Exhibit 99.1

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1–9

 

 

Who we are

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate overview

 

 

TELUS is Canada’s fastest-growing national telecommunications company, with $12.8 billion of annual revenue and 12.7 million subscriber connections, including 8.6 million wireless subscribers, 1.7 million high-speed Internet subscribers, 1.4 million residential network access lines and more than 1.0 million TELUS TV® customers. TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services, including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment, video and business process outsourcing services, and is Canada’s largest healthcare IT provider.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What we offer, results and highlights from 2016, and our 2017 targets

 

 

 

 

 

 

10–15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CEO letter to investors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How we are delivering on our proven growth strategy and rising above to create a strong future

 

 

 

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $482 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered more than 7.7 million hours of service to local communities since 2000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16–19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operations at a glance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A brief review of our wireless and wireline operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20–21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We give where we live®

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22–29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leadership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Executive Leadership Team, questions and answers, Board of Directors and corporate governance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30–172

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detailed financial disclosure, including a letter from our CFO, and other investor resources

 

 

 

All financial information is reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified. Copyright © 2017 TELUS Corporation. All rights reserved. Certain products and services named in this report are trademarks. The symbols TM and ® indicate those owned by TELUS Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

WHY INVEST IN TELUS?

 

Investing for long-term growth

 

 

Proven growth strategy

 

Delivering industry-leading performance by continuing to execute on our winning long-term growth strategy focused on data and wireless

 

Robust shareholder returns

 

Returning more than $1.2 billion to shareholders in 2016 and $14 billion since 2004 through our shareholder-friendly initiatives

 

 

 

 

Putting customers first

 

Focusing on customer service excellence and technology leadership to further strengthen our differentiated competitive position and enhance the customer experience

 

Commitment to operational efficiency

 

Continuing to enhance our operational efficiency and effectiveness to drive ongoing improvements in customer service and cash flow generation

 

 

 

Profitable growth

 

Driving continued profitable revenue and customer growth in our core consumer and business markets

 

Strong financial profile

 

Maintaining a strong balance sheet and solid investment grade credit ratings, enabling ready access to capital market funding

 

 

 

Disciplined capital allocation

 

Investing in long-term growth opportunities, while simultaneously executing on our multi-year dividend growth program

 

Transparent disclosure

 

Providing award-winning financial, corporate governance and sustainability disclosure

 

 

 

World-class networks

 

Enhancing our advanced broadband networks, including our fibre-optic network, to elevate the customer experience, enhance reliability and sustain future growth

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 1

 


 

WHAT WE OFFER – WIRELESS

 

Delivering amazing experiences

 

WE OFFER:

·       Leading networks covering 99 per cent of Canadians with 4G LTE and HSPA+ technologies

·       The latest smartphones, tablets, mobile Internet devices and IoT solutions

·       Lightning-fast wireless Internet access for video, social networking, messaging and mobile applications, including Optik® on the go

·       International roaming to more than 225 countries

 

 

Keeping our customers happy with excellent, reliable service

 

Delivering on our commitment to putting customers first has helped make us Canada’s number one national communications provider for customer service. Over the past several years, we have introduced hundreds of customer-centric programs and services to improve our customers’ experiences and continue to earn their business. TELUS has consistently led the Canadian industry and has one of the best loyalty rates globally. This is a powerful testament to our focus on putting customers first.

 

 

Enthusiastically meeting evolving customer needs

 

Canadians’ appetite for ubiquitous connectivity and data continues to grow. The increasing speeds, capacity and coverage of our 4G LTE network, coupled with our lineup of leading-edge devices, are meeting our customers’ growing mobile data needs. Businesses are transforming their operations by connecting all the things that matter through our Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to increase their productivity and efficiency.

 

WHAT WE OFFER – WIRELINE

 

Creating bold new opportunities

 

WE OFFER:

·        Comprehensive high-speed Internet access with a growing fibre-optic network

·        Differentiated TELUS Optik TV® 4K and TELUS Satellite TV® service

·        Reliable home phone service

·        Leading IP networks and applications for businesses

·        Hosting, managed IT, security and cloud-based services

·        Innovative healthcare technology solutions

·        Business process outsourcing solutions

 

Growing in new and diverse areas

 

In British Columbia, Alberta and Eastern Quebec, TELUS offers a wide range of telecommunications, connectivity and entertainment services to consumers and businesses. In Central Canada, we provide data and managed solutions to governments and businesses, and through TELUS International, we offer business process outsourcing solutions to multinational corporations. TELUS Health drives growth as our healthcare technology products and services help Canada shift to a more patient-centric healthcare system.

 

 

Offering innovative products and services

 

We are in the midst of a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar investment to expand TELUS’ gigabit-enabled fibre-optic network across B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec to create exciting economic, educational and social opportunities for citizens. For businesses, we offer secure and reliable cloud-based services, with critical applications residing in our Internet data centres across Canada. Through TELUS Health, we offer claims management and pharmacy solutions, electronic health records, home health monitoring and other healthcare solutions.

 

 

2 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 

 

 

 

 

For TELUS, 2016 was a year of opportunity. It was also a year of many accomplishments and creating a strong future. Time and again, our team rises to the occasion, demonstrating our grit and commitment to our core values. At TELUS, we see challenges as rich with opportunity – to create experiences that consistently enable and delight our customers, to generate results that reward our investors, and to invest in the communities where we live, work and serve.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 3


 

 

TELUS IN 2016

 

 

Advancing our strategy
through key initiatives

 

 

 

 


Q1

 

·   Launched Lite basic TV plans on Optik TV and Satellite TV services, offering even greater choice and flexibility to customers looking for smaller basic channel service plans

 

·   Introduced Skype for Business, powered by TELUS, a full suite of communications and collaboration tools that offers new ways for employees to connect with colleagues and customers and helps Canadian businesses to better support a mobile workforce

 

·   Partnered with Alithya, an information technology and consulting service provider, to expand our IT and communication services offering and better address growing customer demands for managed infrastructure solutions.

 

Q2

 

·   Extended our dividend growth program, first announced in May 2011, from 2017 through 2019, targeting annual dividend increases in the range of seven to 10 per cent

 

·   Opened the door for further expansion of TELUS International’s operations by welcoming Baring Private Equity Asia as an equity partner with a 35 per cent non-controlling interest in TELUS International

 

·   Reached an agreement with BCE Inc. that will expand TELUS’ wireless customer base and dealer locations in Manitoba once the purchase of Manitoba Telecom Services by BCE concludes on or about April 1, 2017

 

·   Held our 11th annual TELUS Days of Giving® with 28,000 team members, retirees, family and friends making a sustainable impact across Canada and around the world by participating in more than 1,500 volunteer activities

 

·   Surpassed the one-million mark for Canadians participating in TELUS WISE®, our wise Internet and smartphone education program that offers innovative training and resources to Canadians about safe and responsible Internet use.


 

 

 

 

 

 

4 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 


Q3

 

·   Completed our 2016 share purchase program, purchasing and cancelling 9.7 million shares for $379 million

 

·   Issued U.S.$600 million of senior unsecured notes with a 10-year maturity at 2.80 per cent, marking our first U.S.-dollar long-term debt offering since 2001

 

·   Introduced our advanced 150 Mbps Internet plan, which uniquely offers symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 150 Mbps, to consumer and business customers on the TELUS PureFibreTM fibre-optic network

 

·   Launched the first 4K TV service in Western Canada, offering customers ultra-high-definition television with a resolution that is four times higher than HD

 

·   Acquired the Canadian business operations of Nightingale Informatix Corp., including its electronic medical records software, which is provided to nearly 5,000 physicians in Canada.

 

Q4

 

·   Reached new multi-year collective agreements with our three principal unions – the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU), United Steelworkers Local 1944, the Syndicat des agents de maîtrise de TELUS (SAMT) and the Syndicat québécois des employés de TELUS (SQET) – that represent approximately 11,000 of our team members across Canada

 

·   Received the fewest customer complaints of any national carrier by a substantial margin in the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services’ annual report

 

·   Exceeded the one-million mark for TELUS PureFibre coverage, with more than one million customer premises ready to connect to our fibre-optic network across B.C., Alberta and Quebec

 

·   Launched our Internet for Good program in B.C. and Alberta, offering low-cost Internet service, affordable computers and access to digital literacy programs to low-income, single-parent families.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 5


 

 

2016 PERFORMANCE AT A GLANCE

 

 

Delivering solid results

 

 

 

6 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 

2016 financial and operating highlights

 

($ in millions except per share amounts)

2016

2015

% change

INCOME

 

 

 

Operating revenues

$

 12,799

$

 12,502

2.4

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)1

$

 4,229

$

 4,262

(0.8)

EBITDA margin (%)

33.0

34.1

–

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1

$

 4,708

$

 4,488

4.9

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs margin (%)

36.8

35.9

–

Operating income

$

 2,182

$

 2,353

(7.3)

Net income attributable to common shares

$

 1,223

$

 1,382

(11.5)

Basic EPS

$

 2.06

$

 2.29

(10.0)

Adjusted basic EPS1,4

$

 2.58

$

 2.58

–

Dividends declared per share

$

 1.84

$

 1.68

9.5

Dividend payout ratio (%)1

89

73

–

WIRELESS SEGMENT

 

 

 

External revenue

$

 7,115

$

 6,933

2.6

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1

$

 3,027

$

 2,887

4.8

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs margin on total revenue (%)

42.2

41.3

–

WIRELINE SEGMENT

 

 

 

External revenue

$

 5,684

$

 5,569

2.1

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1

$

 1,681

$

 1,601

5.0

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs margin on total revenue (%)

28.6

27.9

–

FINANCIAL POSITION

 

 

 

Total assets

$

 27,729

$

 26,406

5.0

Net debt1

$

 12,652

$

 11,953

5.8

Return on common equity (%)5

15.4

18.3

–

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

 

Cash from operations

$

 3,219

$

 3,556

(9.5)

Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences)

$

 2,968

$

 2,577

15.2

Free cash flow (before dividends)1

$

 141

$

 1,078

(86.9)

Net debt to EBITDA ratio1,2

2.69

2.66

–

CUSTOMER CONNECTIONS (in thousands at December 31)

 

 

 

Wireless subscribers3

8,585

8,457

1.5

Internet subscribers3

1,655

1,566

5.7

Residential network access lines (NALs)

1,374

1,467

(6.3)

Total TV subscribers

1,059

1,005

5.4

Total customer connections3

12,673

12,495

1.4

 

1           These are non-GAAP measures and do not have standardized meanings under IFRS-IASB. Therefore, they are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For definitions, see Section 11 of Management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) in this report.

 

2           Excludes restructuring and other costs.

 

3           Customer connections have been adjusted as follows: Our 2016 opening wireless postpaid subscriber base was reduced by 45,000 and our 2016 opening wireline high-speed Internet subscriber base was increased by 21,000.

 

4           Excludes per share amounts for restructuring and other costs (60 cents in 2016 and 28 cents in 2015), favourable income tax-related adjustments (three cents in 2016), net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments (three cents in 2016), favourable gain on exchange of wireless spectrum licences (two cents in 2016) and asset retirement from the closure of Black’s Photography (one cent in 2015). See Section 1.3 of the MD&A in this report.

 

5           Common share income divided by the average quarterly share equity for the 12-month period.

 

Note: Certain comparative information has been restated to conform with the 2016 presentation.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 7

 


 

 

 

2016 RESULTS AND 2017 TARGETS

 

 

Aiming to achieve
outstanding performance

 

 

 

 

 

At TELUS, we believe in setting annual financial targets to provide clarity for investors and help drive our performance.

 

In 2016, we achieved three of our four original consolidated targets and met or exceeded all four of our original wireless and wireline segment targets. Our achievements reflect growth in wireless network revenues resulting from an increase in average revenue per subscriber unit and growth in our wireless subscriber base, as well as an increase in wireline data revenue and a heightened focus on operational efficiency and effectiveness. Capital expenditures exceeded our target due to a continued focus on investments in our broadband infrastructure, including fibre-optic networks, and deployment of wireless spectrum.

 

For further information, see Section 1.4 of Management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) in this report.

 

We are currently guided by a number of long-term financial objectives, policies and guidelines, which are detailed in Section 4.3 of the MD&A.

 

With these policies in mind, our 2017 consolidated financial targets reflect continued execution of our successful national growth strategy focused on wireless and data. In each of the past seven years, we have met three out of four consolidated financial targets, which has supported the return of capital to shareholders through our multi-year dividend growth and share purchase programs.

 

The following scorecard shows TELUS’ 2016 performance against our original consolidated targets, as well as our targets for 2017.

 

For more information and a complete set of 2017 financial targets and assumptions, see our fourth quarter 2016 results and 2017 targets quarterly report issued February 9, 2017.

 

 

2016 targets

 

We continued to pursue our proven national growth strategy focused on wireless and data

 

2016 results

 

We achieved our revenues and earnings targets, supported by customer growth, higher wireless revenue per subscriber and cost efficiencies

 

2017 targets

 

Our targets reflect revenue, earnings and dividend growth, supported by customer growth, continued network investments and an ongoing focus on efficiency

 

 

 

 

Caution regarding forward-looking statements

 

This annual report contains forward-looking statements about expected events relating to our 2017 targets, multi-year dividend growth and share purchase programs, and the performance of TELUS. By their nature, forward-looking statements do not refer to historical facts and require the Company to make assumptions and predictions, and are subject to inherent risks. There is significant risk that the forward-looking statements will not prove to be accurate and there can be no assurances that TELUS will complete all purchases under the 2017 normal course issuer bid and maintain its multi-year dividend growth and share purchase programs. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of factors (such as competition, technological substitution, regulatory developments, government decisions, economic performance in Canada, our cost reduction initiatives, our earnings and free cash flow, our capital expenditures and a change in our intent to purchase shares) could cause actual future performance and events to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, this document is subject to the disclaimer and qualified by the assumptions (including assumptions for the 2017 annual targets and guidance, semi-annual dividend increases through 2017 and our ability to sustain and complete our multi-year share purchase program through 2017), qualifications and risk factors as set out in Management’s discussion and analysis in this report, especially Sections 9 and 10, and in other TELUS public disclosure documents and filings with securities commissions in Canada (on SEDAR at sedar.com) and in the United States (on EDGAR at sec.gov). Except as required by law, TELUS disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, and reserves the right to change, at any time at its sole discretion, its current practice of updating annual targets and guidance.

 

8 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 9


 

 

CEO LETTER TO INVESTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back, 2016 was a year of extraordinary achievement. Our team seized exciting opportunities and rose above numerous challenges, to deliver strong results and drive tremendous outcomes for the benefit of our customers, shareholders and communities. We continued to make generational investments in sustainable growth areas of our business that will fuel our future success, while simultaneously delivering impressive returns for our investors.

 

 

 

 

 

10 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 


Putting customers first and enabling their success in a digital world

 

TELUS’ success is built on our team’s commitment to listening, learning and embracing new ideas to delight our clients, every day.

In 2016, thanks to our team’s ability to engender customer confidence and trust, TELUS was recognized as Canada’s highest ranked national communications provider for customer service. This was confirmed by consumers in two J.D. Power studies: Koodo was ranked highest in customer service among wireless providers in the 2016 Canadian Wireless Customer Care Study, and TELUS received top marks for highest wireless network quality performance in the 2016 Canadian Wireless Network Quality Study. Our team’s dedication to providing exceptional customer experiences led to TELUS being endorsed by Apple as the number one national carrier for the iPhone.

In addition, our 4G LTE wireless network was recognized by consumers in the 2016 OpenSignal report as the fastest in Canada. The report also noted that Canadian wireless networks offer speeds that are 10 Mbps faster than the average global LTE connection and nearly twice that of a typical 4G connection in the United States. Moreover, your Company earned number one status in respect of low network latency, an important factor as customers’ demand for data services and applications – such as video-sharing, multiplayer gaming and FaceTime – continues to increase exponentially.

Importantly, TELUS also received the fewest customer complaints of any national carrier in the 2016 report by the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services. TELUS was named in just seven per cent of all accepted complaints, while our two national peers accounted for almost 50 per cent of all complaints. This is the fifth consecutive year that TELUS has had the fewest complaints of any national carrier in our industry.

Included within our customers first promise is our dedication to helping Canadians remain safe and confident when online or using their mobile devices. Through our TELUS WISE (wise Internet and smartphone education) program, we have reached more than 1.7 million Canadians over the past three years. TELUS WISE is also an essential component of our Internet for Good program, which we launched in the fall of 2016 to help remove barriers to Internet connectivity for low-income, single-parent families in Alberta and British Columbia.

 

 

Darren Entwistle, alongside nearly 70 volunteers, served dinner to 650 guests, including Brian Canfield, TELUS’ Chair Emeritus, and his wife, Bev, at the TELUS Retiree Dinner in Vancouver, B.C. This marks the 55th year of this annual tradition recognizing the contributions of retired TELUS team members.

 

Delivering leading financial and operating results

 

In a year of heightened competitive and economic pressures, we led our peers in key operating and financial metrics in 2016. Indeed, our team’s passion for delivering an unparalleled customer experience drove industry-leading revenue and EBITDA growth. Moreover, we added 243,000 postpaid wireless customers, led Western Canada with 68,000 high-speed Internet subscribers and earned an industry-leading 54,000 new TV clients in 2016.

In wireless, our team’s dedication to delivering an outstanding customer experience resulted in TELUS remaining a global leader with respect to client loyalty with our postpaid monthly churn rate under one per cent for the third consecutive year. This is a performance unmatched by any of our North American peers. Moreover, our wireless customers are spending more with us, as the demand for data services and applications continues to rise, and this is reflected in our monthly revenue per unit. The combination of leading churn and strong revenue per customer is fuelling TELUS’ leadership in lifetime revenue per customer of $5,400, up to 40 per cent higher than our two national peers.

Following Bell Canada’s acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) in early 2017, TELUS announced an agreement with Bell that will see one-quarter of MTS’ postpaid wireless customers and 13 retail locations assigned to TELUS for approximately $300 million. We look forward to welcoming these customers into our TELUS family this year and providing them with a pervasive, high-quality wireless network in both urban and rural areas of the province.


 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 11


 

 


Your Company also successfully navigated the highly competitive wireline environment throughout the year, consistently reporting solid growth in wireline revenue, EBITDA and customer connections. Notably, TELUS delivered industry-leading wireline revenue and EBITDA growth of 2.1 per cent and 5.0 per cent, respectively. Furthermore, 2016 marked the sixth consecutive year TELUS has generated growth in wireline revenue and the fourth consecutive year we have experienced growth in underlying wireline EBITDA.

TELUS International (TI), a developing growth engine for TELUS, welcomed new equity partner Baring Private Equity Asia, which acquired a 35 per cent interest in TI in May. The agreement valued TI at $1.2 billion, demonstrating the value creation that has occurred in this operation over the past decade. Importantly, proceeds of approximately $600 million from this transaction are being used to fund the expansion and advancement of our broadband networks in Canada to support our digital economy for generations to come.

TELUS Health progressed our strategy of being a leader in the primary healthcare ecosystem. We significantly expanded our customer base across our suite of solutions, such as electronic medical records for physicians, consumer portals for pharmacies and benefits management services for insurers and extended healthcare providers. We also secured multiple new partnerships, including working with the Governments of British Columbia and Yukon to deploy home health monitoring solutions, as well as with the Government of Saskatchewan to offer personal health records.

 

Outperforming our industry

 

TELUS’ share price outpaced our peers in 2016. We enjoyed a 17 per cent total return in the year, the highest in our large cap Canadian peer group. Moreover, since the beginning of 2000 through to early 2017, TELUS has generated a total shareholder return of 373 per cent. This is number one in the world amongst our telecom incumbent peers. Additionally, this is double the return for the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX Composite Index of 181 per cent and a stark contrast to the MSCI World Telecom Services Index at negative four per cent, over the same period. During the 14 multi-year time periods since 2000, for the years ending from 2004 until today, TELUS’ total shareholder return was number one in the world versus our incumbent peers 12 times and has surpassed the second place finisher by an average of 40 percentage points over those 12 periods.

 

Providing unmatched dividend growth and capital returns

 

Similarly, your Company again led our national peers with 10 per cent dividend growth – double that of our next closest peer – in 2016 and demonstrated TELUS’ ability to return capital to shareholders while simultaneously funding strategic growth investments. Last year, TELUS returned more than $1.2 billion to shareholders, including $1.1 billion in dividends paid and $169 million in share purchases. In addition, we


 

12 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

 


 

announced the 12th dividend increase since we launched our multi-year dividend growth program in May 2011. Our annualized dividend now stands at $1.92, up an impressive 83 per cent since the program was first launched six years ago. TELUS has successfully delivered six consecutive years of 10 per cent annual dividend growth. We plan to further build upon our dividend growth program in 2017 through 2019, with a targeted annual growth rate between seven and 10 per cent.

 

Indeed, our goal of delivering sustained, superior investment returns has resulted in $14 billion in cash being disbursed to our shareholders, including $8.7 billion in dividends and $5.2 billion in share purchases, representing $24 per share, since 2004.

 

Investing for a friendly future

 

Our team is dedicated to delivering on our long-term strategy of unleashing the power of the Internet to deliver the best solutions to Canadians at home, in the workplace and on the move. This is underpinned by disciplined capital investments in our core business. Investing in broadband technology expansion, including TELUS PureFibre and 4G LTE advanced and 5G networks, remains a key component of this strategy. Our leadership in innovation and the evolution of wireless and wireline technology is bridging the digital divide by offering Canadians access to secure, fast and reliable voice, Internet and TV connections, future-proofing Canadian communities for decades to come.

 

Through our leading-edge TELUS PureFibre network we are helping our customers to work smarter, live better and spend more time on the things that are most important to them. In 2016, our TELUS PureFibre footprint was extended to more than one million premises in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec. We are providing consumer and business customers with the tools and speeds to participate fully in our digital economy and society. At the same time, we are enabling the scalable, reliable infrastructure foundation for the smart homes, businesses, health centres, schools and cities of the not-too-distant future. Last year, we became the first major carrier to offer symmetrical upload and download speeds with our Internet 150/150 plan. We were also the first company in Western Canada to introduce ultra-high-definition 4K TV. Our Optik TV customers witnessed a truly differentiated viewing experience in watching the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship – a TELUS-sponsored event of Canada’s favourite pastime – in stunning 4K.

 

In 2016, we extended the reach of our 4G LTE network to 97 per cent of the Canadian population and growing. Consistent with our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, at our 5G Living Lab in Vancouver, we achieved wireless speeds up to 200 times faster than today’s LTE standard. TELUS will continue to lead the world in respect of wireless technology with our evolution to an integrated 5G network. This technology will enable driverless cars and smart homes, businesses and cities, as well as applications, devices and services that promote wellness,


 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 13

 


 


improve educational outcomes and support environmental sustainability.

 

Your Company’s innovative technologies are advancing our health transformation agenda. Access to efficient and effective healthcare in Canada is becoming increasingly challenging, particularly with an aging population and the inability to increase publicly funded healthcare. Through the networking of personal health records for consumers, electronic medical records for doctors and pharmacy management systems for pharmacists, we are helping to reduce the cost of delivering healthcare while improving ease of access for all Canadians.

 

To help fund our technology investments so critical to our future, the entire TELUS team worked concertedly to implement efficiency initiatives throughout 2016. These efforts ensured we remained sufficiently well capitalized to respond to ongoing competitive and economic pressures, particularly in Western Canada, while supporting our growth investments in strategically important projects and delivering strong financial results.

 

Building on the strength of our culture

 

It is thanks to the TELUS team that we are able to deliver on our commitments to the many stakeholders we serve. Indeed, our diverse and collaborative team, underpinned by our high-performance culture, remains our greatest asset. We once again achieved engagement levels that place TELUS in the top quartile of all employers in 2016. Our collective focus for 2017 and beyond is to strengthen the exceptional culture we have built together.

 

I have long believed that TELUS has the most talented team in the global telecommunications industry. Our winning culture in action has not only led to best-in-class business outcomes, but it is supporting deeply meaningful community outcomes. The TELUS team’s culture of caring is at the heart of our TELUS future friendly story. We are using personal narratives to share the many ways our team members are creating remarkable outcomes for fellow team members, our customers, communities and shareholders. We are on a journey to redefine what it means to be a technology company in our ever-changing digital society. Through our future friendly story, we are showcasing our commitment to bridging the digital divide; enabling improved health outcomes; caring for the planet our children will inherit; advancing educational opportunities for our future leaders; keeping citizens safe in our digital world; and building stronger, more caring communities by giving where we live.

 

Your Company also secured long-term stability on the human resource front through the ratification of three new

 

multi-year collective agreements representing 11,000 team members across the country, which is important to the performance, client-centricity and solidarity of our team in the years ahead.

 

Empowering our communities to rise above

 

TELUS is aware of the powerful and profound connection between the well-being of our Company and that of the communities where we live, work and serve. In this regard, when forest fires devastated the northern Alberta community of Fort McMurray in early 2016, team members opened their hearts and rolled up their sleeves to help our fellow citizens in need. Our TELUS family, along with our customers, contributed an extraordinary $1.2 million and more than 100,000 days’ worth of volunteering and work effort in support of local families.

 

Through our annual TELUS Days of Giving, we provide citizens with an opportunity to make a difference in their local communities. In 2016, a record 28,000 team members, retirees, friends and families contributed 60,000 hours of service at 1,500 events in communities around the world, a 13 per cent increase from last year.

 

Our support for our communities is anchored by our TELUS Community Boards. Since their inception in 2005, TELUS’ 15 Community Boards have distributed $60.7 million to 5,600 projects in our communities worldwide, positively impacting the lives of more than two million youth and their families. We continued to expand our reach this year with the launch of two new boards – one in Manitoba and one internationally in Romania – bringing the total to 17 boards around the world.

 

The TELUS team’s dedication to building stronger, safer and healthier communities brings our total giving since 2000 to an unparalleled $482 million and more than one million days of work and caring. Together, we are creating extraordinary outcomes thanks to the passion of our team and the trust of our customers.

 

Caring for our planet

 

The TELUS team’s dedication to preserving and protecting our environment contributes to our role as a leading socially responsible corporation. Consistently recognized for our sustainability practices, TELUS has been listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for 16 years and was added to its World Index in 2016, one of only nine Canadian companies across 24 industry groups to share this distinction.

 

Notably, our new home in Vancouver, TELUS Garden, stands as an icon of innovation and sustainability. Built to


 

14 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 

 

 


leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) platinum standards, it was named best high-rise building in the world in the 2016 Architizer A+ Awards, the first Canadian building to receive this prestigious award. In Calgary, TELUS Sky™ began to rise above the horizon during the year, offering team members a glimpse of their future home. TELUS Sky represents one of the most technologically innovative and environmentally advanced buildings in North America. Reflecting our commitment to the community, our signature development in the heart of downtown Calgary will bolster the province’s economic strength and vitality.

 

Your Company is further reducing its carbon footprint through our innovative Work Styles® program, which offers team members flexible working arrangements and leading-edge technology – like TelePresence, a high-definition video-conferencing system – so they can work where and when it is most convenient for them. On any given day, up to 70 per cent of team members work outside TELUS offices.

 

Our commitment to rising above in 2017

 

Building on our strong results in 2016, TELUS is strongly positioned for continued success. This is reflected in the

 

targets we have set for 2017, including growth in revenue of up to 3.5 per cent, EBITDA of up to six per cent and earnings per share of up to eight per cent. These targets are top amongst our peers and are driven by both our wireless and wireline businesses, reflecting the quality and diversity of our asset base.

 

Putting customers first will always be our top priority. The TELUS team’s commitment to delivering an unparalleled client experience is fuelling our leading operational and financial successes and our unmatched dividend growth program. Indeed, our team members’ innovation, passion and skill will continue making the future friendly for our customers, investors and the communities we serve, for years to come.

 

 

Thank you for your continued support.

 

 

Darren Entwistle

 

Member of the TELUS team since 2000

 

February 17, 2017


 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 15

 


 

 

WIRELESS OPERATIONS AT A GLANCE

 

 

Going above and beyond for the happiest customers in the industry

 

 

 

 

 


Performing in an environment of rapid change

 

The Canadian wireless industry continued to grow in 2016, with one million new wireless subscribers and five per cent network revenue growth. Key drivers included the continuing significant growth in wireless applications and data usage by Canadians and the ongoing adoption of more capable smartphones. Canadian carriers continued making significant capital investments to enhance 4G LTE networks, implementing new spectrum aggregation technologies to boost data speeds and building new cell sites to accommodate the rapid growth in data usage. Customer acquisition and retention costs were considerably higher and continued to pressure earnings, as the ongoing market shift toward higher-value smartphones was boosted by the increased number of available postpaid wireless customers who became free to switch carriers.

 

Creating new opportunities for growth

 

We recorded a North American industry-leading average monthly postpaid churn rate of 0.95 per cent and robust postpaid subscriber growth, despite continued softness in the Alberta economy, demonstrating the effectiveness of our sustained focus on putting customers first. We also continued making significant investments in our 4G LTE and LTE advanced network, including the integration of small-cell technology, to help us deliver exceptional customer experiences. Our persistent focus on customers helped us generate industry-leading average lifetime revenue per customer of $5,400. Our wireless revenue grew 2.6 per cent in 2016, reflecting 243,000 postpaid subscriber net additions and a 2.6 per cent improvement in average revenue per subscriber unit (ARPU), as customer data usage continues to grow. Our wireless EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs increased 4.8 per cent due to customer and ARPU growth and our continued focus on efficiency, despite higher retention costs.


 

 

 

 

 

Learn how to get the most from your device at telus.com/learn

 

16 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 

 

 

 


In 2016, we achieved new heights by:

 

·        Continuing to enhance the customer experience by listening to our customers and acting on their feedback

·        Responding to customer feedback by introducing innovative rate plans and options, such as Premium Plus plans, which give customers the option of paying less upfront for their device

·        Extending Easy Roam® coverage to 127 countries, enabling customers to use their existing rate plan while travelling internationally

·        Strengthening our distribution channels through the ongoing roll-out of Digital Life and Connected Experience stores, which offer customers hands-on interaction with technology and a broad range of integrated digital lifestyle solutions

·        Expanding and enhancing our 4G LTE coverage to additional markets so that it now covers approximately 35.2 million Canadians, offering even faster data speeds, as well as voice over LTE services in B.C. and Alberta

·        Achieving speeds up to 200 times faster than today’s LTE standard with advancements in our 5G Living Lab in Vancouver, supporting a future of driverless cars and smart homes, businesses and cities, as well as healthcare applications, devices and services.

 

In 2017, we are rising above by:

 

·        Elevating our customers’ experience, as measured by their likelihood to recommend our products and services

·        Enhancing our networks with a continued build-out of LTE advanced technology, deploying recently acquired spectrum and expanding small-cell technology deployment to improve capacity and prepare for a more efficient and timely evolution to 5G

·        Growing our postpaid subscriber base while driving profitable growth in smartphone and data services

·        Strengthening our market share in the national small and medium-sized business space by leveraging our integrated wireless and wireline service offerings and intelligent Internet data centres

·        Focusing on the Internet of Things to help consumers improve their daily lives through increased connectivity and to help businesses incorporate connected devices into their operations and enhance their efficiency, productivity and profitability.


 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 17

 


 

 

WIRELINE OPERATIONS AT A GLANCE

 

 

Setting our sights high with new opportunities

 

 

 

 

 


Performing in an environment of rapid change

 

The wireline communications market continued to be affected by low levels of economic growth in 2016 across many parts of Canada, particularly Alberta. Revenue growth in enhanced data, IP and Internet services continued at a slower pace amid cautious business spending, while declines in higher-margin legacy voice services were ongoing. Telecom companies continued significant fibre-optic network expansions to future-proof their networks and support their growing Internet, IP TV and business service offerings. At the same time, cable companies responded with increased Internet promotions, including price discounting, and pushed deeper into business markets. TV entertainment remained a key area of growth for telecom companies, with gains in market share at the expense of cable and satellite TV companies. Over-the-top video service providers are influencing viewing trends, requiring all carriers to invest in new video delivery platforms. The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released significant decisions related to television broadcasting, wireline wholesale services including fibre access, and universal telecommunications services objectives, which will influence the telecom market for years to come.

 

Creating new opportunities for growth

 

Our significant broadband technology investments have enabled us to offer customers a superior home entertainment experience with fast Internet speeds and several innovations to our Optik TV 4K service. TELUS’ Future Friendly Home service bundle differentiated us in the market and drove very successful Optik TV and high-speed Internet loading, despite the economic slowdown and heightened competitive intensity. Our comprehensive, integrated and cloud-based solutions targeted specific high-value enterprise, public sector and small and medium-sized business (SMB) market segments across the country, helping our customers maximize their IT investments and achieve greater business agility. With TELUS International generating solid growth, TELUS Health demonstrating continued success, and our ongoing focus on efficiency and effectiveness, TELUS remained one of the few established telecoms in the world generating positive wireline revenue, EBITDA and customer growth in 2016.

The best TV experience starts with Optik TV 4K. Visit telus.com/4K for details

 

 

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In 2016, we pursued new markets by:

 

·          Expanding and enhancing our broadband fibre-optic network, TELUS PureFibre, which now reaches more than one million premises in B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec. Our Optik TV footprint covers more than 2.9 million homes, providing speeds of up to 50 Mbps or more to 90 per cent of customers

·          Becoming the first major provider in Canada to offer symmetrical upload and download speeds with Internet 150/150, a truly differentiated experience for our customers

·          Launching Optik TV 4K, making us the first company in Western Canada to offer 4K TV, and further enhancing our content offering

·          Introducing our private, public and hybrid cloud offerings to businesses, providing a flexible customer experience

·          Driving significant enhancements in network technology and systems availability, as well as process improvements, which have reduced downtime by as much as 60 per cent

·          Welcoming a new TELUS International (TI) equity partner, Baring Private Equity Asia, to position TI for continued growth

·          Increasing our combined Internet and TV subscriber base by 5.6 per cent to surpass 2.7 million total subscribers

·          Significantly improving the customer experience for our SMB and large enterprise clients, as measured by their likelihood to recommend TELUS’ services.

 

In 2017, we are rising above by:

 

·          Elevating the customer experience by putting our customers first, simplifying products and delivering exceptional service, while at the same time enhancing operational efficiency

·          Further enhancing the capabilities, speed and reliability of our advanced broadband network by significantly expanding our TELUS PureFibre footprint

·          Introducing new and innovative Optik TV features to enhance our product bundle and continue to grow our Optik TV and Internet subscriber bases

·          Driving sales and efficiency in the enterprise and business markets through enhanced connectivity, simple and targeted offers, tailored solutions and high-quality customer service

·          Growing and evolving our TI operations and strategy in order to attract new business clients

·          Advancing our strategy to improve the delivery of healthcare by working to expand the adoption of our innovative healthcare technology solutions, which supports greater collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem and drives better patient outcomes.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 19


 

 

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

 

 

Giving to build strong, healthy, sustainable communities

 

 

 

 

 


At TELUS, our community investment philosophy – we give where we live – enables us to make a positive and lasting difference in our communities. We are committed to driving positive social outcomes in the areas of health, education and the environment, with a focus on empowering youth to live to their full potential through the power of technology.

 

Investing in our communities

Our innovative community boards provide grants to grassroots initiatives that support local youth. Each board’s funding decisions are made by local community leaders and TELUS team members, with preference given to projects that demonstrate tangible technological or social innovation.

In 2016, our 11 TELUS Community Boards across Canada contributed $5.54 million to local charities and supported more than 550 projects. Our TELUS International Community Boards contributed U.S.$400,000 in support of 50 projects. Since their inception in 2005, our boards have contributed $60.7 million and supported 5,600 projects.

 

Volunteering in our communities

TELUS volunteers came together to make a positive impact in their communities during our TELUS Days of Giving. In Canada, 20,000 team members, retirees, friends and family participated

 

in over 1,500 activities, including planting trees, serving meals and delivering backpacks to children in need.

TELUS International also hosted events across the countries we operate in, enabling more than 8,200 team members to participate in 11 activities, including building schools and homes for underprivileged citizens.

 

Giving in our communities

Our team members share a long-standing passion for making a positive social impact in the communities where they live and work. In 2016, TELUS, our team members and retirees contributed more than $42 million to charitable and community organizations and volunteered 870,000 hours.

A key component of this passion is our Team TELUS Charitable Giving program, which enables our team members, retirees and board members to support the causes they care about and have TELUS match their contributions dollar for dollar. Last year, $4.9 million was donated to more than 2,350 charities through this program.

TELUS rewards the volunteer work of our team members and retirees by making contributions to their charities of choice when they record more than 50 volunteer hours in a year. In 2016, we donated more than $560,000 to Canadian charities through this program.


 

For more details, visit sustainability.telus.com

 

 

20 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

 


Empowering youth through education

Through our long-standing partnership with WE, previously called Free The Children, we are helping to engage and empower youth to harness their ideas and use of technology, make positive change and become leaders in the community. We remain the national co-title sponsor of WE Day, a one-day event that inspires youth to learn about social issues and take action in their communities. In 2016, more than 155,000 youth attended eight WE Day events across Canada.

Through WE Day, we showcased our free educational program, TELUS WISE, which provides interactive online content and community workshops that enable Canadians to safely participate in the digital economy by promoting online literacy and safety. Since 2013, about 1.7 million Canadians have benefited from TELUS WISE programming and resources.

 

Enabling healthier communities

Promoting wellness and more effective health management is an important part of our community investment strategy and integral to building strong, healthy communities.

One of our key areas of focus is on changing the lives of those affected by type 1 diabetes and helping to find a cure through our partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). In 2016, for the ninth consecutive year, we were the

 

title sponsor of the TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes, JDRF’s national fundraising event that helps to fund critical research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. During the event, more than 4,500 members of the TELUS family walked in 50 communities and raised more than $380,000. Since 2000, the TELUS team has contributed over $10 million through donations, sponsorships and fundraising initiatives.

 

Creating sustainable communities

We are committed to advancing our efforts to be a socially responsible company. We recognize the importance our customers place on sustainability and provide opportunities in select markets for them to support local organizations when subscribing to Optik TV or purchasing smartphones or other devices. We also run cause-marketing programs on our social media platforms, sharing compelling stories about how we care for our communities. Through programs like these, we contributed $1.9 million through 89 community campaigns in 2016.

We place great emphasis on ensuring our buildings meet the highest leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) standards. In 2016, we officially opened the TELUS Garden 53-storey residential condominium tower in Vancouver, built to LEED gold standards. Additionally, our new office tower in Calgary, TELUS Sky, is being built to LEED platinum standards.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 21


 

 

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

 

 

Leading the way and
lending a helping hand

 

 

 

Throughout the year, members of our Executive Leadership Team look for opportunities to make a positive impact and contribute to strong, healthy and sustainable communities. Here is a look at some of the ways they give back to local communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phil Bates

Phil Bates

Josh Blair preparing

Josh Blair

revitalizing the

Executive Vice-President (EVP), Business

meals for the Quest

Chief Corporate Officer; EVP, TELUS

Orphaned Wildlife

Transformation and Operations

Food Exchange with

Health; President, Business Solutions

Rehabilitation

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

his wife, Andrea

West; and Chair, TELUS International

Society Centre

Joined TELUS: 2003

Martin Blair, and sons,

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

with his daughter,

Executive: 2015

Henry and Ethan, in

Joined TELUS: 1995

Samantha, in

TELUS shareholdings: 87,685

Vancouver, B.C.

Executive: 2007

Delta, B.C.

 

 

TELUS shareholdings: 284,488

 

 

 

 

Doug French

Doug French

David Fuller restoring

David Fuller

coaching Anne

EVP and Chief Financial Officer

garden plots at the

EVP and President, TELUS Consumer

Phillips (centre) at

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

TELUS Community

and Small Business Solutions

the Iroquois Soccer

Joined TELUS: 2000 (Clearnet: 1996)

Garden & Greenhouse

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Club with his

Executive: 2016

with his wife, Carmen,

Joined TELUS: 2004

daughter, Samantha,

TELUS shareholdings: 38,156

and team member

Executive: 2014

in Whitby, Ontario.

 

Denise Bombier (left),

TELUS shareholdings: 134,188

 

 

in Toronto, Ontario.

 

 

 

22 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

 

Tony Geheran

Tony Geheran

François Gratton

François Gratton

serving guests

EVP and President,

landscaping at

EVP, Partner Solutions, and President,

at the TELUS

Broadband Networks

L’Ancre des jeunes

Business Solutions East and TELUS Québec

Retiree Dinner in

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

with his daughter,

Location: Montreal, Quebec

Vancouver, B.C.

Joined TELUS: 2001

Stéphanie, and

Joined TELUS: 2008 (Emergis: 2002)

 

Executive: 2015

son, Alexandre, in

Executive: 2015

 

TELUS shareholdings: 91,251

Montreal, Quebec.

TELUS shareholdings: 91,617

 

 

 

TELUS options: 17,716

 

 

 

 

Sandy McIntosh

Sandy McIntosh

Monique Mercier

Monique Mercier

greeting retirees

EVP, People and Culture, and

marching in the

EVP, Corporate Affairs, and Chief Legal

Arlene Epp and

Chief Human Resources Officer

Pride Parade in

and Governance Officer

Barbara Smith,

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Vancouver, B.C.

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

at the TELUS

Joined TELUS: 2007

 

Joined TELUS: 2008 (Emergis: 1999)

Retiree Dinner in

Executive: 2015

 

Executive: 2011

Vancouver, B.C.

TELUS shareholdings: 74,078

 

TELUS shareholdings: 96,040

 

 

 

 

Darren Entwistle

President and Chief Executive Officer

Biography can be found on page 27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  For further information,
visit telus.com/bios

 

 

 

Eros Spadotto

Eros Spadotto

 

 

assembling Kits for

EVP, Technology Strategy

 

 

Kids backpacks on

Location: Toronto, Ontario

 

 

Parliament Hill in

Joined TELUS: 2000 (Clearnet: 1995)

 

 

Ottawa, Ontario.

Executive: 2005

 

 

 

TELUS shareholdings: 171,833

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TELUS shareholdings represent the total common shares and restricted stock units held as at December 31, 2016. TELUS options held as at December 31, 2016.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 23


 

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

 

 

Communicating clearly
and openly

 

 

 

As we do every year, we sat down with some of our senior leaders to discuss issues that are top of mind for investors, such as how to win in a highly competitive marketplace and drive long-term value creation for shareholders.

 


How is TELUS taking customer service excellence to the next level?

 

As demand for reliable data services grows, we continue to make further enhancements to our advanced broadband networks, offering faster data speeds and increased reliability. This year, we enabled new wireless spectrum on nearly 2,300 4G LTE cell sites and upgraded four LTE wireless sites in Vancouver with LTE advanced pro technologies capable of theoretical speeds of up to 1 Gbps. Our LTE footprint now covers 35 million Canadians or 97% of the population. We are embedding reliability by design into our current and future technology architecture to drive a superior customer experience. Our voice over LTE service, which we recently began offering in B.C. and Alberta, is one example of this. In addition, we continue to expand our national broadband networks, bringing fibre-optic technology deeper into our network as well as directly to homes and businesses. For example, in 2016 we expanded TELUS PureFibre to an additional 19 communities. Our fibre-optic network now reaches more than one million homes and businesses in 86 communities in Alberta, B.C. and Eastern Quebec.

 

 

 

 

 

For the past eight years, we have been on a journey to put our customers first and be the most recommended company on a global basis. We continue to exceed our business targets and we lead our national peers in the consumer space, with Koodo being the most recommended of any wireless brand. We have achieved this success by continually evolving our client experience, listening and responding to customer feedback with new and innovative solutions to meet their ever-changing needs. Another way we put customers first is by protecting their right to privacy. Last year, we added more information to our website, telus.com/privacy, increasing our customers’ understanding of our privacy policies and how we protect their personal information.

 

 


 

 

24 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

 

 

“As demand for reliable data services grows, we continue to make further enhancements to our advanced broadband networks, offering faster data speeds and increased reliability.”

 

Eros Spadotto

 

“For the past eight years, we have been on a journey to put our customers first and be the most recommended company on a global basis.”

 

Monique Mercier

 

 

 

 

 

 


This not only translated into a better experience for our customers, but it also allowed us to spend more time being proactive, investing in initiatives that further enhance the customer experience.

 

With 25,000 team members in eight countries serving customers in more than 35 languages, TELUS International continues to provide diversification to TELUS’ long-term growth profile. From a business process and IT outsourcing perspective, we’ve made great progress in our continued focus to be the best. Last year, we reached an agreement whereby Baring Private Equity Asia acquired a 35 per cent stake in TELUS International. The deal allows us to leverage Baring Asia’s deep Asian market presence and worldwide experience. It also ensures access to significant incremental growth capital that, together with the double-digit revenue and EBITDA growth TELUS International is delivering, enables TELUS to continue to expand its infrastructure in Canada and remain competitive in a challenging marketplace.

 

How is TELUS driving continuous innovation for the benefit of customers?

 

We started to unleash our 5G mobile technologies in our Living Lab in Vancouver, where, together with our lead vendor, we have achieved groundbreaking wireless speeds of nearly 30 Gbps – 200 times faster than today’s LTE standard. Our Living Lab will continue to support the evolution of technologies and services into 2020. In market, we’ve deployed a heterogeneous network (HetNet), which will enable a significantly better experience in dense urban centres. We have continued to innovate through Optik TV advancements for our customers, such as launching Western Canada’s first 4K TV service and enabling access to the full suite of Optik TV 4K programming, including Netflix 4K through an enhanced Netflix app. We also began offering customers symmetrical upload and download speeds of 150 Mbps through our Internet 150/150 plan over our fibre-optic network, a key differentiator against our primary cable competitor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 25

 


 

 

 

 

“In just 11 years, TELUS International has grown from one location in Manila to a global company serving some of the world’s most iconic brands.”

 

Jeffrey Puritt

 

“We are always looking for ways to deliver a better customer experience and one of the ways we’re doing that is by accelerating our delivery of new capabilities and services through continuous improvement.”

 

Phil Bates

 

 

 

 

 

We are always looking for ways to deliver a better customer experience and one of the ways we’re doing that is by accelerating our delivery of new capabilities and services through continuous improvement. For example, we’ve more than doubled the number of teams using advanced software delivery practices to bring new capabilities to our customers more quickly and with higher quality and lower cost. We’ve also increased our efforts around customer education upon activation and renewal. This investment has helped us drive a significant increase in the adoption of digital account management tools. Increasingly, more of our in-store activations and renewals include signing up for our My Account app, which allows customers to manage and keep track of their own products and services, on their own terms.

 

 

How is TELUS’ award-winning corporate culture a competitive differentiator?

In just 11 years, TELUS International has grown from one location in Manila to a global company serving some of the world’s most iconic brands. Despite this speed of growth, it’s our caring culture of engagement, our team members, that remain at the heart of everything we do. We invest in our people – in their careers, education and well-being – and they, in turn, reward us with loyalty and engagement that translates into happy customers and enables us to grow our business. Without a doubt, giving back to our local communities is also an integral part of the global TELUS brand. In 2016, we celebrated our 10th annual TELUS Days of Giving where more than 8,200 TELUS International team members participated in 11 events around the world. It is through efforts like these that we foster engagement and a strong culture, which drives differentiation as well as operational and financial results.

To strengthen and sustain our corporate culture, we conduct an annual Pulsecheck survey to identify our team members’ main challenges and concerns. We then work together to address those issues using our fair process program, creating a consistent and highly effective

 

dialogue loop. Another thing that makes TELUS’ culture a competitive differentiator is our contemporary approach to work. In 2016, our popular Work Styles program saw nearly 70 per cent of eligible team members work outside TELUS offices at least part of the week, improving their work-life balance and helping to reduce our overall environmental footprint.

 

 

Any final thoughts on how TELUS will continue rising above?

TELUS is investing in all the right areas of our business for sustainable growth. With the investments we are making in broadband technology, network infrastructure and wireless spectrum, we are strongly positioned for ongoing success.

We are committed to providing industry-leading network reliability and a differentiated customer service experience, setting ourselves apart from our competitors and allowing us to better serve our growing customer base.

By focusing on our team, our customers first commitment and our goal to double the size of TELUS International’s business within five years, we will continue to drive sustainable and diversified growth for TELUS.

By delivering on our consistent strategy, supported by our talented team and unified culture, we are driving strong profitable growth and customer loyalty and creating a friendly future for our shareholders, customers and communities.

 

 

 

26 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

Board of Directors

 

 

 

1            R.H. (Dick) Auchinleck, TELUS Chair

Residence: Victoria, British Columbia

Director since: 2003

TELUS Committee: Audit

TELUS shareholdings: 176,695

 

2            Micheline Bouchard

Residence: Montreal, Quebec

Director since: 2004

TELUS Committees: Pension, and

Human Resources and Compensation

TELUS shareholdings: 96,542

 

3            Raymond T. Chan

Residence: Calgary, Alberta

Director since: 2013

TELUS Committees: Audit, and Human

Resources and Compensation

TELUS shareholdings: 33,299

 

4            Stockwell Day

Residence: Vancouver, British Columbia

Director since: 2011

TELUS Committees: Human Resources

and Compensation; and Chair, Pension

TELUS shareholdings: 29,275

5            Lisa de Wilde

Residence: Toronto, Ontario

Director since: 2015

TELUS Committees: Corporate

Governance and Pension

TELUS shareholdings: 9,920

 

6            Darren Entwistle

Residence: Vancouver, British Columbia

Director since: 2000

TELUS shareholdings: 638,064

 

7            Mary Jo Haddad

Residence: Oakville, Ontario

Director since: 2014

TELUS Committees: Corporate

Governance, and Human Resources

and Compensation

TELUS shareholdings: 15,470

 

8            John S. Lacey

Residence: Thornhill, Ontario

Director since: 2000

TELUS Committee: Chair, Human

Resources and Compensation

TELUS shareholdings: 150,899

9            William (Bill) A. MacKinnon

Residence: Toronto, Ontario

Director since: 2009

TELUS Committee: Chair, Audit

TELUS shareholdings: 70,422

 

10     John Manley

Residence: Ottawa, Ontario

Director since: 2012

TELUS Committees: Pension; and Chair,

Corporate Governance

TELUS shareholdings: 29,641

 

11     Sarabjit (Sabi) S. Marwah

Residence: Toronto, Ontario

Director since: 2015

TELUS Committees: Audit and Corporate

Governance

TELUS shareholdings: 14,273

 

12     David Mowat

Residence: Edmonton, Alberta

Director since: 2016

TELUS Committee: Audit

TELUS shareholdings: 7,194

 

 

 

TELUS shareholdings represent the total common shares and deferred stock units (restricted stock units for Darren Entwistle) held as at December 31, 2016.

 

 

 

 

    For further information, visit telus.com/bios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 27


 

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

 

Enhancing good governance

and integrity

 

 

 


At TELUS, we have a long-standing commitment to sound and effective practices in corporate governance and full and fair disclosure. We continually review and enhance our practices to achieve higher standards and pursue greater transparency and integrity.

 

Evolving our Board and its committees

 

David Mowat, President and CEO of ATB Financial, was elected to our Board as a new director in May, bringing with him significant strategic expertise and operational experience in finance and accounting, as well as retail experience. We implemented our committee chair succession process in 2016 with the addition of Mary Jo Haddad to the Human Resources and Compensation Committee. This addition allows for overlap and transition as Mary Jo prepares to replace John Lacey as Chair of this committee in 2017 and helps the Board ensure a smooth transition with an emphasis on continuity and consistency.

 

Encouraging Board diversity

 

We believe that fostering diversity on our Board gives us a significant advantage, as it ensures a greater range of experience and perspectives and better reflects the communities and customers we serve. In keeping with our Board diversity policy, we have set targets to have this diversity represented by not less than 30 per cent of our Board’s independent members by May 2017, with a minimum representation of 25 per cent of each gender by May 2017 and increasing to not less than 30 per cent by 2018. Currently, 45 per cent (five members) of our independent directors are representative of this diversity and 27 per cent (three members) are women.

 

Ensuring integrity in our actions

 

Having a shared commitment to integrity is a core component of our culture at TELUS and sets the foundation for earning the trust of our customers, investors and team members.

 

Recognizing the importance of maintaining high ethical standards, each year we update our code of ethics and conduct to ensure it remains relevant for our team members. We also refresh our online learning course, Integrity, which sets out what is expected of each of us at TELUS in terms of how we conduct business and interact with each other and our customers, investors and communities. The course, which is mandatory for all team members and the majority of contractors, focuses on four main themes – ethics, privacy, security and respect.

 

We continue to provide an EthicsLine for anonymous and confidential questions or complaints on internal controls, accounting and other issues related to integrity. Calls are handled by an independent agency, offering multi-language services to internal and external callers 24 hours a day. For the 14th consecutive year, none of the calls made to the Ethics Office in 2016 involved breaches by team members with a significant role in internal controls over financial reporting.

 

As part of our commitment to integrity, we are dedicated to respecting the privacy of our customers and maintaining their trust. In 2016, to enhance transparency in this regard, we added more information to our privacy website, offering our customers a deeper understanding of our privacy practices, along with clear explanations about how we protect their personal information. For more details, visit telus.com/privacy.

 

Proactively communicating with our stakeholders

 

In line with our shareholder engagement policy, which was adopted as a stand-alone policy by our Board in 2015, we continued to actively engage and communicate with shareholders by providing a variety of opportunities for open and honest dialogue. We also continued to focus on maintaining timely and ongoing communication with investors to help them make sound, informed investment decisions.


 

 

For a full statement of TELUS’ corporate governance practices, including our Board policy manual and disclosure regarding our governance practices compared to those required by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), refer to the TELUS 2017 information circular or visit telus.com/governance

 

 

 

28 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 


 

 

In 2016, we participated in four TELUS-hosted conference calls with simultaneous webcasts, as well as numerous investor conferences and tours. To view past and upcoming events, visit telus.com/investors. TELUS executives also met with many institutional investors in Canada, the United States and Europe.

 

Gaining recognition

We continued to be recognized for excellence in corporate governance and reporting.

 

For example, in 2016 we were ranked as the best in Canada for overall corporate reporting by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, an award we have won for seven of the past 10 years. We also received the Award of Excellence in Corporate Governance Disclosure. In addition, our 2015 annual report ranked in the top 20 in the world for the 14th year in the Annual Report on Annual Reports, an international ranking of the top 400 reports.

 

 

 

To provide shareholder feedback or comments to our Board, email board@telus.com

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 29

 


 

 

CFO LETTER TO INVESTORS

 

 

Building outstanding value
for our investors

 


In 2016, theTELUS team delivered industry-leading customer loyalty and financial results by executing on our strategy in a proactive, focused and consistent manner. We generated growth in revenues, earnings and total subscribers in both our wireless and wireline operations, continued the generational investments in our fibre-optic network, and returned capital to shareholders, while maintaining a diligent focus on cost efficiency and effectiveness.

 

Delivering strong growth and shareholder value

Our 2016 financial results reflect profitable growth in our customer base as we ended the year with 12.7 million customer connections, including 365,000 net new wireless postpaid, high-speed Internet and TV customers. TELUS was one of the few companies in our industry to achieve profitable growth in both wireless and wireline operations. We also benefited from continued margin expansion as we executed on various efficiency initiatives. Our consolidated revenues were up 2.4 per cent, while excluding restructuring and other costs, EBITDA was up 4.9 per cent, and earnings per share, excluding the immediately vesting transformative compensation expense, rose to $2.44.

 

“This is the sixth year out of the past seven that TELUS has delivered a double-digit shareholder return, demonstrating that the consistent execution of our strategy has continued to deliver strong results in the face of many competitive and economic challenges.”

 

 

We continue to have a strong, investment grade balance sheet. Notably, in 2016 we completed our first U.S.-dollar debt offering since 2001, further diversifying our investor base while lowering our weighted average cost of long-term borrowing to 4.22 per cent. In addition, the average term to maturity of our long-term debt is now 10.4 years.

 

When including reinvested dividends from our industry-leading dividend growth program, our shareholders enjoyed a total return of 17 per cent in 2016. This is the sixth year out of the past seven that TELUS has delivered a double-digit shareholder return, demonstrating that the consistent execution


 

Consolidated 2017 targets1,2

 

 

 

1         See Caution regarding forward-looking statements on page 38 of this report.

2         Excludes impact from the acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services’ postpaid wireless subscribers and dealer locations.

3         Excludes restructuring and other costs. For a definition of this non-GAAP measure, see Section 11 of Management’s discussion and analysis in this report.

 

 

30 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 


 

 

“TELUS was one of the few companies in our industry to achieve profitable growth in both wireless and wireline operations.”

 

 

of our strategy has continued to deliver strong results in the face of many competitive and economic challenges.

 

Rising above to create a strong future

 

Looking ahead, in order to deliver value to investors and support our targeted seven to 10 per cent annual dividend growth program through to the end of 2019, we are committed to:

 

·   Delivering on our profitable growth strategy

 

·          Maintaining our strong balance sheet and being careful stewards of capital over the long term

 

·          Continuing to make strategic investments in our network, reliability and efficiency

·          Maximizing the value of our investments to drive profitable growth and positive free cash flow

 

·          Executing on our efficiency and effectiveness initiatives to achieve an optimal cost structure

 

·          Furthering our positive track record of excellence in corporate reporting and corporate governance.

 

The TELUS team is determined to continue rising above the competition and – with a focus on our customers – creating a friendly future for all our stakeholders. Our proactive approach has differentiated us in the past and is setting the course for us to achieve our robust 2017 consolidated targets, driven by both our wireless and wireline operations.

 

Best regards,

Doug French

Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

February 17, 2017


 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 31

 


 

Annual consolidated financial information

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of income (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

Operating revenues

 

$

12,799

 

$

12,502

 

$

12,002

 

$

11,404

 

$

10,921

 

$

10,397

 

$

9,792

 

Operating expenses before restructuring and other costs, depreciation and amortization1

 

8,091

 

8,014

 

7,711

 

7,288

 

7,014

 

6,697

 

6,144

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1

 

4,708

 

4,488

 

4,291

 

4,116

 

3,907

 

3,700

 

3,648

 

Restructuring and other costs1,2

 

479

 

226

 

75

 

98

 

48

 

35

 

80

 

EBITDA1

 

4,229

 

4,262

 

4,216

 

4,018

 

3,859

 

3,665

 

3,568

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

2,047

 

1,909

 

1,834

 

1,803

 

1,865

 

1,810

 

1,741

 

Operating income

 

2,182

 

2,353

 

2,382

 

2,215

 

1,994

 

1,855

 

1,827

 

Financing costs before long-term debt prepayment premium

 

520

 

447

 

443

 

424

 

374

 

383

 

475

 

Long-term debt prepayment premium

 

–

 

–

 

13

 

23

 

–

 

–

 

52

 

Income before income taxes

 

1,662

 

1,906

 

1,926

 

1,768

 

1,620

 

1,472

 

1,300

 

Income taxes

 

426

 

524

 

501

 

474

 

416

 

346

 

313

 

Net income

 

$

1,236

 

$

1,382

 

$

1,425

 

$

1,294

 

$

1,204

 

$

1,126

 

$

987

 

Net income attributable to equity shares3

 

$

1,223

 

$

1,382

 

$

1,425

 

$

1,294

 

$

1,204

 

$

1,130

 

$

983

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share information3,4

 

2016

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

Basic total weighted average shares outstanding (millions)

 

592

 

603

 

616

 

640

 

651

 

649

 

640

 

Year-end shares outstanding (millions)

 

590

 

594

 

609

 

623

 

652

 

650

 

645

 

Basic earnings per share (EPS)

 

$

2.06

 

$

2.29

 

$

2.31

 

$

2.02

 

$

1.85

 

$

1.74

 

$

1.53

 

Dividends declared per equity share

 

1.84

 

1.68

 

1.52

 

1.36

 

1.22

 

1.1025

 

1.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial position (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

Capital assets, at cost5

 

$

46,684

 

$

44,686

 

$

41,512

 

$

38,575

 

$

37,189

 

$

36,586

 

$

35,203

 

Accumulated depreciation and amortization5

 

25,856

 

24,965

 

24,592

 

23,616

 

22,843

 

22,469

 

21,220

 

Total assets

 

27,729

 

26,406

 

23,217

 

21,566

 

20,445

 

19,931

 

19,624

 

Net debt6

 

12,652

 

11,953

 

9,393

 

7,592

 

6,577

 

6,959

 

6,869

 

Total capitalization7

 

20,546

 

19,566

 

16,809

 

15,576

 

14,223

 

14,461

 

14,649

 

Long-term debt

 

11,604

 

11,182

 

9,055

 

7,493

 

5,711

 

5,508

 

5,209

 

Owners’ equity

 

7,936

 

7,672

 

7,454

 

8,015

 

7,686

 

7,513

 

7,781

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 

Quarterly consolidated financial information

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of income (millions)

 

Q4 2016

 

Q3 2016

 

Q2 2016

 

Q1 2016

 

Q4 2015

 

Q3 2015

 

Q2 2015

 

Q1 2015

 

Operating revenues

 

$

3,305

 

$

3,238

 

$

3,148

 

$

3,108

 

$

3,217

 

$

3,155

 

$

3,102

 

$

3,028

 

Operating expenses before restructuring and other costs, depreciation and amortization1

 

2,188

 

2,047

 

1,936

 

1,920

 

2,140

 

2,036

 

1,962

 

1,876

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1

 

1,117

 

1,191

 

1,212

 

1,188

 

1,077

 

1,119

 

1,140

 

1,152

 

Restructuring and other costs1,2

 

348

 

60

 

23

 

48

 

99

 

51

 

59

 

17

 

EBITDA1

 

769

 

1,131

 

1,189

 

1,140

 

978

 

1,068

 

1,081

 

1,135

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

533

 

515

 

499

 

500

 

518

 

471

 

464

 

456

 

Operating income

 

236

 

616

 

690

 

640

 

460

 

597

 

617

 

679

 

Financing costs before long-term debt prepayment premium

 

134

 

129

 

134

 

123

 

114

 

106

 

110

 

117

 

Long-term debt prepayment premium

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

Income before income taxes

 

102

 

487

 

556

 

517

 

346

 

491

 

507

 

562

 

Income taxes

 

15

 

132

 

140

 

139

 

85

 

126

 

166

 

147

 

Net income

 

$

87

 

$

355

 

$

416

 

$

378

 

$

261

 

$

365

 

$

341

 

$

415

 

Net income attributable to equity shares

 

$

81

 

$

348

 

$

416

 

$

378

 

$

261

 

$

365

 

$

341

 

$

415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share information

 

Q4 2016

 

Q3 2016

 

Q2 2016

 

Q1 2016

 

Q4 2015

 

Q3 2015

 

Q2 2015

 

Q1 2015

 

Basic total weighted average shares outstanding (millions)

 

591

 

592

 

593

 

593

 

598

 

601

 

605

 

608

 

Period-end shares outstanding (millions)

 

590

 

591

 

592

 

593

 

594

 

600

 

602

 

605

 

Basic EPS

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.59

 

$

0.70

 

$

0.64

 

$

0.44

 

$

0.61

 

$

0.56

 

$

0.68

 

Dividends declared per equity share

 

0.48

 

0.46

 

0.46

 

0.44

 

0.44

 

0.42

 

0.42

 

0.40

 

 

1           These are non-GAAP measures and do not have standardized meanings under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Therefore, they are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For definitions or more information, see Section 11 of the MD&A in this report.

2           Includes a $305 million immediately vesting transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016.

3           Equity shares: Common shares, and prior to February 4, 2013, common shares and non-voting shares.

4           Adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effective April 16, 2013.

5           Includes Property, plant and equipment and Intangible assets.

6           The summation of Long-term debt excluding unamortized debt issuance cost, Current maturities of long-term debt, Short-term borrowings, and net deferred hedging liability related to U.S. dollar commercial paper and U.S. dollar Notes (prior to 2011), less 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) and Cash and temporary investments.

7           Net debt plus Owners’ equity excluding Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

 

Note: Certain comparative information has been restated to conform with the 2016 presentation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 33

 


 

Annual operating statistics

 

 

Consolidated

 

2016

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

Cash flow statement information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities (millions)

 

$

3,219

 

$

3,556

 

$

3,407

 

$

3,246

 

$

3,219

 

$

2,550

 

$

2,670

 

Cash used by investing activities (millions)

 

(2,923

)

(4,477

)

(3,668

)

(2,389

)

(2,058

)

(1,968

)

(1,731

)

Cash provided (used) by financing activities (millions)

 

(87

)

1,084

 

(15

)

(628

)

(1,100

)

(553

)

(963

)

Profitability ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend payout1

 

89%

 

73%

 

66%

 

67%

 

66%

 

63%

 

65%

 

Return on common equity2

 

15.4%

 

18.3%

 

17.8%

 

16.8%

 

15.6%

 

14.4%

 

13.0%

 

Cash flows to assets3

 

11.6%

 

13.5%

 

14.7%

 

15.1%

 

15.7%

 

12.8%

 

13.6%

 

Debt and coverage ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA interest coverage ratio4

 

8.32

 

9.65

 

9.47

 

10.47

 

11.77

 

9.81

 

6.99

 

Net debt to EBITDA ratio5,6

 

2.69

 

2.66

 

2.19

 

1.84

 

1.68

 

1.88

 

1.88

 

Other metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA6 less capital expenditures (millions)

 

$

1,740

 

$

1,911

 

$

1,932

 

$

2,006

 

$

1,926

 

$

1,853

 

$

1,927

 

Free cash flow (millions)7

 

$

141

 

$

1,078

 

$

1,057

 

$

1,051

 

$

1,331

 

$

997

 

$

939

 

Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences) (millions)

 

$

2,968

 

$

2,577

 

$

2,359

 

$

2,110

 

$

1,981

 

$

1,847

 

$

1,721

 

Cash payments for spectrum licences (millions)

 

$

145

 

$

2,048

 

$

1,171

 

$

67

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

Capex intensity8

 

23%

 

21%

 

20%

 

19%

 

18%

 

18%

 

18%

 

Total customer connections (000s)9

 

12,673

 

12,495

 

12,228

 

11,685

 

11,474

 

11,050

 

10,560

 

Employee-related information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total salaries and benefits (millions)6

 

$

2,985

 

$

3,007

 

$

2,851

 

$

2,743

 

$

2,474

 

$

2,258

 

$

2,205

 

Total active employees10

 

51,300

 

47,700

 

43,700

 

43,400

 

42,400

 

41,100

 

34,800

 

Full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

 

50,500

 

46,600

 

42,700

 

42,300

 

41,400

 

40,100

 

33,900

 

EBITDA per average FTE employee (000s)6

 

$

98

 

$

101

 

$

103

 

$

99

 

$

98

 

$

99

 

$

107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

Quarterly operating statistics

 

 

Consolidated

 

Q4 2016

 

Q3 2016

 

Q2 2016

 

Q1 2016

 

Q4 2015

 

Q3 2015

 

Q2 2015

 

Q1 2015

 

Cash flow statement information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities (millions)

 

$

732

 

$

1,032

 

$

892

 

$

563

 

$

870

 

$

1,025

 

$

943

 

$

718

 

Cash used by investing activities (millions)

 

(848

)

(680

)

(735

)

(660

)

(625

)

(549

)

(2,377

)

(926

)

Cash provided (used) by financing activities (millions)

 

138

 

(370

)

(207

)

352

 

(163

)

(412

)

(68

)

1,727

 

Profitability ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend payout1

 

89%

 

76%

 

74%

 

76%

 

73%

 

69%

 

69%

 

65%

 

Return on common equity2

 

15.4%

 

17.9%

 

18.5%

 

17.7%

 

18.3%

 

18.7%

 

18.3%

 

18.5%

 

Cash flows to assets3

 

11.6%

 

12.1%

 

12.3%

 

12.7%

 

13.5%

 

13.9%

 

14.1%

 

14.0%

 

Debt and coverage ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA interest coverage ratio4

 

8.32

 

8.52

 

8.75

 

9.16

 

9.65

 

9.78

 

9.79

 

9.43

 

Net debt to EBITDA ratio5,6

 

2.69

 

2.62

 

2.67

 

2.74

 

2.66

 

2.64

 

2.67

 

2.30

 

Other metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA6 less capital expenditures (millions)

 

$

323

 

$

404

 

$

443

 

$

570

 

$

422

 

$

496

 

$

476

 

$

517

 

Free cash flow (millions)7

 

$

(191

)

$

98

 

$

126

 

$

108

 

$

197

 

$

310

 

$

300

 

$

271

 

Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences) (millions)

 

$

794

 

$

787

 

$

769

 

$

618

 

$

655

 

$

623

 

$

664

 

$

635

 

Cash payments for spectrum licences (millions)

 

–

 

–

 

$

145

 

–

 

$

46

 

$

12

 

$

1,688

 

$

302

 

Capex intensity8

 

24%

 

24%

 

24%

 

20%

 

20%

 

20%

 

21%

 

21%

 

Total customer connections (000s)9

 

12,673

 

12,577

 

12,494

 

12,443

 

12,495

 

12,436

 

12,342

 

12,260

 

Employee-related information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total salaries and benefits (millions)6

 

$

751

 

$

761

 

$

739

 

$

734

 

$

778

 

$

773

 

$

741

 

$

715

 

 

1               Sum of the last quarterly dividends declared per share, divided by the sum of Basic earnings per share reported in the most recent four quarters.

2               Equity share income divided by the average quarterly share equity for the 12-month period. Quarterly ratios are calculated on a 12-month trailing basis.

3               Cash provided by operating activities divided by total assets. Quarterly ratios are based on 12-month trailing cash flow provided by operating activities.

4               EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs, divided by Financing costs before long-term debt prepayment premium and capitalized long-term debt interest, calculated on a 12-month trailing basis.

5               Net debt at the end of the period divided by 12-month trailing EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs.

6               Excluding restructuring and other costs.

7               EBITDA as reported, adjusted for payments in excess of expense for share-based compensation, restructuring initiatives and defined benefit plans, and deducting cash interest, cash income taxes, gain on exchange of wireless spectrum licences, net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments, gains from the sale of property, plant and equipment and capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences). In 2011, TELUS also deducted the Transactel gain of $17 million from EBITDA.

8               Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences) divided by Operating revenues.

