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Cogeco Releases its Financial Results for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2024

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New operating model focused on customer experience and operational excellence to power future growth.Expanded our customer value proposition with Breezeline Mobile launched across most of Breezeline’s U.S. broadband footprint.Revenue increased by 1.3% compared to the same period last year to $777.2 million, reflecting revenue growth at Cogeco Connexion and stable revenue at Breezeline, in line with expectations.Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $369.8 million increased by 4.0% over last year.Profit for the period amounted to $75.3 million, an increase of $42.0 million, of which $19.0 million was attributable to owners of the Corporation.Earnings per share on a diluted basis rose to $1.97 from a loss of $2.22 in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, while adjusted diluted earnings per share(1)(3) rose by 24.3% to $3.02, which excludes the impact of last year’s pre-tax non-cash impairment charges, restructuring and certain other costs.Free cash flow(1) amounted to $89.3 million, a decrease of 16.9% compared to last year reflecting restructuring costs recognized during the quarter, while cash flow from operating activities increased by 18.3% to $335.1 million due to the timing of certain working capital items. Free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects(1) decreased by 18.3% to $113.7 million.Cogeco maintains its fiscal 2024 financial guidelines.A quarterly dividend of $0.854 per share was declared, representing a 16.8% increase over the prior year.

MONTRÉAL, July 11, 2024 /CNW/ – Today, Cogeco Inc. (TSX: CGO) (“Cogeco” or the “Corporation”) announced its financial results for the third quarter ended May 31, 2024.

“We demonstrated solid performance again in the third quarter of 2024, with revenue growth and healthy expansion of our adjusted EBITDA margin due to an improving product mix, combined with an acceleration of our efforts to drive operational efficiency,” said Frédéric Perron, President and CEO. “In the third quarter, we implemented the initial steps of a new operating model designed to deliver future growth and increase our focus on customer experience and operational excellence.

“Growth in our Canadian telecommunications business was driven by the ongoing expansion of our Internet subscriber base under our Cogeco Connexion and oxio brands. We continue to be impressed by oxio’s performance and its robust adoption by consumers and are cascading our learnings from this digital brand across our organization.

“In the U.S., we rolled out Breezeline Mobile across most of our footprint, which will provide an even stronger incentive for new and existing customers to bundle their digital services with us. In addition, our Internet-first strategy and persistent endeavors to drive operational efficiency helped deliver adjusted EBITDA growth over last year.

“At Cogeco Media, our innovative digital solutions and multi-platform digital content helped generate another quarter of audio sales growth. These gains were driven by strong listener engagement across many of our stations, including at 98.5 Montréal, which remained stalwart in the spring 2024 Numeris ratings as Canada’s most listened to radio station.

“Lastly, the new operating model and transformation we began during the quarter will allow us to sustain our growth, take our competitive agility to new heights, better serve our customers, and continue to build a strong culture where our colleagues thrive and succeed. We expect it to result in significant value creation for Cogeco over the coming years as the benefits of the transformation are realized.”

Consolidated Financial Highlights

Three months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

Change in

constant
currency

(1)

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except % and per share data) (unaudited)

$

$

%

%

Revenue

777,249

767,603

1.3

1.0

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

369,786

355,459

4.0

3.8

Profit for the period

75,285

33,314

Profit (loss) for the period attributable to owners of the Corporation

18,960

(34,473)

Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation (1)(3)

29,102

37,921

(23.3)

Cash flows from operating activities

335,126

283,180

18.3

Free cash flow (1)

89,276

107,379

(16.9)

(16.8)

Free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects (1)

113,709

139,210

(18.3)

(18.3)

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

172,404

190,121

(9.3)

Net capital expenditures (1)(2)

169,754

170,258

(0.3)

(0.7)

Net capital expenditures, excluding network expansion projects (1)

145,321

138,427

5.0

4.6

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

1.97

(2.22)

Adjusted diluted earnings per share (1)(3)

3.02

2.43

24.3

Operating results

For the third quarter of fiscal 2024 ended on May 31, 2024:

