COGECO Reports Fiscal 2014 Fourth-Quarter Financial Results and Increases its Dividend

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Oct 31, 2014) - Today, COGECO Inc. (CGO.TO) ("COGECO" or the "Corporation") announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2014, ended August 31, 2014, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").

For the fourth quarter and fiscal 2014:

• Fourth-quarter revenue increased by $19.8 million, or 3.9%, to reach $524.5 million mainly driven by growth in the Cable and Enterprise data services segment through the organic growth from all of our operating segments as well as favorable foreign exchange rates in our foreign operations. Fiscal 2014 revenue reached $2.1 billion, an increase of $261.8 million, or 14.3%, mainly attributable to the full year impact of the acquisitions, in the Cable and Enterprise data services segment, of Atlantic Broadband and Peer 1 Hosting(1) ("the recent acquisitions") which both occurred during fiscal 2013 combined with the organic growth from all of our operating segments and the favorable foreign exchange rates in our foreign operations;

• Adjusted EBITDA(2) increased by 2.1% to $229.3 million compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, and by 13.7% to $908.3 million compared to the prior year. The progression for both periods resulted mainly from the recent acquisitions and the organic growth as well as the favorable foreign exchange rates from our foreign operations compared to the same period of last year;

• Profit for the period in the fourth quarter amounted to $59.2 million of which $15.8 million, or $0.94 per share, is attributable to owners of the Corporation compared to profit for the period of $43.8 million for the same period in fiscal 2013 of which $13.9 million, or $0.83 per share, is attributable to the owners of the Corporation. The increase is mostly attributable to the improvement of adjusted EBITDA combined with the decreases in integration, restructuring and acquisitions costs and in financial expense. Fiscal 2014 profit for the year amounted to $210.2 million of which $67.7 million, or $4.05 per share, is attributable to owners of the Corporation compared to profit of the year of $189.8 million of which $64.3 million, or $3.84 per share, is attributable to the owners of the Corporation in fiscal 2013. Profit for the year progression is mostly attributable to the improvement of the Cable and Enterprise data services segment's adjusted EBITDA stemming from the recent acquisitions and organic growth as well as the decreases in integration, restructuring and acquisitions costs and income taxes, partly offset by the impairment of property, plant and equipment which occurred in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2014 in the Cable and Enterprise data services segment as well as the increase in depreciation and amortization expense essentially related to the recent acquisitions;