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

• In the context of its network expansion strategy, Cogeco added 30,922 homes passed in Canada and the United States, totalling 101,000 homes passed over the past nine months;
• The acquisition of oxio expanded Cogeco Connexion's value proposition by adding a second brand to serve the telecommunication needs of Canadians;
• Revenue grew by 1.7% compared to the same period of the prior year to $767.6 million;
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $355.5 million increased 0.6% over last year;
• Profit for the period amounted to $33.3 million, a decrease of 69.3%, while the loss for the period attributable to owners of the Corporation amounted to $34.5 million, a decrease of $72.0 million compared to a profit last year, due to non-cash impairment charges of $88 million related to the radio operations. Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾ remained comparable to last year;
• Loss per share on a diluted basis was $2.22, a decrease compared to earnings per share of $2.37 last year, due to the non-cash impairment charges related to the radio operations. Adjusted diluted earnings per share⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾ rose by 1.3% to $2.43;
• Net capital expenditures⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ amounted to $170.3 million, a 7.0% reduction versus last year. Acquisition of property, plant and equipment amounted to $190.1 million, a decrease of 4.1%;
• Free cash flow⁽¹⁾ of $107.4 million decreased by 1.4%, while cash flows from operating activities decreased by 20.4% to $283.2 million; and
• Declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.731 per share, representing a 17.0% increase over last year.

MONTRÉAL, July 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, Cogeco Inc. (TSX: CGO) ("Cogeco" or the "Corporation") announced its financial results for the third quarter ended May 31, 2023.

"This quarter, we continued to demonstrate our strong and consistent execution in our fibre network expansion projects while remaining focused on delivering high quality product offerings and distinctive customer service," said Philippe Jetté, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogeco.

"We are pleased with the performance of our Canadian telecommunications business again this quarter, where Internet customer additions are being driven by solid growth across our traditional and newly served footprints, as well as from our recently acquired oxio brand," continued Mr. Jetté.

"Although our U.S. telecommunications business, Breezeline, continues to face headwinds from the macroeconomic and nationwide competitive environments, our higher value product mix combined with cost efficiency initiatives led to a higher adjusted EBITDA margin over last year and compared to last quarter," added Mr. Jetté.

"At Cogeco Media, in an industry-wide changing advertising market, we are developing innovative digital solutions to create a multi-platform audio content model," continued Mr. Jetté. "Our listener engagement remained strong across many of our stations this quarter, including at 98.5 Montréal, where it remained in the top spot of the Numeris rankings," concluded Mr. Jetté.

Consolidated Financial Highlights

Operating results

For the third quarter of fiscal 2023:

• Revenue increased by 1.7% to reach $767.6 million. On a constant currency basis, revenue decreased by 1.4%, driven by declines in the American telecommunications segment and in the media activities, partly offset by growth in the Canadian telecommunications segment, which is further explained as follows:
• Canadian telecommunications' revenue increased by 3.2%, mainly driven by the cumulative effect of high-speed Internet service additions over the past year, higher revenue per customer and the oxio acquisition completed on March 3, 2023.
• American telecommunications' revenue decreased by 5.7% on a constant currency basis (increase of 0.5% as reported), mainly due to a lower customer base in Ohio and an overall decline in video and phone service customers, offset in part by a higher revenue per customer and a better product mix.
• Revenue in the media activities decreased by 3.2%.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased by 0.6% to reach $355.5 million. On a constant currency basis, adjusted EBITDA decreased by 2.2%, due to a decline in the American telecommunications segment, while the Canadian telecommunications segment remained stable, as further explained below:
• Canadian telecommunications adjusted EBITDA remained stable as its revenue growth was offset by higher operating expenses to drive customer growth.
• American telecommunications adjusted EBITDA decreased by 2.8%, or 3.6% in constant currency, mainly resulting from lower revenue partly offset by reduced operating expenses.
• Profit for the period amounted to $33.3 million, while the loss for the period attributable to owners of the Corporation amounted to $34.5 million, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared to a profit of $108.5 million, $37.5 million, and $2.37 per diluted share, respectively, in the comparable period of fiscal 2022. The decreases in profit for the period and profit attributable to owners of the Corporation resulted mainly from non-cash impairment charges of $88 million related to the radio operations, higher financial expense and acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs, partly offset by lower depreciation and amortization expense, income taxes and the appreciation of the US dollar.
• Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation⁽³⁾, was $37.9 million, or $2.43 per diluted share⁽³⁾, compared to $38.0 million, or $2.40 per diluted share, last year.
• Net capital expenditures, which account for network expansion subsidies, were $170.3 million, a decrease of 7.0% compared to $183.1 million in the same period of the prior year. In constant currency, net capital expenditures were $163.5 million, a decrease of 10.7% compared to last year, mainly due to lower capital expenditures following reduced spending, mostly in the Canadian telecommunications segment.
• Excluding network expansion projects, net capital expenditures were $138.4 million, a decrease of 4.2% compared to $144.4 million in the same period of the prior year. In constant currency, net capital expenditures excluding network expansion projects⁽¹⁾ were $132.6 million, a decrease of 8.2% 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 171,000 during fiscal 2022 and the first nine months of the current fiscal year. These fibre-to-the-home network expansion projects are increasing the Corporation's footprint in the provinces of Québec and Ontario and in several areas adjacent to Breezeline's network in the United States.
• Acquisition of property, plant and equipment decreased by 4.1% to $190.1 million, mainly due to reduced capital spending, mostly in the Canadian telecommunications segment.
• Free cash flow decreased by 1.4%, or 1.1% in constant currency, and amounted to $107.4 million, mainly due to higher financial expense, higher acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs and lower adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by lower net capital expenditures and current income taxes.
• Free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects decreased by 5.7%, or 6.1% in constant currency, and amounted to $139.2 million.
• Cash flows from operating activities decreased by 20.4% to reach $283.2 million, driven by a net inflow in non-cash operating activities of $20.7 million compared to $51.2 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.
• Spectrum licences were acquired in the 2500 MHz and 3500 MHz bands in Québec in relation to our plan to offer mobility services within our operating footprint.
• Cogeco reiterates its fiscal 2023 financial guidelines as issued on January 12, 2023. Furthermore, on June 8, 2023, Cogeco announced that it will provide its fiscal 2024 financial guidelines when it reports its financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, which is consistent with industry practice.
• At its July 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 

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 third-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, 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 third-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 nine-month periods ended May 31, 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.

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 nine-month periods ended May 31, 2023, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Financial measures presented on a constant currency basis for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2023 are translated at the average foreign exchange rate of the comparable periods of the prior year, which were 1.2713 USD/CDN and 1.2660 USD/CDN, respectively.

Consolidated

Canadian telecommunications segment

American telecommunications segment

Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation

Free cash flow reconciliation

Net capital expenditures reconciliation

Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation

Net capital expenditures

Free cash flow

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.

Rooted in the communities it serves, Cogeco Inc. is a growing competitive force in the North American telecommunications sector, serving 1.6 million residential and business customers. Its Cogeco Communications Inc. subsidiary provides Internet, video and phone services in the provinces of Québec and Ontario as well as in thirteen states in the United States through its business units Cogeco Connexion and Breezeline. Through Cogeco Media, it 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]

To join this conference call, participants are required to provide the operator with the name of the company hosting the call, that is, Cogeco Inc. or Cogeco Communications Inc.

SOURCE Cogeco Inc.