Revenue increased by 1.3% to $777.2 million. On a constant currency basis(1), revenue increased by 1.0% driven by revenue growth in the Canadian telecommunications segment, while revenue remained stable in the American telecommunications segment, as explained below.Canadian telecommunications’ revenue increased by 2.2%, mostly driven by the cumulative effect of high-speed Internet service additions over the past year as well as the Niagara Regional Broadband Network acquisition (“NRBN”) completed on February 5, 2024.American telecommunications’ revenue remained stable as reported and in constant currency, mainly resulting from a higher revenue per subscriber and a better product mix resulting from customers subscribing to increasingly fast Internet speeds, offset by lower video subscriptions and a lower Internet subscriber base over the past year, with an increasing proportion of customers only subscribing to Internet services.Revenue in the media activities increased by 3.3%.Adjusted EBITDA increased by 4.0% to $369.8 million. On a constant currency basis, adjusted EBITDA increased by 3.8%, mainly due to higher adjusted EBITDA in both the American and Canadian telecommunications segments, as explained below, and lower corporate costs primarily due to the timing of certain operating expenses.American telecommunications adjusted EBITDA increased by 4.5%, or 3.9% in constant currency, mostly due to lower operating expenses driven by cost reduction initiatives and operating efficiencies.Canadian telecommunications adjusted EBITDA increased by 2.9%, mainly due to revenue growth, partly offset by higher sales and other operating expenses to drive subscriber growth.Profit for the period amounted to $75.3 million, of which $19.0 million, or $1.97 per diluted share, was attributable to owners of the Corporation compared to a profit of $33.3 million, and a loss of $34.5 million, or $2.22 per diluted share, respectively, in the comparable period of fiscal 2023. The increases in profit for the period and profit attributable to owners of the Corporation resulted mainly from last year’s non-cash impairment charges of $88 million related to the radio operations and higher adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by higher restructuring costs, depreciation and amortization expense and income tax expense.Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation(3) was $29.1 million, or $3.02 per diluted share(3), compared to $37.9 million, or $2.43 per diluted share, last year. The increase of adjusted diluted earnings per share over last year reflects the benefit of the Corporation’s repurchase and cancellation of shares.Net capital expenditures were $169.8 million, a decrease of 0.3% compared to $170.3 million in the same period of the prior year. In constant currency, net capital expenditures(1) were $169.1 million, a decrease of 0.7% compared to last year, mainly due to lower spending in the American telecommunications segment as expected due to the timing of network expansion projects, partly offset by higher purchases of customer premise equipment and other capital spending related to fibre-to-the-home network expansions in the Canadian telecommunications segment.Excluding network expansion projects, net capital expenditures were $145.3 million, an increase of 5.0% compared to $138.4 million in the same period of the prior year. In constant currency, net capital expenditures, excluding network expansion projects(1) were $144.8 million, an increase of 4.6% compared to last year.Fibre-to-the-home network expansion projects continued in both Canada and the United States, with homes passed additions close to 44,000(4) during the first nine months of fiscal 2024.Acquisition of property, plant and equipment decreased by 9.3% to $172.4 million, mainly resulting from lower spending.Free cash flow decreased by 16.9%, or 16.8% in constant currency, and amounted to $89.3 million as reported and in constant currency, mainly due to higher restructuring costs. Free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects decreased by 18.3% as reported and in constant currency, and amounted to $113.7 million.Cash flows from operating activities increased by 18.3% to $335.1 million, mostly due to the timing of payments of trade and other payables and the collection of trade accounts receivable, lower income taxes paid and higher adjusted EBITDA.Cogeco maintains its fiscal 2024 financial guidelines as issued on November 1, 2023.At its July 11, 2024 meeting, the Board of Directors of Cogeco declared a quarterly eligible dividend of $0.854 per share, an increase of 16.8% compared to $0.731 per share in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2023.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA and net capital expenditures are total of segments measures. Constant currency basis, adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation, net capital expenditures, excluding network expansion projects, free cash flow and free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects are non-IFRS financial measures. Change in constant currency and adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-IFRS ratios. These indicated terms do not have standardized definitions prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For more information on these financial measures, please consult the “Non-IFRS and other financial measures” section of this press release.

(2)

Net capital expenditures exclude non-cash acquisitions of right-of-use assets and the purchases, and related borrowing costs, of spectrum licences, and are presented net of government subsidies, including the utilization of those received in advance.

(3)

Excludes the impact of non-cash impairment charges and acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs, net of tax and non-controlling interest.

(4)

Organic growth calculated by excluding additions resulting from acquisitions.

