Latest News by Industry
CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shaw Communications Inc. (“Shaw” or the “Company”) announces consolidated financial and operating results for the quarter ended August 31, 2022.
Selected Financial Highlights
| Three months ended August 31, | Year ended August 31, | |||||||||||
| (millions of Canadian dollars except per share amounts) | 2022 | 2021 | Change % | 2022 | 2021 | Change % | ||||||
| Revenue | 1,356 | 1,377 | (1.5 | ) | 5,448 | 5,509 | (1.1 | ) | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 624 | 614 | 1.6 | 2,534 | 2,500 | 1.4 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin(2) | 46.0 | % | 44.6 | % | 3.1 | 46.5 | % | 45.4 | % | 2.4 | ||
| Funds flow from operations | 487 | 514 | (5.3 | ) | 1,992 | 2,249 | (11.4 | ) | ||||
| Free cash flow(1)(3) | 70 | 227 | (69.2 | ) | 819 | 973 | (15.8 | ) | ||||
| Net income | 169 | 252 | (32.9 | ) | 764 | 986 | (22.5 | ) | ||||
| Earnings per share | ||||||||||||
| Basic | 0.34 | 0.50 | 1.53 | 1.94 | ||||||||
| Diluted | 0.34 | 0.50 | 1.52 | 1.94 | ||||||||
| (1) | Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered a substitute or alternative for GAAP measures. They are not defined terms under IFRS and do not have standardized meanings, and therefore may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. Additional information about these measures, including quantitative reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measure in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, is included in “Non-GAAP and additional financial measures” in this press release. |
| (2) | Adjusted EBITDA margin is a non-GAAP ratio. Adjusted EBITDA margin is not a standardized measure under IFRS and may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. Additional information about this measure is included in “Non-GAAP and additional financial measures” in this press release. |
| (3) | The Company has revised its method of calculating free cash flow to better reflect management’s view of the Company’s free cash flow generation, and to ensure compliance with the requirements under applicable securities law relating to the disclosure and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures that became effective August 31, 2022 for the Company. The free cash flow numbers disclosed in this report for prior periods have been restated to conform with the presentation of Fiscal 2022 amounts. |
Fourth quarter consolidated revenue decreased 1.5% year-over-year to $1.36 billion, adjusted EBITDA increased 1.6% year-over-year to $624 million, funds flow from operations decreased 5.3% to $487 million, and net income decreased 32.9% to $169 million.
Fiscal 2022 consolidated revenue decreased 1.1% year-over-year to $5.45 billion and adjusted EBITDA increased 1.4% year-over-year to $2.53 billion. Fiscal 2022 results include year-over-year growth in Consumer Internet, Wireless service and Business revenue, offset by declines in Wireless equipment and Wireline Video, Satellite and Phone revenue. The prior year results included Consumer revenue of approximately $20 million related to the release of a provision following the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision on final aggregated Third Party Internet Access (TPIA) rates and higher equity-based compensation costs of approximately $29 million due to the significant increase in Shaw’s share price following the Rogers-Shaw Transaction (as defined below) announcement on March 15, 2021. Throughout the year, management continued to invest in its networks, focus on profitable subscriber growth and support the Proposed Transaction (as defined below).
“As Canadians put the COVID-19 pandemic behind them, the need to connect, and stay connected, has remained strong. The Canadian and global communications sectors – both wireline and wireless – face important and rapidly escalating investment demands where ongoing investments today determine our competitiveness tomorrow. That is true for our networks, and also for our country. All Canadians depend on our industry to make the necessary investments so that they can benefit from technology advances and all the opportunities afforded by our digital economy,” said Brad Shaw, Executive Chair & Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Shaw continued, “That is why it is so important to move forward with the transactions that Shaw, Quebecor and Rogers have agreed to in direct response to concerns raised by the Competition Bureau and ISED. Our proposed series of transactions creates an unprecedented opportunity to enable a strong, fourth wireless carrier that can compete at scale against the Big 3 and with 5G. The proposal also ensures that Shaw’s wireline business can make the significant investments it needs to remain competitive over the long term. In short, we are proposing a bright future for sustainable competition in Canadian telecommunications. Instead of moving ahead with the investments and long-term planning that will drive more competition, we are unfortunately delayed by litigation with the Competition Bureau. Despite this, we remain optimistic that we will ultimately be able to complete our proposed transactions, and we are unwavering in our conviction that they represent a victory for all stakeholders, especially Canadian consumers. We maintain our strong commitment to the ongoing process, and to ensuring that Canada continues to have a vibrant and competitive industry with world leading infrastructure.”
