EX-99.1 2 d805732dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2014 RESULTS

Continued to Deliver Healthy Margins and Operating Cash Flow

Completed Company-Wide Reorganization Announced Under the Rogers 3.0 Plan to

Enhance Customer Experience and Re-Accelerate Growth

Launched Ground-Breaking NHL Video Experience to Rogers Customers and Announced Exciting

New shomi Subscription Video On-Demand Service

TORONTO (October 23, 2014) - Rogers Communications Inc., a leading diversified Canadian communications and media company, today announced its unaudited consolidated financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

Financial Highlights

 

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts,   Three months ended September 30  
unaudited)   2014     2013  
   

Operating revenue

    3,252        3,224   

As adjusted 1 :

     

Operating profit

    1,312        1,341   

Net income

    405        501   

Basic earnings per share

    0.79        0.97   

Diluted earnings per share

    0.78        0.97   
   

Free cash flow 1

    370        506   
   

Net income

    332        464   

Basic earnings per share

    0.64        0.90   

Diluted earnings per share

    0.64        0.90   

Cash provided by operating activities

 

   

 

1,057

 

  

 

   

 

1,052

 

  

 

 

1 

Adjusted amounts and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. They are not defined terms under IFRS, and do not have standard meanings, so may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

“During the third quarter, we completed the customer-centric structural reorganization we announced in May under Rogers 3.0 and are now up and running. The business is gaining momentum with the recent unveiling of our awesome new NHL experiences and with the launch in the coming days of our shomi subscription video on-demand service,” said Guy Laurence, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rogers Communications Inc. “While it will take time to fully execute on our multi-year plan, Q3 results are where we expected them to be. Wireless revenue and postpaid ARPU profiles improved again this quarter and we continue to generate strong margins and operating cash flow.”

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   1   Third Quarter 2014


Financial Highlights

Operating revenue

 

 

Consolidated revenue increased 1% this quarter, reflecting revenue growth of 2% year over year in Wireless and 3% in Business Solutions, while revenue in Media was steady, and was partially offset by a decline of 1% in Cable. Wireless revenue increased from higher equipment sales and moderate growth in service revenue. Cable revenue decreased as a result of Television subscriber losses over the past year, partially offset by continued Internet revenue growth and the impact of pricing changes. Media revenue was stable as growth at Sportsnet, The Shopping Channel, and the Toronto Blue Jays was offset by continued softness in conventional television and print advertising.

 

 

Activated 614,000 wireless smartphones, of which 31% were new subscribers, with higher-value smartphone customers growing to represent 77% of Wireless postpaid subscribers.

Adjusted operating profit and net income

 

 

The 2% decrease in consolidated adjusted operating profit reflects decreases in Cable of 4% year over year and in Media of 58%, partially offset by an increase at Wireless of 1% and Business Solutions of 10%. Wireless experienced continued growth in the subscriber base and higher data revenues combined with lower operating costs. Cable results were impacted by a one-time cumulative CRTC fee adjustment and investments in NHL-related advertising. Media results were impacted by lower advertising revenues, investments in Toronto Blue Jays player salaries, programming costs, Next Issue Canada costs, and the launch preparation for Rogers’ NHL initiative.

 

 

Consolidated adjusted operating profit margin was 40.3% this quarter with margins at Wireless of 51.3% and at Cable of 47.3%.

 

 

The reductions of 19% in adjusted net income and 28% in net income are mainly the result of the 2% decrease in adjusted operating profit and 12% increases in both depreciation and amortization and finance costs.

Maintained strong balance sheet and available liquidity

 

 

Generated $370 million of consolidated quarterly free cash flow, including cash provided by operating activities of $1,057 million.

 

 

Approximately $2.7 billion of available liquidity at September 30, 2014, including $104 million of cash, $2.5 billion available under the bank credit facility and $113 million available under the accounts receivable securitization program.

 

 

Returned $235 million of cash to shareholders by paying out a quarterly cash dividend of 45.75 cents per share, which was 5% greater than in the same period of 2013.

Strategic Highlights

Overhaul the customer experience

 

 

We completed a structural reorganization under the Rogers 3.0 plan to enhance service, accountability and agility by structuring teams around our customers and removing management layers to ensure that senior leadership is closer to frontline employees and to customers.

 

 

Launched Device Tune-Up, a free service available to all Rogers and Fido wireless customers in retail stores. The service provides easy, on-the-spot diagnostics and device support, including helping customers get their phones running faster, back up or restore their information, and fix their batteries.

 

 

Announced Rogers Talks, a series of free events across Canada for small businesses in conjunction with Small Business Month (October). Experts in social media, marketing and sales were on hand to talk about how technology can help grow their business.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   2   Third Quarter 2014


Focus on innovation and network leadership

 

 

PCMag.com, for the second straight year in September 2014, has recognized Rogers’ LTE network as the fastest downstream mobile network in Canada and was recommended as the best network for streaming media, especially video. Rogers’ cable network was also again recognized by PCMag.com as Canada’s fastest broadband Internet service provider.

 

 

Deployed recently acquired 700 MHz spectrum in rural and urban communities in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and New Brunswick, delivering the ultimate mobile video experience to Rogers customers.

Deliver compelling content everywhere

 

 

Launched Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE with more than 1,000 regular season games available on smartphones, tablets and computers and significantly enhanced features - available free to Rogers wireless data and Internet customers until December 31, 2014 and to all Canadians at retail pricing.

 

 

Launched GamePlus, available exclusively to Rogers customers as an exciting new dimension of Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE that brings unique camera angles, more interviews, and on-demand replays to tablets and smartphones. Customers can choose to watch from several camera feeds and can review the big plays from up to seven different angles.

 

 

Sportsnet kicked off its 2014-15 NHL national broadcast schedule on October 8, 2014, setting a record for the most watched broadcast in network history, and was the number one program of the night across the country with 8 million Canadians tuned in to the three NHL games that were aired. Approximately 55,000 fans live streamed their favourite team using Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE online at home or using their mobiles and tablets and experienced exclusive access to GamePlus camera angles and features for an incredible second screen viewing experience.

 

 

Announced shomi, a new subscription video-on-demand service available online and through cable set-top boxes launching in early November, which ups the ante in entertainment with the latest shows, a significant selection of sequel library content, together with an easy to use interface and more personalized selections for customers. shomi is a joint venture equally owned by Rogers and Shaw Communications.

 

 

Reached a three-year broadcast rights agreement with the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the official English-language regional television rights holder. When combined with Rogers’ current national package of 40 Canadiens games, the NHL on Sportsnet will now deliver to fans all 82 Montreal Canadiens regular season games and playoffs.

 

 

Announced a ten-year multi-platform agreement making Rogers the exclusive distributor of WWE’s flagship programming in Canada.

About non-GAAP measures

This earnings release contains non-GAAP measures such as adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit margin, adjusted net income, adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share, adjusted net debt and free cash flow. These are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. They are not defined terms under IFRS, and do not have standard meanings, so may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See the section “Non-GAAP Measures” in the third quarter 2014 MD&A that follows for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   3   Third Quarter 2014


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) contains important information about our business and our performance in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

This MD&A should be read in conjunction with our third quarter 2014 Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS, our 2013 Annual MD&A and our 2013 Annual Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, and our other recent filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities, which are available on SEDAR at sedar.com or EDGAR at sec.gov, respectively.

All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. All percentage changes are calculated using the rounded numbers as they appear in the tables. Information is current as of October 22, 2014 and was reviewed by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. This MD&A includes forward-looking statements and assumptions. See “About Forward-Looking Information” for more information.

We, us, our, Rogers, Rogers Communications and the Company refer to Rogers Communications Inc. and our subsidiaries. RCI refers to the legal entity Rogers Communications Inc., not including our subsidiaries. In addition to the business segments discussed below, RCI also holds interests in various investments and ventures.

In this MD&A, this quarter refers to the three months ended September 30, 2014, and year to date refers to the nine months ended September 30, 2014. All results commentary is compared to the equivalent periods in 2013 or as at December 31, 2013, unless otherwise indicated.

Four business segments

We report our results of operations in the following four segments:

 

  Wireless

    

Wireless telecommunications operations for Canadian consumers and businesses

 

  Cable

    

Cable telecommunications operations, including cable television, Internet and cable telephony for Canadian   consumers and businesses

 

  Business   Solutions

    

Network connectivity through our fibre network assets to support a range of voice, data, networking, data centre   and cloud-based services for medium and large Canadian businesses, governments, and on a wholesale basis to   other telecommunications providers

 

  Media

    

A diversified portfolio of media properties, including television and radio broadcasting, specialty channels, digital   media, multi-platform shopping, publishing, and sports media and entertainment

 

Wireless, Cable and Business Solutions are operated by our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rogers Communications Partnership (RCP) and certain other wholly owned subsidiaries. Media is operated by our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rogers Media Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Where to find it

Consolidated Financial Results

   5        

Financial Guidance

   26

Results of our Business Segments

   7      

Key Performance Indicators

   26

Consolidated Net Income Analysis

   14      

Non-GAAP Measures

   27

Managing our Liquidity and Financial Resources

   17      

Other Information

   30

Financial Condition

   20      

About Forward-Looking Information

   32

Financial Risk Management

   20      

About Rogers Communications Inc.

   33

Regulatory Developments

   23      

Quarterly Investment Community Teleconference

   33

Updates to Risks and Uncertainties

   23      

For More Information

   34

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

   24         

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   4   Third Quarter 2014


Consolidated Financial Results

 

  (In millions of dollars, except margins and per
  share amounts)
   Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
   2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  Operating revenue

                   

  Wireless

     1,880         1,846         2         5,407         5,419         -     

  Cable

     864         873         (1)         2,596         2,604         -     

  Business Solutions

     96         93         3         285         276         3     

  Media

     440         440         -         1,282         1,251         2     

  Corporate items and intercompany eliminations

     (28)         (28)         -         (86)         (87)         (1)     

  Operating revenue

     3,252         3,224         1         9,484         9,463         -     
 

  Adjusted operating profit

                   

  Wireless

     888         875         1         2,521         2,461         2     

  Cable

     409         425         (4)         1,241         1,285         (3)     

  Business Solutions

     32         29         10         88         77         14     

  Media

     23         55         (58)         53         112         (53)     

  Corporate items and intercompany eliminations

     (40)         (43)         (7)         (117)         (109)         7     

  Adjusted operating profit 1

     1,312         1,341         (2)         3,786         3,826         (1)     
 

  Adjusted operating profit margin 1

     40.3%         41.6%         (1.3 pts)         39.9%         40.4%         (0.5 pts)     
 

  Net income

     332         464         (28)         1,044         1,349         (23)     

  Diluted earnings per share

     0.64         0.90         (29)         1.97         2.60         (24)     
 

  Adjusted net income 1

     405         501         (19)         1,177         1,412         (17)     

  Adjusted diluted earnings per share 1

     0.78         0.97         (20)         2.28         2.73         (16)     
 

  Additions to property, plant and equipment

     638         548         16         1,702         1,537         11     

  Free cash flow 1

     370         506         (27)         1,162         1,439         (19)     

  Cash provided by operating activities

     1,057         1,052         -         2,667         2,918         (9)     

 

1

Adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit margin, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. These are not defined terms under IFRS, and do not have standard meanings, so may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   5   Third Quarter 2014


Key Changes in Financial Results from 2013

 

  (In millions of dollars)  

Three months ended

September 30, 2014

   

Nine months ended

September 30, 2014

    see page    

  Operating revenue changes - higher (lower):

     

  Network - Wireless

    6        (37)        7     

  Equipment - Wireless

    28        25        8     

  Cable

    (9)        (8)        9     

  Business Solutions

    3        9        11     

  Media

    -        31        12     

  Corporate items and intercompany eliminations

    -        1     

  Higher operating revenue compared to 2013

    28        21           

  Adjusted operating profit changes - higher (lower):

     

  Wireless

    13        60        8     

  Cable

    (16)        (44)        10     

  Business Solutions

    3        11        11     

  Media

    (32)        (59)        12     

  Corporate items and intercompany eliminations

    3        (8)     

  Lower adjusted operating profit 1 compared to 2013

    (29)        (40)           

  (Higher) lower stock-based compensation

    (2)        41        14     

  Higher restructuring, acquisition and other

    (53)        (69)        14     

  Higher depreciation and amortization

    (56)        (194)        14     

  Higher finance costs

    (22)        (69)        15     

  Change in other expense

    (9)        (78)        15     

  Lower income taxes

    39        104        15     

  Lower net income compared to 2013

    (132)        (305)        16     

  Higher (lower) stock-based compensation

    2        (41)        14     

  Higher restructuring, acquisition and other

    53        69        14     

  Repayment of long-term debt

    -        29        15     

  Sale of TVtropolis

    -        47        15     

  Income taxes

    (19)        (34)        15     

  Lower adjusted net income compared to 2013

    (96)        (235)        16     

 

1 

Adjusted operating profit is a non-GAAP measure and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. It is not a defined term under IFRS, and does not have a standard meaning, so may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

Operating revenue

Wireless network revenue was moderately higher this quarter and decreased on a year to date basis primarily because of pricing changes made that were associated with our customer friendly simplified pricing plans and the introduction in 2013 of lower priced roaming plans.

Cable operating revenue decreased this quarter and year to date primarily because of TV subscriber losses over the past year and a more competitive pricing environment, partially offset by Internet revenue growth and the impact of pricing changes across all product types.

Business Solutions operating revenue increased this quarter and year to date primarily because of continuing growth in on-net and next generation services and increased revenue from our data centre businesses, partially offset by a reduction in low margin, off-net legacy revenue.

Media operating revenue was unchanged this quarter and increased year to date primarily because of revenue growth at Sportsnet, the Toronto Blue Jays and The Shopping Channel, offset by continued softness in conventional and print advertising.

Adjusted operating profit

Wireless adjusted operating profit increased this quarter and year to date primarily because of the network revenue changes described above and cost reductions, partially offset by higher volumes of subsidized smartphones.

Cable adjusted operating profit decreased this quarter and year to date primarily because of a one-time cumulative CRTC fee adjustment and investments in NHL-related advertising, in addition to revenue changes discussed above.

Media’s adjusted operating profit decreased this quarter and year to date as the increase in Media’s operating revenue was more than offset by investments in player salaries at the Toronto Blue Jays, increased programming costs, and ramp-up costs associated with the launch of Next Issue Canada and the NHL licensing agreement which became effective July 1, 2014.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   6   Third Quarter 2014


Results of our Business Segments

Wireless

Financial results

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars, except margins)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  Operating revenue

                   

  Network revenue

     1,732         1,726         -         5,042         5,079         (1)     

  Equipment sales

     148         120         23         365         340         7     

  Operating revenue

     1,880         1,846         2         5,407         5,419         -     
 

  Operating expenses

                   

  Cost of equipment 1

     (361)         (321)         12         (991)         (1,048)         (5)     

  Other operating expenses

     (631)         (650)         (3)         (1,895)         (1,910)         (1)     
       (992)         (971)         2         (2,886)         (2,958)         (2)     

  Adjusted operating profit

     888         875         1         2,521         2,461         2     
 

  Adjusted operating profit margin as a % of network revenue

     51.3%         50.7%         0.6 pts         50.0%         48.5%         1.5 pts     

  Additions to property, plant and equipment

     285         192         48         720         622         16     

 

1 

Includes the cost of equipment sales and direct channel subsidies.

Subscriber results 1,2

 

  (Subscriber statistics in thousands,
  except churn and ARPU)
   Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
   2014      2013          Chg      2014      2013      Chg    
 

  Postpaid

                    

  Gross additions

     336         359          (23)         941         1,052         (111)     

  Net additions

     17         64          (47)         57         194         (137)     

  Total postpaid subscribers

     8,131         8,040          91         8,131         8,040         91     

  Churn (monthly)

     1.31%         1.23%          0.08 pts         1.21%         1.21%         -     

  ARPU (monthly)

   $ 68.32       $ 68.77      $     (0.45)       $ 66.65       $ 68.22         $       (1.57)     

  Prepaid

                    

  Gross additions

     165         161          4         369         405         (36)     

  Net additions (losses)

     41         16          25         (63)         (133)         70     

  Total prepaid subscribers

     1,366         1,458          (92)         1,366         1,458         (92)     

  Churn (monthly)

     3.12%         3.33%          (0.21 pts)         3.53%         3.99%         (0.46 pts)     

  ARPU (monthly)

   $ 16.47       $ 16.84      $     (0.37)       $ 15.18       $ 15.70         $       (0.52)     

  Blended ARPU

   $ 60.96       $ 60.81      $     0.15       $ 59.23       $ 59.91         $       (0.68)     

 

1

Does not include subscribers from our wireless home phone product.