Financial highlights

Three and nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

Change in

constant
currency

(1)

(2)

2024

2023

Change

Change in

constant
currency

(1)

(2)

(In thousands of Canadian dollars,
except % and per share data)

$

$

%

%

$

$

%

%

Operations

Revenue

777,249

767,603

1.3

1.0

2,305,329

2,314,484

(0.4)

(0.6)

Adjusted EBITDA (2)

369,786

355,459

4.0

3.8

1,083,601

1,081,004

0.2

Acquisition, integration, restructuring
  and other costs (3)

46,634

11,377

51,121

21,006

Impairment of goodwill and
  intangible assets

88,000

88,000

Profit for the period

75,285

33,314

267,944

259,714

3.2

Profit (loss) for the period
  attributable to owners of the
  Corporation

18,960

(34,473)

77,498

41,396

87.2

Adjusted profit attributable to
  owners of the Corporation (2)(4)

29,102

37,921

(23.3)

93,486

116,292

(19.6)

Cash flow

Cash flows from operating activities

335,126

283,180

18.3

858,427

683,844

25.5

Free cash flow (2)

89,276

107,379

(16.9)

(16.8)

329,923

335,193

(1.6)

(1.7)

Free cash flow, excluding network
  expansion projects (2)

113,709

139,210

(18.3)

(18.3)

410,406

475,100

(13.6)

(13.8)

Acquisition of property, plant and
  equipment

172,404

190,121

(9.3)

507,427

598,803

(15.3)

Net capital expenditures (2)(5)

169,754

170,258

(0.3)

(0.7)

488,177

524,432

(6.9)

(7.1)

Net capital expenditures, excluding
   network expansion projects (2)

145,321

138,427

5.0

4.6

407,694

384,525

6.0

5.8

Per share data (6)

Earnings (loss) per share

Basic

1.99

(2.22)

6.58

2.65

Diluted

1.97

(2.22)

6.52

2.64

Adjusted diluted (2)(4)

3.02

2.43

24.3

7.87

7.41

6.2

Dividends per share

0.854

0.731

16.8

2.562

2.193

16.8

(1)

Key performance indicators presented on a constant currency basis are obtained by translating financial results from the current period denominated in US dollars at the foreign exchange rate of the comparable period of the prior year. For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2023, the average foreign exchange rates used for translation were 1.3562 USD/CDN and 1.3513 USD/CDN, respectively.

(2)

Adjusted EBITDA and net capital expenditures are total of segments measures. Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation, free cash flow, free cash flow, excluding network expansion projects and net capital expenditures, excluding network expansion projects are non-IFRS financial measures. Change in constant currency and adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-IFRS ratios. These indicated terms do not have standardized definitions prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For more information on these financial measures, please consult the “Non-IFRS and other financial measures” section of this press release.

(3)

For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2024, acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs were mostly related to restructuring costs recognized during the third quarter of fiscal 2024. For the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2023, acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs resulted mostly from costs related to the integration of past acquisitions and from a $3.3 million retroactive adjustment recognized during the third quarter, in addition to a $5.1 million adjustment recognized during the second quarter following the Copyright Board preliminary conclusions on the redetermination of the 2014-2018 royalty rates, of which $4.2 million was reversed during the second quarter of fiscal 2024 following the Copyright Board decision issued in January 2024.

(4)

Excludes the impact of non-cash impairment charges, acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs, and gains/losses on debt modification and/or extinguishment, net of tax and non-controlling interest.

(5)

Net capital expenditures exclude non-cash acquisitions of right-of-use assets and the purchases, and related borrowing costs, of spectrum licences, and are presented net of government subsidies, including the utilization of those received in advance.

(6)

Per multiple and subordinate voting share.

 

As at

May 31, 2024

August 31, 2023

(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

$

$

Financial condition

Cash and cash equivalents

55,135

363,854

Total assets

9,878,343

9,869,778

Long-term debt

Current

79,403

43,325

Non-current

5,026,116

5,045,672

Net indebtedness (1)

5,127,971

4,817,113

Equity attributable to owners of the Corporation

811,526

925,863

(1)

Net indebtedness is a capital management measure. For more information on this financial measure, please consult the “Non-IFRS and other financial measures” section of the Corporation’s MD&A for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2024, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

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 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 relating to 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 2023 annual MD&A and of the fiscal 2024 third-quarter MD&A, and the “Fiscal 2024 financial guidelines” section of the Corporation’s 2023 annual 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 general market conditions, 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. 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” section of the Corporation’s 2023 annual MD&A and of the fiscal 2024 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 and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release 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, 2024, 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 2023 Annual Report.

Non-IFRS and other financial measures

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, 2024, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The following non-IFRS financial measures are used as a component of Cogeco’s non-IFRS ratios.

Specified non-IFRS financial measures

Used in the component of the following non-IFRS ratios

Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the         Corporation

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

Constant currency basis

Change in constant currency

Financial measures presented on a constant currency basis for the three and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2024 are translated at the average foreign exchange rate of the comparable periods of the prior year, which were 1.3562 USD/CDN and 1.3513 USD/CDN, respectively.