Proposed Transaction
On March 15, 2021, Shaw announced that it entered into an arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with Rogers Communications Inc. (“Rogers”), under which Rogers will acquire all of Shaw’s issued and outstanding Class A Participating Shares (“Class A Shares”) and Class B Non-Voting Participating Shares (“Class B Shares”) in a transaction valued at approximately $26 billion, inclusive of approximately $6 billion of Shaw debt (the “Rogers-Shaw Transaction”).
Holders of Class A Shares and Class B Shares (other than the Shaw Family Living Trust, the controlling shareholder of Shaw, and related persons (collectively, the “Shaw Family Shareholders”)) will receive $40.50 per share in cash. The Shaw Family Shareholders will receive 60% of the consideration for their shares in the form of Class B Non-Voting Shares of Rogers (the “Rogers Shares”) on the basis of the volume-weighted average trading price for the Rogers Shares for the 10 trading days ending March 12, 2021, and the balance in cash. As at March 13, 2021, when the Arrangement Agreement was signed, the value of the consideration attributable to the Class A Shares and Class B Shares held by the Shaw Family Shareholders (calculated using the volume-weighted average trading price for the Rogers Shares for the 10 trading days ending March 12, 2021) was equivalent to $40.50 per share.
The Rogers-Shaw Transaction is being implemented by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta). At the special meeting of Shaw shareholders held on May 20, 2021, the Company obtained approval of the plan of arrangement by the holders of Shaw’s Class A Shares and Class B Shares in the manner required by the interim order granted by the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta on April 19, 2021. On May 25, 2021, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta issued a final order approving the plan of arrangement.
Agreement to Sell Freedom Mobile to Quebecor
On June 17, 2022, Rogers, Shaw and Quebecor Inc. (“Quebecor”) announced their agreement for the sale of Freedom Mobile Inc. (“Freedom”) to Quebecor for a purchase price of $2.85 billion. On August 12, 2022, Rogers, Shaw and Quebecor entered into a definitive agreement (the “Share Purchase Agreement”) for the sale of Freedom to Videotron Ltd. (“Videotron”), a subsidiary of Quebecor, substantially consistent with the terms announced on June 17, 2022 (the “Freedom Transaction”). The Freedom Transaction is subject to regulatory approvals from the Commissioner of Competition (the “Commissioner”) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and is conditional on the completion of the Rogers-Shaw Transaction. Subject to satisfaction of all conditions, closing of the Freedom Transaction will take place immediately before the closing of the Rogers-Shaw Transaction. Collectively, the Rogers-Shaw Transaction, the Freedom Transaction and all transactions provided thereunder are referred to as the “Proposed Transaction.”
The Share Purchase Agreement provides that Videotron, a subsidiary of Quebecor, will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Freedom. Accordingly, Videotron will acquire the entire Freedom business, including all Freedom-branded wireless and Internet customers, as well as all of Freedom’s infrastructure, spectrum and retail locations, and all of Freedom’s existing backhaul and backbone arrangements. The Freedom Transaction also includes long-term agreements pursuant to which Rogers will provide Quebecor with transport services (including backhaul and backbone) and roaming services. Rogers and Quebecor will provide each other with customary transition services as are necessary to operate Freedom’s business for a reasonable period of time post-closing and to facilitate the separation of Freedom’s business from the other businesses and operations of Shaw and its affiliates. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, the Shaw Mobile-branded wireless subscribers will not be transferred to Videotron and will remain with Shaw.
Status of the Proposed Transaction Regulatory Approvals and Related Proceedings
For the Rogers-Shaw Transaction, consistent with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, the parties made filings with each of the Canadian Radiotelevision and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the Commissioner and ISED in April 2021. For the Freedom Transaction, consistent with the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, the parties made filings with the Commissioner and ISED in June 2022.
On March 24, 2022, the CRTC completed its comprehensive review and approved the transfer of Shaw’s licenced broadcasting undertakings to Rogers, marking an important milestone towards closing of the Rogers-Shaw Transaction.