2

Average Revenue Per User (“ARPU”), subscriber counts and subscriber churn are key performance indicators. See “Key Performance Indicators”.

Network revenue

Network revenue was moderately higher this quarter and decreased year to date as a result of:

 

higher data revenue related to an increase in postpaid subscriber levels and higher usage of wireless data services; offset by

 

the continued adoption of customer friendly simplified pricing plans, which generally bundle in certain features such as voicemail, caller ID and domestic long-distance for which we have charged separately in the past; and

 

the introduction over the past year of lower priced U.S. and international roaming pricing and plans which offer consumers more value.

Excluding the decline in roaming revenue, network revenue would have increased by 2% this quarter and 1% year to date. Postpaid ARPU would have increased by 1% this quarter and would have been consistent year to date.

Postpaid churn increased eight basis points this quarter to 1.31%, compared to 1.23% in the same period last year due to competitive intensity and a heightened focus towards migrating customers to current price plans to optimize subscriber value.

Gross postpaid subscriber additions of 336,000 this quarter were 6% lower, which, combined with churn, reduced net postpaid subscriber additions to 17,000.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   7   Third Quarter 2014


We activated and upgraded approximately 614,000 smartphones for new and existing subscribers this quarter, compared to approximately 574,000 in the same period last year. This 7% increase was primarily due to a 19% increase in hardware upgrades by existing subscribers this quarter which coincided with the recent launch of the iPhone 6, partially offset by the 6% reduction in postpaid gross additions.

The percentage of subscribers with smartphones this quarter was 77% of our total postpaid subscriber base, compared to 73% in the same period last year. Smartphone subscribers typically generate significantly higher ARPU and are less likely to churn than customers on less advanced devices.

With the evolution to simplified price plans, which include both voice and data, the delineation between voice and data revenues is increasingly made by allocation versus by direct assignment. Data revenue increased by 9% this quarter and 10% year to date primarily because of the continued penetration and growing use of smartphones, tablet devices and wireless laptops, which are increasing the use of e-mail, Internet access, social media, mobile video, text messaging and other wireless data services. Data revenue exceeded voice revenue and represented approximately 52% of total network revenue this quarter, compared to approximately 48% in the same period last year.

Equipment sales

Revenue from equipment sales increased by 23% this quarter and 7% year to date primarily because of a shift in the sales mix of smartphones sold at higher prices. In addition, there were higher existing subscriber upgrades, partially offset by the lower number of gross activations. During this quarter, we activated 38% more iPhones and customers choosing to upgrade wireless devices represented approximately 5% of the postpaid subscriber base, compared to 4% in the same period last year.

Operating expenses

The cost of equipment sales increased by 12% this quarter primarily because of the shift in the mix towards higher priced smartphones as well as higher existing subscriber upgrades to new devices. Year to date cost of equipment sales decreased by 5% as a result of fewer subscriber hardware upgrades and fewer gross activations, as described above.

Total customer retention spending (including subsidies on handset upgrades) increased to $219 million this quarter compared to $192 million in the same period last year as 19% more existing subscribers upgraded their hardware in the current quarter. Year to date retention spending decreased to $640 million from $647 million last year as 3% fewer existing subscribers upgraded their hardware.

Other operating expenses (excluding retention spending) decreased by 5% this quarter and 2% year to date as a result of improvements in cost management and efficiency gains.

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating profit increased by 1% this quarter and 2% year to date as a result of:

 

continued growth of wireless data revenue and cost efficiency gains; partially offset by

 

changes in volumes of hardware sales and upgrades; and

 

pricing changes associated with our simplified plans and the introduction of lower priced and higher value roaming plans.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   8   Third Quarter 2014


Cable

Financial results

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars, except margins)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013 1      % Chg    
 

  Operating revenue

                   

  Television

     433         452         (4)         1,301         1,367         (5)     

  Internet

     311         294         6         928         858         8     

  Phone

     118         125         (6)         360         373         (3)     

  Service revenue

     862         871         (1)         2,589         2,598         -     

  Equipment sales

     2         2         -         7         6         17     

  Operating revenue

     864         873         (1)         2,596         2,604         -     
 

  Operating expenses

                   

  Cost of equipment

     (1)         (2)         (50)         (4)         (4)         -     

  Other operating expenses

     (454)         (446)         2         (1,351)         (1,315)         3     
     (455)         (448)         2         (1,355)         (1,319)         3     

  Adjusted operating profit

     409         425         (4)         1,241         1,285         (3)     
 

  Adjusted operating profit margin

     47.3%         48.7%         (1.4 pts)         47.8%         49.3%         (1.5 pts)     

  Additions to property, plant and equipment

     274         299         (8)         764         747         2     

 

1

The operating results of Mountain Cable are included in the Cable results of operations from the date of acquisition on May 1, 2013.

Subscriber results 1

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In thousands)    2014      2013      Chg      2014      2013      Chg    
 

  Cable homes passed

     4,025         3,956         69         4,025         3,956         69     

  Television

                   

  Net losses

     (30)         (39)         9         (83)         (99)         16     

  Total Television subscribers 2

     2,044         2,155         (111)         2,044         2,155         (111)     

  Internet

                   

  Net additions

     16         18         (2)         38         50         (12)     

  Total Internet subscribers 2

     1,999         1,948         51         1,999         1,948         51     

  Phone

                   

  Net (losses) additions

     (7)         3         (10)         4         37         (33)     

  Total phone subscribers 2

     1,157         1,148         9         1,157         1,148         9     

  Total service units 2,3

                   

  Net losses

         (21)               (18)               (3)             (41)               (12)             (29)     

  Total service units

     5,200         5,251         (51)         5,200         5,251         (51)     

 

1

Subscriber count is a key performance indicator. See “Key Performance Indicators”.

2

On May 1, 2013, we acquired 40,000 Television subscribers, 38,000 digital cable households, 34,000 cable high-speed Internet subscribers and 37,000 cable telephony lines from our acquisition of Mountain Cable. The acquisition also increased homes passed by 59,000.

3

Includes Television, Internet and phone subscribers.

Operating revenue

Overall Cable revenue decreased by 1% this quarter and remained consistent year to date as a result of:

 

Television subscriber losses over the past year and retention-related discounting; partially offset by

 

continued growth in subscribers to our Internet products combined with the impact of pricing changes implemented over the past year.

Year to date, operating revenue was also impacted by the May 2013 acquisition of Mountain Cable.

Television revenue

Revenue from Television decreased this quarter and year to date as a result of:

 

the decline in Television subscribers over the past year; and

 

the impact of promotional and retention pricing activity associated with heightened pay TV competition; partially offset by

 

the impact of pricing changes implemented over the past year.

The digital cable subscriber base represented 87% of our total Television subscriber base at the end of the quarter, compared to 83% at September 30, 2013. The larger selection of digital content, video on-demand, HDTV and PVR

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   9   Third Quarter 2014


equipment, combined with the ongoing analog to digital conversion initiative, continue to contribute to the increasing penetration of the digital subscriber base as a percentage of our total Television subscriber base.

Internet revenue

Internet revenue increased by 6% this quarter and 8% year to date as a result of:

 

a larger Internet subscriber base;

 

general movement to higher end speed and usage tiers; and

 

changes in Internet service pricing.

Phone revenue

Phone revenue decreased by 6% this quarter and 3% year to date as a result of:

 

increased promotional discount pricing activity for new subscribers on multi-product bundles and competitive activity; partially offset by

 

a higher phone subscriber base and the impact of pricing changes.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased by 2% this quarter and 3% year to date as a result of:

 

$5 million of one-time cumulative Local Program Improvement Fund adjustment relating to a CRTC ruling this quarter;

 

investments in NHL-related advertising; partially offset by

 

various cost efficiency and productivity initiatives.

Additionally, year to date Cable results in 2013 benefitted from an $8 million positive adjustment in the first quarter of that year to licence fees payable to match the CRTC’s billing period.

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating profit decreased by 4% this quarter and 3% year to date as a result of the revenue and expense changes discussed above.

Other Cable developments

In October 2014, subsequent to the end of the third quarter, we signed an agreement to acquire Source Cable Limited, a Cable, Internet, and phone service provider with approximately 26,000 homes passed and 43,000 total service units situated in Hamilton, Ontario for approximately $160 million. The Source Cable subscriber footprint is situated adjacent to existing Rogers cable systems and should enable numerous synergies. This transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   10   Third Quarter 2014


Business Solutions

Financial results

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars, except margins)    2014      2013 1      % Chg      2014      2013 1      % Chg    
 

  Operating revenue

                   

  Next generation

     69         54         28         200         150         33     

  Legacy

     26         38         (32)         82         115         (29)     

  Service revenue

     95         92         3         282         265         6     

  Equipment sales

     1         1         -         3         11         (73)     

  Operating revenue

     96         93         3         285         276         3     
 

  Operating expenses

     (64)         (64)         -         (197)         (199)         (1)     

  Adjusted operating profit

     32         29         10         88         77         14     
 

  Adjusted operating profit margin

     33.3%         31.2%         2.1 pts         30.9%         27.9%         3.0 pts     

  Additions to property, plant, and equipment

     28         20         40         93         66         41     

 

1

The operating results of Blackiron are included in the Business Solutions results of operations from the date of acquisitions on April 17, 2013. Pivot Data Centres’ results are excluded from Business Solutions’ 2013 results of operations as it was acquired on October 1, 2013.

Business Solutions continues to focus primarily on next generation IP-based services, leveraging higher margin on-net and near-net service revenue opportunities, and using existing network facilities to expand offerings to the medium and large sized enterprise, public sector and carrier wholesale markets. Business Solutions is also focused on data centre colocation, hosting, cloud, and disaster recovery services. Next generation services in this quarter represented 73% of total service revenue. Revenue from the lower margin off-net legacy business generally includes local and long-distance voice services and legacy data services which often use facilities that are leased from other carriers rather than owned.

Operating revenue

Service revenue increased by 3% this quarter and 6% year to date as a result of:

 

growth from the acquisitions of Pivot Data Centres and Blackiron in October and April 2013, respectively; and

 

continuing execution of our plan to grow higher margin on-net and next generation IP-based services revenue; partially offset by

 

the continuing decline in the legacy off-net voice and data business. We expect this trend to continue as we focus the business on on-net opportunities and customers move to more advanced and cost effective IP services.

Excluding the Pivot Data Centres acquisition, total services revenue this quarter would have decreased by 6% and next generation services revenue would have increased by 11%.

Equipment sales were unchanged this quarter and decreased year to date as the first quarter of 2013 included a non-recurring equipment sale.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses remained unchanged this quarter as a result of:

 

higher on-net and next generation service costs associated with higher volumes; and

 

incremental expenses related to our data centre acquisitions; offset by

 

lower legacy service costs related to planned lower volumes and customer levels, and ongoing initiatives to improve costs and productivity.

In addition, operating expenses decreased by 1% year to date as the comparative period included cost of sales associated with a non-recurring equipment sale.

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating profit increased by 10% this quarter and 14% year to date as a result of the continued growth in higher margin on-net and next generation business, the contribution of acquired data centres, and productivity improvements.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   11   Third Quarter 2014


Media

Financial results

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars, except margins)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013 1      % Chg    
                   

  Operating revenue

     440         440         -         1,282         1,251         2     
 

  Operating expenses

     (417)         (385)         8         (1,229)         (1,139)         8     

  Adjusted operating profit

     23         55         (58)         53         112         (53)     
 

  Adjusted operating profit margin

     5.2%         12.5%         (7.3 pts)         4.1%         9.0%         (4.9 pts)     

  Additions to property, plant and equipment

     23         18         28         66         45         47     

 

1

The operating results of Sportsnet 360 (formerly theScore) are included in the Media results of operations from the date of acquisition on April 30, 2013.

Operating revenue

Operating revenue remained unchanged this quarter and increased by 2% year to date as a result of:

 

higher subscription revenue generated by our Sportsnet properties;

 

higher revenue associated with the Toronto Blue Jays; and

 

higher sales at The Shopping Channel, and Next Issue Canada which launched in late 2013; offset by

 

continued softness in conventional television and print advertising.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased by 8% this quarter and year to date as a result of:

 

higher player salaries of approximately $10 million this quarter and $20 million year to date at the Toronto Blue Jays;

 

higher programming costs;

 

costs of approximately $6 million this quarter and $17 million year to date associated with the growth of Next Issue Canada; and

 

ramp-up costs of approximately $6 million this quarter and $9 million year to date associated with the NHL licensing agreement which became effective July 1, 2014 in advance of the current NHL season.

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating profit decreased this quarter and year to date, reflecting the revenue and expense changes described above.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   12   Third Quarter 2014


Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars, except capital intensity 1)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  Additions to property, plant and equipment

                   

  Wireless

     285         192         48         720         622         16     

  Cable

     274         299         (8)         764         747         2     

  Business Solutions

     28         20         40         93         66         41     

  Media

     23         18         28         66         45         47     

  Corporate

     28         19         47         59         57         4     

  Total additions to property, plant and equipment

     638         548         16         1,702         1,537         11     
 

  Capital intensity 1

     19.6%         17.0%         2.6 pts         17.9%         16.2%         1.7 pts     

 

1 

Capital intensity is a key performance indicator. See “Key Performance Indicators”.

Total property, plant and equipment additions this quarter and year to date was higher than in the same periods of 2013, as we expected, reflecting a heightened focus on deploying our capital in a way that better spreads the work more manageably throughout the year.

Wireless

Wireless property, plant and equipment additions in 2014 reflect LTE capacity investments and site build activity to further enhance network coverage and quality. Our continued deployment of the LTE network reached approximately 79% of Canada’s population at September 30, 2014.

Cable

The changes in Cable property, plant and equipment additions on a quarterly basis are primarily due to the timing of undertaken initiatives. Investments year to date were made to improve the capacity of our Internet platform, improve the reliability and quality of the network, and continued development related to the next generation IP based video service. We also invested in customer equipment related to the continued roll out of our next generation NextBox digital set-top boxes and for subscribers migrating from analog to digital.

Business Solutions

Business Solutions property, plant and equipment additions increased this quarter and year to date as a result of expanding customer networks and investments made by Blackiron and Pivot Data Centres, which we acquired last year.

Media

Media property, plant and equipment additions increased this quarter and year to date as a result of investments made to our IT infrastructure and NHL broadcast facilities.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   13   Third Quarter 2014


Consolidated Net Income Analysis

This section discusses the items below our adjusted operating profit line that impact consolidated net income.

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  Adjusted operating profit 1

     1,312         1,341         (2)         3,786         3,826         (1)     

  Stock-based compensation

     (9)         (7)         29         (25)         (66)         (62)     

  Restructuring, acquisition and other

     (91)         (38)         139         (130)         (61)         113     

  Depreciation and amortization

     (533)         (477)         12         (1,584)         (1,390)         14     

  Finance costs

     (202)         (180)         12         (615)         (546)         13     

  Other (expense) income

     (12)         (3)         n/m         (11)         67         n/m     

  Income tax

     (133)         (172)         (23)         (377)         (481)         (22)     

  Net income

     332         464         (28)         1,044         1,349         (23)     

 

1 

Adjusted operating profit is a non-GAAP measure and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. It is not a defined term under IFRS and does not have a standard meaning, so may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

Stock-based compensation

Our net stock-based compensation, which includes stock options (with stock appreciation rights), restricted share units, and deferred share units is generally determined by:

 

vesting of stock options and share units; and

 

changes in the market price of RCI Class B shares; offset by

 

the impact of certain derivative instruments designed to hedge a portion of the price appreciation risk for our stock-based compensation program which was started in March 2013. See “Financial Risk Management” for information about equity derivatives.