9               The sum of wireless subscribers, residential network access lines (NALs), Internet subscribers and TV subscribers (TELUS Optik TV and TELUS Satellite TV). Effective January 1, 2014, subscriber connections have been restated to exclude 25,000 dial-up Internet subscribers and include 222,000 Public Mobile prepaid subscribers in the opening subscriber balances. TELUS acquired 100% of Public Mobile in November 2013. Effective December 31, 2015, business NALs have been removed from the reported subscriber base and, as such, comparative prior periods have been adjusted to exclude business NALs. Subsequent to a review of our subscriber base during the first quarter of 2016, our 2016 opening wireless postpaid subscriber base was reduced by 45,000 and our 2016 opening wireline high-speed Internet subscriber base was increased by 21,000.

10          Excluding employees in TELUS International, total active employees were 25,500 in 2016, 27,000 in 2015, 27,900 in 2014, 28,300 in 2013, 28,000 in 2012, 27,800 in 2011, and 26,400 in 2010. In 2013, TELUS acquired Public Mobile, which added 490 employees.

 

Note: Certain comparative information has been restated to conform with the 2016 presentation.

 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 35


 

 

Annual segment statistics

 

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

Wireless segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Network revenues (millions)

 

$

6,541

 

$

6,298

 

$

6,008

 

$

5,641

 

$

5,367

 

$

5,004

 

$

4,611

 

Operating revenues (millions)1

 

$

7,173

 

$

6,994

 

$

6,641

 

$

6,177

 

$

5,886

 

$

5,500

 

$

5,045

 

Operating expenses before restructuring and other costs, depreciation and amortization (millions)

 

4,146

 

4,107

 

3,884

 

3,543

 

3,415

 

3,321

 

3,027

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs (millions)

 

3,027

 

2,887

 

2,757

 

2,634

 

2,471

 

2,179

 

2,018

 

Restructuring and other costs (millions)2

 

121

 

81

 

30

 

30

 

13

 

2

 

4

 

EBITDA (millions)

 

$

2,906

 

$

2,806

 

$

2,727

 

$

2,604

 

$

2,458

 

$

2,177

 

$

2,014

 

EBITDA margin3

 

42.2%

 

41.3%

 

41.5%

 

42.6%

 

42.0%

 

39.6%

 

40.0%

 

Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences) (millions)

 

$

982

 

$

893

 

$

832

 

$

712

 

$

711

 

$

508

 

$

463

 

Cash payments for spectrum licences (millions)

 

$

145

 

$

2,048

 

$

1,171

 

$

67

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

Subscriber gross additions (000s)4

 

1,399

 

1,443

 

1,620

 

1,614

 

1,646

 

1,798

 

1,710

 

Subscriber net additions (000s)4

 

173

 

176

 

252

 

307

 

331

 

369

 

447

 

Subscribers (000s)4,5,6

 

8,585

 

8,457

 

8,281

 

7,807

 

7,670

 

7,340

 

6,971

 

Wireless market share, subscriber-based

 

29%

 

29%

 

28%

 

27%

 

28%

 

28%

 

28%

 

Blended monthly average revenue per unit (ARPU)4

 

$

65

 

$

63

 

$

62

 

$

61

 

$

60

 

$

59

 

$

58

 

Cost of acquisition (COA), per gross addition4

 

$

455

 

$

418

 

$

385

 

$

400

 

$

408

 

$

386

 

$

350

 

Monthly churn rate4

 

1.21%

 

1.26%

 

1.41%

 

1.41%

 

1.47%

 

1.68%

 

1.57%

 

Monthly postpaid churn rate

 

0.95%

 

0.94%

 

0.93%

 

1.03%

 

1.09%

 

1.31%

 

1.19%

 

Population coverage (millions)7

 

35.7

 

35.7

 

35.3

 

34.9

 

34.7

 

34.4

 

33.8

 

Wireline segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues (millions)1

 

$

5,878

 

$

5,743

 

$

5,590

 

$

5,443

 

$

5,246

 

$

5,099

 

$

4,935

 

Operating expenses before restructuring and other costs, depreciation and amortization (millions)

 

4,197

 

4,142

 

4,056

 

3,961

 

3,810

 

3,578

 

3,305

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs (millions)

 

1,681

 

1,601

 

1,534

 

1,482

 

1,436

 

1,521

 

1,630

 

Restructuring and other costs (millions)2

 

358

 

145

 

45

 

68

 

35

 

33

 

76

 

EBITDA (millions)

 

$

1,323

 

$

1,456

 

$

1,489

 

$

1,414

 

$

1,401

 

$

1,488

 

$

1,554

 

EBITDA margin3

 

28.6%

 

27.9%

 

27.4%

 

27.2%

 

27.4%

 

29.8%

 

33.0%

 

Capital expenditures (millions)

 

$

1,986

 

$

1,684

 

$

1,527

 

$

1,398

 

$

1,270

 

$

1,339

 

$

1,258

 

Internet subscribers (000s)8,9

 

1,655

 

1,566

 

1,475

 

1,420

 

1,359

 

1,286

 

1,229

 

Residential network access lines (NALs) (000s)10

 

1,374

 

1,467

 

1,556

 

1,643

 

1,767

 

1,915

 

2,046

 

Total TV subscribers (000s)

 

1,059

 

1,005

 

916

 

815

 

678

 

509

 

314

 

 

 

 

 

 

36 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

Quarterly segment statistics

 

 

 

Q4 2016

 

Q3 2016

 

Q2 2016

 

Q1 2016

 

Q4 2015

 

Q3 2015

 

Q2 2015

 

Q1 2015

 

Wireless segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Network revenues (millions)

 

$

1,681

 

$

1,679

 

$

1,608

 

$

1,573

 

$

1,595

 

$

1,600

 

$

1,568

 

$

1,535

 

Operating revenues (millions)1

 

$

1,856

 

$

1,833

 

$

1,768

 

$

1,716

 

$

1,789

 

$

1,783

 

$

1,736

 

$

1,686

 

Operating expenses before restructuring and other costs, depreciation and amortization (millions)

 

1,173

 

1,056

 

966

 

951

 

1,136

 

1,054

 

981

 

936

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs (millions)

 

683

 

777

 

802

 

765

 

653

 

729

 

755

 

750

 

Restructuring and other costs (millions)2

 

85

 

18

 

9

 

9

 

25

 

14

 

36

 

6

 

EBITDA (millions)

 

$

598

 

$

759

 

$

793

 

$

756

 

$

628

 

$

715

 

$

719

 

$

744

 

EBITDA margin3

 

36.8%

 

42.4%

 

45.4%

 

44.6%

 

36.5%

 

40.9%

 

43.5%

 

44.5%

 

Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences) (millions)

 

$

249

 

$

295

 

$

258

 

$

180

 

$

209

 

$

209

 

$

227

 

$

248

 

Cash payments for spectrum licences (millions)

 

–

 

–

 

$

145

 

–

 

$

46

 

$

12

 

$

1,688

 

$

302

 

Subscriber gross additions (000s)

 

398

 

379

 

331

 

291

 

371

 

390

 

355

 

327

 

Subscriber net additions (000s)

 

78

 

80

 

40

 

(25

)

36

 

69

 

63

 

8

 

Subscribers (000s)6

 

8,585

 

8,507

 

8,427

 

8,387

 

8,457

 

8,421

 

8,352

 

8,289

 

Wireless market share, subscriber-based

 

29%

 

29%

 

29%

 

29%

 

29%

 

29%

 

29%

 

29%

 

Blended monthly ARPU

 

$

66

 

$

67

 

$

64

 

$

63

 

$

64

 

$

64

 

$

63

 

$

62

 

COA, per gross addition

 

$

500

 

$

435

 

$

442

 

$

435

 

$

472

 

$

400

 

$

404

 

$

392

 

Monthly churn rate

 

1.25%

 

1.18%

 

1.15%

 

1.26%

 

1.32%

 

1.28%

 

1.17%

 

1.28%

 

Monthly postpaid churn rate

 

0.98%

 

0.94%

 

0.90%

 

0.97%

 

1.01%

 

0.97%

 

0.86%

 

0.91%

 

Population coverage (millions)7

 

35.7

 

35.7

 

35.7

 

35.7

 

35.7

 

35.7

 

35.7

 

35.6

 

Wireline segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues (millions)1

 

$

1,515

 

$

1,468

 

$

1,442

 

$

1,453

 

$

1,489

 

$

1,432

 

$

1,423

 

$

1,399

 

Operating expenses before restructuring and other costs, depreciation and amortization (millions)

 

1,081

 

1,054

 

1,032

 

1,030

 

1,065

 

1,042

 

1,038

 

997

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs (millions)

 

434

 

414

 

410

 

423

 

424

 

390

 

385

 

402

 

Restructuring and other costs (millions)2

 

263

 

42

 

14

 

39

 

74

 

37

 

23

 

11

 

EBITDA (millions)

 

$

171

 

$

372

 

$

396

 

$

384

 

$

350

 

$

353

 

$

362

 

$

391

 

EBITDA margin3

 

28.6%

 

28.2%

 

28.4%

 

29.1%

 

28.5%

 

27.3%

 

27.0%

 

28.8%

 

Capital expenditures (millions)

 

$

545

 

$

492

 

$

511

 

$

438

 

$

446

 

$

414

 

$

437

 

$

387

 

Internet subscribers (000s)9

 

1,655

 

1,631

 

1,617

 

1,599

 

1,566

 

1,544

 

1,520

 

1,498

 

Residential NALs (000s)10

 

1,374

 

1,396

 

1,421

 

1,441

 

1,467

 

1,491

 

1,516

 

1,536

 

Total TV subscribers (000s)

 

1,059

 

1,043

 

1,029

 

1,016

 

1,005

 

980

 

954

 

937

 

 

1               Includes intersegment revenue.

2               Includes a $305 million immediately vesting transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016: $70 million in wireless and $235 million in wireline.

3               Excludes restructuring and other costs.

4               Effective January 1, 2014, prepaid subscribers, total subscribers and associated operating statistics have been adjusted for inclusion of 222,000 Public Mobile prepaid subscribers in the opening subscriber balances, and subsequent Public Mobile subscriber changes. TELUS acquired 100% of Public Mobile in November 2013.

5               Includes an April 1, 2013 adjustment to remove approximately 76,000 machine-to-machine subscriptions and an October 1, 2013 adjustment to remove approximately 94,000 Mike subscriptions.

6               Subsequent to a review of our subscriber base during the first quarter of 2016, our 2016 opening wireless postpaid subscriber base was reduced by 45,000.

7               Includes expanded coverage resulting from network access agreements principally with Bell Canada.

8               Effective January 1, 2014, Internet subscribers exclude dial-up subscribers.

9               Subsequent to a review of our subscriber base during the first quarter of 2016, our 2016 opening wireline high-speed Internet subscriber base was increased by 21,000.

10          Effective December 31, 2015, NALs have been restated to remove business NALs and, as such, comparative prior periods have been adjusted to exclude business NALs.

 

Note: Certain comparative information has been restated to conform with the 2016 presentation.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 37


 

Management’s discussion and analysis

 

 

Caution regarding forward-looking statements

 


The terms TELUS, the Company, we, us and our refer to TELUS Corporation and, where the context of the narrative permits or requires, its subsidiaries.

This Management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) including, in particular, Section 9 General trends, outlook and assumptions, contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, forward-looking statements).

Forward-looking statements include any statements that do not refer to historical facts. They include, but are not limited to, statements about our objectives and our strategies to achieve those objectives, about our annual outlook, targets, multi-year dividend growth program, multi-year share purchase program, statements about anticipated trends regarding our business and the environment in which we operate (in particular: Section 5 Discussion of operations and Section 9 General trends, outlook and assumptions), and much of our discussion regarding risk mitigation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words assumption, goal, guidance, objective, outlook, strategy, target and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as aim, anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, predict, seek, should, strive and will.

Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action, including the assumptions mentioned in Section 9 General trends, outlook and assumptions and Section 10 Risks and risk management in this MD&A. The assumptions on which our forward-looking statements are based may ultimately prove to have been inaccurate and, as a result, our actual results or events may

 

differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties that could also cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in other TELUS filings include, but are not limited to, competitive intensity; technological demands and disruptive changes; regulatory conditions and changes to the regulatory regime; and economic, financial and other risks, including those risks described or referred to in Section 10 Risks and risk management of this MD&A, which is incorporated by reference in this cautionary statement but is not intended to be a complete list of the risks that could affect the Company. Many of these factors are beyond our control or our current expectations or knowledge. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on our financial position, financial performance, cash flows, business or reputation. Except as otherwise indicated in this MD&A, the forward-looking statements made herein do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or special items or any mergers, acquisitions, dispositions or other business combinations or transactions that may be announced or that may occur after the date of this document.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this MD&A describe our expectations and are based on our assumptions as at the date of this MD&A and are subject to change after this date. Except as required by law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

This cautionary statement qualifies all of the forward-looking statements in this MD&A.


 

 

38 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (MD&A)

 

 

 

 

February 9, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section

 

 

Page

 

Section

 

 

Page

 

1

Introduction

40

 

7

Liquidity and capital resources

67

 

1.1

Preparation of the MD&A

40

 

7.1

Overview

67

 

1.2

The environment in which we operate

40

 

7.2

Cash provided by operating activities

67

 

1.3

Highlights of 2016

41

 

7.3

Cash used by investing activities

67

 

1.4

Performance scorecard

 

 

7.4

Cash provided (used) by financing activities

68

 

 

 

(key performance measures)

44

 

 

7.5

Liquidity and capital resource measures

70

 

2

Core business and strategy

46

 

 

7.6

Credit facilities

71

 

2.1

Core business

46

 

 

7.7

Sale of trade receivables

71

 

2.2

Strategic imperatives

 

46

 

 

7.8

Credit ratings

71

 

3

Corporate priorities

48

 

 

7.9

Financial instruments, commitments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and contingent liabilities

72

 

 

 

 

 

7.10

Outstanding share information

75

 

 

 

 

 

7.11

Transactions between related parties

 

75

 

4

Capabilities

50

 

8

Accounting matters

75

 

4.1

Principal markets addressed

 

 

8.1

Critical accounting estimates

75

 

 

and competition

50

 

8.2

Accounting policy developments

79

 

4.2

Operational resources

52

 

9

General trends, outlook and assumptions

81

 

 

4.3

Liquidity and capital resources

53

 

9.1

Telecommunications industry in 2016

81

 

 

4.4

Disclosure controls and procedures

 

 

9.2

Telecommunications industry

 

 

 

 

and changes in internal control

 

 

 

general outlook and trends

82

 

 

 

over financial reporting

54

 

9.3

TELUS assumptions for 2017

83

 

5

Discussion of operations

55

 

 

9.4

Telecommunications industry regulatory

 

 

5.1

Selected annual information

55

 

 

 

developments and proceedings

84

 

5.2

Summary of consolidated

 

 

10

Risks and risk management

87

 

 

quarterly results, trends and

 

 

10.1

Overview

87

 

 

 

fourth quarter recap

56

 

10.2

Competition

89

 

 

5.3

Consolidated operations

58

 

 

10.3

Technology

91

 

 

5.4

Wireless segment

60

 

 

10.4

Regulatory matters

94

 

 

5.5

Wireline segment

63

 

 

10.5

Human resources

95

 

6

Changes in financial position

65

 

 

10.6

Process risks

96

 

 

 

 

 

10.7

Financing, debt requirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and returning cash to shareholders

98

 

 

 

 

 

10.8

Taxation matters

99

 

 

 

 

 

10.9

Litigation and legal matters

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.10

Health, safety and environment

102

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.11

Human-caused and natural threats

103

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.12

Economic growth and fluctuations

104

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

Definitions and reconciliations

105

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.1

Non-GAAP and other financial measures

105

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.2

Operating indicators

107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 39


 

 

Introduction

 

 


1.1 Preparation of the MD&A

 

The following sections are a discussion of the consolidated financial position and financial performance of TELUS for the year ended December 31, 2016, and should be read together with TELUS’ December 31, 2016 audited Consolidated financial statements (subsequently referred to as the Consolidated financial statements). The generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) we use are the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Our Consolidated financial statements comply with IFRS-IASB and Canadian GAAP. Our use of the term IFRS in this MD&A is a reference to these standards. In our discussion, we also use certain non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance, monitor compliance with debt covenants and manage our capital structure. These measures are defined, qualified and reconciled with their nearest GAAP measures in Section 11.1. All currency amounts are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified.

 

Additional information relating to the Company, including our annual information form and other filings with securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada, is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States, including Form 40-F, are available on EDGAR (www.sec.gov).

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that all relevant information is gathered and reported to senior management on a timely basis, so that appropriate decisions can be made regarding public disclosure. This MD&A and the Consolidated financial statements were reviewed by TELUS’ Audit Committee and approved by our board of directors (our Board) for issuance on February 9, 2017.

 

1.2 The environment in which we operate

The success of our business and the challenges we face can best be understood with reference to the environment in which we operate, including broader economic factors that affect our customers and us, and the competitive industry in which we operate. Our estimates regarding our environment also form an important part of the assumptions on which our targets are based.

 

 

Economic growth

 

We estimate that the rate of economic growth in Canada in 2017 will be 1.8% (1.2% in 2016), both of which are based on a composite of estimates from Canadian banks and other sources. For our incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) provinces in Western Canada, we estimate that economic growth in British Columbia (B.C.) will be 2.3% in 2017 (2.9% in 2016), and in Alberta will be between 1.0 to 2.0% in 2017 (estimated contraction of 2.4% in 2016). The Bank of Canada’s January 2017 Monetary Policy Report estimated economic growth in Canada will be 2.1% in 2017 (1.3% in 2016). However, the Bank stated their outlook is subject to considerable uncertainty, particularly concerning trade, given the potential outcomes of yet unknown policies and actions of the incoming U.S. administration.

 

In respect of the national unemployment rate, Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey reported a rate of 6.9% for December 2016 ( 7.1% reported for December 2015). The unemployment rate for B.C. was 5.8% for December 2016 (6.7% for December 2015), while the unemployment rate for Alberta was 8.5% in December 2016 (7.0% in December 2015).


 

 

40 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: INTRODUCTION

 

 

 


Canadian telecommunications industry growth

 

We estimate that industry revenues (including TV revenue and excluding media revenue) grew by approximately 2% in 2016 (2% in 2015). We estimate that the Canadian wireless industry grew in 2016 by approximately one million new subscribers and experienced approximately 5% network revenue growth. Key drivers included the continuing significant growth in wireless applications and data usage and the ongoing movement to more capable smartphones. The wireline market was impacted by continued slow economic growth in 2016, particularly in Alberta. Revenue growth in enhanced data, IP and Internet services continued at a slower pace amid cautious business spending, while declines in higher-margin legacy voice services were ongoing. (See Section 9 General trends, outlook and assumptions, Section 10.2 Competition, and Section 10.12 Economic growth and fluctuations.)

 

 

1.3 Highlights of 2016

 

Collective bargaining and transformative change compensation

 

In 2015, we commenced collective bargaining with the Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steel Workers Local Union 1944 (TWU), to renew the collective agreement that expired on December 31, 2015. On October 3, 2016, TELUS and the TWU announced that they had reached a tentative five-year collective agreement which would be subject to ratification by members of the TWU. The ratification process was completed in November with a majority of TWU members who cast their ballots voting to accept the tentative agreement. The new collective agreement with the TWU is in place through to December 31, 2021 and covers approximately 37% of our Canadian workforce as at December 31, 2016.

In December 2016, a new collective agreement between TELUS and the Syndicat des agents de maîtrise de TELUS (SAMT) was ratified by a majority of the SAMT members. This collective agreement will take effect on April 1, 2017, and will expire on March 31, 2022. A new collective agreement between TELUS and the Syndicat québécois des employés de TELUS (SQET) was also ratified in December 2016. The new agreement will be effective from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022. The current SQET collective agreement will remain in effect until it expires on December 31, 2017.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, we recorded an expense of $305 million in respect of immediately vesting transformative compensation (transformative compensation) paid to substantially all of our existing unionized and non-unionized Canadian-situated workforces; a portion of the after-tax value for certain lump-sum recipients was paid in Common Shares purchased in the market for that purpose under our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) by an employee benefit plan trust. The one-time payment to unionized employees in the fourth quarter of 2016 represents both a one-time payment in lieu of wage increases for the period July 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 (a period of 30 months) and a one-time payment as compensation for reductions in certain premium payments and paid time-off provisions that underpin future productivity improvements.

A similar approach with respect to salary increases was adopted for management employees. For most of our current Canadian-situated management employees, there was a one-time payment in the fourth quarter of 2016 in lieu of general salary increases for 2017 and 2018. For the unionized and non-unionized workforces, approximately 40% of the after-tax value of such qualifying lump-sum payments was paid in our Common Shares.

For substantially all of our Canadian-situated employees, the next salary increases are planned for 2019. This arrangement will provide us with financial flexibility to make the necessary growth and customer retention investments within a competitive environment.

 

Investment in TELUS International

 

In June 2016, we announced the completion of the previously announced agreement with Baring Private Equity Asia (Baring Asia), an Asian-based investment firm that advises funds holding a total of more than $13 billion (U.S.$10 billion) in assets, under which it has acquired a 35% non-controlling interest in TELUS International (Cda) Inc. (TELUS International), a global provider of customer service, information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing services. The agreement valued TELUS International at $1.2 billion. As a result of this collaboration, TELUS International is well positioned to leverage Baring Asia’s deep Asian market presence and worldwide experience and tap into its global network in order to further expand TELUS International’s operations. In connection with the transaction, we arranged an incremental U.S.$330 million in bank financing, which is secured by assets of TELUS International and its subsidiaries, expires in 2021 and is non-recourse to TELUS Corporation.

 

Agreement with BCE Inc. regarding Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.

 

In 2016, we announced an agreement with BCE Inc. (BCE), pursuant to which we would acquire a portion of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.’s (MTS’) postpaid wireless subscribers and dealer locations in Manitoba, dependent on the successful completion of BCE’s acquisition of MTS. On February 2, 2017, BCE announced that it expected to close its acquisition of MTS by the end of March 2017, subject to Competition Bureau and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) approvals. As of February 9, 2017, BCE had not received the requisite approvals from the Competition Bureau and ISED.

 

Leadership changes

 

On May 16, 2016, we announced the appointment of Doug French as Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of TELUS. Doug has 30 years of financial management experience and 20 years of career progression within TELUS, including a wide range of key roles as Controller for our largest business units, and more recently as Senior Vice-President, Corporate Controller.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 41


 


Consolidated highlights

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ millions, unless noted otherwise)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Change

Consolidated statements of income

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues

 

12,799

 

12,502

 

2.4%

Operating income

 

2,182

 

2,353

 

(7.3)%

Income before income taxes

 

1,662

 

1,906

 

(12.8)%

Net income

 

1,236

 

1,382

 

(10.6)%

Net income attributable to Common Shares

 

1,223

 

1,382

 

(11.5)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share (EPS) ($)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

2.06

 

2.29

 

(10.0)%

Adjusted basic EPS1

 

2.58

 

2.58

 

–

Diluted EPS

 

2.06

 

2.29

 

(10.0)%

Dividends declared per Common Share ($)

 

1.84

 

1.68

 

9.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted-average Common Shares outstanding (millions)

 

592

 

603

 

(1.8)%

Consolidated statements of cash flows

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

3,219

 

3,556

 

(9.5)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash used by investing activities

 

(2,923)

 

(4,477)

 

34.7%

Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences)

 

(2,968)

 

(2,577)

 

(15.2)%

Payments for wireless spectrum licences

 

(145)

 

(2,048)

 

92.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

(87)

 

1,084

 

n/m

Other highlights

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscriber connections2 (thousands)

 

12,673

 

12,495

 

1.4%

EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization)1

 

4,229

 

4,262

 

(0.8)%

Restructuring and other costs1,3

 

479

 

226

 

111.9%

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1

 

4,708

 

4,488

 

4.9%

Adjusted EBITDA4

 

4,667

 

4,488

 

4.0%

Adjusted EBITDA margin5 (%)

 

36.6

 

35.9

 

0.7 pts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow1

 

141

 

1,078

 

(86.9)%

Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1 (times)

 

2.69

 

2.66

 

0.03

 

Notations used in MD&A: n/m – not meaningful; pts. – percentage points.

 

1           Non-GAAP and other financial measures. See Section 11.1.

2           The sum of active wireless subscribers, residential network access lines (NALs), high-speed Internet access subscribers and TELUS TV subscribers (Optik TV and TELUS Satellite TV subscribers), measured at the end of the respective periods based on information in billing and other systems. Subsequent to a review of our subscriber base during the first quarter of 2016, our 2016 opening postpaid wireless subscriber base was reduced by 45,000 and our 2016 opening high-speed Internet subscriber base was increased by 21,000.

3           In the fourth quarter of 2016, we recorded a transformative compensation expense of $305 million as part of other costs.

4           Adjusted EBITDA excludes restructuring and other costs. In addition, adjusted EBITDA for 2016 excludes net gains and equity income of $26 million related to real estate joint venture developments and a $15 million gain from the exchange of wireless spectrum licences.

5           Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by Operating revenues, where the calculation of the Operating revenues excludes the net gains and equity income related to real estate joint venture developments, as well as the gain on exchanged wireless spectrum licences.

Operating highlights

·    Consolidated operating revenues increased by $297 million in 2016.

Service revenues increased by $410 million in 2016, mainly due to growth in wireline data services and wireless network revenue, partly offset by the ongoing decline in legacy wireline voice revenue due to technological substitution and continued competitive pressures.

Equipment revenues decreased by $115 million in 2016, reflecting a combination of higher wireless per-unit subsidies, lower wireless retention volumes, and lower wireline equipment sales activity in the business market, in part due to the economic slowdown, and a focus on providing managed services, rather than equipment-only sales.

Other operating income increased by $2 million in 2016, reflecting a gain in the second quarter of 2016 on exchange of wireless spectrum licences, and net gains and equity income in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2016 related to real estate joint venture developments, partly offset by non-recurrence of gains on the sale of certain real estate assets in 2015 and a decrease in amounts recognized from the regulatory price cap deferral account.

For additional details on operating revenues, see Section 5.4 Wireless segment and Section 5.5 Wireline segment.

·           During 2016, our total subscriber connections increased by 178,000, reflecting a 2.7% increase in wireless postpaid subscribers, a 5.4% increase in TELUS TV subscribers and a 5.7% increase in high-speed Internet subscribers, partly offset by a 6.3% decline in wireless prepaid subscribers and a 6.3% decline in wireline residential NALs.

Our postpaid wireless subscriber net additions were 243,000 in 2016, down slightly from 2015, as higher gross additions due to the success of targeted promotions and focus on higher-value loading were offset by the effects of the economic slowdown, particularly in Alberta, and heightened competitive intensity. Our monthly postpaid subscriber churn rate was 0.95% in 2016, as compared to 0.94% in 2015. (See Section 5.4 Wireless segment for additional details.)

Net additions of high-speed Internet subscribers were 68,000 in 2016, down 23,000 from 2015. The decrease resulted from the effects of heightened competitive intensity and the impact of the economic slowdown in Alberta, resulting in increased churn, partly offset by growth in the areas of continued expansion of our high-speed broadband footprint, including fibre to the premises (FTTP) and the pull-through impact from the continued adoption of Optik TV. Net additions of TELUS TV subscribers were 54,000 in 2016, down 35,000 from 2015. The decrease reflects lower gross additions, a higher customer churn rate and a decline in satellite-TV subscribers due a declining overall market for paid TV services resulting from the economic slowdown in Alberta, a high rate of market penetration and the effects of heightened competitive intensity, including OTT services. These pressures were partly offset by the continued focus on expanding our addressable high-speed Internet and Optik TV footprint, connecting more homes and businesses directly to fibre, and bundling these services together. This contributed to combined Internet and TV subscriber growth of 122,000 or 4.7% in 2016. (See Section 5.5 Wireline segment for additional details.)

·           Operating income decreased by $171 million in 2016, primarily due to the effects of the $305 million transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016, as well as increases in Depreciation and amortization expenses.


 

 

42 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: INTRODUCTION

 

 


EBITDA includes restructuring and other costs, such as the $305 million transformative compensation expense recorded in other costs in the fourth quarter of 2016. EBITDA also includes net gains and equity income related to real estate joint venture developments recorded in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2016, and a gain from the exchange of wireless spectrum licences recorded in the second quarter of 2016. EBITDA decreased by $33 million in 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA excludes restructuring and other costs, the net real estate gains and equity income, and the gain from the exchange of wireless spectrum licences, noted above. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $179 million in 2016 due to: growth in wireline data revenues and wireless network revenue; improvements in Internet, business process outsourcing, TELUS TV and TELUS Health margins; and the execution on our operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives. This growth was partly offset by higher wireless acquisition and retention costs, continued declines in legacy wireline voice revenues, certain business acquisition-related provisions, and approximately $5 million of costs and revenue impacts, predominantly in wireline, related to the severe wildfires in northern Alberta. Had 2015 adjusted EBITDA also excluded the non-recurring gain on certain real estate assets in the fourth quarter of 2015, adjusted EBITDA would have reflected an increase of approximately $199 million or 4.5% in 2016. (See Section 5.4 Wireless segment and Section 5.5 Wireline segment for additional details.)

·           Income before income taxes decreased by $244 million in 2016, reflecting lower Operating income as noted above, and an increase in Financing costs. The increase in Financing costs resulted from higher average long-term debt outstanding (including the full-year impact of increased debt related to the purchase of spectrum licences in 2015), higher foreign exchange losses and a decrease in interest income related to the settlement of prior years’ income tax-related items. These were partly offset by a lower weighted average cost of long-term debt, lower employee defined benefit plans net interest and higher capitalized long-term debt interest costs for spectrum licences not yet able to be deployed. (See Financing costs in Section 5.3.)

·           Income taxes decreased by $98 million in 2016, primarily due to lower Income before income taxes, the revaluation of deferred income tax liabilities in 2016 to reflect the provincial income tax rate reduction in Quebec beginning in 2017, and a $48 million increase in deferred taxes in the second quarter of 2015 to revalue deferred income tax liabilities arising from an increase in the Alberta provincial corporate tax rate, partly offset by lower recoveries related to the settlement of prior years’ income tax-related matters (excluding related interest income).

·           Net income attributable to Common Shares decreased by $159 million in 2016, reflecting lower Operating income and increased Financing costs, partly offset by lower Income taxes. Excluding restructuring and other costs, income tax-related adjustments, the net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments in 2016, the gain on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences in 2016 and the asset retirement from the closure of Black’s Photography retail stores in 2015, adjusted Net income decreased by $27 million or 1.7% for the full year of 2016.

Analysis of Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Change

 

Net income attributable to Common Shares

 

1,223

 

1,382

 

(159

)

Add back (deduct):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restructuring and other costs, after income taxes

 

351

 

166

 

185

 

(Favourable) unfavourable income tax-related adjustments

 

(17

)

1

 

(18

)

Net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments, after income taxes

 

(16

)

–

 

(16

)

Gain on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences, after income taxes

 

(13

)

–

 

(13

)

Asset retirement from closure of Black’s Photography, after income taxes

 

–

 

6

 

(6

)

Adjusted net income

 

1,528

 

1,555

 

(27

)

 

·           Basic EPS decreased by $0.23 or 10.0% in 2016. The effect of fewer shares outstanding resulting from our NCIB program, net of share option exercises, contributed positively to basic EPS by approximately $0.03 in 2016. Excluding the effects of restructuring and other costs, income tax-related adjustments, net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments, the gain on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences and asset retirement from the closure of Black’s Photography retail stores, basic EPS remained unchanged.

 

Analysis of basic EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31 ($)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Change

 

Basic EPS

 

2.06

 

2.29

 

(0.23

)

Add back (deduct):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restructuring and other costs, after income taxes, per share

 

0.60

 

0.28

 

0.32

 

Unfavourable (favourable) income tax-related adjustments, per share

 

(0.03

)

–

 

(0.03

)

Net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments, after income taxes, per share

 

(0.03

)

–

 

(0.03

)

Gain on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences, after income taxes, per share

 

(0.02

)

–

 

(0.02

)

Asset retirement from closure of Black’s Photography, after income taxes, per share

 

–

 

0.01

 

(0.01

)

Adjusted basic EPS

 

2.58

 

2.58

 

–

 

 


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 43


 


·    Dividends declared per Common Share totalled $1.84 in 2016, up 9.5% from 2015. On February 8, 2017, the Board declared a first quarter dividend of $0.48 per share on the issued and outstanding Common Shares, payable on April 3, 2017, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2017. The first quarter dividend increased by $0.04 per share or 9.1% from the $0.44 per share dividend declared one year earlier, consistent with our multi-year dividend growth program described in Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources.

 

Liquidity and capital resource highlights

·    Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs was 2.69 times at December 31, 2016, up from 2.66 times at December 31, 2015, as the increase in net debt was largely offset by growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. (See Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources and Section 7. 5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.)

·    Cash provided by operating activities decreased by $337 million in 2016 due to increases in income taxes paid, interest paid and restructuring and other disbursements, of which the most significant component related to transformative compensation payments. These factors were partly offset by growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs and lower share-based compensation payments.

·    Cash used by investing activities decreased by $1.55 billion or 35% in 2016, mainly due to lower expenditures for spectrum licences, partly offset by higher capital expenditures. Payments for spectrum licences decreased by $1.9 billion in 2016, largely due to our participation in wireless spectrum auctions held by ISED in 2015. Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences) increased by $391 million in 2016, mainly due to generational capital investments in broadband infrastructure and deploying 700 MHz and 2500 MHz spectrum licences. Investments in our broadband infrastructure include our fibre-optic network, which supports our small-cell technology strategy to improve coverage and prepare for a more efficient and timely evolution to 5G, as well as connect more homes and businesses directly to our fibre-optic network. (See Section 7. 3 Cash used by investing activities.)

·    Cash used by financing activities was $87 million in 2016, as compared to Cash provided by financing activities of $1.1 billion in 2015. The $1.2 billion net increase in cash used by financing activities was mainly due to lower net issues of long-term debt in 2016, partly offset by lower purchases of shares under the NCIB program. (See Section 7.4 Cash provided (used) by financing activities.)

·    Free cash flow decreased by $937 million in 2016, resulting from the $391 million increase in capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences), increased payments in respect of restructuring and other costs, and increases in income taxes paid and interest paid, partially offset by growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. (See calculation in Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other financial measures.)

1.4 Performance scorecard
(key performance measures)

In 2016, we achieved three of four original consolidated targets and all of our original segment targets, missing only the target for capital expenditures. In respect of updated guidance provided for five targets with our second quarter results, we achieved the revised target for consolidated revenue, consolidated EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs, and wireless segment EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. We did not achieve the revised guidance for capital expenditures or wireline external revenue. Our original targets were announced on February 11, 2016.

We achieved our consolidated revenue target primarily due to growth in wireless network revenue, which exceeded the high end of our target range. Wireless network revenue growth resulted from higher than expected average revenue per subscriber unit per month (ARPU) (driven by increased data usage) and growth in our subscriber base. Wireline revenues were slightly below the revised bottom end of our target range due to slower than anticipated growth in data revenues, continued declines in legacy voice services and lower business spending than expected in the second half of 2016.

We met our target for consolidated EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. Our target for wireless EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs was met due to an increase in network revenue and executing on operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives, partially offset by higher acquisition and retention spending. Our target for wireline EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs was met due to executing on our efficiency and effectiveness initiatives and improved margins in enhanced data services, TELUS TV services, business process outsourcing services and TELUS Health services.

Our basic EPS of $2.06 for 2016 included the effect of the transformative compensation expense recorded in other costs of $0.38 in the fourth quarter of 2016; however, the target for basic EPS did not include this expense. When the effects of the transformative compensation expense are excluded from basic EPS, we met our target range.

Our capital expenditures in 2016 exceeded both our original target and revised guidance, as we continued to focus on investments in broadband infrastructure, including our fibre-optic network, as well as deployment of 700 MHz and 2500 MHz spectrum licences. Investments in our broadband infrastructure also support our small-cell technology strategy to improve coverage and prepare for a more efficient and timely evolution to 5G.

Our capital structure financial policies and our report on financing and capital structure management plans are described in Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources.


 

 

44 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: INTRODUCTION

 

 

The following scorecard compares TELUS’ performance to our original 2016 targets. See our general trends, outlook and assumptions for 2017 in Section 9.

 

 

 

2016 PERFORMANCE

 

 

 

 

Actual results and growth

 

Original or revised targets4 and growth

 

Result

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$12.799 billion

 

$12.775 to $12.875 billion4a

 

 

 

 

2.4%

 

2.2 to 3.0%

 

 

 

EBITDA – excluding

 

$4.708 billion

 

$4.650 to $4.755 billion4b

 

 

restructuring and other costs1

 

4.9%

 

3.6 to 6.0%

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$2.06

 

–

 

–

 

 

 

(10.0)%

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS2

 

$2.44

 

$2.40 to $2.56

 

 

 

 

6.6%

 

5.0 to 12.0%

 

 

 

Capital expenditures3

 

$2.968 billion

 

Approx. $2.85 billion4c

 

 

Wireless segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Network revenue (external)

 

$6.541 billion

 

$6.425 to $6.490 billion

 

 

 

 

3.9%

 

2.0 to 3.0%

 

 

 

EBITDA – excluding

 

$3.027 billion

 

$3.000 to $3.060 billion4d

 

 

restructuring and other costs

 

4.8%

 

3.9 to 6.0%

 

 

 

Wireline segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue (external)

 

$5.684 billion

 

$5.705 to $5.735 billion4e

 

 

 

 

2.1%

 

2.4 to 3.0%

 

 

 

EBITDA – excluding

 

$1.681 billion

 

$1.650 to $1.695 billion

 

 

restructuring and other costs

 

5.1%

 

3.0 to 6.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1        See description in Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other financial measures.

 

 Met target

2        Our target for basic EPS excluded the transformative compensation of $0.38 per share recorded in other costs in the fourth quarter of 2016; actual results adjusted to exclude the transformative compensation expense.

 

 Missed target

3        Excludes expenditures for spectrum licences.

4        Targets were revised in the second quarter of 2016 to reflect improved performance in wireless and wireline, and the general positive environment for generational capital investments in broadband infrastructure.

4a              The original target for Consolidated revenues was $12.750 to $12.875 billion, or an increase of 2.0 to 3.0%.

4b              The original target for Consolidated EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs was $4.625 to $4.755 billion, or an increase of 3.0 to 6.0%.

4c              The original target for Capital expenditures was $2.65 billion.

4d              The original target for wireless segment EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs was $2.975 to $3.060 billion, or an increase of 3.0 to 6.0%.

4e              The original target for wireline segment external revenue was $5.680 to $5.735 billion, or an increase of 2.0 to 3.0%.

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 45


 

We made the following key assumptions when we announced the 2016 targets in February 2016.

 

ASSUMPTIONS FOR 2016 TARGETS AND RESULTS

·           Our economic assumptions are based on a composite of estimates from Canadian banks and other sources. Our original assumptions for 2016 were: (i) moderately higher economic growth in Canada of 1.7%, up from an estimated 1.1% in 2015; (ii) for our incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) provinces in Western Canada, economic growth in B.C. in the range of 2.0% to 2.5% and economic growth in Alberta in the range of 0.5% to 1.0%, in part due to low oil prices.

In our MD&A for the first quarter of 2016, we revised our 2016 economic growth (contraction) assumptions to 1.4% for Canada, 2.5% for B.C. and (1.0) to (1.5)% for Alberta. In our MD&A for the second quarter of 2016, we further revised our 2016 economic growth (contraction) assumptions to 1.3% for Canada, 2.9% for B.C. and (2.0)% for Alberta, in part due to the Fort McMurray wildfires. In our MD&A for the third quarter of 2016, we again revised our 2016 economic growth (contraction) assumptions to 1.2% for Canada, 2.8% for B.C. and (2.2)% for Alberta.

We estimate that economic growth for 2016 was 1.2% for Canada and 2.9% for B.C., while the contraction in Alberta was (2.4)%.

·           Our original assumption for restructuring and other costs was approximately $175 million for continuing operational efficiency initiatives. The assumption for other costs did not include the $305 million transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016.

·           Our assumption was for stable wireless acquisition and retention expenses, as compared to 2015, dependent on gross loadings, market pressures and the continued impact of the coterminous expiration of two-year and three-year plans, which began in June 2015. Both acquisition and retention expenses increased in 2016 from heightened competitive intensity, resulting in higher subsidy rates.

Confirmed:

·           No material adverse regulatory rulings or government actions.

·           Continued intense wireless and wireline competition in both consumer and business markets.

·           An increase in wireless industry penetration of the Canadian market, consistent with 2015.

·           Ongoing subscriber adoption of, and upgrades to, data-intensive smartphones, as customers want more mobile connectivity to the Internet.

·           Wireless revenue growth resulting from modest growth in both postpaid subscriber loadings and blended ARPU.

·           Continued growth in wireline data revenue, resulting from an increase in high-speed Internet and Optik TV subscribers, speed upgrades and expanding broadband infrastructure, as well as business outsourcing and healthcare solutions.

·           Continued focus on our customers first initiatives and maintaining our customers’ likelihood-to-recommend scores. See Section 3 Corporate priorities.

·           Pension plans: Defined benefit pension plan expense of approximately $89 million recorded in Employee benefits expense and approximately $5 million recorded in employee defined benefit plans net interest in Financing costs; a 4.00% discount rate for employee defined benefit pension plan accounting purposes (2015 – 3.90%); and defined benefit pension plan funding of approximately $57 million. Actual results were: $92 million recorded in Employee benefits expense, $6 million recorded in employee defined benefit plans net interest, a discount rate of 4.00% and defined benefit pension plan funding of $70 million.

·           Income taxes: Income taxes computed at applicable statutory rate of 26.3 to 26.8% and cash income tax payments between $570 million and $630 million (2015 – $256 million). Actual results were a statutory income tax rate of 26.7% and cash income tax payments of $600 million.

·           Increased investments in broadband infrastructure, including our new fibre-optic network, and 4G LTE expansion and upgrades, as well as in network and systems resiliency and reliability.

·           A continuing weakness in the average Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate from the U.S. 78 cents average exchange rate in 2015. The average exchange rate for 2016 was U.S. 75.5 cents.

 

 

 

 

 

Core business and strategy

 

 


2.1 Core business

We provide a wide range of telecommunications products and services. Wireless products and services include network revenue (data and voice) and equipment sales arising from mobile technologies. Wireline products and services include data revenues (which include revenues from Internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology and cloud-based services; business process outsourcing; and certain healthcare solutions), voice revenues and other telecommunications services revenues. We earn the majority of our revenue from access to, and the usage of, our telecommunications infrastructure, and from providing services and products that facilitate access to, and usage of, our infrastructure.

2.2 Strategic imperatives

Since 2000, we have maintained a proven national growth strategy. Our strategic intent is to unleash the power of the Internet to deliver the best solutions to Canadians at home, in the workplace and on the move. Our focus is on our core telecommunications business in Canada, supported by our international contact centres and outsourcing capabilities.

We developed six strategic imperatives in 2000 that remain relevant for future growth, despite changing regulatory, technological and competitive environments. We believe that a consistent focus on these imperatives guides our actions and contributes to the achievement of our financial goals. To advance these long-term strategic imperatives and address near-term opportunities and challenges, we also set new corporate priorities each year, as further described in Section 3.


 

 

46 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 

MD&A: CORE BUSINESS AND STRATEGY

 

 


Our six strategic imperatives are listed below, together with a discussion of the 2016 activities and initiatives that relate to each of them.

Focusing relentlessly on growth markets of data, IP and wireless

In 2016, approximately 87% of TELUS consolidated revenues were external wireless revenues and wireline data revenues (86% in 2015). These combined revenues increased by $469 million to $11.2 billion in 2016, compared to 2015. In contrast, wireline voice and other revenues, including wireline Other operating income, decreased by $172 million to $1.6 billion in 2016. (See the consolidated revenue trend discussion in Section 5.2 and segment trend discussions in Section 5.4 and Section 5.5.)

Providing integrated solutions that differentiate TELUS from our competitors

On March 1, 2016, we launched new Lite basic TV plans on both our Optik and satellite-TV services, offering another choice to customers looking for basic channel services at lower prices. These new plans, as well as our existing offers of small theme packs, align with the intent of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to provide greater customer choice and provide more freedom for Canadian viewers to subscribe to the channels they want to watch. Even prior to the commencement of the CRTC’s consultation on the television regulatory framework in 2014, we began focusing on providing TV service plans that more closely reflect the demands of our customers, rather than larger programming packages with higher aggregate prices.

Building national capabilities across data, IP, voice and wireless

In May 2016, we concluded a spectrum licence assignment and rationalization agreement with Xplornet Communications Inc., a Canadian-based broadband Internet provider. Under this agreement, we transferred 3500 MHz fixed wireless access spectrum licences in certain of our secondary and tertiary regions, as well as monetary consideration, in exchange for Xplornet’s 2300 MHz spectrum licences in similar regions. The associated spectrum licence transfer application was approved by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) on April 21, 2016. This spectrum licence exchange will allow for more robust mobile and fixed wireless broadband access for Canadians, as each party in the transaction can more effectively utilize these licences within its respective network. The 2300 MHz spectrum has a robust ecosystem of network infrastructure and devices, and complements our existing 2300 MHz spectrum holdings in Montreal, Quebec City and key markets in Western Canada, giving us use of the spectrum in this band in nearly every market.

Consistent with our network optimization strategy, we exchanged certain wireless telecommunication tower sites in 2016 with Bell Mobility. The exchange entailed the re-assignment of existing lease agreements for each tower site, as well as the transfer of all ownership of any lease-hold construction on the leased premises, including tower structures, antennae and cabling. The exchange benefits both parties, as the tower sites are well positioned for utilization within each party’s respective 4G long-term evolution (LTE) network footprint. We expect that additional transfers of assets will be made in 2017.

Partnering, acquiring and divesting to accelerate the implementation of our strategy and focus our resources on core business

In February 2016, we partnered with Microsoft and Avanade, a leading global provider of innovative digital business and technology services in

the Microsoft ecosystem, to offer Skype for Business. Powered by TELUS, Skype for Business offers a full suite of enterprise-grade communication and collaboration tools that includes voice and video calls, instant messaging and online meetings. This service is delivered as a fully managed private cloud solution over our network of intelligent Internet data centres located across Canada, and is available through a single interface on almost all devices.

In March 2016, the Canada Green Building Council awarded leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) platinum certification to the TELUS Garden office tower in Vancouver. This is the highest LEED rating a building can receive, demonstrating our commitment to technological innovation and environmental stewardship. In partnership with Westbank Projects Corp., the one-million-square-foot TELUS Garden development includes 450,000 square feet of office space, 65,000 square feet of retail space, and a 53-storey residential tower that was officially opened in June 2016. Following the opening of the residential tower, the TELUS Garden real estate joint venture commenced the transfer of ownership to the majority of condominium unit owners, as well as the recognition of the associated sales revenue concurrent with repatriation of funds from the joint venture, including the repayment of the construction credit facility. The remaining ownership transfers and associated sales revenue are expected to be recorded in 2017.

As discussed in Section 1.3, in June 2016, we announced the completion of the investment by Baring Asia in TELUS International. Also discussed in Section 1.3, in May 2016, we announced an agreement with BCE, pursuant to which we would acquire a portion of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.’s (MTS’) postpaid wireless subscribers and dealer locations in Manitoba, dependent on the successful completion of BCE’s acquisition of MTS. As of February 9, 2017, BCE had not received the requisite approvals from the Competition Bureau and ISED.

Going to market as one team under a common brand, executing a single strategy

Our team works together to implement our top corporate priority: putting customers first, as we strive to consistently deliver exceptional client experiences and become the most recommended company in the markets we serve. The November 2016 report of the office of the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) for the 12-month period ended July 31, 2016 showed the successful result of this strategy. Once again, TELUS was the subject of the lowest number of customer complaints among all national carriers. TELUS, Koodo and Public Mobile were the subjects of 7.0%, 2.5% and 0.6% of the total customer complaints submitted to the CCTS, respectively, or 10.1% of total customer complaints in aggregate. In addition, we recorded the lowest postpaid churn among our peers of 0.95% in 2016.

Investing in internal capabilities to build a high-performance culture and efficient operation

Our transformative compensation was paid in connection with changes to certain premium payments and paid time-off provisions that will underpin future productivity improvements. As a result of these changes, we expect to realize savings over the coming years. See Collective bargaining and transformative change compensation in Section 1.3.


 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 47


 

 

 

 

 

Corporate priorities

 

 

We confirm or set new corporate priorities each year that are intended to both advance TELUS’ long-term strategic imperatives (see Section 2.2) and address near-term opportunities and challenges. The following table provides a discussion of activities and initiatives that relate to our 2016 corporate priorities.

 

Delivering on TELUS’ future friendly brand promise by putting customers first, enhancing reliability, and pursuing global leadership in the likelihood of our clients to recommend our products, services and people

·           We launched the TELUS Internet for Good pilot project, which offers low-cost Internet service to as many as 33,000 low-income, single-parent families in British Columbia and Alberta, and is entirely funded by TELUS with no cost to either governments or taxpayers. As part of the program, participants also receive access to TELUS WISE, our national Internet and smartphone safety program, as well as access to a low-cost computer, digital literacy programs and music education resources from The Royal Conservatory.

·           We maintained our leadership position in customer loyalty, achieving a postpaid wireless churn rate of less than one per cent for 13 of the last 14 quarters. Notably, in two J.D. Power studies, Koodo was ranked “Highest in customer service among wireless providers” in the 2016 Canadian Wireless Customer Care Study and TELUS received “Highest wireless network quality performance in Ontario” two years in a row in the 2016 Canadian Wireless Network Quality Study.

·           TELUS came in first place among all Canadian wireless carriers for speed and responsiveness (latency) in Open Signal’s January 2017 report, “State of Networks: Canada.” This result is testament to our multi-pronged strategy for technology development, such as through our roll-out of LTE, our wireless network upgrade in Eastern Canada and our approach to the roll-out of 5G by incubating new technologies through trials in a real life environment in our 5G Living Lab in Vancouver.

·           We continued to exceed our business targets in respect of likelihood-to-recommend results and we lead our national peers in the consumer space, with Koodo being the most recommended of any wireless brand.

·           We continued to revitalize our corporate retail locations, opening 91 new Digital Life stores and five new Connected Experience stores, bringing the total number for each store format to 100 and seven, respectively, at year end. Digital Life stores contain accessories and connected life products with compelling merchandising. The Connected Experience stores are larger format stores in key shopping malls that offer premium lifestyle, health and home products, along with TELUS Learning Centres, where team members can take customers through one-on-one demos.

·           We introduced TELUS Internet 150/150, our advanced 150 Mbps Internet plan that uniquely offers symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 150 Mbps to both consumers and business customers on the TELUS PureFibre network. None of our cable-TV competitors currently offer comparable symmetrical upload speed of 150 Mbps.

·           We launched Premium Plus wireless offers – allowing customers to get more affordable high-end devices, which results in a greater subsidy but higher average revenue per subscriber unit per month (ARPU) over time.

·           We launched Optik TV 4K in mid-2016 and were the first carrier in Western Canada to offer 4K programming to customers with an Optik TV 4K set-top box. Those customers who also have a Netflix Premium subscription can stream Netflix 4K content directly through their 4K set-top box.

Elevating our winning culture for sustained competitive advantage, with the world’s most engaged team

·           We reached three new collective agreements that provide labour stability and operational flexibility benefiting our customers, team members, and the Company for the long term.

·           Our employee engagement levels continue to place our organization within the top quartile of all employers surveyed.

·           Our culture continues to fuel our success in the marketplace, as we focus on putting our customers first in a manner that differentiates us from our competitors.

·           Our Work Styles program saw nearly 70% of eligible team members work outside TELUS offices at least part of the week.

·           TELUS was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the eighth consecutive year.

·           In 2016, TELUS and its team members contributed $43 million to charitable organizations across Canada and around the world, and volunteered 870,000 hours.

·           We formed the TELUS Manitoba Community Board, which will launch in early 2017 and will provide funding to local registered charities that support youth and families, focused on at least one of three key areas: health, education and the environment. We also formed the TELUS International Romania Community Board, which will launch in 2017 and will focus on supporting youth in the same key areas. TELUS now has 17 Community Boards around the world.

·           We received our 11th BEST award for excellence in employee learning and development from the Association for Talent Development and we are the only organization inducted into the Best of the BEST Hall of Fame.

 

48 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 

MD&A: CORPORATE PRIORITIES

 

 

 

Continuing to enhance our operational efficiency, effectiveness and reliability

 

·        We continued to enhance our leading technology while driving process improvements, contributing to significant improvements in network and systems availability. Notably, we have achieved year-over-year reductions of up to 60% in downtime, resulting in marked increases in reliability for our customers.

·        To meet our customers’ growing needs, we introduced numerous product and system innovations, including the next generation sales system in our retail channel and the expansion of Easy Roam for our mobile customers on a global basis.

·        We completed a significant efficiency program initiated in the fourth quarter of 2015, which resulted in a net reduction of approximately 1,500 full-time equivalent employees by the end of the second quarter of 2016. This efficiency initiative is expected to generate annual recurring savings of approximately $125 million.

·        As noted in Section 1.3, our immediately vesting transformative compensation paid in the fourth quarter of 2016 is expected to provide us with financial flexibility to make the necessary growth and customer retention investments within a competitive environment.

·        We continue to invest in operational efficiency initiatives, including increased utilization of our TELUS International customer care, IT and business process services, incremental real estate rationalization, and various other efficiency and effectiveness programs, in support of our top priority of putting customers first while continuing to drive toward a more efficient cost structure.

 

 

Increasing our competitive advantage by expediting the build of reliable, client-centric networks and through technology leadership

 

·        We partnered with our lead vendor and are conducting trials of 5G wireless technology in our 5G Living Lab in Vancouver. The successful advancements made in the lab are progressing our anticipated deployment of 5G technology by 2020.

·        We continued to invest in our leading-edge broadband technology, which has enabled the success of Optik TV, Internet and business services, as well as the ongoing advancement of our world-class wireless networks:

·        Our 4G LTE network covers 97% of Canada’s population.

·        Our high-speed broadband coverage reaches more than 2.9 million households and businesses in B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec, including approximately 1.08 million homes and businesses covered by fibre-optic cable, up from 0.69 million homes and businesses in 2015, which now provides these premises with immediate access to our gigabit-capable fibre-optic network.

·        We introduced our private, public and hybrid cloud offerings, which will help organizations to maximize their IT investments and achieve greater business agility.

·        Our team rolled out voice over LTE (VoLTE) in select areas in B.C. and Alberta, allowing customers with compatible smartphones to make and receive calls faster over our 4G LTE network.

·        As VoLTE is introduced across our network and is used by more customers, we will be in a position to turn down older technologies and redirect spectrum to support the LTE network.

·        We made substantial investments in Eastern Quebec to improve network reliability.

 

 

Driving TELUS’ leadership position in our chosen business, public sector and international markets

 

·        We positioned TELUS International, with the backing and support of TELUS and Baring Asia, to continue its significant growth in the years ahead. See Investment in TELUS International in Section 1.3 Highlights of 2016. TELUS invested the proceeds of approximately $600 million from the transaction in our business such as the expansion and advancement of our broadband networks.

·        Under a 10-year strategic partnership agreement with the Government of B.C. to provide it and its public sector partners with telecommunications and strategic services, by December 2016, we had extended wireless coverage along 1,720 km of primary and secondary provincial highways. Additionally, where TELUS was the prime contractor, we have upgraded service at 1,415 of 1,417 B.C. public schools from legacy networks to the province’s next generation network.

·        The Groupe d’approvisionnement en commun de l’Est du Québec (Eastern Quebec joint procurement group) awarded TELUS a two-year contract to provide advanced LTE wireless technology to thousands of professionals working at health facilities and 35 universities and CEGEPs (a network of post-secondary educational institutions) throughout Quebec. The contract is valued at $30 million, with a renewal option for two more years.

 

 

Advancing TELUS’ leadership position in healthcare information management

 

·        In June 2016, we announced our intention to collaborate to improve communications among healthcare providers across Canada. In 2017, TELUS will launch a national, secure, standards-based, and open messaging solution that will allow its 20,000 Canadian physicians to communicate more effectively with each other and to physicians using other electronic medical records (EMR) platforms that choose to link to TELUS.

·        In September 2016, TELUS acquired the Canadian business operations of Nightingale Informatix Corp., including its customer base and proprietary EMR software.

·        We launched TELUS personal health records in Saskatchewan.

·        We rolled out our TELUS Home Health Monitoring solution in B.C., as well as a pilot project of this solution in the Yukon.

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 49


 

Our 2017 corporate priorities are provided in the table below.

 

 

2017 CORPORATE PRIORITIES

 

·        Delivering on TELUS’ future friendly brand promise by putting customers first

·        Elevating our winning culture for sustained competitive advantage, striving for world-leading team engagement to consistently delight our customers and giving compassionately to support improved social outcomes

·        Generating profitable top-line revenue growth on a concerted basis while continuing to enhance our operational efficiency, effectiveness and reliability

·        Increasing our competitive advantage by expediting the build of reliable, client-centric networks and systems and through technology leadership

·        Driving TELUS’ leadership position in our chosen business, public sector and international markets

·        Advancing TELUS’ leadership position in healthcare information management.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capabilities

 

 

 

 

4.1  Principal markets addressed and competition

 

 

WIRELESS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES ACROSS CANADA

 

 

Our products and services

 

·        Data and voice – Fast Internet access for video, social networking, messaging and mobile applications, including Optik on the go; Internet of Things (IoT) solutions (including machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity); clear and reliable voice services; push-to-talk (PTT) solutions, including TELUS LinkTM service; and international roaming.

·        Devices – The latest smartphones, tablets, mobile Internet keys, mobile Wi-Fi devices, M2M modems, digital life devices and wearable technology.

 

 

Our capabilities

 

·        Licensed gross national wireless spectrum holdings averaging 160.4 MHz.

·        Coast-to-coast digital 4G LTE network, first launched in major centres in February 2012:

·        Overall coverage of 97% of Canada’s population, with the LTE advanced portion of the network covering 74% of Canada’s population, at December 31, 2016. Coverage includes roaming agreements.

·        Coverage and capacity were enhanced with the deployment of the 700 MHz wireless spectrum licences acquired in 2014 and the deployment of the 2500 MHz wireless spectrum acquired in 2015. We plan to utilize other spectrum licences purchased in recent years in combination with unlicensed supplementary spectrum, as network and device ecosystems evolve.

·        Manufacturer-rated peak data download speeds of up to 110 Mbps on the LTE network (typical speeds of 12 to 45 Mbps expected with a compatible device).1

·        Manufacturer-rated peak data download speeds of up to 225 Mbps on the LTE advanced portions of the network (typical speeds of 12 to 65 Mbps expected with a compatible device).1

·        Reverts to the HSPA+ network and speeds when customers are outside LTE coverage areas.

·        Coast-to-coast digital 4G HSPA+ network, launched in November 2009:

·        Coverage of 99% of Canada’s population, with typical speeds of 4 to14 Mbps with a compatible device.1

·        International voice and data roaming capabilities in more than 225 countries.

·        Suite of IoT solutions to support Canadian businesses locally and internationally, including asset tracking, fleet management, remote monitoring, digital signage and security.

 

 

Competition overview

 

·        Facilities-based national competitors Rogers Wireless and Bell Mobility, as well as provincial or regional telecommunications companies SaskTel, MTS (pending its acquisition by BCE), Eastlink, Videotron, Tbaytel and Shaw Communications’ Freedom Mobile (formerly Wind Mobile).

·        Fixed wireless services.

·        Resellers of competitors’ wireless networks.

·        Services offered by cable-TV and wireless competitors over wireless and metropolitan Wi-Fi networks.

 

 

1           Actual speed may vary based on device being used, geographical topography and environmental conditions, network congestion, signal strength and other factors.

 

 

 

50 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: CAPABILITIES

 

 

 

WIRELINE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: RESIDENTIAL SERVICES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALBERTA AND EASTERN QUEBEC; HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS; BUSINESS SERVICES ACROSS CANADA; AND CONTACT CENTRE AND OUTSOURCING SOLUTIONS OFFERED INTERNATIONALLY

 

 

Our products and services

 

·        Voice – Reliable fixed phone service with long distance and advanced calling features; voice over IP (VoIP) supporting voice services into the future.

·        Internet – Fixed high-speed Internet access (HSIA) service with email and a comprehensive suite of security solutions. Also includes HSIA over LTE and TELUS PureFibre, with reliable Wi-Fi, and cloud storage. Only provider in Western Canada offering symmetrical 150 Mbps download and upload speeds.

·        TELUS TV – High-definition entertainment service with Optik TV and TELUS Satellite TV. Optik TV offers extensive content options and innovative features such as PVR Anywhere, Remote Recording, Optik Smart Remote channel browsing with a tablet or smartphone, and Optik on the go. TELUS Satellite TV service is offered only in B.C. and Alberta by way of an agreement with Bell Canada. Only provider in Western Canada offering 4K TV capability.

·        IP networks and applications – Converged voice, video and data services and Internet access, offered on a high-performing network.

·        Contact centre, business process and IT outsourcing solutions in more than 30 languages - Managed solutions providing low-cost and scalable infrastructure in North America, Central America, Europe and Asia.

·        Hosting, managed IT and cloud-based services - Cybersecurity and other solutions with ongoing assured availability of telecommunications, networks, servers, databases, files and applications, with critical applications stored in our Internet data centres (IDCs) across Canada.

·        Healthcare – TELUS Health’s proprietary technology, including pharmacy management, electronic medical records, electronic health records, remote patient monitoring and online settlement claims management solutions.

·        Conferencing and collaboration - Full range of equipment and application solutions to support meetings and webcasts by means of phone, video and Internet.

 

 

Our capabilities

 

·        Ongoing connection of homes and businesses directly to fibre-optic cables; now over one million homes and businesses addressable by PureFibre in B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec.

·        An IP-based national network overlaying an extensive switched network in B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec, as well as global interconnection arrangements.

·        Eight data centres in six communities directly connected to the national TELUS IP network, creating an advanced and regionally diverse computing infrastructure in Canada.

·        Wireline residential access line services provided to an estimated 34% of households in B.C. and Alberta, and 60% of households in our Eastern Quebec region.

·        Access to businesses across Canada through our networks, as well as competitive local exchange carrier status. · ADSL2+ or VDSL2 coverage reaching more than 2.9 million homes and businesses in B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec.

·        Broadcasting distribution licences allowing us to offer digital television services in incumbent territories, as well as licences to offer commercial video-on-demand services.

·        Business process outsourcing services with global delivery capabilities through our multi-national, multi-language programs, supported by approximately 25,750 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees across North America, Central America, Europe and Asia, as at December 31, 2016.

·        Technology solutions to assist healthcare providers, consumers, health regions, hospitals, insurers and employers.

 

 

Competition overview

 

·        Substitution of wireless services, including our own wireless offerings, for residential local and long distance services. The percentage of households with wireless-only telephone services (among all providers, including TELUS) is estimated to be 41% in B.C. and Alberta, and 16% in Eastern Quebec.

·        Bell Canada, MTS (pending its acquisition by BCE), Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications, and Videotron (in Quebec).

·        Allstream Inc., a national telecommunications service provider for business customers, owned by Zayo Group Holdings Inc., a U.S.-based provider of communications infrastructure services.

·        Cable-TV competitors for Internet and entertainment services, such as Shaw Communications (in B.C. and Alberta) and Cogeco Cable and Videotron (in Eastern Quebec).

·        Various others that offer resale or voice over IP-based (VoIP-based) local, long distance and Internet services.

·        Over-the-top (OTT) voice and entertainment services, such as Skype and Netflix.

·        Satellite-based entertainment and Internet services offered by Bell Canada, Shaw Communications and Xplornet.

·        Competitors for contact centre services, such as Convergys, Sykes and Verizon LiveSource.

·        Fixed wireless services.

·        Customized managed outsourcing solutions competitors, such as system integrators CGI Group Inc., EDS division of HP Enterprise Services and IBM.

·        Competitors for TELUS Health include providers of EMR and pharmacy management products, such as Omnimed, Familiprix, Kroll, Fillware and ARI.

Competitors also include systems integrators, health service providers, such as Loblaws and McKesson that have also become vertically integrated and own a mix of health services delivery, IT solutions and related services, and potentially, global providers such as ATEB that could achieve expanded Canadian footprints.

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 51


 

4.2       Operational resources

 

 

RESOURCES

 

 

Our team

 

·        Approximately 51,250 employees at the end of 2016 (approximately 50,475 FTE employees across a wide range of operational functions, with 24,725 FTE employees in Canada and 25,750 FTE employees internationally).

·        Approximately 10,950 of our employees are covered by collective agreements. The agreement with the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU), United Steel Workers Local Union 1944, which covers 9,500 employees, expires on December 31, 2021. The agreement with the Syndicat des agents de maîtrise de TELUS (SAMT), which covers 760 team members in the TELUS Quebec region, expires on March 31, 2022. The agreement with the Syndicat québécois des employés de TELUS (SQET), which covers 630 employees, expires on December 31, 2022.

·        Operations at Canadian and international locations to support contact centres and business process outsourcing services for external wholesale customers, as well as for certain functions internally.

·        Employee compensation programs that support a high-performance culture and contain market-driven and performance-based components (bonus and share-based compensation) to attract and retain key employees.

·        Succession plans to cover ongoing retirement, ready access to labour in Canada and, for contact centres and specific support functions, in various international locations. We also use external contractors and consultants.

·        Training, mentoring and development programs to maintain and improve employee engagement levels and enhance the customer experience.

 

 

Our brand and distribution channels

 

·        A well-established and recognizable national brand (TELUS, the future is friendly).

·        Koodo Mobile – A national provider of postpaid and prepaid wireless voice and data services with a broad distribution network, including TELUS-owned stores, dealers and third-party electronics retailers.

·        Public Mobile – Offers a prepaid wireless service, with a web-based distribution channel, and provides customers with a SIM-only service.

·        Optik TV brand, launched in mid-2010.

·        Our sales and support distribution channels:

·        Wireless services are supported through a broad network of TELUS-owned and branded stores, including our 50% ownership of the kiosk channel WOW! Mobile, an extensive distribution network of exclusive dealers and large third-party electronics retailers (e.g. Best Buy, WalMart and London Drugs) and a white label brand for a premier retail chain, as well as online self-serve applications, mass marketing campaigns and customer care telephone agents.

·        Wireline residential services are supported through TELUS-owned and branded stores, including third-party electronics retailers, as well as mass marketing campaigns, customer care telephone agents, and online and TV-based self-serve applications.

·        TELUS Health provides some of its consumer services - personal health records and home health monitoring - in partnership with provincial governments.

·        Business services, including healthcare, across wireless and wireline are supported through certain dedicated stores for business, TELUS sales representatives, product specialists, independent dealers and online self-serve applications for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Business process outsourcing services are supported through sales representatives and client relationship management teams.

·        Dedicated direct-to-consumer channel of over 600 field sales agents.

 

 

Our technology, systems and properties

 

·        TELUS is a highly complex technology-enabled company with a multitude of IT systems and processes.

·        Broadcasting distribution licences for providing entertainment services.

·        Our Intangible assets include wireless spectrum licences from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), which are essential to providing wireless services.

·        Network facilities are constructed under or along streets and highways, pursuant to rights-of-way granted by the owners of land, including municipalities and the Crown, or on freehold land owned by TELUS.

·        Real estate properties (owned or leased) include administrative office space, work centres and space for telecommunications equipment. Some buildings are constructed on leasehold land and the majority of wireless towers are situated on lands or buildings held under leases or licences with varying terms. We also participate in two real estate re-development joint ventures. (See Section 7.11.)

·        TELUS International provides customer care, IT and business process services by utilizing on-site facilities, including contact centre solutions, and by utilizing international data networks and data centres. Global rerouting capabilities and geographic diversity are supported by facilities located in North America, Central America, Europe and Asia.

·        Through its proprietary technology, including pharmacy management, electronic medical records, electronic health records, remote patient monitoring and online settlement claims management software solutions, TELUS Health facilitates the integration of electronic health records from the home to the doctor’s office to the hospital, making critical health information available to healthcare providers over wireless and wireline broadband networks.

 

 

 

52 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: CAPABILITIES

 

 


4.3 Liquidity and capital resources

 

Capital structure financial policies

 

Our objective when managing capital is to maintain a flexible capital structure that optimizes the cost and availability of capital at acceptable risk.

In the management of capital and in its definition, we include Common Share equity (excluding Accumulated other comprehensive income), Long-term debt (including long-term credit facilities, commercial paper backstopped by long-term credit facilities and any associated hedging assets or liabilities, net of amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income), Cash and temporary investments, and securitized trade receivables.

 

We manage our capital structure and make adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of our telecommunications infrastructure. In order to maintain or adjust our capital structure, we may change the amount of dividends paid to holders of Common Shares, purchase shares for cancellation pursuant to our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) programs, issue new shares, issue new debt, issue new debt to replace existing debt with different characteristics and/or increase or decrease the amount of trade receivables sold to an arm’s-length securitization trust.

We monitor capital by utilizing a number of measures, including the net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio and the dividend payout ratio. (See definitions in Section 11.1.)


 

Financing and capital structure management plans

 

REPORT ON FINANCING AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PLANS

 

 

Pay dividends to the holders of Common Shares under our multi-year dividend growth program

 

 

·           In May 2016, we announced our intention to target ongoing semi-annual dividend increases, with the annual increase in the range of 7 to 10% from 2017 through to the end of 2019, thereby extending the policy first announced in May 2011. Notwithstanding this target, dividend decisions will continue to be subject to our Board’s assessment and the determination of our financial position and outlook on a quarterly basis. Our Board’s assessments have resulted in 12 semi-annual dividend increases from 2011 to 2016, with annual increases being approximately 10%. Our long-term dividend payout ratio guideline is 65 to 75% of prospective net earnings per share. Based on dividends announced as of February 8, 2017, and 590 million shares outstanding at December 31, 2016, dividend declarations would total approximately $1.13 billion in 2017, before taking into account any Common Shares purchased and cancelled under our 2017 NCIB. There can be no assurance that we will maintain a dividend growth program through 2019. See Section 10.7 Financing, debt requirements and returning cash to shareholders.