Constant currency basis and foreign exchange impact reconciliation

Consolidated

Three months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
  percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Revenue

777,249

(1,802)

775,447

767,603

1.3

1.0

Operating expenses

407,463

(934)

406,529

412,144

(1.1)

(1.4)

Adjusted EBITDA

369,786

(868)

368,918

355,459

4.0

3.8

Free cash flow

89,276

50

89,326

107,379

(16.9)

(16.8)

Net capital expenditures

169,754

(622)

169,132

170,258

(0.3)

(0.7)

 

Nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
  percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Revenue

2,305,329

(5,293)

2,300,036

2,314,484

(0.4)

(0.6)

Operating expenses

1,221,728

(2,887)

1,218,841

1,233,480

(1.0)

(1.2)

Adjusted EBITDA

1,083,601

(2,406)

1,081,195

1,081,004

0.2

Free cash flow

329,923

(470)

329,453

335,193

(1.6)

(1.7)

Net capital expenditures

488,177

(1,086)

487,091

524,432

(6.9)

(7.1)

Canadian telecommunications segment

Three months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
   percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Revenue

381,877

381,877

373,743

2.2

2.2

Operating expenses

180,204

(31)

180,173

177,794

1.4

1.3

Adjusted EBITDA

201,673

31

201,704

195,949

2.9

2.9

Net capital expenditures

91,093

(258)

90,835

84,415

7.9

7.6

 

Nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
  percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Revenue

1,131,804

1,131,804

1,114,161

1.6

1.6

Operating expenses

535,018

(159)

534,859

521,534

2.6

2.6

Adjusted EBITDA

596,786

159

596,945

592,627

0.7

0.7

Net capital expenditures

285,274

(218)

285,056

281,036

1.5

1.4

American telecommunications segment

Three months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
  percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Revenue

368,706

(1,802)

366,904

368,042

0.2

(0.3)

Operating expenses

190,327

(887)

189,440

197,273

(3.5)

(4.0)

Adjusted EBITDA

178,379

(915)

177,464

170,769

4.5

3.9

Net capital expenditures

72,782

(349)

72,433

82,923

(12.2)

(12.7)

 

Nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
  percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Revenue

1,096,969

(5,293)

1,091,676

1,126,570

(2.6)

(3.1)

Operating expenses

574,070

(2,716)

571,354

607,237

(5.5)

(5.9)

Adjusted EBITDA

522,899

(2,577)

520,322

519,333

0.7

0.2

Net capital expenditures

191,490

(854)

190,636

236,422

(19.0)

(19.4)

Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation

Three months ended May 31

Nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

2024

2023

(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

$

$

$

$

Profit (loss) for the period attributable to owners of the Corporation

18,960

(34,473)

77,498

41,396

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

88,000

88,000

Acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs

46,634

11,377

51,121

21,006

Loss on debt extinguishment (1)

16,880

Tax impact for the above items

(12,337)

(21,386)

(17,978)

(23,938)

Non-controlling interest impact for the above items

(24,155)

(5,597)

(34,035)

(10,172)

Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the Corporation

29,102

37,921

93,486

116,292

(1)       Included within financial expense.

Free cash flow reconciliation

Three months ended May 31

Nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

2024

2023

(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

$

$

$

$

Cash flows from operating activities

335,126

283,180

858,427

683,844

Changes in other non-cash operating activities

(73,787)

(20,729)

(14,195)

115,392

Income taxes paid (received)

3,502

19,166

(1,234)

89,778

Current income taxes

(3,390)

(5,828)

(20,313)

(26,450)

Interest paid

65,253

64,507

201,133

176,777

Financial expense

(67,109)

(64,300)

(222,211)

(183,812)

Loss on debt extinguishment (1)

16,880

Amortization of deferred transaction costs and discounts on long-term debt (1)

2,329

3,353

7,079

9,460

Net capital expenditures (2)

(169,754)

(170,258)

(488,177)

(524,432)

Repayment of lease liabilities

(2,894)

(1,712)

(7,466)

(5,364)

Free cash flow

89,276

107,379

329,923

335,193

(1)

Included within financial expense.

(2)

Net capital expenditures exclude non-cash acquisitions of right-of-use assets and the purchases, and related borrowing costs, of spectrum licences, and are presented net of government subsidies, including the utilization of those received in advance.

