Press release details

• Revenue increased by $25.6 million, or 4.5%, to reach $599.7 million driven by growth in the Communications segment;
• Adjusted EBITDA increased by $11.7 million, or 4.6%, to reach $264.8 million compared to the same period of fiscal 2016 as a result of the improvement in the Communications segment;
• Profit for the period amounted to $82.1 million of which $30.0 million, or $1.81 per share, was attributable to owners of the Corporation compared to a loss for the period of $381.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 of which $117.7 million, or $7.03 per share, was attributable to the owners of the Corporation. The profit progression resulted from last year's non-cash pre-tax impairment of goodwill and intangible assets of $450 million and from the claims and litigations of $10.5 million which both occurred in the Communications segment. The remaining variation is mainly explained by the improvement of adjusted EBITDA combined with the decrease in depreciation and amortization, partly offset by the increase in income taxes;
• Free cash flow reached $109.6 million, an increase of $17.7 million, or 19.3%, compared to the same quarter of the prior year mainly due to the improvement of adjusted EBITDA combined with last year's claims and litigations, partly offset by higher acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets in the Communications segment;
• Cash flow from operating activities increased by $57.4 million, or 30.8%, to reach $243.6 million compared to fiscal 2016 third-quarter. The increase for the period is mostly attributable to the improvement in adjusted EBITDA, the decrease in income taxes paid and last year's claims and litigations, partly offset by the decrease in changes in non-cash operating activities primarily due to changes in working capital;
• A quarterly eligible dividend of $0.34 per share was paid in the third quarter to the holders of multiple and subordinate voting shares, an increase of 15.3%, compared to a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.295 per share paid in the third quarter of fiscal 2016;
• During the third quarter, Cogeco purchased and canceled 69,354 subordinate voting shares, for consideration of $4.4 million, under its normal course issuer bid program which started in August 2016. The Corporation intends to renew its normal course issuer bid program from August 2, 2017 to August 1, 2018, to enable it to acquire for cancellation up to 550,000 subordinate voting shares. The renewal is subject to Toronto Stock Exchange approval;
• The Corporation released its fiscal 2018 preliminary financial guidelines and expects revenue to reach between $2,425 million and $2,455 million, adjusted EBITDA to reach between $1,055 million and $1,080 million and free cash flow should remain in the same range compared to the fiscal 2017 revised financial guidelines due to strategic investments in the Communications segment. These preliminary financial guidelines do not include the expected financial results from the announcement of the MetroCast acquisition; 
• At its July 13, 2017 meeting, the Board of Directors of Cogeco declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.34 per share for multiple and subordinate voting shares payable on August 10, 2017; and 
• On July 10, 2017, Cogeco Communications Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Atlantic Broadband, entered into an agreement with Harron Communications, L.P. to acquire substantially all of the assets of its cable systems operating under the MetroCast brand name (“MetroCast”) which serves about 120,000 Internet, 76,000 video and 37,000 telephony customers. The transaction valued at US$1.4 billion includes the expected present value of future tax benefits of US$310 million and is subject to customary closing adjustments. This acquisition is expected to be financed through a combination of non-recourse debt financing at Atlantic Broadband and an equity investment by Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec (“CDPQ”) in Atlantic Broadband’s holding company. The transaction is subject to usual closing conditions, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. The Corporation expects the transaction to close in January 2018. Pursuant to the announcement of this acquisition, all credit ratings for Cogeco Communications and Atlantic Broadband were confirmed.

“Overall we are pleased with our results for the third quarter of fiscal 2017,” declared Louis Audet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogeco Inc. “Cogeco Connexion, our Canadian broadband subsidiary, has seen marked growth in terms of both revenue and EBITDA.”

“Atlantic Broadband continues to produce positive results, in line with expectations,” added M. Audet. “Our American subsidiary is concentrating its efforts on investments in Florida, a region with a strong potential for growth. On this note, we were very pleased to announce on July 10, the acquisition of the MetroCast cable systems, allowing Atlantic Broadband to increase its presence in the growing and lucrative U.S. cable market. Moreover, we are delighted to be partnering with CDPQ in this transaction, providing us with a long-term partner with a similar vision,” stated Mr. Audet.