·           Dividends declared in 2016 totalled $1.84 per share, an increase of 9.5% over 2015. On February 8, 2017, a first quarter dividend of $0.48 per share was declared, payable on April 3, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2017 The first quarter dividend for 2017 reflects a cumulative increase of $0.04 per share or 9.1% from the $0.44 per share dividend paid in April 2016.

 

Purchase of Common Shares under our multi-year NCIB

 

·           On May 5, 2016, we announced our intention to renew our NCIB in each of the next three years in order to make purchases of our Common Shares for amounts of up to $250 million in each calendar year. In September 2016, we received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) for a new 2017 NCIB to purchase and cancel up to 8 million Common Shares for consideration of up to $250 million over a 12-month period, commencing September 30, 2016. TELUS will purchase Common Shares only when and if we consider it opportunistic, subject to any purchases that may be made under an automatic share purchase plan (ASPP). An employee benefit plan trust purchased the Common Shares paid to non-executive employees as part of the immediately vesting transformative compensation expense in the fourth quarter of 2016 and was permitted to do so under the NCIB. The employee benefit plan trust purchased and cancelled a nominal number of TELUS Common Shares for $4 million as part of the 2017 NCIB.

·           Share purchases under the 2017 NCIB represent up to 1.4% of outstanding Common Shares as of September 16, 2016. Such purchases may be made through the facilities of the TSX, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and alternative trading platforms as may be permitted by applicable securities laws and regulations. Shares will be purchased only when and if we consider it opportunistic. There can be no assurance that we will complete our 2017 NCIB program or that we will renew and complete our NCIB program in each of the next two years, as any decision to purchase shares will depend on the assessment by our Board and the determination of the Company’s financial position and outlook, and the market price of TELUS Common Shares. See risk discussion in Section 10.7 Financing, debt requirements and returning cash to shareholders.

·           Under the 2016 NCIB, which came into effect on September 15, 2015 and concluded on September 14, 2016, we purchased and cancelled 9,691,400 of our Common Shares for approximately $380 million, reflecting an average share purchase price of $39.14. The purchased and cancelled shares represented 1.6% of the Common Shares outstanding prior to commencement of the 2016 NCIB.

·           We have also entered into an ASPP with a broker for the purpose of permitting us to purchase our Common Shares under our NCIB at times when we would not be permitted to trade in our shares, including regularly scheduled quarterly blackout periods. Such purchases will be determined by the broker in its sole discretion based on parameters that we established prior to any blackout period, in accordance with TSX rules and applicable securities laws. The ASPP has been approved by the TSX, and may be implemented from time to time in the future.

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 53


 

REPORT ON FINANCING AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PLANS

 

 

Use proceeds from securitized trade receivables (Short-term borrowings), bank facilities and commercial paper as needed, to supplement free cash flow and meet other cash requirements

 

 

·           Our issued and outstanding commercial paper was $613 million at December 31, 2016, all of which was denominated in U.S. dollars (U.S.$456 million), compared to $256 million (U.S.$185 million) at December 31, 2015.

·           Proceeds from securitized trade receivables were $100 million at December 31, 2016, unchanged from December 31, 2015.

 

 

Maintain compliance with financial objectives

 

Certain of our current financial objectives will be reviewed in 2017 for possible revision due to changes arising from the adoption of new accounting standards, IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and IFRS 16, Leases. (See Section 8.2 Accounting policy developments.)

·           Maintain investment grade credit ratings in the range of BBB+ or the equivalent – On February 9, 2017, investment grade credit ratings from the four rating agencies that cover TELUS were in the desired range. (See Section 7.8 Credit ratings.)

·           Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio of 2.00 to 2.50 times – As measured at December 31, 2016, the ratio was 2.69 times, outside of the range, primarily due to the funding of spectrum licences acquired in wireless spectrum auctions held during 2014 and 2015. We will endeavour to return the ratio to within this objective range in the medium term, as we believe that this range is supportive of our long-term strategy. (See Section 7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.)

·           Dividend payout ratio of 65 to 75% of net earnings per share on a prospective basis – Our target ratio is on a prospective basis. The dividend payout ratio we present in this MD&A is a historical measure utilizing the last four quarters of dividends declared and earnings per share, and is disclosed for illustrative purposes in evaluating our target guideline. As at December 31, 2016, the historical ratio of 89% and the adjusted historical ratio of 77% exceeded the objective range. We estimate that we will be within our target guideline on a prospective basis. (See Section 7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.)

·           Generally maintain a minimum of $1 billion in unutilized liquidity – As at December 31, 2016, our unutilized liquidity was more than $1 billion. (See Section 7.6 Credit facilities.)

 

 


Financing and capital structure management plans for 2017

At the end of 2016, our long-term debt (excluding unamortized discount) was $13.0 billion and the weighted average term to maturity was approximately 10.4 years (excluding commercial paper and the revolving component of the TELUS International credit facility). Our weighted average interest rate on long-term debt (excluding commercial paper and the revolving component of the TELUS International credit facility) was 4.22% at December 31, 2016, as compared to 4.32% one year earlier. Aside from Short-term borrowings of $100 million, commercial paper of $613 million (U.S.$456 million) and the utilized revolving component of the TELUS International credit facility of $58 million (U.S.$44 million), all of our debt was on a fixed-rate basis.

 

During 2017, we may issue senior Notes to refinance maturing debt or to use for general corporate purposes. Anticipated free cash flow and sources of capital are expected to be more than sufficient to meet requirements. For the related risk discussion, see Section 10.7 Financing, debt requirements and returning cash to shareholders.

 

4.4 Disclosure controls and procedures and changes in internal control over financial reporting

 

Disclosure controls and procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that all relevant information is gathered and reported to senior management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), on a timely basis so that appropriate decisions can be made regarding public disclosure.

The CEO and the CFO have assessed the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures related to the preparation of this MD&A and the December 31, 2016, Consolidated financial statements. They have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at a reasonable assurance level, in ensuring that material information relating to TELUS and its consolidated subsidiaries would be made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which the MD&A and the Consolidated financial statements were being prepared.

 

Internal control over financial reporting

Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS-IASB and the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in


 

 

54 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: DISCUSSION OF OPERATIONS

 

 


the United States, as applicable. TELUS’ CEO and CFO have assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, in accordance with the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, TELUS’ CEO and CFO have concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2016, and expect to certify TELUS’ annual filings with the Form 40-F, as required by the United States’ Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and

 

TELUS’ Annual Information Form, as required by National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Filings.

Deloitte LLP, our auditor, has audited our internal controls over financial reporting as at December 31, 2016.

 

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting in 2016.


 

 

Discussion of operations

 

 

This section contains forward-looking statements, including those with respect to our expectations for capitalization of long-term debt interest, deployment of wireless spectrum licences, ARPU growth, wireless retention spending and high-speed Internet subscriber growth trends as they relate to the future. There can be no assurance that we have accurately identified the trends based on past results, or that these trends will continue. See Caution regarding forward-looking statements at the beginning of this MD&A.

 


5.1 Selected annual information

The selected information presented below has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 Consolidated financial statements, which were prepared under IFRS-IASB. All currency amounts are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified.

 

Selected annual information

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

($ in millions, except per share amounts)

2016

2015

2014

Operating revenues

12,799

12,502

12,002

Net income

1,236

1,382

1,425

Net income attributable

 

 

 

to Common Shares

1,223

1,382

1,425

Net income per Common Share

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share (basic EPS)

2.06

2.29

2.31

Diluted

2.06

2.29

2.31

Cash dividends declared

 

 

 

per Common Share

1.84

1.68

1.52

At December 31 ($ millions)

2016

2015

2014

Total assets

27,729

26,406

23,217

Current maturities of long-term debt

1,327

856

255

Non-current financial liabilities1

 

 

 

Provisions

57

55

29

Long-term debt

11,604

11,182

9,055

Other long-term financial liabilities

170

150

128

Total non-current financial liabilities

11,831

11,387

9,212

Deferred income taxes

2,107

2,155

1,936

Common equity

7,917

7,672

7,454

 

1           In our specific current instance, financial liabilities do not include liabilities that are excluded by definition (e.g. employee benefits and share-based compensation liabilities) or liabilities that do not involve a future outlay of economic resources (e.g. deferred recognition of customer activation and connection fees; deferred gains on sale-leaseback of buildings).

 

Operating revenues: Combined wireless revenue and wireline data revenue represented approximately 87% of consolidated revenues in 2016 (86% in 2015 and 84% in 2014).

 

Total assets: Growth in Total assets includes increases in Property, plant and equipment and Intangible assets, which increased by a combined $1,107 million in 2016 and a combined $2,801 million in 2015. These increases resulted primarily from our ongoing investments in broadband networks and purchases of wireless spectrum licences. See Section 7.3 Cash used by investing activities.

 

For changes in Long-term debt, see Section 6: Changes in financial position and Section 7.4 Cash provided (used) by financing activities.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 55


 

5.2 Summary of consolidated quarterly results, trends and fourth quarter recap

 

Summary of quarterly results

 

($ millions, except per share amounts)

2016 Q4

2016 Q3

2016 Q2

2016 Q1

2015 Q4

2015 Q3

2015 Q2

2015 Q1

Operating revenues

3,305

3,238

3,148

3,108

3,217

3,155

3,102

3,028

Operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goods and services purchased1

1,574

1,426

1,331

1,300

1,482

1,394

1,372

1,284

Employee benefits expense1

962

681

628

668

757

693

649

609

Depreciation and amortization

533

515

499

500

518

471

464

456

Total operating expenses

3,069

2,622

2,458

2,468

2,757

2,558

2,485

2,349

Operating income

236

616

690

640

460

597

617

679

Financing costs

134

129

134

123

114

106

110

117

Income before income taxes

102

487

556

517

346

491

507

562

Income taxes

15

132

140

139

85

126

166

147

Net income

87

355

416

378

261

365

341

415

Net income attributable to Common Shares

81

348

416

378

261

365

341

415

Net income per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic (basic EPS)

0.14

0.59

0.70

0.64

0.44

0.61

0.56

0.68

Adjusted basic EPS2

0.53

0.65

0.70

0.70

0.54

0.66

0.66

0.70

Diluted

0.14

0.59

0.70

0.64

0.44

0.61

0.56

0.68

Dividends declared per Common Share

0.48

0.46

0.46

0.44

0.44

0.42

0.42

0.40

Additional information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA2

769

1,131

1,189

1,140

978

1,068

1,081

1,135

Restructuring and other costs2

348

60

23

48

99

51

59

17

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs2

1,117

1,191

1,212

1,188

1,077

1,119

1,140

1,152

Cash provided by operating activities

732

1,032

892

563

870

1,025

943

718

Free cash flow2

(191)

98

126

108

197

310

300

271

 

1         Goods and services purchased and Employee benefits expense amounts include restructuring and other costs.

 

2         See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other financial measures.

 


Trends

The consolidated revenue trend reflects increases in: (i) wireline data service revenues, driven by business process outsourcing, Internet, enhanced data services, TELUS TV services and TELUS Health revenues, with the increases in Internet and TV service revenues being generated by higher revenue per customer and subscriber growth; and (ii) wireless network revenue generated from growth in both our average revenue per subscriber unit per month (ARPU) and subscriber base. This growth was partially offset by the continued decline in wireline voice revenues and the decline in wireless and wireline equipment revenue. For additional information on wireless and wireline revenue and subscriber trends, see Section 5.4 Wireless segment and Section 5.5 Wireline segment. For discussion of industry trends, see Section 9.

The trend in Goods and services purchased expense generally reflects increasing wireless acquisition and retention costs, including equipment expenses associated with higher-value smartphones in the sales mix and increased handset costs; increasing wireless customer

 

 

service, administrative, external labour and distribution channel expenses to support growth in our subscriber base; increased wireline TV costs of sales associated with a growing subscriber base; and higher non-labour restructuring and other costs in 2015 mainly from real estate rationalization. These were partly offset by lower transit and termination costs and wireline equipment costs.


 

 

56 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: DISCUSSION OF OPERATIONS

 

 


 

Employee benefits expense in the fourth quarter of 2016 includes a $305 million immediately vesting transformative compensation (transformative compensation) expense, as described in Collective bargaining and transformative change compensation in Section 1.3, in lieu of general salary increases for 2017 and 2018 for substantially all of our Canadian-situated employees and other concessions under the collective agreement. Excluding this transformative compensation expense, the trend in Employee benefits expense reflected moderating wages and salaries resulting from a decrease in the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) domestic employees, partly offset by increases in TELUS International compensation and in the number of employees to support increased business process outsourcing revenue growth.

The general trend in Depreciation and amortization reflects increases due to growth in capital assets supporting the expansion of our broadband footprint and enhanced long-term evolution (LTE) network coverage, as well as the impact of our continuing program of asset life studies. The investments in our fibre-optic network also support our small-cell technology strategy to improve coverage and prepare for a more efficient and timely evolution to 5G.

The general trend in Financing costs reflects an increase in long-term debt outstanding, mainly associated with significant investments in wireless spectrum licences acquired during wireless spectrum licence auctions in 2014 and 2015 and our generational investments in fibre to homes and businesses. Financing costs also include the Employee defined benefit plans net interest expense, which decreased for 2016, primarily due to the decrease in the defined benefit plan deficit at December 31, 2015, as compared to one year earlier, partly offset by an increase in the discount rate. Moreover, Financing costs are net of capitalized interest related to spectrum licences acquired during the wireless spectrum licence auctions, which we expect to deploy into our existing network in future periods. Capitalization of long-term debt interest is expected to cease in 2017, as cell sites have become ready to utilize the spectrum frequencies. Financing costs for the eight periods shown included varying amounts of foreign exchange gains or losses and varying amounts of interest income, including $20 million of interest income in the second quarter of 2015 resulting from the settlement of prior years’ income tax-related matters.

The trend in Net income reflects the items noted above, as well as non-cash adjustments arising from legislated income tax changes and adjustments recognized in the current periods for income tax of prior periods, including any related after-tax interest on reassessments. The trend in basic EPS is also impacted by the share purchases under our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) program.

The trend in Cash provided by operating activities reflects generally higher income tax payments and increased interest payments and

 

higher restructuring and other disbursements, partly offset by growth in consolidated EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. The trend in free cash flow reflects the factors affecting Cash provided by operating activities, as well as increases in capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences). For further discussion on trends, see Section 5.4 Wireless segment, Section 5.5 Wireline segment and Section 9.2 Telecommunications industry general outlook and trends.

 

Fourth quarter recap

Results for the fourth quarter of 2016 were discussed in Management’s review of operations attached to our February 9, 2017 news release.

·           Consolidated operating revenues increased by $88 million or 2.7% in the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, primarily reflecting growth in wireless network revenue and wireline data revenues, partly offset by the continuing decline in wireline voice revenues, consistent with the results for the full year, discussed in the following sections.

·           Consolidated EBITDA decreased by $209 million or 21% in the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease was largely due to the $305 million transformative compensation expense recorded in 2016. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes restructuring and other costs, as well as real estate net gains and equity income related to real estate joint venture developments, increased by $33 million or 3.1% in the fourth quarter.

·           The increase was due to growth in wireless network revenue and wireline data revenues, improvements in Internet, business process outsourcing, TELUS TV and TELUS Health margins; and execution on our operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives, partly offset by higher wireless acquisition and retention costs and continued declines in legacy wireline voice revenues. Had 2015 adjusted EBITDA also excluded the non-recurring gain on certain real estate assets in the fourth quarter of 2015, adjusted EBITDA would have reflected an increase of approximately $53 million or 5.1% in the fourth quarter of 2016.

·           Net income attributable to Common Shares decreased by $180 million or 69% in the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, largely due to the transformative compensation expense recorded in 2016. Basic EPS decreased by $0.30 in the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015. When excluding restructuring and other costs, income tax-related adjustments, net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments in 2016, adjusted Net income decreased by 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2016, while adjusted basic EPS decreased by $0.01.

·           Cash provided by operating activities decreased by $138 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015. The decrease was mainly due to lower EBITDA, resulting from the $305 million transformative compensation expense, partly offset by operating working capital changes.

·           Cash used by investing activities increased by $223 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015, mainly due to increased capital expenditures and changes in working capital amounts related to acquisitions in current and prior periods.

·           Cash provided by financing activities increased by net $301 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015, as a result of lower purchases of shares under our NCIB program and an increase in net long-term debt issued.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 57


 


5.3 Consolidated operations

The following is a discussion of our consolidated financial performance. Segment information in Note 5 of the Consolidated financial statements is regularly reported to our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the chief operating decision-maker. We discuss the performance of our segments in Section 5.4 Wireless segment, Section 5.5 Wireline segment and Section 7.3 Cash used by investing activities – capital expenditures.

 

 

Operating revenues

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

2016

2015

Change

Service

12,000

11,590

3.5%

Equipment

725

840

(13.7)%

Revenues arising from contracts with customers

12,725

12,430

2.4%

Other operating income

74

72

2.8%

 

12,799

12,502

2.4%

 

Consolidated operating revenues increased by $297 million in 2016.

·           Service revenue increased by $410 million in 2016, primarily reflecting growth in wireline data services and wireless network revenue, partly offset by the continuing decline in wireline voice revenues. Wireline data service revenue reflects increased Internet and enhanced data revenue, increased business process outsourcing revenue, and higher Internet, enhanced data and TELUS TV revenue. Internet, enhanced data and TV revenues reflect subscriber growth and higher revenue per customer. Wireless network revenue reflects growth in blended ARPU and the wireless subscriber base.

·           Equipment revenue decreased by $115 million in 2016, primarily reflecting a $77 million decrease in wireless equipment revenue from a combination of higher per-unit subsidies, lower retention volumes and the discontinuance of Black’s Photography revenue from the closure of stores in August 2015, partly offset by higher-value smartphones in the sales mix. Also reflected is lower wireline equipment revenue of $38 million, primarily from lower sales activity in the business market in part from the economic slowdown and a focus on providing managed services rather than equipment-only sales.

·           Other operating income increased by $2 million in 2016, mainly due to net gains and equity income related to real estate joint venture developments, gains from the sale of property, plant and equipment in 2016, and the gain from the exchange of wireless spectrum licences in the second quarter of 2016, partly offset by the non-recurrence of gains on the sale of certain real estate assets in the fourth quarter of 2015 and a decrease in amounts recognized from the regulatory price cap deferral account for provisioning broadband Internet services to eligible rural and remote communities.

 

Operating expenses

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

2016

2015

Change

Goods and services purchased

5,631

5,532

1.8%

Employee benefits expense

2,939

2,708

8.5%

Depreciation

1,564

1,475

6.0%

Amortization of intangible assets

483

434

11.3%

 

10,617

10,149

4.6%

 

Consolidated operating expenses increased by $468 million in 2016. This increase included the transformative compensation expense of $305 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016.

·           Goods and services purchased increased by $99 million in 2016, reflecting higher wireless acquisition and retention spending (including the effect of higher supplier costs of handsets, partially due to the decline in the Canadian dollar exchange rate vs. the U.S. dollar over the last two years), as well as increased roaming costs. The increases were also due to higher wireline network operating and administrative costs to support our growing subscriber base, and higher advertising and promotional expenses in support of bundled offerings and in response to heightened competitive intensity, as well as higher TV costs of sales due to a larger subscriber base, partly offset by lower transit and termination costs, ongoing operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives, and lower equipment costs related to the decline in equipment revenue.

·           Employee benefits expense increased by $231 million in 2016, mainly due to the $305 million transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016. See Collective bargaining and transformative change compensation in Section 1.3.

Excluding the transformative compensation expense, employee compensation decreased by $74 million, mainly due to lower employee-related restructuring costs and realizing benefits from operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives, partly offset by an increase in TELUS International employees and compensation to support growth in business process outsourcing revenue.

·           Depreciation increased by $89 million in 2016 due to the impact of our continuing program of asset life studies and increased expenditures associated with capital assets (such as the broadband network and the wireless LTE network), partly offset by asset retirements of $9 million in 2015 relating to the closure of Black’s Photography retail stores.

·         Amortization of intangible assets increased by $49 million in 2016, reflecting increased expenditures associated with the intangible asset base, partially offset by software asset life adjustments arising from our continuing program of asset life studies.

 

Operating income

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

2016

2015

Change

Wireless EBITDA (see Section 5.4)

2,906

2,806

3.6%

Wireline EBITDA (see Section 5.5)

1,323

1,456

(9.1)%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

(discussed above)

(2,047)

(1,909)

(7.2)%

 

2,182  

2,353  

(7.3)%

 

Operating income decreased by $171 million in 2016. Excluding the effects of the $305 million transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016, Operating income increased by $134 million. For a discussion of consolidated EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, please see Operating highlights in Section 1.3.


 

 

58 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: DISCUSSION OF OPERATIONS

 

 


Financing costs

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

2016

2015

Change

Gross interest expenses

554

515

7.6%

Capitalized long-term debt interest

(52)

(45)

15.6%

Interest expense

502

470

6.8%

Employee defined benefit plans

 

 

 

net interest

6

27

(77.8)%

Interest income

(3)

(25)

88.0%

Foreign exchange losses (gains)

15

(25)

n/m

 

520

447

16.3%

 

Financing costs increased by $73 million in 2016, mainly due to the following factors:

·           Gross interest expenses, prior to capitalization of long-term debt interest, increased by $39 million in 2016, primarily due to the increase in average long-term debt balances outstanding, including the full-year impact of increased debt related to the purchase of spectrum licences in 2015, partly offset by a reduction in the effective interest rate. Our weighted average interest rate on long-term debt (excluding commercial paper and the revolving component of the TELUS International credit facility) was 4.22% at December 31, 2016, as compared to 4.32% one year earlier. (See Long-term debt issues and repayments in Section 7.4.)

·           Capitalized long-term debt interest is in respect of debt incurred for the purchase of spectrum licences during spectrum auctions held by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), which we expect to deploy in our existing network in future periods. Capitalization of long-term debt interest occurs until substantially all of the activities necessary to prepare the spectrum for its intended use are complete, effectively when cell sites are ready to be put into service. Capitalization of interest is expected to cease in 2017.

·           Employee defined benefit plans net interest decreased by $21 million in 2016, mainly from the decrease in the defined benefit plan deficit at December 31, 2015, to $53 million from $598 million one year earlier, partly offset by a higher discount rate.

·           Interest income in 2015 was derived primarily from $23 million interest income related to the settlement of prior years’ income tax-related matters.

·           Foreign exchange losses (gains) have fluctuated as the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar in 2016 combined with the increase in 2016 of foreign exchange derivatives being designated as held for hedging, rather than designated as held for trading.

 

 

Income taxes

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

($ millions, except tax rates)

2016

2015

Change

Income taxes computed at applicable statutory rates

444

505

(12.1)%

Revaluation of deferred income tax liability to reflect future statutory income tax rates

(4)

48

n/m

Adjustments recognized in the current period for income taxes of prior periods

(12)

(30)

60.0% 

Other

(2)

1

n/m

 

426

524

(18.7)%

Income taxes computed at applicable statutory rates (%)

26.7

26.5

0.2 pts.

Effective tax rates (%)

25.6

27.5

(1.9) pts.

 

Total income tax expense decreased by $98 million in 2016, primarily due to lower Income before income taxes, including the effects of the transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016. The decrease also resulted from revaluations of deferred income tax liabilities in 2016 to reflect the provincial income tax rate reduction in Quebec beginning in 2017, and the $48 million non-cash adjustment in the second quarter of 2015 to revalue deferred income tax liabilities arising from an increase in the Alberta provincial corporate tax rate, partly offset by lower recoveries related to the settlement of prior years’ income tax-related matters (excluding related interest income).

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

2016

2015

Change

Net income

1,236

1,382

(10.6)%

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

(net of income taxes):

 

 

 

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to income

(15)

21

n/m

Item never subsequently reclassified to income –

 

 

 

Employee defined benefit plans re-measurements

–

445

(100.0)%

Comprehensive income

1,221

1,848

(33.9)%

 

Comprehensive income decreased by $627 million, primarily due to changes in employee defined benefit plan re-measurement amounts and lower Net income. Items that may be subsequently reclassified to income are composed of changes in the unrealized fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, foreign currency translation adjustments arising from translating financial statements of foreign operations, and changes in the unrealized fair value of available-for-sale investments.


 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 59


 


5.4 Wireless segment

 

 

Wireless trends and seasonality

The historical trend in wireless network revenue reflects growth in both our ARPU and subscriber base. This growth, coupled with higher-value smartphones in the sales mix, was partially offset by the decline in wireless equipment revenue, reflecting higher per-unit subsidies and lower retention volumes. Retention volumes declined due to (i) the effects on contract renewals of higher handset prices (including the effect of higher supplier costs due to depreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar over the last two years), as well as an increasing number of customers choosing to stay on month-to-month service; (ii) increased competitive intensity; and (iii) economic conditions resulting in customers purchasing fewer handsets.

The wireless ARPU growth trend has increased in 2016 due to a higher mix of data share plans and an increased mix of higher-rate plans, including the new Premium Plus plans launched in June 2016. This was partly offset by competitive pressures driving larger allotments of data provided in rate plans, including data sharing and international data roaming features and plans, consumer response to increased frequency of customer data usage notifications and offloading of data traffic to increasingly available Wi-Fi hotspots. ARPU is expected to continue to increase modestly in 2017, as a result of the continued growth in data usage and the ongoing shift in our subscriber base towards higher-value postpaid customers, as seen in the third and fourth quarters of 2016. However, the level of ARPU is highly dependent on competition, the economic environment, consumer behaviour, the regulatory environment, device selection and other factors, and, as a consequence, there cannot be assurance that ARPU growth will continue to materialize.

Retention spending as a percentage of network revenue has increased to 14.7% in 2016 from 13.9% in 2015, mainly from an increase in the sales mix of higher-subsidy smartphones and competitive pressures. While retention volumes decreased in 2016, we have generally experienced a higher volume of contract renewals than prior to 2015. We expect this trend to continue with two-year contracts in the consumer and small business base. We may also experience continuing pressure on our postpaid subscriber churn if competitive intensity continues, in part due to an increase in customers on expired contracts, as well as customers bringing their own devices and therefore not entering into term contracts. Accordingly, our wireless segment historical operating results and trends may not be reflective of results and trends for future periods.

Historically, there have been significant third and fourth quarter seasonal effects reflected in higher wireless subscriber additions, an increase in related acquisition costs and equipment sales, and higher

 

retention costs due to contract renewals in those quarters. These impacts can be more pronounced around popular device launches and seasonal events such as back to school, Black Friday and Christmas. The costs associated with higher seasonal loading volumes have typically resulted in sequential decreases in wireless EBITDA from the second quarter through to the fourth quarter, typically followed by sequential increases in wireless EBITDA from the fourth quarter through to the second quarter. Subscriber additions have generally been lowest in the first quarter. Historically, wireless ARPU has experienced seasonal sequential increases in the second and third quarters, reflecting higher levels of usage and roaming in the spring and summer, followed by seasonal sequential declines in the fourth and first quarters. This seasonal effect on ARPU has moderated, as unlimited nationwide voice plans have become more prevalent and chargeable voice and long distance spikes become less pronounced. In addition, customers are opting for higher-capacity data plans resulting in less variability in chargeable data usage. See Section 8.2 Accounting policy developments for the timing of revenue recognition and classification of revenue effects of IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

 

Wireless operating indicators

 

At December 31

2016

2015

Change

Subscribers1 (000s):

 

 

 

Postpaid

7,550

7,352

2.7%

Prepaid

1,035

1,105

(6.3)%

Total

8,585

8,457

1.5%

Postpaid proportion of subscriber base (%)

87.9

86.9

1.0 pts.

HSPA+ population coverage2 (millions)

35.7

35.7

–%

LTE population coverage2 (millions)

35.2

34.9

0.9%

Years ended December 31

2016

2015

Change

Subscriber gross additions (000s):

 

 

 

Postpaid

1,039

1,014

2.5%

Prepaid

360

429

(16.1)%

Total

1,399

1,443

(3.0)%

Subscriber net additions (000s):

 

 

 

Postpaid

243

244

(0.4)%

Prepaid

(70)

(68)

(2.9)%

Total

173

176

(1.7)%

Blended ARPU, per month3 ($)

65.10

63.45

2.6%

Churn, per month3 (%)

 

 

 

Blended

1.21

1.26

(0.05) pts.

Postpaid

0.95

0.94

0.01 pts.

Cost of acquisition (COA) per gross subscriber addition3 ($)

455

418

8.9%

Retention spend to network revenue3 (%)

14.7

13.9

0.8 pts.

 

1           Subsequent to a review of our subscriber base during the first quarter of 2016, our 2016 opening postpaid subscriber base was reduced by 45,000.

2           Including network access agreements with other Canadian carriers.

3           See Section 11. 2 Operating indicators. These are industry measures useful in assessing operating performance of a wireless company, but are not measures defined under IFRS-IASB.


 

 

60 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: DISCUSSION OF OPERATIONS

 

 


Operating revenues – Wireless segment

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

($ in millions, except ratios)

2016

2015

Change

Network revenue

6,541

6,298

3.9%

Equipment and other service revenues

537

626

(14.2)%

Revenues arising from contracts with customers

7,078

6,924

2.2%

Other operating income

37

9

n/m

External operating revenues

7,115

6,933

2.6%

Intersegment network revenue

58

61

(4.9)%

Total operating revenues

7,173

6,994

2.6%

 

Total wireless operating revenues increased by $179 million in 2016.

 

 

Network revenue from external customers increased by $243 million in 2016. Data network revenue increased by 9.4% in 2016, reflecting: (i) a larger proportion of higher-rate plans in the revenue mix, including the new Premium Plus plans launched in June 2016; (ii) a larger proportion of customers selecting plans with larger data buckets or periodically topping up their data buckets; (iii) growth in the subscriber base; (iv) a higher postpaid subscriber mix; and (v) increasing data usage from data-intensive devices. Voice network revenue decreased by 2.8% in 2016 due to the increased adoption of unlimited nationwide voice plans and continued but moderating substitution to data services, partly offset by growth in the subscriber base.

·           Monthly blended ARPU was $65.10 in 2016, reflecting an increase of $1.65 or 2.6%. The increase was primarily driven by effects of higher data network revenue (as described above), partly offset by the continued decline in voice revenue.

·           Gross subscriber additions decreased by 44,000 in 2016. Postpaid gross additions increased by 25,000 due to the success of targeted promotions and our marketing efforts focused on higher-value postpaid loading, partly offset by competitive intensity and the effects of the economic slowdown, particularly in Alberta. Prepaid gross activations decreased by 69,000 mainly from competitive intensity, lower-priced postpaid offers and our marketing efforts focused on higher-value postpaid loading.

·           Our average monthly postpaid subscriber churn rate was 0.95% in 2016, as compared to 0.94% in 2015. The continuing low postpaid subscriber churn rates during 2016 reflect our focus on executing on customers first initiatives and retention programs, partly offset by competitive intensity and the effects of the economic slowdown, particularly in Alberta, and the simultaneous expiration of two-year and three-year customer contracts in the first half of 2016. Our blended monthly subscriber churn rate was 1.21% in 2016, as compared to 1.26% in 2015. The improvement in our blended subscriber churn rate in 2016 reflects improvements in the prepaid churn rates, as well as an increase in the mix of postpaid subscribers.

 

·           Net subscriber additions declined by 3,000 in 2016 due to lower gross additions, partly offset by an improvement in blended monthly churn rate. Prepaid subscriber net losses in 2016 were comparable to those in 2015 and reflect conversions to postpaid services (due to our marketing efforts focused on higher-value postpaid loading) and increased competition for prepaid services.

 

Equipment and other service revenues decreased by $89 million in 2016, mainly from a combination of higher per-unit subsidies, lower retention volumes, competitive intensity and the discontinuance of Black’s Photography revenue from the closure of stores in August 2015, partly offset by increased postpaid gross additions and higher-value smartphones in the sales mix.

 

Other operating income increased by $28 million in 2016, mainly due to net gains and equity income related to real estate joint venture developments, gains from the sale of property, plant and equipment in 2016, and the gain from the exchange of wireless spectrum licences in the second quarter of 2016, partly offset by the non-recurrence of gains on the sale of certain real estate assets in 2015.

 

Intersegment revenue represents network services that are eliminated upon consolidation along with the associated wireline expenses.

 

Operating expenses – Wireless segment

 

Years ended December 31 ($ in millions)

2016

2015

Change

Goods and services purchased:

 

 

 

Equipment sales expenses

1,684

1,623

3.8%

Network operating expenses

773

759

1.8%

Marketing expenses

420

436

(3.7)%

Other1

667

653

2.1%

Employee benefits expense1,2

723

717

0.8%

Wireless operating expenses

4,267

4,188

1.9%

 

1           Includes restructuring and other costs. See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other financial measures.

2           Includes transformative compensation expense of $70 million recorded in other costs in the fourth quarter of 2016.

 

Wireless expenses increased by $79 million in 2016.

 

Equipment sales expenses increased by $61 million in 2016, reflecting an increase in higher-value smartphones in the sales mix (including premium devices on Premium Plus plans), increasing handset costs (including the effect of higher supplier costs due to depreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar over the last two years) and increased postpaid gross additions, partly offset by lower retention volumes, and by lower cost of sales from the closure of Black’s Photography stores in August 2015.

·           Retention costs as a percentage of network revenue were 14.7% in 2016, as compared to 13.9% in 2015. The increase was driven by higher per-unit subsidy costs, including the impacts of the new Premium Plus plans launched in June 2016, reflecting the factors noted in Equipment sales expenses above, partly offset by lower retention volumes and lower associated commissions.

·           COA per gross subscriber addition was $455 in 2016, reflecting an increase of $37 from 2015. The increase reflects the factors noted in Equipment sales expenses above, partly offset by lower commissions.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 61


 


Network operating expenses increased by $14 million in 2016, mainly due to increased roaming volumes, partly offset by lower maintenance costs.

 

Marketing expenses declined by $16 million in 2016, primarily due to lower advertising and promotions expenses, as well as lower commission expenses driven by lower gross additions and retention volumes.

 

Other goods and services purchased increased by $14 million in 2016, primarily due to an increase in external labour, higher non-labour restructuring and other costs, and higher bad debt provisions resulting from a larger subscriber base, partly offset by lower non-labour restructuring and other costs from provisions for the closure of Black’s Photography retail stores during the third quarter of 2015.

 

Employee benefits expense increased, mainly due to the transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016 (see Collective bargaining and transformative change compensation in Section 1.3). Excluding the transformative compensation expense, employee compensation decreased by $64 million, mainly due to lower employee-related restructuring costs and realizing benefits from ongoing operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives.

 

EBITDA – Wireless segment

 

Years ended December 31

($ millions, except margins)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Change

 

EBITDA

2,906

2,806

3.6%

Restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA1

121

81

49.4%

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs

3,027

2,887

4.8%

Deduct gain on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences

(15)

–

n/m

Deduct net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments

(12)

–

n/m

Adjusted EBITDA2

3,000

2,887

3.9%

EBITDA margin (%)

40.5

40.1

0.4 pts.

Adjusted EBITDA margin3 (%)

42.0

41.3

0.7 pts.

 

1           Includes transformative compensation expense of $70 million recorded in other costs in the fourth quarter of 2016.

2           See description under EBITDA in Section 11.1.

3           The calculation of the Adjusted EBITDA margin excludes the net gains and equity income on real estate joint venture developments from both EBITDA and Operating revenues, and excludes restructuring and other costs from EBITDA.

 

 

Wireless EBITDA increased by $100 million in 2016, including the transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016. Wireless adjusted EBITDA increased by $113 million in 2016, reflecting network revenue growth driven by higher ARPU and a larger customer base, as well as executing on ongoing operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives, partly offset by higher acquisition and retention spending. Had 2015 adjusted EBITDA also excluded the non-recurring gain on certain real estate assets in the fourth quarter of 2015, wireless adjusted EBITDA would have reflected an increase of approximately $120 million or 4.2% in 2016.


 

 

 

62 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: DISCUSSION OF OPERATIONS

 

 


5.5 Wireline segment

 

 

Wireline trends

The trend of increasing wireline data service revenue reflects growth in business process outsourcing services, high-speed Internet and enhanced data services, TELUS TV revenues and TELUS Health revenues, and is partly offset by declining data equipment revenues. The increases in Internet and TV service revenues are being generated by higher revenue per customer and subscriber growth. The trend of declining wireline voice revenues is due to technological substitution, greater use of inclusive long distance and lower wholesale volumes competition from voice over IP (VoIP) service providers (including cable-TV competitors), resellers and facilities-based competitors, as well as technological substitution to wireless and IP-based services and applications, continuing increased competition in the small and medium-sized business market, and the impact of the economic slowdown.

High-speed Internet subscriber base growth slowed in 2016, primarily from the impact of the economic slowdown and competitive intensity; however, we expect continued subscriber growth as the economy recovers and as we continue our investments in expanding our fibre-optic network. TELUS TV subscriber base growth has moderated due to a declining overall market for paid TV services resulting from the economic slowdown, the high rate of market penetration and increased competition, including from over-the-top (OTT) services. Residential network access line (NAL) losses continue to reflect the economic slowdown and the ongoing trend of substitution to wireless and Internet-based services.

 

Wireline operating indicators

 

At December 31 (000s)

2016

2015

Change

Subscriber connections:

 

 

 

High-speed Internet subscribers

1,655

1,566

5.7%  

TELUS TV subscribers

1,059

1,005

5.4%  

Residential network access lines (NALs)

1,374

1,467

(6.3)%

Total wireline subscriber connections1

4,088

4,038

1.2%  

Years ended December 31 (000s)

2016

2015

Change

Subscriber connection net additions (losses):

 

 

 

High-speed Internet

68

91

(25.3)%

TELUS TV

54

89

(39.3)%

Residential NALs

(93)

(89)

(4.5)%

Total wireline subscriber connection net additions1

29

91

(68.1)%

 

1           Subsequent to a review of our subscriber base during the first quarter of 2016, our 2016 opening high-speed Internet subscriber base was increased by 21,000.

 

 

Operating revenues – Wireline segment

 

Years ended December 31 ($ in millions)

2016

2015

Change

Data services and equipment

4,059

3,772

7.6%  

Voice services

1,363

1,496

(8.9)%

Other services and equipment

225

238

(5.5)%

Revenues arising from contracts with customers

5,647

5,506

2.6%  

Other operating income

37

63

(41.3)%

External operating revenues

5,684

5,569

2.1%  

Intersegment revenue

194

174

11.5%  

Total operating revenues

5,878

5,743

2.4%  

 

Total wireline operating revenues increased by $135 million in 2016.

 

·           Data services and equipment revenues increased by $287 million in 2016. The increase was primarily due to: (i) increased Internet and enhanced data service revenues resulting from a 5.7% increase in our high-speed Internet subscribers over 12 months, higher revenue per customer from upgrades to faster Internet speeds and larger usage Internet rate plans, subscribers coming off of promotional offers, the phased-in introduction of usage-based billing in 2015 and certain rate increases; (ii) growth in business process outsourcing revenues; and (iii) increased TELUS TV revenues resulting from a 5.4% subscriber growth over 12 months and higher revenue per customer, including certain rate increases. This growth was partly offset by the ongoing decline in legacy data services, as well as a decline in data equipment revenues in the business market related to the economic slowdown, particularly in Alberta.

·           Voice services revenues decreased by $133 million in 2016. The decrease reflects the ongoing decline in legacy revenues from technological substitution, the economic slowdown, increased competition, greater use of inclusive long distance plans and lower long distance minutes of use, including lower wholesale volumes, partially offset by certain rate increases. We experienced a 6.3% decline in residential NALs in the year.

·           Wireline subscriber connection net additions were 29,000 in 2016, or a decrease of 62,000 from 2015.

·           Net additions of high-speed Internet subscribers declined by 23,000 in 2016. The decrease was due to the effects of heightened competitive intensity and the impact of the economic slowdown in Alberta, resulting in increased churn, partly offset by the continued expansion of our high-speed broadband footprint, including fibre to the premises and the pull-through impact from the continued adoption of Optik TV. Net additions of TELUS TV subscribers were down 35,000 in 2016. The decrease reflects lower gross additions, a higher customer churn rate and a decline in satellite-TV subscribers due to a declining overall market for paid TV services resulting from the economic slowdown in Alberta, a high rate of market penetration and the effects of heightened competitive intensity, including OTT services. These pressures


 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 63


 


were partly offset by the continued focus on expanding our addressable high-speed Internet and Optik TV footprint, connecting more homes and businesses directly to fibre, and bundling these services together. This contributed to combined Internet and TV subscriber growth of 122,000 or 4.7% in 2016.

·           Residential NAL losses were 93,000 in 2016, as compared to NAL losses of 89,000 in 2015. The residential NAL losses continue to reflect the economic slowdown, the ongoing trend of substitution to wireless and Internet-based services, and increased competition, partially mitigated by the success of our bundled service offerings and our customers first initiatives.

·           Other services and equipment revenues decreased by $13 million in 2016, mainly due to declines in voice equipment sales.

 

Other operating income decreased by $26 million in 2016, mainly due to non-recurrence of gains on the sale of certain real estate assets in the fourth quarter of 2015, as well as a decrease in amounts recognized from the regulatory price cap deferral account for provisioning broadband Internet services to eligible rural and remote communities. Partly offsetting these were net gains and equity income on real estate joint venture developments in 2016.

 

Intersegment revenue represents services provided to the wireless segment. Such revenue is eliminated upon consolidation together with the associated expenses in wireless.

 

Operating expenses – Wireline segment

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

2016

2015

Change

Goods and services purchased1

2,339

2,296

1.9%

Employee benefits expense1,2

2,216

1,991

11.3%

Wireline operating expenses

4,555

4,287

6.3%

 

1           Includes restructuring and other costs. See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other financial measures.

2           Includes transformative compensation expense of $235 million recorded in other costs in the fourth quarter of 2016.

 

Total wireline operating expenses increased by $268 million in 2016, primarily due to the following factors:

·           Goods and services purchased increased by $43 million in 2016, due to increased network operating and administrative costs to support our growing subscriber base, and higher advertising and promotional expenses related to bundled offerings and in response to heightened competitive intensity, as well as higher TELUS TV costs of sales due to a larger subscriber base, partly offset by lower transit and termination costs and lower equipment costs related to declining equipment revenue.

·           Employee benefits expense increased by $225 million in 2016, mainly due to the transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016 (see Collective bargaining and transformative change compensation in Section 1.3). Excluding the transformative compensation expense, employee compensation decreased by $10 million, mainly due to lower employee-related restructuring costs and realizing benefits from ongoing operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives, partly offset by an increase in TELUS International employees and compensation supporting growing business process outsourcing revenue.

 

EBITDA – Wireline segment

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

($ millions, except margins)

2016

2015

Change

EBITDA

1,323

1,456

(9.1)%

Restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA1

358

145

n/m

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs

1,681

1,601

5.0%  

Deduct net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments

(14)

–

n/m

Adjusted EBITDA2

1,667

1,601

4.1%  

EBITDA margin (%)

22.5

25.4

(2.9) pts.

Adjusted EBITDA margin3 (%)

28.4

27.9

0.5 pts.

 

1           Includes transformative compensation expense of $235 million recorded in other costs in the fourth quarter of 2016.

2           See description under EBITDA in Section 11.1.

3           The calculation of the Adjusted EBITDA margin excludes the net gains and equity income on real estate joint venture developments from both EBITDA and Operating revenues, and excludes restructuring and other costs from EBITDA.

 

 

Wireline EBITDA decreased by $133 million in 2016, mainly due to the transformative compensation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016. Wireline adjusted EBITDA increased by 4.1% in 2016, as compared to an operating revenue increase of 2.4% in 2016, excluding the net revenue impacts from the real estate joint venture developments. This reflects our execution on cost efficiency programs, as well as improving margins in data services, including Internet, business process outsourcing services, TELUS TV and TELUS Health services. Had 2015 adjusted EBITDA also excluded the non-recurring gain on certain real estate assets in the fourth quarter of 2015, wireline adjusted EBITDA would have reflected an increase of approximately $79 million or 5.0% in 2016.


 

64 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: CHANGES IN FINANCIAL POSITION

 

 

 

Changes in financial position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change

 

Change

 

 

Financial position at December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

($ millions)

 

(%)

 

Change includes:

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and temporary investments, net

 

432

 

223

 

209

 

94

 

See Section 7 Liquidity and capital resources

Accounts receivable

 

1,471

 

1,428

 

43

 

3

 

An increase in wireless receivables related to higher postpaid average revenue per subscriber unit per month (ARPU) and subscriber growth

Income and other taxes receivable

 

9

 

1

 

8

 

n/m

 

–

Inventories

 

318

 

360

 

(42

)

(12

)

A decrease in the quantity of higher-value smartphones

Prepaid expenses

 

233

 

213

 

20

 

9

 

An increase in prepaid maintenance contracts

Real estate joint venture advances

 

–

 

66

 

(66

)

(100

)

Repayment of the construction credit facility concurrent with the commencement of the closing of residential condominium unit sales

Current derivative assets

 

11

 

40

 

(29

)

(73

)

A decrease in U.S. currency hedging items.

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

100

 

100

 

–

 

–

 

See Section 7.7 Sale of trade receivables

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

2,330

 

1,990

 

340

 

17

 

An increase in payables associated with higher capital expenditures, coupled with payables related to employee benefits. See Note 23 of the Consolidated financial statements

Income and other taxes payable

 

37

 

108

 

(71

)

(66

)

Instalments made during the year exceeded current income tax expense

Dividends payable

 

284

 

263

 

21

 

8

 

Effects of an increase in the dividend rate, net fewer shares outstanding

Advance billings and customer deposits

 

737

 

760

 

(23

)

(3

)

A decrease in revenues billed in advance, coupled with a decrease in the regulatory price cap deferral account resulting from recognition of amounts for provisioning broadband Internet services to eligible rural and remote communities. See Note 24 of the Consolidated financial statements

Provisions

 

124

 

197

 

(73

)

(37

)

Payment of certain current provisions (see Note 25 of the Consolidated financial statements), coupled with employee-related restructuring disbursements in excess of associated expenses

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

1,327

 

856

 

471

 

55

 

An increase in outstanding commercial paper of $357 million, as well as amounts reclassified from long- term debt relating to the upcoming maturity of $700 million of our 4.95% Notes, Series CD in March 2017, offset by redemption of $600 million of our 3.65% Notes, Series CI in May 2016

Current derivative liabilities

 

12

 

2

 

10

 

n/m

 

An increase in U.S. currency hedging items.

Working capital

(Current assets subtracting Current liabilities)

 

(2,477

)

(1,945

)

(532

)

(27

)

Includes a $471 million increase in current maturities of long-term debt.

TELUS normally has a negative working capital position. See Capital structure management policies in Section 4.3 and the Liquidity risk discussion in Section 7.9.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 65


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change

 

Change

 

 

Financial position at December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

($ millions)

 

(%)

 

Change includes:

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

10,464

 

9,736

 

728

 

7

 

See Capital expenditures in Section 7.3 Cash used by investing activities and Depreciation in Section 5.3

Intangible assets, net

 

10,364

 

9,985

 

379

 

4

 

See Capital expenditures in Section 7.3 Cash used by investing activities and Amortization of intangible assets in Section 5.3

Goodwill, net

 

3,787

 

3,761

 

26

 

1

 

An increase from immaterial acquisitions

Other long-term assets

 

640

 

593

 

47

 

8

 

Advances to real estate partnership and an increase in long-term deferred operating costs

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provisions

 

395

 

433

 

(38

)

(9

)

A decrease in asset retirement obligations arising from an increase in discount rates, coupled with restructuring costs classified to current. See Note 25 of the Consolidated financial statements

Long-term debt

 

11,604

 

11,182

 

422

 

4

 

See Section 7.4 Cash provided (used) by financing activities

Other long-term liabilities

 

736

 

688

 

48

 

7

 

Increase in pension and post-retirement liability. See Note 27 of the Consolidated financial statements

Deferred income taxes

 

2,107

 

2,155

 

(48

)

(2

)

Reduction in temporary difference between the accounting and tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as the revaluation of the liability at lower future income tax rates.

Owners’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common equity

 

7,917

 

7,672

 

245

 

3

 

Net income of $1,223 million, Other comprehensive loss of $17 million, impact on contributed surplus arising from subsidiary issuance of shares to non-controlling interest of $239 million, net of dividend declarations of $1,091 million, and share purchase activity under our normal course issuer bid program (see Section 7.4 Cash provided (used) by financing activities)

Non-controlling interest

 

19

 

–

 

19

 

n/m

 

Impact arising from the 35% non-controlling interest in TELUS International.

 

66 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

Liquidity and capital resources

 

 

 

 


This section contains forward-looking statements, including those with respect to our dividend payout ratio and net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio. See Caution regarding forward-looking statements at the beginning of this MD&A.

 

 

7.1 Overview

Our capital structure financial policies and financing and capital structure management plans are described in Section 4.3.

 

Cash flows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

2015

Change

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

3,219

3,556

(9.5)%

 

Cash used by investing activities

 

(2,923)

(4,477)

34.7%

 

Cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

(87)

1,084

n/m

 

Increase (decrease) in Cash and temporary investments, net

 

209

163

28.2%

 

Cash and temporary investments, net, beginning of period

 

223

60

n/m

 

Cash and temporary investments, net, end of period

 

432

223

93.7%

 

 

 

7. 2 Cash provided by operating activities

 

Analysis of changes in cash provided by operating activities

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

2015

Change

 

EBITDA (see Section 5.4 and Section 5.5)

 

4,229

4,262

(33

)

Restructuring and other costs, net of disbursements

 

24

97

(73

)

Employee defined benefit plans expense, net of employer contributions

 

22

24

(2

)

Share-based compensation expense, net of payments

 

(2)

(38)

36

 

Interest paid, net of interest received

 

(506)

(434)

(72

)

Income taxes paid, net of refunds received

 

(600)

(256)

(344

)

Other operating working capital changes

 

52

(99)

151

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

3,219

3,556

(337

)

 

·           Share-based compensation expense, net of payments decreased mainly due to cash outflows associated with the 2012 restricted stock units (RSUs) being made in the first quarter of 2015 that would normally have been paid in the fourth quarter of 2014. This resulted from a delay in the 2012 annual allocation of RSUs.

·    Income taxes paid, net of refunds received, increased in 2016, reflecting higher required instalment payments and higher refunds received in the comparative period in 2015, as well as a larger final income tax payment in the first quarter of 2016 in respect of the 2015 income tax year than was required in the first quarter of 2015 in respect of the 2014 income tax year, mainly due to the use of Public Mobile losses in 2014.

·           Other operating working capital changes in 2016 include an increase in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, net of an increase in Accounts receivable. (See Section 6 Changes in financial position and Note 31(a) in the Consolidated financial statements.)

 

 

 

7. 3 Cash used by investing activities

 

Cash used by investing activities

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

2015

Change

 

Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences

 

(2,752)

(2,522)

(230

)

Cash payments for spectrum licences

 

(145)

(2,048)

1,903

 

Cash payments for acquisitions

 

(90)

(10)

(80

)

Real estate joint venture receipts, net of advances and contributions

 

70

48

22

 

Proceeds on dispositions

 

3

52

(49

)

Other

 

(9)

3

(12

)

Cash used by investing activities

 

(2,923)

(4,477)

1,554

 

 

·           The increase in Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences, was composed of:

·           A $391 million increase in capital expenditures in 2016 (see Capital expenditure measures table and discussion below).

·           Lower capital expenditure payments with respect to payment timing differences, as associated Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased by $171 million for 2016, net of changes in asset retirement obligations of $10 million.


 

 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 67


 


·           Payments for spectrum licences in 2016 were monetary consideration as part of an approved spectrum licence exchange with Xplornet (see Building national capabilities in Section 2.2). Payments in 2015 were for the AWS-3 and 2500 MHz spectrum licences acquired in Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED’s) wireless spectrum auctions.

·           Cash payments for acquisitions were in respect of several individually immaterial acquisitions complementary to our existing lines of business.

·           Receipts from real estate joint ventures, net of advances and contributions, resulted mainly from repayment of construction financing from the TELUS Garden real estate joint venture.

·           Proceeds on dispositions in 2015 were primarily related to the sale of real estate properties and small portfolio investments.

 

 

Capital expenditure measures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

 

($ millions, except capital intensity)

 

2016

2015

Change

Capital expenditures

 

 

 

 

(excluding spectrum licences)(1)

 

 

 

 

Wireless segment

 

982

893

10.0%

Wireline segment

 

1,986

1,684

17.9%

Consolidated

 

2,968

2,577

15.2%

Wireless segment capital intensity (%)

 

14

13

1 pt.

Wireline segment capital intensity (%)

 

34

29

5 pts.

Consolidated capital intensity(2) (%)

 

23

21

2 pts.

 

1           Capital expenditures include assets purchased but not yet paid for, and therefore differ from Cash payments for capital assets, as presented on the Consolidated statements of cash flows.

2           See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other financial measures.

Wireless segment capital expenditures increased by $89 million in 2016, primarily due to continuing investments in our fibre-optic network to support our small-cell technology strategy to improve coverage and prepare for a more efficient and timely evolution to 5G, as well as higher spending on the deployment of the 700 MHz and 2500 MHz spectrum bands, and in cost efficiency initiatives. We also continued to invest in system and network resiliency and reliability in support of our ongoing customers first initiatives and to ready the network and systems for future retirement of legacy assets.

 

Wireline segment capital expenditures increased by $302 million in 2016 due to continuing investments in our broadband infrastructure, including connecting more homes and businesses directly to our fibre-optic network. This investment supports our high-speed Internet and Optik TV subscriber growth, as well as our customers’ demand for faster Internet speeds, and extends the reach and functionality of our business and healthcare solutions. We also continued to make investments in cost efficiency initiatives, as well as in system and network resiliency and reliability.

 

7. 4 Cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

Cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

2015

Change

 

Dividends paid to holders of Common Shares

 

(1,070)

(992)

(78

)

Purchase of Common Shares for cancellation

 

(179)

(628)

449

 

Long-term debt issued net of redemptions and repayment

 

883

2,719

(1,836

)

Issue of shares by subsidiary to non-controlling interest

 

294

–

294

 

Other

 

(15)

(15)

–

 

 

 

(87)

1,084

(1,171

)

 

Dividends paid to the holders of Common Shares

 

The increase in Dividends paid to the holders of Common Shares reflects higher dividend rates under our dividend growth program, partially offset by a lower number of outstanding shares resulting from shares purchased and cancelled under our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) program.

 

Purchase of Common Shares for cancellation

 

Our 2016 NCIB concluded on September 14, 2016 and our 2017 NCIB commenced on September 30, 2016. See Section 4.3 for details of our planned multi-year share purchase program through 2019. In 2015, we purchased approximately 16 million shares for $628 million under the 2015 and 2016 NCIBs.


 

 

 

 

 

68 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

Normal course issuer bid purchases

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease

)

 

 

 

purchased and

 

Average purchase

 

Purchase costs

 

in Accounts payable

 

Cash outflow

Period

 

cancelled (millions)

 

price per share ($)

 

($ millions)

 

($ millions)

 

($ millions)

2016 Q1

 

1

 

37.77

 

50

 

(10

)

60

2016 Q2

 

2

 

38.43

 

61

 

–

 

61

2016 Q3

 

–

 

42.92

 

19

 

–

 

19

2016 Q4

 

1

 

39.64

 

35

 

–

 

35

Total excluding employee benefit plan trust transactions

 

4

 

39.34

 

165

 

(10

)

175

Employee benefit plan trust transactions – 2016 Q4

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

–

 

4

2016 year

 

 

 

 

 

169

 

(10

)

179

 


Long-term debt issues and repayments

Net long-term debt issues and repayments in 2016 were composed primarily of:

·           The September 2016 public issue of U.S.$600 million of senior unsecured Notes at 2.80%, due February 16, 2027. The proceeds were used to repay U.S.$453 million of commercial paper, with the balance to be used for general corporate purposes. We have entered into a foreign exchange derivative (a cross currency interest rate exchange agreement) which effectively converted the principal payments and interest obligations to Canadian dollar obligations with an effective fixed interest rate of 2.95% and an effective issued and outstanding amount of $792 million (reflecting a fixed exchange rate of $1.3205). For additional information on these notes, please refer to Note 26(b) of the Consolidated financial statements.

·           A $357 million net increase in commercial paper, including foreign exchange effects, to a balance of $613 million at December 31, 2016 (U.S.$456 million) from $256 million (U.S.$185 million) at December 31, 2015. Our commercial paper program, when utilized, provides low-cost funds and is fully backstopped by the five-year committed credit facility (see Section 7.6 Credit facilities).

·           Net draws on the TELUS International credit facility of $332 million (U.S.$253 million) as at December 31, 2016.

·    Net of the $600 million repayment of Series CI Notes in May 2016.

 

In comparison, net long-term debt issues and repayments in 2015 were composed primarily of:

·           A March 24, 2015, public issue of $1.75 billion of senior unsecured notes in three series composed of a $250 million offering at 1.50% due March 27, 2018, a $1.0 billion offering at 2.35% due March 28, 2022, and a $500 million offering at 4.40% due January 29, 2046. The net proceeds were used to fund a portion of the $1.5 billion purchase price of the wireless spectrum licences acquired in ISED’s AWS-3 spectrum auction during the first quarter of 2015, and to repay approximately $110 million of indebtedness drawn from the 2014 credit facility (which was subsequently renewed and extended) and approximately $135 million of outstanding commercial paper. The remainder was used for general corporate purposes.

·           A $400 million draw on our five-year revolving credit facility in the second quarter of 2015, which was reduced to $NIL during the third quarter of 2015. At December 31, 2015, no amounts were drawn against our five-year credit facility ($256 million was utilized to backstop outstanding commercial paper).

·           A November 23, 2015, repayment of our $125 million TELUS Communications Inc. Series 2 Debentures, upon maturity.

·           A December 8, 2015, public issue of $1.0 billion of senior unsecured notes composed of a $600 million offering at 3.75% due March 10, 2026 and $400 million of 4.85% Notes through the re-opening of Series CP notes, maturing April 5, 2044. The net proceeds were used to repay approximately $956 million of outstanding commercial paper and to fund the repayment, on maturity, of a portion of the $600 million principal amount outstanding on TELUS’ Series CI Notes due May 2016. The balance was used for general corporate purposes.

·           A $126 million net increase in commercial paper to $256 million (U.S.$185 million) at December 31, 2015.

 

 

The average term to maturity of our long-term debt (excluding commercial paper and the revolving component of the TELUS International credit facility) decreased to approximately 10.4 years at December 31, 2016, compared to approximately 11.1 years at the end of 2015. Additionally, our weighted average cost of long-term debt was 4.22% at December 31, 2016, compared to 4.32% at the end of 2015.

 

Issue of shares by subsidiary to non-controlling interest

In June 2016, a subsidiary issued shares to Baring Asia which acquired a 35% non-controlling interest in TELUS International. (See Section 1.3 Highlights of 2016.) Cash proceeds net of issue costs currently paid were $294 million as at December 31, 2016.


 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 69


 


7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures

Net debt was $12.7 billion at December 31, 2016, an increase of $0.7 billion when compared to one year earlier, resulting mainly from the draw on the TELUS International credit facility, the increase in commercial paper and the issue of U.S.$600 million Notes in September 2016, net of the repayment of Series CI Notes, as described in Section 7.4.

 

Fixed-rate debt as a proportion of total indebtedness was 92% as at December 31, 2016, down from 97% one year earlier, mainly due to an increase in issued commercial paper and the amounts drawn on the TELUS International credit facility.

 

Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio was 2.69 times, as measured for December 31, 2016, up slightly from one year earlier. Our long-term objective for this measure is within a range of 2.00 to 2.50 times, which we believe is consistent with maintaining investment grade credit ratings in the range of BBB+, or the equivalent and providing reasonable access to capital. As at December 31, 2016, this ratio remains outside of the long-term objective range due to prior issuance of incremental debt primarily for the acquisition in 2014 and 2015 of spectrum licences for approximately $3.6 billion, which were auctioned in unprecedented amounts and in atypical concentrations during those years, partially offset by growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. These acquired licences have more than doubled our national spectrum holdings and represent an investment to extend our network capacity to support continuing data consumption growth, as well as growth in our wireless customer base. We will endeavour to return this ratio to within the objective range in the medium term, as we believe that this range is supportive of our long-term strategy. While this ratio exceeds our long-term objective range, we are well 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 Section 7.6 Credit facilities).

 

Liquidity and capital resource measures

 

As at, or years ended, December 31

 

2016

 

2015

 

Change

 

Components of debt and coverage ratios1 ($ millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt

 

12,652

 

11,953

 

699

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs

 

4,708

 

4,488

 

220

 

Net interest cost

 

566

 

465

 

101

 

Debt ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-rate debt as a proportion of total indebtedness (%)

 

92

 

97

 

(5) pts.

 

Average term to maturity of long-term debt (excluding commercial paper) (years)

 

10.4

 

11.1

 

(0.7

)

Weighted average interest rate on long-term debt (excluding commercial paper) (%)

 

4.22

 

4.32

 

(0.10) pts.

 

Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1 (times)

 

2.69

 

2.66

 

0.03

 

Coverage ratios1 (times)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings coverage

 

4.0

 

4.8

 

(0.8

)

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage

 

8.3

 

9.7

 

(1.4

)

Other measures1 (%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend payout ratio of adjusted net earnings

 

77

 

73

 

4 pts.

 

Dividend payout ratio

 

89

 

73

 

16 pts.

 

 

 

1    See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other financial measures.

 

Earnings coverage ratio for 2016 was 4.0 times, down from 4.8 times one year earlier. A decrease in income before borrowing costs and income taxes reduced the ratio by 0.5, while an increase in borrowing costs reduced the ratio by 0.3.

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage ratio for 2016 was 8.3 times, down from 9.7 times one year earlier. An increase in net interest costs reduced the ratio by 1.8, while growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs increased the ratio by 0.4.

 

Dividend payout ratios: Actual dividend payout decisions will continue to be subject to our Board’s assessment and the determination of our financial position and outlook, as well as our long-term dividend payout ratio guideline of 65 to 75% of prospective net earnings per share. The disclosed basic and adjusted dividend payout ratios are historical measures utilizing the last four quarters of dividends declared and earnings per share. We estimate that we are within our target guideline on a prospective dividend payout ratio basis. The historical measures for the year ended December 31, 2016 are presented for illustrative purposes in evaluating our target guideline and both exceeded the objective range.


 

 

 

 

 

70 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 


7.6 Credit facilities

At December 31, 2016, we had available liquidity of more than $1.7 billion from unutilized credit facilities, including the TELUS revolving credit facility, approximately $96 million available liquidity from the TELUS International credit facility and $131 million available from uncommitted

letters of credit facilities. In addition, we had $400 million available under our trade receivables securitization program (see Section 7.7 Sale of trade receivables). We are well within our objective of generally maintaining at least $1.0 billion of available liquidity.


 

TELUS revolving credit facility

We have a $2.25 billion (or U.S. dollar equivalent) revolving credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions that was renewed in the second quarter of 2016 and expires on May 31, 2021. The revolving credit facility is used for general corporate purposes, including the backstop of commercial paper, as required.

 

TELUS revolving credit facility at December 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

Backstop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

undrawn letters

 

for commercial

 

Available

($ millions)

 

Expiry

 

Size

 

Drawn

 

of credit

 

paper program

 

liquidity

Five-year revolving facility1

 

May 31, 2021

 

2,250

 

–

 

–

 

(613

)

1,637

 

 

1    Canadian dollars or U.S. dollar equivalent.

 


Our revolving credit facility contains customary covenants, including a requirement that we not permit our consolidated leverage ratio to exceed 4.00 to 1.00 and that we not permit our consolidated coverage ratio to be less than 2.00 to 1.00, at the end of any financial quarter. Our consolidated leverage ratio was approximately 2.69 to 1.00 as at December 31, 2016, and our consolidated coverage ratio was approximately 8.32 to 1.00 as at December 31, 2016. These ratios are expected to remain well above the covenants. There are certain minor differences in the calculation of the leverage ratio and coverage ratio under the revolving credit facility, as compared with the calculation of Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs and EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage. Historically, the calculations have not been materially different. The covenants are not impacted by revaluation, if any, of Property, plant and equipment, Intangible assets or Goodwill for accounting purposes. Continued access to our credit facilities is not contingent on maintaining a specific credit rating.

 

Commercial paper

TELUS Corporation has an unsecured commercial paper program, which is backstopped by our revolving credit facility, enabling us to issue commercial paper up to a maximum aggregate amount of $1.4 billion at December 31, 2016, including a U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper program for up to U.S.$1.0 billion within this maximum aggregate amount. The commercial paper program is to be used for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, capital expenditures and investments. Our ability to reasonably access the commercial paper market in Canada and the U.S. is dependent on our credit ratings (see Section 7.8 Credit ratings).

 

TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facilities

As at December 31, 2016, TELUS International (Cda) Inc. had a U.S.$330 million bank credit facility, secured by its assets, expiring on May 31, 2021, with a syndicate of financial institutions. The credit facility is comprised of a revolving U.S.$115 million component and a U.S.$215 million term loan component. The credit facility is non-recourse to TELUS Corporation. As at December 31, 2016, $340 million ($332 million net of unamortized issue costs) was outstanding, all of which was denominated in U.S. dollars (U.S.$253 million), with a weighted average interest rate of 2.49%.

Other letter of credit facilities

At December 31, 2016, we had $210 million of letters of credit outstanding (December 31, 2015 – $202 million), issued under various uncommitted facilities; such letter of credit facilities are in addition to the ability to provide letters of credit pursuant to our committed bank credit facility. Available liquidity under various uncommitted letters of credit facilities was $131 million at December 31, 2016.

 

7.7 Sale of trade receivables

TELUS Communications Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of TELUS, is a party to an agreement with an arm’s-length securitization trust associated with a major Schedule I Canadian bank, under which it is able to sell an interest in certain trade receivables for an amount up to a maximum of $500 million. The agreement is in effect until December 31, 2018, and available liquidity was $400 million as at December 31, 2016. (See Note 22 of the Consolidated financial statements.) Sales of trade receivables in securitization transactions are recognized as collateralized Short-term borrowings and thus do not result in our de-recognition of the trade receivables sold.

TELUS Communications Inc. is required to maintain at least a BB credit rating by DBRS Ltd., or the securitization trust may require the sale program to be wound down prior to the end of the term. The necessary credit rating was exceeded as of February 9, 2017.

 

7.8 Credit ratings

There were no changes to our investment grade credit ratings during 2016, or as of February 9, 2017. We believe adherence to most of our stated financial policies (see Section 4.3), coupled with our efforts to maintain a constructive relationship with banks, investors and credit rating agencies, continues to provide reasonable access to capital markets. (See discussion of risks in Section 10.7 Financing and debt requirements and returning cash to shareholders.)


 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 71


 

7.9 Financial instruments, commitments and contingent liabilities

 

Financial instruments

Our financial instruments and the nature of certain risks that they may be subject to are set out below and described in Note 4 of the Consolidated financial statements. Our policies in respect of the recognition and measurement of financial instruments are described in Note 1(c) of the Consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

Risks

 

 

Recognition and measurement

 

 

 

 

 

Market risks

Financial instrument

 

accounting classification

 

Credit

 

Liquidity

 

Currency

 

Interest rate

 

Other price

Measured at amortized cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

Loans and receivables

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

Construction credit facilities advances to real estate joint venture

 

Loans and receivables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Short-term obligations

 

Other financial liabilities

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

 

Accounts payable

 

Other financial liabilities

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

Provisions

 

Other financial liabilities

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

Long-term debt

 

Other financial liabilities

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

 

Measured at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and temporary investments

 

Fair value through Net income

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

Long-term investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(not subject to significant influence)1

 

Available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

Foreign exchange derivatives2

 

Fair value through Net income; part of a cash flow hedging relationship

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation derivatives2

 

Fair value through Net income; part of a cash flow hedging relationship

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

1           Long-term investments over which we do not have significant influence are measured at fair value if those fair values can be reliably measured.

2           Use of derivative financial instruments is subject to a policy which requires that no derivative transaction is to be entered into for the purpose of establishing a speculative or leveraged position (the corollary being that all derivative transactions are to be entered into for risk management purposes only) and sets criteria for the creditworthiness of the transaction counterparties.

 


Credit risk

Credit risk arises from Cash and temporary investments, Accounts receivable and derivative financial instruments. We mitigate credit risk as follows:

·           Credit risk associated with Cash and temporary investments is managed by ensuring that these financial assets are placed with governments, major financial institutions that have been accorded strong investment grade ratings by a primary rating agency, and/or other creditworthy counterparties. An ongoing review is performed to evaluate changes in the status of counterparties.

·           Credit risk associated with Accounts receivable is inherently managed by the size and diversity of our large customer base, which includes substantially all consumer and business sectors in Canada. We follow a program of credit evaluations of customers and limit the amount of credit extended when deemed necessary. As at December 31, 2016, the weighted average life of past-due customer Accounts receivable was 61 days (2015 – 62 days).

We maintain allowances for potential credit losses related to doubtful accounts. Current economic conditions, historical information, reasons for the accounts being past-due and line of business from which the customer Accounts receivable arose are all considered when determining whether to make allowances for past-due accounts. The same factors are considered when determining whether to write off amounts charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts against the customer Accounts receivable. The doubtful accounts expense is calculated on a specific-identification basis for customer Accounts receivable over a specific balance threshold and on a statistically

derived allowance basis for the remainder. No customer Accounts receivable are written off directly to the doubtful accounts expense.

·           Counterparties to our share-based compensation cash-settled equity forward agreements and foreign exchange derivatives are major financial institutions that have been accorded investment grade ratings by a primary rating agency. The dollar amount of credit exposure under contracts with any one financial institution is limited and counterparties’ credit ratings are monitored. We do not give or receive collateral on swap agreements and hedging items due to our credit rating and those of our counterparties. While we are exposed to potential credit losses due to the possible non-performance of our counterparties, we consider this risk remote. Our derivative liabilities do not have credit risk-related contingent features.