On May 9, 2022, the Commissioner filed applications to the Competition Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) seeking an order to prevent the Rogers-Shaw Transaction from proceeding and an interim injunction to prevent closing until the Commissioner’s case can be heard by the Tribunal. On May 30, 2022, the Commissioner’s interim injunction application was resolved on the basis that Rogers and Shaw agreed to not proceed with closing the Rogers-Shaw Transaction until either a negotiated settlement is agreed with the Commissioner or the Tribunal has ruled on the matter. As announced by the Company on July 6, 2022 and October 27, 2022, the respective mediation sessions between Rogers, Shaw, Quebecor and the Commissioner in July, 2022 and October, 2022, did not result in a resolution of the Commissioner’s objections to the proposed merger. As a result, the Tribunal hearing began on November 7, 2022.
On October 25, 2022, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry (the “Minister”) officially denied the application for the wholesale transfer of Freedom’s spectrum licences to Rogers, which is no longer being proposed. In connection with his ongoing review of the pending application to transfer Freedom’s spectrum licences to Videotron, the Minister gave notice that any spectrum licences acquired by Videotron must remain in Videotron’s possession for at least ten years and the Minister conveyed his expectation that prices for wireless services in Ontario and Western Canada would be comparable to what Videotron is currently offering in Quebec. Videotron subsequently announced that it is willing to accept these conditions.
The parties to the Proposed Transaction strongly believe that it is in the best interests of Canadian consumers, businesses and the Canadian economy. Above all, the Proposed Transaction will strengthen competition in Canadian wireless and wireline telecommunications and enhance sustainable competition over the long term. It will also enable network expansion, bridging the digital divide, and the next-generation wireless and wireline networks that will drive innovation and economic growth.
As previously disclosed, in order to permit continued engagement with the pending regulatory approval processes and related hearings, Rogers, Shaw and the Shaw Family Living Trust have agreed to extend the outside date for closing the Rogers-Shaw Transaction from July 31, 2022 to December 31, 2022 which outside date may be further extended to January 31, 2023 at the option of Rogers or Shaw, demonstrating their commitment to completing this transformative combination. The outside date in the Share Purchase Agreement also tracks the outside date in the Arrangement Agreement but can be extended beyond January 31, 2023 only with the consent of Videotron. Nonetheless, the time required to complete the Tribunal hearing, as well as receive ISED approval, including any appeals of the outcomes of any required regulatory process, is uncertain and could result in further delays in or prevent the closing of the Rogers-Shaw Transaction and the Freedom Transaction.
Further information regarding the Rogers-Shaw Transaction is contained in the management information circular filed April 23, 2021 on Shaw’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov.
Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2022
In the fourth quarter, the Company added approximately 52,900 new Wireless customers. Postpaid net additions of approximately 25,600 in the quarter were down compared to the prior year due to wireless competition and moderating demand for Shaw Mobile, partially offset by increasing retail traffic for Freedom Mobile, although not yet to pre-pandemic levels. Wireless service revenue growth of 7.3% is due to continued subscriber growth, partially offset by lower ARPU1. Fourth quarter Wireless ARPU decreased 0.9% from the prior year period to $37.08. Wireless postpaid churn2 of 1.39% improved approximately 10-basis points from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021.
Consumer Wireline RGU3 losses in the fourth quarter of approximately 42,500 improved over the prior year period, led by Internet RGU additions of approximately 4,700, combined with fewer Video and Phone losses, primarily due to improved retention tactics. Fourth quarter Wireline revenue decreased 2.4% over the prior year to $1.03 billion and Wireline adjusted EBITDA decreased 1.4% to $501 million.
Fourth quarter Wireless revenue increased 1.2% to $325 million and adjusted EBITDA of $123 million increased 16.0% year-over-year. For the twelve-month period, Wireless revenue grew 1.5% to $1.29 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $485 million improved 23.4%. Wireless service revenue for the three and twelve-month periods increased 7.3% and 9.1% respectively, to $250 million and $972 million, over the comparable periods in fiscal 2021 due to an increased subscriber base, partially offset by lower ARPU. Wireless equipment revenue for the three and twelve-month periods decreased 14.8% and 16.3% respectively, to $75 million and $319 million over the comparable periods in fiscal 2021. Fourth quarter ARPU decreased 0.9% to $37.08 reflecting Shaw Mobile customer additions offset by lower device subsidy allocations. For the full year, ARPU of $36.83 decreased 1.4% over the prior year. In fiscal 2022, the Company added approximately 160,000 Wireless customers bringing its total customer base to approximately 2.28 million.
Wireline RGUs declined by approximately 40,400 in the quarter compared to a loss of approximately 45,400 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. The current quarter included a gain in Consumer Internet RGUs of approximately 4,700 offset with declines in Video, Satellite and Phone resulting in Consumer RGUs declining by 42,500 in the aggregate. Business RGUs increased by approximately 2,100.
