Press release details

• A quarterly 15-year record of 14,041 Internet service customer net additions at Cogeco Connexion driven by organic growth, new customers gained from network expansions and under the oxio brand;
• Cogeco Communications added 23,031 homes passed in Canada and the United States as part of its fibre-to-the-home network expansion strategy. Total number of homes passed for fiscal 2023 rose by almost 124,000, or 3.4%;
• Successfully completed the Québec subsidized network expansions in October, subsequent to fiscal year end, connecting 180 municipalities;
• Revenue grew by 2.5% to $743.4 million compared to the same period of the prior year;
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $351.3 million increased 1.2% over last year;
• Profit for the period amounted to $91.8 million, a decrease of 17.9%, mainly due to higher financial expense. Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Corporation amounted to $86.5 million, a decrease of 17.6%;
• Free cash flow⁽¹⁾ amounted to $87.9 million compared to $34.5 million last year due to lower net capital expenditures, while cash flows from operating activities decreased by 11.8% to $281.3 million. Free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects⁽¹⁾ was $120.8 million, an increase of 25.8%;
• Cogeco Communications is releasing its fiscal 2024 financial guidelines; and
• Declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.854 per share, representing a 10.1% increase over last year.
  • For fiscal 2023, free cash flow dividend payout ratio⁽¹⁾ was 33% (or 23% excluding network expansion projects⁽¹⁾)

MONTRÉAL, Nov. 1, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, Cogeco Communications Inc. (TSX: CCA) ("Cogeco Communications" or the "Corporation") announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ended August 31, 2023.

"Our relentless focus on delivering high quality product offerings and distinctive customer service to our customers was a hallmark of fiscal 2023, resulting in healthy business performance that offset challenges from the inflationary environment, increased competition, and global economic uncertainty. Our ongoing commitment to enhancing and expanding our network and service offering with leading edge technology and multiple brands for new and existing customers gives us confidence in our long-term growth opportunities," said Philippe Jetté, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogeco Communications Inc.

"Our Canadian telecommunications business performed solidly again this quarter, as we delivered strong Internet customer additions across each of our traditional, expansion and oxio footprints," continued Mr. Jetté. "Though only a half year has passed since we acquired oxio, we have been pleased with its performance to date."

"While the economic and competitive environment in the U.S. remains challenging, demand from customers for our higher speed offerings has resulted in rising revenue per subscriber which has helped offset customer losses at lower price points. Although revenue declined, a more attractive product mix combined with our focus on cost efficiencies and integration of easy to use, self-install equipment, delivered a higher adjusted EBITDA margin within our U.S. business," continued Mr. Jetté.

"Looking ahead, with our Québec expansion now complete, our Ontario network expansion in its early phases and Breezeline's network expansion ongoing, we expect to continue to add new Internet customers in fiscal 2024, which will contribute to our adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow in fiscal 2024 and beyond."

"In terms of our capital allocation, we continue to focus on the growth of the business through network enhancement and expansion, while developing our mobile offering in both countries. We remain confident in our growth strategy and outlook, and furthermore, we are committed to returning significant capital to our shareholders. As such, the Corporation is pleased to announce a further 10.1% increase in its dividend today, marking a full decade of consecutive annual dividend increases of 10% or greater."

"We are making significant strides in executing our sustainability strategy. We do this through our long-standing tradition of social engagement and community involvement, prioritizing digital inclusion and climate action, implementing leading operating practices and pursuing our responsible and ethical management," Mr. Jetté concluded.

Consolidated Financial Highlights

Operating results

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023:

• Revenue increased by 2.5% to $743.4 million. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 0.8%, driven by growth in the Canadian telecommunications segment, which was partly offset by a decline in the American telecommunications segment, as explained below:
  • Canadian telecommunications' revenue increased by 4.1%, mainly driven by the cumulative effect of high-speed Internet service additions over the past year, higher revenue per customer and contribution from the oxio acquisition completed on March 3, 2023.
  • American telecommunications' revenue decreased by 2.5% in constant currency (increase of 0.8% as reported), mainly due to a lower Internet customer base over the past year and an overall decline in video and phone service customers, offset in part by a higher revenue per customer and a better product mix resulting from customers subscribing to increasingly fast Internet speeds.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased by 1.2% to reach $351.3 million. On a constant currency basis, adjusted EBITDA remained stable compared to the same period of the prior year, mainly as a result of higher adjusted EBITDA in the American telecommunications segment, which was offset by higher corporate costs, primarily due to initiatives undertaken to support the Corporation's future growth and in relation to its plan to offer mobile services in Canada, and lower adjusted EBITDA in the Canadian telecommunications segment, as further explained below.
  • American telecommunications adjusted EBITDA increased by 5.7%, or 2.2% in constant currency, mainly resulting from a better product mix and cost reduction initiatives, which more than offset its revenue decline resulting from a lower customer base over the past year as it continued to face headwinds from the macroeconomic and nationwide competitive environments.
  • Canadian telecommunications adjusted EBITDA decreased by 1.1% or 0.9% in constant currency, mainly due to increased operating expenses to drive and support customer growth, while last year's operating expenses were also lower due to certain year-end adjustments.
• Profit for the period amounted to $91.8 million, of which $86.5 million, or $1.95 per diluted share, was attributable to owners of the Corporation compared to $111.8 million, $104.9 million, and $2.28 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 higher financial expense, depreciation and amortization expense, and acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs, partly offset by the impact of the appreciation of the US dollar.
  • Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation⁽³⁾ was $97.2 million, or $2.19 per diluted share⁽³⁾, compared to $113.5 million, or $2.46 per diluted share, last year.
• Net capital expenditures, which account for network expansion subsidies, were $176.6 million, a decrease of 21.0%, compared to $223.5 million in the same period of the prior year. In constant currency, net capital expenditures⁽¹⁾ were $172.7 million, a decrease of 22.7% compared to last year, mainly due to reduced spending in both the Canadian and American telecommunications segments following the completion of several rural network expansion projects, mainly in Québec, and the timing of certain initiatives.
  • Excluding network expansion projects, net capital expenditures were $143.7 million, a decrease of 11.2% compared to $161.9 million in the same period of the prior year. In constant currency, net capital expenditures, excluding network expansion projects⁽¹⁾ were $140.7 million, a decrease of 13.1% compared to last year.
  • Fibre-to-the-home network expansion projects continued in both Canada and the United States, with homes passed additions of close to 196,000 over the past two fiscal years, of which close to 124,000 were added in fiscal 2023, equating to an approximately 7% growth⁽⁴⁾ in homes passed over the past two years. 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.
  • Capital intensity was 23.8% compared to 30.8% last year. Excluding network expansion projects, capital intensity was 19.3% compared to 22.3% in the same period of the prior year.
• Acquisition of property, plant and equipment decreased by 15.6% to $205.6 million, due to reduced capital spending in both countries.
• Free cash flow amounted to $87.9 million, or $88.5 million in constant currency, compared to $34.5 million last year. The increase in constant currency is mainly due to lower net capital expenditures and lower current income taxes, partly offset by higher financial expense.
  • Free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects amounted to $120.8 million, or $120.6 million in constant currency, an increase of 25.8%, or 25.5% in constant currency, compared to the same period of the prior year.
• Cash flows from operating activities decreased by 11.8% to reach $281.3 million, mainly resulting from higher interest paid and a lower net inflow in non-cash operating activities mostly due to the timing of trade and other payables.
• At its November 1, 2023 meeting, the Board of Directors of Cogeco Communications declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.854 per share, an increase of 10.1% compared to $0.776 per share last year.