Net capital expenditures reconciliation

Three months ended May 31

Nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

2024

2023

(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

$

$

$

$

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

172,404

190,121

507,427

598,803

Subsidies received in advance recognized as a reduction of the cost of
   property, plant and equipment during the period

(2,650)

(19,863)

(19,250)

(74,371)

Net capital expenditures

169,754

170,258

488,177

524,432

Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation

Three months ended May 31

Nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

2024

2023

(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

$

$

$

$

Profit for the period

75,285

33,314

267,944

259,714

Income taxes

11,172

2,271

47,546

60,552

Financial expense

67,109

64,300

222,211

183,812

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

88,000

88,000

Depreciation and amortization

169,586

156,197

494,779

467,920

Acquisition, integration, restructuring and other costs

46,634

11,377

51,121

21,006

Adjusted EBITDA

369,786

355,459

1,083,601

1,081,004

Net capital expenditures and free cash flow excluding network expansion projects reconciliations

Net capital expenditures

Three months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
   percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Net capital expenditures

169,754

(622)

169,132

170,258

(0.3)

(0.7)

Net capital expenditures in connection with
  network expansion projects

24,433

(53)

24,380

31,831

(23.2)

(23.4)

Net capital expenditures, excluding network
  expansion projects

145,321

(569)

144,752

138,427

5.0

4.6

 

Nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
  percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Net capital expenditures

488,177

(1,086)

487,091

524,432

(6.9)

(7.1)

Net capital expenditures in connection with
  network expansion projects

80,483

(204)

80,279

139,907

(42.5)

(42.6)

Net capital expenditures, excluding network
  expansion projects

407,694

(882)

406,812

384,525

6.0

5.8

Free cash flow

Three months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
  percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Free cash flow

89,276

50

89,326

107,379

(16.9)

(16.8)

Net capital expenditures in connection with
  network expansion projects

24,433

(53)

24,380

31,831

(23.2)

(23.4)

Free cash flow, excluding network expansion
  projects

113,709

(3)

113,706

139,210

(18.3)

(18.3)

 

Nine months ended May 31

2024

2023

Change

(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except
  percentages)

Actual

Foreign
exchange
impact

In

constant
currency

Actual

Actual

In

constant
currency

$

$

$

$

%

%

Free cash flow

329,923

(470)

329,453

335,193

(1.6)

(1.7)

Net capital expenditures in connection with
  network expansion projects

80,483

(204)

80,279

139,907

(42.5)

(42.6)

Free cash flow, excluding network expansion
  projects

410,406

(674)

409,732

475,100

(13.6)

(13.8)

Additional information

Additional information relating to the Corporation is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Corporation’s website at corpo.cogeco.com.

About Cogeco Inc.

Rooted in the communities it serves, Cogeco Inc. is a growing competitive force in the North American telecommunications and media sectors, serving 1.6 million residential and business subscribers. Its Cogeco Communications Inc. subsidiary provides Internet, video and wireline phone services in Canada, and in thirteen states in the United States under the Cogeco Connexion, oxio and Breezeline brand names. Breezeline also offers wireless services in most of the U.S. states in which it operates. 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 
Troy Crandall
Head, Investor Relations
Cogeco Inc.
Tel.: 514 764-4600
troy.crandall@cogeco.com

Media 
Youann Blouin
Director, Media Relations & Strategic Communications
Cogeco Inc.
Tel.: 514 297-2853
youann.blouin@cogeco.com                                                

Conference Call:     

Friday, July 12th, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)

A live audio of the analyst conference call will be available on both the Investor Relations and the Events and Presentations pages on Cogeco’s website. Financial analysts will be able to access the live conference call and ask questions. Media representatives may attend as listeners only. A recording of the conference call will be available on Cogeco’s website for a three-month period.

Please use the following dial-in number to access the conference call 10 minutes before the start of the conference:

Local – Toronto: 1 289 514-5100

Toll Free – North America: 1 800 717-1738

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.

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Mox Breaks Even in Q1 2026 amid Strengthening Profitability Outlook, Launches Mox+ Wealth Solutions and Mox Invest Upgrades

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Bringing Wealth Within Reach of all in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mox Bank Limited (“Mox” or “the Bank”), on the back of delivering a financial breakeven quarter for Q1 2026, today announced the launch of Mox+. This wealth solution is engineered for Hong Kong’s young professionals and emerging affluent and will be a driver of sustainable profitability for the Bank. Mox+ combines wealth capabilities with curated lifestyle benefits, marking Mox’s evolution from everyday banking to a comprehensive wealth partnership.

The financial achievement was driven by robust momentum across all business lines and achieving a significant milestone demonstrates the success of the accessible business model which after 5 years is now used and valued by over 750,000 customers in Hong Kong.