Fourth quarter Wireline revenue of $1.03 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $501 million decreased 2.4% and 1.4% respectively. Consumer revenue of $879 million decreased 3.4% compared to the prior year as Internet revenue growth was offset by declines in Video, Satellite and Phone subscribers and revenue. Business revenue of $155 million increased 4.0% year-over-year with Internet revenue growth and continued demand for the Smart suite of products. The decrease in revenue was partially offset by lower employee related costs in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021 of approximately $11 million due to the impact of share price movements on stock-based compensation as well as favourable adjustments to employee benefit provisions based on experience.
_________________________
1 ARPU is a supplementary financial measure which may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Additional information about this supplementary financial measure is included in “Key Performance Drivers” in this press release.
2 Wireless postpaid churn is a metric used to measure the Company’s success in retaining Wireless subscribers. Additional information about this metric is included in “Key Performance Drivers” in this press release.
3 RGUs is a metric used to measure the count of subscribers in the Company’s Wireline and Wireless segments. Additional information about this metric is included in “Key Performance Drivers” in this press release.
For the twelve-month period, Consumer revenue decreased 3.2% to $3.55 billion and Business revenue increased 6.7% to $623 million resulting in Wireline revenue of $4.17 billion, or 1.9% lower than the prior year. Wireline adjusted EBITDA for the same period of $2.05 billion decreased 2.8% due primarily to lower Consumer revenue.
Capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of $340 million compared to $292 million in the prior year. Wireline capital spending increased by approximately $85 million primarily due to higher investments in network upgrades, enhancements and success-based categories as well as an increase in new housing development. Wireless spending of $34 million decreased by approximately $37 million year-over-year primarily due to lower planned investment in the quarter. In fiscal 2022, consolidated capital expenditures of approximately $1.1 billion increased approximately 7.7% from the prior year.
Free cash flow4 for the quarter of $70 million compared to $227 million in the prior year. The decrease was largely due to higher capital expenditures and higher income taxes paid, partially offset by an increase in adjusted EBITDA. Free cash flow for fiscal 2022 of $819 million was $154 million, or 15.8%, lower than the prior year due to an increase in capital expenditures and higher income taxes paid partially offset by growth in adjusted EBITDA.
Funds flow from operations for the quarter of $487 million decreased 5.3% from $514 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 primarily due to the decrease in net income and partially offset by a decrease in non-cash future income tax recovery. Funds flow from operations for fiscal 2022 of $2.0 billion was $257 million, or 11.4%, lower than the prior year primarily due to a higher current income tax and interest expense, partially offset by an increase in EBITDA all in the current year.
Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 of $169 million decreased 32.9% from $252 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 due to an $83 million increase in income taxes in the quarter, primarily due to the recognition of previously unrecognized tax losses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. Net income for fiscal 2022 of $764 million was $222 million lower than the prior year primarily due to a $29 million increase in interest expense related to a $35 million reduction of tax related interest expense in the prior year and a $211 million increase in income taxes in fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021, partially offset by the $34 million increase in consolidated adjusted EBITDA. Tax expense increased in fiscal 2022 mainly due to a $125 million revision to liabilities for uncertain tax positions that became statute barred in 2021 as well as the recognition of a $78 million tax benefit associated with previously unrecognized tax losses in the fourth quarter of 2021 driven by management’s expectations that sufficient future taxable profit will be available to fully utilize such losses, partially offset by the effect of higher pre-tax income.
As at the end of fiscal 2022, the net debt leverage ratio was 2.2x5.
_________________________
4 The Company has revised its method of calculating free cash flow to better reflect management’s view of the Company’s free cash flow generation, and to ensure compliance with the requirements under applicable securities law relating to the disclosure and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures that became effective August 31, 2022 for the Company. The free cash flow numbers disclosed in this report for prior periods have been restated to conform with the presentation of Fiscal 2022 amounts. See “Non-GAAP and Additional Financial Measures” for more information about this Non-GAAP financial measure.
5 Net debt leverage ratio is a non-GAAP ratio and net debt, which is a component of net debt leverage ratio, is a non-GAAP financial measure. Net debt leverage ratio and net debt are not standardized measures under IFRS and may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. See “Non-GAAP and additional financial measures” for more information about this measure and ratio.
Shaw files Year-End Disclosure Documents
Shaw announced today the filing with Canadian securities regulators of its 2022 audited annual consolidated financial statements, related management’s discussion and analysis and 2022 annual information form and the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of its 2022 annual report on Form 40-F which includes the Canadian filings.