 

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that we may not have cash available to satisfy our financial obligations as they come due. As a component of our capital structure financial policies, discussed in Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources, we manage liquidity risk by: maintaining a daily cash pooling process that enables us to manage our available liquidity and our liquidity requirements according to our actual needs; maintaining an agreement to sell trade receivables to an arm’s-length securitization trust; maintaining bilateral bank facilities and syndicated credit facilities; maintaining a commercial paper program; maintaining an in-effect shelf prospectus; continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows; and managing maturity profiles of financial assets and financial liabilities.


 

 

72 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 


Our debt maturities in future years are as disclosed in the long-term debt principal maturities chart in Section 4.3. As at December 31, 2016, we had liquidity of more than $1.7 billion available from unutilized credit facilities (see Section 7.6 Credit facilities), $400 million available under our trade receivables securitization program (see Section 7.7 Sale of trade receivables), and we could offer $2.2 billion of debt or equity securities pursuant to a shelf prospectus that is in effect until April 2018. This adheres to our objective of generally maintaining at least $1 billion of available liquidity. We believe that our investment grade credit ratings contribute to reasonable access to capital markets.

The expected maturities of our undiscounted financial liabilities do not differ significantly from the contractual maturities, other than as shown in the table in Note 4(c) of the Consolidated financial statements.

 

Currency risk

Our functional currency is the Canadian dollar, but certain routine revenues and operating costs are denominated in U.S. dollars and some inventory purchases and capital asset acquisitions are sourced internationally. The U.S. dollar is the only foreign currency to which we have a significant exposure.

Our foreign exchange risk management includes the use of foreign-currency forward contracts and currency options to fix the exchange rates on short-term U.S. dollar-denominated transactions, commitments and commercial paper.

We are also exposed to currency risks in that the fair value or future cash flows of our U.S. Dollar Notes and our TELUS International credit facility U.S. dollar borrowings could fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. Currency hedging relationships have been established for the related semi-annual interest payments and principal payment at maturity in respect of the U.S. Dollar Notes.

 

Interest rate risk

Changes in market interest rates will cause fluctuations in the fair values or future cash flows of temporary investments, construction credit facility advances made to the real estate joint ventures, short-term obligations, long-term debt and interest rate swap derivatives.

When we have temporary investments, they have short maturities and fixed interest rates and, as a result, their fair values will fluctuate with changes in market interest rates; absent monetization prior to maturity, the related future cash flows will not change due to changes in market interest rates.

If the balance of short-term investments includes dividend-paying equity instruments, we could be exposed to interest rate risk.

Due to the short-term nature of the applicable rates of interest charged, the fair value of the construction credit facilities advances made to the real estate joint venture is not materially affected by changes in market interest rates; associated cash flows representing interest payments will be affected until such advances are repaid.

As short-term obligations arising from bilateral bank facilities, which typically have variable interest rates, are rarely outstanding for periods that exceed one calendar week, interest rate risk associated with this item is not material.

Short-term borrowings arising from the sales of trade receivables to an arm’s-length securitization trust are fixed-rate debt. Due to the short maturities of these borrowings, interest rate risk associated with this item is not material.

All of our currently outstanding long-term debt, other than commercial paper and amounts drawn on our credit facilities, is fixed-rate debt (see Section 7.5). The fair value of fixed-rate debt fluctuates with changes in market interest rates; absent early redemption, the related future cash flows will not change. Due to the short maturities of commercial paper, its fair value is not materially affected by changes in market interest rates, but the associated cash flows representing interest payments may be affected if the commercial paper is rolled over.

Amounts drawn on our short-term and long-term credit facilities will be affected by changes in market interest rates in a manner similar to commercial paper.

 

Other price risk

·           Long-term investments: We are exposed to equity price risk arising from investments classified as available-for-sale. Such investments are held for strategic rather than trading purposes.

·           Share-based compensation derivatives: We are exposed to other price risk arising from cash-settled share-based compensation (appreciating Common Share prices increase both the expense and the potential cash outflow). Certain cash-settled equity swap agreements have been entered into that fix the cost associated with our restricted stock units (see Note 13(b) of the Consolidated financial statements).

 

Market risks

Net income and Other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 could have varied if the Canadian dollar: U.S. dollar exchange rate and our Common Share price varied by reasonably possible amounts from their actual statement of financial position date amounts.

The sensitivity analysis of our exposure to market risks is shown in Note 4(g) of the Consolidated financial statements.

 

Fair values – General

The carrying values of Cash and temporary investments, Accounts receivable, short-term obligations, Short-term borrowings, accounts payable and certain provisions (including restructuring accounts payable) approximate their fair values due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The fair values are determined directly by reference to quoted market prices in active markets.

The carrying values of our investments accounted for using the cost method do not exceed their fair values. The fair values of our investments accounted for as available-for-sale are based on quoted market prices in active markets or other clear and objective evidence of fair value.

The fair value of our Long-term debt is based on quoted market prices in active markets.

The fair values of the derivative financial instruments we use to manage our exposure to currency risks are estimated based upon quoted market prices in active markets for the same or similar financial instruments or on the current rates offered to us for financial instruments of the same maturity, as well as discounted future cash flows determined using current rates for similar financial instruments subject to similar risks and maturities (such fair value estimates being largely based on the Canadian dollar: U.S. dollar forward exchange rate as at the statement of financial position dates).

The fair values of the derivative financial instruments we use to manage our exposure to increases in compensation costs arising from certain forms of share-based compensation are based upon fair value


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 73


 


estimates of the related cash-settled equity forward agreements provided by the counterparty to the transactions (such fair value estimates being largely based on our Common Share price as at the statement of financial position dates).

The financial instruments that we measure at fair value on a recurring basis in periods subsequent to initial recognition and the level within the fair value hierarchy at which they are measured are as set out in Note 4(h) of the Consolidated financial statements.

 

Fair values – Derivative and non-derivative

The derivative financial instruments that we measure at fair value on a recurring basis subsequent to initial recognition, and our Long-term

debt, which is measured at amortized cost, and the fair value thereof, are set out in tables in Note 4(h) of the Consolidated financial statements.

 

Recognition of derivative gains and losses

Gains and losses, excluding income tax effects, on derivative instruments that are classified as cash flow hedging items, as well as gains and losses on derivative instruments that are classified as held for trading items and that are not designated as being in a hedging relationship, and their respective locations within the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income, are detailed in Note 4(i) of the Consolidated financial statements.


 

Commitments and contingent liabilities

 

Contractual obligations as at December 31, 2016

 

($ millions)

 

 

2017

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

 

Thereafter

 

Total

Short-term borrowings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest obligations

 

1

 

2

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

3

Principal obligations1

 

 

–

 

100

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

100

 

 

1

 

 

102

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

103

Long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest obligations

 

505

 

486

 

484

 

433

 

353

 

3,529

 

5,790

Principal maturities2

 

 

1,327

 

264

 

1,014

 

1,014

 

1,358

 

8,055

 

13,032

 

 

1,832

 

 

750

 

1,498

 

1,447

 

1,711

 

11,584

 

18,822

Construction credit facilities commitment3

 

 

93

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

93

Minimum operating lease payments3,4

 

 

217

 

198

 

183

 

160

 

138

 

819

 

1,715

Occupancy costs3

 

 

90

 

90

 

86

 

81

 

78

 

444

 

869

Purchase obligations5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenditures

 

522

 

143

 

113

 

90

 

69

 

265

 

1,202

Property, plant and equipment, and Intangible assets

 

456

 

27

 

24

 

11

 

–

 

–

 

518

 

 

978

 

 

170

 

137

 

101

 

69

 

265

 

1,720

Non-interest bearing financial liabilities

 

 

1,949

 

227

 

16

 

9

 

9

 

5

 

2,215

Other obligations

 

 

12

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

(9

)

3

Total

 

 

5,172

 

1,537

 

1,920

 

1,798

 

2,005

 

13,108

 

25,540

 

1

See Section 7.7 Sale of trade receivables.

2

See Long-term debt maturity chart in Section 4.3.

3

Construction credit facilities reflect loan amounts for a real estate joint venture, a related party. Minimum operating lease payments and occupancy costs include transactions with real estate joint ventures. See Section 7.11 Transactions between related parties.

4

Total minimum operating lease payments include approximately 34% in respect of our five largest leases for office premises over various terms, with expiry dates that range between 2024 and 2036 with a weighted average term of approximately 14 years; and approximately 30% in respect of wireless site leases with a weighted average term of approximately 17 years. Total minimum operating lease payments with related parties are immaterial. See Note 19 of the Consolidated financial statements.

5

Where applicable, purchase obligations reflect foreign exchange rates at December 31, 2016. Purchase obligations include future operating and capital expenditures that have been contracted for at the current year-end and include the most likely estimates of prices and volumes, where necessary. As purchase obligations reflect market conditions at the time the obligation was incurred for the items being purchased, they may not be representative of future years. Obligations from personnel supply contracts and other such labour agreements have been excluded.

 


Claims and lawsuits

A number of claims and lawsuits (including class actions and intellectual property infringement claims) seeking damages and other relief are pending against us and, in some cases, numerous other wireless carriers and telecommunications service providers. As well, we have received notice of, or are aware of, certain possible claims (including intellectual property infringement claims) against us. (See the related risk discussion in Section 10.9 Litigation and legal matters.)

It is not currently possible for us to predict the outcome of such claims, possible claims and lawsuits due to various factors, including: the preliminary nature of some claims; uncertain damage theories and

demands; an incomplete factual record; uncertainty concerning legal theories, procedures and their resolution by the courts, at both the trial and the appeal levels; and the unpredictable nature of opposing parties and their demands. However, when it is determined in respect of a particular claim that payments to claimants are probable, we accrue an estimate of the liability.

Subject to the foregoing limitations, management is of the opinion, based upon legal assessments and information presently available, that it is unlikely that any liability, to the extent not provided for through insurance or otherwise, would have a material effect on our financial position and the results of our operations, including cash flows, with


 

 

74 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: ACCOUNTING MATTERS

 

 


the exception of the items disclosed in Note 29(a) of the Consolidated financial statements. This is a significant judgment for us (see Section 8 .1 Critical accounting estimates).

 

Indemnification obligations

In the normal course of operations, we provide indemnification in conjunction with certain transactions. The terms of these indemnification obligations range in duration. These indemnifications would require us to compensate the indemnified parties for costs incurred as a result of failure to comply with contractual obligations or litigation claims or statutory sanctions or damages that may be suffered by an indemnified party. In some cases, there is no maximum limit on these indemnification obligations. The overall maximum amount of an indemnification obligation will depend on future events and conditions and therefore cannot be reasonably estimated. Where appropriate, an indemnification obligation is recorded as a liability. Other than obligations recorded as liabilities at the time of such transactions, historically we have not made significant payments under these indemnifications.

As at December 31, 2016, we had no liability recorded in respect of our indemnification obligations.

 

 

7.10 Outstanding share information

 

 

 

December 31,

 

January 31,

Outstanding shares (millions)

 

2016

 

2017

Common Shares

 

590

 

590

Common Share options –

 

 

 

 

all exercisable (one for one)

 

 

1

 

1

 

7.11 Transactions between related parties

 

Investments in significant controlled entities

As at December 31, 2016, TELUS Corporation controlled 100% of the equity of TELUS Communications Inc., which, in turn, ultimately controlled 100% of TELUS Communications Company and TELE-MOBILE COMPANY. This is unchanged from December 31, 2015.

 

Transactions with key management personnel

Our key management personnel have authority and responsibility for overseeing, planning, directing and controlling our activities. They consist of our Board of Directors and our Executive Leadership Team. Total compensation expense amounts for key management personnel were $54 million in 2016, as compared to $65 million in 2015. See Note 30(a) of the Consolidated financial statements for additional detail.

 

Transactions with defined benefit pension plans

We provided management and administrative services to our defined benefit pension plans. Charges for these services were on a cost recovery basis and were immaterial.

 

Transactions with real estate joint ventures

In 2016, we had transactions with real estate joint ventures, which are related parties to us, as set out in Note 21 of our Consolidated financial statements. As at December 31, 2016, the proportion of space leased in the TELUS Garden office tower was approximately 99%. Closing was completed for the majority of residential units in the TELUS Garden residential condominium project in the fourth quarter of 2016, with the remaining units expected to close in 2017.

For the TELUS Sky real estate joint venture, commitments and contingent liabilities include construction-related contractual commitments through to 2018 (approximately $121 million at December 31, 2016) and construction credit facilities ($342 million with three Canadian financial institutions as 662/3% lender and TELUS as 331/3% lender).


 

 

 

 

 

Accounting matters

 

 

 

 

 


8 .1 Critical accounting estimates

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires us to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our critical accounting estimates and significant judgments are generally discussed with the Audit Committee each quarter.

Examples of significant judgments, apart from those involving estimation, include the following:

·           Assessments about whether line items are sufficiently material to warrant separate presentation in the primary financial statements and, if not, whether they are sufficiently material to warrant separate presentation in the notes to the financial statements. In the normal course, we make changes to our assessments regarding materiality for presentation so that they reflect current economic conditions. Due consideration is given to the view that it is reasonable to expect differing opinions of what is, and is not, material.

·           In respect of revenue-generating transactions, we must make judgments that affect the timing of the recognition of revenue. See Section 8.2 Accounting policy developments below and Note 2 of our Consolidated financial statements for significant changes to IFRS-IASB, which are not yet effective and have not yet been applied, but which will significantly affect the timing of the recognition of revenue and the classification of our revenues presented as either service or equipment revenues.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 75


 


·           We must make judgments about when we have satisfied our performance obligations to our customers, either over a period of time or at a point in time. Service revenues are recognized based upon customers’ access to, or usage of, our telecommunications infrastructure; we believe this method faithfully depicts the transfer of the services, and thus the revenues are recognized as the services are made available and/or rendered. We consider our performance obligations arising from the sale of equipment to have been satisfied when the equipment has been delivered to, and accepted by, the end-user customers.

·           Principally in the context of revenue-generating transactions involving wireless handsets, we must make judgments about whether third-party re-sellers that deliver equipment to our customers are acting in the transaction as principals or as our agents. Upon due consideration of the relevant indicators, we believe the decision to consider the re-sellers to be acting, solely for accounting purposes, as our agents is more representative of the economic substance of the transactions, as we are the primary obligor to the end-user customers. The effect of this judgment is that no equipment revenue is recognized upon the transfer of inventory to third-party re-sellers.

·           The decision to depreciate and amortize any property, plant, equipment and intangible assets that are subject to amortization, on a straight-line basis, as we believe that this method reflects the consumption of resources related to the economic lifespan of those assets better than an accelerated method and is more representative of the economic substance of the underlying use of those assets.

·           The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make judgments that affect the financial statement disclosure of information regularly reviewed by our chief operating decision-maker used to make resource allocation decisions and to assess performance (segment information, see Note 5 of our Consolidated financial statements). A significant judgment we make is in respect of distinguishing between our wireless and wireline operations and cash flows, such distinction having been significantly affected by the convergence and integration of our wireless and wireline telecommunications infrastructure technology and operations.

Through December 31, 2015, our judgment was that our wireless and wireline telecommunications infrastructure technology and operations had not experienced sufficient convergence to objectively make their respective operations and cash flows practically indistinguishable. The continued build-out of our technology-agnostic fibre-optic infrastructure, in combination with converged edge network technology, has significantly affected this judgment, as has the commercialization of fixed-wireless solutions.

It has become increasingly impractical to objectively distinguish between our wireless and wireline operations and cash flows, and the assets from which those cash flows arise. Our judgment as to whether these operations can continue to be judged to be individual components of the business and discrete operating segments may change in the future.

The increasing impracticality of objectively distinguishing between our wireless and wireline cash flows, and the assets from which those cash flows arise, is evidence of their increasing interdependence; this may result in the unification of the wireless cash-generating unit and the wireline cash-generating unit as a single cash-generating unit for impairment testing purposes in the future.

·           The view that our spectrum licences granted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) will likely be renewed by ISED, that we intend to renew them, that we believe we have the financial and operational ability to renew them and, thus, that they have an indefinite life, as discussed further in Note 18(b) of the Consolidated financial statements.

·           In connection with the annual impairment testing of Intangible assets with indefinite lives and Goodwill, there are instances in which we must exercise judgment in allocating our net assets, including shared corporate and administrative assets, to our cash-generating units when determining their carrying amounts. These judgments are necessary because of the convergence our wireless and wireline telecommunications infrastructure technology and operations have experienced to date, and because of our continuous development. There are instances in which similar judgments must also be made in respect of future capital expenditures in support of both wireless and wireline operations, which are a component of the determination of recoverable amounts that are used in the annual impairment testing, as discussed further in Note 18(c) of the Consolidated financial statements.

·           In respect of claims and lawsuits, as discussed further in Note 29(a) of the Consolidated financial statements, the determination of whether an item is a contingent liability or whether an outflow of resources is probable and thus needs to be accounted for as a provision.

 

Examples of the significant estimates and judgments that we make, and their relative significance and degree of difficulty, are as set out in the graphic in Note 1 of the Consolidated financial statements.

 

Our critical accounting estimates and assumptions are described below.

 

General

·           In determining our critical accounting estimates, we consider trends, commitments, events or uncertainties that we reasonably expect to materially affect the methodology or assumptions. Our statements in this MD&A regarding such consideration are made subject to the Caution regarding forward-looking statements.

·           In the normal course, we make changes to assumptions under-lying all critical accounting estimates so that they reflect current economic conditions, updated historical information used to develop the assumptions, and changes in our credit ratings, where applicable. Unless indicated otherwise in the discussion below, we expect that no material changes in overall financial performance and financial statement line items would arise either from reasonably likely changes in material assumptions underlying the estimate or from selection of a different estimate from within a range of valid estimates.


 

 

 

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·           Our critical accounting estimates affect line items on the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income, and line items on the Consolidated statements of financial position, as follows:

 

 

 

Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

Employee

 

 

 

 

 

Goods and

 

Employee

 

 

 

Amortization

 

 

 

defined

 

 

 

Operating

 

services

 

benefits

 

 

 

of intangible

 

Financing

 

benefit plans

 

Consolidated statements of financial position

 

 

revenues

 

purchased

 

expense

 

Depreciation

 

assets

 

costs

 

re-measurements

2

Intangible assets, net, and Goodwill, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

1

 

 

 

 

Employee defined benefit pension plans

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

X

3

X

3

X

 

X

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provisions for asset retirement obligations

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Investments

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventories

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Accounting estimate, as applicable to Intangible assets with indefinite lives and Goodwill, primarily relates to spectrum holdings and accordingly affects our wireless cash-generating unit.

2

Other comprehensive income – Item never subsequently reclassified to income.

3

Accounting estimate impact due to internal labour capitalization rates.

·           All critical accounting estimates are uncertain at the time an estimate is made and affect the following Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income line items: Income taxes (except for estimates about Goodwill) and Net income. Similarly, all critical accounting estimates affect the following Consolidated statements of financial position line items: Current assets (Income and other taxes receivable), Current liabilities (Income and other taxes payable), Deferred income tax liabilities and Common equity (retained earnings) and Non-controlling interest. The discussion of each critical accounting estimate does not differ between our two segments, wireless and wireline, unless explicitly noted.

 

Intangible assets, net; Goodwill, net; and Property, plant and equipment, net

 

General

·           The Intangible assets, net, line item represents approximately 37% of Total assets as at December 31, 2016 (38% as at December 31, 2015). Included in Intangible assets are spectrum licences, which represent approximately 31% of Total assets as at December 31, 2016 (32% as at December 31, 2015).

·           The Goodwill, net, line item represents approximately 14% of Total assets as at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

·           The Property, plant and equipment, net, line item on our Consolidated statements of financial position represents approximately 38% of Total assets as at December 31, 2016 and 37% of Total assets as at December 31, 2015.

·           If our estimated useful lives of assets were incorrect, we could experience increased or decreased charges for amortization or depreciation in the future. If the future were to differ adversely from our best estimate of key economic assumptions and associated cash flows were to materially decrease, we could potentially experience future material impairment charges in respect of our Property, plant and equipment assets, our Intangible assets or our Goodwill. If Intangible assets with indefinite lives were determined to have finite lives at some point in the future, we could experience increased charges for amortization of Intangible assets. Such charges in and of themselves do not result in a cash outflow and would not immediately affect our liquidity.

The recoverability of Intangible assets with indefinite lives; the recoverability of Goodwill

·           The carrying values of Intangible assets with indefinite lives and Goodwill are periodically tested for impairment and this test represents a significant estimate for us.

·           The recoverable amounts of the cash-generating units’ assets have been determined based on a fair value less costs of disposal calculation (in 2015, a value-in-use calculation was used). There is a material degree of uncertainty with respect to the estimates of the recoverable amounts of the cash-generating units’ assets given the necessity of making key economic assumptions about the future. The fair value less costs of disposal and value-in-use calculations both use future cash flows and growth projections (including judgments about the allocation of future capital expenditures supporting both wireless and wireline operations); associated economic risk assumptions and estimates of achieving key operating metrics and drivers; estimates of future generational infrastructure capital expenditures; and the future weighted average cost of capital.

·           See Note 18(c) of the Consolidated financial statements for further discussion of methodology and sensitivity testing.

 

The estimated useful lives of assets; the recoverability of tangible assets

·           The estimated useful lives of assets are determined by a continuing program of asset life studies. The recoverability of assets with finite lives is significantly impacted by the estimated useful lives of assets.

·           Assumptions underlying the estimated useful lives of assets include the life cycle of technology, competitive pressures and future infrastructure utilization plans.

 

Employee defined benefit pension plans

 

Certain actuarial and economic assumptions used in determining defined benefit pension costs, accrued pension benefit obligations and pension plan assets

·           We review industry practices, trends, economic conditions and data provided by actuaries when developing assumptions used in the determination of defined benefit pension costs and accrued pension benefit obligations. Pension plan assets are generally valued using market prices, however, some assets are valued using market estimates when market prices are not readily available.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 77


 


Actuarial support is obtained for interpolations of experience gains and losses that affect the employee defined benefit plan actuarial gains and losses and accrued pension benefit obligations. The discount rate, which is used to determine the accrued benefit obligation, is based upon the yield on long-term, high-quality fixed-term investments. The discount rate is set annually at the end of each calendar year, based upon yields on long-term corporate bond indices in consultation with actuaries, and is reviewed quarterly for significant changes. Future increases in compensation are based upon the current benefits policies and economic forecasts. We have examined our respective pension obligation and current service cost durations and observed a 10-year difference in duration. As individual discount rates will more accurately reflect the obligation and current service cost, commencing in 2017, we will be applying a dual discount rate methodology.

·           On an annual basis, at a minimum, the defined benefit pension plan assumptions are assessed and revised as appropriate. When the defined benefit pension plan key assumptions fluctuate significantly relative to their immediately preceding year-end values, actuarial gains (losses) arising from such significant fluctuations are recognized on an interim basis. Assumptions used in determining defined benefit pension costs, accrued pension benefit obligations and pension plan assets include life expectancy, discount rates, market estimates and rates of future compensation increases. Material changes in overall financial performance and financial statement line items would arise from reasonably likely changes, because of assumptions that have been revised to reflect updated historical information and updated economic conditions, in the material assumptions underlying this estimate. See Note 14 of the Consolidated financial statements for further analysis.

·           This accounting estimate related to employee defined benefit pension plans is in respect of components of the Operating expenses line item, Financing costs line item and Other comprehensive income line item on our Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income. If the future were to adversely differ from our best estimate of assumptions used in determining defined benefit pension costs, accrued benefit obligations and pension plan assets, we could experience future increased (or decreased) defined benefit pension expense, financing costs and charges to Other comprehensive income.

 

Income tax assets and liabilities

 

The amount and composition of income tax assets and income tax liabilities, including the amount of unrecognized tax benefits

·           Assumptions underlying the composition of income tax assets and liabilities are based upon an assessment of the technical merits of tax positions. Income tax benefits on uncertain tax positions are recognized only when it is more likely than not that the ultimate determination of the tax treatment of a position will result in the related benefit being realizable. Income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount that is expected to be realized or incurred upon ultimate settlement with taxation authorities. Such assessments are based upon the applicable income tax legislation, regulations, interpretations and jurisprudence, all of which in turn are subject to change and interpretation.

·           Current income tax assets and liabilities are estimated based upon the amount of income tax that is calculated as being owed to taxation authorities, net of periodic instalment payments. Deferred income

tax liabilities are composed of the tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount and tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as the income tax effect of undeducted income tax losses. The timing of the reversal of temporary differences is estimated and the income tax rate substantively enacted for the periods of reversal is applied to the temporary differences. The carrying amounts of assets and liabilities are based upon the amounts recorded in the financial statements and are, therefore, subject to accounting estimates that are inherent in those balances. The tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as the amount of undeducted income tax losses, are based upon the assessment and measurement of tax positions, as noted above. Assumptions as to the timing of reversal of temporary differences include expectations about the future results of operations and future cash flows. The composition of income tax liabilities is reasonably likely to change from period to period because of changes in the estimation of these significant uncertainties.

·           This accounting estimate is in respect of material asset and liability line items on our Consolidated statements of financial position comprising less than 1% of Total assets as at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and approximately 8% of Total liabilities and owners’ equity as at December 31, 2016 (9% as at December 31, 2015). If the future were to adversely differ from our best estimate of the likelihood of tax positions being sustained, the amount of tax expected to be incurred, the future results of operations, the timing of reversal of deductible temporary differences and taxable temporary differences, and the tax rates applicable to future years, we could experience material deferred income tax adjustments. Such deferred income tax adjustments could result in an increase or acceleration of cash outflows at an earlier time than might otherwise be expected.

 

Provisions for asset retirement obligations

 

Certain economic assumptions used in provisioning for asset retirement obligations

·           Asset retirement obligation provisions are recognized for statutory, contractual or legal obligations, normally when incurred, associated with the retirement of Property, plant and equipment (primarily certain items of outside plant and wireless site equipment) when those obligations result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal operation of the assets. The obligations are measured initially at fair value, determined using present value methodology, and the resulting costs are capitalized as a part of the carrying value of the related asset.

·           On an annual basis, at a minimum, assumptions underlying the provisions for asset retirement obligations include expectations, which may span numerous decades, about inflation, discount rates and any changes in the amount or timing of the underlying future cash flows. Material changes in financial position would arise from reasonably likely changes, because of assumptions that have been revised to reflect updated historical information and updated economic conditions, in the material assumptions underlying this estimate. The capitalized asset retirement cost is depreciated on the same basis as the related asset, and the discount accretion is included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as a component of Financing costs.


 

 

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MD&A: ACCOUNTING MATTERS

 

 


·           This accounting estimate is in respect of the asset retirement obligations component of the Provisions line item on our Consolidated statements of financial position, and this component comprises approximately 1% of Total liabilities and owners’ equity as at December 31, 2016 and 2015. If the provisions for asset retirement obligations were to be inadequate, we could experience a charge to Goods and services purchased in the future. A charge for an inadequate asset retirement obligation provision would result in a cash outflow proximate to the time that the asset retirement obligation is satisfied.

 

Investments

 

The recoverability of long-term investments

·           We assess the recoverability of our long-term investments on a regular, recurring basis. The recoverability of investments is assessed on a specific-identification basis, taking into consideration expectations about future performance of the investments and comparison of historical results to past expectations.

·           The most significant assumptions underlying the recoverability of long-term investments are related to the achievement of future cash flow and operating expectations. Our estimate of the recoverability of long-term investments could change from period to period due to the recurring nature of the recoverability assessment and due to the nature of long-term investments (we do not control the investees).

·           Investments are included in the Other long-term assets line item on our Consolidated statements of financial position, which itself comprises approximately 2% of Total assets as at December 31, 2016 (2% as at December 31, 2015). If the allowance for recoverability of long-term investments were to be inadequate, we could experience an increased charge to Other operating income in the future. Such a provision for recoverability of long-term investments does not result in a cash outflow. When there is clear and objective evidence of an increase in the fair value of an investment, which may be indicated by either a recent sale of shares by another current investor or the injection of new cash into the entity from a new or existing investor, we recognize the after-tax increase in value in Other comprehensive income (change in unrealized fair value of available-for-sale financial assets).

 

Accounts receivable

 

General

·           When determining our allowance for doubtful accounts, we consider the business area that gave rise to the Accounts receivable, conduct a statistical analysis of portfolio delinquency trends and perform specific account identification.

·           These accounting estimates are in respect of the Accounts receivable line item on our Consolidated statements of financial position, which comprises approximately 5% of Total assets as at December 31, 2016 and 2015. If the future were to differ adversely from our best estimates of the fair value of the residual cash flows and the allowance for doubtful accounts, we could experience an increase in the doubtful accounts expense in the future. Such doubtful accounts expense in and of itself does not result in a cash outflow.

 

The allowance for doubtful accounts

The estimate of our allowance for doubtful accounts could materially change from period to period due to the allowance being a function of the balance and composition of Accounts receivable, which can vary on a month-to-month basis. The variability of the balance of Accounts

receivable arises from the variability of the amount and composition of Operating revenues and from the variability of Accounts receivable collection performance.

 

Inventories

 

The allowance for inventory obsolescence

·           We determine our allowance for inventory obsolescence based upon expected inventory turnover, inventory aging, and current and future expectations with respect to product offerings.

·           Assumptions underlying the allowance for inventory obsolescence include future sales trends and offerings and the expected inventory requirements and inventory composition necessary to support these future offerings. Our estimate of the allowance for inventory obsolescence could materially change from period to period due to changes in product offerings and the level of consumer acceptance of those products.

·           This accounting estimate is in respect of the Inventories line item on our Consolidated statements of financial position, which comprises approximately 1% of Total assets as at December 31, 2016 and 2015. If the allowance for inventory obsolescence were to be inadequate, we could experience a charge to Goods and services purchased in the future. Such an inventory obsolescence charge does not result in a cash outflow.

 

 

8.2 Accounting policy developments

 

IFRS 9, Financial Instruments

IFRS 9, Financial Instruments, is required to be applied for years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. The new standard includes a model for the classification and measurement of financial instruments, a single forward-looking “expected loss” impairment model and a reformed approach to hedge accounting. Based upon current facts and circumstances, we do not expect our financial performance or disclosure to be materially affected by the application of the standard.

 

IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers

IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, is required to be applied for years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, such date reflecting the one-year deferral approved by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on July 22, 2015. The IASB and the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) worked on this joint project to clarify the principles for the recognition of revenue. The new standard was released in May 2014 and supersedes existing standards and interpretations, including IAS 18, Revenue. In April 2016, the IASB issued Clarifications to IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, clarifying application of some of the more complex aspects of the standard. We are currently assessing the impacts and transition provisions of the new standard, however, we expect that we will apply the standard retrospectively to prior reporting periods, subject to permitted and elected practical expedients.

The effects of the new standard and the materiality of those effects will vary by industry and entity. Like many other telecommunications companies, we currently expect to be materially affected by its application, primarily in respect of the timing of revenue recognition, the classification of revenue, the capitalization of costs of obtaining a contract with a customer and possibly the capitalization of the costs of contract fulfilment (as defined by the new standard).


 

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Revenue – timing of recognition; classification

The timing of revenue recognition and the classification of our revenues as either service revenues or equipment revenues will be affected, since the allocation of consideration in multiple element arrangements (solutions for our customers that may involve deliveries of multiple services and products that occur at different points in time and/or over different periods of time) will no longer be affected by the current limitation cap methodology.

The effects of the timing of revenue recognition and the classification of revenue are expected to be most pronounced in our wireless segment. Although the measurement of the total revenue recognized over the life of a contract will be largely unaffected by the new standard, the prohibition of the use of the limitation cap methodology will accelerate the recognition of total contract revenue, relative to both the associated cash inflows from customers and our current practice (using the limitation cap methodology). The acceleration of the recognition of contract revenue relative to the associated cash inflows will also result in the recognition of an amount reflecting the resulting difference as a contract asset. Although the underlying transaction economics would not differ, during periods of sustained growth in the number of wireless subscriber connection additions, assuming comparable contract-lifetime per unit cash inflows, revenues would appear to be greater than under the current practice (using the limitation cap methodology). Wireline segment results arising from transactions that include the initial provision of subsidized equipment or promotional pricing plans will be similarly affected.

 

Costs of contract acquisition; costs of contract fulfilment – timing of recognition

Similarly, the measurement of the total costs of contract acquisition and contract fulfilment over the life of a contract will not be affected by the new standard, but the timing of recognition will be. The new standard will result in our wireless and wireline segments’ costs of contract acquisition and contract fulfilment, to the extent that they are material, being capitalized and subsequently recognized as an expense over the life of a contract on a rational, systematic basis consistent with the pattern of the transfer of goods or services to which the asset relates. Although the underlying transaction economics would not differ, during periods of sustained growth in the number of customer connection additions, assuming comparable per-unit costs of contract acquisition and contract fulfilment, absolute profitability measures would appear to be greater than under the current practice (immediately expensing such costs).

 

Implementation

Our operations and associated systems are complex and our accounting for millions of multi-year contracts with our customers will be affected. Significantly, in order to effect the associated accounting, incremental compilation of historical data will be necessary for the millions of already existing multi-year contracts with our customers that are expected to be in-scope for purposes of transitioning to the new standard. Our current estimate of the time and effort necessary to develop and implement the accounting policies, estimates, judgments and processes (including critical incremental requirements of our information technology systems) we will need to have in place in order to comply with the new standard extends into mid/late-2017.

Once we have developed and implemented the necessary accounting policies, estimates, judgments and processes, we will commence the incremental compilation of historical data, as well as the accounting for that data, which is necessary to transition to, and to make reasonable quantitative estimates (which will also be subject to associated

incremental internal controls over financial reporting) of the effects of, the new standard. As a result, at this time, it is not possible to make reasonable quantitative estimates of the effects of the new standard and we may not be able to do so prior to completing our December 31, 2017, annual Consolidated financial statements.

 

Illustrative example

To assist with understanding how the fundamental timing of recognition and classification of transactions will be affected by the new standard, we have developed an illustrative example, as shown in Note 2(b) of the Consolidated financial statements, to contrast the currently expected effects of applying the new standard on certain primary financial statement line items for a single consumer postpaid wireless 24-month contract (handset and service) involving a re-seller with the effects of applying our current accounting policies.

 

IFRS 16, Leases

IFRS 16, Leases, was released by the IASB in January 2016, is required to be applied for years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, and supersedes IAS 17, Leases. Earlier application is allowed, but not before the application of IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The IASB and the FASB of the United States worked together to modify the accounting for leases, generally by eliminating lessees’ classification of leases as either operating leases or finance leases and, for IFRS-IASB, introducing a single lessee accounting model.

The most significant effect of the new standard will be the lessee’s recognition of the initial present value of unavoidable future lease payments as lease assets and lease liabilities on the statement of financial position, including those for most leases that would be currently accounted for as operating leases. Both leases with durations of 12 months or less and leases for low-value assets may be exempted.

The measurement of the total lease expense over the term of a lease will be unaffected by the new standard. However, the new standard will result in the timing of lease expense recognition being accelerated for leases that would be currently accounted for as operating leases; the IASB expects that this effect may be muted by a lessee having a portfolio of leases with varying maturities and lengths of term. The presentation on the statement of income and other comprehensive income required by the new standard will result in most lease expenses being presented as amortization of lease assets and financing costs arising from lease liabilities rather than as a part of goods and services purchased, thus reported operating income would be higher under the new standard.

Relative to the results of applying the current standard, although the actual cash flows will be unaffected, the lessee’s statement of cash flows will reflect increases in cash flows from operating activities offset equally by decreases in cash flows from financing activities. This is due to the payment of the “principal” component of leases that would be currently accounted for as operating leases being presented as a cash flow use within financing activities under the new standard.

We are currently assessing the impacts and transition provisions of the new standard; however, we expect that we will apply the standard retrospectively to prior reporting periods, subject to permitted and elected practical expedients; our current intention is to apply the new standard concurrent with our initial application of IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Our current estimate of the time and effort necessary to develop and implement the accounting policies, estimates and processes (including incremental requirements of our information technology systems) we will need to have in place in order to comply with the new standard extends into late 2017. We expect that our


 

 

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Consolidated statement of financial position will be materially affected, as will those financial metrics related to both debt and results of operations; however, at this time it is not possible to make reasonable quantitative estimates of the effects of the new standard.

Other issued standards

Other issued standards required to be applied for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017, are expected to have no significant effect on our financial performance or disclosure.


 

 

General trends, outlook and assumptions

 

 

 

 


This section contains forward-looking statements which should be read together with the Caution regarding forward-looking statements at the beginning of this MD&A.

 

 

9.1 Telecommunications industry in 2016

We estimate that Canadian telecommunications industry revenues (including TV and excluding media) grew by about 2% to approximately $60 billion in 2016. Wireless and data services again drove industry growth. Communication and entertainment consumption behaviours of consumers continued to demonstrate a strong preference for data-rich applications and data-intensive smartphones and tablets.

TELUS generated revenues of $12.8 billion in 2016, representing approximately 21% of industry revenues, with wireless products and services representing 55% of our total revenues. In our wireline business, growth in business process outsourcing, high-speed Internet access, data and TV services has more than offset the decline in demand for legacy voice services.

 

Wireless

Based on publicly reported competitors’ results and estimates, the Canadian wireless industry experienced network revenue growth of approximately 5% in 2016 and EBITDA growth of approximately 4% in 2016. Growth in TELUS wireless network revenue was 3.9% in 2016, and growth in TELUS wireless EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs was 4.8% in 2016.

We estimate that the Canadian wireless industry added approximately one million new subscriber units in 2016 along with steady population growth, compared to approximately 780,000 in 2015. With industry additions in 2016, the wireless penetration rate increased to approximately 84% in Canada. We expect modest increases in the penetration rate to continue into 2017. In comparison, the rate in the United States is well over 100%, while in Europe and Asia it is even higher. This suggests an opportunity for continued growth in Canada.

In 2016, the wireless market was characterized by heightened retention and acquisition activity associated with the concurrent expiry of two-year and three-year contracts through June 2016 as a result of the Wireless Code, enacted in 2013, as well as a heightened level of competitive intensity. This led to higher industry retention and acquisition costs, exacerbated by the continued adoption of data-centric smartphones, accompanied by higher upfront device subsidies and higher device costs resulting from the depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar in recent years. While this represents upfront pressure on industry margins, smartphones tend to generate higher average revenue per subscriber unit per month (ARPU), experience lower churn rates than earlier or more basic mobile devices, and result in higher average lifetime revenue.

The Canadian wireless industry continues to be highly competitive and capital intensive, characterized by ongoing consolidation. In March, Shaw Communications completed its previously announced acquisition of Wind Mobile, the last of the independent competitors that entered the wireless market after acquiring AWS spectrum in 2008, for $1.6 billion. Shaw has since focused on commencing the build-out of an LTE network and in November 2016, it announced the launch of inner-city LTE networks in Toronto and Vancouver. At the same time, Shaw rebranded Wind Mobile as Freedom Mobile.

In May, BCE announced its intention to acquire Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS). At the same time, TELUS announced an agreement in principle with BCE to acquire a portion of MTS’ postpaid wireless subscribers and dealer locations in Manitoba upon completion of the purchase of MTS by BCE. On February 2, 2017, BCE announced that it expected to close its acquisition of MTS by the end of March 2017, subject to Competition Bureau and Industry, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) approvals. As of February 9, 2017, BCE had not received the requisite approvals from the Competition Bureau and ISED.

 

Wireline

Canada’s four major cable-TV companies had an estimated installed base of approximately 4.0 million telephony subscribers at the end of 2016. This represents a national consumer market share of approximately 40%, up from 39% in 2015. Other non-facilities-based competitors also offer local and long distance voice over IP (VoIP) services and resell high-speed Internet solutions. This competition, along with technological substitution to wireless services, continues to erode the number of residential network access lines and associated local and long distance revenues, as expected.

The four major cable-TV companies had an estimated 6.5 million Internet subscribers at the end of 2016, up from 6.3 million at the end of 2015. Telecommunications companies had approximately 6.3 million Internet subscribers, up from 6.1 million at the end of 2015. Although the consumer high-speed Internet market is maturing, with a penetration rate of approximately 83% in Western Canada and 82% across Canada, subscriber growth is expected to continue over the next several years. We continue to make moderate market share gains due to the expansion of our fibre-optic network, as well as the pull-through of subscribers from our IP-based Optik TV service.

In 2016, Canadian IP TV providers increased their subscriber base by an estimated 10% to 2.5 million through expanded network coverage, enhanced differentiated service offerings, and marketing and promotions focused on IP TV. This growth was reflected in cable-TV and satellite-TV subscriber losses, and was primarily driven by strong subscriber loading at TELUS and Bell. We estimate that the four major cable-TV companies have approximately 6.0 million TV subscribers or a 52% market share, down one percentage point from 2015.


 

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The balance of industry subscribers were represented by satellite-TV and regional providers. In 2016, our primary Western Canadian cable-TV competitor, Shaw Communications, continued to focus on the roll-out of its metropolitan Wi-Fi network, and commenced trials of its new Comcast X1-based TV platform, which it began rolling out in Calgary. Through the acquisition of Wind Mobile, it is expected that Shaw will expand its ability to bundle wireless services with its cable-based services. In December 2016, Rogers announced its intention to adopt the Comcast X1 TV platform, and halted development of its own proprietary IP TV platform.

 

 

9.2 Telecommunications industry general outlook and trends

 

Wireless

Data growth continues to be driven by the ongoing adoption of data-centric smartphones, the effects of higher-rate two-year plans, the replacement of wireline access to services by wireless access and the ongoing deployment of tablet devices, as well as growth in machine-to-machine (M2M) devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). This trend is expected to continue to increase the demand for data services for the foreseeable future.

While LTE and LTE advanced technology increase download speeds and improve the customer experience, continually increasing data traffic demands is posing challenges to wireless carriers’ networks, including our own. (See High demand for data in Section 10.3 Technology.)

M2M and IoT technologies connect communications-enabled remote devices via wireless networks, allowing them to exchange key information and processes. Advanced platforms and networks are already in place in industries such as utilities, agriculture and fleet management, with deployment ongoing in other industries such as vehicle insurance, retail, food services and healthcare.

Increases in M2M volumes are anticipated to represent a meaningful opportunity for growth in the wireless market. While M2M applications generally have lower ARPU, they tend to generate high service volumes with low or no subsidy costs. The IoT also represents a meaningful opportunity for growth in mobility products and services. This opportunity comprises both wireless connectivity and productivity applications. While IoT connections generally have lower ARPU, these connections, when combined with applications, offer greater customer value and can generate commensurate margins.

 

Wireline

The traditional wireline telecommunications market is expected to remain very competitive in 2017 as technology substitution – such as the broad deployment of high-speed Internet; the use of email, messaging and social media as alternatives to voice services; and the growth of wireless and VoIP services – continues to replace higher-margin legacy voice revenues. Although we are a key provider of these substitution services, the decline in this legacy business continues as anticipated. Our longstanding growth strategy remains focused on wireless, data and IP-centric wireline capabilities.

The popularity of viewing TV and on-demand content anywhere, particularly on handheld devices, is expected to continue to grow as customers adopt services that enable them to view content on multiple screens. Streaming media providers continue to enhance over-the-top (OTT) streaming services in order to compete for a share of viewership.

Studies suggest that 50% of English-speaking Canadian households had a subscription to Netflix at the end of 2016. Bell Media offers a competing content streaming service through Crave TV. We continue to enhance our Optik TV service with additional content, including ultra-high-definition 4K content, as well as distribution deals with OTT content providers Netflix and Crave TV. In the latter part of 2016, Shaw and Rogers wound down their OTT joint venture Shomi while Amazon Prime video streaming service launched in Canada.

TV providers with media service offerings are monitoring OTT developments and evolving their content and market strategy to compete with these non-traditional offerings, as OTT can be viewed as both competitive and complementary. We view OTT as an opportunity to add increased capabilities to our linear and on-demand assets, provide customers with flexible options to choose the content they want and encourage greater customer use of the TELUS high-speed Internet and wireless networks.

Telecommunications companies continue to make investments in DSL broadband and fibre-optic technologies in order to maintain and enhance their ability to support enhanced IP-based services and to support higher broadband speeds. Cable-TV companies continue to evolve their cable networks with the gradual roll-out of the DOCSIS 3.1 platform. Although this platform increases speed in the near term and is more cost efficient, it does not offer the same advanced capabilities as fibre over the longer term. Our Optik TV footprint covers more than 2.9 million households and businesses, with more than 90% having access to speeds of at least 50 Mbps through VDSL bonding and other newer technologies, enabling us to deliver a better customer experience and more simultaneous content. In addition, at the end of 2016, our fibre-optic network was available to approximately 1.08 million homes and businesses. Advances in LTE wireless technology and our extensive LTE network also increasingly allow us to target otherwise underserved areas with a fixed wireless solution.

Combining wireline local and long distance voice services with wireless and high-speed Internet access and entertainment services, telecommunications companies are increasingly offering bundled products to achieve competitive differentiation and provide customers with more flexibility and choice on networks that can reliably support these services. Our broadband investments, including the build-out of our fibre-optic network, our premium differentiated IP-based Optik TV service and integrated bundled service offerings, continue to improve our competitive position and customer loyalty relative to our main cable-TV competitor.

The Canadian broadcasting industry is characterized by significant vertical integration, with most of our competitors owning or controlling broadcast content. In April 2016, Shaw Communications sold its wholly owned broadcasting subsidiary, Shaw Media, to Corus Entertainment Inc. for a combination of cash and shares that resulted in Shaw holding a 37% stake in Corus. (See Section 9.4 and Vertical integration into broadcast content ownership by competitors in Section 10.2.)

 

Additional wireline capabilities

In the business market (enterprise and small and medium-sized businesses, or SMB), the convergence of IT and telecommunications, facilitated by the ubiquity of IP, continues to shape competitive investments. Cable-TV companies are making significant investments to better compete in the highly contested SMB space. Telecommunications companies like TELUS are providing network-centric managed applications, while IT service providers are bundling network connectivity with their proprietary software as service offerings. Manufacturers continue


 

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to bring all-IP and converged (IP plus legacy) equipment to market, enabling ongoing migration to IP-based solutions. The development of IP-based platforms providing combined IP voice, data and video solutions creates potential cost efficiencies that compensate, in part, for the loss of margins resulting from the migration from legacy to IP-based services. New opportunities exist for integrated solutions and business process outsourcing that could have a greater business impact than traditional telecommunications services. Data security is an area that represents both challenges and opportunities for us in providing customers with our robust data security solutions. Increasingly, businesses are looking to partner with their communications service provider to address their business goals and challenges, and to tailor solutions for their needs that leverage telecommunications in ways not imagined five to 10 years ago.

Healthcare is expected to be a growth area in future years, based on an aging population in Canada, an increasing emphasis on chronic disease management, and the potential benefits that technology can deliver in terms of efficiency and effectiveness within the sector. We utilize our expanding broadband network in order to increase the availability, integration and effectiveness of our innovative tools and applications across the primary care ecosystem in order to position ourselves to compete for the anticipated future growth in this sector. These tools include personal health records to facilitate self-management of healthcare data, electronic drug prescriptions with online insurance validation by the physician, and home health monitoring devices and data capture with caregiver oversight. The digitization of everyday functions in the healthcare ecosystem, combined with broadband network connectivity, provides an open platform that can support the development and delivery of even more advanced health applications. There are significant competitors in the sector, as described under Wireline products and services in Section 4 .1.

Strong continued growth is expected in cloud-based services in Canada. Leveraging our eight intelligent data centres (IDCs) located across Canada, we are expanding cloud-computing services with managed solutions in higher-margin segments. This provides significant differentiation relative to our peers that have largely chosen to acquire companies in the pure-play data hosting space. Investments in our IDCs also provide internal capabilities to strategically enhance our own network and IT systems.

As technology in our industry continues to change rapidly and customer demand continues to grow, we are committed to evolving our business to offer innovative and reliable services and thought leadership in core future growth areas that are complementary to our traditional business. This – along with our intense focus on leadership in delivering an enhanced customer experience – positions us for continued differentiation and moderate growth.

 

 

9.3 TELUS assumptions for 2017

In 2017, we expect moderate growth in both wireless and wireline EBITDA, driven by the continued high demand for data services and high-speed Internet access in our wireless and wireline products and services; our consistent strategic focus on our core wireless and wireline capabilities (see Section 2.2 Strategic imperatives and Section 4 Capabilities); significant ongoing investments in our leading broadband networks; continued efforts to enhance operational efficiency; and our intense focus on an enhanced customer experience across all areas of our operations.

Our assumptions in support of our 2017 outlook are generally based on the industry analysis above, including our estimates regarding economic and telecom industry growth (see Section 1.2 The environment in which we operate), as well as our 2016 results and trends discussed in Section 5. Our key assumptions include the following:

·           Moderately higher economic growth in Canada in 2017, estimated to be 1.8% (from 1.2% in 2016). For our incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) provinces in Western Canada, we estimate that economic growth in B.C. will be 2.3% in 2017 (2.9% in 2016), and that economic growth in Alberta will be between 1.0 to 2.0% in 2017 (economic contraction of 2.4% in 2016).

·           No material adverse regulatory rulings or government actions.

·           Continued intense wireless and wireline competition in both consumer and business markets.

·           A modest increase in wireless industry penetration of the Canadian market, consistent with 2016.

·           Ongoing subscriber adoption of, and upgrades to, data-intensive smartphones, as customers want more mobile connectivity to the Internet.

·           Wireless revenue growth resulting from modest growth in both postpaid subscriber loadings and blended ARPU.

·           Continuing pressure on wireless acquisition and retention expenses, dependent on gross loading, competitive intensity and customer preferences.

·           Continued growth in wireline data revenue, resulting from an increase in the high-speed Internet and Optik TV subscriber base, speed upgrades and expansion of the broadband infrastructure, as well as business outsourcing and healthcare solutions.

·           Continued erosion of wireline voice revenue, resulting from technological substitution and greater use of inclusive long distance and lower wholesale volumes.

·           Continued focus on our customers first initiatives and maintaining our customers’ likelihood-to-recommend scores.

·           Employee defined benefit pension plans: Pension plan expense of approximately $83 million recorded in Employee benefits expense and approximately $5 million recorded in employee defined benefit pension plans net interest in Financing costs; a 3.80% rate for discounting the obligation and 4.00% rate for current service costs for employee defined benefit pension plan accounting purposes; and defined benefit pension plan funding of approximately $65 million.

·           Restructuring and other costs of approximately $125 million for continuing operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives, with margin enhancement initiatives to mitigate pressures related to economic growth, technological substitution and subscriber growth.

·           Income taxes: Income taxes computed at applicable statutory rate of 26.4 to 26.9% and cash income tax payments between $300 million and $360 million (2016 – $600 million). Cash tax payments are decreasing in 2017, reflecting both lower instalment payments for 2017 based on 2016 income and a lower final instalment payment for 2016 to be made in early 2017, partly offset by a decrease in income tax recoveries.

·           Increased investments in broadband infrastructure, including upgrades and expansions of our fibre-optic network and 4G LTE capacity, as well as investments in network and systems resiliency and reliability.

·           No wireless spectrum auctions anticipated in 2017.

·           A continuing weakness in the average Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate (U.S. 75.5 cents in 2016).


 

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9.4 Telecommunications industry regulatory developments and proceedings

 

Our telecommunications, broadcasting and radiocommunication services are regulated under federal laws by various authorities, including the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

 

The following is a summary of certain significant regulatory developments and proceedings relevant to our business and our industry. This summary is not intended to be a comprehensive legal analysis and description of all of the specific issues described. Although we have indicated where we do not currently expect the outcome of a development or proceeding to be material to us, there can be no assurance that the expected outcome will occur or that our current assessment of its likely impact on us will be accurate. See Section 10.4 Regulatory matters.

 

Radiocommunication licences and spectrum-related matters

 

ISED regulates, among other matters, the allocation and use of radio spectrum in Canada and licenses radio apparatus, frequency bands and/or radio channels within various frequency bands to service providers and private users. The department also establishes the terms and conditions attaching to such radio authorizations, including restrictions on licence transfers, coverage obligations, research and development obligations, annual reporting, and obligations concerning mandated roaming and antenna site sharing with competitors.

 

600 MHz spectrum repurposing decision released

 

On August 14, 2015, ISED published Decision on Repurposing the 600 MHz Band, SLPB-004-15. In its decision, ISED announced its intention to jointly repack the 600 MHz band in line with the U.S. and to adopt the mobile band plan arising from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Incentive Auction that began on March 29, 2016. It is expected that ISED will consult on a licensing framework (including auction rules) in due course following the completion of the U.S. auction. An auction of 600 MHz spectrum in Canada is not expected until 2018 at the earliest. There is a risk that any auction rules may favour certain carriers.

 

Regulatory and federal government reviews

 

The CRTC and the federal government have initiated public proceedings to review various matters. They are discussed below.

 

Review of wireless code

 

On July 28, 2016, the CRTC launched a proceeding to review the Wireless Code that was originally implemented in 2013. The CRTC has asked parties to comment on the effectiveness of the Wireless Code and whether any of its provisions should be updated. The oral hearing portion of the proceeding commenced on February 6, 2017. TELUS is participating in this proceeding, asking for, among other things, changes to allow for more flexibility in how early cancellation fees are calculated, to allow for more offers to be made to customers, to clarify how caps on data usage are to be managed and to confirm that the default version of the permanent copy of a contract is to be electronic. These amendments will increase customer choice and are consistent with customer preferences. If, as expected, the CRTC determines that certain refinements of the Wireless Code are necessary, the decision in this proceeding is not expected to have a material impact on TELUS. However, it is too early to determine whether broader changes will be introduced.

 

Examination of differential pricing practices related to Internet data plans

 

On May 18, 2016, the CRTC issued Examination of differential pricing practices related to Internet data plans, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-192, following a complaint concerning Videotron’s pricing practices when offering its unlimited music service to its mobile wireless customers. In general terms, differential pricing occurs when the same or a similar product or service is sold to customers at different prices. Differential pricing is a normal feature of competitive markets, including telecommunications markets. Examples of differential pricing practices include zero-rating (where an Internet service provider (ISP) exempts data traffic from a particular application or a set of applications from a monthly data plan, which is often sold to consumers at a fixed monthly price) and sponsored data (where companies sponsor the data usage for specific content, allowing an ISP’s customers to access this content with no impact on monthly data plan allowances). The CRTC’s stated objective in this proceeding is to develop an overall approach to differential pricing for Internet data plans, as opposed to adjudicating complaints on a case-by-case basis. At the public hearing that began in late October 2016, the CRTC engaged in extensive discussion with participating parties on the issue of data usage and caps on usage, also referred to as “data caps,” despite the fact that this matter was not outlined for consideration in the notice. TELUS’ position is that differential pricing, including zero-rating, is pro-competitive and pro-consumer; however, differential pricing by vertically integrated communications companies in respect of their affiliated broadcasting services is a concern due to the market power of these firms, and zero-rating or discounting data in respect of their own affiliated broadcasting services should be prohibited by the CRTC. The decision in this proceeding is not expected to have a material impact on TELUS.

 

CRTC decision to require pro-rated refunds

 

On May 5, 2016, the CRTC issued Quebecor Media Inc. – Prohibition of 30-day cancellation policies – Application regarding pro-rated refunds for cancelled services, Telecom Decision CRTC 2016-171, in which the CRTC, among other things, mandated that all service providers are to provide pro-rated refunds to customers who cancel telecommunications and broadcasting service contracts. This decision was unexpected, in that it was contradicted by guidance that TELUS and third parties had received from CRTC staff following a 2014 CRTC decision regarding prohibition of a notice period for cancellation of services and in light of past decisions on the Wireless Code and notice of cancellation policies that had not mandated pro-rated refunds. The decision impacts billing systems, with no transition period provided to implement the required changes. On July 4, 2016, TELUS filed an application with the CRTC seeking guidance and clarification that the decision does not apply with respect to wireless services with a subsidized device, usage-based services and local telephone service in non-forborne exchanges. TELUS also requested an extension of time to implement the decision. The CRTC has yet to issue a decision on this matter. Pending resolution of TELUS’ application, the potential impact of this decision is not expected to be material.

 

Wireline wholesale services review

 

On July 22, 2015, the CRTC released Review of wholesale wireline services and associated policies, Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-326. This decision updates the CRTC’s framework for the provision of regulated wireline wholesale services and will remain in place


 

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for a minimum of five years. The decision substantially preserves the status quo established in the CRTC’s 2008 wireline wholesale services framework, with two key exceptions. First, the CRTC has ordered the introduction of a disaggregated wholesale high-speed Internet access service for ISP competitors. This will include access to FTTP facilities. This requirement is being phased in geographically beginning in the largest markets in Ontario and Quebec (i.e. in the serving territories of Bell Aliant, Bell Canada, Cogeco, Rogers and Videotron). The CRTC initiated a followup proceeding to determine the technical configurations, appropriate costs and wholesale cost-based rates in those regions. Second, the CRTC determined that the provision of access to unbundled local loops to competitors will no longer be mandated and will be phased out over a three-year transition period. Unbundled local loops are the copper lines connecting homes and businesses to the central offices in TELUS’ network. Competitors use these lines to provide voice services or low-speed Internet services to their retail customers.

 

The FTTP followup activities directed in Telecom Policy CRTC 2015-326 remain ongoing. In Follow-up to Telecom Regulatory Policy 2015-326 – Implementation of a disaggregated wholesale high-speed access service, including over fibre-to-the-premises access facilities, Telecom Decision CRTC 2016-379, the CRTC rendered its decision on the first phase of the followup process for disaggregated FTTP wholesale services for Bell, Rogers, Videotron and Cogeco by ruling on the tech-nical configurations for their respective services. In December 2016, Bell Canada filed an application to review and vary and stay certain determi-nations in that decision concerning the implementation of disaggregated wholesale high-speed access on which the CRTC has yet to issue a determination. Associated tariff and cost study reviews have now begun for Bell, Rogers, Videotron and Cogeco, which filed their proposed cost studies and tariffs in January 2017. For the second phase, which involves FTTP wholesale services for the rest of Canada (including TELUS’ serving territories), a proceeding on technical configurations is expected to commence later in 2017. The associated cost study and tariff review will follow. TELUS anticipates no material adverse impact in the short term from the CRTC’s decision. Given the phased implementation of the mandated provision of wholesale access to our FTTP networks, it is too early to determine the impact this decision will have on TELUS in the longer term. The determination that the provision of access to unbundled local loops to competitors will no longer be mandated and will be phased out over a three-year transition period is not expected to have a material impact on TELUS.

 

Wireless wholesale services review

 

On May 5, 2015, the CRTC issued its decision at the conclusion of its wireless wholesale services review. The main determination was that the CRTC will regulate the wholesale GSM-based domestic roaming rates that TELUS, Rogers and Bell charge other wireless carriers. Proposed final tariff rates were filed by TELUS, Rogers and Bell on November 23, 2015, based on the CRTC’s Phase II costing approach. The CRTC is in the process of reviewing these tariff filings, with the announcement of the final rates expected in the first half of 2017. Interim rates are currently in place. While TELUS does not currently expect that the decision will have a negative material impact, the impact will be assessed once the final wholesale roaming rates have been approved.

 

Basic telecommunications services

 

On April 9, 2015, the CRTC issued Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2015-134, announcing a two-phase proceeding to determine which

 

telecommunications services (e.g. voice and broadband) are required by all Canadians in order to participate in the digital economy. In the first phase of the review, the CRTC gathered information in order to better understand which telecommunications services are being offered across Canada and whether any areas are underserved or unserved. In the second phase of the review, the CRTC conducted consultations to collect comments from Canadians regarding the issues identified. Following the second phase, a public hearing commenced in April 2016. Among other things, the CRTC reviewed whether broadband Internet service should be a basic telecommunications service and whether there should be changes to the National Contribution Fund from which subsidies are provided for voice service in high-cost serving areas (and video relay service). While TELUS is supportive of the inclusion of broadband service as a part of basic telecommunications services at a 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speed, TELUS opposed any new regulatory requirements pertaining to the provision of such service or mandating new minimum data allowances and quality of service indicators for retail broadband service, as well as any new subsidies for basic broadband service from the National Contribution Fund.

 

On December 21, 2016, the CRTC issued Modern Telecommunications Services — The path forward for Canada’s digital economy. The CRTC established a new “universal service objective” that Canadians, in urban areas as well as in rural and remote areas, have access to voice services and broadband Internet access services, on both fixed and mobile wireless networks. High-speed Internet service is now considered a basic telecommunications service, along with voice services and video-relay service. The CRTC established an objective for broadband service delivered at speeds of 50/10 Mbps for 90% of Canadian households by 2021 and 100% of households within 10 to 15 years. The CRTC expects this to be met by a combination of private investment and government funding. The CRTC did not impose an obligation to serve for high-speed Internet access on any of the ISPs.

 

The CRTC will establish a new broadband funding mechanism to complement private and government funding initiatives that will be administered by a neutral third party. Initial annual funding of $100 million will be increased by $25 million per year for four years and will then be capped at $200 million per year. The existing local voice subsidy will be gradually phased out, but will not be removed unless reliable broadband Internet access service is available. TELUS retains the obligation to serve for local voice service in all exchanges.

 

As followup to the decision, ISPs will be required to offer the option for unlimited data for fixed broadband services, but no pricing restrictions were imposed. Followup proceedings will be launched in early 2017 to determine the precise details associated with transitioning the existing subsidy fund for voice service to the subsidization of broadband. The CRTC also outlined a number of other followup activities pertaining to contract information for fixed broadband services, the availability and accessibility of wireless services for customers with disabilities, and establishing quality of service metrics for broadband latency, jitter and packet loss for fixed broadband Internet service. It is not expected that this decision, including related followup activities, will have a negative material impact on TELUS.

 

9 -1-1 networks

 

On March 29, 2016, the CRTC issued Establishment of a regulatory framework for next generation 9-1-1 in Canada, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-116. The CRTC announced this proceeding to


 

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establish a regulatory framework for next generation 9-1-1 services that will take into account the evolving public safety needs of Canadians, in that next generation 9-1-1 services will provide access to new and innovative 9-1-1 capabilities. TELUS participated in an oral hearing phase of the proceeding in mid-January 2017 and filed its final comments on January 31, 2017. It is not expected that the CRTC’s review will have a material impact on TELUS’ operations.

 

Review of tariffs for aggregated wholesale high-speed access services

 

The CRTC is conducting a review of cost studies and rates associated with aggregated wholesale high-speed access services, which are services provided by incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and cable companies on their respective DSL and cable facilities to ISPs, which then resell high-speed Internet services. In March 2016, the CRTC determined that all rates for aggregated wholesale high-speed access services are to be interim rates and asked ILECs and cable companies to file cost studies and proposed rates for these services. While this review remains ongoing, on October 6, 2016, the CRTC issued Tariff notice applications concerning aggregated wholesale high-speed access services – Revised interim rates, Telecom Order 2016-396, in which it reduced many of the interim rates to be charged by ILECs and cable companies, including TELUS. The CRTC ordered the reduction for TELUS because it found that TELUS had filed insufficient evidence to support its cost studies. This review remains ongoing, and TELUS will have an opportunity to file further evidence to substantiate its costs and proposed rates. It is not expected that the outcome of this review will have a material impact on TELUS.

 

Disconnection practices between telecommunications service providers

 

On August 18, 2016, the CRTC issued Call for comments: Disconnection practices between telecommunications service providers, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-333, in which it sought industry comments with respect to the practices associated with the disconnection of the service for a customer of one telecommunications service provider by another telecommunications service provider when that customer changes carriers, and specifically whether any regulatory measures should be introduced, including mandatory notification requirements. TELUS filed its comments in this proceeding, for which a determination has yet to be issued. A decision is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2017 and is not expected to have a material adverse impact on TELUS.

 

Unwanted, unsolicited and illegitimate telecommunications

 

On November 7, 2016, the CRTC released Empowering Canadians to protect themselves from unwanted unsolicited and illegitimate telecommunications, Compliance and Enforcement and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-442, in which the CRTC found that existing solutions were not sufficient to help Canadians combat nuisance calls, including calls that use caller ID spoofing in order to conceal their origin. The CRTC requested industry participants to develop best practices for universal blocking of blatantly illegitimate calls, and required telecommunications service providers to propose technical solutions for opt-in filtering services. TELUS is participating in the followup proceeding to consider these issues. It is not expected that the CRTC’s followup review will have a material impact on TELUS’ operations.

 

Broadcasting-related issues

 

Broadcasting distribution undertaking licences held by TELUS

 

TELUS’ national licence to operate a video-on-demand undertaking was granted an administrative renewal, which extends the licence term to August 31, 2017 (Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-7 issued on January 2, 2016). This licence-term extension has enabled the CRTC to conduct a consultation on the standard conditions of licence of all video-on-demand licences, which resulted in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-436 issued on November 2, 2016). A renewal proceeding for all video-on-demand licences is expected to be launched in early 2017. Also, TELUS’ regional licences to operate broadcasting distribution undertakings in Alberta and British Columbia were granted an administrative renewal, which extends the licence terms to November 30, 2017. TELUS has filed applications for new broadcasting distribution licences to serve markets in B.C. and Alberta, and a public hearing is expected in mid-2017 to consider these applications. TELUS’ regional broadcasting distribution licence to serve Quebec expires in 2018. In July 2014, the CRTC approved our application for a licence to operate a national pay-per-view service (scheduled to expire on August 31, 2020).

 

Enforcement of vertical integration framework

 

In September 2011, the CRTC announced a policy framework to address concerns relating to the potential incentive for anti-competitive behaviour by companies that own both programming services and distribution networks (vertically integrated broadcasting companies). The CRTC subsequently introduced a new code of conduct through amendments to the various broadcasting regulations and exemption orders. Following the CRTC’s “Let’s Talk TV” proceeding in 2014, the CRTC further expanded its ability to deal with anti-competitive conduct by replacing the code of conduct with a new Wholesale Code that will be made enforceable by regulation. This new Wholesale Code includes many new provisions to address abusive practices by vertically integrated broadcasting companies regarding the carriage of their programming services. In particular, the new Wholesale Code sets out a list of prohibited conduct and criteria to determine the fair market value of programming services in order to ensure that vertically integrated entities are prevented from artificially inflating the cost of services for their competitors. Bell Canada was granted leave to appeal the CRTC’s decision relating to the new Wholesale Code and the appeal is pending a hearing at the Federal Court of Appeal in the first quarter of 2017.

 

Without timely and strict enforcement of the vertical integration safeguards, there is a risk that vertically integrated competitors could unfairly raise programming costs for non-vertically integrated companies such as TELUS, and/or attempt to withhold content on digital media platforms, such as Internet and mobile platforms, or otherwise disadvantage us in our ability to attract and retain wireless or Optik TV customers. See Vertical integration into broadcast content ownership by competitors in Section 10.2.

 

Review of Canada’s cultural policies

 

On April 22, 2016, the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced a broad review of Canada’s cultural policies that is intended to strengthen the “creation, discovery and export of Canadian content in a digital world.” Amendments to the Broadcasting Act, Telecommunications Act and Copyright Act, changes to the mandates of institutions and agencies such as the CRTC and the CBC, and the potential introduction of new


 

 

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laws and establishment of new agencies are under consideration by the Minister. TELUS has participated in the two phases of this consultation. It is unknown at this time whether there will be a material impact on TELUS’ operations resulting from this consultation.

 

Government of Quebec Bill 74 – Blocking of certain websites associated with online gambling

 

Bill 74 was adopted on May 17, 2016, and assented to on May 18, 2016, by the National Assembly of Quebec. The provisions of this legislation, which will allow the Government of Quebec to require ISPs and wireless service providers operating in Quebec to block access to a list of prescribed gambling websites, are not yet in force (anticipated to occur in 2018). On July 8, 2016, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) filed an application with the CRTC seeking: a declaration that Bill 74 is unconstitutional; a declaration that any application by a carrier, to the CRTC, for website blocking pursuant to this legislation will be denied; and an interim injunction enjoining ISPs and wireless service providers operating in Quebec from actually blocking websites or taking steps to prepare

 

for the implementation of Bill 74. In July 2016, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) filed a constitutional challenge to Bill 74 in Quebec Superior Court. On September 1, 2016, the CRTC issued a letter asking for comments on its preliminary view that the PIAC application should be suspended pending the disposition of the constitutional challenge before the Quebec Superior Court. On September 16, 2016, TELUS filed a letter in support of the position that the PIAC application before the CRTC should be suspended. On December 9, 2016, the CRTC issued a decision suspending the PIAC application pending the disposition of the CWTA court challenge. The CRTC also confirmed its preliminary view that Section 36 of the Telecommunications Act prohibits carriers from blocking specific websites, and that compliance with other legal requirements would not justify blocking access without CRTC approval. The constitutional challenge to Bill 74 is expected to be heard in the Quebec Superior Court some time in the spring of 2017. It is not expected that this legislation will have a material impact on TELUS if and when it comes into force.


 

 

 

 

Risks and risk management

 

 

 


10.1 Overview

 

In the normal course of our business activities, we are exposed to both risks and opportunities. Risk oversight and risk management processes are integral elements of our risk governance and strategic planning efforts.

 

Board risk governance and oversight

 

We maintain strong risk governance and oversight practices, with risk oversight responsibilities outlined in the Board’s and the Board committees’ terms of reference. The Board is responsible for ensuring the identification of material risks to our business and overseeing the implementation of appropriate systems and processes to identify, monitor and manage material risks.

 

In addition:

 

·           Risks on the enterprise key risk profile are assigned for Board or committee oversight

 

·           Board committees provide updates to our Board on risks overseen by those committees based on their respective terms of reference

 

·           Our Board or Board committees may request risk briefings by our executive risk owners. The Vice-President, Risk Management and Chief Internal Auditor attends and/or receives a summary of these briefings.

 

Risk governance culture

 

We have a strong risk governance culture across TELUS that starts with clear risk management leadership and transparent communications, supported by the organization’s tone at the top. Accountability for the management of risks and reporting of risk information is clearly defined through our approach to risk governance. Training and awareness programs, appropriate resources and risk champions help to ensure we have all of the risk management competencies necessary to support

 

TELUS enterprise risk governance and management

 

 

 

 

effective decision-making across the organization. Ethics are integral to TELUS’ risk governance culture and our code of ethics and conduct directs team members to meet the highest standards of integrity in business decisions and actions.