 

     Three months ended September 30     Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars)   2014     2013     2014     2013    
 

  Impact of vesting

    11        9        34        30     

  Impact of change in price

    (6)        17        (39)        5     

  Equity derivatives, net of interest receipt

    4        (19)        30        31     

  Total stock-based compensation

    9        7        25        66     

Stock-based compensation decreased year to date primarily as a result of the increased market price of the RCI Class B common shares in early 2013 prior to the implementation of the equity derivatives program.

In April 2014, we extended the term of the equity derivatives which partially hedge our stock-based compensation costs for a further year to expire in April 2015, with all other terms and conditions remaining substantially unchanged.

Restructuring, acquisition and other

Restructuring, acquisition and other for this quarter and year to date primarily reflects costs relating to the reorganization associated with the Rogers 3.0 plan.

Depreciation and amortization

 

     Three months ended September 30     Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars)   2014     2013     % Chg     2014     2013     %Chg    
 

  Depreciation

    492        437        13        1,460        1,281        14     

  Amortization

    41        40        3        124        109        14     

  Total depreciation and amortization

    533        477        12        1,584        1,390        14     

Depreciation and amortization increased this quarter and year to date mainly because of:

 

significant recent investment and roll out of new customer equipment at Cable, mostly next generation NextBox digital TV set-top boxes which are depreciated over three years;

 

the availability for use of certain network and system initiatives, including the launch and expansion of our LTE network in various municipalities; and

 

new property, plant and equipment and intangible assets resulting from acquisitions in Cable, Business Solutions, and Media in 2013.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   14   Third Quarter 2014


Finance costs

 

     Three months ended September 30     Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars)   2014     2013     % Chg     2014     2013     % Chg    
 

  Interest on long-term debt

    199        179        11        584        542        8     

  Interest on pension liability

    2        3        (33)        5        11        (55)     

  Loss on repayment of long-term debt

    -        -        -        29        -        n/m     

  Foreign exchange loss (gain)

    4        (1)        n/m        6        18        (67)     

  Change in fair value of derivatives

    1        4        (75)        -        (15)        n/m     

  Capitalized interest

    (7)        (6)        17        (20)        (18)        11     

  Other

    3        1        200        11        8        38     

  Total finance costs

    202        180        12        615        546        13     

Interest on long-term debt this quarter and year to date increased as a result of a higher amount of outstanding debt, partially offset by a decrease in the weighted-average interest rate on our outstanding debt. At September 30, 2014, our long-term debt had a weighted average cost of financing, including short-term borrowings of 5.21% (December 31, 2013 - 5.54% and September 30, 2013 - 5.61%) and a weighted average term to maturity of 11.1 years (December 31, 2013 - 10.3 years and September 30, 2013 - 9.6 years).

In the first quarter this year, we repaid or repurchased US$750 million (Cdn$834 million) of our 6.375% senior notes and US$350 million (Cdn$387 million) of our 5.50% senior notes. In conjunction with the repayment or repurchase of this debt, a $29 million loss was recognized in the first quarter pertaining to previously terminated debt derivatives which were deferred in the hedging reserve until maturity of the notes. This loss relates to transactions in 2008 and 2013 where foreign exchange rates on the related debt derivatives were updated to then current rates.

Foreign exchange losses recognized in 2013 are primarily from the revaluation of US$350 million of senior notes due in 2038, for which the associated debt derivatives had not been designated as hedges for accounting purposes prior to March 6, 2013. Much of this foreign exchange loss was offset by the corresponding change in the fair value of the associated debt derivatives. During 2014, all of our US dollar-denominated debt was hedged for accounting purposes.

See “Managing our Liquidity and Financial Resources” for more information about our debt and related finance costs.

Other (expense) income

Other (expense) income includes income and expenses related to certain investments and ventures. We recognized other income of $67 million year to date in 2013, primarily related to a $47 million gain realized on the sale of our investment in TVtropolis.

Income tax expense and cash income taxes paid

 

     Three months ended September 30     Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars, except tax rates)   2014     2013     2014     2013    

  Statutory income tax rate

    26.5%        26.5%        26.5%        26.5%     
 

  Income before income taxes

    465        636        1,421        1,830     

  Computed income tax expense

    123        169        377        485     

  Non-taxable stock-based compensation

    -        3        (6)        2     

  Other items

    10        -        6        (6)     

  Income tax expense

    133        172        377        481     
 

  Effective income tax rate

    28.6%        27.0%        26.5%        26.3%     

  Cash income taxes paid

    112        114        358        326     

Our effective income tax rates for this quarter and year to date were 28.6% and 26.5%, respectively, compared to 27.0% and 26.3% for the same periods last year. The effective income tax rate for this quarter differed from the statutory tax rate primarily due to miscellaneous non-deductible items.

Cash income taxes paid year to date increased as a result of the timing of installment payments.

In 2011, legislative changes eliminated the deferral of partnership income, accelerating the payment of approximately $700 million of previously deferred cash taxes over a five year amortization period, beginning in 2012 at 15%, 20% in each of 2013 through 2015, and 25% in 2016. Our cash tax payments for the 2014 to 2016 taxation years will continue to include these additional amounts. While the elimination of the deferral of partnership income affects the timing of cash tax payments, it does not affect our income tax expense for accounting purposes. See “About Forward-Looking Information”.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   15   Third Quarter 2014


  Net income

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars, except per share amounts)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  Net income

     332         464         (28)         1,044         1,349         (23)     

  Basic earnings per share

     0.64         0.90         (29)         2.03         2.62         (23)     

  Diluted earnings per share

     0.64         0.90         (29)         1.97         2.60         (24)     

  Adjusted net income

  The following table shows how we calculate adjusted net income from adjusted operating profit.

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars, except per share amounts)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  Adjusted operating profit 1

     1,312         1,341         (2)         3,786         3,826         (1)     

  Depreciation and amortization

     (533)         (477)         12         (1,584)         (1,390)         14     

  Finance costs 2

     (202)         (180)         12         (586)         (546)         7     

  Other (expense) income 3

     (12)         (3)         n/m         (11)         20         n/m     

  Income tax 4

     (160)         (180)         (11)         (428)         (498)         (14)     

  Adjusted net income 1

     405         501         (19)         1,177         1,412         (17)     
 

  Adjusted basic earnings per share 1

     0.79         0.97         (19)         2.29         2.74         (16)     

  Adjusted diluted earnings per share 1

     0.78         0.97         (20)         2.28         2.73         (16)     

 

1 

Adjusted operating profit, adjusted net income, and adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. They are not defined terms under IFRS, and do not have standard meanings, so may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

2 

Finance costs exclude $29 million loss on repayment of long-term debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

3 

Other income excludes the gain on sale of TVtropolis investment of $47 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

4 

Income tax excludes $27 million recovery (2013 - $8 million recovery) for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $51 million recovery (2013 - $17 million recovery) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, related to income tax impact for adjusted items.

The following table shows the reconciliation of net income to adjusted net income.

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  Net income

     332         464         (28)         1,044         1,349         (23)     

  Stock-based compensation

     9         7         29         25         66         (62)     

  Restructuring, acquisition and other

     91         38         139         130         61         113     

  Gain on sale of investment

     -         -         -         -         (47)         n/m     

  Loss on repayment of long-term debt

     -         -         -         29         -         n/m     

  Income tax impact of above items

     (27)         (8)         n/m         (51)         (25)         104     

  Income tax adjustment, legislative tax change

     -         -         -         -         8         n/m     

  Adjusted net income 1

     405         501         (19)         1,177         1,412         (17)     

 

1

Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP measure and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. It is not a defined term under IFRS, and does not have a standard meaning, so may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   16   Third Quarter 2014


Managing our Liquidity and Financial Resources

Operating, investing and financing activities

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  CASH FROM OPERATIONS

                   

  Net income for the period

     332         464         (28)         1,044         1,349         (23)     

  Depreciation and amortization

     533         477         12         1,584         1,390         14     

  Finance costs

     202         180         12         615         546         13     

  Income tax expense

     133         172         (23)         377         481         (22)     

  Other

     58         13         n/m         46         22         109     

  Cash provided by operations before changes in non-cash operating items

     1,258         1,306         (4)         3,666         3,788         (3)     

  Change in non-cash operating working capital items

     172         128         34         7         71         (90)     
     1,430         1,434         -         3,673         3,859         (5)     

  Income taxes paid

     (112)         (114)         (2)         (358)         (326)         10     

  Interest paid

     (261)         (268)         (3)         (648)         (615)         5     

  Cash provided by operating activities

     1,057         1,052         -         2,667         2,918         (9)     
 

  CASH USED IN INVESTING

                   

  Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (638)         (548)         16         (1,702)         (1,537)         11     

  Change in non-cash working capital items related to property, plant and equipment

     38         (20)         n/m         (51)         (155)         (67)     

  Acquisitions and strategic initiatives

     -         (6)         n/m         (3,301)         (847)         n/m     

  Additions to program rights

     (113)         (15)         n/m         (135)         (41)         n/m     

  Other

     7         (7)         n/m         16         27         (41)     

  Cash used in investing activities

     (706)         (596)         18         (5,173)         (2,553)         103     
 

  CASH FROM FINANCING

                   

  Issuance of long-term debt, net of transaction costs

     300         -         n/m         2,855         1,015         181     

  Repayment of long-term debt and net settlement of derivatives on termination

     (300)         (263)         14         (1,989)         (725)         174     

  Proceeds on short-term borrowings net of repayments

     (21)         -         n/m         137         650         (79)     

  Dividends paid

     (235)         (224)         5         (694)         (674)         3     

  Cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (256)         (487)         (47)         309         266         16     
                   

  Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     95         (31)         n/m         (2,197)         631         n/m     
 

  Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

     104         844         (88)         104         844         (88)     

Operating activities

Cash provided by operating activities remained consistent this quarter and decreased by 9% year to date. The change year to date was a result of:

 

a 3% decrease in cash from operations before changes in non-cash operating items;

 

lower net funding provided by non-cash working capital;

 

higher income tax cash payments due to timing; and

 

higher interest payments due to higher long-term debt.

Investing activities

Property, plant and equipment

We spent $638 million this quarter and $1,702 million year to date on property, plant and equipment additions before changes in non-cash working capital items which was higher than the comparative periods of 2013. See “Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment”.

Acquisitions and strategic initiatives

In the first and second quarters, we made total payments of $3.3 billion related to the acquisition of the 700 MHz spectrum licences. Expenditures in 2013 were for our strategic transactions with Shaw, Blackiron, and Sportsnet 360.

Additions to program rights

We spent $113 million this quarter and $135 million year to date on additions to program rights primarily as a result of payments for NHL content.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   17   Third Quarter 2014


Financing activities

Bank credit facility and letter of credit facility

Effective April 16, 2014, we increased the amount available under our bank credit facility from $2.0 billion to $2.5 billion and extended the maturity date of the facility to July 2019. Also in April 2014, we arranged for the return and cancellation of approximately $0.4 billion of letters of credit issued in relation to the 2014 spectrum auction, and the corresponding letter of credit facility was permanently cancelled.

At September 30, 2014, we had a total of $2.6 billion of bank and letter of credit facilities, of which there was approximately $0.1 billion utilized under these facilities primarily for outstanding letters of credit. Each of these facilities is unsecured and guaranteed by RCP and ranks equally with all of our senior notes and debentures.

Accounts receivable securitization program

This year we received additional funding of $221 million and repaid $84 million of outstanding funding under our accounts receivable securitization program. At September 30, 2014, a total of $787 million was outstanding under the program, which is committed to fund up to a maximum of $900 million. We continue to service and retain substantially all of the risks and rewards relating to the accounts receivables we sold, and therefore, the receivables remain recognized on our statement of financial position and the funding received is recorded as short-term borrowings on our statement of financial position.

Senior note issuances

On March 10, 2014, we issued $1.25 billion and US$750 million (Cdn$816 million) of senior notes for total net proceeds of approximately $2.1 billion after deducting the original issue discount, agents’ fees, and other related expenses. See “Financial Risk Management” for related hedging information. The notes issued consisted of the following:

 

$250 million floating rate senior notes due in 2017;

 

$400 million 2.8% senior notes due in 2019;

 

$600 million 4.0% senior notes due in 2024; and

 

US$750 million 5.0% senior notes due in 2044.

On March 7, 2013, we issued US$1 billion of senior notes for total net proceeds of approximately US$985 million (Cdn$1,015 million). The notes consisted of the following:

 

US$500 million of 3.0% senior notes due in 2023; and

 

US$500 million of 4.5% senior notes due in 2043.

On October 2, 2013, we issued US$1.5 billion of senior notes for total net proceeds of approximately US$1,481 million (Cdn$1,528 million). The notes consisted of the following:

 

US$850 million of 4.1% senior notes due in 2023; and

 

US$650 million of 5.45% senior notes due in 2043.

All the notes issued are unsecured and guaranteed by RCP, ranking equally with all of our other senior unsecured notes and debentures, bank credit and letter of credit facilities.

Senior notes repayments and redemptions and settlement of related derivatives

During the first quarter of 2014, we repaid or repurchased all of the US$750 million 6.375% senior notes due in 2014 and the US$350 million 5.50% senior notes due in 2014. We terminated the related US$1.1 billion of debt derivatives at maturity.

During the second quarter of 2013, we repaid or repurchased all of the US$350 million 6.25% Senior Notes due in June 2013 and terminated the related US$350 million debt derivatives at maturity.

During the third quarter of 2013, we paid $263 million to terminate US$1,075 million of debt derivatives. At the same time, we entered into new debt derivatives with a notional principal of US$1,075 million, with the same terms as those terminated simultaneously, with the exception of the fixed Canadian notional principal.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   18   Third Quarter 2014


Dividends

In February 2014, the Board approved an increase in the annualized dividend rate from $1.74 to $1.83 per Class A Voting share and Class B Non-Voting share, to be paid in quarterly amounts of $0.4575. In comparison, in February 2013, the Board increased the annualized dividend rate from $1.58 to $1.74 per Class A Voting and Class B Non-Voting per share.

The table below shows when dividends have been declared and paid on both classes of our shares:

 

  Declaration date    Record date    Payment date   

        Dividend per

        share (dollars)

           Dividends paid
        in millions of dollars)
 

  February 14, 2013

   March 15, 2013    April 2, 2013      0.435      224   

  April 23, 2013

   June 14, 2013    July 3, 2013      0.435      224   

  August 15, 2013

   September 13, 2013    October 2, 2013      0.435      224   

  October 23, 2013

   December 13, 2013    January 2, 2014      0.435      224   

  February 12. 2014

   March 14, 2014    April 4, 2014    0.4575      235   

  April 22, 2014

   June 13, 2014    July 2, 2014    0.4575      235   

  August 14, 2014

   September 12, 2014    October 1, 2014    0.4575      235   

Normal course issuer bid

In February 2014, we renewed our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) for our Class B Non-Voting shares for another year. This gives us the right to buy up to an aggregate $500 million or 35,780,234 Class B Non-Voting shares of RCI, whichever is less, on the TSX, the NYSE, and/or alternate trading systems any time between February 25, 2014 and February 24, 2015. The number of Class B Non-Voting shares we actually buy, and when we buy them, under the normal course issuer bid, if any, will depend upon our evaluation of market conditions, stock prices, our cash position, alternative uses of cash, and other factors.

We have not purchased any shares for cancellation in the nine months ended September 30, 2014. In the second quarter of 2013, 546,674 Class B Non-Voting shares were purchased through the facilities of the TSX for cancellation under the NCIB for a purchase price of $22 million.