These documents are available on Shaw's profile on the Canadian Securities Administrators' website ( www.sedar.com ). The Form 40-F is available on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website ( www.sec.gov ). All of these documents are also available on Shaw’s website at www.shaw.ca/corporate/investor-relations/financial-reports. Any shareholder wishing to receive a printed copy of the 2022 annual report containing the audited annual consolidated financial statements and related management’s discussion and analysis may request one at no charge by e-mail to investor.relations@sjrb.ca.
2023 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (2023 AGM)
The Company received an extension from the Toronto Stock Exchange to hold its 2023 AGM as late as April 11, 2023. Provided that the Rogers-Shaw Transaction has not closed, the Company expects to hold its 2023 AGM in April 2023 and will provide notice of meeting and record date in accordance with the securities law requirements.
About Shaw
Shaw Communications Inc. is a leading Canadian connectivity company. The Wireline division consists of Consumer and Business services. Consumer serves residential customers with broadband Internet, Shaw Go WiFi, video, and digital phone. Business provides business customers with Internet, data, WiFi, digital phone, and video services. The Wireless division provides wireless voice and LTE data services.
Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX – SJR.B, NYSE – SJR, and TSXV – SJR.A). For more information, please visit www.shaw.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Shaw Investor Relations
Investor.relations@sjrb.ca
Caution concerning forward-looking statements
Statements included in this press release that are not historic constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. They can generally be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “target,” “goal,” and similar expressions (although not all forward-looking statements contain such words). All of the forward-looking statements made in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to:
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances as of the current date. The Company’s management believes that its assumptions and analysis in this press release are reasonable and that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are also reasonable based on the information available on the date such statements are made and the process used to prepare the information. These assumptions, many of which are confidential, include, but are not limited to management expectations with respect to:
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Many factors, including those not within the Company’s control, may cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different from the views expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:
The foregoing is not an exhaustive list of all possible factors.
Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the Company’s fiscal 2022 annual MD&A and this press release.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was originally made and, except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in related assumptions, events, conditions or circumstances. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this statement.
Key Performance Drivers
Shaw measures the success of its strategies using a number of key performance drivers which are defined and described below, which includes a discussion as to their relevance, definitions, calculation methods and underlying assumptions. The following key performance drivers are not measurements in accordance with IFRS, should not be considered alternatives to revenue, net income or any other measure of performance under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
| Subscriber (or revenue generating unit (RGU)) highlights | |||||||||||
| Change | Change | ||||||||||
| Three months ended | Year ended | ||||||||||
| August 31, 2022 | August 31, 2021 | August 31, 2022 | August 31, 2021 | August 31, 2022 | August 31, 2021 | ||||||
| Wireline – Consumer | |||||||||||
| Video – Cable | 1,199,237 | 1,282,879 | (19,174 | ) | (25,790 | ) | (83,642 | ) | (107,641 | ) | |
| Video – Satellite | 524,969 | 590,578 | (15,975 | ) | (12,193 | ) | (65,609 | ) | (60,149 | ) | |
| Internet | 1,901,644 | 1,889,752 | 4,668 | 5,094 | 11,892 | (14,116 | ) | ||||
| Phone | 539,978 | 595,580 | (12,029 | ) | (17,075 | ) | (55,602 | ) | (77,030 | ) | |
| Total Consumer | 4,165,828 | 4,358,789 | (42,510 | ) | (49,964 | ) | (192,961 | ) | (258,936 | ) | |
| Wireline – Business | |||||||||||
| Video – Cable | 35,807 | 37,110 | 17 | (728 | ) | (1,303 | ) | (402 | ) | ||
| Video – Satellite | 40,029 | 40,090 | 2,649 | 4,928 | (61 | ) | 4,088 | ||||
| Internet | 183,606 | 182,123 | 62 | 1,162 | 1,483 | 3,853 | |||||
| Phone | 382,295 | 390,272 | (568 | ) | (785 | ) | (7,977 | ) | 2,612 | ||
| Total Business | 641,737 | 649,595 | 2,160 | 4,577 | (7,858 | ) | 10,151 | ||||
| Total Wireline | 4,807,565 | 5,008,384 | (40,350 | ) | (45,387 | ) | (200,819 | ) | (248,785 | ) | |
| Wireless | |||||||||||
| Postpaid | 1,829,025 | 1,739,289 | 25,623 | 48,145 | 89,736 | 257,114 | |||||
| Prepaid | 447,694 | 377,082 | 27,239 | 12,378 | 70,612 | 37,743 | |||||
| Total Wireless | 2,276,719 | 2,116,371 | 52,862 | 60,523 | 160,348 | 294,857 | |||||
| Total Subscribers | 7,084,284 | 7,124,755 | 12,512 | 15,136 | (40,471 | ) | 46,072 | ||||
Wireless Postpaid Churn
Wireless postpaid subscriber or RGU churn (“postpaid churn”) measures success in retaining subscribers. Wireless postpaid churn is a measure of the number of postpaid subscribers that deactivated during a period as a percentage of the average postpaid subscriber base during a period, calculated on a monthly basis. It is calculated by dividing the number of Wireless postpaid subscribers that deactivated (in a month) by the average number of postpaid subscribers during the month. When used or reported for a period greater than one month, postpaid churn represents the sum of the number of subscribers deactivating for each period incurred divided by the sum of the average number of postpaid subscribers of each period incurred.