 

 

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Responsibilities for risk management

 

We use a multi-step approach to manage our risks, with responsibility shared across the organization. The first line of defence is executive and operating management, whose members have integrated risk management into core decision-making processes (including strategic planning processes) and day-to-day operations. We have risk management and compliance functions across the organization, including Finance, Legal, Privacy, Security and Business Continuity offices, which form the second line of defence. These functions work collaboratively with management to monitor the design and operation of our risk controls. Internal Audit is the third line of defence and provides independent assurance regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of risk management and controls across all aspects of the business.

 

Definition of business risk

 

We define business risk as the degree of exposure associated with the achievement of key strategic, financial, organizational and process

 

objectives in relation to the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, the reliability and integrity of financial reporting, compliance with laws, regulations, policies, procedures and contracts, and safeguarding of assets within an ethical organizational culture.

 

Our enterprise risks arise primarily from our business environment and are fundamentally linked to our strategies and business objectives. We strive to proactively mitigate our risk exposures through performance planning, business operational management and risk response strategies, which can include mitigating, transferring, retaining and/or avoiding risks. For example, residual exposure for certain risks is mitigated through insurance coverage, where we judge this to be efficient and commercially viable. We also mitigate risks through contract terms, as well as through contingency planning and other risk response strategies, as appropriate.

 

We strive to avoid taking on undue risk whenever possible and work to ensure alignment of risks with business strategies, objectives, values and risk tolerances.


 

Risk and control assessment process

 

We use a three-level enterprise risk and control assessment process that solicits and incorporates the input of team members from all areas of TELUS. The process enables us to track multi-year trends in the perception of various key risks and our control environment across the organization.

 

 

THREE-LEVEL ENTERPRISE RISK AND CONTROL ASSESSMENT PROCESS

 

Level one:
Annual risk and control assessment

Annually, we undertake a comprehensive review that brings together interviews with executive leaders, information and updates from our ongoing strategic planning process, consideration of recent internal and external audits, SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) compliance and risk management activities, and an enterprise-wide risk and control environment assessment aligned with the 2013 COSO (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission) enterprise risk management and internal control integrated frameworks.

 

The assessment is widely distributed to our entire leadership team (all executive vice-president, vice-president and director-level team members) and a random sample of management professional team members. More than 2,000 individuals participated in the assessment in 2016.

 

Key enterprise risks are identified, defined and prioritized. Perceived risk resiliency is assessed for each risk, risk appetite is evaluated by risk category and fraud risks are considered. Executive-level risk owners are assigned for each key risk and Board and committee risk oversight responsibilities are defined in our Board Policy and Terms of Reference.

 

Board members also complete an annual assessment in which they provide perspectives on our key risks and approach to enterprise risk management, and gauge our risk appetite by risk category.

 

Results of the annual risk and control assessment are shared with senior management, our Board of Directors and the Audit Committee. The results guide the development of our annual risk-focused internal audit program, which is approved by the Audit Committee. Risk assessments are also incorporated into our strategic planning, operational risk management and performance management processes, and are shared with our Board.

 

Level two:
Quarterly risk assessment

We conduct quarterly risk assessment reviews with our executive-level risk owners and designated risk primes across all business units to capture and communicate changing business risks, identify key risk mitigation activities, and provide quarterly updates and assurance to the Audit Committee and other applicable Board committees.

 

Level three:
Granular risk assessment

We conduct granular risk assessments for specific audit engagements and various risk management, strategic and operational initiatives (e.g. strategic planning, project and environmental management, safety, business continuity planning, network and IT vulnerability, and fraud and ethics). The results of the multiple risk assessments are evaluated, prioritized, updated and integrated into the key risk profile, policies and processes throughout the year.

 

 


Principal risks and uncertainties

 

The following subsections describe our principal risks and uncertainties and associated risk mitigation activities. The significance of these risks is such that they alone or in combination may have material impacts on our business operations, reputation, results and valuation.

 

Although we believe the measures taken to mitigate risks described in each risk section below are reasonable, there can be no expectation

 

or assurance that they will effectively mitigate or fully address the risks described or that new developments and risks will not materially affect our operations or financial results. Forward-looking statements in this section and elsewhere in this MD&A are based on the assumption that our risk mitigation measures will be effective. See Caution regarding forward-looking statements.


 

 

 

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10.2  Competition

 

Customer experience

Our customers’ loyalty and their likelihood to recommend TELUS are both dependent upon our ability to provide a service experience that meets or exceeds their expectations. Consequently, if our service experience does not meet or exceed customer expectations, TELUS’ brand could suffer, potentially resulting in higher rates of customer churn. Meanwhile, our profitability could be negatively impacted should customer net additions decrease and/or the costs to acquire and retain customers increase.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Our top corporate priority is putting customers first and earning our way to industry leadership in the likelihood to recommend from our clients. To enhance the customer experience, we continue to invest in our products and services, system and network reliability, team members and system and process improvements. Additionally, we endeavour to introduce innovative products and services, enhance our current services with integrated bundled offers and invest in customer-focused initiatives to bring greater transparency and simplicity to our customers, all in order to help differentiate our services from our competitors. (See Strategic imperatives in Section 2.2 and Corporate priorities in Section 3.)

 

Intense wireless competition is expected to continue

 

At the end of 2016, there were nine facilities-based wireless competitors operating in Canada, including TELUS (some nationally and others regionally – see Competition overview in Section 4.1). Shaw Communications’ acquisition of Wind Mobile in late 2015, subsequently rebranded as Freedom Mobile, will lead to increased competitive intensity in wireless and wireline services across major urban markets in B.C., Alberta and Ontario.

 

All wireless competitors use various promotional offers, including price discounting on both handsets and rate plans and flat-rate pricing for voice and data, to attract customers. Such promotional activity, as well as the sustained consumer appetite for higher-value smartphones, combined with the effect of the ongoing weakness in the Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate, may continue to lead to higher costs of acquisition and retention. Meanwhile, more inclusive rate plans, including larger allotments of data for data sharing and international roaming, and substitution to increasingly available Wi-Fi networks could lead to pressure on data usage, resulting in pressure on average revenue per subscriber unit per month (ARPU) and churn. In addition, with a large percentage of the subscriber base already using devices with advanced features, customers may wish to upgrade less frequently, potentially requiring additional promotional incentives to encourage upgrades to a new device, which will add more pressure to costs of acquisition and retention. (See Wireless trends and seasonality in Section 5.4.)

 

We also expect increased competition based on the use of unlicensed spectrum to deliver higher-speed data services, such as the use of Wi-Fi networks to deliver entertainment to customers beyond the home. In addition, satellite operators such as Xplornet are augmenting their existing high-speed Internet access (HSIA) services by launching high-throughput satellites.

Risk mitigation: Our 4G wireless networks cover approximately 99% of Canada’s population, facilitated by network access agreements with Bell Canada and SaskTel. Wireless 4G technologies have enabled us to establish and maintain a strong position in smartphone and data device selection and expand roaming capability to more than 225 countries. Faster data download speeds provided by these technologies enable delivery of our Optik on the go service to mobile devices when customers are beyond the reach of Wi-Fi.

 

To compete more effectively in a variety of customer segments, we offer two flanker brands, Koodo Mobile and Public Mobile. We believe that by leveraging our TELUS, Koodo Mobile and Public Mobile brands through uniquely targeted value propositions and distinct distribution channels, including web-based channels, we are well-positioned to compete with other wireless providers.

 

We continue our disciplined long-term strategy of investing in the growth areas of our Company and executing upon our customers first priority. We intend to continue to market and distribute innovative and differentiated wireless services; offer bundled wireless services (e.g. voice, text and data), including data sharing plans; invest in our extensive network to support customer service; evolve technologies; invest in our distribution channels; and acquire the use of spectrum to facilitate service development and the expansion of our subscriber base, as well as to address the accelerating growth in demand for data usage.

 

Wireline voice and data competition

 

We expect competition to remain intense from traditional telephony, data, IP and information technology (IT) service providers, as well as from VoIP-focused competitors in both consumer and business markets. This competitive intensity, including the use of various promotional offers, also places pressures on ARPU, churn and costs of acquisition and retention.

 

The industry transition from legacy voice infrastructure to IP telephony, and from legacy data platforms to Ethernet, IP virtual private networks, multi-protocol label switching IP platforms and IP-based service delivery models, continues to create both uncertainties and opportunities. Legacy data revenues and margins continue to decline, and this has been only partially offset by growth in demand and/or migration of customers to IP-based platforms. IP-based solutions are also subject to downward pricing pressure, lower margins and technological evolution.

 

Business

 

In the business wireline market, traditional facilities-based competitors continue to compete on the basis of network footprint and reliability, while over-the-top (OTT) providers emphasize price, flexibility and ease of use. Having made significant investments in voice over IP (VoIP), security and IT services for business, cable-based competitors are using price discounting to drive new customer acquisition and retention. In addition, larger cloud service providers, such as Amazon and Microsoft, leverage global scale to deliver low-cost data storage and cloud computing services, but lack the depth and breadth of capabilities to deliver integrated solutions, as well as the local implementation and adoption support required for customers to realize the full values of their investments in managed IT and security services. Rapidly advancing technologies, such as software-defined networks and virtualized network functions, enable the layering of new services in cloud-centric solutions. Evolving customer needs represent both a growth opportunity and a risk to TELUS’ legacy voice and data revenue, as businesses seek to migrate fixed local line, long distance and/or voicemail services to the new cloud-centric market paradigm.


 

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Consumer

 

In the consumer wireline market, cable-TV companies and other competitors continue to combine a mix of residential local VoIP, long distance, HSIA and, in some cases, wireless services under one bundled and/or discounted monthly rate, along with their existing broadcast or satellite-based TV services. In 2016, Shaw Communications, our primary cable competitor in Alberta and B.C., launched new Internet and bundled promotional offers at deeply discounted prices and in early 2017, they started to roll out BlueSky TV, their next generation TV service, licensing an existing platform developed by Comcast, a U.S.-based cable company. In addition, Canadian cable competitors continue to increase the speed of their HSIA offerings and their roll-out of Wi-Fi services in metropolitan areas. To a lesser extent, other non-facilities-based competitors offer local and long distance VoIP services over the Internet and resell HSIA solutions. Technological innovation has resulted in a dramatic improvement in the performance and speed of satellite-based Internet access services and significantly enhanced their competiveness. Xplornet recently launched a high-throughput low orbit 4G broadband satellite, allowing it to provide high-speed Internet access services with speeds and performance comparable to or better than available wireline Internet access service. Erosion of our residential network access lines (NALs) is expected to continue due to this competition and ongoing technological substitution to wireless and VoIP. Legacy voice revenues are also expected to continue to decline. It is expected that competition in the consumer space will remain intense.

 

 

Risk mitigation: To improve our competitive position, we are making significant investments in our wireline broadband infrastructure, including connecting more homes and businesses directly to our gigabit-capable fibre-optic network. These investments meet customer demand for faster Internet service, including symmetrical download and upload speeds, expand the coverage of our high-speed Internet service and extend the coverage, capability and content lineup of our IP-based Optik TV service in B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec (see Broadcasting below). Additionally, our fibre-optic investments extend the reach and functionality of our business and healthcare solutions and will support a more efficient and timely evolution to a converged 5G network.

 

The provision of Optik TV service and service bundles helps us attract and pull through Internet subscriptions and mitigate residential NAL losses. TELUS Satellite TV service in Alberta and B.C., made possible through an agreement with Bell Canada, complements our expanding IP TV service footprint and enables us to serve households where our IP TV service is not currently available. We also continue to invest in other product development initiatives, including connected home capabilities and consumer health solutions. We also continue to enhance our Optik TV content capabilities through greater choice and flexibility by offering specific channel theme packs and on an individual basis, as well as embracing OTT solutions and facilitating those services directly through the set-top box and enabling ultra-high definition 4K content.

 

We continue to add to our capabilities in the business market through prudent product development initiatives, a combination of acquisitions and partnerships, a focus on key vertical markets (public sector, health-care, financial services, energy and telecommunications wholesale) and expansion of solution sets in the enterprise market, as well as our modular approach in the SMB market (including services such as TELUS Business Connect) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. Through TELUS Health,

 

we have leveraged our systems and proprietary solutions to extend our footprint in healthcare and benefit from the investments in eHealth being made by governments. Additionally, through our business process out-sourcing services, we enable customer experience innovation to help our customers realize efficiencies and cost savings in their operations.

 

Technological substitution may adversely affect market share, volume and pricing

 

We face technological substitution across all key business lines and market segments, including the consumer, small and medium-sized business (SMB) and large enterprise markets.

 

Technological advances have blurred the boundaries between broad-casting, Internet and telecommunications. (See Section 10.3 Technology.) Wireless carriers and cable-TV companies continue to expand their offerings and launch next generation TV platforms, resulting in intensified competition for high-speed Internet services in residential and certain SMB markets, as well as for TV services and local access and long-distance. OTT services such as Netflix compete for share of viewership, which may accelerate the disconnection of TV services or affect subscriber and revenue growth in our TV and entertainment services. Wireless voice ARPU continues to decline as a result of, among other factors, substitution to messaging and OTT applications. We expect industry pressure from customer acquisition efforts and content distribution, costs and pricing to continue across most product and service categories and market segments.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Our IP TV and OTT multimedia initiatives provide the next generation of IP TV, but importantly tie our OTT environment to one platform, enabling TELUS to be agile in the delivery of OTT services. They also facilitate cloud-based media delivery and ultimately everything on demand, on any device, on any network. Active monitoring of competitive developments and internal prototyping in product and geographic markets enable us to respond rapidly to competitor offers and leverage our full suite of integrated wireless and wireline solutions and national reach, and we also monitor global telecom carriers for their next-generation OTT offers. To mitigate losses in legacy services in our incumbent areas of B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec, investments are being made in our broadband networks, including our fibre-optic network, in order to increase speeds, improve network reliability, expand our reach and provide an industry-leading customer experience. We also continue to enhance and introduce innovative products and services, such as enabling ultra-high definition 4K content, and integrated bundled offers across our services and invest in customer-focused initiatives to improve our customers’ experience. The adoption of new technologies and products is pursued to improve the efficiency of our service offerings.

 

 

Broadcasting

 

We offer Optik TV service to more than 2.9 million households and businesses in B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec, and we continue targeted roll-outs in new areas. TELUS TV provides numerous interactivity and customization advantages over cable-TV and we have achieved significant market share with more than 1.0 million TV subscribers at December 31, 2016. However, there can be no assurance that sub-scriber growth rates will be maintained, or that we will achieve planned revenue growth and greater operating efficiency, in the context of a high level of industry market penetration, a declining overall market for paid-TV services and actions by our competitors and content suppliers.


 

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In addition, competition from OTT services could also affect subscriber and revenue growth by accelerating the disconnection of TV services or reducing spending on those services.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We have broadened the addressable market for our Optik TV service through the deployment of advanced broadband technologies, including the continued expansion of our fibre-optic network to homes and businesses in communities across B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec. We continue to introduce new features and capabilities to our TV services, including third-party OTT offerings, and to strengthen our leadership position in Western Canada in the number of high-definition linear channels, video-on-demand services and ultra-high definition 4K content.

 

Vertical integration into broadcast content ownership by competitors

 

We are not currently seeking to be a broadcast content owner, but some of our competitors own and continue to acquire broadcast content assets. Greater vertical integration could result in content being withheld from us or being made available to us at inflated prices or on unattractive terms.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Our strategy is to aggregate, integrate and make accessible content and applications for our customers’ enjoyment, on a timely basis across multiple devices. We do not believe it is necessary to own content in order to make it accessible to customers on an economically attractive basis, provided there is timely and strict enforcement of the CRTC’s regulatory vertical integration safeguards to prevent abusive practices by vertically integrated competitors.

 

We support a regime under the Broadcasting Act that ensures all Canadian consumers continue to have equitable access to broadcast content irrespective of the distributor or platform they choose. We continue to advocate for the timely and strict enforcement of the CRTC vertical integration safeguards and for further meaningful safeguards, as required. We also actively intervene in broadcast licence renewals of vertically integrated competitors. (See Examination of differential pricing practices and Enforcement of vertical integration framework in Section 9.4 Telecommunications industry regulatory developments and proceedings.)

 

 

10.3  Technology

 

Technology is a key enabler of our business, however, its evolution brings risks and uncertainties, as well as opportunities. We maintain short-term and long-term strategies to optimize our selection and timely use of technology, while minimizing the associated costs, risks and uncertainties. Following are the main technology risks and uncertainties for TELUS and a description of how we proactively address them.

 

High demand for data challenges wireless networks and may be accompanied by increases in delivery cost

 

The demand for wireless data services continues to grow rapidly, driven by greater broadband penetration, growing personal connectivity and networking, increasing affordability and selection of smartphones and high-usage data devices, richer multimedia services and applications, IoT services (including machine-to-machine (M2M) data applications and other wearable technology), growth in cloud-based services and wireless price competition. Given the highly competitive wireless market in Canada, we expect that wireless data revenues will grow more slowly than demand for bandwidth. For example, according to the CRTC

Communications Monitoring Report 2016, data traffic over mobile wireless networks increased by 44% in 2015, while the CRTC’s measure of retail wireless data revenue increased by only 16 % in 2015. Rising data traffic levels and the fast pace of data device innovation present challenges to providing adequate capacity and maintaining high service levels.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Our ongoing investments in our 4G LTE network, including LTE advanced technology, as well as foundational investments in early 5G capabilities, allow us to manage data capacity demands by more effectively utilizing the spectrum we hold. We intend to implement further standards-based technologies that are ready for commercial deployment to these networks in order to provide higher-performance connectivity solutions. In addition, the evolution to LTE advanced technologies is supported by our investments in IP networks, IP/fibre backhaul to cell sites, including our small cells, and a software-upgradeable radio infrastructure. The LTE advanced expansion is expected to further increase network capacity and speed, reduce delivery costs per megabyte, enable richer multimedia applications and services, and deliver a superior subscriber experience. LTE advanced technologies are currently deployed only in urban areas.

 

Mobile network infrastructure investment will increasingly be directed to systems based on network function virtualization (NFV) that offer greater capacity for computing and storage, higher resiliency, and more flexible software design. Our large-scale move to national, geographically distributed data centres that use generalized commercial off-the-shelf computing and storage solutions enables the utilization of broad-scale NFV and software-defined network technologies, which will allow us to virtualize much of our infrastructure and will also facilitate a common control plane for coordination of our virtualized and non-virtualized network assets.

 

Rapid growth of wireless data volumes requires optimal and efficient utilization of our spectrum holdings, which have more than doubled through our 2014 and 2015 purchases of 700 MHz, AWS-3 and 2500 MHz spectrum licences and provide added capacity to mitigate risks from growing data traffic. We began deploying 700 MHz and 2500 MHz spectrum holdings and we plan to utilize other spectrum licences purchased in recent years in combination with unlicensed supplementary spectrum, as network and device ecosystems evolve. The spectrum licences previously used for our CDMA network are being repurposed for use with LTE technology. Our public Wi-Fi service integrates seamlessly with our 4G network and offloads data traffic from our wireless spectrum to increasingly available Wi-Fi hotspots. Our deployment of small cell technology further increases the efficient utilization of our spectrum holdings.

 

 

Roll-out and evolution of wireless broadband technologies and systems

 

As part of a natural 4G network progression, we are committed to LTE advanced, LTE and HSPA+ technology to support medium-term and long-term growth of mobile broadband services. Our business depends on the deployment of wireless technology. We began a staged decommissioning of our iDEN network in 2016, while continuing to support our Mike® private network customers and actively migrate their services to our HSPA and LTE networks in order to minimize retention risk. The repurposing of spectrum holdings must be managed appropriately to ensure optimal use of capital and resources.


 

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Overall, as wireless broadband technologies and systems evolve, there is the risk that our future capital expenditures may be higher as our ongoing technology investments could involve costs higher than those recorded historically.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Our practice is to continually optimize capital investments in order to ensure reasonable payback periods for generating positive cash flows from investments and flexibility in considering future technology evolutions. Some capital investments, such as wireless towers, leasehold improvements and power systems, are technology-neutral.

 

Our wireless networks evolve through software upgrades to support enhancements in systems based on the third generation partnership project (a project that unites seven telecommunications standard development organizations and provides their members with a stable environment to produce the reports and specifications that define “third generation partnership” technologies) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers that improve performance, capacity and speed. We expect to be able to leverage the economies of scale and handset variety of the North American and global ecosystems.

 

Reciprocal network access agreements, principally with Bell Canada, have facilitated our deployment of wireless technologies and provided the means for us to better manage our capital expenditures. These agreements are expected to provide ongoing cost savings beyond the initial network build, as well as the flexibility to invest in service differentiation and support systems.

 

We maintain close co-operation with our network technology suppliers and operator partners in order to influence and benefit from developments in LTE advanced, LTE, HSPA+ and Wi-Fi technologies.

 

 

Disruptive technology

 

A paradigm shift with the consumer adoption of alternative technologies, such as video and voice OTT offerings (e.g. Netflix, FaceTime) and increasingly available Wi-Fi networks, has the potential to negatively affect TELUS revenue streams. For example, Wi-Fi networks are being used to deliver various entertainment services to customers beyond the home. OTT content providers are now competing for share of entertainment viewership. These factors, including increasing consumer demand for access to Wi-Fi outside of their home, and OTT services on demand, on any device, may drive increased churn rates for our wireless, TELUS TV and high-speed Internet services. (See Intense wireless competition is expected to continue in Section 10.2 Competition and OTT services present challenges to network capacity and conventional business models below.)

 

 

Risk mitigation: Since early 2014, we have worked with thousands of businesses and many major sports and entertainment venues to continue to expand our public Wi-Fi network. This public Wi-Fi service is part of our network strategy of deploying small cells that integrate seamlessly with our 4G wireless network, automatically shifting our smartphone customers to Wi-Fi and offloading data traffic from our wireless spectrum. Integrated public Wi-Fi infrastructure build activity naturally extends service and channel opportunities with small-medium enterprises and improves customers’ likelihood-to-recommend. Integration of home Wi-Fi increases propensity for higher data usage on smartphones within and outside the home, while benefiting, in part, uptake of TELUS Internet service.

 

Supplier risks

 

Restructuring of vendors or discontinuance of products may affect our networks and services

 

We have relationships with a number of vendors, which are important in supporting network and service evolution plans and delivery of services to our customers. Vendors may experience business difficulties, restructure their operations, be consolidated with other suppliers, discontinue products or sell their operations or products to other vendors, which could affect the future development and support of products or services we use, and ultimately, the success of upgrades and evolution of technology that we offer our customers, such as TELUS TV. There can be no guarantee that the outcome of any particular vendor strategy will not affect the services that we provide to our customers, or that we will not incur additional costs to continue providing services. Certain customer needs and preferences may not be aligned with our vendor selection or product and service offering, which may result in limitations on growth or loss of existing business.

 

Supplier concentration and market power

 

The popularity of certain models of smartphones and tablets has resulted in a growing reliance on certain manufacturers, which may increase their market power and adversely affect our ability to purchase certain products at an affordable cost. In addition, owners of popular broadcasting content may raise their distribution charges and attempt to renegotiate broadcasting distribution agreements we have with them, which could adversely affect our entertainment service offerings and/or profitability. See also Wireline in Section 9.2, Broadcasting-related issues in Section 9.4 and Vertical integration into broadcast content ownership by competitors in Section 10.2.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We consider possible vendor strategies and/or restructuring outcomes when planning for our future growth, as well as the maintenance and support of existing equipment and services. We have reasonable contingency plans for different scenarios, including working with multiple vendors, maintaining ongoing strong vendor relations and working closely with other product users to influence vendors’ product development plans. In addition, we regularly monitor the risk profile of our key vendors and audit the applicable terms and conditions of our agreements.

 

In respect of supplier market power, we offer and promote alternative devices or programming content to provide greater choice for consumers and to help lessen our dependence on a few key suppliers.

 

 

Support systems will be increasingly critical to operational efficiency

 

We have a large number of interconnected operational and business support systems, and their complexity has been continually increasing, which can affect system stability and availability. The development and launch of a new service typically requires significant systems development and integration efforts. Effective management of all associated development and ongoing operational costs is a significant factor in maintaining a competitive position and profit margins. As next-generation services are introduced, they must work with next-generation systems, frameworks and IT infrastructures, while being compatible with legacy services and support systems. There can be no assurance that any of our proposed IT systems or process change initiatives will be implemented successfully, that they will be implemented in accordance with anticipated timelines, or that sufficiently skilled personnel will be available to


 

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complete such initiatives. If we fail to implement and maintain approprate IT systems on a timely basis, fail to create and maintain an effective governance and operating framework to support the management of staff, or fail to understand and streamline our significant number of legacy systems and proactively meet constantly evolving business requirements, any such failure could have an adverse effect on our business and financial performance.

 

 

Risk mitigation: In line with industry best practice, our approach is to separate business support systems (BSS) from operational support systems (OSS) and underlying network technology. Our aim is to decouple the introduction of new network technologies from the services we sell to customers so that both can evolve independently. This allows us to optimize network investments while limiting the impact on customer services, and also facilitates the introduction of new services. In addition, due to the maturing nature of telecommunications vendor software, we adopt industry standard software for BSS/OSS functions and avoid custom development where possible. This enables us to leverage vendor knowledge and industry practices acquired through the implementation of those platforms at numerous global telecommunications companies. We have established a next-generation BSS/OSS framework to ensure that, as new services and technologies are developed, they are part of the next-generation framework that will ease the retirement of legacy systems in accordance with TeleManagement Forum’s next-generation operations systems and software program. We also continue to make significant investments in system resiliency and reliability in support of our ongoing customers first initiatives.

 

 

Evolving wired broadband access technology standards may outpace projected access infrastructure investment lifetimes

 

The technology standards for broadband access over copper loops to customer premises are evolving rapidly, enabling higher broadband access speeds. The evolution is fuelled by consumer demand for faster connectivity, the need to address growing competitor capabilities and offerings, the increasing use of OTT applications and the delivery of IP TV, all of which require greater bandwidth. In general, the evolution to higher broadband access speeds is achieved by deploying fibre-optic cable further out from the central office, thus shortening the copper loop portion of the access network, and by using faster modem technologies on the shortened copper loop. However, new access technologies are evolving faster than the historical investment cycle for access infrastructure. The introduction of these new technologies and the pace of adoption could result in requirements for additional capital funding not currently planned, as well as shorter estimated useful lives for certain existing infrastructure, which would increase depreciation and amortization expenses.

 

Risk mitigation: To advance our broadband network, we are actively deploying fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technologies, including major roll-outs in the cities of Edmonton and Vancouver. FTTP technology supports significantly greater bandwidth, including symmetrical download and upload speeds. We also continue to invest in our fibre-to-the-neighbourhood (FTTN) technology in order to maintain our ability to support competitive services – most recently, the upgrade to VDSL2 and bonding technologies.

 

In addition, we actively monitor the development and carrier acceptance of competing proposed FTTx standards (such as FTTP and fibre-to-the-distribution point or FTTDp). One or more of these fibre-based solutions may be a more practical technology to deploy in

 

brownfield neighbourhoods or multiple dwelling units than the current xDSL deployments on copper loops. We are exploring business models for financially viable deployment of fibre-based technologies in areas currently connected by copper.

 

The evolution of these access architectures and corresponding standards, enabled with quality of service standards and network traffic engineering, all support our strategy to deliver IP-based Internet, voice and video services over a common broadband access infrastructure.

 

 

IP-based telephony as a replacement for legacy analogue telephony is evolving and cost savings are uncertain

 

We continue to monitor the evolution of IP-based telephony technologies and service offerings, and we have developed a consumer solution for IP-based telephony through access to our broadband infrastructure. This solution is being deployed and is replacing legacy analogue telephone service in areas that are served by fibre-based facilities. The solution can be expanded to provide additional telephone services over the existing analogue service infrastructure and is designed to replace the current platform in use today. We are also in the process of deploying our next-generation IP telephony solution for business users, which is intended to replace existing business VoIP platforms, as well as addressing areas that are served through fibre access. We are deploying converged IP solutions in the consumer segment that deliver telephony, video and Internet access on the same broadband infrastructure. However, the exchange of information between service providers with different broadband infrastructures is still at an early stage.

 

Our long-term technology strategy is to move all services to IP to simplify our network, reduce costs, enable advanced solutions and converge wireless and wireline services. Pursuing this strategy fully would involve transitioning our standard telephone service offering to IP-based telephony and phasing out legacy analogue-based telephone service. We could support this strategy by discontinuing regular analogue telephone lines and using digital-only broadband access lines. However, digital-only broadband access may not be feasible or financially viable in many areas for some time, particularly in rural and remote areas. Accordingly, we expect to support both legacy and IP-based voice systems for some time and incur costs to maintain both systems. There is a risk that investments in IP-based voice systems may not be accompanied by a reduction in the costs of maintaining legacy voice systems. There is also the risk that IP-based access infrastructure and corresponding IP-based telephony platforms may not be in place in time to avoid the need for some reinvestment in traditional switching platforms to support the legacy public switched telephone network access base in certain areas, which could result in some investment in line adaptation in non-broadband central offices.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We continue to deploy residential IP-based voice technologies into fibre-based communities, and we work with vendors and the industry to assess the technical applicability and evolving cost profiles of proactively migrating legacy customers onto IP-based platforms while striving to meet CRTC commitments and customer expectations. Our ongoing investments in advanced broadband network technologies, including FTTP, should enable a smoother future evolution of IP-based telephony. We are also working with manufacturers to optimize the operations, cost structure and life expectancy of analogue systems and solutions so that some of this infrastructure can be adapted to a point where it will form part of the overall evolution towards IP.

 


 

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Additionally, IP-based solutions that we are currently deploying are capable of supporting a wide range of customers and services, which helps limit our exposure to any one market segment. Going forward, as our wireless services evolve, we will continue to assess the opportunity to further consolidate separate technologies into a single voice service environment. One example is the consolidation of our new IP-based consumer VoIP solution into the same platform that supports wireless telephony. We are looking at opportunities to rationalize our existing legacy voice infrastructure in order to manage costs. We are also working with our vendors and partners to reduce the cost structure of VoIP deployments.

 

 

Convergence in a common IP-based application environment for telephony, Internet and video is complex

 

The convergence of wireless and wireline services in a common IP-based application environment, delivered over a common IP-based network, provides opportunities for cost savings and for the rapid development of more advanced services that are also more flexible and easier to use. However, the transformation from separate systems to a common environment is very complex and could be accompanied by implementation errors, design issues and system instability.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We mitigate implementation risk through modular architectures, lab investments, employee trials, partnering with system integrators where appropriate, using hardware that is common to most other North American IP-based technology deployments and introducing virtualization technologies, where feasible. We are also active in a number of standards bodies, such as the Metro Ethernet Forum and IP Sphere, in order to help influence a new IP infrastructure strategy that leverages standards-based functionality, which could further simplify our networks.

 

 

Delivery of fibre-based facilities leveraged by IP telephony solutions is expensive and complex, with long implementation schedules

 

The delivery of fibre-based facilities to new communities and regions requires significant investment and planning, as well as long implementation schedules. This may rule it out as a viable alternative in communities where the legacy voice equipment requires immediate replacement. It may not be cost-effective to deliver fibre-optic network access to customers who subscribe only to home phone services, which would prevent full migration away from legacy technologies.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We mitigate schedule risk by continuing to maintain our legacy switching environments and striving to maintain the necessary technological expertise, access to replacement hardware and regular maintenance programs. We support delivery of IP telephony through a copper-based access facility by deploying line access gateway technology that connects our customers’ generic equipment with the IP telephony platforms, which gives us a more cost-effective way to provide those customers with the reliability and enhanced capabilities of these solutions.

 

 

OTT services present challenges to network capacity and conventional business models

 

OTT services are a category of services being delivered over the Internet that compete directly with traditional pay-TV, video and wireless and wireline voice and messaging services. OTT video services, in particular, have rapidly become the largest source of traffic on the North American Internet backbone. OTT service providers do not invest in, or own,

networks and growth in their services presents Internet service providers (ISPs) and network owners with the challenge of preventing network congestion. While we have designed an IP-based network that has not experienced significant congestion problems through 2016, there can be no assurance that we will not experience such congestion in the future.

 

 

Risk mitigation: As additional OTT providers launch services and offer higher-resolution video over the Internet, we continue to make investments in our network to support greater capacity. We are also developing new responses, such as more flexible data plans, to the challenges posed by the OTT providers. These investments include the ongoing build-out of our fibre-optic network, including multi-year investments to connect homes and businesses in Vancouver and Edmonton to our gigabit-capable network.

 

 

Capital expenditure levels and potential future outlays for spectrum licences may be impacted by our operating and financial results, as well as our ability to carry out financing activities

 

Our capital expenditure levels are affected by our broadband initiatives, including connecting more homes and businesses directly to fibre; our ongoing deployment of newer wireless technologies such as 5G; utilizing newly acquired spectrum; investments in network resiliency and reliability; increasing subscriber demand for data; evolving systems and business processes; implementing efficiency initiatives; supporting large complex deals; and participation in future wireless spectrum auctions held by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). There can be no assurance that investments in capital assets and wireless spectrum licences will not be affected by future operating and financial results.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We carry out a number of unique initiatives each year that are aimed at improving our productivity and competitiveness. See Reorganizations, integration of acquisitions and implementation of large enterprise deals in Section 10.6. For a discussion of financing risks and risk mitigation activities, see Section 10.7 Financing, debt requirements and returning cash to shareholders.

 

 

10.4  Regulatory matters

 

The regulatory regime under which we operate, including the laws, regulations, and decisions in regulatory proceedings and court cases, reviews, appeals, policy announcements, and other developments such as those described in Section 9.4 Telecommunications industry regulatory developments and proceedings, imposes conditions on the products and services that we provide and how we provide them. The regulatory regime sets forth, among other matters, rates, terms and conditions for the provision of telecommunications services, licensing of broadcast services, licensing of spectrum and radio apparatus, and restrictions on ownership and control by non-Canadians.

 

Changes to our regulatory regime

 

Changes to the regulatory regime under which we operate, including changes to laws and regulations, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, operating procedures and profitability. Such changes may not be anticipated or, where they are anticipated, our assessment of their impact on us and our business may not be


 

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accurate. While we are involved or intervene in proceedings, court cases or inquiries related to the application of the regulatory regime, such as those described in Section 9.4 Telecommunications industry regulatory developments and proceedings, there is no certainty that our current prediction of the likely outcomes of such proceedings will be accurate or that the positions that we advocate in such proceedings will be adopted. Changes to our regulatory regime could increase our costs, restrict or impede the way we provide our services or manage our networks, or alter customer perceptions of our operations. The further regulation of broadband, wireless and our other activities and any related regulatory decisions could also restrict our ability to compete in the marketplace and limit the return we can expect to achieve on past and future investments in our networks.

 

 

Risk mitigation: TELUS attempts to mitigate regulatory risks through its participation in CRTC and federal government proceedings, including filing evidence in ongoing reviews and participating in technical committees established by the CRTC, as described in Section 9.4 Telecommunications industry regulatory developments and proceedings. See also Vertical integration into broadcast content ownership by competitors in Section 10.2 Competition.

 

 

Spectrum and compliance with licences

We require access to radio spectrum to carry on our wireless business. The allocation and use of spectrum in Canada are governed by spectrum licences issued by, and radio authorization conditions set by, ISED. While we believe that we are substantially in compliance with our radio authorization conditions, there can be no assurance that we will be found to comply with all radio authorization conditions, or if we are found not to be compliant, that a waiver will be granted or that the costs to be incurred to achieve compliance will not be significant. Any failure to comply with the radio authorization conditions could result in the revocation of our licences and/or the imposition of fines. Our ability to provide competitive services, including by improving our current services and offering new services on a timely basis, is also dependent on our ability to obtain access to new spectrum licences as they are made available. The revocation of, or a material limitation on, certain of our spectrum licences, or our failure to obtain access to new spectrum as it becomes available, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition by, among other things, negatively affecting the quality of our network and service offering and thereby impeding our ability to attract or retain customers.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We continue to strive to comply with all licence and renewal conditions and plan to participate in future wireless spectrum auctions. We have advocated to the federal government for a level playing field in respect of spectrum auction rules, such that long-standing wireless companies like TELUS can bid on an equal footing with others for spectrum blocks available at auction or are able to purchase spectrum licences available for sale from competitors. Advanced wireless services (AWS) entrants are now part of established, sophisticated and well-financed cable companies and we will strongly advocate that preferential treatment is not required.

 

Restrictions on foreign ownership

 

We are subject to the foreign ownership and control restrictions, including restrictions on the ownership of our Common Shares by non-Canadians, imposed by the Canadian Telecommunications Common Carrier Ownership and Control Regulations and the Telecommunications Act (collectively, the Telecommunications Regulations) and the Broadcasting Act and associated regulations. Although we believe that we are in compliance with the relevant legislation, there can be no assurance that a future CRTC or Canadian Heritage determination, or events beyond our control, will not result in us ceasing to be in compliance with the relevant legislation. If such a development were to occur, the ability of our subsidiaries to operate as Canadian carriers under the Telecommunications Act or to maintain, renew or secure licences under the Radiocommunication Act and the Broadcasting Act could be jeopardized and our business could be materially adversely affected.

 

Specifically, to maintain our eligibility to operate certain of our subsidiaries that are deemed to be Canadian carriers under these laws, among other requirements, the level of non-Canadian ownership of TELUS Common Shares cannot exceed 331/3% and we must not otherwise be controlled by non-Canadians.

 

 

Risk mitigation: The Telecommunications Regulations give TELUS, which is a holding corporation of Canadian carriers, certain powers to monitor and control the level of non-Canadian ownership of our Common Shares. These powers have been incorporated into TELUS’ Articles and were extended to ensure compliance under both the Broadcasting Act and the Radiocommunication Act (under which the requirements for Canadian ownership and control were subsequently cross-referenced to the Telecommunications Act). These powers include the right to: (i) refuse to register a transfer of Common Shares to a non-Canadian; (ii) require a non-Canadian to sell any Common Shares; and (iii) suspend the voting rights attached to the Common Shares held by non-Canadians in inverse order of registration. We have reasonable controls in place to monitor foreign ownership levels through a reservation and declaration system.

 

 

10.5  Human resources

 

Employee retention, recruitment and engagement

 

Our success depends on the abilities, experience and engagement of our team members. The loss of key employees through attrition and retirement – or any deterioration in overall employee morale and engagement resulting from organizational changes, unresolved collective agreements or ongoing cost reduction initiatives – could have an adverse impact on our growth, business and profitability and our efforts to enhance the customer experience.

 

The level of employee engagement at TELUS continues to place our organization within the top quartile of all employers surveyed.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We aim to attract and retain key employees through both monetary and non-monetary approaches, and we strive to protect and improve engagement levels. Our compensation and benefits program is designed to support our high-performance culture and is both market-driven and performance-based. We also have a succession planning process to identify and develop employees for key management positions.

 


 

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Where required, we continue to implement targeted retention solutions for employees with talents that are scarce in the marketplace. As well, a benefits program is offered to team members that allows tailoring of personal health, wellness, lifestyle and retirement choices to suit individual and family needs.

 

We believe that our relatively strong employee engagement score continues to be influenced by our intense focus on the customer experience and our success in the marketplace. We plan to continue our focus on other non-monetary factors that are clearly aligned with engagement, including performance management, career opportunities, training and development, recognition and our Work Styles program (e.g. facilitating working remotely from home or other alternative work locations). See also Section 10.10 Team member health, wellness and safety.

 

 

10.6  Process risks

 

Systems and processes

 

We have numerous complex systems and process change initiatives underway. There can be no assurance that the full complement of our various systems and process change initiatives, including those required to improve delivery of customer services and support management decision-making, will be successfully implemented or that funding and sufficiently skilled resources will be available to complete all key initiatives planned. There is risk that certain projects may be deferred or cancelled and the expected benefits of such projects may be deferred or unrealized. Moreover, any ineffectiveness in the change management required to protect our complex systems and limit service disruptions could adversely impact our customer service, operating performance and financial results.

 

 

Risk mitigation: TELUS has change management policies, processes and controls in place, based upon industry best practices. In general, we strive to ensure that system development and process change are prioritized, and we apply a project management approach to such changes that includes reasonable risk identification and contingency planning, scope and change control, and resource and quality management. We also generally complete reasonable functional, performance and revenue assurance testing, as well as capturing and using any lessons learned. Where a change involves major system and process conversions, we often move our business continuity planning and emergency management operations centre to a heightened state of readiness in advance of the change.

 

Reorganizations, integration of acquisitions and implementation of large enterprise deals

 

We carry out a number of unique operational consolidation, cost reduction and rationalization initiatives each year that are aimed at improving our productivity and competitiveness. Examples of these initiatives are: our operating efficiency and effectiveness program to drive improvements in EBITDA, including the expected benefits of the immediately vesting transformative compensation initiative; business integrations; business process outsourcing; offshoring and reorganizations, including any full-time equivalent (FTE) employee reduction programs; procurement initiatives; and real estate rationalization. We may record significant cash and non-cash restructuring charges and other costs for such initiatives,

 

which could adversely impact our operating results. There can be no assurance that all planned initiatives will be completed, or that such initiatives will provide the expected benefits or will not have a negative impact on our customer service, work processes, employee engagement, operating performance and financial results. Additional revenue and cost efficiency and effectiveness initiatives will continue to be assessed and implemented, as required.

 

Post-acquisition activities include the review and alignment of accounting policies, corporate policies such as ethics and privacy policies, employee transfers and moves, information systems integration, optimization of service offerings and establishment of control over new operations. Such activities may not be conducted efficiently and effectively, which may negatively impact service levels, competitive position and financial results. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully and efficiently integrate acquisitions, complete divestitures or establish partnerships in a timely manner, and realize expected strategic benefits. In respect of the transaction with BCE Inc. to acquire a portion of Manitoba Telecom Services, Inc.’s (MTS’) postpaid wireless subscribers and dealers, as of February 9, 2017, BCE had not received the requisite approvals from the Competition Bureau and ISED.

 

Large enterprise deals may be characterized by the need to anticipate, understand and respond to complex and multi-faceted customer-specific enterprise requirements, including customized systems and reporting requirements, service credits that lower revenues, and significant upfront expenses and capital expenditures required to implement the contracts. There can be no assurance that service implementation will proceed as planned and expected efficiencies will be achieved, which may impact return on investment or projected margins. We may also be constrained by limits on available staff and system resources and the level of co-operation from other service providers, which may in turn limit the number of large contracts that can be implemented concurrently in a given period and/or increase our costs related to such implementations.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We focus on and manage organizational changes through a formalized business transformation function by leveraging the expertise, key learnings and effective practices developed during the implementation of large enterprise deals, as well as mergers, business integrations and efficiency-related reorganizations, in recent years.

 

We have a post-merger integration (PMI) team that applies an integration model, based on learnings from previous integrations, which enhances and accelerates the standardization of our business processes and is intended to preserve the unique qualities of each acquired operation.

 

We have also gained experience during the implementation of numerous large enterprise deals over a number of years, and we expect to continue to focus on successfully implementing recent large enterprise contract wins, as well as on developing more shared systems and processes. We expect to continue being selective as to which new large contracts we will bid on and we continue to focus our efforts on the SMB market. We have a sales and bid governance process in place, which involves preparation, review and signoff of bids, with all of the related due diligence and authorizations.

 

We follow standard industry practices for project management, including executive/senior level governance and project oversight, commitment of appropriate project resources, tools and supporting processes, and proactive project-specific risk assessments and risk mitigation planning. We also conduct independent project reviews and internal audits to

 


 

 

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monitor progress and identify areas that may require additional focus, and to identify any systemic issues and learnings in project implementations that could be shared among other future projects.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, no significant acquisitions were completed.

 

 

Data protection

 

We operate data centres and collect and manage data in our business and on behalf of our customers (including, in the case of TELUS Health, sensitive health information). Some of our efficiency initiatives rely on the offshoring of internal functions to our personnel in other countries or outsourcing to partners located in Canada and abroad. To be effective, these arrangements require us to allow personnel in other countries and domestic and foreign partners to have access to this data.

 

TELUS or its partners may be subject to software, equipment or other system malfunctions, or thefts or other unlawful acts that result in the unauthorized access to, or change, loss or destruction of, our data. There is a risk that such malfunctions or unlawful acts may compromise the privacy of individuals, including our customers, employees and suppliers. Despite our efforts to implement controls in domestic and offshore operations and at our partners’ operations, unauthorized access to data could lead to data being lost, compromised or used for inappropriate purposes that could, in turn, result in financial loss (loss of subscribers or damage to our ability to attract new ones), harm our brand and reputation, expose us to claims of damages by customers and employees, and impact our customers’ ability to maintain normal business operations and deliver critical services. Also see Legal and ethical compliance in Section 10.9 Litigation and legal matters and Security in Section 10.11 Human-caused and natural threats.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Certain new TELUS information technology systems undergo a security and privacy assessment early in their development life cycle, pursuant to which data that is to be used and/or collected is reviewed and classified, and design features such as audit, logging, encryption and access control restrictions are recommended, when applicable or possible. As part of TELUS’ systems and software development life cycle and quality assurance processes, privacy and security controls are also tested before new systems are fully deployed.

 

Our IDCs have security threat detection and mitigation capabilities, and certain data centres and networks undergo yearly external independent third-party audits. A core component of that audit and certification process is the assessment of TELUS’ logical, physical and policy-based security and privacy controls. Further, we have a vulnerability management program in place that monitors both our Internet-facing and internal network and systems in order to track and mitigate vulnerabilities that may be detected.

 

To ensure the security of our customers’ credit card transactions, we use security technologies such as encryption and segmentation, and we adhere to the principle of least privilege. We maintain these practices and review their effectiveness on a regular basis, giving consideration to industry standards and changes in the constantly evolving threat landscape.

 

Another component of our strategy is the stipulation that data generally resides in our facilities in Canada, with the deployment of infrastructure that supports partner connectivity to view our systems. We require partners and service providers to comply with privacy and security measures, including the reporting of any possible data-related

 

 

 

threats. Personnel in other countries are provided with remote views of authorized data only and, where applicable, without the data being stored on local systems. These personnel are also required to comply with physical and process restrictions and participate in training designed to help prevent and detect unauthorized access to, or use of, our data.

 

There can be no assurance that our controls will prove effective in all instances.

 

 

Foreign operations

 

Maintaining our international operations presents unique risks, including: competition in the business process outsourcing industry; ease with which customers can move their business if we fail to meet or exceed their expectations; infrastructure and security challenges; employee recruitment and retention; concentration of customers; country-specific risks (such as differences in political, legal and regulatory regimes and cultural values); different taxation regimes; differences in exposure to and frequency of natural disasters; and foreign currency exchange fluctuations. There can be no assurance that international initiatives and risk mitigation efforts will provide the benefits and efficiencies expected, or that there will not be significant difficulties in combining different management and cultures, which could have a negative impact on operating and financial results. See also Legal and ethical compliance in Section 10.9 Litigation and legal matters and Natural disasters and intentional threats to our infrastructure and business operations in Section 10.11 Human-caused and natural threats, which may affect our international operations.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Our strategy is to differentiate ourselves by focusing on the continued development of our team, as well as our culture of giving where we live. We also invest in service development and process improvements, and we regularly survey customers for feedback and monitor quality of service metrics to ensure we proactively address our customers’ concerns and exceed their expectations. Our information technology systems undergo a security and privacy assessment early in their development life cycle, where privacy and security controls are tested before any new systems are deployed. We use security technologies and adhere to certain standards, reviewing their effectiveness regularly to remain abreast of changes in the threat landscape. We make significant investments in support of our team members, including high-end workplace facilities, competitive benefits, ongoing training and development and recurring surveys to resolve areas of concern. We maintain a diverse base of operations, with facilities located in the Philippines, Europe, Central America and the United States. This diversity provides us with an opportunity to minimize country-specific risks and the ability to serve customers in multiple languages and in multiple time zones. It also provides us with network redundancy and contingency planning opportunities and the ability to divert operations in emergency situations. We continue to work with our international operations to extend sound and effective operational practices, including the application of our privacy, ethics and anti-bribery policies, share best practices between international and domestic Canadian operations, as appropriate, and ensure that internal controls are implemented, tested, monitored and maintained. We also utilize foreign currency forward contracts, as well as hedge accounting on a limited basis, to mitigate currency risks (see Currency risk in Section 7.9 Financial instruments, commitments and contingent liabilities).

 


 

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Real estate joint ventures (TELUS Garden and TELUS Sky)

 

Risks associated with our real estate joint ventures include possible construction-related cost overruns, financing risks, reputational risks and the uncertainty of future demand, especially during market downturns. There can be no assurance that the real estate joint ventures will be completed on budget or on time, or will obtain lease commitments as planned. Accordingly, we are exposed to the risk of loss on our investment and loan amounts, and a potential inability to service debt payments should a project’s business plan not be successfully realized. Additionally, reputational risks arise from the possibility that we may be unable to meet our stated commitments and/or that the quality of the development may not be consistent with TELUS brand expectations.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We have established joint ventures with partners experienced in large commercial and residential real estate projects to develop TELUS Garden (Westbank) in Vancouver and TELUS Sky (Westbank and Allied REIT) in Calgary. The TELUS Garden residential condominium project was substantially pre-sold prior to the commencement of construction, and the majority of residential condominium units were transferred to the purchasers by the end of 2016. At the same time, lease commitments for the TELUS Garden office project represented 99% of leasable space, while the retail space within the TELUS Garden residential project was 99% leased.

 

For projects in progress, budget-overrun risks have been mitigated with fixed-price supply contracts (89% of TELUS Sky has had tenders approved and contracts awarded), expert project management oversight and insurance for certain risks. Costs for TELUS Sky continue to be consistent with the approved budget plan and we are applying the knowledge and experience gained on the TELUS Garden project to streamline and improve the cost-effectiveness of TELUS Sky.

 

In response to the current economic conditions in Calgary, the TELUS Sky partnership has taken a number of steps to better position the development for success, including: moving to a single-phase occupancy to delay the start dates of any potential office leases from the first quarter of 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2018; revising revenue projections and adjusting tenant inducements to align with current market expectations; and evaluating various approaches to adjusting the mix between office and residential, as well as creating a wider range of residential offerings to address current market demand.

 

 

 

10.7  Financing, debt requirements and returning cash to shareholders

 

Our business plans and growth could be negatively affected if existing financing is not sufficient to cover funding requirements

 

Risk factors, such as disruptions in capital markets, regulatory requirements for an increase in bank capitalization, a reduction in lending activity in general, or a reduction in the number of Canadian chartered banks as a result of reduced activity or consolidation, could reduce the availability of capital or increase the cost of such capital for investment grade corporate issuers, such as TELUS. External capital market conditions could potentially affect our ability to make strategic investments and meet ongoing capital funding requirements.

 

Risk mitigation: We may finance future capital requirements with internally generated funds, borrowings under the unutilized portion of our bank

 

 

credit facility, use of securitized trade receivables, use of commercial paper and/or the issuance of debt or equity securities. We have a shelf prospectus in effect until April 2018, under which we can offer up to $2.2 billion of debt or equity securities as of the date of this MD&A. We believe that our investment grade credit ratings, coupled with our efforts to maintain a constructive relationship with banks, investors and credit rating agencies, continue to provide reasonable access to capital markets.

 

To enable us to meet our financial objective of generally maintaining $1 billion of available liquidity, we have a $2.25 billion credit facility that expires on May 31, 2021 ($1.6 billion available at December 31, 2016), as well as availability under other bank credit facilities (see Section 7.6 Credit facilities). In addition, TELUS Communications Inc. (TCI) has an agreement with an arm’s-length securitization trust under which it is able to sell an interest in certain of its trade receivables up to a maximum of $500 million, of which $400 million was available at December 31, 2016 (see Section 7.7 Sale of trade receivables).

 

 

Ability to refinance maturing debt

 

At December 31, 2016, our long-term debt was $13 billion, with maturities in certain years from 2017 to 2046 (see the Long-term debt principal maturities chart in Section 4.3). We operate a commercial paper program (maximum of $1.4 billion) that currently permits access to low-cost funding. At December 31, 2016, we had $613 million of commercial paper outstanding, all of which was denominated in U.S. dollars (U.S.$465 million). When we issue commercial paper, it must be refinanced on an ongoing basis in order to realize the cost savings relative to borrowing on the $2.25 billion credit facility. Capital market conditions may prohibit the roll-over of commercial paper at low rates.

 

Risk mitigation: We completed a number of debt transactions in 2015 and 2016 (see Section 7.4). As a result, the average term to maturity of our long-term debt (excluding commercial paper and the revolving component of the TELUS International credit facility) was 10.4 years at December 31, 2016 ( 11.1 years at December 31, 2015). Foreign currency forward contracts are used to manage currency risk arising from issuing commercial paper and long-term debt denominated in U.S. dollars (excluding the TELUS International credit facility). Our commercial paper program is fully backstopped by our $2.25 billion credit facility.

 

 

A reduction in TELUS credit ratings could affect our cost of capital and access to capital

 

Our cost of capital could increase and our access to capital could be affected by a reduction in the credit ratings of TELUS and/or TCI. There can be no assurance that we will maintain or improve current credit ratings.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We manage our capital structure and make adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of our telecommunications infrastructure. We have financial policies in place that are reviewed annually and are intended to help maintain our existing investment grade credit ratings in the range of BBB+ or the equivalent. The four credit rating agencies that rate TELUS currently have ratings that are in line with this target. A reduction in our ratings, from the current BBB+ or equivalent to BBB, could result in a modest increase in our funding cost but would not be expected to impact our ability to access the public debt markets. Access to our $2.25 billion credit facility would be maintained, even if our ratings were reduced to below BBB+.

 


 

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Lower than planned free cash flow could constrain our ability to invest in operations, reduce debt or maintain multi-year dividend growth and share purchase programs

While future free cash flow and sources of capital are expected to be sufficient to meet current requirements, our intention to return capital to shareholders could constrain our ability to invest in our operations for future growth. Funding of future spectrum licence purchases, funding of defined benefit pension plans and any increases in corporate income tax rates will reduce the after-tax cash flow otherwise available to return as capital to our shareholders. Should actual results differ from our expectations, there can be no assurance that we will not change our financing plans, including our intention to pay dividends according to our payout policy guideline and to maintain our dividend growth program. Our multi-year share purchase program may also be affected by our Board’s assessment from time to time of various factors, including our financial position and outlook, and the market price of our Common Shares. For further detail on our multi-year dividend growth program and multi-year NCIB program, see Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Our Board of Directors reviews the dividend each quarter, based on a number of factors, including our financial position and outlook.

 

 

Financial instruments

 

Our financial instruments, and the nature of credit risks, liquidity risks and market risks that they may be subject to, are described in Section 7. 9 Financial instruments, commitments and contingent liabilities.

 

 

10.8 Taxation matters

 

We are subject to the risk that income and commodity tax amounts, including tax expense, may be materially different than anticipated, and a general tendency by tax collection authorities to adopt more aggressive auditing practices could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results

 

We collect and pay significant amounts of commodity taxes, such as goods and services taxes, harmonized sales taxes, provincial sales taxes, sales and use taxes and value-added taxes, to various tax authorities. As our operations are complex and the related tax interpretations, regulations, legislation and jurisprudence that pertain to our activities are subject to continual change and evolving interpretation, the final outcome of the taxation of many transactions is uncertain. Moreover, the implementation of new legislation in itself has its own complexities, including those of execution where multiple systems are involved, and interpretation of new rules as they apply to specific transactions, products and services.

 

We have significant current and deferred income tax liabilities, income tax expenses and cash tax payments. Income tax amounts are based on our estimates, using accounting principles that recognize the benefit of income tax positions only when it is more likely than not that the ultimate determination of the tax treatment of a position will result in the related benefit being realized. The assessment of the likelihood and amount of income tax benefits, as well as the timing of realization of such amounts, can materially affect the determination of Net income or cash flows. We expect the income taxes computed at applicable statutory rates to range between 26.4 and 26.9% in 2017.

 

These expectations can change as a result of changes in interpretations, regulations, legislation or jurisprudence.

 

The timing concerning the monetization of deferred income tax accounts is uncertain, as it is dependent on our future earnings and other events. The amounts of deferred income tax liabilities are also uncertain, as the amounts are based upon substantively enacted future income tax rates that were in effect at the time, which can be changed by tax authorities. The amounts of cash tax payments and current and deferred income tax liabilities are also based upon our anticipated mix of revenues among the jurisdictions in which we operate, which is also subject to change.

 

The audit and review activities of tax authorities affect the ultimate determination of the actual amounts of commodity taxes payable or receivable, income taxes payable or receivable, deferred income tax liabilities, taxes on certain items included within capital and income tax expense. Therefore, there can be no assurance that taxes will be payable as anticipated and/or that the amount and timing of receipt or use of the tax-related assets will be as currently expected.

 

TELUS International operates in certain foreign jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, Barbados, Romania and Bulgaria, which increases our exposure to multiple forms of taxation.

 

Generally, each jurisdiction has taxation peculiarities in the forms of taxation imposed (e.g. value-added tax, gross receipts tax, stamp and transfer tax, and income tax), legislation and tax treaties, where applicable, as well as currency and language differences. In addition, the telecommunications industry faces unique issues that lead to uncertainty in the application of tax laws and the division of tax between domestic and foreign jurisdictions. Furthermore, there has been a more intense political, media and tax authority focus on taxation, with an intent to enhance tax transparency and to address perceived tax abuses. Accordingly, our activities may increase our exposure to tax risks, from both a financial and a reputational perspective.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We follow a comprehensive tax conduct and risk management policy that was adopted by our Board. This policy outlines the principles underlying and guiding the roles of team members, their responsibilities and personal conduct, the method of conducting business in relation to tax law and the approaches to working relationships with external tax authorities and external advisors. This policy recognizes the requirement to comply with all relevant tax laws. The components necessary for the effective control and mitigation of tax risk are outlined in the policy, as is the delegation of authority to management on tax matters in accordance with Board and Audit Committee communication guidelines.

 

In giving effect to this policy, we maintain an internal Taxation department composed of professionals who stay current on domestic and foreign tax obligations, supplemented where appropriate with external advisors. This team reviews systems and process changes for compliance with applicable domestic and international taxation laws and regulations. Its members are also responsible for the specialized accounting required for income taxes.

 

Material transactions are reviewed by our Taxation department so that transactions of an unusual or non-recurring nature are assessed from multiple risk-based perspectives. Tax-related transaction risks are regularly communicated to, and reassessed by, our Taxation department as a check to initial exposure assessments. As a matter of regular practice, large transactions are reviewed by external tax advisors,

 


 

 

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while other third-party advisors may also be engaged to express their views as to the potential for tax liability. We continue to review and monitor our activities so that we can take action to comply with any related regulatory, legal and tax obligations. In some cases, we also engage external advisors to review TELUS’ systems and processes for tax-related compliance. The advice and returns provided by such advisors and counsel are reviewed for reasonableness by our internal Taxation team.

 

 

 

10.9 Litigation and legal matters

 

Investigations, claims and lawsuits

 

Given TELUS’ size, investigations, claims and lawsuits seeking damages and other relief are regularly threatened or pending against us. It is not currently possible for us to predict the outcome of such matters due to various factors, including: the preliminary nature of some claims; unproven damage theories and demands; incomplete factual records; the uncertain nature of legal theories and procedures and their resolution by the courts, at both the trial and the appellate levels; and the unpredictable nature of opposing parties and their demands. There can be no assurance that financial or operating results will not be negatively impacted by any of these factors.

 

Subject to the foregoing limitations, management is of the opinion, based upon legal assessments and the information presently available, that it is unlikely that any liability, to the extent not provided for through insurance or otherwise, would have a material effect on our financial position and the results of our operations, excepting the items disclosed herein and in Note 29(a) of the Consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We believe that we have in place reasonable policies and processes designed to enable compliance with legal and contractual obligations and reduce our exposure to, and the effect on us of, legal claims. We also maintain a team of legal professionals who advise on and manage risks related to claims and possible claims. See other risk mitigation steps discussed below.

 

 

Class actions

 

We are defendant in a number of certified and uncertified class actions. Over the past decade or more, we have observed a willingness on the part of claimants to launch class actions whereby a representative plaintiff seeks to pursue a legal claim on behalf of a large group of persons. The number of class actions filed against us has varied from year to year, with claimants continually looking to expand the matters in respect of which they file class actions. The adoption by governments of increasingly stringent consumer protection legislation may increase the number of class actions by creating new causes of action, or may decrease the number of class actions by improving clarity in the area of consumer marketing and contracting. A successful class action lawsuit, by its nature, could result in a sizable damage award that could negatively affect a defendant’s financial or operating results. Certified and uncertified class actions against us are detailed in Note 29(a) of the Consolidated financial statements.

 

Assessment of class actions

 

We believe that we have good defences to each of these certified and uncertified class actions. Should the ultimate resolution of these actions differ from management’s assessments and assumptions, a material adjustment to our financial position and the results of our operations could result. Management’s assessments and assumptions include that reliable estimates of the exposure cannot be made for the majority of these class actions, considering continued uncertainty relating to the causes of action that may ultimately be pursued by the plaintiffs and certified by the courts and the nature of the damages that may be sought by the plaintiffs.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We are vigorously defending each of the class actions brought against TELUS or pursuing settlements that we deem to be beneficial for us. This includes opposing certification of uncertified class actions. Certification is a procedural step that determines whether a particular lawsuit may be prosecuted by a representative plaintiff on behalf of a class of individuals. Certification of a class action does not determine the merits of the claim, so that, if we were unsuccessful in defeating certification, the plaintiffs would still be required to prove the merits of their claims. We regularly assess our business practices and actively monitor class action developments in Canada and the United States in order to identify and minimize the risk of further class actions against us.

 

 

Civil liability in the secondary market

 

Like other Canadian public companies, we are subject to civil liability for misrepresentations in written disclosure and oral statements, and liability for fraud and market manipulation. Such legislation has been adopted in most provinces and territories.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We continually monitor legal developments and annually re-evaluate our disclosure practices and procedures. In addition, we periodically consult external advisors to review our disclosure practices and procedures and the extent to which they are documented. We have a corporate disclosure policy that restricts the role of Company spokespersons to specifically designated members of senior management, provides a protocol for dealing with analysts and oral presentations, and outlines the communication approach to issues, and our Disclosure Committee reviews key disclosure documents.

 

 

Legal and ethical compliance

 

We rely on our employees, officers, Board, key suppliers and other business partners to demonstrate behaviour consistent with applicable legal and ethical standards in all jurisdictions within which we operate including, but not limited to, anti-bribery laws and regulations. Situations might occur where individuals intentionally or inadvertently do not adhere to our policies, applicable laws and regulations or contractual obligations. For instance, there could be cases in which the personal information of a TELUS customer or employee is collected, used or disclosed in a manner that is not fully compliant with legislation, contractual obligations or TELUS policies. In the case of TELUS Health, personal information includes sensitive health information about individuals who are our customers or healthcare providers’ end customers. In addition, there could be situations where compliance programs may not be fully adhered to, or where parties may have a different interpretation of the requirements of particular legislative provisions. These various situations may expose us to litigation and


 

 

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the possibility of damages, sanctions and fines, or of being disqualified from bidding on contracts, and may negatively affect our financial or operating results and reputation.

 

We continue to expand our activities into the United States and other countries. When operating in foreign jurisdictions, we are required to comply with local laws and regulations, which may differ substantially from Canadian laws and add to the regulatory, legal and tax exposures that we face.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Although we cannot predict outcomes with certainty, we believe that we have reasonable policies, controls and processes in place, and levels of awareness sufficient for proper compliance, and that these are having a positive effect on reducing risks. We have a comprehensive code of ethics and conduct for our employees, including officers and directors, and mandatory annual integrity training for employees, officers and identified contractors, as well as a toll-free EthicsLine for anonymous reporting by anyone who may have concerns or complaints to bring forward. In early 2012, we implemented our supplier code of conduct. In 2013, a specific anti-bribery and corruption policy was approved by the Board and communicated to team members. We conduct targeted mandatory training on anti-bribery and corruption, as well as on our business sales code of conduct. We have a designated Chief Data and Trust Officer, whose role is to work across the enterprise to ensure that the business has appropriate processes and controls in place to facilitate legal compliance and report on compliance to the Audit Committee. For example, as a proactive measure on privacy compliance, we require a privacy impact assessment to be carried out in the development stage for major projects involving the use of customer or team member personal information.

 

We have an established review process to ensure that regulatory, legal and tax requirements are considered when pursuing opportunities outside of Canada. On an ongoing basis, we review our international structure, systems and processes to ensure that we mitigate regulatory, legal and tax risks, as our business activities expand outside Canada. Finally, we engage external counsel and advisors qualified in the relevant foreign jurisdictions to provide regulatory, legal and tax advice, as appropriate.

 

 

Defects in software and failures in data or transaction processing

 

We provide certain applications and managed services to our customers that involve the management, processing and/or storing of data, including sensitive personal medical records, and the transfer of funds. Software defects or failures in data or transaction processing could lead to substantial damage claims (including privacy and medical claims). For instance, a defect in a TELUS Health application could lead to personal injury or unauthorized access to personal information, while a failure in transaction processing could result in the transfer of funds to the wrong recipient.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We believe that we have in place reasonable policies, controls, processes (such as quality assurance programs in software development procedures) and contractual arrangements (such as disclaimers, indemnities and limitations of liability in most cases), as well as insurance coverage, to reduce our exposure to these types of legal claims. However, there can be no assurance that our processes will be followed by all team members at all times and that we have indemnities and limitations of liability covering all cases.

 

 

Intellectual property and proprietary rights

 

Technology evolution also brings additional legal risks and uncertainties. The intellectual property and proprietary rights of owners and developers of hardware, software, business processes and other technologies may be protected under statute, such as patent, copyright and industrial design legislation, or under common law, such as trade secrets. With the growth and development of technology-based industries, the value of these intellectual property and proprietary rights has increased. Significant damages may be awarded in intellectual property infringement claims advanced by rights holders. In addition, defendants may incur significant costs to defend such claims, and that possibility may prompt defendants to settle claims more readily, in part to mitigate those costs. Both of these factors may also encourage intellectual property rights holders to pursue infringement claims more aggressively.

 

Given the vast array of technologies and systems that we use to deliver products and services, and the rapid change and complexity of such technologies, disputes over intellectual property and proprietary rights can reasonably be expected to increase. As a user of technology, we receive communications from time to time, ranging from solicitations to demands and legal actions from third parties claiming ownership rights over intellectual property used by us and asking for settlement payments or licensing fees for the continued use of such intellectual property.

 

There can be no assurance that we will not be faced with other significant claims based on the alleged infringement of intellectual property rights, whether such claims are based on a legitimate dispute over the validity of the intellectual property rights or their infringement, or are advanced for the primary purpose of extracting a settlement. We may incur significant costs in defending TELUS against infringement claims, we may suffer significant damages and we could lose the right to use technologies that are essential to our operations should any infringement claim prove successful. As a developer of technology, TELUS Health depends on its ability to protect the proprietary aspects of its technology. The failure to do so adequately could materially affect our business. However, policing unauthorized use of our intellectual property may be difficult and costly.

 

Assessment of intellectual property claims

 

We believe that we have good defences to each of the intellectual property claims against us. Should the ultimate resolution of these claims differ from management’s assessments and assumptions, a material adjustment to our financial position and the results of our operations could result. Management’s assessments and assumptions include that reliable estimates of the exposure cannot be made for the majority of these claims considering continued uncertainty relating to the validity of the intellectual property at issue, whether or not technology used by us infringes upon that intellectual property, and the nature of the damages that will be sought by the plaintiffs.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We incorporate many technologies into our products and services. However, with the exception of TELUS Health, we are not primarily in the business of creating or inventing technology. In acquiring products and services from suppliers, it is our practice to seek and obtain contractual protections consistent with standard industry practices to help mitigate the risks of intellectual property infringements. It is the practice of TELUS Health to protect its intellectual property rights through litigation and other means.

 


 

 

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10.10 Health, safety and environment

 

Team member health, wellness and safety

 

Lost work time resulting from team member illness or injury can negatively affect organizational productivity and employee benefit costs.

 

 

Risk mitigation: To achieve a positive effect on absenteeism in the workplace, we support a holistic and proactive approach to team member health that involves early intervention, health risk prevention, employee and family assistance, assessment and support services, and disability management. Our health and wellness strategies encourage our team members to develop optimal personal health through three fundamental pillars: active living, wise nutrition and mental resilience. To promote safe work practices, we offer training and orientation programs for team members, contractors and suppliers who access our facilities. There can be no assurance that these health, wellness and safety programs and practices will be effective in all situations.

 

 

Concerns related to radio frequency emissions from mobile phones and wireless towers

 

TELUS understands there are public concerns over potential impacts associated with low levels of non-ionizing radio frequency (RF) emissions from mobile phones and cell towers.

 

To address these concerns, TELUS looks to recognized experts with peer-reviewed findings and government agencies to provide guidance on potential risks. While a small number of epidemiological studies have revealed that exposure to RF fields might be linked to certain cancers, other studies have not supported this association. Furthermore, animal laboratory studies have found no evidence that RF fields are carcinogenic for laboratory rodents or cause damage to DNA.

 

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Health Canada have advised mobile phone users that they can take practical measures to reduce their exposure to RF emissions, such as limiting the length of cellphone calls, using hands-free devices and replacing cellphone calls with text messages. In addition, Health Canada encourages parents to take these same measures to reduce their children’s RF emission exposure, since children are typically more sensitive to a variety of environmental agents. TELUS also offers information and advice with respect to radio frequency emissions on its website.

 

There can be no assurance that future studies, government regulations or public concerns about the health effects of RF emissions will not have an adverse effect on our business and prospects. For example, public concerns or government action could reduce subscriber growth and usage, and costs could increase as a result of the need to modify handsets, relocate wireless towers and address any incremental legal requirements and product liability lawsuits that might arise or have arisen. See Class actions in Section 10.9 Litigation and legal matters.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Canada’s federal government is responsible for establishing safe limits for signal levels of radio devices. We are confident that the handsets and devices we sell, and our wireless towers and other associated devices, comply, in all material respects, with all applicable Canadian and U.S. government safety standards. We continue to monitor new published studies, government regulations and public concerns about the health impacts of RF exposure.