FISCAL 2024 FINANCIAL GUIDELINES

Cogeco Communications released its fiscal 2024 financial guidelines. On a constant currency basis, the Corporation expects fiscal 2024 revenue to remain stable. The Corporation anticipates revenue growth in the Canadian telecommunications segment being offset by lower revenue in the American telecommunications segment as it continues to face competition in its markets, in part from fixed wireless competitors, and video services cord cutting. On a constant currency basis, fiscal 2024 adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to remain stable, mainly as a result of stable revenue and an improved product mix contributing to adjusted EBITDA margin, combined with several cost optimization initiatives. The financial guidelines reflect a negative estimated (1)% impact on adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year related to additional preparation costs to offer mobility services in both countries. Net capital expenditures are anticipated to be between $700 and $775 million, including net investments of approximately $140 to $190 million in growth-oriented network expansions, which will increase the Corporation's footprint in Canada and the United States. As a result of these growth initiatives and an anticipated increase in financial expense, free cash flow and free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects, are expected to decrease between (5)% and (15)%, which reflects an estimated (10)% impact from additional mobility investments.

These financial guidelines, including the various assumptions underlying them, contain forward-looking statements concerning the business outlook for Cogeco Communications, and should be read in conjunction with the "Forward-looking statements" section of this press release.

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 Communications Inc.'s ("Cogeco Communications" 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 Communications believes are reasonable as of the current date. Refer in particular to the "Corporate objectives and strategies" and "Fiscal 2024 financial guidelines" sections of the Corporation's 2023 annual Management's Discussion and Analysis ("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 Communications 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), talent management risks (including highly competitive market for limited pool of digitally skilled employees), human-caused and natural threats to the Corporation's 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. For more exhaustive information on these risks and uncertainties, the reader should refer to the "Uncertainties and main risk factors" section of the Corporation's 2023 annual MD&A. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Cogeco Communications 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 Communications' 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 MD&A included in the Corporation's 2023 Annual Report, the Corporation's consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") for the year ended August 31, 2023.

Non-IFRS and other financial measures

This press release includes references to non-IFRS and other financial measures used by Cogeco Communications. These financial measures are reviewed in assessing the performance of Cogeco Communications 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 year ended August 31, 2023, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The following non-IFRS financial measures are used as a component of Cogeco Communications' non-IFRS ratios.

Financial measures presented on a constant currency basis for the three-month period and year ended August 31, 2023 are translated at the average foreign exchange rate of the comparable periods of the prior year, which were 1.2893 USD/CDN and 1.2718 USD/CDN, respectively.

Constant currency basis and foreign exchange impact reconciliation

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 and free cash flow excluding network expansion projects reconciliations

Net capital expenditures

Free cash flow

Additional information

Additional information relating to the Corporation, including its Annual Information Form, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Corporation's website at corpo.cogeco.com.

About Cogeco Communications Inc.

Rooted in the communities it serves, Cogeco Communications Inc. is a growing competitive force in the North American telecommunications sector, serving 1.6 million residential and business customers. Through its business units Cogeco Connexion and Breezeline, Cogeco Communications provides Internet, video and phone services in Canada as well as in thirteen states in the United States. Cogeco Communications Inc.'s subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA).

For information:

Investors
Patrice Ouimet
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Cogeco Communications Inc.
Tel.: 514-764-4600
patrice.ouimet@cogeco.com

Troy Crandall
Head, Investor Relations
Cogeco Communications Inc.
Tel.: 514-764-4700
troy.crandall@cogeco.com

Media
Marie-Hélène Labrie
Senior Vice President and Chief Public Affairs,
Communications and Strategy Officer
Cogeco Communications Inc.
Tel.: 514-764-4600
marie-helene.labrie@cogeco.com

SOURCE Cogeco Communications Inc.