Free cash flow

 

      Three months ended September 30      Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars)    2014      2013      % Chg      2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  Adjusted operating profit 1

     1,312         1,341         (2)         3,786         3,826         (1)     

  Property, plant and equipment expenditures

     (638)         (548)         16         (1,702)         (1,537)         11     

  Interest on long-term debt, net of capitalization

     (192)         (173)         11         (564)         (524)         8     

  Cash income taxes

     (112)         (114)         (2)         (358)         (326)         10     

  Free cash flow 1

     370         506         (27)         1,162         1,439         (19)     

 

1 

Adjusted operating profit and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. They are not a defined term under IFRS, and do not have a standard meaning, so may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

Free cash flow decreased 27% this quarter and 19% year to date as a result of higher property, plant and equipment expenditures, higher interest on our long-term debt (net of capitalization), and higher year to date cash income taxes.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   19   Third Quarter 2014


Financial Condition

We had approximately $2.7 billion of available liquidity at September 30, 2014 (December 31, 2013 - $4.5 billion), which includes:

 

$0.1 billion of cash and cash equivalents;

 

$2.5 billion available under our bank credit facility; and

 

$0.1 billion in funding available under the $0.9 billion accounts receivable securitization program.

In addition to the sources of available liquidity noted above, we held $936 million of marketable securities in publicly traded companies at September 30, 2014.

The weighted average interest rate of our long-term debt was 5.21% at September 30, 2014 (December 31, 2013 - 5.54%, September 30, 2013 - 5.61%) and the weighted average term to maturity of our long-term debt was 11.1 years (December 31, 2013 - 10.3 years, September 30, 2013 - 9.6 years). This comparative decline in our 2014 weighted average interest rate and increased weighted average term to maturity reflects the combined effects of:

 

establishment and utilization of our securitization program;

 

extension and use of the bank credit facility;

 

the public debt issuances completed in March and October 2013 and March 2014, at historically low interest rates for Rogers and long-term maturities ranging up to 30 years; and

 

the scheduled repayments and repurchases of relatively more expensive debt made in June 2013 and March 2014.

As at September 30, 2014, the credit ratings on RCI’s outstanding senior notes and debentures were unchanged from the prior quarter, being:

 

Moody’s Ratings Services Baa1 with a stable outlook (affirmed in February 2014);

 

Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services BBB+ with a stable outlook (affirmed in February 2014); and

 

Fitch Ratings BBB+ with a negative outlook (affirmed in February 2014 with negative outlook, revised from stable).

Financial Risk Management

Debt derivatives

We use cross currency interest exchange agreements to hedge the foreign exchange risk on the principal and interest obligations of our US dollar-denominated long-term debt.

Debt derivatives issued to hedge new senior notes during the nine months ended September 30, 2014:

 

  (In millions of dollars, except interest rates)                      Hedging effect  
  Effective date    Principal/notional amount
(US$)
     Maturity date      Coupon rate      Interest rate 1      Equivalent (Cdn$)    

  March 10, 2014

     750        2044         5.00%        4.99%         832     

 

1

Converting from a fixed US coupon rate to a weighted average Cdn fixed rate.

At September 30, 2014, we had US$6.0 billion in US dollar-denominated senior notes and debentures, all of which had been hedged using debt derivatives.

Matured debt derivatives during the nine months ended September 30, 2014:

 

  (In millions of dollars)
  Maturity date
  

Notional amount

(US$)

    

Net cash (proceeds) settlement  

(Cdn$)  

 

  March 1, 2014

     750         (61)     

  March 15, 2014

     350         26     
       1,100         (35)     

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   20   Third Quarter 2014


Expenditure derivatives

We use foreign currency forward contracts (expenditure derivatives) to hedge the foreign exchange risk on certain forecasted US dollar-denominated expenditures.

Expenditure derivatives entered into during the nine months ended September 30, 2014:

 

  (In millions of dollars, except exchange rates)    Notional amount      Exchange      Converted amount    
  Trade date    Maturity dates    (US$)      rate      (Cdn$)    

  February 2014

   January 2015 to April 2015      200        1.11         222     

  May 2014

   May 2015 to December 2015      232         1.10         254     

  June 2014

   January 2015 to December 2015      288         1.09         314     

  July 2014

   January 2016 to December 2016      240         1.08         260     

  Total

          960        1.09        1,050     

At September 30, 2014, we had US$1,185 million of expenditure derivatives outstanding with terms to maturity ranging from October 2014 to December 2016 at an average rate of 1.08/US$, all of which have been designated as hedges for accounting purposes.

We settled expenditure derivatives of US$675 million for Cdn$690 million year to date, at an average rate of 1.02/US$.

Equity derivatives

We use stock-based compensation derivatives to hedge the market price appreciation risk of the RCI Class B shares granted under our stock-based compensation programs.

At September 30, 2014, we had equity derivatives for 5.7 million RCI Class B shares with a weighted average price of $50.37. These derivatives have not been designated as hedges for accounting purposes, so we record changes in their fair value as a stock-based compensation expense and offset a portion of the impact of changes in the market price of RCI Class B shares in the accrued value of the stock-based compensation liability for our stock-based compensation programs. In April 2014, we executed extension agreements for each of our equity derivative contracts under substantially the same terms and conditions with revised expiry dates to April 2015 (from April 2014).

Mark-to-market value of derivatives

We record our derivatives using an estimated credit-adjusted, mark-to-market valuation, calculated in accordance with IFRS.

 

      September 30, 2014    
  (In millions of dollars, except exchange rates)    Notional amount
(US$)
     Exchange
rate
     Notional amount
(Cdn$)
     Fair value  
(Cdn$)  
 

  Debt derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges:

           

As assets

     5,725         1.04         5,952         480     

As liabilities

     305         1.19         361         (20)     

  Net mark-to-market asset debt derivatives

     6,030         1.05         6,313         460     

  Equity derivative not accounted for as hedges:

           

As liabilities

              (48)     

  Expenditure derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges:

           

As assets

     1,185         1.08         1,284         51     

  Net mark-to-market asset

                                463     

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   21   Third Quarter 2014


Adjusted net debt

We use adjusted net debt to conduct valuation-related analysis and make capital structure related decisions. Adjusted net debt includes long-term debt, net debt derivatives assets or liabilities, short-term borrowings and cash and cash equivalents.

 

  (In millions of dollars)    September 30, 2014      December 31, 2013    

  Long-term debt 1,2

     14,654         13,436     

  Net debt derivatives (assets) liabilities 2

     (460)         (51)     

  Short-term borrowings

     787         650     

  Cash and cash equivalents

     (104)         (2,301)     

  Adjusted net debt 3

     14,877         11,734     

 

1 

Before the reduction in fair value arising from purchase accounting and deferred transaction costs and discounts.

2 

Includes current and long-term portions.

3 

Adjusted net debt is a non-GAAP measure. It is not a defined term under IFRS, and does not have a standard meaning, so may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

In addition to the cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2014 noted above, we held $936 million of marketable securities in publicly traded companies at September 30, 2014.

Adjusted net debt increased by $3.1 billion year to date primarily as a result of the use of cash on hand from financings completed in October 2013 and March 2014 to pay for our 700 MHz spectrum investment made in April 2014.

Outstanding common shares

 

      September 30, 2014      December 31, 2013    

  Common shares 1

     

Class A Voting

     112,462,000         112,462,000     

Class B Non-Voting

     402,282,878         402,281,178     

  Total common shares

     514,744,878         514,743,178     

  Options to purchase Class B Non-Voting shares

     

Outstanding options

     6,012,335         6,368,403     

Outstanding options exercisable

     3,525,040         4,066,698     

1 Holders of our Class B Non-Voting shares are entitled to receive notice of and to attend shareholder meetings; however, they are not entitled to vote at these meetings except as required by law or stipulated by stock exchanges. If an offer is made to purchase outstanding Class A Voting shares, there is no requirement under applicable law or our constating documents that an offer be made for the outstanding Class B Non-Voting shares, and there is no other protection available to shareholders under our constating documents. If an offer is made to purchase both classes of shares, the offer for the Class A Voting shares may be made on different terms than the offer to the holders of Class B Non-Voting shares.

Commitments and contractual obligations

See our 2013 Annual MD&A for a summary of our material obligations under firm contractual arrangements, including commitments for future payments under long-term debt arrangements and operating lease arrangements. These are also discussed in Notes 18, 20 and 27 of our 2013 Annual Audited Consolidated Financial Statements.

Except where otherwise disclosed in this MD&A, there have been no material changes to our material contractual obligations, as identified in our 2013 Annual MD&A, since December 31, 2013.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   22   Third Quarter 2014


Regulatory Developments

Please see our 2013 Annual MD&A for a discussion of the significant regulations that affected our operations as of February 12, 2014. The following is a list of the significant regulatory developments since that time.

Legislation regarding wholesale domestic wireless roaming rates

In December 2013, the federal government announced that it intended to enact legislation that would cap wholesale domestic wireless roaming rates at amounts no higher than the rates carriers charge their own retail customers. On March 28, 2014, the federal government tabled its proposed legislation to set the maximum wireless domestic roaming rates carriers can charge to one another. The proposed formula the government will use to determine the maximum roaming rates carriers can charge is their revenue from the service divided by the usage of the service in the preceding year. For voice calls, this means the incumbent carrier’s total revenue for incoming and outgoing voice calls, divided by the number of minutes used, in the previous year. For data, it is revenues divided by megabytes, and for text messaging, it is revenues divided by the total number of ingoing and outgoing domestic-only text messages. The proposed legislation was passed into law and came into immediate effect on June 19, 2014. The legislation also provides the CRTC with the power to set domestic roaming rates between carriers, regardless of the formula. The CRTC is conducting a review into wireless roaming rates and the state of wireless wholesale competition, including a public hearing which concluded on October 3, 2014.

700 MHz spectrum auction

Industry Canada’s 700 MHz commercial wireless spectrum auction began on January 14, 2014, and ended on February 13, 2014. Results were announced publicly on February 19, 2014. Ten companies participated in the auction, and 97 of 98 licences were awarded to 8 of those participants, with total proceeds of the auction of $5.27 billion. Rogers acquired 22 licences across Canada at a cost of $3.3 billion. After making payment for the licences and passing the required Canadian Ownership and Control review, Rogers took possession of these 20-year licences on April 3, 2014 and began to deploy the spectrum during the second quarter.

AWS-3 Spectrum Auction

On July 7, 2014, Industry Canada announced that AWS-3 wireless spectrum will be auctioned in 2015 and before the 2500 MHz auction that is currently set to start on April 14, 2015. AWS-3 spectrum comprises the 1755-1780 MHz and 2155-2180 MHz bands. 30 MHz of the 50 MHz of paired spectrum to be auctioned will be reserved for “operating new entrants”. Wireless carriers with less than 10 percent national and 20 percent provincial/territorial wireless subscriber market share will be eligible to bid on the set-aside spectrum in licence areas where they are then providing service. A public consultation was held this summer to determine whether licenses should include deployment requirements of five or ten years and whether a simplified and accelerated auction process, using a sealed-bid format, would be the best approach. Industry Canada is currently reviewing all comments and replies.

Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation

Canada’s anti-spam legislation was passed into law on December 15, 2010 and came into force on July 1, 2014 with the exception of those sections of the Act related to the unsolicited installation of computer programs or software which will come into force on January 15, 2015. We believe we are fully in compliance with this new legislation.

Paper Bill Fees

In July 2014, the CRTC released the results of its inquiry on the practice of charging a fee to receive a paper bill in the communications industry and initiated a pan-industry meeting on the matter. After the meeting in August, the CRTC announced its intention to hold a further public proceeding on the topic. Subsequent to that announcement, the Minister of Industry released a statement that the government would be introducing legislation banning paper bills fees for the telecommunications sector.

Updates to Risks and Uncertainties

Please see our 2013 Annual MD&A for a discussion of the principal risks and uncertainties that could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results as of February 12, 2014 and should be reviewed in conjunction with this interim quarterly MD&A. There have been the following significant developments since that date that may contribute to these risks and uncertainties:

Litigation update

System Access Fee - Saskatchewan

In 2004, a class action commenced against providers of wireless communications in Canada under the Class Actions Act (Saskatchewan) with various motions and appeals by the parties as described in our 2013 Annual MD&A. In December 2013 the plaintiff applied for an order permitting them to amend the Statement of Claim to reintroduce the claims they were not permitted to proceed with in the 2007 certification decision. In March 2014, the court denied this application.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   23   Third Quarter 2014


At the same time the Saskatchewan class action was commenced, corresponding claims were filed in multiple jurisdictions across Canada, although no active steps were taken by the plaintiffs. In July, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court declined to stay or dismiss the corresponding claim brought by the plaintiffs in Nova Scotia as an abuse of process. Rogers has filed its Notice of Appeal in respect of that decision. In August, the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench unconditionally stayed the corresponding claim brought in Manitoba as an abuse of process. An appeal in respect of that decision has been filed by the plaintiffs.

System Access Fee - British Columbia

In December 2011, a class action was launched in British Columbia against providers of wireless communications in Canada about the system access fees wireless carriers then charged to some of their customers. The class action relates to allegations of misrepresentations contrary to the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (British Columbia), among other things. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and restitution. A certification hearing was held in April 2014 and in June 2014 the court denied the certification application. An appeal in respect of that decision has been filed by the plaintiffs.

We have not recorded a liability for the above contingencies. The outcome of all the proceedings and claims against us, including the matters described above, is subject to future resolution that includes the uncertainties of litigation. Based on information currently known to us, we believe that it is not probable that the ultimate resolution of any such proceedings and claims, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. If it becomes probable that we are liable, a provision will be recorded in the period in which the change in probability occurs, and such a provision could be material to our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Please see our 2013 Annual MD&A, and our 2013 Annual Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes, for a discussion of the accounting policies and estimates that are critical to the understanding of our business operations and our results of operations. There were no changes to these policies and estimates year to date.

New accounting standards adopted

We were required to adopt the following standards on or after January 1, 2014. Adopting these standards had no material impact on our consolidated financial statements:

 

Amendments to IAS 32, Financial Instruments: Presentation

 

Amendments to IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement

 

IFRIC 21, Levies

Recent accounting pronouncements not yet effective

 

IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (IFRS 15) - In May 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 15 which supersedes existing standards and interpretations including IAS 18, Revenue and IFRIC 13, Customer Loyalty Programmes.

IFRS 15 introduces a single model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers with the exception of certain contracts under other IFRSs such as IAS 17, Leases. The standard requires revenue to be recognized in a manner that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to a customer and at an amount that reflects the expected consideration receivable in exchange for transferring those goods or services. This is achieved by applying the following five steps:

 

  1.

Identify the contract with a customer;

  2.

Identify the performance obligations in the contract;

  3.

Determine the transaction price;

  4.

Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

  5.

Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

IFRS 15 also provides guidance relating to the treatment of contract acquisition and contract fulfillment costs.

We expect the application of this new standard will have significant impacts on our reported results, specifically with regards to the timing of recognition and classification of revenue, and the treatment of costs incurred in obtaining customer contracts. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017.

 

 

IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (IFRS 9) - In July 2014, the IASB issued the final publication of the IFRS 9 standard, superseding the current IAS 39 Financial Instruments standard. This standard establishes principles for the financial reporting of financial assets and financial liabilities that will present relevant and useful information to users of

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   24   Third Quarter 2014


 

financial statements for their assessment of the amounts, timing and uncertainty of an entity’s future cash flows. This new standard also includes a new general hedge accounting standard which will align hedge accounting more closely with risk management. It does not fully change the types of hedging relationships or the requirement to measure and recognize ineffectiveness, however, it will provide more hedging strategies that are used for risk management to qualify for hedge accounting and introduce more judgment to assess the effectiveness of a hedging relationship. The standard has a mandatorily effective date for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 with early adoption permitted.

 

 

Amendments to IFRS 11, Joint Arrangements - In May 2014, the IASB issued an amendment to this standard requiring business combination accounting to be applied to acquisitions of interests in a joint operation that constitute a business.

 

 

Amendments to IAS 16, Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 38, Intangible Assets - In May 2014, the IASB issued amendments to these standards to introduce a rebuttable presumption that the use of revenue-based amortization methods for intangible assets is inappropriate. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016 with early adoption permitted.

We are assessing the impact of these standards on our consolidated financial statements.

We have not yet adopted certain additional accounting standards, interpretations and amendments that were previously issued but are not yet effective. See our 2013 Annual Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes for details.

