 9.8%;
• Free cash flow⁽¹⁾ amounted to $118.3 million, a decrease of 23.0% (21.6% in constant currency⁽¹⁾) due to increased net capital expenditures and interest paid. 
• Free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects⁽¹⁾ was $160.6 million, a decrease of 15.8% (15.4% in constant currency⁽¹⁾);
• Cash flows from operating activities decreased by 25.8% to $206.8 million, mainly resulting from working capital items;
• Purchased and cancelled 117,584 Cogeco subordinate voting shares for a total consideration of $6.9 million;
• Cogeco maintains its fiscal 2023 financial guidelines; and
• A quarterly eligible dividend of $0.731 per share was declared, compared to $0.625 per share in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2022, an increase of 17%.

MONTRÉAL, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, Cogeco Inc. (TSX: CGO) ("Cogeco" or the "Corporation") announced its financial results for the second quarter ended February 28, 2023.

"Our overall operating strategies proved to be effective in the context of more challenging economic and competitive environments," said Philippe Jetté, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogeco Inc.

"Our Canadian telecommunications business unit performed well in the quarter, which was marked by continued organic growth in our Internet customer base, both in our traditional markets and in our newly served areas, resulting in growing adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margins," continued Mr. Jetté. "In addition, the acquisition in March of the telecommunications operations of oxio is a great addition to our service offering and brings a second brand to serve the telecommunications needs of Canadians."

"With respect to our U.S. telecommunications business, we have grown our customer base outside our newly acquired Ohio footprint, both in our current and newly served areas," added Mr. Jetté. "In Ohio, we continued our commercial integration activities while enhancing our product line by making our IPTV product available to all our customers, setting the foundation for future growth. Our progress and marketing efforts have paid off, with Internet customer metrics improving over previous quarters."

"In our broadcasting operations, while the advertising market remains challenging, Cogeco Media's performance was in line with our expectations," added Mr. Jetté. "We are pleased that our 98.5 station is still number one in the country, as confirmed by the Winter 2023 Numeris survey results. In addition, we continue to broaden our digital advertising technology solutions to expand our multiplatform audio content options."

"I am pleased to highlight that we recently published our annual ESG and Sustainability Report as well as our Climate Action Plan, in which we respectively provide an update of our environmental, social and governance commitments, initiatives and performance and outline the key steps we are taking in support of urgent climate action," continued Mr. Jetté. "We are also very proud to be, for the fourth consecutive year, ranked among the 100 most sustainable companies in the world by Corporate Knights, a highly-regarded global ranking of companies that are leading the way in making the world a better place," concluded Mr. Jetté.

Operating results

For the second quarter of fiscal 2023:

• Revenue increased by 1.2% to reach $757.2 million. On a constant currency basis, revenue decreased by 1.6%, driven by a lower customer base in the American telecommunications segment offset by a growth in the Canadian telecommunications segment and in the media activities, which is further explained as follows:
• Canadian telecommunications' revenue increased by 1.7% as reported and in constant currency, mainly driven by the cumulative effect of high-speed Internet service additions over the past year and higher revenue per customer.
• American telecommunications' revenue decreased by 5.2% on a constant currency basis (increase of 0.6% as reported), mainly due to a lower customer base following customer losses in Ohio and an overall decline in video and phone service customers, offset in part by the cumulative effect of high-speed Internet service additions outside Ohio over the past year, higher revenue per customer and a better product mix.
• Revenue in the media activities increased by 5.3%.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased by 0.7% to reach $351.7 million. On a constant currency basis, adjusted EBITDA decreased by 1.8%, mainly due to a decline in the American telecommunications segment partly offset by an adjusted EBITDA growth in the Canadian telecommunications segment, as further explained below:
• Canadian telecommunications adjusted EBITDA increased by 2.6%, or 3.1% in constant currency, mostly driven by revenue growth.
• American telecommunications adjusted EBITDA decreased by 2.2%, or 7.8% in constant currency, mainly resulting from lower revenue, combined with higher operating expenses as last year's marketing and advertising spending and staff costs were unusually low in Ohio while operating under the previous owner's brand.
• Profit for the period amounted to $102.6 million, of which $33.8 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, was attributable to owners of the Corporation compared to $118.8 million, $36.7 million, and $2.29 per diluted share, respectively, in the comparable period of fiscal 2022. The decreases resulted mainly from higher financial expense, acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs and depreciation and amortization expense, partly offset by lower income taxes.
• Net capital expenditures, which account for construction subsidies, were $156.8 million, an increase of 10.1% compared to $142.5 million in the same period of the prior year. In constant currency, net capital expenditures were $149.1 million, an increase of 4.6% compared to last year, driven by accelerated network expansion activities in Canada.
• Excluding network expansion projects, net capital expenditures were $114.6 million, an increase of 8.6% compared to $105.5 million in the same period of the prior year. In constant currency, net capital expenditures excluding network expansion projects⁽¹⁾ were $108.1 million, an increase of 2.5% compared to last year.
• Fibre-to-the-home network expansion projects continued in both Canada and the United States, with unprecedented homes passed additions of more than 140,000 since the beginning of last year, of which approximately 70,000 were added during the first half of fiscal 2023 in addition to the 70,000 added in fiscal 2022.
• Acquisition of property, plant and equipment increased by 9.8% to $173.7 million, mainly due to network expansion projects in Canada.
• Free cash flow decreased by 23.0%, or 21.6% in constant currency, and amounted to $118.3 million, mainly due to higher financial expense, lower adjusted EBITDA, and higher net capital expenditures and acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs.
• Free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects decreased by 15.8%, or 15.4% in constant currency, and amounted to $160.6 million.
• Cash flows from operating activities decreased by 25.8% to reach $206.8 million, driven by a net outflow in non-cash operating activities of $66.2 million compared to $25.4 million in the comparative period, resulting mostly from the timing of trade and other payables, as well as an increase in income taxes and interest paid.
• Cogeco purchased and cancelled 117,584 subordinate voting shares for a total consideration of $6.9 million, compared to 154,388 subordinate voting shares purchased and cancelled in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2022, for a total consideration of $12.3 million.
• Cogeco maintains its fiscal 2023 financial guidelines as issued on January 13, 2023.
• At its April 13, 2023 meeting, the Board of Directors of Cogeco declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.731 per share, an increase of 17% compared to $0.625 per share in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2022.

