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capital structure financial policies (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
capital structure financial policies  
Disclosure of financial objectives that support the entity's long-term strategy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at, or for the 12-month periods ended, December 31 ($ in millions)

    

Objective

    

2019

    

2018

Components of debt and coverage ratios

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

Net debt 1

 

 

 

$

18,199

 

$

13,770

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs 2

 

 

 

$

5,688

 

$

5,421

Net interest cost 3

 

 

 

$

755

 

$

644

Debt ratio

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs

 

2.20 – 2.70 4

 

 

3.20

 

 

2.54

Coverage ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings coverage 5

 

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

4.4

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage 6

 

 

 

 

7.5

 

 

8.4

(1)

Net debt is calculated as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at December 31

    

Note

    

2019

    

2018

Long-term debt

 

26

 

$

18,474

 

$

14,101

Debt issuance costs netted against long-term debt

 

  

 

 

87

 

 

93

Derivative (assets) liabilities, net

 

  

 

 

(37)

 

 

(73)

Accumulated other comprehensive income amounts arising from financial instruments used to manage interest rate and currency risks associated with U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt – excluding tax effects

 

  

 

 

110

 

 

(37)

Cash and temporary investments, net

 

  

 

 

(535)

 

 

(414)

Short-term borrowings

 

22

 

 

100

 

 

100

Net debt

 

  

 

$

18,199

 

$

13,770

 

(2)

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs is calculated as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31

    

Note

    

2019

    

2018

EBITDA

 

 

5

 

$

5,554

 

$

5,104

Restructuring and other costs

 

 

16

 

 

134

 

 

317

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs

 

 

 

 

$

5,688

 

$

5,421

 

(3)

Net interest cost is defined as financing costs, excluding employee defined benefit plans net interest, recoveries on long-term debt prepayment premium and repayment of debt, calculated on a 12-month trailing basis (expenses recorded for long-term debt prepayment premium, if any, are included in net interest cost).

(4)

Our long-term objective range for this ratio is 2.20 – 2.70 times, reflecting a 0.20 shift in the range subsequent to December 31, 2019, to reflect an accommodation for the effects of implementing IFRS 16 (see Note 2). The ratio as at December 31, 2019, is outside the long-term objective range. We may permit, and have permitted, this ratio to go outside the objective range (for long-term investment opportunities), but  we will endeavour to return this ratio to within the objective range in the medium term (following upcoming spectrum auctions), as we believe that this range is supportive of our long-term strategy. We are in compliance with the leverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities, which states that we may not permit our net debt to operating cash flow ratio to exceed 4.00:1.00 (see Note 26(d)); the calculation of the debt ratio is substantially similar to the calculation of the leverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities.

(5)

Earnings coverage is defined as net income before borrowing costs and income tax expense, divided by borrowing costs (interest on long-term debt; interest on short-term borrowings and other; long-term debt prepayment premium), and adding back capitalized interest.

(6)

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage is defined as EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs, divided by net interest cost. This measure is substantially similar to the coverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities.
Disclosure of the dividend payout ratio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the 12-month periods ended December 31 ($ in millions)

    

Objective

    

2019

    

 

2018

 

Dividend payout ratio

 

65%–75% 1

 

78

%  

 

78

%

Dividend payout ratio of adjusted net earnings

 

  

 

84

%  

 

81

%

(1)

Our objective range for the dividend payout ratio was 65%–75% of sustainable earnings on a prospective basis in 2019. So as to be consistent with the way we manage our business, we have revised our target guideline, effective January 1, 2020, to be calculated as 60% to 75% of free cash flow on a prospective basis (free cash flow does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS-IASB and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers). Adjusted net earnings (adjusted net earnings does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS-IASB and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers) attributable to Common Shares is calculated as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the 12-month periods ended December 31

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Common Shares

 

$

1,746

 

$

1,600

Gain and net equity income related to real estate redevelopment project, after income taxes

 

 

 5

 

 

(150)

Business combination-related provisions, after income taxes

 

 

(13)

 

 

(17)

Income tax-related adjustments

 

 

(142)

 

 

(7)

Long-term debt prepayment premium, after income taxes

 

 

20

 

 

25

Initial and committed donation to TELUS  Friendly Future Foundation, after income taxes

 

 

 —

 

 

90

Adjusted net earnings attributable to Common Shares

 

$

1,616

 

$

1,541