Barbaros Uygun, CEO of Mox, said, “Achieving financial breakeven for the first quarter of 2026 on the back of a strong 2025 set of results, shows our direction of travel. We have the momentum to drive positive change, providing wealth opportunities to all in Hong Kong and do so in a profitable manner. Our client-centric business model is proving that it is the right one for sustainable profitability. 

Our digital wealth management platform serves as a trusted partner for our over 750,000 customers at every stage of life, empowering them to manage their finances with confidence and unlock new possibilities. We are entering a new chapter of growth as we continue to expand our product portfolio and wealth management offerings, with the launch of Mox+ being one such initiative.”

He continued, “To support this evolution, we are evolving into an AI-native bank, doubling our operational capacity through a strategic human-bot partnership, equipping every staff member with a personalised AI assistant to deliver even greater service and efficiency.”

Mox+ members enjoy preferential fees and charges on Mox Invest and preferential pricing on foreign exchange, enhanced deposit rates (3.5% p.a. up to HKD5 million), as well as priority customer support and early access to experiences and new products. These benefits can be gained simply by maintaining an average daily balance of HKD 600,000 or above across all deposits and investments which will lead to automatic qualification for Mox+ for the following month. The programme integrates financial advantages with lifestyle benefits—including curated dining rebates, free hotel stays, Starbucks coffee vouchers, health benefits and exclusive member experiences—reflecting Mox’s belief that wealth building should be both strategic and rewarding.

Jayant Bhatia, Chief Business Officer of Mox, commented, “At Mox, we are dedicated to establishing the financial well-being of Hongkongers. Designed and tailored for Hong Kong’s young professionals and emerging affluent segment, which is underserved in Hong Kong, Mox+ offers solutions for daily savings and preferential wealth management service fees for long-term wealth creation as well as rewarding lifestyle benefits. This is strategically significant as one of our key initiatives to drive business growth and make Wealth Within Reach for Hongkongers.”

Throughout 2025, Mox has already strengthened its product portfolio with new solutions in Mox Invest. The Mox Invest platform saw trading volumes increasing to 2.4 times and assets under management (AUM) growing to 2.6 times that of last year. More than 10% of Mox customers have opened a Mox Invest account, reflecting strong demand for its wealth solutions driven by new products and services. In 2026, we will continue our momentum in launching new and innovative products and services and are already scaling up to serve the next generation of wealth builders in Hong Kong. Having already recently launched a crypto trading service, Mox Invest is set to introduce an IPO subscription service later this year.

The Bank has clear reasons for continuing to develop wealth management products. The “Wealth Behaviours: Insights into how individuals are saving and investing” survey conducted by Mox in collaboration with Ipsos revealed that Hongkongers continue to take a conservative approach to investing, with 63% of their liquid assets kept in cash and deposits – a trend that contributes to “cash drag” and limits potential wealth growth. More than two-thirds of respondents indicated they require an average of 5.6 months to save up to their desired investment threshold and typically delay investing their savings by a further 2.75 months on average, resulting in missed opportunities for long-term wealth accumulation[1]. This survey will continue as an ongoing research initiative to deepen our understanding of Hongkonger’s wealth management behaviours and enable the Bank to develop tailored solutions that puts wealth within reach.

After Mox was amongst the first wave of banks in Asia to offer a crypto trading service, Mox Invest now further offers One Click Investments (a simplified process for buying equities based on themes such as AI, technology, amongst others), Trading Signals, and gives customers access to professional  fund strategies including Signature CIO funds developed in partnership between Standard Chartered Bank CIO office and Amundi. The Signature CIO funds offer four different type of funds based on individuals’ risk appetite which could be Conservative, Income, Balanced or Growth. Customers also have options amongst a wide range of funds offered by other world-class fund houses.

A Track Record of Rapid Scale and Adoption in the Last 5 Years

Since its launch in September 2020, Mox has brought to the market more than 15 market-first products or services and achieved significant scale with over 750,000 customers, reflecting the trust and growing preference of Hong Kong consumers for a seamless digital banking experience. To date, Mox customers have driven a cumulative spend of HKD70 billion, supported by a robust volume of 176 million card transactions and approximately 2 billion Asia Miles earned through Mox Card and other banking services. Its commitment to delivering tangible value to customers is further evidenced by the HKD2 billion distributed in cash rewards.

Beyond daily spending, Mox has become central to its customers’ financial lives, facilitating approximately 50 million outward FPS transfers and more than 5 million bill payments. As a preferred companion for travelers, the Mox Card has been used over 31 million times in overseas transactions, contributing to a total of 250 million app engagements as we continue to redefine digital banking for the Hong Kong community.

To learn more about Mox, please visit: mox.com.