 

 

Concerns related to the environment

 

A detailed report of our environmental risk mitigation activities can be found in our annual sustainability report at sustainability.telus.com. Environmental issues affecting our business include:

 

Climate change

 

Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts is identified as the largest global risk in terms of impact and third-largest in terms of likelihood, according to a World Economic Forum 2016 report. This could affect our business operations through potential disruption of our operations, damage to our infrastructure and the effects on the communities we serve caused by events such as those described in Section 10.11 Human-caused and natural threats.

 

Waste and waste recycling; water consumption

 

Several areas of our operations raise environmental considerations such as the handling and disposal of waste, electronic waste or other residual materials, appropriate management of our water use and the appropriate handling of materials and electronic equipment we use or sell. Aspects of our operations are subject to evolving and increasingly stringent federal, provincial and local environmental, health and safety law and regulations. Such laws and regulations impose requirements with respect to matters such as the release of substances into the environment, corrective and remedial action concerning such releases, and the proper handling and management of substances including wastes. Evolving public expectations and increasingly stringent laws and regulations could result in increased costs of compliance, while failure to recognize and adequately respond to the same could result in fines, regulatory scrutiny, or damage to our reputation and brand.

 

Fuel systems

 

We own or lease a large number of properties. We have fuel systems for backup power generation at some of these properties that enable us to provide reliable service, but they also pose an environmental risk. Because diesel spills or releases from these systems are infrequent, a significant portion of this risk is associated with sites contaminated by our earlier practices or by previous owners.

 

Failure to recognize and adequately respond to changing government and public expectations regarding environmental matters could result in fines, regulatory scrutiny or damage to our brand.

 

 

Risk mitigation: Our climate change strategy includes a mitigation component focusing on absolute energy use and carbon dioxide emission (CO2e) equivalent reduction; an adaptation component focusing on business continuity planning and readiness for the potential effects of a changing climate on our operations (see Section 10.11 Human-caused and natural threats); and an innovation component to help customers realize their climate change targets through product and service solutions. Our target is a 25% reduction in CO2e from 2010 levels by 2020 and a 10% reduction in energy use over the same period. We are working to achieve these targets through a comprehensive energy management program focused on real estate transformation and consolidation (including leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) standards certification), as well as network efficiency and technology upgrades. Greater use of videoconferencing and teleconferencing solutions in lieu of travel, decreasing the size and improving the efficiency of our fleet, and educating our team members are also helping us to reach our targets. We have also invested in renewable energy solutions and green building technology, such as

 


 

 

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the innovations implemented at our new LEED platinum-certified TELUS Garden office tower in Vancouver.

 

We have an e-waste management program that specifies approved recycling channels for both our external and internal electronic products. We regularly examine our waste streams to identify new ways of reducing our impact on the environment through the diversion of waste from landfills, and in 2015, we set new corporate waste diversion targets focused on reducing our landfilled waste over the next five years. Our waste and recycling strategy is focused on education and awareness programs, as well as the expansion of recycling infrastructure in our administrative buildings.

 

Fuel system risk is being addressed through a program to install containment and monitoring equipment at sites with systems of qualifying size. All of our remote sites, which rely on diesel generators for 24/7 power, have now been fully upgraded with industry-leading spill containment. We are also leveraging our wireless network and using IoT technology to monitor these sites remotely. We have an ongoing program to assess and remediate contamination issues relating to historical activities and we disclose and report on these issues to regulatory bodies, as appropriate.

 

 

 

10.11 Human-caused and natural threats

 

Natural disasters and intentional threats to our infrastructure and business operations

 

We are a key provider of essential telecommunications infrastructure in Canada, and we have business operations located in North America, Central America, Asia and Europe. Our networks, information technology, physical assets, team members, business functions, supply chain and business results may be materially impacted by exogenous threats, including:

 

·           Environment impacts, such as fire, weather-related events, seismic events and other natural disasters

·           Disruptions of critical infrastructure, such as power loss and telecommunications failures

·           Intentional threats such as cyberattacks, labour disputes, theft, vandalism, sabotage, and political and civil unrest

·           Public health threats, such as pandemics.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We have an enterprise-wide business continuity program, which is aligned with our corporate philosophy, that includes: ensuring the safety of our team members, minimizing the impacts of a threat to our facilities and business operations, maintaining service to our customers and keeping our communities connected. These priorities have been demonstrated in a number of disruptive events, such as the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016.

 

Our business continuity program aligns with current standards and business practices, and encompasses mitigation, preparedness, response, recover and ongoing program improvements. The program focuses on mitigating the impacts of a disruption to our facilities, workforce, technology or supply chain. Although we have business continuity planning processes in place, there can be no assurance that specific events or a combination of events will not disrupt our operations or materially affect our financial results.

 

The ongoing optimization of our disaster recovery capability for our IT and telecommunications network assets is a key and continued

 

 

focus for preventing outages and reducing the impact to our critical technology, as well as for driving closer alignment of IT and network recovery capability with business demands. However, while disaster recovery is a focus for TELUS, not all of our systems have recovery and continuity capabilities.

 

Mitigation initiatives to address climate-related threats are also a current focus and include enhanced weather monitoring, improved incident management processes, climate incident playbooks, and a focus on organizational resilience.

 

 

Security

 

We have a number of assets that are subject to intentional threats. These include physical assets that are subject to security risks such as vandalism and/or theft, including (but not limited to) distributive copper cable, corporate stores, network and telephone switch centres, and elements of corporate infrastructure, as well as IT systems and networks that we operate. The latter are subject to cyber attacks, which are intentional attempts to gain unauthorized access to our information systems and networks for unlawful or improper purposes. Cyber attackers may use a range of techniques, from manipulating people to using sophisticated malicious software and hardware on a single or distributed basis. Some cyber attacks use a combination of techniques in their attempt to evade safeguards, such as the firewalls, intrusion prevention systems and antivirus software found in our systems and networks. The risk and consequences of intentional threats to our non-physical assets, including cyber attacks, can surpass physical security risks due to the rapidly evolving scope and sophistication of these threats.

 

A successful disruption of our systems, networks and infrastructure, or those belonging to our suppliers or other companies, may prevent us from providing reliable service, allow for the unauthorized interception, destruction, use or dissemination of our information or our customers’ information, and may prevent us from operating our networks. Such disruption or unauthorized access to information could cause us to lose customers and revenue, incur expenses, suffer reputational and goodwill damages, and could subject us to litigation or governmental investigation and sanction. The costs of such events could include liability for information loss, as well as the costs of repairs to infrastructure and systems and any incentives offered to customers and business partners in order to retain their business. Our insurance may not cover, or fully reimburse us for, these costs and losses.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We have implemented measures and processes that mitigate the risk of intentional threats and disruptive events. We have security policies, controls and monitoring systems in place that consider factors such as asset importance, protection of our team members, exposure risks and potential costs incurred should a particular asset be damaged or stolen. We use technical capabilities, including cyber threat intelligence, testing, intrusion prevention/detection and incident response capabilities to help identify and respond to possible cyber threats, and adjust our security measures accordingly. The security team centralizes responsibility for physical and cybersecurity, works with law enforcement and other agencies, and advocates for legislative changes that address the ongoing threat of cyber attacks. While TELUS has reasonable physical security and cybersecurity programs in place, there can be no assurance that specific security incidents will not materially affect our operations and financial results.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 103


 


10.12 Economic growth and fluctuations

 

Slow or uneven economic growth and low oil prices may adversely affect us

 

We estimate economic growth in Canada will be approximately 1.8% in 2017 (see Economic growth in Section 1.2), but this growth may be influenced by developments outside of Canada. In addition, macro-economic risks in Canada include concerns about low oil prices and high levels of consumer and mortgage debt, which may cause consumers to reduce discretionary spending, even in a growing economy.

Economic uncertainty may cause consumers and business customers to delay new service purchases, reduce volumes of use, discontinue use of services or seek lower-priced alternatives from TELUS or from competitors. Ongoing weakness in the extractive energy sector has had a significant impact on Western Canada, including lower levels of investment and employment. This may be partially mitigated by declining costs in non-extractive industries, such as manufacturing, which may experience growth if the U.S. dollar strengthens. The prolonged economic downturn in Western Canada is expected to improve marginally, with recent economic forecasts pointing to mildly positive growth in 2017. However, continued weakness in the economy of Western Canada, particularly if energy prices remain low, could adversely impact our customer growth, revenue, profitability and free cash flow, and could potentially require us to record impairments to the carrying value of our assets, including, but not limited to, our intangible assets with indefinite lives (spectrum licences and goodwill). Impairments to the carrying value of our assets would result in a charge to earnings and a reduction in owners’ equity, but would not affect cash flow.

In 2016, the Canadian dollar exchange rate with the U.S. dollar was volatile. Persistently lower oil prices and changes the new U.S. presidential administration may enact, as well as certain U.S. monetary policy changes, may put further downward pressure on the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar in 2017. Certain of our revenues, capital asset acquisitions and operating costs are denominated in U.S. dollars. Therefore, a continuing weakness in the Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate may negatively impact our financial and operating results. Additionally, certain capital asset acquisitions and inventory purchases from outside Canada, although priced in Canadian dollars, may be negatively impacted by a continuing weakness in the Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate.

 

 

Risk mitigation: While economic risks cannot be completely mitigated, our top priority is putting customers first and pursuing global leadership in the likelihood of our clients to recommend our products, services and people. We will also support customers negatively affected by lower oil prices with cost-effective solutions that help them realize efficiencies in their operations, and we will continue to pursue cost reduction and efficiency initiatives in our own business (see discussions in Section 2.2 Strategic imperatives, and Section 3 Corporate priorities). See Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources for our capital structure financial policies and plans. Our foreign currency exchange risk management includes the use of foreign currency forward contracts and currency options to fix the exchange rates on U.S. dollar-denominated transactions, commitments, commercial paper and U.S. Dollar Notes, but does not eliminate this risk entirely.

 

 

 

Pension funding

 

Economic and capital market fluctuations could adversely affect the investment performance, funding and expense associated with the defined benefit pension plans that we sponsor. Our pension funding obligations are based on certain actuarial assumptions relating to expected plan asset returns, salary escalation, retirement ages, life expectancy, the performance of the financial markets and future interest rates.

The employee defined benefit pension plans, in aggregate, were in a $79 million deficit position at December 31, 2016 (2015 – $53 million deficit position). Our solvency position, as determined under the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, was estimated to be a surplus of $294 million (2015 – deficit of $92 million). There can be no assurance that our pension expense and funding of our defined benefit pension plans will not increase in the future and thereby negatively impact earnings and/or cash flow. Defined benefit funding risks may arise if total pension liabilities exceed the total value of the respective plan assets in trust funds. Unfunded differences may arise from lower than expected investment returns, changes to mortality and other assumptions, reductions in the discount rate used to value pension liabilities, changes to statutory funding requirements and actuarial losses. While employee defined benefit pension plan re-measurements will cause fluctuations in other comprehensive income, these re-measurements will never be subsequently reclassified to income.

 

 

Risk mitigation: We seek to mitigate this risk through the application of policies and procedures designed to control investment risk and through ongoing monitoring of our funding position. Our best estimate of cash contributions to our defined benefit pension plans is $65 million in 2017 ($70 million in 2016).

 

 


 

 

104 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: DEFINITIONS AND RECONCILIATIONS

 

 

 

 

Definitions and reconciliations

 

 

 

 


11.1 Non-GAAP and other financial measures

 

We have issued guidance on and report certain non-GAAP measures that are used to evaluate the performance of TELUS, as well as to determine compliance with debt covenants and to manage our capital structure. As non-GAAP measures generally do not have a standardized meaning, they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Securities regulations require such measures to be clearly defined, qualified and reconciled with their nearest GAAP measure.

 

Adjusted Net income and adjusted basic earnings per share:

 

These measures are used to evaluate performance at a consolidated level and exclude items that may obscure the underlying trends in business performance. These measures should not be considered alternatives to Net income and basic earnings per share in measuring TELUS’ performance. Items that may, in management’s view, obscure the underlying trends in business performance include significant gains or losses associated with real estate redevelopment partnerships, gains on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences, restructuring and other costs, long-term debt prepayment premiums (when applicable), income tax-related adjustments and asset retirements related to restructuring activities. (See Analysis of Net income and Analysis of basic EPS in Section 1.3).

 

Capital intensity: This measure is calculated as capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences) divided by total operating revenues. This measure provides a basis for comparing the level of capital expenditures to those of other companies of varying size within the same industry.

 

Dividend payout ratio: This is a historical measure calculated as the sum of the last four quarterly dividends declared per Common Share, as reported in the Consolidated financial statements, divided by the sum of basic earnings per share for the most recent four quarters for interim reporting periods. For fiscal years, the denominator is annual basic earnings per share. Our policy guideline for the annual dividend payout ratio is on a prospective basis, rather than on a trailing basis, and is 65 to 75% of sustainable earnings per share on a prospective basis. (See Section 7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.)

 

Calculation of Dividend payout ratio

 

Years ended December 31 ($)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Numerator – sum of the last four quarterly dividends declared per Common Share

 

1.84

 

1.68

 

Denominator – Net income per Common Share

 

2.06

 

2.29

 

Ratio (%)

 

89

 

73

 

 

Dividend payout ratio of adjusted net earnings: This ratio is a historical measure calculated as the sum of the last four quarterly dividends declared per Common Share, as reported in the financial statements, divided by adjusted net earnings per share. Adjusted net earnings per share is basic earnings per share, as used in the Dividend payout ratio, adjusted to exclude the gain on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences, net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments, business acquisition-related provisions, immediately vesting transformative compensation (transformative compensation) expense, long-term debt prepayment premium (when applicable) and income tax-related adjustments.

 

Calculation of Dividend payout ratio of adjusted net earnings

 

Years ended December 31 ($)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Numerator – sum of the last four quarterly dividends declared per Common Share

 

1.84

 

1.68

 

Adjusted net earnings ($ millions):

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Common Shares

 

1,223

 

1,382

 

Deduct net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments, after income taxes

 

(16

)

–

 

Deduct gain on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences, after income taxes

 

(13

)

–

 

Add back business acquisition-related provisions, after income taxes

 

15

 

–

 

Add back transformative compensation expense, after income taxes

 

224

 

–

 

Add back net unfavourable (deduct net favourable) income tax-related adjustments

 

(17

)

1

 

 

 

1,416

 

1,383

 

Denominator – Adjusted net earnings per Common Share

 

2.39

 

2.29

 

Adjusted ratio (%)

 

77

 

73

 

 

Earnings coverage: This measure is defined in the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 41-101 and related instruments, and is calculated as follows:

 

Calculation of Earnings coverage

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions, except ratio)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Net income attributable to Common Shares

 

1,223

 

1,382

 

Income taxes (attributable to Common Shares)

 

423

 

524

 

Borrowing costs (attributable to Common Shares)1

 

540

 

503

 

Numerator

 

2,186

 

2,409

 

Denominator – Borrowing costs

 

540

 

503

 

Ratio (times)

 

4.0

 

4.8

 

 

1           Interest on Long-term debt plus Interest on short-term borrowings and other plus long-term debt prepayment premium, adding back capitalized interest and deducting borrowing costs attributable to non-controlling interests.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 105


 


EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization): We have issued guidance on and report EBITDA because it is a key measure used to evaluate performance at a consolidated level and segment contribution. EBITDA is commonly reported and widely used by investors and lending institutions as an indicator of a company’s operating performance and ability to incur and service debt, and as a valuation metric. EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to Net income in measuring TELUS’ performance, nor should it be used as an exclusive measure of cash flow. EBITDA as calculated by TELUS is equivalent to Operating revenues less the total of Goods and services purchased expense and Employee benefits expense.

We calculate EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs, as it is a component of the EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage ratio and the Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio.

We may also calculate an adjusted EBITDA to exclude items of an unusual nature that do not reflect our ongoing operations and should not, in our opinion, be considered in a valuation metric, or should not be included in an assessment of our ability to service or incur debt.

 

EBITDA reconciliation

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Net income

 

1,236

 

1,382

 

Financing costs

 

520

 

447

 

Income taxes

 

426

 

524

 

Depreciation

 

1,564

 

1,475

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

483

 

434

 

EBITDA

 

4,229

 

4,262

 

Restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA1

 

479

 

226

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs

 

4,708

 

4,488

 

Deduct gain on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences

 

(15

)

–

 

Deduct net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments

 

(26

)

–

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

4,667

 

4,488

 

 

1           Includes transformative compensation expense of $305 million recorded in other costs in the fourth quarter of 2016.

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage: This measure is defined as EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs, divided by Net interest cost, calculated on a 12-month trailing basis. This measure is similar to the coverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities, as described in Section 7.6 Credit facilities).

 

Free cash flow: We report this measure as a supplementary indicator of our operating performance. It should not be considered an alternative to the measures in the Consolidated statements of cash flows. Free cash flow excludes certain working capital changes (such as trade receivables and trade payables), proceeds from divested assets and other sources and uses of cash, as found in the Consolidated statements of cash flows. It provides an indication of how much cash generated by operations is available after capital expenditures (excluding purchases of spectrum licences) that may be used to, among other things, pay dividends, repay debt, purchase shares or make other investments. Free cash flow may be supplemented from time to time by proceeds from divested assets or financing activities.

 

Free cash flow calculation

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

EBITDA

 

4,229

 

4,262

 

Deduct gain on the exchange of wireless spectrum licences

 

(15

)

–

 

Deduct net gains and equity income from real estate joint venture developments

 

(26

)

–

 

Deduct non-cash gains from the sale of property, plant and equipment

 

(17

)

–

 

Restructuring and other costs, net of disbursements

 

24

 

97

 

Items from the Consolidated statements of cash flows:

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation

 

(2

)

(38

)

Net employee defined benefit plans expense

 

93

 

118

 

Employer contributions to employee defined benefit plans

 

(71

)

(94

)

Interest paid

 

(510

)

(458

)

Interest received

 

4

 

24

 

Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences)

 

(2,968

)

(2,577

)

Free cash flow before income taxes

 

741

 

1,334

 

Income taxes paid, net of refunds

 

(600

)

(256

)

Free cash flow

 

141

 

1,078

 

 

The following reconciles our definition of free cash flow with cash provided by operating activities.

 

Free cash flow reconciliation with Cash provided by operating activities

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Free cash flow

 

141

 

1,078

 

Add (deduct):

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures (excluding spectrum licences)

 

2,968

 

2,577

 

Adjustments to reconcile to Cash provided by operating activities

 

110

 

(99

)

Cash provided by operating activities

 

3,219

 

3,556

 

 

Net debt: We believe that net debt is a useful measure because it represents the amount of Short-term borrowings and long-term debt obligations that are not covered by available Cash and temporary investments. The nearest IFRS measure to net debt is Long-term debt, including Current maturities of Long-term debt. Net debt is a component of the Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio.

 

Calculation of Net debt

 

As at December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Long-term debt including current maturities

 

12,931

 

12,038

 

Debt issuance costs netted against long-term debt

 

67

 

52

 

Derivative liabilities (assets), net

 

20

 

(14

)

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)

 

(34

)

–

 

Cash and temporary investments

 

(432

)

(223

)

Short-term borrowings

 

100

 

100

 

Net debt

 

12,652

 

11,953

 

 

 

106 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

MD&A: DEFINITIONS AND RECONCILIATIONS

 

 


Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs:

 

This measure is defined as net debt at the end of the period divided by 12-month trailing EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. Our long-term policy guideline for this ratio is from 2.00 to 2.50 times. (See discussion in Section 7. 5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.) This measure is similar to the leverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities, as described in Section 7. 6 Credit facilities.

 

Net interest cost: This measure is the denominator in the calculation of EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage. Net interest cost is defined as financing costs, excluding capitalized long-term debt interest, employee defined benefit plans net interest and recoveries on redemption and repayment of debt, calculated on a 12-month trailing basis. No recoveries on redemption and repayment of debt were recorded in 2016 and 2015. Expenses recorded for the long-term debt prepayment premium, if any, are included in net interest cost. Net interest cost was $566 million in 2016 and $465 million in 2015.

 

Restructuring and other costs: With the objective of reducing ongoing costs, we incur associated incremental, non-recurring restructuring costs. We may also incur atypical charges when undertaking major or transformational changes to our business or operating models. We also include incremental external costs incurred in connection with business acquisition or disposition activity, as well as litigation costs, in the context of significant losses and settlements, in other costs.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, we made transformative compensation lump-sum payments to substantially all of our existing unionized and non-unionized Canadian-situated workforces recorded in other costs. For the unionized and non-unionized workforces, approximately 40% of the after-tax value of such qualifying lump-sum payments was paid in our Common Shares by way of an employee benefit trust.

 

Components of restructuring and other costs

 

Years ended December 31 ($ millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Goods and services purchased

 

62

 

70

 

Employee benefits expense1

 

417

 

156

 

Restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA

 

479

 

226

 

 

1           Includes transformative compensation expense of $305 million recorded in other costs in the fourth quarter of 2016.

 

11.2 Operating indicators

The following measures are industry metrics that are useful in assessing the operating performance of a wireless and wireline telecommunications entity, but do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS-IASB.

 

Average revenue per subscriber unit per month (ARPU) for wireless subscribers is calculated as network revenue divided by the average number of subscriber units on the network during the period and is expressed as a rate per month.

 

Churn per month (or churn) is calculated as the number of subscriber units deactivated during a given period divided by the average number of subscriber units on the network during the period and is expressed as a rate per month. A TELUS, Koodo or Public Mobile brand prepaid wireless subscriber is deactivated when the subscriber has no usage for 90 days following expiry of the prepaid credits.

 

Cost of acquisition (COA) consists of the total of the device subsidy (the device cost to TELUS less the initial charge to the customer), commissions, and advertising and promotion expenses related to the initial subscriber acquisition during a given period. As defined, COA excludes costs to retain existing subscribers (retention spend).

 

COA per gross subscriber addition is calculated as the cost of acquisition divided by the gross subscriber activations during the period.

 

Retention spend to network revenue represents direct costs associated with marketing and promotional efforts (including device subsidies and commissions) aimed at the retention of the existing subscriber base, divided by network revenue.

 

Wireless subscriber unit (subscriber) is defined as an active mobile recurring revenue-generating unit (e.g. mobile phone, tablet or mobile Internet key) with a unique subscriber identifier (SIM or IMEI number). In addition, TELUS has a direct billing or support relationship with the user of each device. Subscriber units exclude machine-to-machine (M2M) devices (a subset of the Internet of Things), such as those used for asset tracking, remote control monitoring and meter readings, vending machines and wireless automated teller machines.

 

Wireline subscriber connection is defined as an active recurring revenue-generating unit that has access to stand-alone services, including fixed Internet access, TELUS TV and residential network access lines (NALs). In addition, TELUS has a direct billing or support relationship with the user of each service. Reported subscriber units exclude business NALs as the impact of migrating from voice lines to IP services has led to business NAL losses without a similar decline in revenue, thus diminishing its relevance as a key performance indicator.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 107


 

Report of management on internal control over financial reporting

 

 


Management of TELUS Corporation (TELUS, or the Company) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

TELUS’ President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer have assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, in accordance with the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer and effected by the Board of Directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Due to its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Based on the assessment referenced in the preceding paragraph, management has determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2016. In connection with this assessment, no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting were identified by management as of December 31, 2016.

Deloitte LLP, an Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, audited the Company’s Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, and as stated in the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, they have expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

Doug French

Darren Entwistle

Executive Vice-President

President

and Chief Financial Officer

and Chief Executive Officer

February 9, 2017

February 9, 2017

 

 

108 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

 

 


To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of TELUS Corporation

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of TELUS Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company), which comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income, consolidated statements of changes in owners’ equity and consolidated statements of cash flows for the years then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

 

Management’s Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Auditors’ Responsibility

 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the

 

consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained in our audits is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

 

Opinion

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of TELUS Corporation and subsidiaries as at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and their financial performance and their cash flows for the years then ended, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

Other Matter

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2016, based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 9, 2017, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

 

Deloitte LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants

Vancouver, Canada

February 9, 2017

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 109


 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

 

 


To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of TELUS Corporation

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of TELUS Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2016, based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary

 

to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2016, of the Company and our report dated February 9, 2017, expressed an unmodified/unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

 

 

 

Deloitte LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants

Vancouver, Canada

February 9, 2017

 

 

110 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income

 

 

Years ended December 31 (millions except per share amounts)

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service

 

 

 

$ 12,000

 

$ 11,590

 

Equipment

 

 

 

725

 

840

 

Revenues arising from contracts with customers

 

 

 

12,725

 

12,430

 

Other operating income

 

6

 

74

 

72

 

 

 

 

 

12,799

 

12,502

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goods and services purchased

 

 

 

5,631

 

5,532

 

Employee benefits expense

 

7

 

2,939

 

2,708

 

Depreciation

 

17

 

1,564

 

1,475

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

18

 

483

 

434

 

 

 

 

 

10,617

 

10,149

 

Operating Income

 

 

 

2,182

 

2,353

 

Financing costs

 

8

 

520

 

447

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

 

 

1,662

 

1,906

 

Income taxes

 

9

 

426

 

524

 

Net Income

 

 

 

1,236

 

1,382

 

Other Comprehensive Income

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

Items that may subsequently be reclassified to income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges

 

 

 

(20

)

(4

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment arising from translating financial statements of foreign operations

 

 

 

5

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

(15

)

21

 

Item never subsequently reclassified to income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee defined benefit plan re-measurements

 

 

 

–

 

445

 

 

 

 

 

(15

)

466

 

Comprehensive Income

 

 

 

$  1,221

 

$  1,848

 

Net Income Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

 

 

$  1,223

 

$  1,382

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

13

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,236

 

$  1,382

 

Comprehensive Income Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

 

 

$  1,206

 

$  1,848

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

15

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,221

 

$  1,848

 

Net Income Per Common Share

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

 

$    2.06

 

$    2.29

 

Diluted

 

 

 

$    2.06

 

$    2.29

 

Total Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

 

592

 

603

 

Diluted

 

 

 

593

 

604

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 111


 

Consolidated statements of financial position

 

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and temporary investments, net

 

 

 

$      432

 

$      223

 

Accounts receivable

 

16

 

1,471

 

1,428

 

Income and other taxes receivable

 

 

 

9

 

1

 

Inventories

 

1(p)

 

318

 

360

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

 

233

 

213

 

Real estate joint venture advances

 

21(c)

 

–

 

66

 

Current derivative assets

 

4(h)

 

11

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

2,474

 

2,331

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

17

 

10,464

 

9,736

 

Intangible assets, net

 

18

 

10,364

 

9,985

 

Goodwill, net

 

18

 

3,787

 

3,761

 

Other long-term assets

 

20

 

640

 

593

 

 

 

 

 

25,255

 

24,075

 

 

 

 

 

$ 27,729

 

$ 26,406

 

Liabilities and Owners’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

22

 

$      100

 

$      100

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

23

 

2,330

 

1,990

 

Income and other taxes payable

 

 

 

37

 

108

 

Dividends payable

 

12

 

284

 

263

 

Advance billings and customer deposits

 

24

 

737

 

760

 

Provisions

 

25

 

124

 

197

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

26

 

1,327

 

856

 

Current derivative liabilities

 

4(h)

 

12

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

4,951

 

4,276

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provisions

 

25

 

395

 

433

 

Long-term debt

 

26

 

11,604

 

11,182

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

27

 

736

 

688

 

Deferred income taxes

 

9(b)

 

2,107

 

2,155

 

 

 

 

 

14,842

 

14,458

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

19,793

 

18,734

 

Owners’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common equity

 

28

 

7,917

 

7,672

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

19

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

7,936

 

7,672

 

 

 

 

 

$ 27,729

 

$ 26,406

 

Contingent Liabilities

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

Approved by the Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

William A. MacKinnon

R.H. Auchinleck

Director

Director

 

 

112 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Consolidated statements of changes in owners’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity contributed

 

 

 

Accumulated
other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares (Note 28)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Share

 

Contributed

 

Retained

 

comprehensive

 

 

 

controlling

 

 

 

(millions)

Note

 

shares

 

capital

 

surplus

 

earnings

 

income

 

Total

 

interest

 

Total

 

Balance as at January 1, 2015

 

 

609

 

$ 5,175

 

$ 141

 

$ 2,100

 

$ 38

 

$ 7,454

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

1,382

 

–

 

1,382

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

10

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

445

 

21

 

466

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends

12

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

(1,011

)

–

 

(1,011

)

 

 

 

 

Share option award expense

13(a)

 

–

 

–

 

1

 

–

 

–

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

Share option award net-equity settlement feature

13(d)

 

1

 

7

 

(7

)

–

 

–

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

Normal course issuer bid purchase of Common Shares

 

 

(16

)

(133

)

–

 

(502

)

–

 

(635

)

 

 

 

 

Liability for automatic share purchase plan commitment pursuant to normal course issuer bids for Common Shares

28(b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reversal of opening liability

 

 

–

 

15

 

–

 

60

 

–

 

75

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of closing liability

 

 

–

 

(14

)

–

 

(46

)

–

 

(60

)

 

 

 

 

Balance as at December 31, 2015

 

 

594

 

$ 5,050

 

$ 135

 

$ 2,428

 

$ 59

 

$ 7,672

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at January 1, 2016

 

 

594

 

$ 5,050

 

$ 135

 

$ 2,428

 

$ 59

 

$ 7,672

 

$    –

 

$ 7,672

 

Net income

 

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

1,223

 

–

 

1,223

 

13

 

1,236

 

Other comprehensive income

10

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

(17

)

(17

)

2

 

(15

)

Dividends

12

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

(1,091

)

–

 

(1,091

)

–

 

(1,091

)

Treasury shares acquired

13(a), 28(b)

 

(1

)

(45

)

–

 

–

 

–

 

(45

)

–

 

(45

)

Shares settled from Treasury

13(a), 28(b)

 

1

 

44

 

–

 

(3

)

–

 

41

 

–

 

41

 

Share option award net-equity settlement feature

13(d)

 

–

 

2

 

(2

)

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

Normal course issuer bid purchase of Common Shares

 

 

(4

)

(36

)

–

 

(129

)

–

 

(165

)

–

 

(165

)

Reversal of opening liability for automatic share purchase plan commitment pursuant to normal course issuer bids for Common Shares

28(b)

 

–

 

14

 

–

 

46

 

–

 

60

 

–

 

60

 

Change in ownership interests of subsidiary

1(a), 31(b)

 

–

 

–

 

239

 

–

 

–

 

239

 

4

 

243

 

Balance as at December 31, 2016

 

 

590

 

$ 5,029

 

$ 372

 

$ 2,474

 

$ 42

 

$ 7,917

 

$ 19

 

$ 7,936

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 113


 

Consolidated statements of cash flows

 

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

$ 1,236

 

$ 1,382

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

2,047

 

1,909

 

Deferred income taxes

 

9

 

(42

)

68

 

Share-based compensation expense, net

 

13(a)

 

(2

)

(38

)

Net employee defined benefit plans expense

 

14(b),(g)

 

93

 

118

 

Employer contributions to employee defined benefit plans

 

 

 

(71

)

(94

)

Other

 

 

 

29

 

(3

)

Net change in non-cash operating working capital

 

31(a)

 

(71

)

214

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

3,219

 

3,556

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences

 

31(a)

 

(2,752

)

(2,522

)

Cash payments for spectrum licences

 

 

 

(145

)

(2,048

)

Cash payments for acquisitions

 

 

 

(90

)

(10

)

Real estate joint ventures advances and contributions

 

21(c)

 

(33

)

(50

)

Real estate joint venture receipts

 

21(c)

 

103

 

98

 

Proceeds on dispositions

 

 

 

3

 

52

 

Other

 

 

 

(9

)

3

 

Cash used by investing activities

 

 

 

(2,923

)

(4,477

)

Financing Activities

 

31(b)

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends paid to holders of Common Shares

 

12(a)

 

(1,070

)

(992

)

Purchase of Common Shares for cancellation

 

28(b)

 

(179

)

(628

)

Long-term debt issued

 

26

 

5,726

 

8,973

 

Redemptions and repayment of long-term debt

 

26

 

(4,843

)

(6,254

)

Issue of shares by subsidiary to non-controlling interest

 

1(a)

 

294

 

–

 

Other

 

 

 

(15

)

(15

)

Cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

 

 

(87

)

1,084

 

Cash Position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in cash and temporary investments, net

 

 

 

209

 

163

 

Cash and temporary investments, net, beginning of period

 

 

 

223

 

60

 

Cash and temporary investments, net, end of period

 

 

 

$    432

 

$    223

 

Supplemental Disclosure of Operating Cash Flows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

 

 

$   (510

)

$   (458

)

Interest received

 

 

 

$        4

 

$      24

 

Income taxes paid, net

 

 

 

$   (600

)

$   (256

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

114 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Notes to consolidated financial statements

 


December 31, 2016

 

TELUS Corporation is one of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies, providing a wide range of telecommunications services and products, including wireless and wireline voice and data. Data services include: Internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology and cloud-based services; healthcare solutions; and business process outsourcing.

TELUS Corporation was incorporated under the Company Act (British Columbia) on October 26, 1998, under the name BCT.TELUS Communications Inc. (BCT). On January 31, 1999, pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act among BCT, BC TELECOM Inc. and the former Alberta-based TELUS Corporation (TC), BCT acquired all of the shares of BC TELECOM Inc. and TC in exchange for Common Shares and Non-Voting Shares of BCT, and BC TELECOM Inc. was dissolved. On May 3, 2000, BCT changed its name to TELUS Corporation and in February 2005, TELUS Corporation transitioned under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), successor to the Company Act (British Columbia). TELUS Corporation maintains its registered office at Floor 7, 510 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 0M3.

The terms “TELUS”, “we”, “us”, “our” or “ourselves” are used to refer to TELUS Corporation and, where the context of the narrative permits or requires, its subsidiaries.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

Page

GENERAL APPLICATION

 

1.

Summary of significant accounting policies

116

2.

Accounting policy developments

123

3.

Capital structure financial policies

126

4.

Financial instruments

128

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOCUSED

 

5.

Segment information

134

6.

Other operating income

136

7.

Employee benefits expense

136

8.

Financing costs

137

9.

Income taxes

137

10.

Other comprehensive income

139

11.

Per share amounts

140

12.

Dividends per share

140

13.

Share-based compensation

141

14.

Employee future benefits

144

15.

Restructuring and other costs

150

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL POSITION FOCUSED

 

16.

Accounts receivable

150

17.

Property, plant and equipment

151

18.

Intangible assets and goodwill

152

19.

Leases

154

20.

Other long-term assets

155

21.

Real estate joint ventures

155

22.

Short-term borrowings

157

23.

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

157

24.

Advance billings and customer deposits

157

25.

Provisions

158

26.

Long-term debt

159

27.

Other long-term liabilities

161

28.

Common Share capital

161

29.

Contingent liabilities

162

OTHER

 

30.

Related party transactions

165

31.

Additional statement of cash flow information

166

 


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 115


 

 

Summary of significant accounting policies

 

 


Our consolidated financial statements are expressed in Canadian dollars. The generally accepted accounting principles that we use are International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IFRS-IASB) and Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. The date of our transition to IFRS-IASB was January 1, 2010, and the date of our adoption was January 1, 2011.

Generally accepted accounting principles require that we disclose the accounting policies we have selected in those instances where we have been obligated to choose from among various accounting policies that comply with generally accepted accounting principles. In certain other instances, including those in which no selection among policies is allowed, we are also required to disclose how we have applied certain accounting policies. In the selection and application of accounting policies we consider, among other factors, the fundamental qualitative characteristics of useful financial information, namely relevance and faithful representation. In our assessment, our required accounting policy disclosures are not all equally significant for us, as set out in the accompanying table; their relative significance to us will evolve over time as we do.

These consolidated financial statements for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, were authorized by our Board of Directors for issue on February 9, 2017.

 

 

Accounting policy

 

 

requiring a more significant

 

 

choice among policies

 

 

and/or a more significant

 

 

application of judgment

Accounting policy

Yes

No

GENERAL APPLICATION

 

 

(a)

Consolidation

 

X

(b)

Use of estimates and judgments

X

 

(c)

Financial instruments –

 

 

 

recognition and measurement

 

X

(d)

Hedge accounting

 

X

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOCUSED

 

 

(e)

Revenue recognition

X

 

(f)

Government assistance

 

X

(g)

Cost of acquisition and advertising costs

 

X

(h)

Research and development

 

X

(i)

Depreciation, amortization and impairment

X

 

(j)

Translation of foreign currencies

 

X

(k)

Income and other taxes

X

 

(l)

Share-based compensation

 

X

(m)

Employee future benefit plans

X

 

FINANCIAL POSITION FOCUSED

 

 

(n)

Cash and temporary investments, net

 

X

(o)

Sales of trade receivables

 

X

(p)

Inventories

 

X

(q)

Property, plant and equipment;

 

 

 

intangible assets

X

 

(r)

Leases

 

X

(s)

Investments

 

X

 

(a) Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of all of our subsidiaries, the principal one of which is TELUS Communications Inc., in which we have a 100% equity interest. Currently, through a 100% interest in both the TELUS Communications Company partnership and the TELE-MOBILE COMPANY partnership, TELUS Communications Inc. includes substantially all of our wireless and wireline operations.

Our financing arrangements and those of our wholly owned subsidiaries do not impose restrictions on inter-corporate dividends.

On a continuing basis, we review our corporate organization and effect changes as appropriate so as to enhance the value of TELUS Corporation. This process can, and does, affect which of our subsidiaries are considered principal subsidiaries at any particular point in time.


 

 

116 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 1

 

 


During the three-month period ended June 30, 2016, there was a change in our ownership interests in our TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subsidiary, which encompasses our TELUS International operations, from the issuing of shares to Baring Private Equity Asia for approximately $302 million, exclusive of net transaction costs. We continue to control and consolidate this subsidiary, and the shares it issued to Baring Private Equity Asia are accounted for as a 35% non-controlling interest.

Associated with this transaction, an amount equal to 35% of the net book value of the subsidiary has been credited to non-controlling interest in our Consolidated statement of changes in owners’ equity, and the net balance of the proceeds has been credited to contributed surplus. In connection with the issuance of shares to Baring Private Equity Asia, we have also arranged bank financing in the subsidiary company, as set out in Note 26(f).


 

(b) Use of estimates and judgments

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect: the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Estimates

Examples of the significant estimates and assumptions that we make, and their relative significance and degree of difficulty, are set out below.

 

 


Judgments

Examples of our significant judgments, apart from those involving estimation, include the following:

·           Assessments about whether line items are sufficiently material to warrant separate presentation in the primary financial statements and, if not, whether they are sufficiently material to warrant separate presentation in the notes to the financial statements. In the normal course, we make changes to our assessments regarding materiality for presentation so that they reflect current economic conditions. Due consideration is given to the view that it is reasonable to expect differing opinions of what is, and is not, material.

·           In respect of revenue-generating transactions, we must make judgments that affect the timing of the recognition of revenue. See Note 2(b) for significant changes to IFRS-IASB which are not yet effective and have not yet been applied, but which will significantly affect the timing of the recognition of revenue and the classification of our revenues presented as either service or equipment revenues.

·           We must make judgments about when we have satisfied our performance obligations to our customers, satisfied either over a period of time or at a point in time. Service revenues

are recognized based upon customers’ access to, or usage of, our telecommunications infrastructure; we believe this method faithfully depicts the transfer of the services, and thus the revenues are recognized as the services are made available and/or rendered. We consider our performance obligations arising from the sale of equipment to have been satisfied when the equipment has been delivered to, and accepted by, the end-user customers (see (e) following).

·           Principally in the context of revenue-generating transactions involving wireless handsets, we must make judgments about whether third-party re-sellers that deliver equipment to our customers are acting in the transaction as principals or as our agents. Upon due consideration of the relevant indicators, we believe the decision to consider the re-sellers to be acting, solely for accounting purposes, as our agents is more representative of the economic substance of the transactions, as we are the primary obligor to the end-user customers. The effect of this judgment is that no equipment revenue is recognized upon the transfer of inventory to third-party re-sellers.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 117


 


·           The decision to depreciate and amortize any property, plant, equipment and intangible assets that are subject to amortization on a straight-line basis, as we believe that this method reflects the consumption of resources related to the economic lifespan of those assets better than an accelerated method and is more representative of the economic substance of the underlying use of those assets.

·           The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make judgments that affect the financial statement disclosure of information regularly reviewed by our chief operating decision-maker used to make resource allocation decisions and to assess performance (segment information, Note 5). A significant judgment we make is in respect of distinguishing between our wireless and wireline operations and cash flows, such distinction having been significantly affected by the convergence and integration of our wireless and wireline telecommunications infrastructure technology and operations.

Through December 31, 2015, our judgment was that our wireless and wireline telecommunications infrastructure technology and operations had not experienced sufficient convergence to objectively make their respective operations and cash flows practically indistinguishable. The continued build-out of our technology-agnostic fibre-optic infrastructure, in combination with converged edge network technology, has significantly affected this judgment, as has the commercialization of fixed-wireless solutions.

It has become increasingly impractical to objectively distinguish between our wireless and wireline operations and cash flows, and the assets from which those cash flows arise. Our judgment as to whether these operations can continue to be judged to be individual components of the business and discrete operating segments may change in the future.

The increasing impracticality of objectively distinguishing between our wireless and wireline cash flows, and the assets from which those cash flows arise, is evidence of their increasing interdependence; this may result in the unification of the wireless cash-generating unit and the wireline cash-generating unit as a single cash-generating unit for impairment testing purposes in the future.

·           The view that our spectrum licences granted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada will likely be renewed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; that we intend to renew them; that we believe we have the financial and operational ability to renew them; and thus, they have an indefinite life, as discussed further in Note 18(b).

·           In connection with the annual impairment testing of intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill, there are instances in which we must exercise judgment in allocating our net assets, including shared corporate and administrative assets, to our cash-generating units when determining their carrying amounts. These judgments are necessary because of the convergence our wireless and wireline telecommunications infrastructure technology and operations have experienced to date, and because of our continuous development. There are instances in which similar judgments must also be made in respect of future capital expenditures in support of both wireless and wireline operations, which are a component of the determination of recoverable amounts used in the annual impairment testing, as discussed further in Note 18(c).

·           In respect of claims and lawsuits, as discussed further in Note 29(a), the determination of whether an item is a contingent liability or whether an outflow of resources is probable and thus needs to be accounted for as a provision.


 

(c) Financial instruments – recognition and measurement

In respect of the recognition and measurement of financial instruments, we have adopted the following policies:

 

 

Accounting classification

 

Fair value

 

 

Other

Part of a cash

 

through net

Loans and

Available-

financial

flow hedging

Financial instrument

income1,2

receivables

for-sale3

liabilities

relationship3

Measured at amortized cost

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

X

 

 

 

Construction credit facilities advances to real estate joint ventures

 

X

 

 

 

Short-term obligations

 

 

 

X

 

Accounts payable

 

 

 

X

 

Provisions

 

 

 

X

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

X

 

Measured at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and temporary investments

X

 

 

 

 

Long-term investments (not subject to significant influence)4

 

 

X

 

 

Foreign exchange derivatives

X

 

 

 

X

Share-based compensation derivatives

X

 

 

 

X

1           Classification includes financial instruments held for trading. Certain qualifying financial instruments that are not required to be classified as held for trading may be classified as held for trading if we so choose.

2           Unrealized changes in the fair values of financial instruments are included in net income.

3           Unrealized changes in the fair values of financial instruments classified as available-for-sale, or the effective portion of unrealized changes in the fair values of financial instruments held for hedging, are included in other comprehensive income.

4           Long-term investments over which we do not have significant influence are classified as available-for-sale. In respect of investments in securities for which the fair values can be reliably measured, we determine the classification on an instrument-by-instrument basis at the time of initial recognition.

 

 

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 1

 

 


·           Trade receivables that may be sold to an arm’s-length securitization trust are accounted for as loans and receivables. We have selected this classification as the benefits of selecting the available-for-sale classification were not expected to exceed the costs of selecting and implementing that classification.

·           Long-term investments over which we do not have significant influence are accounted for as available-for-sale. We have selected this classification as we believe that it better reflects management’s investment intentions.

·           Derivatives that are part of an established and documented cash flow hedging relationship are accounted for as held for hedging. We believe that classification as held for hedging results in a better matching of the change in the fair value of the derivative financial instrument with the risk exposure being hedged.

In respect of hedges of anticipated transactions, which for us may include those related to inventory purchase commitments, hedge gains/losses are included in the cost of the inventory and are expensed when the inventory is sold. We have selected this method as we believe that it results in a better matching of the hedge gains/losses with the risk exposure being hedged.

Derivatives that are not part of a documented cash flow hedging relationship are accounted for as held for trading and thus are measured at fair value through net income.

·           Regular-way purchases or sales of financial assets or financial liabilities (purchases or sales that require actual delivery of financial assets or financial liabilities) are recognized on the settlement date. We have selected this method as the benefits of using the trade date method were not expected to exceed the costs of selecting and implementing that method.

·           Transaction costs, other than in respect of items held for trading, are added to the initial fair value of the acquired financial asset or financial liability. We have selected this method as we believe that it results in a better matching of the transaction costs with the periods in which we benefit from the transaction costs.

 

(d) Hedge accounting

 

General

We apply hedge accounting to the financial instruments used to: establish designated currency hedging relationships for certain U.S. dollar-denominated future purchase commitments and debt repayments, as set out in Note 4(d); and fix the compensation cost arising from specific grants of restricted stock units, as set out in Note 4(f) and further discussed in Note 13(b).

 

Hedge accounting

The purpose of hedge accounting, in respect of our designated hedging relationships, is to ensure that counterbalancing gains and losses are recognized in the same periods. We have chosen to apply hedge accounting as we believe this is more representative of the economic substance of the underlying transactions.

In order to apply hedge accounting, a high correlation (which indicates effectiveness) is required in the offsetting changes in the values of the financial instruments (the hedging items) used to establish the designated hedging relationships and all, or a part, of the asset, liability or transaction having an identified risk exposure that we have taken steps to modify (the hedged items). We assess the anticipated effectiveness of designated

hedging relationships at inception and their actual effectiveness for each reporting period thereafter. We consider a designated hedging relationship to be effective if the following critical terms match between the hedging item and the hedged item: the notional amount of the hedging item and the principal amount of the hedged item; maturity dates; payment dates; and interest rate index (if, and as, applicable). As set out in Note 4(i), any ineffectiveness, such as would result from a difference between the notional amount of the hedging item and the principal amount of the hedged item, or from a previously effective designated hedging relationship becoming ineffective, is reflected in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Financing costs if in respect of long-term debt, as Goods and services purchased if in respect of U.S. dollar-denominated future purchase commitments or as Employee benefits expense if in respect of share-based compensation.

 

Hedging assets and liabilities

In the application of hedge accounting, an amount (the hedge value) is recorded in the Consolidated statements of financial position in respect of the fair value of the hedging items. The net difference, if any, between the amounts recognized in the determination of net income and the amounts necessary to reflect the fair value of the designated cash flow hedging items recorded in the Consolidated statements of financial position is recognized as a component of Other comprehensive income, as set out in Note 10.

In the application of hedge accounting to the compensation cost arising from share-based compensation, the amount recognized in the determination of net income is the amount that counterbalances the difference between the quoted market price of our Common Shares at the statement of financial position date and the price of our Common Shares in the hedging items.

 

(e) Revenue recognition

 

 

General

We earn the majority of our revenues (wireless: network revenues (voice and data); wireline: data revenues (which include: Internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology and cloud-based services; business process outsourcing; and certain healthcare solutions) and voice revenues) from access to, and usage of, our telecommunications infrastructure. The majority of the balance of our revenues (wireless equipment and other) arises from providing services and products facilitating access to, and usage of, our telecommunications infrastructure.

We offer complete and integrated solutions to meet our customers’ needs. These solutions may involve deliveries of multiple services and products that occur at different points in time and/or over different periods of time; as referred to in (b), this is a significant judgment for us. As appropriate, these multiple element arrangements are separated into their component accounting units, consideration is measured and allocated among the accounting units based upon their relative fair values (derived using Company-specific objective evidence) and then our relevant revenue recognition policies are applied to the accounting units. (We estimate that more than two-thirds of our revenues arise from multiple element arrangements.) A limitation cap restricts the consideration allocated to services or products currently transferred in multiple element arrangements to an amount that is not contingent upon either delivering additional items or meeting other specified


 

 

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performance conditions. Our view is that the limitation cap results in a faithful depiction of the transfer of services and products, as it reflects the telecommunications industry’s generally accepted understanding of the transfer of services and products, while also reflecting the related cash flows; however, a new revenue accounting standard, which has not yet been applied and must be adopted by January 1, 2018, prohibits the use of a limitation cap, as discussed further in Note 2.

When we receive no identifiable, separable benefit for consideration given to a customer (e.g. discounts and rebates), the consideration is recorded as a reduction of revenue rather than as an expense.

Multiple contracts with a single customer are normally accounted for as separate arrangements. In instances where multiple contracts are entered into with a customer in a short period of time, the contracts are reviewed as a group to ensure that, as with multiple element arrangements, their relative fair values are appropriate.

Lease accounting is applied to an accounting unit if it conveys to a customer the right to use a specific asset but does not convey the risks and/or benefits of ownership.

Our revenues are recorded net of any value-added and/or sales taxes billed to the customer concurrent with a revenue-generating transaction.

 

Voice and data

We recognize revenues on an accrual basis and include an estimate of revenues earned but unbilled. Wireless and wireline service revenues are recognized based upon access to, and usage of, our telecommunications infrastructure and upon contract fees.

Advance billings are recorded when billing occurs prior to provision of the associated services; such advance billings are recognized as revenue in the period in which the services are provided. Similarly, and as appropriate, upfront customer activation and connection fees are deferred and recognized over the average expected term of the customer relationship.

We use the liability method of accounting for the amounts of our quality of service rate rebates that arise from the jurisdiction of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

The CRTC has established a mechanism to subsidize local exchange carriers, such as ourselves, that provide residential basic telephone service to high cost serving areas. The CRTC has determined the per network access line/per band subsidy rate for all local exchange carriers. We recognize the subsidy on an accrual basis by applying the subsidy rate to the number of residential network access lines we provide in high cost serving areas, as further discussed in Note 6. Differences, if any, between interim and final subsidy rates set by the CRTC are accounted for as a change in estimate in the period in which the CRTC finalizes the subsidy rate.

 

Other and wireless equipment

We recognize product revenues, including amounts related to wireless handsets sold to re-sellers and customer premises equipment, when the products are both delivered to and accepted by the end-user customers irrespective of which supply channel delivers the product. With respect to wireless handsets sold to re-sellers, we consider ourselves to be the principal and primary obligor to the end-user customers. Revenues from operating leases of equipment are recognized on a systematic and rational basis (normally a straight-line basis) over the term of the lease.

Non-high cost serving area deferral account

In an effort to foster competition for residential basic service in non-high cost serving areas, the concept of a deferral account mechanism was introduced by the CRTC in 2002 as an alternative to mandating price reductions. We use the liability method of accounting for the deferral account. We discharge the deferral account liability by undertaking qualifying actions. We recognize the amortization (over a period no longer than three years) of a proportionate share of the deferral account as qualifying actions are completed. Such amortization is included as a component of government assistance in Other operating income, as set out in Note 6.

 

(f) Government assistance

We recognize government assistance amounts on an accrual basis as the subsidized services are provided or as the subsidized costs are incurred. As set out in Note 6, government assistance amounts are included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Other operating income.

 

(g) Cost of acquisition and advertising costs

The total cost of wireless equipment sold to customers and any commissions and advertising and promotion costs related to initial customer acquisition are expensed as incurred; the cost of equipment we own that is situated at customers’ premises and associated installation costs are capitalized as incurred. Costs of acquiring customers that are expensed are included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as a component of Goods and services purchased, with the exception of amounts paid to our employees, which are included as Employee benefits expense. Costs of advertising production, advertising airtime and advertising space are expensed as incurred.

See Note 2(b) for significant changes to IFRS-IASB that are not yet effective and have not yet been applied, but will significantly affect the timing of recognition of costs of acquiring customers.

 

(h) Research and development

Research and development costs are expensed except for cases in which development costs meet certain identifiable criteria for capitalization. Capitalized development costs are amortized over the life of the related commercial production, or in the case of serviceable property, plant and equipment, are included in the appropriate property group and are depreciated over its estimated useful life.

 

(i) Depreciation, amortization and impairment

 

Depreciation and amortization

Assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives as determined by a continuing program of asset life studies. Depreciation includes amortization of assets under finance leases and amortization of leasehold improvements. Leasehold improvements are normally amortized over the lesser of their expected average service life or the term of the lease. Intangible assets with finite lives (intangible assets subject to amortization) are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which are reviewed at least annually and adjusted as appropriate. As referred to in (b), the use of a straight-line basis of depreciation and amortization is a significant judgment for us.


 

 

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 1

 

 


Estimated useful lives for the majority of our property, plant and equipment subject to depreciation are as follows:

 

 

 

Estimated useful lives1

Network assets

 

Outside plant

17 to 40 years

Inside plant

4 to 17 years

Wireless site equipment

5 to 10 years

Balance of depreciable property, plant and equipment

3 to 40 years

 

1           The composite depreciation rate for the year ended December 31, 2016, was 5.0% (2015 – 4.8%). The rate is calculated by dividing depreciation expense by an average of the gross book value of depreciable assets over the reporting period.

 

Estimated useful lives for the majority of our intangible assets subject to amortization are as follows:

 

 

Estimated useful lives

Wireline subscriber base

25 years

Customer contracts, related customer relationships and leasehold interests

6 to 10 years

Software

2 to 7 years

Access to rights-of-way and other

5 to 30 years

 

Impairment – general

Impairment testing compares the carrying values of the assets or cash-generating units being tested with their recoverable amounts (the recoverable amount being the greater of an asset’s or a cash-generating unit’s value in use or its fair value less costs to sell); as referred to in (b), this is a significant estimate for us. Impairment losses are immediately recognized to the extent that the carrying value of an asset or cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount. Should the recoverable amounts for impaired assets or cash-generating units subsequently increase, the impairment losses previously recognized (other than in respect of goodwill) may be reversed to the extent that the reversal is not a result of “unwinding of the discount” and that the resulting carrying values do not exceed the carrying values that would have been the result if no impairment losses had been previously recognized.

 

Impairment – property, plant and equipment; intangible assets subject to amortization

The continuing program of asset life studies considers such items as the timing of technological obsolescence, competitive pressures and future infrastructure utilization plans; these considerations could also indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. If the carrying value of an asset were not considered recoverable, an impairment loss would be recorded.

 

Impairment – intangible assets with indefinite lives; goodwill

The carrying values of intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill are periodically tested for impairment. The frequency of the impairment testing is generally the reciprocal of the stability of the relevant events and circumstances, but intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill must, at a minimum, be tested annually; we have selected December as our annual test date.

We assess our intangible assets with indefinite lives by comparing the recoverable amounts of our cash-generating units to the carrying values of our cash-generating units (including the intangible assets with indefinite lives allocated to a cash-generating unit, but excluding any goodwill allocated to a cash-generating unit). To the extent that the carrying value of a cash-generating unit (including the intangible assets

with indefinite lives allocated to the cash-generating unit, but excluding any goodwill allocated to the cash-generating unit) exceeds its recoverable amount, the excess amount would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of intangible assets with indefinite lives.

Subsequent to assessing intangible assets with indefinite lives, we assess goodwill by comparing the recoverable amounts of cash-generating units to their carrying values (including the intangible assets with indefinite lives and the goodwill allocated to a cash-generating unit). To the extent that the carrying value of the cash-generating unit (including the intangible assets with indefinite lives and the goodwill allocated to the cash-generating unit) exceeds its recoverable amount, the excess amount would first be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of goodwill and any remainder would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying values of the assets of the cash-generating unit on a pro-rated basis.

 

(j) Translation of foreign currencies

Trade transactions completed in foreign currencies are translated into Canadian dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing at the time of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into Canadian dollars at the rate of exchange in effect at the statement of financial position date, with any resulting gain or loss recorded in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as a component of Financing costs, as set out in Note 8. Hedge accounting is applied in specific instances, as further discussed in (d) preceding.

We have foreign subsidiaries that do not have the Canadian dollar as their functional currency. Foreign exchange gains and losses arising from the translation of these foreign subsidiaries’ accounts into Canadian dollars subsequent to January 1, 2010, are reported as a component of other comprehensive income, as set out in Note 10.

 

(k) Income and other taxes

We follow the liability method of accounting for income taxes; as referred to in (b), this is a significant estimate for us. Under this method, current income taxes are recognized for the estimated income taxes payable for the current year. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between the tax and accounting bases of assets and liabilities, and also for any benefits of losses and Investment Tax Credits available to be carried forward to future years for tax purposes that are more likely than not to be realized. The amounts recognized in respect of deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based upon the expected timing of the reversal of temporary differences or usage of tax losses and the application of the substantively enacted tax rates at the time of reversal or usage.

We account for any changes in substantively enacted income tax rates affecting deferred income tax assets and liabilities in full in the period in which the changes are substantively enacted. We account for changes in the estimates of prior year(s) tax balances as estimate revisions in the period in which the changes in estimates arise; we have selected this approach as its emphasis on the statement of financial position is more consistent with the liability method of accounting for income taxes.

Our operations are complex and the related tax interpretations, regulations, legislation and jurisprudence are continually changing. As a result, there are usually some tax matters in question that result in uncertain tax positions. We only recognize the income tax benefit of an


 

 

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uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the ultimate determination of the tax treatment of the position will result in that benefit being realized. We accrue an amount for interest charges on current tax liabilities that have not been funded, which would include interest and penalties arising from uncertain tax positions. We include such charges in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as a component of Financing costs.

Our research and development activities may be eligible to earn Investment Tax Credits, for which the determination of eligibility is a complex matter. We only recognize Investment Tax Credits when there is reasonable assurance that the ultimate determination of the eligibility of our research and development activities will result in the Investment Tax Credits being received, at which time they are accounted for using the cost reduction method, whereby such credits are deducted from the expenditures or assets to which they relate, as set out in Note 9(c).

 

(l) Share-based compensation

 

General

When share-based compensation vests in its entirety at one future point in time (cliff vesting), we recognize the expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. When share-based compensation vests in tranches (graded vesting), we recognize the expense using the accelerated expense attribution method. An estimate of forfeitures during the vesting period is made at the date of grant of such share-based compensation; this estimate is adjusted to reflect actual experience.

 

Share option awards

A fair value for share option awards is determined at the date of grant and that fair value is recognized in the financial statements. Proceeds arising from the exercise of share option awards are credited to share capital, as are the recognized grant-date fair values of the exercised share option awards.

Share option awards that have a net-equity settlement feature, as set out in Note 13(d), are accounted for as equity instruments. We have selected the equity instrument fair value method of accounting for the net-equity settlement feature as it is consistent with the accounting treatment afforded to the associated share option awards.

 

Restricted stock units

In respect of restricted stock units without market performance conditions, as set out in Note 13(b), we accrue a liability equal to the product of the number of vesting restricted stock units multiplied by the fair market value of the corresponding Common Shares at the end of the reporting period (unless hedge accounting is applied, as set out in (d) preceding). Similarly, we accrue a liability for the notional subset of our restricted stock units with market performance conditions using a fair value determined using a Monte Carlo simulation. The expense for restricted stock units that do not ultimately vest is reversed against the expense that was previously recorded in their respect.

 

(m) Employee future benefit plans

 

Defined benefit plans

We accrue amounts for our obligations under employee defined benefit plans and the related costs, net of plan assets. The cost of pensions and other retirement benefits earned by employees is actuarially determined using the accrued benefit method pro-rated on service and management’s

best estimates of salary escalation and the retirement ages of employees. In the determination of net income, net interest for each plan, which is the product of the plan’s surplus (deficit) multiplied by the discount rate, is included as a component of Financing costs, as set out in Note 8.

An amount reflecting the effect of differences between the discount rate and the actual rate of return on plan assets is included as a component of employee defined benefit plan re-measurements within Other comprehensive income, as set out in Note 10 and Note 14. We determine the maximum economic benefit available from the plans’ assets on the basis of reductions in future contributions to the plans.

On an annual basis, at a minimum, the defined benefit plan key assumptions are assessed and revised as appropriate; as referred to in (b), these are significant estimates for us. When the defined benefit plan key assumptions fluctuate significantly relative to their immediately preceding year-end values, actuarial gains (losses) arising from such significant fluctuations are recognized on an interim basis.

 

Defined contribution plans

We use defined contribution accounting for the Telecommunication Workers Pension Plan and the British Columbia Public Service Pension Plan, which cover certain of our employees and provide defined benefits to their members. In the absence of any regulations governing the calculation of the share of the underlying financial position and plan performance attributable to each employer-participant, and in the absence of contractual agreements between the plans and the employer-participants related to the financing of any shortfall (or distribution of any surplus), we account for these plans as defined contribution plans in accordance with International Accounting Standard 19, Employee Benefits.

 

(n) Cash and temporary investments, net

Cash and temporary investments, which may include investments in money market instruments that are purchased three months or less from maturity, are presented net of outstanding items, including cheques written but not cleared by the related banks as at the statement of financial position date. Cash and temporary investments, net, are classified as a liability in the statement of financial position when the total amount of all cheques written but not cleared by the related banks exceeds the amount of cash and temporary investments. When cash and temporary investments, net, are classified as a liability, they may also include overdraft amounts drawn on our bilateral bank facilities, which revolve daily and are discussed further in Note 22.

 

(o) Sales of trade receivables

Sales of trade receivables in securitization transactions are recognized as collateralized short-term borrowings and thus do not result in our de-recognition of the trade receivables sold.

 

(p) Inventories

Our inventories consist primarily of wireless handsets, parts and accessories (totalling $266 million (2015 – totalling $319 million)) and communications equipment held for resale. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value, with cost being determined on an average cost basis. Previous write-downs to net realizable value are reversed if there is a subsequent increase in the value of the related inventories. Costs of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2016, totalled $1,837 million (2015 – $1,806 million).


 

 

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 2

 

 


 

(q) Property, plant and equipment; intangible assets

 

General

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are recorded at historical cost, which for self-constructed property, plant and equipment includes materials, direct labour and applicable overhead costs. For internally developed, internal-use software, the historical cost recorded includes materials, direct labour and direct labour-related costs. Where property, plant and equipment construction projects are of sufficient size and duration, an amount is capitalized for the cost of funds used to finance construction, as set out in Note 8. The rate for calculating the capitalized financing cost is based on our weighted average cost of borrowing experienced during the reporting period.

When we sell property, plant and/or equipment, the net book value is netted against the sale proceeds and the difference, as set out in Note 6, is included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Other operating income.

 

Asset retirement obligations

Provisions for liabilities, as set out in Note 25, are recognized for statutory, contractual or legal obligations, normally when incurred, associated with the retirement of property, plant and equipment (primarily certain items of outside plant and wireless site equipment) when those obligations result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal operation of the assets; as referred to in (b), this is a significant estimate for us. The obligations are measured initially at fair value, determined using present value methodology, and the resulting costs are capitalized as a part of the carrying value of the related asset. In subsequent periods, the liability is adjusted for the accretion of discount, for any changes in the market-based discount rate and for any changes in the amount or timing of the underlying future cash flows. The capitalized asset retirement cost is depreciated on the same basis as the related asset and the discount accretion, as set out in Note 8, is included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as a component of Financing costs.

 

(r) Leases

Leases are classified as finance or operating depending upon the terms and conditions of the contracts. See Note 2 for significant changes to IFRS-IASB that are not yet effective and have not yet been applied, but will significantly affect the timing of the recognition of operating lease expenses and their recognition on the Consolidated statement of financial position, as well as their classification in both the Consolidated statement

of income and other comprehensive income and the Consolidated statement of cash flows.

Where we are the lessee, asset values recorded under finance leases are amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of expected use. Obligations recorded under finance leases are reduced by lease payments net of imputed interest.

 

(s) Investments

We account for our investments in companies over which we have significant influence using the equity method of accounting, whereby the investments are initially recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted to recognize our share of earnings or losses of the investee companies and any earnings distributions received. The excess of the cost of an equity investment over its underlying book value at the date of acquisition, except for goodwill, is amortized over the estimated useful lives of the underlying assets to which the excess cost is attributed.

Similarly, we account for our interests in the real estate joint ventures, discussed further in Note 21, using the equity method of accounting. Unrealized gains and losses from transactions with (including contributions to) the real estate joint ventures are deferred in proportion to our remaining interest in the real estate joint ventures.

We account for our other investments as available-for-sale at their fair values unless they are investment securities that do not have quoted market prices in an active market or do not have other clear and objective evidence of fair value. When we do not account for our available-for-sale investments at their fair values, we use the cost basis of accounting, whereby the investments are initially recorded at cost and earnings from those investments are recognized only to the extent received or receivable. The costs of investments sold or the amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income to earnings are determined on a specific-identification basis.

Unless there is a significant or prolonged decline in the value of an available-for-sale investment, the carrying values of available-for-sale investments are adjusted to their estimated fair values, and the amount of any such adjustment is included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as a component of other comprehensive income. When there is a significant or prolonged decline in the value of an investment, the carrying value of any such investment accounted for using the equity, available-for-sale or cost method is reduced to its estimated fair value, and the amount of any such reduction is included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Other operating income.


 

 

Accounting policy developments

 

 


(a) Initial application of standards, interpretations and amendments to standards and interpretations in the reporting period

In January 2016, the International Accounting Standards Board released Amendments to IAS 7, Statement of Cash Flows as a part of its Disclosure Initiative. The amendments are required to be applied for years beginning on or after January 1, 2017; however, we have applied them for the year ended December 31, 2016, as set out in Note 31(b), and such application has had no material effect on our financial performance or disclosure.

Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2012–2014 Cycle are required to be applied for years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, and such application has had no effect on our financial performance or disclosure.

(b) Standards, interpretations and amendments to standards not yet effective and not yet applied

·           IFRS 9, Financial Instruments, is required to be applied for years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. The new standard includes a model for the classification and measurement of financial instruments, a single forward-looking “expected loss” impairment model and a reformed approach to hedge accounting. Based upon current facts and circumstances, we do not expect our financial performance or disclosure to be materially affected by the application of the standard.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 123


 


·           IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, is required to be applied for years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, such date reflecting the one-year deferral approved by the International Accounting Standards Board on July 22, 2015. The International Accounting Standards Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the United States worked on this joint project to clarify the principles for the recognition of revenue. The new standard was released in May 2014 and supersedes existing standards and interpretations including IAS 18, Revenue. In April 2016, the International Accounting Standards Board issued Clarifications to IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, clarifying application of some of the more complex aspects of the standard. We are currently assessing the impacts and transition provisions of the new standard; however, we expect that we will apply the standard retrospectively to prior reporting periods, subject to permitted and elected practical expedients.

The effects of the new standard and the materiality of those effects will vary by industry and entity. Like many other telecommunications companies, we currently expect to be materially affected by its application, primarily in respect of the timing of revenue recognition, the classification of revenue, the capitalization of costs of obtaining a contract with a customer and possibly the capitalization of the costs of contract fulfilment (as defined by the new standard).

 

Revenue – timing of recognition; classification

The timing of revenue recognition and the classification of our revenues as either service revenues or equipment revenues will be affected, since the allocation of consideration in multiple element arrangements (solutions for our customers that may involve deliveries of multiple services and products that occur at different points in time and/or over different periods of time) will no longer be affected by the current limitation cap methodology.

The effects of the timing of revenue recognition and the classification of revenue are expected to be most pronounced in our wireless segment. Although the measurement of the total revenue recognized over the life of a contract will be largely unaffected by the new standard, the prohibition of the use of the limitation cap methodology will accelerate the recognition of total contract revenue, relative to both the associated cash inflows from customers and our current practice (using the limitation cap methodology). The acceleration of the recognition of contract revenue relative to the associated cash inflows will also result in the recognition of an amount reflecting the resulting difference as a contract asset. Although the underlying transaction economics would not differ, during periods of sustained growth in the number of wireless subscriber connection additions, assuming comparable contract-lifetime per unit cash inflows, revenues would appear to be greater than under the current practice (using the limitation cap methodology). Wireline segment results arising from transactions that include the initial provision of subsidized equipment or promotional pricing plans will be similarly affected.

 

Costs of contract acquisition; costs of contract fulfilment – timing of recognition

Similarly, the measurement of the total costs of contract acquisition and contract fulfilment over the life of a contract will be unaffected by the new standard, but the timing of recognition will be. The new standard will result in our wireless and wireline segments’ costs of contract acquisition and contract fulfilment, to the extent that they are material, being capitalized and subsequently recognized as an expense over the life of a contract on a rational, systematic basis consistent with the pattern of

the transfer of goods or services to which the asset relates. Although the underlying transaction economics would not differ, during periods of sustained growth in the number of customer connection additions, assuming comparable per unit costs of contract acquisition and con tract fulfilment, absolute profitability measures would appear to be greater than under the current practice (immediately expensing such costs).

 

Implementation

Our operations and associated systems are complex and our accounting for millions of multi-year contracts with our customers will be affected. Significantly, in order to effect the associated accounting, incremental compilation of historical data will be necessary for the millions of already existing multi-year contracts with our customers that are expected to be in-scope for purposes of transitioning to the new standard. Our current estimate of the time and effort necessary to develop and implement the accounting policies, estimates, judgments and processes (including critical incremental requirements of our information technology systems) we will need to have in place in order to comply with the new standard extends into mid/late-2017.

Once we have developed and implemented the necessary accounting policies, estimates, judgments and processes, we will commence the incremental compilation of historical data, as well as the accounting for that data, which is necessary to transition to, and to make reasonable quantitative estimates (which will also be subject to associated incremental internal controls over financial reporting) of the effects of, the new standard. As a result, at this time, it is not possible to make reasonable quantitative estimates of the effects of the new standard, and we may not be able to do so prior to completing our December 31, 2017, annual consolidated financial statements.