Transactions with related parties

In certain instances, we have entered into business transactions with companies whose partners or senior officers are directors of Rogers, including the chairman and chief executive officer of a firm that is paid commissions for insurance coverage, the non-executive chairman of a law firm that provides an immaterial portion of the Company’s legal services, and the chairman of a company that provides printing services. We record these transactions at the amount agreed to by the related parties. These transactions are reviewed by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

 

      Three months ended September 30     Nine months ended September 30    
  (In millions of dollars)    2014      2013     % Chg     2014      2013      % Chg    
 

  Printing, legal services and commissions paid on

  premiums for insurance coverage

     8         12        (33)        28         33         (15)     

We have also entered into certain transactions with our controlling shareholder and companies controlled by the controlling shareholder. These transactions are subject to formal agreements approved by the Audit Committee. The totals received or paid in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013 were less than $1 million.

Controls and procedures

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting this quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

Seasonality

Our operating results generally vary from quarter to quarter because of seasonal fluctuations in each of our business segments. That means our results in one quarter are not a good indication of how we will perform in a future quarter.

Each of Wireless, Cable, Business Solutions and Media has unique seasonal aspects to their businesses. For specific discussions of the seasonal trends affecting our business segments, refer to our 2013 Annual MD&A.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   25   Third Quarter 2014


Financial Guidance

We are reaffirming our 2014 annual consolidated guidance ranges for adjusted operating profit, additions to property, plant and equipment, and free cash flow that we provided on February 12, 2014. At this point three quarters through the year, we believe that full year actual results will likely fall towards the low end of the guidance ranges provided for adjusted operating profit and free cash flow, and which is dependent on fourth quarter Wireless device volumes. See the sections entitled “About Forward-Looking Information” in this MD&A and in our 2013 Annual MD&A.

Key Performance Indicators

We measure the success of our strategy using a number of key performance indicators that are defined and discussed in our 2013 Annual MD&A, and this interim quarterly MD&A. We believe these key performance indicators allow us to appropriately measure our performance against our operating strategy as well as against the results of our peers and competitors. They include:

 

 

Subscriber counts

 

Subscriber churn

 

Average revenue per user (“ARPU”)

 

Capital intensity.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   26   Third Quarter 2014


Non-GAAP Measures

We use the following non-GAAP measures. These are reviewed regularly by management and our Board in assessing our performance and making decisions regarding the ongoing operations of our business and its ability to generate cash flows. These measures are also used by investors, lending institutions, and credit rating agencies as an indicator of our operating performance and our ability to incur and service debt, and as a measurement to value companies in the telecommunications sector. These are not recognized measures under GAAP and do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS, so they may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies.

 

Non-GAAP measure      Why we use it                How we calculate it          

Most comparable

IFRS financial

measure

Adjusted operating profit or loss and related margin  

   •    

 

To evaluate the performance of our businesses, and when making decisions about the ongoing operations of the business and our ability to generate cash flows.

     

Net income

add back

income tax, other income (expense), finance costs, depreciation and amortization, impairment of assets, stock-based compensation, and restructuring, acquisition and other expenses.

 

  Net income
 

   •

 

We believe that certain investors and analysts use adjusted operating profit to measure our ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations.

     
 

   •

 

We also use it as one component in determining short-term incentive compensation for all management employees.

 

     

Adjusted net income

 

Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share

 

   •

 

To assess the performance of our businesses before the effects of these items, because they affect the comparability of our financial results and could potentially distort the analysis of trends in business performance.

     

Net income from continuing operations

add back

stock-based compensation, restructuring, acquisition and other expenses, impairment of assets, gain on sale of investment, loss on repayment of long-term debt, and income tax adjustments on these items including adjustments due to legislative change.

 

Net income

 

Earnings per share

 

   •

 

Excluding these items does not imply they are non-recurring.

 

 

     
Free cash flow  

   •

 

An important indicator of our financial strength and performance because it shows how much cash we have available to repay debt and reinvest in our company.

     

Adjusted operating profit

minus

spending on property, plant and equipment, interest on long-term debt net of interest capitalized, and cash income taxes.

  Cash flows provided by operating activities
 

   •

 

We believe that some investors and analysts use free cash flow to value a business and its underlying assets.

 

     
Adjusted net debt  

   •

 

To conduct valuation-related analysis and make decisions about capital structure.

     

Total long-term debt

plus

current portion of long-term debt, deferred transaction costs, net debt derivative assets or liabilities, and short-term borrowings

minus

cash and cash equivalents.

  Long-term debt
 

   •

 

We believe this helps investors and analysts analyze our enterprise and equity value and assess various leverage ratios as performance measures.

 

       

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   27   Third Quarter 2014


Reconciliation of adjusted operating profit

 

           Three months ended September 30         Nine months ended September 30      
(In millions of dollars)         2014          2013         2014          2013      
 

Net income

       332             464            1,044             1,349       

Add (deduct):

              

Income tax

       133             172            377             481       

Other expense (income)

       12             3            11             (67)       

Finance costs

       202             180            615             546       

Depreciation and amortization

       533             477            1,584             1,390       

Stock-based compensation

       9             7            25             66       

Restructuring, acquisition and other

       91             38            130             61       

Adjusted operating profit

         1,312             1,341            3,786             3,826       

 

Reconciliation of adjusted net income

 

  

       
           Three months ended September 30         Nine months ended September 30      
(In millions of dollars)         2014          2013         2014          2013      
 

Net income

       332             464            1,044             1,349       

Add (deduct):

              

Stock-based compensation

       9             7            25             66       

Restructuring, acquisition and other

       91             38            130             61       

Loss on repayment of long-term debt

       -             -            29             -       

Gain on sale of TVtropolis

       -             -            -             (47)       

Income tax impact of above items

       (27)             (8)            (51)             (25)       

Income tax adjustment, legislative tax change

       -             -            -             8       

Adjusted net income

         405             501            1,177             1,412       

 

Reconciliation of free cash flow

 

  

       
           Three months ended September 30         Nine months ended September 30      
(In millions of dollars)         2014          2013         2014          2013      
 

Cash provided by operating activities

       1,057             1,052            2,667             2,918       

Add (deduct):

              

Property, plant and equipment expenditures

       (638)             (548)            (1,702)             (1,537)       

Interest on long-term debt expense, net of capitalization

       (192)             (173)            (564)             (524)       

Restructuring, acquisition and other

       91             38            130             61       

Interest paid

       261             268            648             615       

Change in non-cash working capital

       (172)             (128)            (7)             (71)       

Other adjustments

       (37)             (3)            (10)             (23)       

Free cash flow

         370             506            1,162             1,439       

 

Reconciliation of adjusted net debt

  

       

 

(In millions of dollars)         September 30, 2014      December 31, 2013      

Long-term debt

       13,612         12,173       

Current portion of long-term debt

       930         1,170       

Deferred transaction costs

         112         93       
       14,654         13,436       

Add (deduct):

       

Net debt derivatives assets

       (460)         (51)       

Short-term borrowings

       787         650       

Cash and cash equivalents

       (104)         (2,301)       

Adjusted net debt

         14,877         11,734       

See “Financial Condition” for more information on adjusted net debt.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   28   Third Quarter 2014


How we calculate adjusted earnings per share

 

(In millions of dollars, except per share amounts;    Three months ended September 30          Nine months ended September 30  
number of shares outstanding in millions)    2014          2013          2014      2013  
 

Adjusted basic earnings per share:

           

Adjusted net income

     405             501             1,177         1,412   

Divided by: weighted average number of shares outstanding

     515             515             515         515   

Adjusted basic earnings per share

     0.79             0.97             2.29         2.74   
 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share:

           

Adjusted net income

     405             501             1,177         1,412   

Divided by: diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding

     517             517             517         518   

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

     0.78             0.97             2.28         2.73   
 

Basic earnings per share:

           

Net income

     332             464             1,044         1,349   

Divided by: weighted average number of shares outstanding

     515             515             515         515   

Basic earnings per share

     0.64             0.90             2.03         2.62   
 

Diluted earnings per share:

           

Net income

     332             464             1,044         1,349   

Effect on net income of dilutive securities

     (3)             -             (25)         -   

Diluted net income

     329             464             1,019         1,349   

Divided by: diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding

     517             517             517         518   

Diluted earnings per share

     0.64             0.90             1.97         2.60   

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   29   Third Quarter 2014


Other Information

Consolidated financial results - quarterly summary

Our operating results generally vary from quarter to quarter because of seasonal fluctuations in each of our business segments. This means our results in one quarter are not a good indication of how we will perform in a future quarter. Please see our 2013 Annual Report for a discussion of the seasonal aspects of our business.

The table below shows our consolidated results for the past eight quarters.

 

        2014              2013              2012          
  (In millions of dollars, except per share amounts)      Q3        Q2        Q1             Q4        Q3        Q2        Q1             Q4          

  Operating revenue

                                             

Wireless

       1,880           1,800           1,727              1,851           1,846           1,813           1,760              1,920   

Cable

       864           872           860              871           873           870           861              852   

Business Solutions

       96           95           94              98           93           90           93              88   

Media

       440           475           367              453           440           470           341              434   

Corporate items and intercompany eliminations

       (28)           (30)           (28)              (30)           (28)           (31)           (28)              (33)   

  Total operating revenue

       3,252           3,212           3,020              3,243           3,224           3,212           3,027              3,261   

  Adjusted operating profit (loss)

                                             

Wireless

       888           843           790              696           875           821           765              687   

Cable

       409           423           409              433           425           431           429              421   

Business Solutions

       32           28           28              29           29           25           23              27   

Media

       23           54           (24)              49           55           64           (7)              75   

Corporate items and intercompany eliminations

       (40)           (35)           (42)              (40)           (43)           (35)           (31)              (34)   

  Adjusted operating profit 1

       1,312           1,313           1,161              1,167           1,341           1,306           1,179              1,176   

  Stock-based compensation

       (9)           (11)           (5)              (18)           (7)           (1)           (58)              (57)   

  Restructuring, acquisition and other

       (91)           (30)           (9)              (24)           (38)           (14)           (9)              (10)   

  Depreciation and amortization

       (533)           (532)           (519)              (508)           (477)           (463)           (450)              (453)   

  Impairment of assets

       -           -           -              -           -           -           -              (80)   

  Finance costs

       (202)           (188)           (225)              (196)           (180)           (185)           (181)              (183)   

  Other (expense) income

       (12)           (9)           10              14           (3)           60           10              241   

  Net income before income taxes

       465           543           413              435           636           703           491              634   

  Income tax

       (133)           (138)           (106)              (115)           (172)           (171)           (138)              (112)   

  Net income

       332           405           307              320           464           532           353              522   

  Earnings per share:

                                             

Basic

       0.64           0.79           0.60              0.62           0.90           1.03           0.69              1.01   

Diluted

       0.64           0.76           0.57              0.62           0.90           0.93           0.68              1.01   

  Net income

       332           405           307              320           464           532           353              522   

  Add (deduct):

                                             

Stock-based compensation

       9           11           5              18           7           1           58              57   

Restructuring, acquisition and other

       91           30           9              24           38           14           9              10   

Loss on repayment of long-term debt

       -           -           29              -           -           -           -              -   

Impairment of assets

       -           -           -              -           -           -           -              80   

Gain on sale of TVtropolis

       -           -           -              -           -           (47)           -              -   

Gain on spectrum distribution

       -           -           -              -           -           -           -              (233)   

  Income tax impact of above items

       (27)           (14)           (10)              (5)           (8)           (11)           (6)              12   

  Income tax adjustment, legislative tax change

       -           -           -              -           -           8           -              -   

  Adjusted net income 1

       405           432           340              357           501           497           414              448   

  Adjusted earnings per share 1:

                                             

Basic

       0.79           0.84           0.66              0.69           0.97           0.97           0.80              0.87   

Diluted

       0.78           0.84           0.66              0.69           0.97           0.96           0.80              0.86   

  Additions to property, plant, and equipment

       638           576           488              703           548           525           464              707   

  Free cash flow 1

       370           436           356              109           506           505           428              39   

  Cash provided by operating activities

       1,057           1,202           408                1,072           1,052           1,061           805                668   

 

  1 

Adjusted operating profit, adjusted net income, adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. They are not defined terms under IFRS, and do not have standard meanings, so may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for information about these measures, including how we calculate them.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   30   Third Quarter 2014


Long-term debt guarantor

As at September 30, 2014, our outstanding public debt, $2.6 billion bank credit and letter of credit facilities and derivatives are unsecured obligations of RCI, as obligor, and RCP, as either co-obligor or guarantor, as applicable.

The following table sets forth the selected unaudited consolidating summary financial information for RCI for the periods identified below, presented with a separate column for: (i) RCI, (ii) RCP, (iii) our non-guarantor subsidiaries (Other Subsidiaries) on a combined basis, (iv) consolidating adjustments, and (v) the total consolidated amounts.

 

  Three months ended
  September 30 (unaudited)
     RCI (1)(2)        RCP (1)(2)        Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries(1)(2)
       Consolidating
Adjustments (1)(2)
       Total  
  (In millions of dollars)      Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
 

  Selected Statement of Income data measure:

                                                 

Revenue

       5           4           2,799           2,784           479           476           (31)           (40)           3,252           3,224   

Net income (loss)

       332           464           690           857           (79)           48           (611)           (905)           332           464   
                                                                                                               
  Nine months ended
  September 30 (unaudited)
     RCI (1)(2)        RCP (1)(2)        Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries(1)(2)
       Consolidating
Adjustments (1)(2)
       Total  
  (In millions of dollars)      Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Sep. 30
2013
 

  Selected Statement of Income data measures:

                                                 

Revenue

       15           9           8,162           8,245           1,403           1,326           (96)           (117)           9,484           9,463   

Net income (loss)

       1,044           1,349           2,109           2,438           (287)           480           (1,822)           (2,918)           1,044           1,349   
                                                                                                               

  As at period end

  (unaudited)

     RCI (1)(2)        RCP (1)(2)        Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries(1)(2)
       Consolidating
Adjustments (1)(2)
       Total  
  (In millions of dollars)      Sep. 30
2014
       Dec. 31
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Dec. 31
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Dec. 31
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Dec. 31
2013
       Sep. 30
2014
       Dec. 31
2013
 

  Selected Balance Sheet data measures:

                                                 

Current assets

       18,607           16,592           13,174           11,035           2,762           3,594           (32,328)           (26,900)           2,215           4,321   

Non-current assets

       22,570           19,464           16,232           12,731           24,008           21,678           (39,464)           (34,593)           23,346           19,280   

Current liabilities

       17,154           14,853           6,602           3,014           14,977           15,269           (33,971)           (28,530)           4,762           4,606   

Non-current liabilities

       15,271           13,018           246           293           1,145           1,186           (1,112)           (171)           15,550           14,326   

 

1 

For the purposes of this table, investments in subsidiary companies are accounted for by the equity method.

2 

Amounts recorded in current liabilities and non-current liabilities for RCP do not include any obligations arising as a result of it being a guarantor or co-obligor, as the case may be, under any of RCI’s long-term debt.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   31   Third Quarter 2014


About Forward-Looking Information

This MD&A includes “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, and assumptions about, among other things, our business, operations and financial performance and condition approved by management on the date of this MD&A. This forward-looking information and these assumptions include, but are not limited to, statements about our objectives and strategies to achieve those objectives, and about our beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates or intentions.

Forward-looking information and statements

 

typically include words like could, expect, may, anticipate, assume, believe, intend, estimate, plan, project, guidance, outlook and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking information and statements include them;

 

include conclusions, forecasts and projections that are based on our current objectives and strategies and on estimates, expectations, assumptions and other factors, most of which are confidential and proprietary and that we believe to be reasonable at the time they were applied but may prove to be incorrect; and

 

were approved by our management on the date of this MD&A.

Our forward-looking information and statements include forecasts and projections related to the following items, among others:

 

revenue

 

adjusted operating profit

 

property, plant and equipment expenditures

 

cash income tax payments

 

free cash flow

 

dividend payments

 

expected growth in subscribers and the services they subscribe to

 

the cost of acquiring subscribers and deployment of new services

 

continued cost reductions and efficiency improvements

 

the growth of new products and services

 

all other statements that are not historical facts.