About Mox Bank Limited (“Mox”) 
Mox is a pioneering digital bank licensed in Hong Kong, and a registered institution (CE number: BNO808) powered by Standard Chartered in partnership with PCCW, HKT and Trip.com. Launched in September 2020, Mox is reimagining banking, unlock more of life’s possibilities, and setting global benchmarks for digital banking from Hong Kong.   

Mox is well on track to be the number one digital bank for cards, lending and wealth. In 2026, it was awarded as Best Pure-Play Digital Bank for CX in Hong Kong and Outstanding Digital CX in Banking App/ Platform by The Digital Banker Digital CX Awards. It was also recognised as NeoBank of the Year, Retail Banking, Hong Kong and Best Retail Banking Experience, Hong Kong by The Asset Triple A Digital Finance Awards. In 2025, Mox is ranked as the number one digital bank in Hong Kong in Neobank Ranking 2025 by The Banker, a publication by Financial Times. It was also awarded the Best Digital Bank in Hong Kong by The Asian Banker for three consecutive years, and the Digital Bank of the Year in Hong Kong by Asian Banking & Finance for two years in a row. It was also recognised as one of Asia’s Top 5 mobile banking app and the number one Hong Kong digital banking app in Sia Partners’ 2025 International Mobile Banking Benchmark. Mox Credit Card held its position as the seventh-largest credit card portfolio among all retail banks in Hong Kong[2]. Through a scalable platform, lower cost-to-serve, top-notch customer experience and the unique promise of safe, simple, smart, and fun banking, Mox has found immense affinity among Hong Kong customers: Mox app is the top-rated Hong Kong digital banking app in Apple App Store in Hong Kong[3], scoring 4.8 out of 5. Mox’s influence extends beyond Hong Kong, as shown by the company’s technology and know-how being transferred to Trust Bank in Singapore. 

Join us in shaping the future of banking.

Follow Mox on mox.com, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn and YouTube for our latest updates.

[1] The “Wealth Behaviours: Insights into how individuals are saving and investing” study was conducted in collaboration with Ipsos and it surveyed 2,500 working adults with a monthly household income above HKD15,000 in Hong Kong between August 2025 and April 2026.

[2] According to TransUnion’s Market Insights and Intelligence Dashboard (MIID) for the period from January to December 2025.

[3] As of the period from 28 January 2025 to 5 May 2026.

 

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SOURCE Mox Bank Limited

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UK Students Recognised in National AI Investment Challenge

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University teams apply AI to real-world investment problems, with Lancaster University team taking the top prize.

LONDON, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, has announced the winner of its inaugural AI Investment Challenge, with the top prize awarded to a student team from Lancaster University.

Some 28 teams from 15 universities took part in the competition.

Delivered by CFA Institute and CFA Society UK, the competition brought together students from universities across the United Kingdom to tackle real investment challenges using artificial intelligence. The focus was on practical application, responsible use, and real-world relevance. 

Finalists came from Durham University, Heriot-Watt University, Lancaster University, University of Exeter, and University of Manchester. 

Teams presented AI-powered solutions to a range of industry challenges, from assessing how carbon pricing affects portfolio values to analysing large volumes of company disclosures and extracting insights from company earnings calls. The winning team from Lancaster University impressed judges with its design of a Disclosure Degradation Detection System – an early-alert tool for analysts that monitors upstream exposure to disclosure risk by analysing company and supplier filings for increasingly vague, complex, or weakening language.

Peter Watkins, Head of University Relations, CFA Institute, said:

“It’s encouraging to see how quickly students can apply technical skills to real investment problems. The strongest teams combined solid analysis with a clear understanding of how AI can be used responsibly in practice. This reflects where the investment industry is heading, with professionals expected to use new technologies effectively while continuing to apply sound human judgement.”

Nick Bartlett, CFA, ASIP, Chief Executive, CFA Society UK, adds:

“It’s been great to see students from across the UK take part. Opportunities like this help people build practical skills, make connections in the industry, and gain confidence in applying what they’ve learned. Bridging that gap between education and industry is increasingly important, as the skills needed for a career in the investment profession continue to evolve.” 

The winning team members from Lancaster University are Connor O’Keeffe, Ebro Dossajee, and Bradley McCann.  

Connor O’Keeffe, speaking on behalf of the winning team, said: 

“The CFA Institute AI Investment Challenge gave us the chance to work on a real investment problem and engage directly with industry professionals. Presenting our work and receiving feedback has been invaluable, and we’re proud to bring first place back to Lancaster. It’s been a great experience for the whole team.”

