Cogeco Communications Inc. Releases Its Results for the Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2016 and Increases Its Dividend

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Nov 2, 2016) - Today, Cogeco Communications Inc. (CCA.TO) ("Cogeco Communications" or the "Corporation") announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ended August 31, 2016, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016:

  • Revenue increased by $23.6 million, or 4.5%, to reach $544.1 million mainly driven by growths of 19.3% in the American broadband services segment and of 1.4% in the Canadian broadband services segment, partly offset by a decrease of 6.9% in the Business information and communications technology ("Business ICT") services segment.

    • American broadband services revenue increased primarily as a result of the acquisition in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 of MetroCast Communications of Connecticut, LLC (the "Connecticut system"), organic growth through primary service units ("PSU")(2) progression in the residential and commercial sectors as well as rate increases;

    • Canadian broadband services revenue increased as a result of rate increases implemented in February 2016 and the continued growth in the business sector as well as non-recurring revenue of $1.7 million in the quarter, partly offset by a decline in video and telephony customers at August 31, 2016 compared to August 31, 2015 due to the competitive environment and service category maturity combined with the impact of the implementation of flexible video packages launched on March 1, 2016;

    • Business ICT services revenue decreased primarily as a result of competitive pricing pressures on the hosting and network connectivity services, transition out of unprofitable services as well as the depreciation of the British Pound currency against the Canadian dollar compared to the same period of last year;

  • Adjusted EBITDA increased by $7.2 million, or 3.0%, to reach $247.8 million compared to $240.6 million in the same period of fiscal 2015 mainly as a result of the following:

    • Higher adjusted EBITDA in the American broadband services resulting from the acquisition of the Connecticut system and organic growth;

    • Higher adjusted EBITDA in the Canadian broadband services resulting mainly from an increase in revenue and the favorable impact of $3 million in non-recurring items in fiscal 2016 compared to the unfavorable impact of $3.4 million in non-recurring items in fiscal 2015; partly offset by

    • Lower adjusted EBITDA in the Business ICT services resulting from a decrease in revenue and additional costs related to the commissioning of pods 1 and 2 at the Kirkland data centre as well as the depreciation of the British Pound currency against the Canadian dollar, partly offset by cost reduction initiatives as a result of the operational, financial and organizational restructuring completed in fiscal 2016; and

    • Higher management fees of $4.6 million paid to Cogeco Inc. ("Cogeco") during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 under the Amended and Restated Management Services Agreement which became effective on September 1, 2015. The management fees are now payable on a monthly basis. In the previous fiscal year, management fees were fully paid in the first quarter;

  • Operating margin(1) decreased to 45.5% from 46.2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, with operating margins of 52.8% in the Canadian broadband services, 42.4% in the American broadband services and 29.7% in the Business ICT services segments. The decrease for the quarter resulted mainly from higher management fees paid to Cogeco during the fourth quarter of the year under the Amended and Restated Management Services Agreement combined with lower margin in the Business ICT services segment, partly offset by higher margins in the Canadian broadband services and American broadband services segments;

  • Profit for the period amounted to $74.6 million, or $1.52 per share, compared to a profit for the period of $78.0 million, or $1.59 per share in the comparable period of fiscal 2015, a decrease of $3.4 million. The decline is mainly due to the $27.4 million recognized in fiscal 2015 resulting from the settlement of a claim with a supplier, which is partly offset in fiscal 2016 by the improvement of adjusted EBITDA combined with the reduction in integration, restructuring and acquisition costs;

  • Free cash flow increased by $9.5 million, or 13.3%, to reach $81.6 million compared to $72.0 million for the same period of the prior year as a result of the improvement of adjusted EBITDA combined with decreases in the acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets, integration, restructuring and acquisition costs and in current income taxes, partly offset by the increase in claims and litigations as a result of an expense in the current year compared to a gain in the same period of the prior year;

  • Cash flow from operating activities decreased by $9.7 million, or 3.6%, to reach $261.6 million compared to $271.3 million for fiscal 2015 fourth-quarter. The decrease for the quarter is mostly attributable to the increase in claims and litigations as a result of an expense in the current year compared to a gain in the same period of the prior year, partly offset by the improvement in adjusted EBITDA, the increase in changes in non-cash operating activities primarily due to changes in working capital and the decrease in integration, restructuring and acquisition costs;

  • A quarterly eligible dividend of $0.39 per share was paid to the holders of subordinate and multiple voting shares, representing an increase of $0.04 per share, or 11.4%, compared to an eligible dividend of $0.35 per share paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015; and

  • At its November 2, 2016 meeting, the Board of Directors of Cogeco Communications declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.43, an increase of 10.3%, compared to the $0.39 per share paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016;