Postpaid churn of 1.39% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 improved from 1.49% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. For fiscal 2022, postpaid churn of 1.41% was comparable to 1.41% in fiscal 2021.
Wireless average billing per subscriber unit (ABPU)
Wireless ABPU is a supplementary financial measure and industry metric that is useful in assessing the operating performance of a wireless entity. We use ABPU as a measure that approximates the average amount the Company invoices an individual subscriber unit for service on a monthly basis. ABPU helps us to identify trends and measures the Company’s success in attracting and retaining higher lifetime value subscribers. Wireless ABPU is calculated as service revenue (excluding allocations to wireless service revenue under IFRS 15) divided by the average number of subscribers on the network during the period and is expressed as a rate per month.
ABPU of $37.63 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 decreased 6.6% from $40.29 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. In fiscal 2022, ABPU decreased 8.1% to $37.81. The ABPU decrease reflects the increased number of customers that have subscribed to our lower priced Shaw Mobile service.
Wireless average revenue per subscriber unit (ARPU)
Wireless ARPU is a supplementary financial measure that is calculated as service revenue divided by the average number of subscribers on the network during the period and is expressed as a rate per month. This measure is an industry metric that is useful in assessing the operating performance of a wireless entity. ARPU also helps to identify trends and measure the Company’s success in attracting and retaining higher-value subscribers.
ARPU of $37.08 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 compares to $37.39 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, representing a decrease of 0.9%. In fiscal 2022, ARPU decreased 1.4% to $36.83. The ARPU decrease reflects the increased number of customers that have subscribed to our lower priced Shaw Mobile service partially offset by lower device subsidy allocations in fiscal 2022.
Non-GAAP and additional financial measures
The Company’s continuous disclosure documents may provide discussion and analysis of non-GAAP financial measures or ratios. These financial measures or ratios do not have standard definitions prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies. The Company’s continuous disclosure documents may also provide discussion and analysis of additional financial measures. Additional financial measures include line items, headings and sub-totals included in the financial statements.
The Company utilizes these measures in making operating decisions and assessing its performance. Certain investors, analysts and others utilize these measures in assessing the Company’s operational and financial performance and as an indicator of its ability to service debt and return cash to shareholders. The non-GAAP financial measures, ratios and additional financial measures have not been presented as an alternative to revenue, net income or any other measure of performance required by GAAP.
Below is a discussion of the non-GAAP financial measures, ratios and additional financial measures used by the Company and provides a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure or provides a reference to such reconciliation.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”) is calculated as revenue less operating, general and administrative expenses. It is intended to indicate the Company’s ongoing ability to service and/or incur debt and is therefore calculated before items such as restructuring costs, other gains (losses), amortization (a non-cash expense), taxes and interest. Adjusted EBITDA is one measure used by the investing community to value the business and assess performance.
Adjusted EBITDA has no directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Alternatively, the following table provides a reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA:
| Three months ended August 31, | Year ended August 31, | |||||||
| (millions of Canadian dollars) | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
| Net income | 169 | 252 | 764 | 986 | ||||
| Add back (deduct): | ||||||||
| Restructuring costs | - | - | - | 14 | ||||
| Amortization: | ||||||||
| Deferred equipment revenue | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | (9 | ) | (11 | ) |
| Deferred equipment costs | 8 | 10 | 38 | 47 | ||||
| Property, plant and equipment, intangibles and other | 312 | 302 | 1,198 | 1,183 | ||||
| Amortization of financing costs – long-term debt | 1 | - | 3 | 2 | ||||
| Interest expense | 64 | 67 | 260 | 231 | ||||
| Other gains (losses) | 10 | 6 | 23 | 2 | ||||
| Current income tax expense | 67 | 38 | 311 | 30 | ||||
| Deferred income tax expense (recovery) | (5 | ) | (59 | ) | (54 | ) | 16 | |
| Adjusted EBITDA | 624 | 614 | 2,534 | 2,500 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA Margin
Adjusted EBITDA margin is a non-GAAP ratio that is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin is also one of the measures used by the investing community to value the business.