 

 

We base our conclusions, forecasts and projections on the following factors, among others:

 

general economic and industry growth rates

 

currency exchange rates

 

product pricing levels and competitive intensity

 

subscriber growth

 

pricing, usage and churn rates

 

changes in government regulation

 

technology deployment

 

availability of devices

 

timing of new product launches

 

content and equipment costs

 

the integration of acquisitions

 

industry structure and stability.

 

 

Except as otherwise indicated, this MD&A and our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or other special items or of any dispositions, monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or other transactions that may be considered or announced or may occur after the date the statement containing the forward-looking information is made.

Risks and uncertainties

Actual events and results can be substantially different from what is expressed or implied by forward-looking information because of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, including but not limited to:

 

new interpretations and new accounting standards from accounting standards bodies

 

economic conditions

 

technological change

 

the integration of acquisitions

 

unanticipated changes in content or equipment costs

 

changing conditions in the entertainment, information and communications industries

 

regulatory changes

 

litigation and tax matters

 

the level of competitive intensity

 

the emergence of new opportunities.

 

 

These factors can also affect our objectives, strategies, and intentions. Many of these factors are beyond our control or our current expectations. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, our objectives, strategies or intentions change, or any other factors or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, our actual results and our plans could vary significantly from what we currently foresee.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   32   Third Quarter 2014


Accordingly, we warn investors to exercise caution when considering statements containing forward-looking information and caution them that it would be unreasonable to rely on such statements as creating legal rights regarding our future results or plans. We are under no obligation (and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter any statements containing forward-looking information or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. All of the forward-looking information in this MD&A is qualified by the cautionary statements herein.

Before you make an investment decision

Before making any investment decisions and for a detailed discussion of the risks, uncertainties and environment associated with our business, fully review the sections of this MD&A entitled “Updates to Risks and Uncertainties” and “Regulatory Developments”, and also fully review the sections “Regulation in Our Industry” and “Governance and Risk Management” in our 2013 Annual MD&A. Our 2013 Annual MD&A can be found online at rogers.com/investors, sedar.com and sec.gov or is available directly from Rogers.

About Rogers Communications Inc.

Rogers Communications is a leading diversified public Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada’s largest provider of wireless communications services and one of Canada’s leading providers of cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephony services to consumers and businesses. Through Rogers Media, we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and digital media.

We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).

For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit rogers.com/investors. Information in or connected to our website is not part of or incorporated into this MD&A.

 

Investment community contacts

Bruce M. Mann

416.935.3532

bruce.mann@rci.rogers.com

 

Dan R. Coombes

416.935.3550

dan.coombes@rci.rogers.com

 

Bruce Watson

416.935.3582

bruce.watson@rci.rogers.com

 

Media contact

Terrie Tweddle

416.935.4727

terrie.tweddle@rci.rogers.com

Quarterly Investment Community Teleconference

The third quarter 2014 results teleconference will be held on:

 

October 23, 2014

 

8:00 a.m. Eastern Time

 

webcast available at rogers.com/webcast

A rebroadcast will be available at rogers.com/investors on the Events and Presentations page for at least two weeks following the teleconference. Additionally, investors should note that from time to time Rogers management presents at brokerage sponsored investor conferences. Most often, but not always, these conferences are webcast by the hosting brokerage firm, and when they are webcast, links are made available on Rogers’ website at rogers.com/events and are placed there generally at least two days before the conference.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   33   Third Quarter 2014


For More Information

You can find additional information relating to us, including our Annual Information Form on our website (rogers.com/investors), on SEDAR (sedar.com) and on EDGAR (sec.gov), or by e-mailing your request to investor.relations@rci.rogers.com. Information on or connected to these and other websites referenced in this MD&A is not part of or incorporated into this MD&A.

You can also go to rogers.com/investors for information about our governance practices, corporate social responsibility reporting, a glossary of communications and media industry terms, and additional information about our business.

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Rogers Communications Inc.   34   Third Quarter 2014


LOGO

Rogers Communications Inc.

INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013


Rogers Communications Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts, unaudited)

 

 

 
                     Three months ended
     September 30
           Nine months ended
    September 30
 
       Note         2014        2013        2014        2013    

 

 

 Operating revenue

          $         3,252         $         3,224         $         9,484         $         9,463     

 Operating costs

                 1,949           1,890           5,723           5,703     

 Restructuring, acquisition and other

                 91           38           130           61     

 Depreciation and amortization

            533           477           1,584           1,390     

 Finance costs

                 202           180           615           546     

 Other expense (income)

            12           3           11           (67)    

 

 

 Income before income taxes

            465           636           1,421           1,830     

 Income tax

            133           172           377           481     

 

 

 Net income for the period

          $ 332         $ 464         $ 1,044         $ 1,349     

 

 

 Earnings per share

                        

 Basic

       10          $ 0.64         $ 0.90         $ 2.03         $ 2.62     

 Diluted

       10          $ 0.64         $ 0.90         $ 1.97         $ 2.60     

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   1   Third Quarter 2014


Rogers Communications Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In millions of Canadian dollars, unaudited)

 

 

 
                          Three months ended
        September 30
           Nine months ended
      September 30
 
           Note       2014      2013      2014      2013  

 

 

 Net income for the period

        $ 332       $ 464           $ 1,044       $ 1,349   

 Other comprehensive income:

                

 Items that may subsequently be reclassified to income:

                

 Change in fair value of available-for-sale investments:

                
 

 (Decrease) increase in fair value

          (17      49         173         164   
 

 Related income tax recovery (expense)

          1         (6      (24      (19

 

 
            (16      43         149         145   

 

 

 Cash flow hedging derivative instruments:

                
 

Unrealized gain (loss) in fair value of derivative instruments

          414         (159      506         28   
 

 Reclassification to net income of (gain) loss on debt derivatives

          (320      105         (358      (133
 

 Reclassification to net income for loss on repayment of long-term debt

       12                          29         –    
 

 Reclassification to net income of gain on expenditure derivatives

          (13      (6      (47      (11
 

 Reclassification to net income for accrued interest

          2         10         2         37   
 

 Related income tax (expense) recovery

          (37      17         (39      13   

 

 
            46         (33      93         (66

 

 

 Other comprehensive income (loss) for the period

          30         10         242         79   

 

 

 Comprehensive income for the period

        $         362       $         474       $         1,286       $         1,428   

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   2   Third Quarter 2014


Rogers Communications Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(In millions of Canadian dollars, unaudited)

 

 

 
       Note                September 30
2014
       December 31 
2013 
 

 

 

 Assets

              

 Current assets:

              

 Cash and cash equivalents

          $ 104         $ 2,301    

 Accounts receivable

            1,452           1,509    

 Other current assets

            565           438    

 Current portion of derivative instruments

       13                   94           73    

 

 

 Total current assets

            2,215           4,321    

 Property, plant and equipment

            10,494           10,255    

 Goodwill

       6                   3,759           3,751    

 Intangible assets

       6,  9                   6,586           3,211    

 Investments

       8                   1,682           1,487    

 Derivative instruments

       13                   437           148    

 Other long-term assets

            349           397    

 Deferred tax assets

            39           31    

 

 

 Total assets

          $ 25,561         $ 23,601    

 

 

 Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

              

 Current liabilities:

              

 Short-term borrowings

       11                 $ 787         $ 650    

 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

            2,401           2,344    

 Income tax payable

            188           22    

 Current portion of provisions

            6             

 Current portion of long-term debt

       12                   930           1,170    

 Current portion of derivative instruments

       13                   68           63    

 Unearned revenue

            382           350    

 

 

 Total current liabilities

            4,762           4,606    

 Provisions

            37           40    

 Long-term debt

       12                   13,612           12,173    

 Derivative instruments

       13                             83    

 Other long-term liabilities

            273           328    

 Deferred tax liabilities

            1,628           1,702    

 

 

 Total liabilities

            20,312           18,932    

 Shareholders’ equity

       14                   5,249           4,669    

 

 

 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

          $         25,561         $         23,601    

 

 

 Contingent liabilities

       17                     

 Subsequent events

       6(ii)                     

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   3   Third Quarter 2014


Rogers Communications Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

(In millions of Canadian dollars, unaudited)

 

 

 
     Class A
      Voting shares      
     Class B
Non-Voting shares
            Available-
for-sale
Financial
assets
reserve
            Total  
shareholders’  
equity  
 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2014
   Amount      Number 
of shares 
     Amount      Number      
of shares      
     Retained
earnings
        Hedging 
reserve 
    

 

 
            (000s)              (000s)                                    

Balances, December 31, 2013

     $       72         112,462          $        401          402,281               $        3,896          $        401         $        (101)          $        4,669     

 

 

Net income for the period

             –          –          –               1,044                  –          1,044     

Other comprehensive income:

                       

Available-for-saleinvestments, net of tax

             –          –          –               –          149         –          149     

Derivative instruments, net of tax

             –          –          –               –                  93          93     

 

 

Total other comprehensive income

             –          –          –               –          149         93          242     

 

 

Comprehensive income for the period

             –          –          –               1,044          149         93          1,286     

Transactions with shareholders, recorded directly in equity:

                       

Dividends declared

             –          –          –               (706)                  –          (706)     

Shares issued on exercise of stock options

             –          –          2               –                  –          –     

 

 

Balances, September 30, 2014

     $       72         112,462          $        401          402,283               $    4,234          $        550         $        (8)          $        5,249     

 

 

 

 
     Class A
      Voting shares      
     Class B
Non-Voting shares
            Available-
for-sale
Financial
assets
reserve
           

Total  
shareholders’  
equity  

 

Nine months ended

September 30, 2013

   Amount      Number 
of shares 
     Amount       Number      
of shares      
     Retained
earnings
        Hedging  
reserve  
    

 

 
       (000s)              (000s)                                    

Balances, December 31, 2012

     $       72         112,462          $        397          402,788               $    3,046          $      243         $        10          $3,768     

 

 

Net income for the period

             –          –          –               1,349                  –          1,349     

Other comprehensive income:

                       

Available-for-saleinvestments, net of tax

             –          –          –               –          145         –          145     

Derivative instruments, net of tax

             –          –          –               –                  (66)          (66)     

 

 

Total other comprehensive income

             –          –          –               –          145         (66)          79     

 

 

Comprehensive income for the period

             –          –          –               1,349          145         (66)          1,428     

Transactions with shareholders, recorded directly in equity:

                       

Repurchase of Class B

                       

Non-Voting shares

             –          (1)          (547)               (21)                  –          (22)     

Dividends declared

             –          –          –               (672)                  –          (672)     

Shares issued on exercise of stock options

             –                  66               –                  –          3     

 

 

Total transactions with shareholders

             –                  (481)               (693)                  –          (691)     

 

 

Balances, September 30, 2013

     $       72         112,462          $        399          402,307               $3,702          $        388         $        (56)          $        4,505     

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   4   Third Quarter 2014


 Rogers Communications Inc.

 Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 (In millions of Canadian dollars, unaudited)

 

 

 
              Three months ended
September 30
    Nine months ended
September 30
 
       Note      2014     2013     2014     2013  

 

 

 Cash provided by (used in):

             

 Operating activities:

             

Net income for the period

        $ 332      $ 464      $ 1,044      $ 1,349   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:

             

Depreciation and amortization

          533        477        1,584        1,390   

Gain on sale of TVtropolis

                               (47

Program rights amortization

          15        11        47        35   

Finance costs

               202        180        615        546   

Income tax

          133        172        377        481   

Pension contributions, net of expense

          18        (8     (49     (25

Stock-based compensation

       15          9        7        25        66   

Other

          16        3        23        (7

 

 
          1,258        1,306        3,666        3,788   

Change in non-cash operating working capital items

          172        128        7        71   

 

 
          1,430        1,434        3,673        3,859   

Income taxes paid

          (112     (114     (358     (326

Interest paid

          (261     (268     (648     (615

 

 

 Cash provided by operating activities

          1,057        1,052        2,667        2,918   

 

 

 Investing activities:

             

Additions to property, plant and equipment

          (638     (548     (1,702     (1,537

Change in non-cash working capital items related to property, plant and equipment

          38        (20     (51     (155

Acquisitions and other strategic transactions

                      (6     (3,301     (847

Proceeds on sale of TVtropolis

                               59   

Additions to program rights

          (113     (15     (135     (41

Other

          7        (7     16        (32

 

 

 Cash used in investing activities

          (706     (596     (5,173     (2,553

 

 

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   5   Third Quarter 2014


Rogers Communications Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In millions of Canadian dollars, unaudited)

 

 

 
           

Three months ended

September 30

    

Nine months ended

September 30

 
     Note      2014            2013      2014          2013   

 

 

 Financing activities:

              

 Issuance of long-term debt

        300                      2,882              1,030    

 Repayment of long-term debt

        (300)                     (2,021)             (356)   

 Payment on settlement of cross-currency interest rate exchange agreements and forward contracts

        –              (263      (2,115)             (1,029)   

 Proceeds on settlement of cross-currency interest rate exchange agreements and forward contracts

        –                      2,150              662    

 Transaction costs incurred

     12          –                      (30)             (17)   

 Repurchase of Class B Non-Voting shares

     14          –                      –              (22)   

 Proceeds received on short-term borrowings

     11          25                      221              650    

 Repayments on short-term borrowings

     11          (46)                     (84)             –    

 Dividends paid

        (235)             (224      (694)             (652)   

 

 

 Cash (used in) provided by financing activities

        (256)             (487      309              266    

 

 

 Change in cash and cash equivalents

        95              (31      (2,197)             631    

 

 

 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

        9              875         2,301              213    

 

 

 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

      $ 104            $         844       $         104            $         844    

 

 

 The changes in non-cash operating working capital items are as follows:

              

 Accounts receivable

      $ (47)           $ 38       $ 67            $ 188    

 Other current assets

        (39)             54         (143)             (64)   

 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

        280              56         51              (29)   

 Unearned revenue

        (22)             (20      32              (24)   

 

 
      $         172            $ 128       $ 7            $ 71    

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash and short-term deposits, which have an original maturity of less than 90 days, less bank advances. As at September 30, 2014 and 2013, the balance of cash and cash equivalents was comprised of cash and demand deposits.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   6   Third Quarter 2014


Rogers Communications Inc.

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

NOTE 1: NATURE OF BUSINESS

Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI) is a diversified Canadian communications and media group. Substantially all of our operations and sales are in Canada. RCI is incorporated in Canada and its registered office is located at 333 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 1G9. RCI’s shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).

We report our results of operations in the following four segments:

 

  Wireless

 

  

Wireless telecommunications operations for Canadian consumers and businesses

 

   

  Cable

  

Cable telecommunications operations, including cable television, Internet and cable telephony for Canadian consumers and businesses

 

   

  Business   Solutions

  

Network connectivity through our fibre network assets to support a range of voice, data, networking, data centre and cloud-based services for medium and large Canadian businesses, governments, and on a wholesale basis to other telecommunications providers

 

   

  Media

  

A diversified portfolio of media properties, including television and radio broadcasting, specialty channels, digital media, multi-platform shopping, publishing and sports media and entertainment

 

   

Wireless, Cable and Business Solutions are operated by our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rogers Communications Partnership (RCP) and certain other wholly owned subsidiaries. Media is operated by our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rogers Media Inc. and its subsidiaries.

We, us, our, Rogers, Rogers Communications and the Company refer to Rogers Communications Inc. and our subsidiaries. RCI refers to the legal entity Rogers Communications Inc., not including our subsidiaries. In addition to the business segments discussed below, RCI also holds interests in various investments and ventures.

Statement of compliance

We prepared our interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 (third quarter 2014 interim financial statements), in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting (IAS 34) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) following the same accounting policies and methods of application as those disclosed in the annual audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 (2013 financial statements), with the exception of those new accounting policies that were adopted on January 1, 2014 as more fully described in note 2 below. These third quarter 2014 interim financial statements were approved by the Audit Committee on October 22, 2014.