 

Illustrative example

To assist with understanding how the fundamental timing of recognition and classification of transactions will be affected by the new standard, we have developed the following illustrative example to contrast the currently expected effects of applying the new standard on certain primary financial statement line items for a single consumer postpaid wireless 24-month contract (handset and service) involving a re-seller with the effects of applying our current accounting policies.

The currently expected effects of the new standard reflected in the following illustrative example should be used with caution and, although reasonably depicting a representative transaction, they cannot be extrapolated to our population of contracts with customers as:

·           changes in underlying assumptions and amounts are not linear – relative to this illustrative example, the dynamic maturity profile of our wireless subscriber base (which currently reflects, among other things, seasonal fluctuations of contract inceptions), the dynamic mix of gross subscriber additions and retention units (gross subscriber additions and retention units combined were approximately 3.5 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015), the dynamic pricing profile of our wireless subscriber base (which currently reflects, among other things, the choices made by customers, both initial and ongoing, in respect of handsets, rate plans and levels of device subsidy), and the dynamic choice of distribution channel made by the customer (due to costs of contract acquisition currently varying by distribution channel), are, in combination, all very significant factors in quantifying how the timing of recognition and classification changes arising from the new standard will affect us and these factors have not been reflected in this illustrative example;


 

 

124 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 2

 

 


·           the effects of retrospective application upon adoption are not components of the illustrative example;

·           the illustrative example represents only one of the many ways in which we can provide our customers with access to, and usage of, our telecommunications infrastructure; and

 

·           the composite ongoing inception, maturation and expiration of millions of multi-year contracts with our customers are expected to somewhat mute the pronounced results of operations timing of recognition effects of a single contract.


 

 

 

Selected results1 applying

 

 

 

 

 

current accounting policies

 

Selected results1 applying IFRS 15

 

 

 

Fiscal

 

Fiscal

 

Fiscal

 

 

 

Fiscal

 

Fiscal

 

Fiscal

 

 

 

As at, or fiscal years ending, December 31 (single $)

 

year 1

 

year 2

 

year 3

 

Total

 

year 1

 

year 2

 

year 3

 

Total

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service

 

$    80

 

$  960

 

$  880

 

$ 1,920

 

$     61

 

$  731

 

$  670

 

$ 1,462

 

Equipment

 

400

 

–

 

–

 

400

 

858

 

–

 

–

 

858

 

Revenues arising from contract with customer

 

480

 

960

 

880

 

2,320

 

919

 

731

 

670

 

2,320

 

Operating expenses excluding costs of service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goods and services purchased

 

990

 

–

 

–

 

990

 

856

 

70

 

64

 

990

 

Operating income effects excluding costs of service

 

(510

)

960

 

880

 

1,330

 

63

 

661

 

606

 

1,330

 

Income taxes

 

(138

)

259

 

238

 

359

 

17

 

178

 

164

 

359

 

Net income effects excluding costs of service

 

$  (372

)

$  701

 

$  642

 

$    971

 

$     46

 

$  483

 

$  442

 

$    971

 

RECONCILIATION OF REVENUES RECOGNIZED AND AMOUNTS BILLED TO CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues recognized

 

$   480

 

$  960

 

$  880

 

$ 2,320

 

$   919

 

$  731

 

$  670

 

$ 2,320

 

Revenues initially recognized but not initially billable and thus initially recognized as contract asset2

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

(458

)

–

 

–

 

(458

)

Contract asset2 amortized and billed to customer

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

19

 

229

 

210

 

458

 

Total of amounts billed to customer

 

$   480

 

$  960

 

$  880

 

$ 2,320

 

$   480

 

$  960

 

$  880

 

$ 2,320

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL POSITION EFFECTS OF DIFFERENCES ARISING FROM ITEMS NOTED ABOVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract assets2

 

$   229

 

$  210

 

$      –

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other

 

70

 

64

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract assets

 

210

 

–

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

Other long-term assets

 

64

 

–

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$   573

 

$  274

 

$      –

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Owners’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advance billings and customer deposits2

 

$       –

 

$      –

 

$      –

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

155

 

74

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

Owners’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Share equity

 

418

 

200

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$   573

 

$  274

 

$      –

 

 

 

CASH FLOW EFFECTS OF ITEMS NOTED ABOVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income effects excluding costs of service

 

$  (372

)

$  701

 

$  642

 

$    971

 

$    46

 

$  483

 

$  442

 

$    971

 

Adjustments to reconcile to effects on cash (used) provided by operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(138

)

259

 

238

 

359

 

17

 

178

 

164

 

359

 

Change in operating working capital

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

(573

)

299

 

274

 

–

 

Effects on cash (used) provided by operating activities

 

$  (510

)

$  960

 

$  880

 

$ 1,330

 

$ (510

)

$  960

 

$  880

 

$ 1,330

 

 

1           This illustrative example of a single consumer postpaid wireless 24-month contract (handset and service) involving a re-seller is intended to illustrate the differences between our current accounting policies and the accounting effects we currently expect upon application of the new standard; the accounting for the associated costs of service, such as network operating expenses, would not differ upon application of the new standard and thus the associated costs of service have been excluded from this illustrative example. This illustrative example is based upon an actual November 30, 2016, offering of ours.

 

This illustrative example reflects the commencement of the contract on December 1 of the first fiscal year and running through to expiry, and ending 24 months later, on November 30 of the third fiscal year. Reflected in this illustrative example is that the minimum transaction price (minimum spend amount) is determinable and is thus used as the contract’s transaction price. Goods and services purchased, in this illustrative example, include both the cost of the handset sold ($850) and contract acquisition costs (which, in this illustrative example, are commissions ($140)).

 

To simplify this illustrative example:

 

·            no provision has been made for any value-added or sales taxes billed to the customer concurrent with the revenue-generating transactions;

 

·            an income tax rate of 27% has been used for all fiscal years and all income taxes are considered deferred; and

 

·            amounts billed to customer are received when due; our monthly recurring charges would be $80 per month over the term of the contract and would be incremental to an initial payment of $400 due at contract inception.

 

2           The new standard requires that a contract’s contract asset and contract liability (advance billings and customer billings) be presented net on the statement of financial position. To simplify this illustrative example, such statement of financial position line item reclassification has not been effected.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 125


 


·           In January 2016, the International Accounting Standards Board released IFRS 16, Leases, which is required to be applied for years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, and which supersedes IAS 17, Leases; earlier application is allowed, but not before the application of IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The International Accounting Standards Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the United States worked together to modify the accounting for leases, generally by eliminating lessees’ classification of leases as either operating leases or finance leases and, for IFRS-IASB, introducing a single lessee accounting model.

The most significant effect of the new standard will be the lessee’s recognition of the initial present value of unavoidable future lease payments as lease assets and lease liabilities on the statement of financial position, including those for most leases that would be currently accounted for as operating leases. Both leases with durations of 12 months or less and leases for low-value assets may be exempted.

The measurement of the total lease expense over the term of a lease will be unaffected by the new standard. However, the new standard will result in the timing of lease expense recognition being accelerated for leases which would be currently accounted for as operating leases; the International Accounting Standards Board expects that this effect may be muted by a lessee having a portfolio of leases with varying maturities and lengths of term. The presentation on the statement of income and other comprehensive income required by the

 

new standard will result in most lease expenses being presented as amortization of lease assets and financing costs arising from lease liabilities rather than as a part of goods and services purchased, thus reported operating income would be higher under the new standard.

Relative to the results of applying the current standard, although the actual cash flows will be unaffected, the lessee’s statement of cash flows will reflect increases in cash flows from operating activities offset equally by decreases in cash flows from financing activities. This is due to the payment of the “principal” component of leases that would be currently accounted for as operating leases being presented as a cash flow use within financing activities under the new standard.

We are currently assessing the impacts and transition provisions of the new standard; however, we expect that we will apply the standard retrospectively to prior reporting periods, subject to permitted and elected practical expedients; our current intention is to apply the new standard concurrent with our initial application of IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Our current estimate of the time and effort necessary to develop and implement the accounting policies, estimates and processes (including incremental requirements of our information technology systems) we will need to have in place in order to comply with the new standard extends into late 2017. We expect that our Consolidated statement of financial position will be materially affected, as will those financial metrics related to both debt and results of operations; however, at this time it is not possible to make reasonable quantitative estimates of the effects of the new standard.


 

 

 

Capital structure financial policies

 

 


Our objective when managing capital is to maintain a flexible capital structure that optimizes the cost and availability of capital at acceptable risk.

In the management of capital and in its definition, we include common equity (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income), long-term debt (including long-term credit facilities, commercial paper backstopped by long-term credit facilities and any hedging assets or liabilities associated with long-term debt items, net of amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income), cash and temporary investments, and short-term borrowings arising from securitized trade receivables.

We manage our capital structure and make adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of our telecommunications infrastructure. In order to maintain or adjust our capital structure, we may adjust the amount of dividends paid to holders of Common Shares, purchase Common Shares for cancellation pursuant to normal course issuer bids, issue new shares, issue new debt, issue new debt to replace existing debt with different characteristics and/or increase or decrease the amount of trade receivables sold to an arm’s-length securitization trust.

We monitor capital utilizing a number of measures, including: net debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA*) – excluding restructuring and other costs; and dividend payout ratios.

 

Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs is calculated as net debt at the end of the period divided by 12-month trailing EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. This measure, historically, is substantially similar to the leverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities. Net debt, EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs and adjusted net earnings are measures that do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS-IASB and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The calculation of these measures is as set out in the following table. Net debt is one component of a ratio used to determine compliance with debt covenants.

The dividend payout ratio presented is a historical measure calculated as the sum of the last four quarterly dividends declared per Common Share, as recorded in the financial statements, divided by the sum of basic earnings per share for the most recent four quarters for interim reporting periods (divided by annual basic earnings per share if the reported amount is in respect of a fiscal year). The dividend payout ratio of adjusted net earnings presented, also a historical measure, differs in that it excludes the gain on exchange of wireless spectrum licences, net gains and equity income from real estate joint ventures, long-term debt prepayment premium and income tax-related adjustments.


 

 

*EBITDA does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS-IASB and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers; we define EBITDA as operating revenues less goods and services purchased and employee benefits expense. We have issued guidance on, and report, EBITDA because it is a key measure that management uses to evaluate the performance of our business, and it is also utilized in measuring compliance with certain debt covenants.

 

 

126 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 3

 

 

 

During 2016, our financial objectives, which are reviewed annually and which were unchanged from 2015, included the financial objectives set out in the following table. We believe that our financial objectives are supportive of our long-term strategy.

 

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

 

Objective

 

2016

 

2015

 

Components of debt and coverage ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt1

 

 

 

$ 12,652

 

$ 11,953

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs2

 

 

 

$   4,708

 

$   4,488

 

Net interest cost3

 

 

 

$      566

 

$      465

 

Debt ratio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs

 

2.00–2.504

 

2.69

 

2.66

 

Coverage ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings coverage5

 

 

 

4.0

 

4.8

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage6

 

 

 

8.3

 

9.7

 

Other measures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend payout ratio of adjusted net earnings7

 

 

 

77%

 

73%

 

Dividend payout ratio

 

65%–75%8

 

89%

 

73%

 

 


1         Net debt is calculated as follows:

 

As at December 31

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

Long-term debt

 

26

 

$ 12,931

 

$ 12,038

 

Debt issuance costs netted against long-term debt

 

 

 

67

 

52

 

Derivative (assets) liabilities, net

 

 

 

20

 

(14

)

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)

 

 

 

(34

)

–

 

Cash and temporary investments, net

 

 

 

(432

)

(223

)

Short-term borrowings

 

22

 

100

 

100

 

Net debt

 

 

 

$ 12,652

 

$ 11,953

 

 

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

 

Years ended December 31

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

EBITDA

 

5

 

$   4,229

 

$   4,262

 

Restructuring and other costs

 

15

 

479

 

226

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs

 

 

 

$   4,708

 

$   4,488

 

 

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 2.00–2.50 times. The ratio as at December 31, 2016, is outside the long-term objective range. In the short term, we may permit, and have permitted, this ratio to go outside the objective range (for long-term investment opportunities), but will endeavour to return this ratio to within the objective range in the medium term, as we believe that this range is supportive of our long-term strategy. We are in compliance with our credit facilities leverage ratio covenant, 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.

7        Adjusted net earnings attributable to Common Shares is calculated as follows:

 

12-month periods ended December 31

 

2016

 

2015

 

Net income attributable to Common Shares

 

$ 1,223

 

$1,382

 

Gain on exchange of wireless spectrum licences, after income taxes

 

(13

)

–

 

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

 

(16

)

–

 

Business acquisition-related provisions, after income taxes

 

15

 

–

 

Immediately vesting transformative compensation expense, after income taxes

 

224

 

–

 

Income tax-related adjustments

 

(17

)

1

 

Adjusted net earnings attributable to Common Shares

 

$ 1,416

 

$1,383

 

 

8        Our target guideline for the dividend payout ratio is 65%–75% of sustainable earnings on a prospective basis; we estimate that we will be within our target guideline on a prospective basis.


 


Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs was 2.69 times as at December 31, 2016, up from 2.66 one year earlier. The increase in net debt increased the ratio by 0.16, which was largely offset by growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs, which decreased the ratio by 0.13. The earnings coverage ratio for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2016, was 4.0 times, down from 4.8 times one year earlier. Higher borrowing costs reduced

 

the ratio by 0.3 and lower income before borrowing costs and income taxes reduced the ratio by 0.5. The EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage ratio for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2016, was 8.3 times, down from 9.7 times one year earlier. Growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs increased the ratio by 0.4, while an increase in net interest costs reduced the ratio by 1.8.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 127


 

 

Financial instruments

 

 

(a) Risks – overview

Our financial instruments, and the nature of certain risks to which they may be subject, are as set out in the following table.

 

 

 

Risks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market risks

 

Financial instrument

 

Credit

 

Liquidity

 

Currency

 

Interest rate

 

Other price

 

Measured at amortized cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Construction credit facilities advances to real estate joint venture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Short-term obligations

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Provisions (including restructuring accounts payable)

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

Measured at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and temporary investments

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

Long-term investments (not subject to significant influence)1

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

Foreign exchange derivatives2

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation derivatives2

 

X

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

1    Long-term investments over which we do not have significant influence are measured at fair value if those fair values can be reliably measured.

2    Use of derivative financial instruments is subject to a policy which requires that no derivative transaction is to be entered into for the purpose of establishing a speculative or leveraged position (the corollary being that all derivative transactions are to be entered into for risk management purposes only) and sets criteria for the creditworthiness of the transaction counterparties.

 


(b) Credit risk

Excluding credit risk, if any, arising from currency swaps settled on a gross basis, the best representation of our maximum exposure (excluding income tax effects) to credit risk, which is a worst-case scenario and does not reflect results we expect, is as set out in the following table:

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Cash and temporary investments, net

 

$    432

 

$     223

 

Accounts receivable

 

1,471

 

1,428

 

Derivative assets

 

17

 

40

 

 

 

$ 1,920

 

$ 1,691

 

 

Cash and temporary investments

Credit risk associated with cash and temporary investments is managed by ensuring that these financial assets are placed with: governments; major financial institutions that have been accorded strong investment grade ratings by a primary rating agency; and/or other creditworthy counterparties. An ongoing review is performed to evaluate changes in the status of counterparties.

 

Accounts receivable

Credit risk associated with accounts receivable is inherently managed by the size and diversity of our large customer base, which includes substantially all consumer and business sectors in Canada. We follow a program of credit evaluations of customers and limit the amount of credit extended when deemed necessary.


 

 

128 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 4

 

 


The following table presents an analysis of the age of customer accounts receivable for which an allowance had not been made as at the dates of the Consolidated statements of financial position. As at December 31, 2016, the weighted average age of customer accounts receivable was 26 days (2015 – 28 days) and the weighted average age of past-due customer accounts receivable was 61 days (2015 – 62 days). Any late payment charges are levied at an industry-based market or negotiated rate on outstanding non-current customer account balances.

 

As at December 31 (millions)

Note

2016

2015

 

Customer accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

 

 

Less than 30 days past billing date

 

$   897

$  823

 

30–60 days past billing date

 

176

208

 

61–90 days past billing date

 

35

52

 

More than 90 days past billing date

 

55

64

 

 

 

$ 1,163

$ 1,147

 

Customer accounts receivable

16

$ 1,217

$ 1,199

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

(54)

(52

)

 

 

$ 1,163

$ 1,147

 

 

We maintain allowances for potential credit losses related to doubtful accounts. Current economic conditions, historical information, reasons for the accounts being past due and line of business from which the customer accounts receivable arose are all considered when determining whether to make allowances for past-due accounts. The same factors are considered when determining whether to write off amounts charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts against the customer accounts receivable. The doubtful accounts expense is calculated on a specific identification basis for customer accounts receivable above a specific balance threshold and on a statistically derived allowance basis for the remainder. No customer accounts receivable are written off directly to the doubtful accounts expense.

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to our allowance for doubtful accounts.

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$ 52

 

$ 44

 

Additions (doubtful accounts expense)

 

58

 

55

 

Net use

 

(56

)

(47

)

Balance, end of period

 

$ 54

 

$ 52

 

Derivative assets (and derivative liabilities)

Counterparties to our share-based compensation cash-settled equity forward agreements and foreign exchange derivatives are major financial institutions that have been accorded investment grade ratings by a primary credit rating agency. The dollar amount of credit exposure under contracts with any one financial institution is limited and counterparties’ credit ratings are monitored. We do not give or receive collateral on swap agreements and hedging items due to our credit rating and those of our counterparties. While we are exposed to potential credit losses due to the possible non-performance of our counterparties, we consider this risk remote. Our derivative liabilities do not have credit risk-related contingent features.

 

(c) Liquidity risk

As a component of our capital structure financial policies, discussed further in Note 3, we manage liquidity risk by:

·           maintaining a daily cash pooling process that enables us to manage our available liquidity and our liquidity requirements according to our actual needs;

·           maintaining an agreement to sell trade receivables to an arm’s-length securitization trust (Note 22);

·           maintaining bilateral bank facilities (Note 22) and syndicated credit facilities (Note 26(d),(f));

·    maintaining a commercial paper program (Note 26(c));

·    maintaining an in-effect shelf prospectus;

·    continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows; and

·    managing maturity profiles of financial assets and financial liabilities.

 

Our debt maturities in future years are as disclosed in Note 26(g). As at December 31, 2016, we could offer $2.2 billion of debt or equity securities pursuant to a shelf prospectus that is in effect until April 2018 (2015 – $250 million until December 2016). We believe that our investment grade credit ratings contribute to reasonable access to capital markets.

We closely match the contractual maturities of our derivative financial liabilities with those of the risk exposures they are being used to manage.


 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 129


 

The expected maturities of our undiscounted financial liabilities do not differ significantly from the contractual maturities, other than as noted below. The contractual maturities of our undiscounted financial liabilities, including interest thereon (where applicable), are as set out in the following tables:

 

 

 

Non-derivative

 

Derivative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Composite long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest

 

 

 

Construction

 

 

 

Currency swap

 

 

 

Currency swap

 

 

 

As at

 

bearing

 

 

 

credit facilities

 

Long-term

 

agreement amounts

 

 

 

agreement amounts

 

 

 

December 31, 2016

 

financial

 

Short-term

 

commitment

 

debt

1

to be exchanged 3

 

 

 

to be exchanged

 

 

(millions)

 

liabilities

 

borrowings

1

(Note 21)

2

(Note 26)

 

(Receive)

 

Pay

 

Other

 

(Receive)

 

Pay

 

Total

2017

 

$ 1,949

 

$    1

 

$ 93

 

$  1,832

 

$   (634

)

$      634

 

$ 3

 

$ (475

)

$ 469

 

$  3,872

2018

 

227

 

102

 

–

 

750

 

(23

)

23

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

1,079

2019

 

16

 

–

 

–

 

1,498

 

(23

)

23

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

1,514

2020

 

9

 

–

 

–

 

1,447

 

(23

)

23

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

1,456

2021

 

9

 

–

 

–

 

1,711

 

(23

)

23

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

1,720

Thereafter

 

5

 

–

 

–

 

11,584

 

(930

)

921

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

11,580

Total

 

$ 2,215

 

$ 103

 

$ 93

 

$ 18,822

 

$ (1,656

)

$   1,647

 

$ 3

 

$ (475

)

$ 469

 

$ 21,221

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total (Note 26(g))

 

$ 18,813

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1    Cash outflows in respect of interest payments on our short-term borrowings, commercial paper and amounts drawn under our credit facilities (if any) have been calculated based upon the interest rates in effect as at December 31, 2016.

2    The drawdowns on the construction credit facilities are expected to occur as construction progresses through 2018.

3    The amounts included in undiscounted non-derivative long-term debt in respect of U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt, and the corresponding amounts in the long-term debt currency swaps receive column, have been determined based upon the currency exchange rates in effect as at December 31, 2016. The hedged U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt contractual amounts at maturity, in effect, are reflected in the long-term debt currency swaps pay column as gross cash flows are exchanged pursuant to the currency swap agreements.

 

 

 

Non-derivative

 

Derivative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Composite long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest

 

 

 

Construction

 

 

 

Currency swap

 

 

 

Currency swap

 

 

As at

 

bearing

 

 

 

credit facilities

 

Long-term

 

agreement amounts

 

 

 

agreement amounts

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

financial

 

Short-term

 

commitment

 

debt

1

to be exchanged3

 

 

 

to be exchanged

 

 

(millions)

 

liabilities

 

borrowings

1

(Note 21)

2

(Note 26)

 

(Receive)

 

Pay

 

Other

 

(Receive)

 

Pay

 

Total

2016

 

$ 1,895

 

$ 101

 

$ 131

 

$  1,353

 

$ (256

)

$      242

 

$  4

 

$ (415

)

$ 390

 

$  3,445

2017

 

28

 

–

 

–

 

1,174

 

–

 

–

 

9

 

–

 

–

 

1,211

2018

 

8

 

–

 

–

 

705

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

713

2019

 

6

 

–

 

–

 

1,453

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

1,459

2020

 

6

 

–

 

–

 

1,402

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

1,408

Thereafter

 

6

 

–

 

–

 

12,057

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

12,063

Total

 

$ 1,949

 

$ 101

 

$ 131

 

$ 18,144

 

$ (256

)

$      242

 

$ 13

 

$ (415

)

$ 390

 

$ 20,299

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$ 18,130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1           Cash outflows in respect of interest payments on our short-term borrowings, commercial paper and amounts drawn under our credit facilities (if any) have been calculated based upon the interest rates in effect as at December 31, 2015.

2           The drawdowns on the construction credit facilities are expected to occur as construction progresses through 2018.

3           The amounts included in undiscounted non-derivative long-term debt in respect of U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt, and the corresponding amounts in the long-term debt currency swaps receive column, have been determined based upon the currency exchange rates in effect as at December 31, 2015. The hedged U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt contractual amounts at maturity, in effect, are reflected in the long-term debt currency swaps pay column as gross cash flows are exchanged pursuant to the currency swap agreements.

 


(d) Currency risk

Our functional currency is the Canadian dollar, but certain routine revenues and operating costs are denominated in U.S. dollars and some inventory purchases and capital asset acquisitions are sourced internationally. The U.S. dollar is the only foreign currency to which we have a significant exposure.

Our foreign exchange risk management includes the use of foreign currency forward contracts and currency options to fix the exchange rates on short-term U.S. dollar-denominated transactions, commitments and commercial paper.

As discussed further in Note 26(b) and (f), we are also exposed to currency risk in that the fair value or future cash flows of our U.S. Dollar Notes and our TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility U.S. dollar borrowings could fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. Currency hedging relationships have been established for the related semi-annual interest payments and the principal payment at maturity in respect of the U.S. Dollar Notes.

 

(e) Interest rate risk

Changes in market interest rates will cause fluctuations in the fair values or future cash flows of temporary investments, construction credit facility advances made to the real estate joint venture, short-term obligations, long-term debt and interest rate swap derivatives.


 

 

130 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 4

 

 


When we have temporary investments, they have short maturities and fixed interest rates and as a result, their fair values will fluctuate with changes in market interest rates; absent monetization prior to maturity, the related future cash flows will not change due to changes in market interest rates.

If the balance of short-term investments includes dividend-paying equity instruments, we could be exposed to interest rate risk.

Due to the short-term nature of the applicable rates of interest charged, the fair value of the construction credit facilities advances made to the real estate joint venture is not materially affected by changes in market interest rates; associated cash flows representing interest payments will be affected until such advances are repaid.

As short-term obligations arising from bilateral bank facilities, which typically have variable interest rates, are rarely outstanding for periods that exceed one calendar week, interest rate risk associated with this item is not material.

Short-term borrowings arising from the sales of trade receivables to an arm’s-length securitization trust are fixed-rate debt. Due to the short maturities of these borrowings, interest rate risk associated with this item is not material.

All of our currently outstanding long-term debt, other than commercial paper and amounts drawn on our credit facilities (Note 26(d), (f)), is fixed-rate debt. The fair value of fixed-rate debt fluctuates with changes in market interest rates; absent early redemption, the related future cash flows will not change. Due to the short maturities of commercial paper, its fair value is not materially affected by changes in market interest rates, but the associated cash flows representing interest payments may be if the commercial paper is rolled over.

Amounts drawn on our short-term and long-term credit facilities will be affected by changes in market interest rates in a manner similar to commercial paper.

(f) Other price risk

 

Long-term investments

We are exposed to equity price risk arising from investments classified as available-for-sale. Such investments are held for strategic rather than trading purposes.

 

Share-based compensation derivatives

We are exposed to other price risk arising from cash-settled share-based compensation (appreciating Common Share prices increase both the expense and the potential cash outflow). Certain cash-settled equity swap agreements have been entered into that fix the cost associated with our restricted stock units (Note 13(b)).

 

(g) Market risks

Net income and other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, could have varied if the Canadian dollar: U.S. dollar exchange rate and our Common Share price varied by reasonably possible amounts from their actual statement of financial position date amounts.

The sensitivity analysis of our exposure to currency risk at the reporting date has been determined based upon a hypothetical change taking place at the relevant statement of financial position date. The U.S. dollar-denominated balances and derivative financial instrument notional amounts as at the statement of financial position dates have been used in the calculations.

The sensitivity analysis of our exposure to other price risk arising from share-based compensation at the reporting date has been determined based upon a hypothetical change taking place at the relevant statement of financial position date. The relevant notional number of Common Shares at the statement of financial position date, which includes those in the cash-settled equity swap agreements, has been used in the calculations.


 

Income tax expense, which is reflected net in the sensitivity analysis, reflects the applicable statutory income tax rates for the reporting periods.

 

Years ended December 31

 

Net income

 

Other comprehensive income

 

Comprehensive income

 

(increase (decrease) in millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

Reasonably possible changes in market risks1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10% change in Cdn.$: U.S.$ exchange rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canadian dollar appreciates

 

$

(1

)

$

(25

)

$

(4

)

$

(8

)

$

(5

)

$

(33

)

Canadian dollar depreciates

 

$

1

 

$

25

 

$

6

 

$

8

 

$

7

 

$

33

 

25%2 change in Common Share price3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price increases

 

$

(8

)

$

(9

)

$

16

 

$

12

 

$

8

 

$

3

 

Price decreases

 

$

8

 

$

5

 

$

(16

)

$

(12

)

$

(8

)

$

(7

)

1           These sensitivities are hypothetical and should be used with caution. Changes in net income and/or other comprehensive income generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumption to the change in net income and/or other comprehensive income may not be linear. In this table, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the amount of net income and/or other comprehensive income is calculated without changing any other factors; in reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another, which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities.

The sensitivity analysis assumes that we would realize the changes in exchange rates; in reality, the competitive marketplace in which we operate would have an effect on this assumption.

No consideration has been made for a difference in the notional number of Common Shares associated with share-based compensation awards made during the reporting period that may have arisen due to a difference in the Common Share price.

2           To facilitate ongoing comparison of sensitivities, a constant variance of approximate magnitude has been used. Reflecting a twelve-month data period and calculated on a monthly basis, the volatility of our Common Share price as at December 31, 2016, was 13.1% (2015 – 14.1%).

3           The hypothetical effects of changes in the price of our Common Shares are restricted to those which would arise from our share-based compensation awards that are accounted for as liability instruments and the associated cash-settled equity swap agreements.

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 131


 


 

(h) Fair values

 

General

The carrying values of cash and temporary investments, accounts receivable, short-term obligations, short-term borrowings, accounts payable and certain provisions (including restructuring accounts payable) approximate their fair values due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The fair values are determined directly by reference to quoted market prices in active markets.

The carrying values of our investments accounted for using the cost method do not exceed their fair values. The fair values of our investments accounted for as available-for-sale are based on quoted market prices in active markets or other clear and objective evidence of fair value.

The fair value of our long-term debt is based on quoted market prices in active markets.

The fair values of the derivative financial instruments we use to manage our exposure to currency risks are estimated based upon quoted market prices in active markets for the same or similar financial instruments or on the current rates offered to us for financial instruments of the same maturity, as well as discounted future cash flows determined using current rates for similar financial instruments of similar maturities subject to similar risks (such fair value estimates being largely based on the Canadian dollar: U.S. dollar forward exchange rate as at the statement of financial position dates).

The fair values of the derivative financial instruments we use to manage our exposure to increases in compensation costs arising from certain forms of share-based compensation are based upon fair value estimates of the related cash-settled equity forward agreements provided by the counterparty to the transactions (such fair value estimates being largely based on our Common Share price as at the statement of financial position dates).


 

The financial instruments that we measure at fair value on a recurring basis in periods subsequent to initial recognition and the level within the fair value hierarchy at which they are measured are as set out in the following table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value measurements at reporting date using

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted prices in active

 

Significant other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

markets for identical items

 

observable inputs

 

unobservable inputs

 

 

 

Carrying value

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange derivatives

 

$ 10

 

$ 40

 

$ –

 

$ –

 

$ 10

 

$ 40

 

$ –

 

$ –

 

Share-based compensation derivatives

 

7

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

7

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

Available-for-sale portfolio investments

 

62

 

30

 

–

 

2

 

62

 

28

 

–

 

–

 

 

 

$ 79

 

$ 70

 

$ –

 

$ 2

 

$ 79

 

$ 68

 

$ –

 

$ –

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange derivatives

 

$ 30

 

$   –

 

$ –

 

$ –

 

$ 30

 

$   –

 

$ –

 

$ –

 

Share-based compensation derivatives

 

3

 

11

 

–

 

–

 

3

 

11

 

–

 

–

 

 

 

$ 33

 

$ 11

 

$ –

 

$ –

 

$ 33

 

$ 11

 

$ –

 

$ –

 

 

132 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 4

 

 

Derivative

The derivative financial instruments that we measure at fair value on a recurring basis subsequent to initial recognition are as set out in the following table.

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

Maximum

Notional

Fair value and

Notional

Fair value and

 

Designation

maturity date

amount

carrying value

amount

carrying value

Current Assets1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives used to manage

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar-denominated purchases

HFT2

2017

$

8

$

–

$

115

$

15

Currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar-denominated purchases

HFH3

2017

$

263

7

$

161

11

Currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar revenues

HFT2

2017

$

4

–

$

62

–

Changes in share-based

 

 

 

 

 

 

compensation costs (Note 13(b))

HFH3

2017

$

6

1

$

–

–

Currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar-denominated long-term

 

 

 

 

 

 

debt (Note 26(b)–(c))

HFH3

2017

$

191

3

$

243

14

 

 

 

 

$

11

 

$

40

Other Long-Term Assets1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives used to manage

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in share-based

 

 

 

 

 

 

compensation costs (Note 13(b))

HFH3

2018

$

69

$

6

$

–

$

–

Current Liabilities1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives used to manage

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar-denominated purchases

HFT2

2017

$

–

$

–

$

31

$

–

Currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar-denominated purchases

HFH3

2017

$

69

2

$

11

–

Currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar revenues

HFT2

2017

$

124

5

$

8

–

Changes in share-based

 

 

 

 

 

 

compensation costs (Note 13(b))

HFH3

2017

$

65

3

$

71

2

Currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar-denominated long-term

 

 

 

 

 

 

debt (Note 26(b)–(c))

HFH3

2017

$

422

2

$

–

–

 

 

 

 

$

12

 

$

2

Other Long-Term Liabilities1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives used to manage

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in share-based

 

 

 

 

 

 

compensation costs (Note 13(b))

HFH3

2017

$

–

$

–

$

68

$

9

Currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar-denominated long-term

 

 

 

 

 

 

debt (Note 26(b)–(c))

HFH3

2027

$

1,036

21

$

–

–

 

 

 

 

$

21

 

$

9

1    Derivative financial assets and liabilities are not set off.

2    Designated as held for trading (HFT) upon initial recognition; hedge accounting is not applied.

3    Designated as held for hedging (HFH) upon initial recognition (cash flow hedging item); hedge accounting is applied.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 133


 

Non-derivative

Our long-term debt, which is measured at amortized cost, and the fair value thereof, are as set out in the following table.

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Carrying value

Fair value

Carrying value

Fair value

Long-term debt (Note 26)

$ 12,931

$ 13,533

$ 12,038

$ 12,575

 

(i) Recognition of derivative gains and losses

The following table sets out the gains and losses, excluding income tax effects, on derivative instruments that are classified as cash flow hedging items and their location within the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income. There was no ineffective portion of derivative instruments classified as cash flow hedging items for the periods presented.

 

 

Amount of gain (loss) recognized

 

Gain (loss) reclassified from other comprehensive

 

in other comprehensive income

 

income to income (effective portion) (Note 10)

 

(effective portion) (Note 10)

 

Amount

Years ended December 31 (millions)

2016

2015

Location

2016

2015

Derivatives used to manage

 

 

 

 

 

Currency risks arising from U.S. dollar-denominated purchases

$ (12)

$ 12 

Goods and services purchased

$ (9)

$ 2

Changes in share-based compensation costs (Note 13(b))

19 

(15)

Employee benefits expense

8 

–

Currency risks arising from U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt (Note 26(b)–(c))

(54)

61 

Financing costs

(20)

61

 

$ (47)

$ 58 

 

$ (21)

$ 63

 

The following table sets out the gains and losses arising from derivative instruments that are classified as held for trading and that are not designated as being in a hedging relationship, and their location within the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income.

 

 

 

 

Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

 

Location

2016

2015

Derivatives used to manage currency risks

 

 

Financing costs

$ (2)

$ 10

 

 

Segment information

 

 

 


General

Operating segments are components of an entity that engage in business activities from which they earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses related to transactions with the other component(s)), the operating results of which are regularly reviewed by a chief operating decision-maker to make resource allocation decisions and to assess performance. The operating segments that are regularly reported to our Chief Executive Officer (our chief operating decision-maker) are wireless and wireline.

As we do not currently aggregate operating segments, our currently reportable segments are also wireless and wireline. The wireless segment

includes network revenues (data and voice) and equipment sales arising from mobile technologies. The wireline segment includes data revenues (which include Internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology and cloud-based services; business process outsourcing; and certain healthcare solutions), voice and other telecommunications services revenues (excluding wireless arising from mobile technologies), and equipment sales. Segmentation is based on similarities in technology (mobile versus fixed), the technical expertise required to deliver the service and products, customer characteristics, the distribution channels used and regulatory treatment. Intersegment sales are recorded at the exchange value, which is the amount agreed to by the parties.


 

 

134 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 5

 

 

 

The segment information regularly reported to our chief operating decision-maker, and the reconciliations thereof to our revenues and income before income taxes, are as set out in the following table.

 

 

 

Wireless

 

Wireline

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

External revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service

 

$ 6,569

 

$ 6,338

 

$ 5,431

 

$ 5,252

 

$       –

 

$       –

 

$ 12,000

 

$ 11,590

Equipment

 

509

 

586

 

216

 

254

 

–

 

–

 

725

 

840

Revenues arising from contracts with customers

 

7,078

 

6,924

 

5,647

 

5,506

 

–

 

–

 

12,725

 

12,430

Other operating income

 

37

 

9

 

37

 

63

 

–

 

–

 

74

 

72

 

 

7,115

 

6,933

 

5,684

 

5,569

 

–

 

–

 

12,799

 

12,502

Intersegment revenues

 

58

 

61

 

194

 

174

 

(252)

 

(235)

 

–

 

–

 

 

$ 7,173

 

$ 6,994

 

$ 5,878

 

$ 5,743

 

$ (252)

 

$ (235)

 

$ 12,799

 

$ 12,502

EBITDA1

 

$ 2,906

 

$ 2,806

 

$ 1,323

 

$ 1,456

 

$       –

 

$       –

 

$   4,229

 

$   4,262

CAPEX, excluding spectrum licences2

 

$    982

 

$    893

 

$ 1,986

 

$ 1,684

 

$       –

 

$       –

 

$    2,968

 

$   2,577

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues – external (above)

 

$ 12,799

 

$ 12,502

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goods and services purchased

 

5,631

 

5,532

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefits expense

 

2,939

 

2,708

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA (above)

 

4,229

 

4,262

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

1,564

 

1,475

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization

 

483

 

434

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

2,182

 

2,353

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing costs

 

520

 

447

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

$  1,662

 

$ 1,906

 

1           Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS-IASB and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers; we define EBITDA as operating revenues less goods and services purchased and employee benefits expense. We have issued guidance on, and report, EBITDA because it is a key measure that management uses to evaluate the performance of our business, and it is also utilized in measuring compliance with certain debt covenants.

 

2           Total capital expenditures (CAPEX); see Note 31(a) for a reconciliation of capital expenditures, excluding spectrum licences to cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences reported in the Consolidated statements of cash flows.

 


Geographical information

 

We attribute revenues from external customers to individual countries on the basis of the location where the goods and/or services are provided. We do not have material revenues that we attribute to countries other

than Canada (our country of domicile), nor do we have material amounts of property, plant, equipment, intangible assets and/or goodwill located outside of Canada.


 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 135


 

 

Other operating income

 

 

 

 


 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

Note

2016

2015

 

Government assistance, including

 

 

 

 

 

deferral account amortization

 

 

$ 36

$ 48

 

Investment income (loss)

 

 

27

(5

)

Interest income

 

21(c)

1

3

 

Gain on disposal of assets and other

 

 

10

26

 

 

 

 

$ 74

$ 72

 

 

We receive government assistance, as defined by IFRS-IASB, from a number of sources and include such amounts received in Other operating income.

 

CRTC subsidy

Local exchange carriers’ costs of providing the level of residential basic telephone services that the CRTC requires to be provided in high cost serving areas are greater than the amounts the CRTC allows the local exchange carriers to charge for the level of service. To ameliorate the situation, the CRTC directs the collection of contribution payments, in a central fund, from all registered Canadian telecommunications service providers (including voice, data and wireless service providers) that are then disbursed to incumbent local exchange carriers as

 

subsidy payments to partially offset the costs of providing residential basic telephone services in non-forborne high cost serving areas. The subsidy payments are based upon a total subsidy requirement calculated on a per network access line/per band subsidy rate. For the year ended December 31, 2016, our subsidy receipts were $20 million (2015 – $22 million).

 

The CRTC currently determines, at a national level, the total annual contribution requirement necessary to pay the subsidies and then collects contribution payments from the Canadian telecommunications service providers, calculated as a percentage of their CRTC-defined telecommunications service revenue. The final contribution expense rate for 2016 was 0.53% and the interim rate for 2017 has been set at 0.63%. For the year ended December 31, 2016, our contributions to the central fund, which are accounted for as goods and services purchased, were $23 million (2015 – $26 million).

 

Government of Quebec

Salaries for qualifying employment positions in the province of Quebec, mainly in the information technology sector, are eligible for tax credits. In respect of such tax credits, for the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded $6 million (2015 – $8 million).


 

 

 

 

Employee benefits expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transformative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

compensation

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

Note

 

Traditional

 

(Note 15(c))

 

Total

 

Total

Employee benefits expense – gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wages and salaries

 

 

 

$ 2,548

 

$ 185

 

$ 2,733

 

$ 2,537

 

Share-based compensation1

 

13

 

114

 

67

 

181

 

125

 

Pensions – defined benefit

 

14(b)

 

92

 

–

 

92

 

118

 

Pensions – defined contribution

 

14(f)

 

89

 

41

 

130

 

90

 

Other defined benefits

 

14(g)

 

1

 

–

 

1

 

–

 

Restructuring costs1

 

15(b)

 

112

 

–

 

112

 

156

 

Other

 

 

 

153

 

12

 

165

 

149

 

 

 

 

 

3,109

 

305

 

3,414

 

3,175

 

Capitalized internal labour costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

(314

)

–

 

(314

)

(319

)

Intangible assets subject to amortization

 

 

 

(161

)

–

 

(161

)

(148

)

 

 

 

 

(475

)

–

 

(475

)

(467

)

 

 

 

 

$ 2,634

 

$ 305

 

$ 2,939

 

$ 2,708

 

1           For the year ended December 31, 2016, $4 of share-based compensation was included in restructuring costs (2015 – $7).

 

 

136 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTES 6–9

 

 

 

Financing costs

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

Note

2016

2015

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

Interest on long-term debt – gross

 

$ 538

$ 498

 

Capitalized long-term debt interest1

18(a)

(52)

(45

)

Interest on long-term debt – net

 

486

453

 

Interest on short-term borrowings

 

 

 

 

and other

 

4

5

 

Interest accretion on provisions

25

12

12

 

 

 

502

470

 

Employee defined benefit plans net interest

14(b),(g)

6

27

 

Foreign exchange

 

15

(25

)

 

 

523

472

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

Interest on income tax refunds

 

(1)

(23

)

Other

 

(2)

(2

)

 

 

(3)

(25

)

 

 

$ 520

$ 447

 

 

1           Long-term debt interest at a composite rate of 3.31% was capitalized to intangible assets with indefinite lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a) Expense composition and rate reconciliation

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

2016

2015

Current income tax expense

 

 

 

For the current reporting period

$ 506

$ 553

 

Adjustments recognized in the current period

 

 

 

for income taxes of prior periods

(38)

(97

)

 

468

456

 

Deferred income tax expense (recovery)

 

 

 

Arising from the origination and reversal

 

 

 

of temporary differences

(64)

(47

)

Revaluation of deferred income tax liability

 

 

 

to reflect future statutory income tax rates

(4)

48

 

Adjustments recognized in the current period

 

 

 

for income taxes of prior periods

26

67

 

 

(42)

68

 

 

$ 426

$ 524

 

 

Our income tax expense and effective income tax rate differ from those calculated by applying the applicable statutory rates for the following reasons:

 

Years ended December 31 ($ in millions)

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

Income taxes computed at

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

applicable statutory rates

$ 444

 

26.7

%

$ 505

 

26.5

%

Revaluation of deferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

income tax liability to reflect

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

future income tax rates

(4

)

(0.2

)

48

 

2.5

 

Adjustments recognized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in the current period for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

income taxes of prior periods

(12

)

(0.8

)

(30

)

(1.6

)

Other

(2

)

(0.1

)

1

 

0.1

 

Income tax expense per

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

of income and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

comprehensive income

$ 426

 

25.6

%

$ 524

 

27.5

%

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 137


 

 


(b) Temporary differences

 

We must make significant estimates in respect of the composition of our deferred income tax liability. Our operations are complex and the related

income tax interpretations, regulations, legislation and jurisprudence are continually changing. As a result, there are usually some income tax matters in question.


 

Temporary differences comprising the net deferred income tax liability and the amounts of deferred income taxes recognized in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income and the Consolidated statements of changes in owners’ equity are estimated as follows:

 

 

Property, plant

 

Partnership

Net

 

 

 

 

 

 

and equipment

 

income

pension and

 

Losses

 

 

 

 

and intangible

Intangible

unallocated

share-based

Reserves

available to

 

Net deferred

 

assets subject to

assets with

for income

compensation

not currently

be carried

 

income tax

(millions)

amortization

indefinite lives

tax purposes

amounts

deductible

forward1

Other

liability

As at January 1, 2015

$ 601

$ 1,289

$ 359

$ (194)

$ (135)

$ (5)

$ 21

$ 1,936

 

Deferred income tax expense recognized in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

184

91

(164)

(5)

(25)

2

(15)

68

 

Other comprehensive income

–

–

–

154

–

–

(3)

151

 

As at December 31, 2015

785

1,380

195

(45)

(160)

(3)

3

2,155

 

Deferred income tax expense recognized in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

85

77

(200)

(7)

12

(3)

(6)

(42

)

Other comprehensive income

–

–

–

4

–

–

(10)

(6

)

Deferred income taxes charged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

directly to owners’ equity and other

–

–

–

–

–

–

(5)

(5

)

As at December 31, 20162

$ 870

$ 1,457

$ (5)

$ (48)

$ (148)

$ (6)

$ (18)

$ 2,102

 

 

1    We expect to be able to utilize our non-capital losses prior to expiry.

2    Deferred tax liability of $2,107, net of deferred tax asset of $5 (included in Other long-term assets).

 

 


IFRS-IASB requires the separate disclosure of temporary differences arising from the carrying value of investments in subsidiaries and partnerships exceeding their tax base, for which no deferred income tax liabilities have been recognized unless the parent is able to control the timing of the reversal of the difference and it is probable that it will not reverse in the foreseeable future. In our specific instance, this is relevant to our investments in Canadian subsidiaries and Canadian partnerships. We are not required to recognize such deferred income tax liabilities, as we are in a position to control the timing and manner of the reversal of the temporary differences, which would not be expected to be exigible to income tax, and it is probable that such differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future. We are in a position to control the timing and manner of the reversal of temporary differences in respect of our non-Canadian subsidiaries, and it is probable that such differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

(c) Other

 

We have net capital losses and such losses may only be applied against realized taxable capital gains. We expect to include a net capital loss carry-forward of $4 million (2015 – $4 million) in our Canadian income tax returns. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recognized the benefit of $NIL (2015 – $3 million) of net capital losses.

 

We conduct research and development activities, which are eligible to earn Investment Tax Credits. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded Investment Tax Credits of $5 million (2015 – $6 million). Of this amount, $1 million (2015 – $4 million) was recorded as a reduction of property, plant and equipment and/or intangible assets and the balance was recorded as a reduction of Goods and services purchased.


 

 

138 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 10

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item never

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reclassified

 

 

 

 

Items that may subsequently be reclassified to income

 

to income

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized fair value of derivatives designated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

as cash flow hedges in current period (Note 4(i))

 

 

 

Change in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior period

 

 

 

Cumulative

 

unrealized

 

Accumulated

 

Employee

 

 

 

 

 

 

(gains) losses

 

 

 

foreign currency

 

fair value of

 

other

 

defined

 

Other

 

 

Gains (losses)

 

transferred to

 

 

 

translation

 

available-for-sale

 

comprehensive

 

benefit plan

 

comprehensive

(millions)

 

arising

 

net income

 

Total

 

adjustment

 

financial assets

 

income

 

re-measurements

 

income

Accumulated balance as at January 1, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

$     4

 

$ 18

 

$ 16

 

$ 38

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount arising

 

$   58

 

$ (63)

 

(5)

 

25

 

–

 

20

 

$ 597

 

$ 617

Income taxes

 

$   15

 

$ (16)

 

(1)

 

–

 

–

 

(1

)

152

 

151

Net

 

 

 

 

 

(4)

 

25

 

–

 

21

 

$ 445

 

$ 466

Accumulated balance as at December 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

–

 

43

 

16

 

59

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount arising

 

$ (47)

 

$   21

 

(26)

 

5

 

–

 

(21

)

$     –

 

$ (21)

Income taxes

 

$ (13)

 

$     7

 

(6)

 

–

 

–

 

(6

)

–

 

(6)

Net

 

 

 

 

 

(20)

 

5

 

–

 

(15

)

$     –

 

$ (15)

Accumulated balance as at December 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

$  (20)

 

$ 48

 

$ 16

 

$ 44

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 42

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 44

 

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2016, our estimate of the net amount of existing gains (losses) arising from the unrealized fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges that are reported in accumulated

other comprehensive income and are expected to be reclassified to net income in the next twelve months, excluding income tax effects, is $(1) million.

 


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 139


 

 

Per share amounts

 

 

 

 


Basic net income per Common Share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to Common Shares by the total weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per Common Share is calculated to give effect to share option awards and restricted stock units.

 

The following table presents the reconciliations of the denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations. Net income was equal to diluted net income for all periods presented.

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

Basic total weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding

 

592

 

603

Effect of dilutive securities
Share option awards

 

1

 

1

Diluted total weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding

 

593

 

604

 

For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, no outstanding share option awards were excluded in the computation of diluted net income per Common Share.


 

 

Dividends per share

 

 

 

 

(a) Dividends declared

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(millions except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

Declared

 

Paid to

 

 

 

Declared

 

Paid to

 

 

Common Share dividends

 

Effective

 

Per share

 

shareholders

 

Total

 

Effective

 

Per share

 

shareholders

 

Total

Quarter 1 dividend

 

Mar. 11, 2016

 

$ 0.44

 

Apr. 1, 2016

 

$    261

 

Mar. 11, 2015

 

$ 0.40

 

Apr. 1, 2015

 

$   243

Quarter 2 dividend

 

June 10, 2016

 

0.46

 

July 4, 2016

 

274

 

June 10, 2015

 

0.42

 

July 2, 2015

 

253

Quarter 3 dividend

 

Sep. 9, 2016

 

0.46

 

Oct. 3, 2016

 

272

 

Sep. 10, 2015

 

0.42

 

Oct. 1, 2015

 

252

Quarter 4 dividend

 

Dec. 9, 2016

 

0.48

 

Jan. 3, 2017

 

284

 

Dec. 11, 2015

 

0.44

 

Jan. 4, 2016

 

263

 

 

 

 

$ 1.84

 

 

 

$ 1,091

 

 

 

$ 1.68

 

 

 

$ 1,011

 

On February 8, 2017, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.48 per share on our issued and outstanding Common Shares payable on April 3, 2017, to holders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2017. The final amount of the dividend payment depends upon the number of Common Shares issued and outstanding at the close of business on March 10, 2017.

 

(b) Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan

We have a Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan under which eligible holders of Common Shares may acquire additional Common Shares by reinvesting dividends and by making additional optional cash payments to the trustee. Under this Plan, we have the option of offering Common Shares from Treasury or having the trustee acquire Common Shares in the stock market.

 

We may, at our discretion, offer Common Shares at a discount of up to 5% from the market price under the Plan. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we opted to have the trustee acquire the Common Shares in the stock market with no discount offered. In respect of Common Share dividends declared during the year ended December 31, 2016, $59 million (2015 – $59 million) was to be reinvested in Common Shares.

Under the share purchase feature of the Plan, eligible shareholders can make optional cash payments and purchase our Common Shares at the market price without brokerage commissions or service charges; such purchases are subject to a minimum investment of $100 per transaction and a maximum investment of $20,000 per calendar year.


 

 

140 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

 


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTES 11–13

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

(a) Details of share-based compensation expense

Reflected in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Employee benefits expense and in the Consolidated statements of cash flows are the following share-based compensation amounts:

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 

 

Employee

 

Associated

 

Statement

 

Employee

 

Associated

 

Statement

 

 

 

 

benefits

 

operating

 

of cash flows

 

benefits

 

operating

 

of cash flows

 

 

Note

 

expense

 

cash outflows

 

adjustment

 

expense

 

cash outflows

 

adjustment

Restricted stock units1

 

(b)

 

$    81

 

$   (83)

 

$   (2)

 

$     93

 

$ (132)

 

$ (39)

Transformative compensation2

 

15(c)

 

64

 

(64)

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

Employee share purchase plan3

 

(c)

 

40

 

(40)

 

–

 

38

 

(38)

 

–

Share option awards

 

(d)

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

1

 

–

 

1

 

 

 

 

$  185

 

$ (187)

 

$   (2)

 

$   132

 

$ (170)

 

$ (38)

 

1    The expense arising from restricted stock units was net of cash-settled equity swap agreement effects (see Note 4(i)). Within employee benefits expense (see Note 7), restricted stock unit expense of $77 (2015 – $86) is presented as share-based compensation and the balance is included in restructuring costs.

2    As set out in Note 15(c), we made immediately vesting, transformative compensation lump-sum payments to substantially all of our existing unionized and non-unionized Canadian-sited workforces. For the unionized and non-unionized workforces, approximately 40% of the after-tax value of such qualifying lump-sum payments was paid in our Common Shares (see Note 28(b)) by way of an employee benefit trust.

As a result of our being considered for accounting purposes to control an employee benefit plan trust that was used to effect these Common Share payments, such transactions have been recognized as treasury stock transactions and we have applied the cost method of accounting. As at December 31, 2016, the employee benefit plan trust held no Common Shares.

3    Employees receiving an immediately vesting, transformative compensation lump-sum payment contributed a percentage of their payment to the employee share purchase plan consistent with their regular compensation payment, as further described in (c). Our associated employer expense and contributions were $3.


For the year ended December 31, 2016, the associated operating cash outflows in respect of restricted stock units were net of cash inflows arising from the cash-settled equity swap agreements of $9 million (2015 – $27 million). For the year ended December 31, 2016, the income tax benefit arising from share-based compensation was $49 million (2015 – $35 million).

 

(b) Restricted stock units

 

General

 

We use restricted stock units as a form of retention and incentive compensation. Each restricted stock unit is nominally equal in value to one equity share and is nominally entitled to the dividends that would arise thereon if it were an issued and outstanding equity share. The notional dividends are recorded as additional issuances of restricted stock units during the life of the restricted stock unit. Due to the notional dividend mechanism, the grant-date fair value of restricted stock units equals the fair market value of the corresponding equity shares at the grant date. The restricted stock units generally become payable when vesting is completed and typically vest over a period of 33 months

(the requisite service period). The vesting method of restricted stock units, which is determined on or before the date of grant, may be either cliff or graded; the majority of restricted stock units outstanding have cliff vesting. The associated liability is normally cash-settled.

 

TELUS Corporation restricted stock units

 

We also award restricted stock units that largely have the same features as our general restricted stock units, but have a variable payout (0%–200%) that depends upon the achievement of our total customer connections performance condition (with a weighting of 25%) and the total shareholder return on our Common Shares relative to an international peer group of telecommunications companies (with a weighting of 75%). The grant-date fair value of the notional subset of our restricted stock units affected by the total customer connections performance condition equals the fair market value of the corresponding Common Shares at the grant date, and thus the notional subset has been included in the presentation of our restricted stock units with only service conditions. The recurring estimate, which reflects a variable payout, of the fair value of the notional subset of our restricted stock units affected by the relative total shareholder return performance element is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation.

 


The following table presents a summary of outstanding TELUS Corporation non-vested restricted stock units.

 

Number of non-vested restricted stock units as at December 31

 

2016

 

2015

Restricted stock units without market performance conditions

 

 

 

 

Restricted stock units with only service conditions

 

3,260,745

 

3,429,008

Notional subset affected by total customer connections performance condition

 

130,234

 

135,404

 

 

3,390,979

 

3,564,412

Restricted stock units with market performance conditions

 

 

 

 

Notional subset affected by relative total shareholder return performance condition

 

390,703

 

406,243

 

 

3,781,682

 

3,970,655

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 141

 


 

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to TELUS Corporation restricted stock units without market performance conditions.

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

Number of restricted stock units1

 

average grant-

 

Number of restricted stock units1

 

average grant-

 

 

Non-vested

 

Vested

 

date fair value

 

Non-vested

 

Vested

 

date fair value

Outstanding, beginning of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-vested

 

3,564,412

 

–

 

$ 41.42

 

5,471,978

 

–

 

$ 35.04

Vested

 

–

 

29,008

 

$ 40.00

 

–

 

38,585

 

$ 34.20

Issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial award

 

1,942,446

 

–

 

$ 39.74

 

1,844,161

 

–

 

$ 44.00

In lieu of dividends

 

209,027

 

381

 

$ 41.63

 

224,336

 

385

 

$ 42.31

Vested

 

(2,024,130)

 

2,024,130

 

$ 39.31

 

(3,810,514)

 

3,810,514

 

$ 33.44

Settled in cash

 

–

 

(2,004,126)

 

$ 39.29

 

–

 

(3,820,476)

 

$ 33.34

Forfeited and cancelled

 

(300,776)

 

(20,285)

 

$ 35.70

 

(165,549)

 

–

 

$ 38.19

Outstanding, end of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-vested

 

3,390,979

 

–

 

$ 41.71

 

3,564,412

 

–

 

$ 41.42

Vested

 

–

 

29,108

 

$ 38.09

 

–

 

29,008

 

$ 40.00

 

1    Excluding the notional subset of restricted stock units affected by the relative total shareholder return performance element.

 

With respect to certain issuances of TELUS Corporation restricted stock units, we have entered into cash-settled equity forward agreements that fix our cost; that information, as well as a schedule of non-vested TELUS Corporation restricted stock units outstanding as at December 31, 2016, is set out in the following table.

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

Number of

 

Total number of

 

 

 

fixed-cost

 

Our fixed cost

 

variable-cost

 

non-vested

 

 

 

restricted

 

per restricted

 

restricted

 

restricted

 

Vesting in years ending December 31

 

stock units

 

stock unit

 

stock units

 

stock units1

 

2017

 

1,610,984

 

$ 45.35

 

35,609

 

1,646,593

 

2018

 

1,604,835

 

$ 40.77

 

139,551

 

1,744,386

 

 

 

3,215,819

 

 

 

175,160

 

3,390,979

 

 

1    Excluding the notional subset of restricted stock units affected by the relative total shareholder return performance element.

 

TELUS International (Cda) Inc. restricted stock units

 

We also award restricted stock units that largely have the same features as the TELUS Corporation restricted stock units, but have a variable payout (0%–150%) that depends upon the achievement of TELUS International (Cda) Inc. financial performance and non-market quality-of-service performance conditions.

 

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to TELUS International (Cda) Inc. restricted stock units.

 

Year ended December 31

 

2016

 

 

U.S.$ denominated

 

 

 

Canadian $ denominated

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

non-vested

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

restricted

 

Grant-date

 

Number of restricted stock units

 

Grant-date

 

 

stock units

 

fair value

 

Non-vested

 

Vested

 

fair value

Issued – initial award

 

156,936

 

U.S.$ 21.92

 

32,299

 

–

 

$ 21.36

Vested

 

–

 

U.S.$        –

 

(32,299

)

32,299

 

$ 21.36

Outstanding, end of period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-vested

 

156,936

 

U.S.$ 21.92

 

–

 

–

 

$        –

Vested

 

–

 

U.S.$        –

 

–

 

32,299

 

$ 21.36

 

 

142 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 13

 

 

 


(c) Employee share purchase plan

We have an employee share purchase plan under which eligible employees up to a certain job classification can purchase our Common Shares through regular payroll deductions by contributing between 1% and 20% of their pay; for more highly compensated job classifications, employees may contribute between 1% and 55% of their pay. For every dollar contributed by an employee, up to a maximum of 6% of eligible employee pay, we are required to make a contribution at a percentage between 20% and 40%. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we contributed 40% for employees up to a certain job classification; for more highly compensated job classifications, we contributed 35%. We record our contributions as a component of Employee benefits expense and our contribution vests on the earlier of a plan participant’s last day in our employ or the last business day of the calendar year of our contribution, unless the plan participant’s employment is terminated with cause, in which case the plan participant will forfeit any in-year contribution from us.

 

(d) Share option awards

 

General

We use share option awards as a form of retention and incentive compensation. We apply the fair value method of accounting for share-based compensation awards granted to officers and other employees. Share option awards typically have a three-year vesting period (the requisite service period), but may vest over periods of up to five years. The vesting method of share option awards, which is determined on or before the

 

date of grant, may be either cliff or graded; all share option awards granted subsequent to 2004 have been cliff-vesting awards.

The weighted average fair value of share option awards granted is calculated by using the Black-Scholes model (a closed-form option pricing model). The risk-free interest rate used in determining the fair value of the share option awards is based on a Government of Canada yield curve that is current at the time of grant. The expected lives of the share option awards are based on our historical share option award exercise data. Similarly, expected volatility considers the historical volatility in the price of our Common Shares for TELUS Corporation share options and historical volatility in the price of a peer group’s shares in respect of TELUS International (Cda) Inc. share options. The dividend yield is the annualized dividend current at the time of grant divided by the share option award exercise price. Dividends are not paid on unexercised share option awards and are not subject to vesting.

 

TELUS Corporation share options

Employees may receive options to purchase Common Shares at a price equal to the fair market value at the time of grant. Share option awards granted under the plan may be exercised over specific periods not to exceed seven years from the time of grant. No share options were awarded in fiscal 2016 or 2015.

These share option awards have a net-equity settlement feature. The optionee does not have the choice of exercising the net-equity settlement feature; it is at our option whether the exercise of a share option award is settled as a share option or settled using the net-equity settlement feature.


 

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to the TELUS Corporation share option plan.

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Number of

 

average share

 

Number of

 

average share

 

 

 

share options

 

option price

 

share options

 

option price

 

Outstanding, beginning of period

 

2,375,596

 

$ 22.96

 

4,667,422

 

$ 23.53

 

Exercised1

 

(925,682

)

$ 20.75

 

(2,064,100

)

$ 24.23

 

Forfeited

 

(13,112

)

$ 24.49

 

(72,350

)

$ 26.13

 

Expired

 

(19,109

)

$ 15.29

 

(155,376

)

$ 21.90

 

Outstanding, end of period

 

1,417,693

 

$ 24.49

 

2,375,596

 

$ 22.96

 

 

1           The total intrinsic value of share option awards exercised for the year ended December 31, 2016, was $19 million (2015 – $38 million), reflecting a weighted average price at the dates of exercise of $41.06 per share (2015 – $42.64 per share). The difference between the number of share options exercised and the number of Common Shares issued (as reflected in the Consolidated statements of changes in owners’ equity) is the effect of our choosing to settle share option award exercises using the net-equity settlement feature.

 

The following is a life and exercise price stratification of outstanding TELUS Corporation share options, all of which are vested, as at December 31, 2016.

 

Options outstanding and exercisable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Range of option prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Low

 

$ 16.31

 

$ 21.42

 

$ 28.56

 

$ 16.31

 

 

 

High

 

$ 18.92

 

$ 25.64

 

$ 31.69

 

$ 31.69

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

average

 

Year of expiry and number of options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

price

 

2017

 

295,887

 

8,180

 

–

 

304,067

 

$ 16.53

 

2018

 

–

 

477,308

 

–

 

477,308

 

$ 23.29

 

2019

 

–

 

–

 

636,318

 

636,318

 

$ 29.21

 

 

 

295,887

 

485,488

 

636,318

 

1,417,693

 

 

 

Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)

 

0.2

 

1.2

 

2.4

 

1.5

 

 

 

Weighted average price

 

$ 16.37

 

$ 23.27

 

$ 29.21

 

$ 24.49

 

 

 

Aggregate intrinsic value1 (millions)

 

$        8

 

$        9

 

$        9

 

$      26

 

 

 

 

1           The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated based on the December 31, 2016, price of $42.75 per Common Share.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 143


 


TELUS International (Cda) Inc. share options

Employees may receive equity share options (equity-settled) to purchase TELUS International (Cda) Inc. common shares at a price equal to, or a multiple of, the fair market value at the time of grant and/or phantom share options (cash-settled) that provide them with exposure to TELUS International (Cda) Inc. common share price appreciation. Share option

 

awards granted under the plan may be exercised over specific periods not to exceed ten years from the time of grant. All equity share option awards and most phantom share option awards have a variable payout (0%–100%) that depends upon the achievement of TELUS International (Cda) Inc. financial performance and non-market quality-of-service performance conditions.


 

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. share option plan.

 

Year ended December 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

U.S.$ denominated

 

Canadian $ denominated

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

average share

 

Number of

 

Share

 

 

 

share options

 

option price

1

share options

 

option price

2

Granted and outstanding, end of period

 

573,354

 

U.S.$ 34.71

 

53,832

 

$ 21.36

 

 

1           The range of share option prices is U.S.$21.90–U.S.$40.26 per TELUS International (Cda) Inc. equity share and the weighted average remaining contractual life is 10 years.

2           The weighted average remaining contractual life is 9.5 years.

 

 

 

Employee future benefits

 

 


We have a number of defined benefit and defined contribution plans providing pension and other retirement and post-employment benefits to most of our employees. As at December 31, 2016 and 2015, all registered defined benefit pension plans were closed to substantially all new participants and substantially all benefits had vested. The benefit plans in which our employees are participants reflect developments in our corporate history.

 

TELUS Corporation Pension Plan

Management and professional employees in Alberta who joined us prior to January 1, 2001, and certain unionized employees who joined us prior to June 9, 2011, are covered by this contributory defined benefit pension plan, which comprises slightly more than one-half of our total defined benefit obligation accrued. The plan contains a supplemental benefit account that may provide indexation of up to 70% of the annual increase in a specified cost-of-living index. Pensionable remuneration is determined by the average of the best five years in the last ten years preceding retirement.

 

Pension Plan for Management and Professional Employees of TELUS Corporation

This defined benefit pension plan, which with certain limited exceptions ceased accepting new participants on January 1, 2006, and which comprises approximately one-quarter of our total defined benefit obligation accrued, provides a non-contributory base level of pension benefits. Additionally, on a contributory basis, employees annually can choose increased and/or enhanced levels of pension benefits above the base level. At an enhanced level of pension benefits, the plan has indexation of 100% of the annual increase in a specified cost-of-living index, to an annual maximum of 2%. Pensionable remuneration is determined by the annualized average of the best 60 consecutive months.

 

TELUS Québec Defined Benefit Pension Plan

This contributory defined benefit pension plan, which ceased accepting new participants on April 14, 2009, covers any employee not governed by a collective agreement in Quebec who joined us prior to April 1, 2006, any non-supervisory employee governed by a collective agreement who joined us prior to September 6, 2006, and certain other unionized employees. The plan comprises approximately one-tenth of our total defined benefit obligation accrued. The plan has no indexation and pensionable remuneration is determined by the average of the best four years.

 

TELUS Edmonton Pension Plan

This contributory defined benefit pension plan ceased accepting new participants on January 1, 1998. Indexation is 60% of the annual increase in a specified cost-of-living index and pensionable remuneration is determined by the annualized average of the best 60 consecutive months. The plan comprises less than one-tenth of our total defined benefit obligation accrued.

 

Other defined benefit pension plans

In addition to the foregoing plans, we have non-registered, non-contributory supplementary defined benefit pension plans, which have the effect of maintaining the earned pension benefit once the allowable maximums in the registered plans are attained. As is common with non-registered plans of this nature, these plans are typically funded only as benefits are paid. These plans comprise less than 5% of our total defined benefit obligation accrued.

We have three contributory non-indexed defined benefit pension plans arising from a pre-merger acquisition, which comprise less than 1% of our total defined benefit obligation accrued; these plans ceased accepting new participants in September 1989.


 

 

144 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 14

 

 


 

Telecommunication Workers Pension Plan

Certain employees in British Columbia are covered by a negotiated-cost, target-benefit union pension plan. Our contributions are determined in accordance with provisions of negotiated labour contracts, the current one of which expires December 31, 2021, and are generally based on employee gross earnings. We are not required to guarantee the benefits or assure the solvency of the plan, and we are not liable to the plan for other participating employers’ obligations. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, our contributions comprised a significant proportion of the employer contributions to the union pension plan; similarly, a significant proportion of the plan participants were our active and retired employee participants.

 

British Columbia Public Service Pension Plan

Certain employees in British Columbia are covered by a public service pension plan. Contributions are determined in accordance with provisions of labour contracts negotiated by the Province of British Columbia and are generally based on employee gross earnings.

 

Defined contribution pension plans

We offer three defined contribution pension plans, which are contributory, and these are the pension plans that we sponsor that are available to our non-unionized and certain of our unionized employees. Employees, annually, can generally choose to contribute to the plans at a rate of between 3% and 6% of their pensionable earnings. Generally, we match 100% of the contributions of employees up to 5% of their pensionable earnings and 80% of employee contributions greater than that. Membership in a defined contribution pension plan is generally voluntary until an employee’s third-year service anniversary. In the event that annual contributions exceed allowable maximums, excess amounts are in certain cases contributed to a non-registered supplementary defined contribution pension plan.

 

Other defined benefit plans

Other defined benefit plans, which are all non-contributory and, as at December 31, 2016 and 2015, non-funded, are comprised of a healthcare plan for retired employees and a life insurance plan, both of which ceased accepting new participants on January 1, 1997.