| Three months ended August 31, | Year ended August 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change % | 2022 | 2021 | Change % | ||||||
| Wireline | 48.5 | % | 48.0 | % | 1.0 | 49.1 | % | 49.6 | % | (1.0 | ) |
| Wireless | 37.8 | % | 33.0 | % | 14.5 | 37.6 | % | 30.9 | % | 21.7 | |
| Combined Wireline and Wireless | 46.0 | % | 44.6 | % | 3.1 | 46.5 | % | 45.4 | % | 2.4 | |
Net debt
The Company uses this measure to perform valuation-related analysis and make decisions about the Company’s capital structure. We believe this measure aids investors in analyzing the value of the business and assessing our leverage. See “Net debt leverage ratio” below to see how the Company calculates Net debt.
Net debt leverage ratio
The Company uses this non-GAAP ratio to determine its optimal leverage ratio.
The Company calculates net debt leverage ratio as follows(1):
| (millions of Canadian dollars) | 2022 | 2021 | ||
| Short-term borrowings | 200 | 200 | ||
| Current portion of long-term debt | 1 | 1 | ||
| Current Portion of Lease Liabilities | 113 | 110 | ||
| Long-term debt | 4,552 | 4,549 | ||
| Lease Liabilities | 1,017 | 1,135 | ||
| Cash | (421 | ) | (355 | ) |
| (A) Net debt(2) | 5,462 | 5,640 | ||
| (B) Adjusted EBITDA(2) | 2,534 | 2,500 | ||
| (A/B) Net debt leverage ratio(3) | 2.2x | 2.3x | ||
| (1) | The following contains a breakdown of the components in the calculation of net debt leverage ratio, which is a non-GAAP ratio. |
| (2) | See “Non-GAAP and Additional Financial Measures” for more information about these non-GAAP financial measures. |
| (3) | Net debt leverage ratio is a non-GAAP ratio and should not be considered as a substitute or alternative for a GAAP measure and may not be a reliable way to compare us to other companies. |
Free cash flow
The Company utilizes this measure to assess the Company’s ability to repay debt and pay dividends to shareholders.
Free cash flow is comprised of adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures (excluding asset retirement obligations), interest on debt, interest on lease liabilities, income taxes paid (net of refunds), payments relating to lease liabilities, dividends paid on the preferred shares, and adjusted to exclude non-cash share-based compensation expense or recovery. The most directly comparable IFRS financial measure to free cash flow is funds flow from operations, and a reconciliation of free cash flow to funds flow from operations is presented below.
The Company has revised its method of calculating free cash flow to better reflect management’s view of the Company’s free cash flow generation, and to ensure compliance with the requirements under applicable securities law relating to the disclosure and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures that became effective August 31, 2022 for the Company. The free cash flow numbers disclosed in this report for prior periods have been restated to conform with the presentation of Fiscal 2022 amounts.
Free cash flow has not been reported on a segmented basis. Certain components of free cash flow, including adjusted EBITDA, continue to be reported on a segmented basis, whereas other components such as interest expense (excluding lease interest) are not generally directly attributable to a segment and are reported on a consolidated basis.