NOTE 2: SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation

The notes presented in these third quarter 2014 interim financial statements include only significant changes and transactions occurring since December 31, 2013, and do not include all disclosures required by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for annual financial statements. These third quarter 2014 interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the 2013 financial statements. All amounts are expressed in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts, or as otherwise indicated.

Our operating results are subject to seasonal fluctuations that materially impact quarter-to-quarter operating results and, thus, one quarter’s operating results are not necessarily indicative of a subsequent quarter’s operating results.

New accounting standards

We were required to adopt the following standards on or after January 1, 2014. Adopting these standards had no material impact on our consolidated financial statements:

 

Amendments to IAS 32, Financial Instruments: Presentation

 

Amendments to IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement

 

IFRIC 21, Levies

 

Rogers Communications Inc.   7   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

Recent accounting pronouncements not yet effective

 

IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (IFRS 15) - In May 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 15 which supersedes existing standards and interpretations including IAS 18, Revenue and IFRIC 13, Customer Loyalty Programmes.

IFRS 15 introduces a single model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers with the exception of certain contracts under other IFRSs such as IAS 17, Leases. The standard requires revenue to be recognized in a manner that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to a customer and at an amount that reflects the expected consideration receivable in exchange for transferring those goods or services. This is achieved by applying the following five steps:

 

  1. Identify the contract with a customer;
  2. Identify the performance obligations in the contract;
  3. Determine the transaction price;
  4. Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
  5. Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

IFRS 15 also provides guidance relating to the treatment of contract acquisition and contract fulfillment costs.

We expect the application of this new standard will have significant impacts on our reported results, specifically with regards to the timing of recognition and classification of revenue, and the treatment of costs incurred in obtaining customer contracts. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017.

 

 

IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (IFRS 9) - In July 2014, the IASB issued the final publication of the IFRS 9 standard, superseding the current IAS 39 Financial Instruments standard. This standard establishes principles for the financial reporting of financial assets and financial liabilities that will present relevant and useful information to users of financial statements for their assessment of the amounts, timing and uncertainty of an entity’s future cash flows. This new standard also includes a new general hedge accounting standard which will align hedge accounting more closely with risk management. It does not fully change the types of hedging relationships or the requirement to measure and recognize ineffectiveness, however, it will provide more hedging strategies that are used for risk management to qualify for hedge accounting and introduce more judgment to assess the effectiveness of a hedging relationship. The standard has a mandatorily effective date for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 with early adoption permitted.

 

 

Amendments to IFRS 11, Joint Arrangements - In May 2014, the IASB issued an amendment to this standard requiring business combination accounting to be applied to acquisitions of interests in a joint operation that constitute a business.

 

 

Amendments to IAS 16, Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 38, Intangible Assets - In May 2014, the IASB issued amendments to these standards to introduce a rebuttable presumption that the use of revenue-based amortization methods for intangible assets is inappropriate. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016 with early adoption permitted.

We are assessing the impact of these standards on our consolidated financial statements.

We have not yet adopted certain additional accounting standards, interpretations and amendments that were previously issued but are not yet effective. See our 2013 financial statements for details.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  8   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 3: SEGMENTED INFORMATION

Our reportable segments are Wireless, Cable, Business Solutions and Media. All four segments operate substantially in Canada. Corporate items and eliminations include our interests in businesses that are not reportable operating segments, corporate administrative functions and eliminations of inter-segment revenue and costs. We follow the same accounting policies for our segments as those described in note 2. Segment results include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis. We account for transactions between reportable segments in the same way we account for transactions with external parties and eliminate them on consolidation.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of RCI are the chief operating decision makers and regularly review our operations and performance by segment. They review adjusted operating profit as the key measure of profit for the purpose of assessing performance for each segment and to make decisions about the allocation of resources. Adjusted operating profit is income before restructuring, acquisition and other, stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization, finance costs, other expense (income) and income taxes.

Information by segment

Three months ended September 30, 2014    Note      Wireless      Cable      Business
Solutions
     Media      Corporate 
items and 
eliminations 
     Consolidated
Totals
 

Operating revenue

      $     1,880       $     864       $     96         $    440             $     (28)               $       3,252   

Operating costs1

              992         455         64         417         12         1,940   

Adjusted operating profit

        888         409         32         23         (40)         1,312   

Restructuring, acquisition and other

     7                        91   

Stock-based compensation1

     15                        9   

Depreciation and amortization

                       533   

Finance costs

     5                        202   

Other expense

                                                           12   

Income before income taxes

                                                           $         465   

1Included in operating costs on the interim condensed consolidated statements of income. See note 4.

 

Three months ended September 30, 2013    Note      Wireless      Cable      Business
Solutions
     Media      Corporate 
items and 
eliminations 
     Consolidated
totals
 

Operating revenue

      $     1,846       $     873       $     93         $    440             $     (28)               $       3,224   

Operating costs1

              971         448         64         385         15         1,883   

Adjusted operating profit

        875         425         29         55         (43)         1,341   

Restructuring, acquisition and other

     7                        38   

Stock-based compensation1

     15                        7   

Depreciation and amortization

                       477   

Finance costs

     5                        180   

Other expense

                                                           3   

Income before income taxes

                                                           $         636   

1Included in operating costs on the interim condensed consolidated statements of income. See note 4.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  9   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2014    Note      Wireless      Cable      Business
Solutions
     Media      Corporate
items and
eliminations
    Consolidated
Totals
 

Operating revenue

        $    5,407         $    2,596         $    285         $    1,282         $    (86     $    9,484   

Operating costs1

        2,886         1,355         197         1,229         31        5,698   

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

        2,521         1,241         88         53         (117     3,786   

Restructuring, acquisition and other

     7                       130   

Stock-based compensation1

     15                       25   

Depreciation and amortization

                      1,584   

Finance costs

     5                       615   

Other expense

                      11   

 

 

Income before income taxes

                      $1,421   

 

 

1 Included in operating costs on the interim condensed consolidated statements of income. See note 4.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2013    Note      Wireless      Cable      Business
Solutions
     Media      Corporate
items and
eliminations
    Consolidated
totals
 

Operating revenue

        $    5,419         $    2,604         $    276         $    1,251         $    (87     $    9,463   

Operating costs1

        2,958         1,319         199         1,139         22        5,637   

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

        2,461         1,285         77         112         (109     3,826   

Restructuring, acquisition and other

     7                       61   

Stock-based compensation1

     15                       66   

Depreciation and amortization

                      1,390   

Finance costs

     5                       546   

Other income

                      (67

 

 

Income before income taxes

                      $    1,830   

 

 

1 Included in operating costs on the interim condensed consolidated statements of income. See note 4.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  10   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 4: OPERATING COSTS

 

              Three months ended
September 30
    Nine months ended
September 30
 
              2014     2013     2014     2013  

Cost of equipment sales and direct channel subsidies

      $ 362      $ 323      $ 995      $ 1,052   

Merchandise for resale

        53        46        150        135   

Other external purchases

        1,022        1,003        3,054        3,009   

Employee salaries and benefits and stock-based compensation

        512        518        1,524        1,507   

 

 
      $ 1,949      $ 1,890      $ 5,723      $ 5,703   

 

 

 

 

NOTE 5: FINANCE COSTS

 

  

              Three months ended
September 30
    Nine months ended
September 30
 
      Note      2014     2013     2014     2013  

Interest on long-term debt

      $ 199      $ 179      $ 584      $ 542   

Interest on pension liability

        2        3        5        11   

Loss on repayment of long-term debt

     12                       29          

Foreign exchange loss (gain)

        4        (1     6        18   

Change in fair value of derivative instruments

        1        4               (15

Capitalized interest

        (7     (6     (20     (18

Other

        3        1        11        8   

 

 
      $ 202      $ 180      $ 615      $ 546   

 

 

NOTE 6: BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

(i) Cellcom Wireless Incorporated (Cellcom)

In January 2014, we completed an asset acquisition of certain dealer stores for cash consideration of $46 million, which was paid as a deposit in the fourth quarter of 2013. The acquisition has been accounted for in accordance with IFRS 3, Business Combinations and resulted in the recognition of current assets of $2 million, customer relationships of $35 million and goodwill of $9 million. This goodwill is tax deductible and was allocated to the Wireless segment. The customer relationships are being amortized over a period of five years. We incurred no transaction costs as a result of this acquisition.

(ii) Source Cable Limited (Source) - subsequent event

In October 2014, we signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the common shares of Source for approximately $160 million. Source is a Cable, Internet, and phone service provider situated in Hamilton, Ontario, and its subscriber footprint is situated adjacent to existing Rogers cable systems. We have not yet completed our assessment of the acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as we are in the process of completing the valuation of tangible and intangible assets acquired. The acquisition of Source is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  11   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 7:  RESTRUCTURING, ACQUISITION AND OTHER

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we incurred:

 

$79 million and $113 million, respectively, of restructuring expenses mainly for costs relating to the reorganization associated with the implementation of the Rogers 3.0 reorganization plan, and

 

$12 million and $17 million, respectively, of acquisition related expenses and other costs.

The table below shows the additions to liabilities related to the restructuring, acquisition and other costs and payments made against the liabilities in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

      December 31
2013
       Additions        Payments        September 30 
2014 

Restructuring costs

       $ 44         $             113         $ (98        $          59 

Acquisition and other costs

     19           17           (20      16 

 

       $ 63         $ 130         $ (118        $          75 

 

The remaining liability of $75 million as at September 30, 2014, is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities.

NOTE 8:  INVESTMENTS

 

      September 30
2014
     December 31
2013
 

Publicly traded companies

   $ 936         $ 809   

Private companies

     136         103   

 

 

Available-for-sale investments

     1,072         912   

Investments in joint arrangements and associates

     610         575   

 

 
   $           1,682         $ 1,487   

 

 

NOTE 9:  INTANGIBLE ASSETS

We participated in the 700 MHz spectrum auction in Canada, which concluded in February 2014, and were awarded spectrum licences consisting of two 12 MHz blocks of contiguous, paired lower 700 MHz band spectrum covering the vast majority of the Canadian population. We paid $3,292 million to Industry Canada ($658 million on March 5, 2014 and $2,634 million on April 2, 2014). In addition, $9 million of costs directly attributable to the acquisition of the spectrum licences were capitalized, resulting in a total cost of $3,301 million. The spectrum licences are included as intangible assets in the Wireless segment.

We have designated these spectrum licences as assets with indefinite useful lives for accounting purposes since we believe they are likely to be renewed for the foreseeable future.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  12   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 10: EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table shows the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

 

 

 
     Three months ended
September 30
     Nine months ended
September 30
 
     2014      2013      2014      2013  

 

 

Net income for the period

   $ 332       $ 464       $ 1,044       $ 1,349   

 

 

Denominator (in millions):

           

Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic

     515         515         515         515   

Effect of dilutive securities:

           

Employee stock options

     2         2         2         3   

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted

     517         517         517         518   

 

 

Earnings per share:

           

Basic

   $ 0.64       $ 0.90       $ 2.03       $ 2.62   

Diluted

     0.64         0.90         1.97         2.60   

 

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, accounting for outstanding share-based payments using the equity-settled method of stock-based compensation was determined to be more dilutive than using the cash-settled method. As a result, net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was reduced by $3 million and $25 million (2013 - nil and nil), respectively, in the diluted earnings per share calculation to account for these awards as if they were equity-settled.

A total of 1,286,378 and 1,295,837 options were out of the money for the holder for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 (2013 - 58,870 and 25,435), respectively. These options were excluded from the calculation of the effect of dilutive securities since they were anti-dilutive.

NOTE 11: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECURITIZATION

 

 

 
     September 30
2014
    December 31
2013
 

 

 

Trade accounts receivable sold to buyer as security

     1,016        1,091   

Short-term borrowings from buyer

     (787     (650

 

 

Overcollateralization

   $ 229      $ 441   

 

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we received an additional $25 million and $221 million (2013 - $nil and $650 million) respectively, of funding under the accounts receivable securitization program and repaid $46 million and $84 million (2013 - $nil and $nil) respectively, which changed our total funding under the program to $787 million (2013 - $650 million).

We incurred interest costs of $4 million and $10 million respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 (2013 - $3 million and $7 million) respectively, as a result of the securitization program, which we recorded in finance costs.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  13   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 12: LONG-TERM DEBT

 

      Due
date
             Principal
amount
     Interest
rate
     September 30
2014
    December 31
2013
 

Bank credit facility

              Floating       $      $   

Senior notes1

     2014       $   US         750         6.375%                798   

Senior notes2

     2014         US         350         5.50%                372   

Senior notes1

     2015         US         550         7.50%         616        585   

Senior notes2

     2015         US         280         6.75%         314        298   

Senior notes

     2016            1,000         5.80%         1,000        1,000   

Senior notes

     2017            500         3.00%         500        500   

Senior notes

     2017            250         Floating         250          

Senior notes

     2018         US         1,400         6.80%         1,568        1,489   

Senior notes

     2019            400         2.80%         400          

Senior notes

     2019            500         5.38%         500        500   

Senior notes

     2020            900         4.70%         900        900   

Senior notes

     2021            1,450         5.34%         1,450        1,450   

Senior notes

     2022            600         4.00%         600        600   

Senior notes

     2023         US         500         3.00%         560        532   

Senior notes

     2023         US         850         4.10%         952        904   

Senior notes

     2024            600         4.00%         600          

Debentures2

     2032         US         200         8.75%         224        213   

Senior notes

     2038         US         350         7.50%         392        372   

Senior notes

     2039            500         6.68%         500        500   

Senior notes

     2040            800         6.11%         800        800   

Senior notes

     2041            400         6.56%         400        400   

Senior notes

     2043         US         500         4.50%         560        532   

Senior notes

     2043         US         650         5.45%         728        691   

Senior notes

     2044         US         750         5.00%         840          
                 14,654        13,436   

Deferred transaction costs and discounts

                 (112     (93

Less current portion

                                         (930     (1,170
                                         $     13,612      $     12,173   

 

1

Senior notes originally issued by Rogers Wireless Inc. which are now unsecured obligations of RCI and for which Rogers Communications Partnership (RCP) is an unsecured co-obligor.

2

Senior notes and debentures originally issued by Rogers Cable Inc. which are now unsecured obligations of RCI and for which RCP is an unsecured guarantor.

Bank credit and letter of credit facilities

Effective April 16, 2014, we re-negotiated the terms of our credit facility to increase the amount available under our bank credit facility from $2.0 billion to $2.5 billion while extending the maturity date from July 20, 2017 to July 19, 2019. The $2.5 billion bank credit facility is available on a fully revolving basis until maturity on July 19, 2019 and there are no scheduled reductions prior to maturity. The interest rate charged on borrowings from the bank credit facility ranges from nil to 1.25% per annum over the bank prime rate or base rate, or 0.85% to 2.25% (1.00% to 2.25% prior to April 1, 2014) over the bankers’ acceptance rate or London Inter-Bank Offered Rate.

Also in April 2014, we arranged for the return and cancellation of approximately $0.4 billion of letters of credit issued in relation to the 700 MHz spectrum auction completed earlier this year and the corresponding letter of credit facility was permanently cancelled.

At September 30, 2014, we had a total of $2.6 billion of bank and letter of credit facilities (December 31, 2013 - $2.5 billion), of which there was approximately $0.1 billion utilized under these facilities related to outstanding letters of credit (December 31, 2013 - $0.5 billion of letters of credit).

Each of these facilities is unsecured and guaranteed by RCP and ranks equally with all of our senior notes and debentures.

Senior notes

Interest is paid on our senior notes as follows:

 

semi-annually on all of our fixed rate senior notes and debentures, and

 

 

quarterly on our floating rate senior notes.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  14   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

We have the option to redeem each of our fixed rate senior notes and debentures, in whole or in part, at any time, if we pay the specified premium.

Issuance of senior notes

The table below provides a summary of the senior notes that we issued in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013.