Financial highlights 

Forward-looking statements 

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to Cogeco Inc.'s ("Cogeco" or the "Corporation") 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. Particularly, statements regarding the Corporation's financial guidelines, future operating results and economic performance, objectives and strategies are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, purchase price allocation, tax rates, weighted average cost of capital, performance and business prospects and opportunities, which Cogeco believes are reasonable as of the current date. Refer in particular to the "Corporate objectives and strategies" section of the Corporation's 2022 annual MD&A and of the fiscal 2023 second-quarter MD&A, the "Fiscal 2023 financial guidelines" section of the Corporation's 2022 annual MD&A and the "Fiscal 2023 revised financial guidelines" of the fiscal 2023 first-quarter MD&A for a discussion of certain key economic, market and operational assumptions we have made in preparing forward-looking statements. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Corporation, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information is also subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what Cogeco currently expects. These factors include risks such as competitive risks (including changing competitive ecosystems and disruptive competitive strategies adopted by our competitors), business risks (including potential disruption to our supply chain caused by economic and geopolitical instability and other contributing factors, increasing transportation lead times, scarcity and shortages of input materials and key telecommunication equipment and competition for limited resources), regulatory risks , technology risks (including cybersecurity), financial risks (including variations in currency and interest rates), economic conditions (including inflation pressuring revenue, reduced consumer spending and increasing costs), human-caused and natural threats to our network (including increased frequency of extreme weather events with the potential to disrupt operations), infrastructure and systems, community acceptance risks, ethical behavior risks, ownership risks, litigation risks and public health and safety, many of which are beyond the Corporation's control. Moreover, the Corporation's radio operations are significantly exposed to advertising budgets from the retail industry, which can fluctuate due to changing economic conditions. For more exhaustive information on these risks and uncertainties, the reader should refer to the "Uncertainties and main risk factors" sections of the Corporation's 2022 annual MD&A and of the fiscal 2023 second-quarter MD&A. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Cogeco and future events and results may vary significantly from what management currently foresees. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information contained in this press release which represent Cogeco's expectations as of the date of this press release (or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made) and are subject to change after such date. While management may elect to do so, the Corporation is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) and does not undertake to update or alter this information at any particular time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

All amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Corporation's MD&A for the three and six-month periods ended February 28, 2023, the Corporation's condensed interim consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the same periods prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and the Corporation's 2022 Annual Report.

Non-IFRS and other financial measures

This press release includes references to non-IFRS and other financial measures used by Cogeco. These financial measures are reviewed in assessing the performance of Cogeco and used in the decision-making process with regard to its business units.

Reconciliations between non-IFRS and other financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures are provided below. Certain additional disclosures for non-IFRS and other financial measures used in this press release have been incorporated by reference and can be found in the "Non-IFRS and other financial measures" section of the Corporation's MD&A for the three and six-month periods ended February 28, 2023, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Financial measures presented on a constant currency basis for the three and six-month periods ended February 28, 2023 are translated at the average foreign exchange rate of the comparable periods of the prior year, which were 1.2709 USD/CDN and 1.2634 USD/CDN, respectively.

Constant currency basis and foreign exchange impact reconciliation

Consolidated

Canadian telecommunications segment

American telecommunications segment

Free cash flow reconciliation

Net capital expenditures reconciliation

Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation 

Net capital expenditures and free cash flow excluding network expansion projects reconciliations

Net capital expenditures

Free cash flow

Additional information

Additional information relating to the Corporation is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and on the Corporation's website at corpo.cogeco.com.

About Cogeco Inc.

Rooted in the communities it serves, Cogeco Inc. is a growing competitive force in the North American telecommunications and media sectors with a legacy of more than 65 years. Through its business units Cogeco Connexion and Breezeline, Cogeco Communications provides Internet, video and phone services to 1.6 million residential and business customers in Québec and Ontario in Canada as well as in thirteen states in the United States. Through Cogeco Media, Cogeco owns and operates 21 radio stations primarily in the province of Québec as well as a news agency. Cogeco's subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGO). The subordinate voting shares of Cogeco Communications Inc. are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA).

For information:

Investors
Patrice Ouimet
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Cogeco Inc.
Tel.: 514-764-4700
[email protected]

Media
Marie-Hélène Labrie
Senior Vice President and Chief Public Affairs, Communications and Strategy Officer
Cogeco Inc.
Tel.: 514-764-4700
[email protected]

SOURCE Cogeco Inc.