Steve Young, Professor of Accounting at Lancaster University Management School, commented:

“The AI Investment Challenge is a fabulous initiative from CFA Institute that helps students formulate and execute artificial intelligence solutions to assist investment analysis professionals, and we are thrilled that Brad, Connor, and Ebro have been able to make such a positive contribution to the competition. Congratulations to all teams involved and thank you to CFA Institute and CFA Society UK for organising such an inspiring event.” 

The competition was judged on practical relevance, quality of analysis, innovation in the use of AI, responsible use of technology, and clarity of presentation. The final was judged by a panel of six investment industry professionals based in the UK. 

University representatives and students can opt-in to be the first to hear about future AI Investment Challenge events via Information Waitlist.

Notes to Editors

The AI Investment Challenge was held on Thursday 30 April 2026 in London.

First, second, and third-place teams received prizes of £2,000, £1,200, and £800, respectively. In addition, all finalist team members received a CFA Program Access Scholarship and the opportunity to showcase their work on CFA Institute platforms. 

More information about the AI Investment Challenge is available here: CFA Institute AI Investment Challenge

About CFA Institute
As the global association of investment professionals, CFA Institute sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. We champion ethical behavior in investment markets and serve as the leading source of learning and research for the investment industry. We believe in fostering an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. With more than 200,000 charterholders worldwide across 160 markets, CFA Institute has 8 offices and 157 local societies. Find us at www.cfainstitute.org or follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe on YouTube.

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Huawei SPN Helps Yunnan Power Grid Build a Next-Gen High-Speed Bearer Network

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KUNMING, China, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As a key energy hub in Southwest China, Yunnan Power Grid Co., Ltd. (Yunnan Power Grid) is tasked with large-scale clean energy transmission and smart grid development. However, the region’s complex terrain and long transmission lines have made this transformation challenging, rendering the digital and intelligent upgrade increasingly urgent. The explosion of production data and the rise of complex service scenarios further amplify this urgency, imposing ever-stricter requirements on the underlying communication bearer network.

Network Transport Challenges in the Digital and Intelligent Transformation of the Power Industry
To tackle these issues, Yunnan Power Grid has chosen SPN to drive the evolution of its next-gen bearer network, incorporating it into both the 14th and 15th Five-Year Plans. The company has progressively rolled out the technology on a large scale across 16 cities, laying a communication foundation for the next two decades. In this strategic upgrade of electric power services, Huawei has emerged as a key partner.

Dual Dividends: Ultimate Experience and Long-Term Value
Since the pilot in 2022, SPN has evolved from a technical trial to a standard architecture across Yunnan Province. With SPN now being deployed in Zhaotong and Pu’er, the full value of the next-gen bearer network is being unleashed.

First, the bandwidth bottleneck has been resolved. The next-gen SPN bearer network resolves bandwidth bottlenecks by breaking the 155 Mbit/s–10 Gbit/s capacity limit. SPN devices boost access layer (substations, power stations, customer centers) bandwidth to 1 Gbit/s, meeting China Southern Power Grid standards. Aggregation and core layers scale up to 50 Gbit/s or 100 Gbit/s based on site and service size. The solution enables 10 Mbit/s fine-granularity hard pipes for end-to-end isolation of power private lines, supporting high-bandwidth services like transmission video surveillance and ensuring smooth evolution.

Second, the bandwidth upgrade has significantly improved inspection and maintenance efficiency. Huawei’s SPN solution enables real-time SLA monitoring (latency, packet loss) and fault localization within minutes, cutting maintenance costs linked to SDH equipment failures. At Qujing Power Supply Bureau, single inspection time dropped from 30 to 3 minutes, and full-cycle maintenance from over 7 hours to 21 minutes. The O&M center now detects major defects 15 days earlier via preset monitoring points. Over six months, site visits fell from 112 to 61—a 45.54% reduction.

Third, the intelligence level of service transport has been greatly improved. Huawei’s SPN solution supports diverse electric power services—from latency-sensitive teleprotection and dispatching to high-traffic video—with reliable transmission. Using FlexE hard and soft slicing, it ensures rigid isolation between services while enhancing bandwidth reuse. IPv4/IPv6 dual stack enables flexible local forwarding and easy IoT access, such as transmission line monitoring and source-grid-load-storage integration.

Finally, SPN provides long-term investment protection. The evolution to 25 Gbit/s to 400 Gbit/s rates can be supported through low-cost upgrades, avoiding repeated construction.

For detailed solutions, please visit our official website:
https://e.huawei.com/en/case-studies/industries/grid/202604-yunnan-power-grid-spn 

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2973652/1panbiyi.jpg

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