 

Date

Issued

   Principal amount      Due
date
     Interest
rate
     Discount at
issuance
  

Total

gross proceeds1

     Transaction costs
and discounts2
 

2014 Issuances

                 

March 10, 2014

     Cdn $      250         2017         Floating       100.00%      

March 10, 2014

     Cdn $      400         2019         2.80%        99.972%      

March 10, 2014

     Cdn $      600         2024         4.00%        99.706%      

March 10, 2014

     US $      750         2044         5.00%        99.231%                  

Subtotal

                                     Cdn $2,082         Cdn $24   

2013 Issuances

                 

March 7, 2013

     US $      500         2023         3.00%        99.845%      

March 7, 2013

     US $      500         2043         4.50%        99.055%                  

Subtotal

     US $   1,000                                Cdn $1,030         Cdn $15   

1 Gross proceeds before transaction costs and discounts.

2 Transaction costs and discounts are included as deferred transaction costs and discounts in the carrying value of the long-term debt, and recognized in net income using the   effective interest method.

Each of the above senior notes are unsecured and guaranteed by RCP, ranking equally with all of RCI’s other senior notes and debentures, bank credit and letter of credit facilities. We use debt derivatives to hedge the foreign exchange risk associated with the principal and interest components of all our US dollar denominated senior notes and debentures (see note 13).

Repayment of senior notes and related derivative settlements

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we repaid or repurchased our US $750 million ($834 million) and US $350 million ($387 million) senior notes due 2014, totalling $1,221 million. In addition, the debt derivatives related to these senior notes matured in March 2014.

Upon the repayment or repurchase of these senior notes, a $29 million loss, which was deferred in the hedging reserve in prior years, was recognized in net income. This loss relates to transactions in 2008 and 2013 where contractual foreign exchange rates on the related debt derivatives were renegotiated to then current rates.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we repaid or repurchased our US $350 million ($356 million) senior notes due 2013. At the same time, the associated debt derivatives were also settled at maturity.

See note 13 for more information about our debt derivatives.

US dollar denominated long-term debt and weighted average interest rate

As at September 30, 2014, we have US $6.03 billion (2013 - US $6.38 billion) of US Dollar denominated long-term debt which was 100% hedged against fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

Our effective weighted average rate on all debt and short-term borrowings as at September 30, 2014, including the effect of all of the associated debt derivative instruments (see note 13), was 5.21% (December 31, 2013 - 5.54%).

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  15   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 13: FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Derivative instruments

We use derivative instruments to manage risks related to certain activities we are involved with. They include:

 

     The risk they manage    Types of derivative instruments
  Debt derivatives   

• Impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on principal and interest payments for US denominated long-term debt

  

• Cross-currency interest rate exchange agreements

• Foreign currency exchange forward agreements

(from time to time as necessary)

 

  Expenditure derivatives   

• Impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on forecasted US dollar denominated expenditures

 

  

• Forward foreign exchange agreements

  Equity derivatives   

• Impact of fluctuations in share price on stock-based compensation expense

 

  

• Total return swap agreements

All of our currently outstanding debt derivatives and expenditure derivatives have been designated as effective hedges for accounting purposes.

We use derivatives only to manage risk, and not for speculative purposes.

Debt derivatives

We completed the following transactions related to our debt derivatives:

 

entered into new debt derivatives to hedge senior notes issued,

 

settled maturing debt derivatives in conjunction with the repayment or repurchase of the related senior notes, and

 

terminated existing debt derivatives and entered into new debt derivatives with different terms to hedge existing senior notes.

New debt derivatives to hedge senior notes issued

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, we entered into the following debt derivatives to hedge senior notes issued during the period.

 

 

 
            US $      Hedging effect  

Effective

date

   Principal/
notional amount
(US$)
     Maturity
date
     Coupon
rate
     Fixed
hedged Cdn$
interest rate1
     Equivalent
(Cdn$)
 

 

 

March 10, 2014

     $    750         2044         5.00%         4.99%       $ 832   

 

 

March 7, 2013

     $    500         2023         3.00%         3.62%       $ 515   

March 7, 2013

     500         2043         4.50%         4.60%         515   

 

 
Subtotal      $ 1,000                $ 1,030   

 

 

1 Converting from a fixed US$ coupon rate to a weighted average Cdn $ fixed rate.

Matured debt derivatives

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the following debt derivatives matured in conjunction with the repayment or repurchase of the related senior notes.

 

Maturity date    Notional Amount
(US$)
          Net cash settlement (proceeds)
(Cdn$)
 

March 1, 2014

     $        750           $        (61

March 15, 2014

     350             26   

Subtotal

     $     1,100             $        (35

June 17, 2013

     $        350             $        104   

Terminated and replaced existing debt derivatives and entered into new debt derivatives

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we terminated existing debt derivatives and entered into new debt derivatives with different terms to hedge existing senior notes.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  16   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

      Terminated debt derivatives    New debt derivatives      Hedging effect  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 
Termination
date
   Notional
amount
     Original
maturity
date
     Cash
settlement
   Date
entered
     Derivative
amount
     New
maturity
date
     Fixed
weighted
average
    Fixed
Canadian
equivalent
 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

March 6, 2013

   US $ 350         2018       Nil      March 6, 2013       US $ 350         2038         7.62   $ 359   

Expenditure derivatives

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we entered into expenditure derivatives to manage foreign exchange risk on certain forecasted expenditures as follows.

 

Trade date    Maturity dates    Notional amount
(US$)
     Exchange
Rate
     Converted amount
(Cdn$)
 

February 2014

   January 2015 to April 2015    $ 200         1.11       $ 222   

May 2014

   May 2015 to December 2015      232         1.10         254   

June 2014

   January 2015 to December 2015      288         1.09         314   

July 2014

   January 2016 to December 2016      240         1.08         260   
          $ 960         1.09       $ 1,050   

As at September 30, 2014, we had US $1,185 million of expenditure derivatives outstanding with terms to maturity ranging from October 2014 to December 2016, at an average rate of $1.08/US$.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we settled expenditure derivatives of US $225 million for Cdn $232 million at an average rate of $1.03/US$ and US $675 million for Cdn $690 million at an average rate of $1.02/US$, respectively.

We record changes in fair value of these expenditure derivatives in other comprehensive income, with ineffectiveness recorded directly in net income. Once the hedged transaction affects net income, equivalent amounts are recycled into net income from the hedging reserve.

Equity derivatives

In February and March 2013, we entered into equity derivatives to hedge market price appreciation risk associated of 5.7 million RCI Class B Non-Voting shares that have been granted under our stock-based compensation programs for stock options, restricted share units (RSUs) and deferred share units (DSUs) (see note 15). The equity derivatives were entered into at a weighted average price of $50.37 with original terms to maturity of one year, extendible for further one year periods with the consent of the hedge counterparties. The equity derivatives have not been designated as hedges for accounting purposes. We record changes in the fair value of the equity derivatives through stock-based compensation expense offsetting a portion of the impact of changes in the recorded amount of the stock-based compensation liability for stock options, RSUs and DSUs.

In April 2014, we executed extension agreements for each of our equity derivative contracts under substantially the same committed terms and conditions with revised expiry dates to April 2015 (from April 2014).

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized an expense of $4 million and $30 million (2013 - $19 million and $31 million), respectively, in stock-based compensation expense related to the change in fair value of our equity derivative contracts net of received payments. As of September 30, 2014, the fair value of the equity derivatives was a liability of $48 million (December 31, 2013 - $13 million), which is included in the current portion of derivative instruments liabilities.

Fair values

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, short-term borrowings, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

We determine the fair value of each of our publicly traded investments using quoted market values. We determine the fair value of our private investments by using market values from similar transactions or well established market, asset based or projected income valuation techniques. These are applied appropriately to each investment depending on its future operating and profitability prospects.

The fair values of each of our public debt instruments are based on the period-end estimated market yields. We determine the fair values of our debt derivatives and expenditure derivatives using an estimated credit-adjusted mark-to-market valuation by discounting cash flows to the measurement date. In the case of these derivatives in an asset position, a credit-adjusted curve for the financial institutions is used to determine the estimated credit-adjusted value for each derivative. For these derivatives in a liability position, a credit-adjusted curve for representative corporations is used to determine the estimated credit-adjusted value for each derivative.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  17   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

The fair values of our equity derivatives are based on the quoted market value of RCI’s Class B Non-Voting shares.

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments. The estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of judgment.

Our disclosure of the fair value hierarchy reflects the significance of the inputs used in measuring fair value:

 

We determine fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities in Level 1 by referring to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

 

Financial assets and financial liabilities in Level 2 include valuations using inputs based on observable market data, either directly or indirectly, other than the quoted prices.

 

Level 3 valuations are based on inputs that are not based on observable market data.

There were no material financial instruments categorized in Level 3 as at September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

The table below shows the financial instruments carried at fair value by valuation method as at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

 

                  

Fair value measurements at reporting date

 
     Carrying amount      Level 1      Level 2  
      Sept. 30
2014
     Dec. 31
2013
     Sept. 30
2014
     Dec. 31
2013
     Sept. 30
2014
     Dec. 31
2013
 

Financial assets

                 

Available-for-sale, measured at fair value:

                 

Investments in publiclytraded companies

   $ 936       $ 809       $ 936       $ 809       $       $   

Held-for-trading:

                 

Debt derivatives accounted for ascash flow hedges

     480         184                         480         184   

Expenditure derivatives accountedfor as cash flow hedges

     51         37                         51         37   
     $ 1,467       $     1,030       $ 936       $ 809       $ 531       $ 221   

Financial liabilities

                 

Held-for-trading:

                 

Debt derivatives accounted for ascash flow hedges

   $ 20       $ 133       $       $       $ 20       $ 133   

Expenditure derivatives accountedfor as cash flow hedges

                                               

Equity derivatives not accountedfor as hedges

     48         13                         48         13   
     $ 68       $ 146       $       $       $ 68       $ 146   

We measure our long-term debt initially at fair value, and then at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The fair value of our long-term debt as at September 30, 2014 is estimated as follows.

 

      September 30, 2014      December 31, 2013  
      Carrying
amount
     Fair
value1
     Carrying
amount
     Fair
value1
 

Long-term debt (including current portion)

   $ 14,542       $ 16,060       $ 13,343       $ 14,463   

 

1

Long-term debt (including current portion) is measured at level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, based on period-end estimated market yields.

We did not have any non-derivative held-to-maturity financial assets as at September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  18   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 14: SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Dividends

In February 2014, the Board of Directors approved an increase in the annualized dividend rate from $1.74 to $1.83 per Class A Voting share and Class B Non-Voting share to be paid in quarterly amounts of $0.4575 per share. The quarterly dividends are only payable as and when declared by the Board of Directors and there is no entitlement to any dividend prior thereto.

During 2014, we declared and paid the following dividends on our outstanding Class A Voting and Class B Non-Voting shares:

 

Date declared    Date paid      Dividends
per share
 

February 12, 2014

   April 4, 2014      $ 0.4575   

April 22, 2014

   July 2, 2014      $ 0.4575   

August 14, 2014

   October 1, 2014      $ 0.4575   

Normal course issuer bid

In February 2014, we renewed our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) for our Class B Non-Voting shares for another year. This gives us the right to buy up to an aggregate $500 million or 35,780,234 Class B Non-Voting shares of RCI, whichever is less, on the TSX, the NYSE and/or alternate trading systems any time between February 25, 2014 and February 24, 2015. The number of Class B Non-Voting shares we actually buy, and when we buy them, under the normal course issuer bid, if any, will depend upon our evaluation of market conditions, stock prices, our cash position, alternative uses of cash and other factors.

We did not buy any shares for cancellation during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

In the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, we repurchased for cancellation a total of 546,674 Class B Non-Voting shares for a total purchase price of $22 million, resulting in a reduction to Class B Non-Voting share capital and retained earnings of $1 million and $21 million, respectively. All of these were effected through the facilities of the TSX.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  19   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 15: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The table below is a summary of our stock-based compensation expense (recovery), which is included in employee salaries and benefits expense.

 

              Three months ended
September 30
    Nine months ended 
September 30
 
      Note      2014     2013     2014     2013  

Stock options

      $ (3   $ 14      $ (24   $ 9   

Restricted share units (RSUs)

        8        9        20        24   

Deferred share units (DSUs)

               3        (1     2   

Equity derivative effect, net ofinterest receipt

     13         4        (19     30        31   

 

 
      $ 9      $ 7      $ 25      $ 66   

 

 

We paid $4 million and $45 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, to holders of stock options, RSUs and DSUs upon exercise using the cash settlement feature (2013 - $8 million and $82 million).

Stock options

Summary of stock options

The table below is a summary of the stock option plans, including performance options.

 

             Nine months ended 
September 30, 2014 
 
      Number of
options
    Weighted
average
exercise price
 

Outstanding, beginning of period

     6,368,403      $ 37.39   

Granted

     843,839        42.94   

Exercised

     (1,096,138     33.92   

Forfeited

     (103,769     43.27   

 

 

Outstanding, end of period

     6,012,335      $ 38.70   

 

 

Exercisable, end of period

     3,525,040      $ 35.48   

 

 

Included in the above table are grants of 62,989 and 843,839 performance options to certain key executives during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

Restricted share units

Summary of RSUs

The table below is a summary of the RSUs outstanding, including performance RSUs.

 

      Nine months ended 
September 30, 2014 
 
      Number of units   

Outstanding, beginning of period

     2,472,390   

Granted and reinvested dividends

     1,209,907   

Exercised

     (804,274

Forfeited

     (166,440

 

 

Outstanding, end of period

     2,711,583   

 

 

Included in the above table are grants of 32,302 and 281,042 performance RSUs to certain key executives during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  20   Third Quarter 2014


Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

NOTE 16: RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Transactions with key management personnel

We have entered into business transactions with companies whose partners or senior officers are Directors of Rogers which include:

 

the chairman and chief executive officer of a firm that is paid commissions for insurance coverage,

 

the non-executive chairman of a law firm that provides an immaterial portion of our legal services, and

 

the chairman of a company that provides printing services.

We record these transactions at the amount agreed to by the related parties, which are also reviewed by the Audit Committee.

 

      Three months ended
September 30
     Nine months ended
September 30
 
      2014      2013      2014      2013  

Printing, legal services and commission
paid on premiums for insurance coverage

   $ 8       $ 12       $ 28       $ 33   

 

 

Controlling shareholder

We have also entered into certain transactions with our ultimate controlling shareholder and companies controlled by the controlling shareholder. These transactions are subject to formal agreements approved by the Audit Committee. The totals received or paid during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were less than $1 million, respectively.

NOTE 17: CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

System Access Fee - Saskatchewan

In 2004, a class action commenced against providers of wireless communications in Canada under the Class Actions Act (Saskatchewan) with various motions and appeals by the parties as described in our 2013 Annual MD&A. In December 2013 the plaintiff applied for an order permitting them to amend the Statement of Claim to reintroduce the claims they were not permitted to proceed with in the 2007 certification decision. In March 2014, the court denied this application.

At the same time the Saskatchewan class action was commenced, corresponding claims were filed in multiple jurisdictions across Canada, although no active steps were taken by the plaintiffs. In July, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court declined to stay or dismiss the corresponding claim brought by the plaintiffs in Nova Scotia as an abuse of process. Rogers has filed its Notice of Appeal in respect of that decision. In August, the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench unconditionally stayed the corresponding claim brought in Manitoba as an abuse of process. An appeal in respect of that decision has been filed by the plaintiffs.

System Access Fee - British Columbia

In December 2011, a class action was launched in British Columbia against providers of wireless communications in Canada about the system access fees wireless carriers then charged to some of their customers. The class action relates to allegations of misrepresentations contrary to the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (British Columbia), among other things. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and restitution. A certification hearing was held in April 2014 and in June 2014 the court denied the certification application. An appeal in respect of that decision has been filed by the plaintiffs.

We have not recorded a liability for the above contingencies. The outcome of all the proceedings and claims against us, including the matters described above, is subject to future resolution that includes the uncertainties of litigation. Based on information currently known to us, we believe that it is not probable that the ultimate resolution of any such proceedings and claims, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. If it becomes probable that we are liable, a provision will be recorded in the period in which the change in probability occurs, and such a provision could be material to our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

Rogers Communications Inc.

  21   Third Quarter 2014