| Free cash flow is calculated as follows: | ||||||||||||
| Three months ended August 31, | Year ended August 31, | |||||||||||
| (millions of Canadian dollars) | 2022 | 2021 | Change % | 2022 | 2021 | Change % | ||||||
| Revenue | ||||||||||||
| Consumer | 879 | 910 | (3.4 | ) | 3,547 | 3,665 | (3.2 | ) | ||||
| Business | 155 | 149 | 4.0 | 623 | 584 | 6.7 | ||||||
| Wireline | 1,034 | 1,059 | (2.4 | ) | 4,170 | 4,249 | (1.9 | ) | ||||
| Service | 250 | 233 | 7.3 | 972 | 891 | 9.1 | ||||||
| Equipment | 75 | 88 | (14.8 | ) | 319 | 381 | (16.3 | ) | ||||
| Wireless | 325 | 321 | 1.2 | 1,291 | 1,272 | 1.5 | ||||||
| 1,359 | 1,380 | (1.5 | ) | 5,461 | 5,521 | (1.1 | ) | |||||
| Intersegment eliminations | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | – | (13 | ) | (12 | ) | 8.3 | ||
| 1,356 | 1,377 | (1.5 | ) | 5,448 | 5,509 | (1.1 | ) | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||||||
| Wireline | 501 | 508 | (1.4 | ) | 2,049 | 2,107 | (2.8 | ) | ||||
| Wireless | 123 | 106 | 16.0 | 485 | 393 | 23.4 | ||||||
| 624 | 614 | 1.6 | 2,534 | 2,500 | 1.4 | |||||||
| Capital expenditures and equipment costs (net):(1) | ||||||||||||
| Wireline | 306 | 221 | 38.5 | 952 | 724 | 31.5 | ||||||
| Wireless | 34 | 71 | (52.1 | ) | 131 | 282 | (53.5 | ) | ||||
| 340 | 292 | 16.4 | 1,083 | 1,006 | 7.7 | |||||||
| Free cash flow before the following | 284 | 322 | (11.8 | ) | 1,451 | 1,494 | (2.9 | ) | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||||
| Interest on debt | (54 | ) | (56 | ) | (3.6 | ) | (219 | ) | (186 | ) | 17.7 | |
| Interest on lease liabilities | (10 | ) | (11 | ) | (9.1 | ) | (41 | ) | (45 | ) | (8.9 | ) |
| Income taxes paid (net of refunds) | (121 | ) | 1 | >(100.0) | (259 | ) | (174 | ) | 48.9 | |||
| Payment of lease liabilities | (29 | ) | (28 | ) | 3.6 | (114 | ) | (110 | ) | 3.6 | ||
| Other adjustments: | ||||||||||||
| Non-cash share-based compensation | – | 1 | (100.0 | ) | 1 | 2 | (50.0 | ) | ||||
| Preferred share dividends | – | (2 | ) | (100.0 | ) | – | (8 | ) | (100.0 | ) | ||
| Free cash flow | 70 | 227 | (69.2 | ) | 819 | 973 | (15.8 | ) | ||||
| (1) | Capital expenditures are net of asset retirement obligations as disclosed in Note 26 of our Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| The following table provides a reconciliation of free cash flow to funds flow from operations: | ||||||||||||
| Three months ended August 31, | Year ended August 31, | |||||||||||
| (millions of Canadian dollars) | 2022 | 2021 | Change % | 2022 | 2021 | Change % | ||||||
| Funds flow from operations | 487 | 514 | (5.3 | ) | 1,992 | 2,249 | (11.4 | ) | ||||
| Capital expenditures and equipment costs (net): | ||||||||||||
| Wireline | 306 | 221 | 38.5 | 952 | 724 | 31.5 | ||||||
| Wireless | 34 | 71 | (52.1 | ) | 131 | 282 | (53.5 | ) | ||||
| 340 | 292 | 16.4 | 1,083 | 1,006 | 7.7 | |||||||
| Free cash flow before the following | 147 | 222 | (33.8 | ) | 909 | 1,243 | (26.9 | ) | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||||
| Payment of lease liabilities | (29 | ) | (28 | ) | 3.6 | (114 | ) | (110 | ) | 3.6 | ||
| Other adjustments: | ||||||||||||
| Income taxes paid (net of refunds) | (121 | ) | 1 | >(100.0) | (259 | ) | (174 | ) | 48.9 | |||
| Current income tax expense | 67 | 38 | 76.3 | 311 | 30 | >100.0 | ||||||
| Acquisition, integration and restructuring costs | – | – | – | – | 14 | (100.0 | ) | |||||
| Net change in contract asset balances | (4 | ) | (13 | ) | (69.2 | ) | (40 | ) | (47 | ) | (14.9 | ) |
| Defined benefit pension plans | (3 | ) | 4 | >(100.0) | (11 | ) | (2 | ) | >100.0 | |||
| Preferred share dividends | – | (2 | ) | (100.0 | ) | – | (8 | ) | (100.0 | ) | ||
| Other adjustments(1) | 13 | 5 | >100.0 | 23 | 27 | (14.8 | ) | |||||
| Free cash flow | 70 | 227 | (69.2 | ) | 819 | 973 | (15.8 | ) | ||||
| (1) | Other adjustments consist of other (income) expenses from our financial statements. |