 

(a) Defined benefit pension plans – funded status overview

Information concerning our defined benefit pension plans, in aggregate, is as follows:

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

Present value of the defined benefit obligations

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

 

 

$ 8,620

 

$ 9,036

 

Current service cost

 

 

 

109

 

126

 

Past service cost

 

 

 

2

 

11

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

340

 

349

 

Actuarial loss (gain) arising from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demographic assumptions

 

 

 

25

 

(69

)

Financial assumptions

 

 

 

184

 

(418

)

Benefits paid

 

 

 

(443

)

(415

)

Balance at end of year

 

 

 

8,837

 

8,620

 

Plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value at beginning of year

 

 

 

8,641

 

8,480

 

Return on plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notional interest income on plan assets at discount rate

 

 

 

339

 

325

 

Actual return on plan assets greater than discount rate

 

 

 

247

 

139

 

Contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer contributions (d)

 

 

 

70

 

93

 

Employees’ contributions

 

 

 

25

 

25

 

Benefits paid

 

 

 

(443

)

(415

)

Administrative fees

 

 

 

(6

)

(6

)

Fair value at end of year

 

 

 

8,873

 

8,641

 

Effect of asset ceiling limit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

 

 

(74

)

(42

)

Change

 

 

 

(41

)

(32

)

End of year

 

 

 

(115

)

(74

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year, net of asset ceiling limit

 

 

 

8,758

 

8,567

 

Funded status – plan surplus (deficit)

 

 

 

$     (79

)

$     (53

)

 

The plan surplus (deficit) is reflected in the Consolidated statements of financial position as follows:

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

Funded status – plan surplus (deficit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension benefit plans

 

 

 

$     (79

)

$     (53

)

Other benefit plans

 

 

 

(43

)

(42

)

 

 

 

 

$   (122

)

$     (95

)

Presented in the Consolidated statements of financial position as:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other long-term assets

 

20

 

$    358

 

$    356

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

27

 

(480

)

(451

)

 

 

 

 

$   (122

)

$     (95

)

 

The measurement date used to determine the plan assets and defined benefit obligations accrued was December 31.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 145


 

(b) Defined benefit pension plans – details

 

Expense

Our defined benefit pension plan expense (recovery) was as follows:

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

Employee

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Employee

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

benefits

 

Financing

 

comprehensive

 

 

 

benefits

 

Financing

 

comprehensive

 

 

 

 

expense

 

costs

 

income

 

 

 

expense

 

costs

 

income

 

 

 

Recognized in

(Note 7)

 

(Note 8)

 

(Note 10)

 

Total

 

(Note 7)

 

(Note 8)

 

(Note 10)

 

Total

 

Current service cost

$ 84

 

$    –

 

$    –

 

$  84

 

$ 101

 

$    –

 

$     –

 

$  101

 

Past service costs

2

 

–

 

–

 

2

 

11

 

–

 

–

 

11

 

Net interest; return on plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense arising from defined benefit obligations accrued

–

 

340

 

–

 

340

 

–

 

349

 

–

 

349

 

Return, including interest income, on plan assets1

–

 

(339

)

(247

)

(586

)

–

 

(325

)

(139

)

(464

)

Interest effect on asset ceiling limit

–

 

3

 

–

 

3

 

–

 

2

 

–

 

2

 

 

–

 

4

 

(247

)

(243

)

–

 

26

 

(139

)

(113

)

Administrative fees

6

 

–

 

–

 

6

 

6

 

–

 

–

 

6

 

Re-measurements arising from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demographic assumptions

–

 

–

 

25

 

25

 

–

 

–

 

(69

)

(69

)

Financial assumptions

–

 

–

 

184

 

184

 

–

 

–

 

(418

)

(418

)

 

–

 

–

 

209

 

209

 

–

 

–

 

(487

)

(487

)

Changes in the effect of limiting net defined benefit assets to the asset ceiling

–

 

–

 

38

 

38

 

–

 

–

 

30

 

30

 

 

$ 92

 

$    4

 

$    –

 

$  96

 

$ 118

 

$  26

 

$ (596

)

$ (452

)

 

1           The interest income on the plan assets portion of the employee defined benefit plans net interest amount included in Financing costs reflects a rate of return on plan assets equal to the discount rate used in determining the defined benefit obligations accrued.

 

 

146 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 14

 

 

Disaggregation of defined benefit pension plan funding status

Defined benefit obligations accrued are the actuarial present values of benefits attributed to employee services rendered to a particular date. Our disaggregation of defined benefit pension plan surpluses and deficits at year-end is as follows:

 

As at December 31 (millions)

2016 

2015 

 

Defined benefit

 

 

PBSR 

Defined benefit

 

 

PBSR 

 

obligations

 

 

solvency 

obligations

 

 

solvency 

 

accrued

Plan assets

Difference 

position1

accrued

Plan assets

Difference 

Position1

Pension plans that have plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

assets in excess of defined

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

benefit obligations accrued

$ 7,610

$ 7,968

$  358 

$  356 

$ 7,429

$ 7,785

$  356 

$   98 

Pension plans that have defined

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

benefit obligations accrued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in excess of plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded

1,034

790

(244)

(62)

1,001

782

(219)

(190) 

Unfunded

193

–

(193)

N/A2

190

–

(190)

N/A2

 

1,227

790

(437)

(62)

1,191

782

(409)

(190) 

 

$ 8,837

$ 8,758

$  (79)

$  294 

$ 8,620

$ 8,567

$  (53)

$ (92) 

Defined benefit obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

accrued owed to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active members

$ 2,140

 

 

 

$ 2,271

 

 

 

Deferred members

557

 

 

 

513

 

 

 

Pensioners

6,140

 

 

 

5,836

 

 

 

 

$ 8,837

 

 

 

$ 8,620

 

 

 

 

1           The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, by way of the Pension Benefits Standards Regulations, 1985 (PBSR) (see (d)), requires that a solvency valuation be performed on a periodic basis. The actual PBSR solvency positions are determined in conjunction with mid-year annual funding reports prepared by actuaries (see (d)); as a result, the PBSR solvency positions in this table as at December 31, 2016 and 2015, are interim estimates and updated estimates, respectively. The interim estimate as at December 31, 2015, was a net surplus of $429.

Interim estimated solvency ratios as at December 31, 2016, ranged from 93% to 107% (2015 – updated estimate is 90% to 102%; interim estimate was 96% to 110%) and the estimated three-year average solvency ratios, adjusted as required by the Pension Benefits Standards Regulations, 1985, ranged from 93% to 104% (2015 – updated estimate is 95% to 106%; interim estimate was 97% to 108%).

The solvency valuation effectively uses the fair value (excluding any asset ceiling limit effects) of the funded defined benefit pension plan assets (adjusted for theoretical wind-up expenses) to measure the solvency assets. Although the defined benefit obligations accrued and the solvency liabilities are calculated similarly, the assumptions used for each differ, primarily in respect of retirement ages and discount rates, and the solvency liabilities, due to the required assumption about each plan being terminated on the valuation date, do not reflect assumptions about future compensation levels. Relative to the experience-based estimates of retirement ages used for purposes of determining the defined benefit obligations accrued, the minimum no-consent retirement age used for solvency valuation purposes may result in either a greater or lesser pension liability, depending upon the provisions of each plan. The solvency positions in this table reflect composite weighted average discount rates of 3.10% (2015 – 3.00%). A hypothetical decrease of 25 basis points in the composite weighted average discount rate would result in a $303 decrease in the PBSR solvency position as at December 31, 2016 (2015 – $322); these sensitivities are hypothetical, should be used with caution, are calculated without changing any other assumption and generally cannot be extrapolated because changes in amounts may not be linear.

2           PBSR solvency position calculations are not required for the three pension plans arising from a pre-merger acquisition or for the non-registered, unfunded pension plans.

 

Fair value measurements

Information about the fair value measurements of our defined benefit pension plan assets, in aggregate, is as follows:

 

 

 

Fair value measurements at reporting date using

 

 

Quoted prices in active

 

 

 

 

Total

 

markets for identical items

 

Other

As at December 31 (millions)

2016

2015

 

2016

2015

 

2016

2015

Asset class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canadian

$ 1,172

$ 1,841

 

$ 1,135

$ 1,387

 

$     37

$   454

Foreign

1,876

2,232

 

1,189

1,527

 

687

705

Debt securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued by national, provincial or local governments

1,463

1,441

 

1,362

1,338

 

101

103

Corporate debt securities

1,317

1,164

 

–

–

 

1,317

1,164

Asset-backed securities

31

32

 

–

–

 

31

32

Commercial mortgages

1,107

691

 

–

–

 

1,107

691

Cash, cash equivalents and other

1,151

614

 

29

12

 

1,122

602

Real estate

756

626

 

–

14

 

756

612

 

8,873

8,641

 

$ 3,715

$ 4,278

 

$ 5,158

$ 4,363

Effect of asset ceiling limit

(115)

(74)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 8,758

$ 8,567

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 147


 


As at December 31, 2016, we administered pension benefit trusts that held no TELUS Corporation Common Shares and held debt of TELUS Corporation with a fair value of approximately $3 million (2015 – $3 million) (see (c) – Allowable and prohibited investment types). As at December 31, 2016 and 2015, pension benefit trusts that we administered did not lease real estate to us.

 

Future benefit payments

Estimated future benefit payments from our defined benefit pension plans, calculated as at December 31, 2016, are as follows:

 

Years ending December 31 (millions)

 

 

2017

$

441

2018

 

450

2019

 

456

2020

 

459

2021

 

464

2022–2026

 

2,399

 

(c) Plan investment strategies and policies

Our primary goal for the defined benefit pension plans is to ensure the security of the retirement income and other benefits of the plan members and their beneficiaries. A secondary goal is to maximize the long-term rate of return on the defined benefit plans’ assets within a level of risk acceptable to us.

 

Risk management

We consider absolute risk (the risk of contribution increases, inadequate plan surplus and unfunded obligations) to be more important than relative return risk. Accordingly, the defined benefit plans’ designs, the nature and maturity of defined benefit obligations and the characteristics of the plans’ memberships significantly influence investment strategies and policies. We manage risk by specifying allowable and prohibited investment types, setting diversification strategies and determining target asset allocations.

 

Allowable and prohibited investment types

Allowable and prohibited investment types, along with associated guidelines and limits, are set out in each plan’s required Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures (SIPP), which is reviewed and approved annually by the designated governing body. The SIPP guidelines and limits are further governed by the permitted investments and lending limits set out in the Pension Benefits Standards Regulations, 1985. As well as conventional investments, each fund’s SIPP may provide for the use of derivative products to facilitate investment operations and to manage risk, provided that no short position is taken, no use of leverage is made and there is no violation of guidelines and limits established in the SIPP. Internally and externally managed funds are not permitted to directly invest in our securities and are prohibited from increasing grandfathered investments in our securities; grandfathered investments were made prior to the merger of BC TELECOM Inc. and TELUS Corporation, our predecessors.

 

Diversification

Our strategy for investments in equity securities is to be broadly diversified across individual securities, industry sectors and geographical regions. A meaningful portion (20%–30% of total plan assets) of the plans’ investment in equity securities is allocated to foreign equity securities with the intent of further diversifying plan assets. Debt securities may include a meaningful allocation to mortgages, with the objective of enhancing

 

cash flow and providing greater scope for the management of the bond component of the plan assets. Debt securities also may include real return bonds to provide inflation protection, consistent with the indexed nature of some defined benefit obligations. Real estate investments are used to provide diversification of plan assets, hedging of potential long-term inflation and comparatively stable investment income.

 

Relationship between plan assets and benefit obligations

With the objective of lowering the long-term costs of our defined benefit pension plans, we purposely mismatch plan assets and benefit obligations. This mismatching is effected by including equity investments in the long-term asset mix, as well as fixed income securities and mortgages with durations that differ from those of the benefit obligations.

As at December 31, 2016, the present value-weighted average timing of estimated cash flows for the obligations (duration) of the defined benefit pension plans was 13.6 years (2015 – 13.6 years) and of the other defined benefit plans was 7.3 years (2015 – 7.3 years). Compensation for liquidity issues that may have otherwise arisen from the mismatching of plan assets and benefit obligations is provided by broadly diversified investment holdings (including cash and short-term investments) and cash flows from dividends, interest and rents from those diversified investment holdings.

 

Asset allocations

Our defined benefit pension plans’ target asset allocations and actual asset allocations are as follows:

 

 

Target

 

Percentage of plan

 

allocation

 

assets at end of year

Years ended December 31

2017

 

2016

2015

Equity securities

20–50%

 

38%

47%

Debt securities

40–75%

 

53%

46%

Real estate

5–25%

 

9%

7%

Other

0–4%

 

–

–

 

 

 

100%

100%

 

(d) Employer contributions

The determination of the minimum funding amounts necessary for substantially all of our registered defined benefit pension plans is governed by the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, which requires that, in addition to current service costs being funded, both going-concern and solvency valuations be performed on a specified periodic basis.

·           Any excess of plan assets over plan liabilities determined in the going-concern valuation reduces our minimum funding requirement for current service costs, but may not reduce the requirement to an amount less than the employees’ contributions. The going-concern valuation generally determines the excess (if any) of a plan’s assets over its liabilities, determined on a projected benefit basis.

·           As of the date of these consolidated financial statements, the solvency valuation generally requires that a plan’s average solvency liabilities, determined on the basis that the plan is terminated on the valuation date, in excess of its assets (if any) be funded, at a minimum, in equal annual amounts over a period not exceeding five years. So as to manage the risk of overfunding the plans, which results from the solvency valuation for funding purposes utilizing the average solvency ratios, our funding may include the provision of letters of credit. As at December 31, 2016, undrawn letters of credit in the amount of $175 million (2015 – $161 million) secured certain obligations of the defined benefit pension plans.


 

148 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 14

 

 


Our best estimate of fiscal 2017 employer contributions to our defined benefit plans is approximately $65 million for defined benefit pension plans. This estimate is based upon the mid-year 2016 annual funding reports that were prepared by actuaries using December 31, 2015, actuarial valuations. The funding reports are based on the pension plans’ fiscal years, which are calendar years. The next annual funding valuations are expected to be prepared mid-year 2017.

 

(e) Assumptions

As referred to in Note 1(b), management is required to make significant estimates related to certain actuarial and economic assumptions that are used in determining defined benefit pension costs, defined benefit obligations accrued and pension plan assets. These significant estimates are of a long-term nature, consistent with the nature of employee future benefits.

 

Demographic assumptions

In determining the defined benefit pension expense recognized in net income for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we utilized the Canadian Institute of Actuaries CPM 2014 mortality tables.

 

Financial assumptions

The discount rate, which is used to determine a plan’s defined benefit obligations accrued, is based upon the yield on long-term, high-quality

 

fixed-term investments, and is set annually. The rate of future increases in compensation is based upon current benefits policies and economic forecasts.

The significant weighted average actuarial assumptions arising from these estimates and adopted in measuring our defined benefit obligations accrued are as follows:

 

 

2016

2015

Discount rate1 used to determine:

 

 

Net benefit costs for the year ended December 31

4.00%

3.90%

Defined benefit obligations accrued as at

 

 

December 31

3.80%

4.00%

Current service cost in subsequent fiscal year

4.00%

4.00%

Rate of future increases in compensation

 

 

used to determine:

 

 

Net benefit costs for the year ended December 31

3.00%

3.00%

Defined benefit obligations accrued as at

 

 

December 31

2.51%

3.00%

 

1           In 2016, we refined our methodology for estimating the discount rate to reflect discount rates appropriate for the timing of estimated cash flows for the obligations, rather than applying a single discount rate that was not specific to the timing of the estimated cash flows for the obligations. The discount rate disclosed in this table reflects the computation of an average discount rate that replicates the timing of the obligation cash flows. This refinement in estimation methodology did not have a material impact on our 2016 results of operations.


 

Sensitivity of key assumptions

The sensitivity of our key assumptions for our defined benefit pension plans was as follows:

 

Years ended, or as at, December 31

 

2016

 

2015

 

Change in

Change in

Change in

Change in

Increase (decrease) (millions)

obligations

expense

obligations

expense

Sensitivity of key demographic assumptions

 

 

 

 

to an increase of one year1 in life expectancy

$ 228 

$ 10 

$ 214 

$ 11 

Sensitivity of key financial assumptions to a

 

 

 

 

hypothetical decrease of 25 basis points1 in:

 

 

 

 

Discount rate

$ 310 

$ 17 

$ 302 

$ 17 

Rate of future increases in compensation

$  (27)

$  (3)

$ (26)

$  (3)

 

1           These sensitivities are hypothetical and should be used with caution. Favourable hypothetical changes in the assumptions result in decreased amounts, and unfavourable hypothetical changes in the assumptions result in increased amounts, of the obligations and expenses. Changes in amounts based on a variation in assumptions of one year or 25 basis points generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumption to the change in amounts may not be linear. Also, in this table, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the change in obligations or change in expense is calculated without changing any other assumption; in reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another (for example, increases in the discount rate may result in changes in expectations about the rate of future increases in compensation), which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities.

 

(f) Defined contribution plans – expense

Our total defined contribution pension plan costs recognized were as follows:

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

 

2016

2015

 

 

Transformative

 

 

 

 

compensation

 

 

 

Traditional

(Notes 7, 15(c))

Total

 

Union pension plan and public service pension plan contributions

$ 26

$ 36

$   62

$ 28

Other defined contribution pension plans

63

5

68

62

 

$ 89

$ 41

$ 130

$ 90

 

We expect that our 2017 union pension plan and public service pension plan contributions will be approximately $88 million.

 


(g) Other defined benefit plans

For the year ended December 31, 2016, other defined benefit current service cost was $1 million (2015 – $NIL), financing cost was $2 million (2015 – $1 million) and other re-measurements recorded in other

comprehensive income were $NIL (2015 – $(1) million). Estimated future benefit payments from our other defined benefit plans, calculated as at December 31, 2016, are $2 million annually for the five-year period from 2017 to 2021 and $7 million for the five-year period from 2022 to 2026.


 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 149


 

 

Restructuring and other costs

 

 


(a) Details of restructuring and other costs

With the objective of reducing ongoing costs, we incur associated incremental, non-recurring restructuring costs, as discussed further in (b) following. We may also incur atypical charges when undertaking major or transformational changes to our business or operating models, as discussed further in (c) following. We also include incremental external

 

costs incurred in connection with business acquisition or disposition activity, as well as litigation costs, in the context of significant losses or settlements, in other costs.

Restructuring and other costs are presented in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as set out in the following table:


 

 

Restructuring (b)

 

Other (c)

 

Total

Years ended December 31 (millions)

2016

2015

 

2016

2015

 

2016

2015

Goods and services purchased

$

62

$

70

 

$

–

$

–

 

$

62

$

70

Employee benefits expense

112

156

 

305

–

 

417

156

 

$

174

$

226

 

$

305

$

–

 

$

479

$

226

 

(b) Restructuring provisions

Employee related provisions and other provisions, as presented in Note 25, include amounts in respect of restructuring activities. In 2016, restructuring activities included ongoing and incremental efficiency initiatives, including personnel-related costs and rationalization of real estate. These initiatives were intended to improve our long-term operating productivity and competitiveness.

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Employee 

 

 

Employee 

 

 

 

related1

Other1

Total1

related1

Other1

Total1

Restructuring costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions

$ 116 

$ 69 

$ 185 

$ 160 

$ 74 

$ 234 

Reversal

(4)

(7)

(11)

(4)

(4)

(8)

Expense

112 

62 

174 

156 

70 

226 

Use

(146)

(39)

(185)

(81)

(41)

(122)

Expenses greater (less) than disbursements

(34)

23 

(11)

75 

29 

104 

Restructuring provisions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

116 

57 

173 

41 

28 

69 

Balance, end of period

$  82 

$ 80 

$ 162 

$ 116 

$ 57 

$ 173 

 

1           The transactions and balances in this column, excluding share-based compensation amounts, are included in, and thus are a subset of, the transactions and balances in the column with the same caption in Note 25.

 


(c) Other costs

For the year ended December 31, 2016, other costs are in respect of immediately vesting, transformative compensation expense for substantially all of our existing unionized (see Note 29(c)) and non-unionized Canadian-situated workforces; a portion of the expense is considered share-based compensation for accounting purposes, as set out in Note 13(a). The compensation vested immediately, and thus was expensed when incurred, as there was no requisite service period of the recipients. The one-time payment to our existing unionized Canadian-situated workforce was compensation in respect of collective agreement concessions that moderate future labour costs and underpin productivity improvements, as well as in lieu of salary increases that would otherwise have been paid on July 1, 2016, 2017 and 2018; the one-time payment to our non-unionized Canadian-sited workforce was in lieu of general salary increases that would otherwise have been awarded in 2017 and 2018.

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at December 31 (millions)

Note

2016

2015

 

Customer accounts receivable

4(b)

$ 1,217 

$ 1,199

 

Accrued receivables – customer

 

131 

128

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

4(b)

(54)

(52

)

 

 

1,294 

1,275

 

Accrued receivables – other

 

177 

153

 

 

 

$ 1,471 

$ 1,428

 

 

 

150 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTES 15–17

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buildings and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Network

 

leasehold

 

 

 

 

 

Assets under

 

 

 

(millions)

 

assets

 

improvements

 

Other

 

Land

 

construction

 

Total

 

At cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at January 1, 2015

 

$

26,415

 

$

2,801

 

$

1,163

 

$

55

 

$

504

 

$

30,938

 

Additions1

 

732

 

24

 

93

 

–

 

1,252

 

2,101

 

Dispositions, retirements and other

 

(1,098

)

(106

)

(209

)

–

 

–

 

(1,413

)

Assets under construction put into service

 

1,142

 

128

 

73

 

–

 

(1,343

)

–

 

As at December 31, 2015

 

27,191

 

2,847

 

1,120

 

55

 

413

 

31,626

 

Additions1

 

762

 

45

 

39

 

–

 

1,472

 

2,318

 

Additions arising from business acquisitions

 

–

 

1

 

1

 

–

 

–

 

2

 

Dispositions, retirements and other

 

(739

)

(78

)

(223

)

–

 

–

 

(1,040

)

Assets under construction put into service

 

1,070

 

139

 

84

 

–

 

(1,293

)

–

 

As at December 31, 2016

 

$

28,284

 

$

2,954

 

$

1,021

 

$

55

 

$

592

 

$

32,906

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at January 1, 2015

 

$

19,202

 

$

1,808

 

$

805

 

$

–

 

$

–

 

$

21,815

 

Depreciation

 

1,268

 

95

 

112

 

–

 

–

 

1,475

 

Dispositions, retirements and other

 

(1,119

)

(93

)

(188

)

–

 

–

 

(1,400

)

As at December 31, 2015

 

19,351

 

1,810

 

729

 

–

 

–

 

21,890

 

Depreciation

 

1,357

 

99

 

108

 

–

 

–

 

1,564

 

Dispositions, retirements and other

 

(758

)

(73

)

(181

)

–

 

–

 

(1,012

)

As at December 31, 2016

 

$

19,950

 

$

1,836

 

$

656

 

$

–

 

$

–

 

$

22,442

 

Net book value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2015

 

$

7,840

 

$

1,037

 

$

391

 

$

55

 

$

413

 

$

9,736

 

As at December 31, 2016

 

$

8,334

 

$

1,118

 

$

365

 

$

55

 

$

592

 

$

10,464

 

 

1           For the year ended December 31, 2016, additions include $(40) (2015 – $65) in respect of asset retirement obligations (see Note 25).

 

As at December 31, 2016, our contractual commitments for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment totalled $436 million over a period ending December 31, 2020 (2015 – $326 million over a period ending December 31, 2017).

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 151


 

 

Intangible assets and goodwill

 

 

(a) Intangible assets and goodwill, net

 

 

 

Intangible assets subject to amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

contracts,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

assets with

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

related

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

indefinite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

customer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

lives

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

relationships

 

 

 

Access to

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

intangible

 

 

 

Subscriber

 

and lease-

 

 

 

rights-of-way

 

under

 

 

 

Spectrum

 

intangible

 

 

 

assets and

 

(millions)

 

base

 

hold interests

 

Software

 

and other

 

construction

 

Total

 

licences

 

assets

 

Goodwill1

 

goodwill

 

At cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at January 1, 2015

 

$

245

 

$

228

 

$

3,406

 

$

83

 

$

222

 

$

4,184

 

$

6,390

 

$

10,574

 

$

4,121

 

$

14,695

 

Additions

 

–

 

–

 

19

 

4

 

508

 

531

 

2,048

 

2,579

 

–

 

2,579

 

Additions arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

business acquisitions

 

–

 

–

 

2

 

–

 

–

 

2

 

–

 

2

 

4

 

6

 

Dispositions, retirements and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

other (including capitalized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

interest (see Note 8))

 

–

 

–

 

(140

)

3

 

–

 

(137

)

42

 

(95

)

–

 

(95

)

Assets under construction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

put into service

 

–

 

–

 

514

 

–

 

(514

)

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

As at December 31, 2015

 

245

 

228

 

3,801

 

90

 

216

 

4,580

 

8,480

 

13,060

 

4,125

 

17,185

 

Additions

 

–

 

–

 

50

 

4

 

575

 

629

 

164

 

793

 

–

 

793

 

Additions arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

business acquisitions

 

–

 

12

 

4

 

–

 

–

 

16

 

–

 

16

 

22

 

38

 

Dispositions, retirements and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

other (including capitalized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

interest (see Note 8))

 

–

 

–

 

(137

)

(3

)

–

 

(140

)

49

 

(91

)

–

 

(91

)

Assets under construction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

put into service

 

–

 

–

 

577

 

2

 

(579

)

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

Net foreign exchange differences

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

4

 

4

 

As at December 31, 2016

 

$

245

 

$

240

 

$

4,295

 

$

93

 

$

212

 

$

5,085

 

$

8,693

 

$

13,778

 

$

4,151

 

$

17,929

 

Accumulated amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at January 1, 2015

 

$

98

 

$

139

 

$

2,490

 

$

50

 

$

–

 

$

2,777

 

$

–

 

$

2,777

 

$

364

 

$

3,141

 

Amortization

 

14

 

29

 

387

 

4

 

–

 

434

 

–

 

434

 

–

 

434

 

Dispositions, retirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and other

 

–

 

–

 

(138

)

2

 

–

 

(136

)

–

 

(136

)

–

 

(136

)

As at December 31, 2015

 

112

 

168

 

2,739

 

56

 

–

 

3,075

 

–

 

3,075

 

364

 

3,439

 

Amortization

 

13

 

30

 

436

 

4

 

–

 

483

 

–

 

483

 

–

 

483

 

Dispositions, retirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and other

 

–

 

–

 

(143

)

(1

)

–

 

(144

)

–

 

(144

)

–

 

(144

)

As at December 31, 2016

 

$

125

 

$

198

 

$

3,032

 

$

59

 

$

–

 

$

3,414

 

$

–

 

$

3,414

 

$

364

 

$

3,778

 

Net book value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2015

 

$

133

 

$

60

 

$

1,062

 

$

34

 

$

216

 

$

1,505

 

$

8,480

 

$

9,985

 

$

3,761

 

$

13,746

 

As at December 31, 2016

 

$

120

 

$

42

 

$

1,263

 

$

34

 

$

212

 

$

1,671

 

$

8,693

 

$

10,364

 

$

3,787

 

$

14,151

 

 

1           Accumulated amortization of goodwill is amortization recorded prior to 2002; there are no accumulated impairment losses in the accumulated amortization of goodwill.

 


As at December 31, 2016, our contractual commitments for the acquisition of intangible assets, excluding that arising from BCE Inc.’s announced agreement to acquire Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.

 

discussed in the following paragraph, totalled $82 million over a period ending December 31, 2020 (2015 – $55 million over a period ending December 31, 2018).


 

 

 

152 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 18

 

 


On May 2, 2016, BCE Inc. announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., subject to customary closing conditions, including court, shareholder and regulatory approvals, and was expected to close in late 2016 or early 2017; as of September 30, 2016, court and shareholder approvals had been obtained. In June 2016, we submitted a notification and advanced ruling request to the Competition Bureau regarding our previously announced agreement in principle with BCE Inc. pursuant to which we intend to acquire a portion of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.’s postpaid wireless subscribers and dealer locations in Manitoba, upon the successful completion of BCE Inc.’s acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. Our total price of the transaction with BCE Inc. will vary depending upon the actual number of qualifying postpaid wireless subscribers acquired. On February 2, 2017, BCE Inc. announced that it expected to close its acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. by the end of March 31, 2017, subject to Competition Bureau and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

approvals. As of February 9, 2017, BCE Inc. had not received the requisite approvals from the Competition Bureau and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

 

(b) Intangible assets with indefinite lives – spectrum licences

 

Our intangible assets with indefinite lives include spectrum licences granted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and which are used for the provision of both mobile and fixed wireless services. The spectrum licence policy terms indicate that the spectrum licences will likely be renewed. We expect our spectrum licences to be renewed every 20 years following a review of our compliance with licence terms. In addition to current usage, our licensed spectrum can be used for planned and new technologies. As a result of our assessment of the combination of these significant factors, we currently consider our spectrum licences to have indefinite lives and, as referred to in Note 1(b), this represents a significant judgment for us.


 

(c) Impairment testing of intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill

 

General

 

As referred to in Note 1(i), the carrying values of intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill are periodically tested for impairment and, as referred to in Note 1(b), this test represents a significant estimate for us, while also requiring significant judgments to be made.

 

The allocated carrying values of intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill are as set out in the following table.

 

 

 

Intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

with indefinite lives

 

Goodwill

 

Total

As at December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

Wireless

 

$ 8,693

 

$ 8,480

 

$ 2,647

 

$ 2,646

 

$ 11,340

 

$ 11,126

Wireline

 

–

 

–

 

1,140

 

1,115

 

1,140

 

1,115

 

 

$ 8,693

 

$ 8,480

 

$ 3,787

 

$ 3,761

 

$ 12,480

 

$ 12,241

The recoverable amounts of the cash-generating units’ assets have been determined based on a fair value less costs of disposal calculation (2015 – value in use calculation). There is a material degree of uncertainty with respect to the estimates of the recoverable amounts of the cash-generating units’ assets, given the necessity of making key economic assumptions about the future. The fair value less costs of disposal recoverable amounts are categorized as Level 3 fair value measures.

 

We validate our recoverable amount calculation results through a market-comparable approach and an analytical review of industry facts and facts that are specific to us. The market-comparable approach uses current (at time of test) market consensus estimates and equity trading prices for U.S. and Canadian firms in the same industry. In addition, we ensure that the combination of the valuations of the cash-generating units is reasonable based on our current (at time of test) market values.

 

Key assumptions

 

The fair value less costs of disposal and the value in use calculations both use discounted cash flow projections that employ the following key assumptions: future cash flows and growth projections (including judgments about the allocation of future capital expenditures supporting both wireless and wireline operations); associated economic risk assumptions

 

and estimates of achieving key operating metrics and drivers; estimates of future generational infrastructure capital expenditures; and the future weighted average cost of capital. We consider a range of reasonably possible amounts to use for key assumptions and decide upon amounts that represent management’s best estimates of market amounts (2015 – TELUS-specific amounts). In the normal course, we make changes to key assumptions so that they reflect current (at time of test) economic conditions, updates of historical information used to develop the key assumptions and changes (if any) in our debt ratings.

 

The key assumptions for cash flow projections are based upon our approved financial forecasts, which span a period of three years and are discounted, for December 2016 annual test purposes, at a consolidated post-tax notional rate of 7.0% (the fair value less costs of disposal method requires the use of a post-tax rate) (2015 – 9.11% (the value in use method requires the use of a pre-tax rate)). For impairment testing valuations, the cash flows subsequent to the three-year projection period are extrapolated, for December 2016 annual test purposes, using perpetual growth rates of 2.0% (2015 – 1.75%) for the wireless cash-generating unit and 2.0% (2015 – 0.50%) for the wireline cash-generating unit; these growth rates do not exceed the long-term average growth rates observed in the markets in which we operate.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 153


 


We believe that any reasonably possible change in the key assumptions on which the calculation of the recoverable amounts of our cash-generating units is based would not cause the cash-generating units’ carrying values (including the intangible assets with indefinite lives and the goodwill allocated to each cash-generating unit) to exceed their recoverable amounts. If the future were to adversely differ from management’s best estimates of key assumptions and associated cash flows were to be materially adversely affected, we could potentially experience future material impairment charges in respect of our intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill.

 

Sensitivity testing

 

Sensitivity testing was conducted as a part of the December 2016 annual test, a component of which was hypothetical changes in the future weighted average cost of capital. Stress testing included moderate declines in annual cash flows with all other assumptions being held constant; under this scenario, we would be able to recover the carrying values of our intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill for the foreseeable future.

(d) Business acquisitions

 

During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we acquired 100% ownership of multiple businesses complementary to our existing lines of business. The primary factor that gave rise to the recognition of goodwill was the earnings capacity of the acquired businesses in excess of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired (such excess arising from: the low levels of tangible assets relative to the earnings capacity of the businesses; expected synergies; the benefits of acquiring established businesses with certain capabilities in the industry; and the geographic presence of the acquired businesses). A portion of the amounts assigned to goodwill may be deductible for income tax purposes.

 

The acquisition-date fair values assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the individually immaterial acquisitions are also individually immaterial. Any differences between the results of operations currently presented and the pro forma amounts for operating revenues, net income and basic and diluted net income per Common Share reflecting the results of operations as if the business acquisitions had been completed at the beginning of the fiscal year are immaterial (as are the post-acquisition operating revenues and net income of the acquired businesses for the year ended December 31, 2016).

 


 

 

Leases

 

 

 

 


We occupy leased premises in various locations and have land, buildings and equipment under operating leases. For the year ended December 31, 2016, real estate and vehicle operating lease expenses, which are net of the amortization of deferred gains on the sale-leaseback of buildings and

 

the occupancy costs associated with leased real estate, were $231 million (2015 – $227 million); occupancy costs associated with leased real estate totalled $78 million (2015 – $88 million).


 

As referred to in Note 15, we have consolidated administrative real estate holdings and, in some instances, this has resulted in subletting land and buildings. The future minimum lease payments under operating leases are as follows:

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

Operating

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

Operating

 

 

 

 

leases with

 

leases with

 

 

 

leases with

 

leases with

 

 

 

 

arm’s-length

 

related party

 

 

 

arm’s-length

 

related party

 

 

Years ending

 

lessors

1

lessors

2

Total

 

Lessors

1

lessors

2

Total

1 year hence

 

$    211

 

$     6

 

$    217

 

$    206

 

$     6

 

$     212

2 years hence

 

192

 

6

 

198

 

177

 

6

 

183

3 years hence

 

171

 

12

 

183

 

157

 

12

 

169

4 years hence

 

147

 

13

 

160

 

132

 

12

 

144

5 years hence

 

125

 

13

 

138

 

112

 

13

 

125

Thereafter

 

599

 

220

 

819

 

624

 

228

 

852

 

 

$ 1,445

 

$ 270

 

$ 1,715

 

$ 1,408

 

$ 277

 

$ 1,685

 

1           Immaterial amounts for minimum lease receipts from sublet land and buildings have been netted against the minimum lease payments in this table. Minimum lease payments exclude occupancy costs and thus will differ from future amounts reported for operating lease expenses. As at December 31, 2016, commitments under operating leases for occupancy costs totalled $869 (2015 – $907).

2           As set out in Note 21(d), we have entered into leases with the real estate joint ventures. This table includes 100% of the minimum lease payment amounts due under these leases; of the total, $112 (2015 – $116) is due to our economic interests in the real estate joint ventures and $158 (2015 – $159) is due to our partners’ economic interests in the real estate joint ventures.


Of the total amount above as at December 31, 2016:

 

·                   Approximately 34% (2015 – 37%) was in respect of our five largest leases, all of which were for office premises over various terms, with expiry dates ranging from 2024 to 2036 (2015 – ranging from 2024 to 2036); the weighted average term of these leases is approximately 14 years (2015 – 15 years).

·                   Approximately 30% (2015 – 29%) was in respect of wireless site leases; the weighted average term of these leases is approximately 17 years (2015 – 17 years).


 

 

154 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTES 19–21

 

 


See Note 2(b) for details of significant changes to IFRS-IASB which are not yet effective and have not yet been applied, but which will significantly affect the timing of the recognition of operating lease expenses and their recognition in the Consolidated statement of financial position, as well as their classification in the Consolidated statement of income and other comprehensive income and the Consolidated statement of cash flows.

 

 

Other long-term assets

 

 

 

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

Pension assets

 

14(a)

 

$ 358

 

$ 356

 

Investments

 

 

 

62

 

69

 

Prepaid maintenance

 

 

 

62

 

46

 

Real estate joint ventures

 

21(c)

 

30

 

25

 

Real estate joint venture advances

 

21(c)

 

21

 

3

 

Other

 

 

 

107

 

94

 

 

 

 

 

$ 640

 

$ 593

 

 

 

Real estate joint ventures

 

 

 

 

 


 

(a) General

In 2011, we partnered, as equals, with an arm’s-length party in a residential condominium, retail and commercial real estate redevelopment project, TELUS Garden, in Vancouver, British Columbia. TELUS is a tenant in TELUS Garden, which is now our global headquarters. The new-build office tower has received its 2009 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, and the

neighbouring new-build residential condominium tower was built to the LEED Gold standard.

In 2013, we partnered, as equals, with two arm’s-length parties (one of which is also our TELUS Garden partner) in a residential, retail and commercial real estate redevelopment project, TELUS Sky, in Calgary, Alberta. The new-build tower, scheduled for completion in 2018, is to be built to the LEED Platinum standard.


 

(b) Real estate joint ventures – summarized financial information


 

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and temporary investments, net

 

$  15

 

$  20

 

Escrowed deposits for tenant inducements and liens

 

5

 

20

 

Sales contract deposits held by arm’s-length trustee

 

2

 

6

 

Other

 

6

 

21

 

Property under development – residential condominiums (subject to sales contracts)

 

13

 

156

 

 

 

41

 

223

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Property under development – Investment property

 

121

 

96

 

Investment property

 

261

 

238

 

 

 

382

 

334

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 423

 

$ 557

 

 

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Liabilities and owners’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$  18

 

$  46

 

Sales contract deposits Payable

 

3

 

55

 

Held by arm’s-length trustee

 

2

 

6

 

Current portion of senior secured 3.4% bonds due July 2025

 

4

 

4

 

Construction credit facilities

 

–

 

96

 

Construction holdback liabilities

 

7

 

10

 

Other financial liability1

 

–

 

18

 

 

 

34

 

235

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Construction credit facilities

 

63

 

9

 

Other

 

–

 

4

 

Senior secured 3.4% bonds due July 2025

 

213

 

217

 

 

 

276

 

230

 

Liabilities

 

310

 

465

 

Owners’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

TELUS2

 

48

 

36

 

Other partners

 

65

 

56

 

 

 

113

 

92

 

 

 

$ 423

 

$ 557

 

1           Other financial liability was due to us; such amount was non-interest bearing, was secured by an $18 mortgage on the TELUS Garden residential condominium tower, was payable in cash and was due subsequent to repayment of the residential condominium tower construction credit facility.

2           The equity amounts recorded by the real estate joint ventures differ from those recorded by us by the amount of the deferred gains on our real estate contributed and the valuation provision we have recorded in excess of that recorded by the real estate joint venture.

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 155


 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

From investment property

 

$   34

 

$ 17

 

From sale of residential condominiums

 

$ 262

 

$   –

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

$8

 

$   7

 

Interest expense1

 

$   10

 

$   7

 

Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)2

 

$   72

 

$  (4

)

1           During the year ended December 31, 2016, the real estate joint ventures capitalized $4 (2015 – $5) of financing costs.

2           As the real estate joint ventures are partnerships, no provision for income taxes of the partners is made in determining the real estate joint ventures’ net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss).


 

(c) Our real estate joint ventures activity

Our real estate joint ventures investment activity is as set out in the following table.

 

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 

Loans and

 

 

 

 

 

Loans and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

receivables

1

Equity

2

Total

 

receivables

1

Equity2

 

Total

 

Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of income and other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to us3

 

$  –

 

$ 33

 

$ 33

 

$  –

 

$ (2

)

$ (2

)

Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of financial position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Items not affecting currently reported cash flows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of gain initially deferred on our real estate initially contributed

 

–

 

8

 

8

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

Construction credit facilities financing costs charged by us and other (Note 6)

 

1

 

–

 

1

 

3

 

–

 

3

 

Cash flows in the current reporting period Construction credit facilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts advanced

 

33

 

–

 

33

 

44

 

–

 

44

 

Amounts repaid

 

(63

)

–

 

(63

)

(95

)

–

 

(95

)

Financing costs paid to us

 

(1

)

–

 

(1

)

(3

)

–

 

(3

)

Repayment of funds advanced

 

(18

)

–

 

(18

)

–

 

–

 

–

 

Funds we contributed

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

6

 

6

 

Funds repaid to us and earnings distributed

 

–

 

(21

)

(21

)

–

 

–

 

–

 

Net increase (decrease)

 

(48

)

20

 

(28

)

(51

)

4

 

(47

)

Real estate joint ventures carrying amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

69

 

25

 

94

 

120

 

21

 

141

 

Valuation provision

 

–

 

(15

)

(15

)

–

 

–

 

–

 

Balance, end of period

 

$ 21

 

$ 30

 

$ 51

 

$ 69

 

$ 25

 

$ 94

 

1           Loans and receivables are included in our Consolidated statements of financial position as Real estate joint venture advances and are comprised of advances under construction credit facilities (see (d)) and, prior to its repayment during the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, an $18 mortgage on the TELUS Garden residential condominium tower.

2           We account for our interests in the real estate joint ventures using the equity method of accounting.

3           As the real estate joint ventures are partnerships, no provision for income taxes of the partners is made in determining the real estate joint ventures’ net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss); provision for income taxes is made in determining the comprehensive income (loss) attributable to us.

 


During the year ended December 31, 2016, the TELUS Garden real estate joint venture recognized $11 million (2015 – $6 million) of revenue from our TELUS Garden office tenancy; of this amount, one-half is due to our economic interest in the real estate joint venture and one-half is due to our partner’s economic interest in the real estate joint venture.

(d) Commitments and contingent liabilities

 

Construction commitments

The TELUS Sky real estate joint venture is expected to spend a total of approximately $400 million on the construction of a mixed-use tower. As at December 31, 2016, the real estate joint venture’s construction-related contractual commitments were approximately $121 million through to 2018 (2015 – $124 million through to 2018).


 

 

156 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTES 22–24

 

 


Construction credit facilities

The TELUS Sky real estate joint venture has a credit agreement with three Canadian financial institutions (as 662/3% lender) and TELUS Corporation (as 331/3% lender) to provide $342 million of construction financing for the project. The TELUS Garden real estate joint venture had a credit agreement with two Canadian financial institutions (as 50% lender) and TELUS Corporation (as 50% lender) to provide $136 million of construction financing for the residential project as at December 31, 2015; as at December 31, 2016, all outstanding amounts had been repaid.

The construction credit facilities contain customary real estate construction financing representations, warranties and covenants and are secured by demand debentures constituting first fixed and floating charge mortgages over the underlying real estate assets.

The construction credit facilities are available by way of bankers’ acceptance or prime loan and bear interest at rates in line with similar construction financing facilities.

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

Construction credit facilities commitment – TELUS Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undrawn

 

4(c)

 

$  93

 

$ 131

 

Advances

 

 

 

21

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

114

 

182

 

Construction credit facilities commitment – other

 

 

 

228

 

296

 

 

 

 

 

$ 342

 

$ 478

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

 

 

 


On July 26, 2002, one of our subsidiaries, TELUS Communications Inc., entered into an agreement with an arm’s-length securitization trust associated with a major Schedule I bank under which it is able to sell an interest in certain trade receivables up to a maximum of $500 million (2015 – $500 million). This revolving-period securitization agreement term ends December 31, 2018, and it requires minimum cash proceeds of $100 million from monthly sales of interests in certain trade receivables. TELUS Communications Inc. is required to maintain at least a BB (2015 – BB) credit rating by Dominion Bond Rating Service or the securitization trust may require the sale program to be wound down prior to the end of the term.

 

When we sell our trade receivables, we retain reserve accounts, which are retained interests in the securitized trade receivables, and servicing rights. As at December 31, 2016, we had sold to the trust (but continued to recognize) trade receivables of $116 million (2015 – $124 million). Short-term borrowings of $100 million (2015 – $100 million) are comprised of amounts advanced to us by the arm’s-length securitization trust pursuant to the sale of trade receivables.

The balance of short-term borrowings (if any) are comprised of amounts drawn on our bilateral bank facilities.


 


 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

 

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Accrued liabilities

 

$ 1,013

 

$   843

 

Payroll and other employee related liabilities

 

460

 

410

 

Restricted stock units liability

 

55

 

58

 

 

 

1,528

 

1,311

 

Trade accounts payable

 

578

 

476

 

Interest payable

 

144

 

134

 

Other

 

80

 

69

 

 

 

$ 2,330

 

$ 1,990

 

 

 

 

Advance billings and customer deposits

 

 

 

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Advance billings

 

$ 697

 

$ 706

 

Deferred customer activation and connection fees

 

17

 

19

 

Customer deposits

 

15

 

19

 

Regulatory deferral accounts

 

8

 

16

 

 

 

$ 737

 

$ 760

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 157


 

 

Provisions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

retirement

 

Employee

 

 

 

 

 

(millions)

 

obligation

 

related

 

Other

 

Total

 

As at January 1, 2015

 

$ 320

 

$   41

 

$ 107

 

$ 468

 

Additions1

 

5

 

153

 

85

 

243

 

Use

 

(9

)

(81

)

(45

)

(135

)

Reversal

 

(10

)

(4

)

(4

)

(18

)

Interest effect2

 

71

 

–

 

1

 

72

 

As at December 31, 2015

 

377

 

109

 

144

 

630

 

Additions1

 

15

 

113

 

71

 

199

 

Use

 

(9

)

(141

)

(105

)

(255

)

Reversal

 

–

 

(4

)

(8

)

(12

)

Interest effect2

 

(44

)

–

 

1

 

(43

)

As at December 31, 2016

 

$ 339

 

$   77

 

$ 103

 

$ 519

 

Current

 

$19

 

$ 109

 

$   69

 

$ 197

 

Non-current

 

358

 

–

 

75

 

433

 

As at December 31, 2015

 

$ 377

 

$ 109

 

$ 144

 

$ 630

 

Current

 

$   11

 

$   76

 

$   37

 

$ 124

 

Non-current

 

328

 

1

 

66

 

395

 

As at December 31, 2016

 

$ 339

 

$   77

 

$ 103

 

$ 519

 

 

1           For the year ended December 31, 2016, employee related additions are net of share-based compensation of $4 (2015 – $7).

2           The difference of $(55) (2015 – $60) between the interest effect in this table and the amount disclosed in Note 8 is in respect of the change in the discount rates applicable to the provision, such difference being included in the cost of the associated asset(s) by way of being included with (netted against) the additions detailed in Note 17.

 


Asset retirement obligation

We establish provisions for liabilities associated with the retirement of property, plant and equipment when those obligations result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal operation of the assets. We expect that the cash outflows in respect of the balance accrued as at the financial statement date will occur proximate to the dates these assets are retired.

 

Employee related

The employee related provisions are largely in respect of restructuring activities (as discussed further in Note 15(b)). The timing of the cash outflows in respect of the balance accrued as at the financial statement date is substantially short term in nature.

 

Other

The provisions for other include: legal claims; non-employee related restructuring activities (as discussed further in Note 15); and written put options, contract termination costs and onerous contracts related to business acquisitions. Other than as set out following, we expect that the cash outflows in respect of the balance accrued as at the financial statement date will occur over an indeterminate multi-year period.

As discussed further in Note 29, we are involved in a number of legal claims and we are aware of certain other possible legal claims. In respect of legal claims, we establish provisions, when warranted, after taking into account legal assessments, information presently available, and the expected availability of recourse. The timing of cash outflows associated with legal claims cannot be reasonably determined.

In connection with business acquisitions, we have established provisions for contingent consideration, contract termination costs and onerous contracts acquired. In respect of contract termination costs and onerous contracts acquired, cash outflows are expected to occur through mid-2018.


 

 

158 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTES 25–26

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

 


(a) Details of long-term debt

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

TELUS Corporation notes

 

(b)

 

$ 11,367

 

$ 11,164

 

TELUS Corporation commercial paper

 

(c)

 

613

 

256

 

TELUS Communications Inc. debentures

 

(e)

 

619

 

618

 

TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility

 

(f)

 

332

 

–

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

$ 12,931

 

$ 12,038

 

Current

 

 

 

$   1,327

 

$      856

 

Non-current

 

 

 

11,604

 

11,182

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

$ 12,931

 

$ 12,038

 

 

(b) TELUS Corporation notes

The notes are our senior, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated obligations, are senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness, and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future obligations of, or guaranteed by, our subsidiaries. The indentures governing the notes contain certain covenants which, among other things, place limitations on our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to: grant security in respect of indebtedness; enter into sale-leaseback transactions; and incur new indebtedness.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal face amount

 

Redemption

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effective

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

present value spread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

interest

 

Originally

 

at financial

 

Basis

 

 

 

Series1

 

Issued

 

Maturity

 

Issue price

 

rate2

 

issued

 

statement date

 

points

 

Cessation date

 

4.95% Notes, Series CD

 

March 2007

 

March 2017

 

$999.53

 

4.96%

 

$700 million

 

$700 million

 

243

 

N/A

 

5.05% Notes, Series CG4

 

December 2009

 

December 2019

 

$994.19

 

5.13%

 

$1.0 billion

 

$1.0 billion

 

45.53

 

N/A

 

5.05% Notes, Series CH4

 

July 2010

 

July 2020

 

$997.44

 

5.08%

 

$1.0 billion

 

$1.0 billion

 

473

 

N/A

 

3.65% Notes, Series CI4

 

May 2011

 

May 2016

 

$996.29

 

3.73%

 

$600 million

 

$NIL

 

29.53

 

N/A

 

3.35% Notes, Series CJ4

 

December 2012

 

March 2023

 

$998.83

 

3.36%

 

$500 million

 

$500 million

 

405

 

Dec. 15, 2022

 

3.35% Notes, Series CK4

 

April 2013

 

April 2024

 

$994.35

 

3.41%

 

$1.1 billion

 

$1.1 billion

 

365

 

Jan. 2, 2024

 

4.40% Notes, Series CL4

 

April 2013

 

April 2043

 

$997.68

 

4.41%

 

$600 million

 

$600 million

 

475

 

Oct. 1, 2042

 

3.60% Notes, Series CM4

 

November 2013

 

January 2021

 

$997.15

 

3.65%

 

$400 million

 

$400 million

 

353

 

N/A

 

5.15% Notes, Series CN4

 

November 2013

 

November 2043

 

$995.00

 

5.18%

 

$400 million

 

$400 million

 

505

 

May 26, 2043

 

3.20% Notes, Series CO4

 

April 2014

 

April 2021

 

$997.39

 

3.24%

 

$500 million

 

$500 million

 

305

 

Mar. 5, 2021

 

4.85% Notes, Series CP4

 

Multiple6

 

April 2044

 

$987.916

 

4.93%6

 

$500 million6

 

$900 million6

 

465

 

Oct. 5, 2043

 

3.75% Notes, Series CQ4

 

September 2014

 

January 2025

 

$997.75

 

3.78%

 

$800 million

 

$800 million

 

38.55

 

Oct. 17, 2024

 

4.75% Notes, Series CR4

 

September 2014

 

January 2045

 

$992.91

 

4.80%

 

$400 million

 

$400 million

 

51.55

 

July 17, 2044

 

1.50% Notes, Series CS4

 

March 2015

 

March 2018

 

$999.62

 

1.51%

 

$250 million

 

$250 million

 

N/A7

 

N/A

 

2.35% Notes, Series CT4

 

March 2015

 

March 2022

 

$997.31

 

2.39%

 

$1.0 billion

 

$1.0 billion

 

35.55

 

Feb. 28, 2022

 

4.40% Notes, Series CU4

 

March 2015

 

January 2046

 

$999.72

 

4.40%

 

$500 million

 

$500 million

 

60.55

 

July 29, 2045

 

3.75% Notes, Series CV4

 

December 2015

 

March 2026

 

$992.14

 

3.84%

 

$600 million

 

$600 million

 

53.55

 

Dec. 10, 2025

 

2.80% U.S. Dollar Notes4,8

 

September 2016

 

February 2027

 

U.S.$991.89

 

2.89%

 

U.S.$600 million

 

U.S.$600 million

 

209

 

Nov. 16, 2026

 

 

1           Interest is payable semi-annually.

2           The effective interest rate is that which the notes would yield to an initial debt holder if held to maturity.

3           The notes are redeemable at our option, in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, on not fewer than 30 and not more than 60 days’ prior notice. The redemption price is equal to the greater of (i) the present value of the notes discounted at the Government of Canada yield plus the redemption present value spread, or (ii) 100% of the principal amount thereof. In addition, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the date fixed for redemption.

4           This series of notes requires us to make an offer to repurchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase upon the occurrence of a change in control triggering event, as defined in the supplemental trust indenture.

5           At any time prior to the respective maturity dates set out in the table, the notes are redeemable at our option, in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, on not fewer than 30 and not more than 60 days’ prior notice. The redemption price is equal to the greater of (i) the present value of the notes discounted at the Government of Canada yield plus the redemption present value spread calculated over the period to maturity, other than in the case of the Series CT and Series CU notes, where it is calculated over the period to the redemption present value spread cessation date, or (ii) 100% of the principal amount thereof. In addition, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the date fixed for redemption. On or after the respective redemption present value spread cessation dates set out in the table, the notes are redeemable at our option, in whole but not in part, on not fewer than 30 and not more than 60 days’ prior notice, at redemption prices equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof.

6           $500 million of 4.85% Notes, Series CP were issued in April 2014 at an issue price of $998.74 and an effective interest rate of 4.86%. This series of notes was reopened in December 2015 and a further $400 million of notes were issued at an issue price of $974.38 and an effective interest rate of 5.02%.

7           The notes are not redeemable at our option, other than in the event of certain changes in tax laws.

8           We have entered into a foreign exchange derivative (a cross currency interest rate exchange agreement) which effectively converted the principal payments and interest obligations to Canadian dollar obligations with a fixed interest rate of 2.95% and an issued and outstanding amount of $792 million (reflecting a fixed exchange rate of $1.3205).

9           At any time prior to the maturity date set out in the table, the notes are redeemable at our option, in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, on not fewer than 30 and not more than 60 days’ prior notice. The redemption price is equal to the greater of (i) the present value of the notes discounted at the U.S. Adjusted Treasury Rate plus the redemption present value spread calculated over the period to the redemption present value spread cessation date, or (ii) 100% of the principal amount thereof. In addition, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the date fixed for redemption. On or after the redemption present value spread cessation date set out in the table, the notes are redeemable at our option, in whole but not in part, on not fewer than 30 and not more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof.

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 159


 


(c) TELUS Corporation commercial paper

 

TELUS Corporation has an unsecured commercial paper program, which is backstopped by our $2.25 billion syndicated credit facility (see (d)) and is to be used for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and investments. This program enables us to issue commercial paper, subject to conditions related to debt ratings, up to a maximum aggregate amount at any one time of $1.4 billion (2015 – $1.4 billion). Foreign currency forward contracts are used to manage currency risk arising from issuing commercial paper denominated in U.S. dollars. Commercial paper debt is due within one year and is classified as a current portion of long-term debt, as the amounts are fully supported, and we expect that they will continue to be supported, by the revolving credit facility, which has no repayment requirements within the next year. As at December 31, 2016, we had $613 million of commercial paper outstanding, all of which was denominated in U.S. dollars (U.S.$456 million), with an effective weighted average interest rate of 1.21%, maturing through March 2017.

 

(d) TELUS Corporation credit facility

As at December 31, 2016, TELUS Corporation had an unsecured revolving $2.25 billion bank credit facility, expiring on May 31, 2021, with a syndicate of financial institutions, which is to be used for

general corporate purposes, including the backstopping of commercial paper.

TELUS Corporation’s credit facility bears interest at prime rate, U.S. Dollar Base Rate, a bankers’ acceptance rate or London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) (all such terms as used or defined in the credit facility), plus applicable margins. The credit facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including two financial quarter-end financial ratio tests. These tests are that our net debt to operating cash flow ratio must not exceed 4.00:1.00 and our operating cash flow to interest expense ratio must not be less than 2.00:1.00, each as defined under the credit facility.

Continued access to TELUS Corporation’s credit facility is not contingent on TELUS Corporation maintaining a specific credit rating.

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

 

2016

 

2015

Net available

 

$ 1,637

 

$ 1,994

Backstop of commercial paper

 

613

 

256

Gross available

 

$ 2,250

 

$ 2,250

 

We had $210 million of letters of credit outstanding as at December 31, 2016 (2015 – $202 million), issued under various uncommitted facilities; such letter of credit facilities are in addition to the ability to provide letters of credit pursuant to our committed bank credit facility.


 

(e) TELUS Communications Inc. debentures

The Series 3 and 5 Debentures were issued by a predecessor corporation of TELUS Communications Inc., BC TEL, under a Trust Indenture dated May 31, 1990. The Series B Debentures were issued by a predecessor corporation of TELUS Communications Inc., AGT Limited, under a Trust Indenture dated August 24, 1994, and a supplemental trust indenture dated September 22, 1995.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal face amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

Redemption

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

at financial

 

present value spread

Series1

 

Issued

 

Maturity

 

Issue price

 

Originally issued

 

statement date

 

(basis points)

10.65% Debentures, Series 3

 

June 1991

 

June 2021

 

$998.00

 

$175 million

 

$175 million

 

N/A (non-redeemable)

9.65% Debentures, Series 52

 

April 1992

 

April 2022

 

$972.00

 

$150 million

 

$249 million

 

N/A (non-redeemable)

8.80% Debentures, Series B

 

September 1995

 

September 2025

 

$995.10

 

$200 million

 

$200 million

 

153

 

1           Interest is payable semi-annually.

2           Series 4 debentures were exchangeable, at the holder’s option, effective on April 8 of any year during the four-year period from 1996 to 1999 for Series 5 debentures; $99 million of Series 4 debentures were exchanged for Series 5 debentures.

3           At any time prior to the maturity date set out in the table, the debentures are redeemable at our option, in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, on not less than 30 days’ prior notice. The redemption price is equal to the greater of (i) the present value of the debentures discounted at the Government of Canada yield plus the redemption present value spread, or (ii) 100% of the principal amount thereof. In addition, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the date fixed for redemption.

 


The debentures became obligations of TELUS Communications Inc. pursuant to an amalgamation on January 1, 2001, are not secured by any mortgage, pledge or other charge and are governed by certain covenants, including a negative pledge and a limitation on issues of additional debt, subject to a debt to capitalization ratio and an interest coverage test. Effective June 12, 2009, TELUS Corporation guaranteed the payment of the debentures’ principal and interest.

 

(f) TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility

As at December 31, 2016, TELUS International (Cda) Inc. had a U.S.$330 million bank credit facility, secured by its assets, expiring on May 31, 2021, with a syndicate of financial institutions. The credit facility is comprised of a U.S.$115 million revolving component and a U.S.$215 million term loan component. The credit facility is non-recourse to TELUS Corporation. As at December 31, 2016, $340 million ($332 million net of unamortized issue costs) was outstanding, all of which was

denominated in U.S. dollars (U.S.$253 million), with a weighted average interest rate of 2.49%.

TELUS International (Cda) Inc.’s credit facility bears interest at prime rate, U.S. Dollar Base Rate, a bankers’ acceptance rate or London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) (all such terms as used or defined in the credit facility), plus applicable margins. The credit facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including two financial quarter-end financial ratio tests. These tests are that TELUS International (Cda) Inc.’s net debt to operating cash flow ratio must not exceed 3.75:1.00 through June 30, 2017, and 3.25:1.00 subsequently, and its operating cash flow to debt service (interest and scheduled principal repayment) ratio must not be less than 1.50:1.00, all as defined in the credit facility.

The term loan is subject to an amortization schedule which requires that 5% of the principal advanced be repaid each year of the term of the agreement, with the balance due at maturity.


 

160 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTES 27–28

 

 

 

(g) Long-term debt maturities

 

Anticipated requirements to meet long-term debt repayments, calculated upon such long-term debts owing as at December 31, 2016, for each of the next five fiscal years are as follows:

 

Long-term debt denominated in

Canadian dollars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative liability

 

 

 

 

Years ending December 31 (millions)

 

Debt

 

Debt

 

(Receive)1

 

Pay

 

Total

 

Total

2017

 

$      700

 

$     627

 

$     (623)

 

$    622

 

$    626

 

$   1,326

2018

 

250

 

14

 

–

 

–

 

14

 

264

2019

 

1,000

 

14

 

–

 

–

 

14

 

1,014

2020

 

1,000

 

14

 

–

 

–

 

14

 

1,014

2021

 

1,075

 

283

 

–

 

–

 

283

 

1,358

Thereafter

 

7,249

 

806

 

(806)

 

792

 

792

 

8,041

Future cash outflows in respect of long-term debt principal repayments

 

11,274

 

1,758

 

(1,429)

 

1,414

 

1,743

 

13,017

Future cash outflows in respect of associated interest and like carrying costs2

 

5,518

 

272

 

(227)

 

233

 

278

 

5,796

Undiscounted contractual maturities (Note 4(c))

 

$ 16,792

 

$ 2,030

 

$ (1,656)

 

$ 1,647

 

$ 2,021

 

$ 18,813

 

1           Where applicable, principal-related cash flows reflect foreign exchange rates at December 31, 2016.

2           Future cash outflows in respect of associated interest and like carrying costs for commercial paper and amounts drawn under our credit facilities (if any) have been calculated based upon the rates in effect at December 31, 2016.


 

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

 

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

Pension and other post-retirement liabilities

 

14(a)

 

$ 480

 

$ 451

Other

 

 

 

170

 

150

Restricted stock unit and deferred share unit liabilities

 

 

 

62

 

57

 

 

 

 

712

 

658

Deferred customer activation and connection fees

 

 

 

24

 

30

 

 

 

 

$ 736

 

$ 688

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Share capital

 

 

 

 

(a) General

Our authorized share capital is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at December 31

 

2016

 

2015

First Preferred Shares

 

1 billion

 

1 billion

Second Preferred Shares

 

1 billion

 

1 billion

Common Shares

 

2 billion

 

2 billion

 

Only holders of Common Shares may vote at our general meetings, with each holder of Common Shares entitled to one vote per Common Share held at all such meetings so long as not less than 662/3% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares are owned by Canadians. With respect to priority in payment of dividends and in the distribution of assets in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of our assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, preferences are as follows: First Preferred Shares; Second Preferred Shares; and finally Common Shares.

As at December 31, 2016, approximately 48 million Common Shares were reserved for issuance, from Treasury, under a share option plan (see Note 13(d)).


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 161


 


(b) Purchase of Common Shares for cancellation pursuant to normal course issuer bid

 

As referred to in Note 3, we may purchase a portion of our Common Shares for cancellation pursuant to normal course issuer bids in order to maintain or adjust our capital structure. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we purchased a number of our Common

 

Shares for cancellation, through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and/or alternative trading platforms or otherwise as may be permitted by applicable securities laws and regulations, including privately negotiated block purchases, as set out in the following table.


 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

2015

 

 

Common

 

 

 

Common

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Cost

 

Shares

 

Cost

Normal course issuer bid period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015
(bid maximum reached on September 14, 2015)

 

–

 

$     –

 

9

 

$ 385

September 15, 2015 – September 14, 2016

 

3

 

130

 

7

 

250

September 30, 2016 – September 29, 20171

 

1

 

35

 

–

 

–

Total excluding employee benefit plan trust transactions

 

4

 

165

 

16

 

635

Employee benefit plan trust transactions

 

–

 

4

 

–

 

–

 

 

4

 

$ 169

 

16

 

$ 635

 

1           On September 28, 2016, we announced that we had received approval for a normal course issuer bid to purchase and cancel up to 8 of our Common Shares (up to a maximum amount of $250) from September 30, 2016, to September 29, 2017; in lieu of purchasing and cancelling shares, an employee benefit plan trust could purchase up to 25% of the approved normal course issuer bid amount for distribution to non-executive employees pursuant to partial payment of the immediately vesting, transformative compensation expense (see Notes 7, 13(a) and 15(a)). Transactions with the employee benefit plan trust are presented in the Consolidated statements of changes in owners’ equity as treasury share transactions. Additionally, we have entered into an automatic share purchase plan with a broker for the purpose of permitting us to purchase our Common Shares under the normal course issuer bid at times when we would not be permitted to trade in our own Common Shares during internal blackout periods, including during regularly scheduled quarterly blackout periods. Such purchases are determined by the broker in its sole discretion based on parameters we have established. We record a liability and charge share capital and retained earnings for purchases that may occur during such blackout periods based upon the parameters of the normal course issuer bid as at the statement of financial position date.

 


The excess of the purchase price over the average stated value of Common Shares purchased for cancellation is charged to retained earnings. We cease to consider the Common Shares to be outstanding

 

on the date of our purchase of the Common Shares, although the actual cancellation of the Common Shares by the transfer agent and registrar occurs on a timely basis on a date shortly thereafter.


 

 

Contingent liabilities

 

 

 

 

 


(a) Claims and lawsuits

 

General

A number of claims and lawsuits (including class actions and intellectual property infringement claims) seeking damages and other relief are pending against us and, in some cases, numerous other wireless carriers and telecommunications service providers. As well, we have received notice of, or are aware of, certain possible claims (including intellectual property infringement claims) against us.

It is not currently possible for us to predict the outcome of such claims, possible claims and lawsuits due to various factors, including: the preliminary nature of some claims; uncertain damage theories and demands; an incomplete factual record; uncertainty concerning legal theories and procedures and their resolution by the courts, at both the trial and the appeal levels; and the unpredictable nature of opposing parties and their demands.

However, subject to the foregoing limitations, management is of the opinion, based upon legal assessments and information presently available, that it is unlikely that any liability, to the extent not provided for through insurance or otherwise, would have a material effect on our financial position and the results of our operations, including cash flows, with the exception of the items enumerated following.

 

Certified class actions

 

Certified class actions against us include the following:

 

System access fee class actions

In 2004 a class action was brought in Saskatchewan against a number of past and present wireless service providers, including us, which alleged breach of contract, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and violation of competition, trade practices and consumer protection legislation across Canada in connection with the collection of system access fees. In September 2007, a national opt-in class was certified by the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench in relation to the unjust enrichment claim only; all appeals of this certification decision have now been exhausted. In February 2008, the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench granted an order amending the certification order so as to exclude from the class of plaintiffs any customer bound by an arbitration clause with us. All appeals of this decision have now been exhausted. In addition to the 2004 class action brought in Saskatchewan, fourteen additional class actions were brought against us and other wireless service providers in the period 2004 to date in connection with the collection of system access fees in nine provinces. One of those actions, filed in Alberta in 2013, was a nullity. A second action, filed in British Columbia in 2004, was dismissed against us in January 2013, with an appeal of that decision being dismissed in March 2015.


 

 

162 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 29

 

 


During the year ended December 31, 2016, developments in the remaining twelve additional class actions occurred which will lead to their final resolution:

 

·           Seven were discontinued pursuant to terms of settlement.

·           The plaintiff was denied leave to appeal by the Supreme Court of Canada in relation to three additional class actions dismissed as an abuse of process by the Courts of Appeal of Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

·           The plaintiff was denied leave to appeal by the Supreme Court of Canada in relation to a British Columbia action in respect of which the Court of Appeal had denied certification, ending this matter.

·           The plaintiff agreed to dismiss an Alberta action, and that dismissal has now been implemented.

 

As a result, none of the additional fourteen class actions has been certified and all have been dismissed, stayed or discontinued, or are in the process of being dismissed, stayed or discontinued.

 

Per minute billing class action

In 2008 a class action was brought in Ontario against us alleging breach of contract, breach of the Ontario Consumer Protection Act, breach of the Competition Act and unjust enrichment, in connection with our practice of “rounding up” wireless airtime to the nearest minute and charging for the full minute. The action sought certification of a national class. In November 2014, an Ontario class only was certified by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in relation to the breach of contract, breach of Consumer Protection Act, and unjust enrichment claims; all appeals of the certification decision have now been exhausted. At the same time, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice declined to stay the claims of our business customers notwithstanding an arbitration clause in our customer service agreements with those customers. This latter decision is under appeal; the appeal hearing was held in September 2016 and we are awaiting the Court’s decision.

 

Unilateral rate amendments class actions

In 2012 a class action was brought against us in Quebec alleging that we improperly unilaterally amended customer contracts to increase various wireless rates for optional services, contrary to the Quebec Consumer Protection Act and the Civil Code of Quebec. On June 13, 2013, the Superior Court of Quebec authorized this matter as a class action. This class action follows on a non-material 2008 class action brought in Quebec alleging that we improperly unilaterally amended customer contracts to charge for incoming SMS messages. On April 8, 2014, judgment was granted in part against TELUS in the 2008 class action. We had appealed that judgment, but have now settled both the 2008 and 2012 class actions. This settlement received court approval in June 2016, is being implemented and has been fully accounted for in our financial statements.

 

Call set-up time class actions

In 2005 a class action was brought against us in British Columbia alleging that we have engaged in deceptive trade practices in charging for incoming calls from the moment the caller connects to the network, and not from the moment the incoming call is connected to the recipient. In 2011, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld a stay of all of the causes of action advanced by the plaintiff in this class action, with one exception, based on the arbitration clause that was included in TELUS’ customer service agreements. The sole exception was the cause of action based

 

on deceptive or unconscionable practices under the British Columbia Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, which the Supreme Court of Canada declined to stay. In January 2016, the British Columbia Supreme Court certified this class action in relation to the claim under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act. The class is limited to residents of British Columbia who contracted wireless services with TELUS in the period from January 21, 1999, to April 2010. We have appealed the certification decision and the appeal hearing is expected to occur in May 2017. A companion class action was brought against us in Alberta at the same time as the British Columbia class action. The Alberta class action duplicates the allegations in the British Columbia action, but has not proceeded to date and is not certified.

 

Uncertified class actions

Uncertified class actions against us include:

 

9-1-1 class actions

In 2008 a class action was brought in Saskatchewan against us and other Canadian telecommunications carriers alleging that, among other matters, we failed to provide proper notice of 9-1-1 charges to the public, have been deceitfully passing them off as government charges, and have charged 9-1-1 fees to customers who reside in areas where 9-1-1 service is not available. The plaintiffs advance causes of action in breach of contract, misrepresentation and false advertising and seek certification of a national class. A virtually identical class action was filed in Alberta at the same time, but the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench declared that class action expired against us as of 2009. No steps were taken in this proceeding in 2016.

 

Electromagnetic field radiation class actions

In 2013 a class action was brought in British Columbia against us, other telecommunications carriers, and cellular telephone manufacturers alleging that prolonged usage of cellular telephones causes adverse health effects. The British Columbia class action alleges: strict liability; negligence; failure to warn; breach of warranty; breach of competition, consumer protection and trade practices legislation; negligent misrepresentation, breach of a duty not to market the products in question; and waiver of tort. Certification of a national class is sought, but the action has not proceeded to date and no steps were taken in 2016. In 2015 a class action was brought in Quebec against us, other telecommunications carriers, and various other defendants alleging that electromagnetic field radiation causes adverse health effects, contravenes the Quebec Environmental Quality Act, creates a nuisance, and constitutes an abuse of right pursuant to the Quebec Civil Code. This action has not yet proceeded to an authorization hearing.

 

Public Mobile class actions

In 2014 class actions were brought against us in Quebec and Ontario on behalf of Public Mobile’s customers, alleging that changes to the technology, services and rate plans made by us contravene our statutory and common law obligations. In particular, the Quebec action alleges that our actions constitute a breach of the Quebec Consumer Protection Act, the Quebec Civil Code, and the Ontario Consumer Protection Act. It has not yet proceeded to an authorization hearing. The Ontario class action alleges negligence, breach of express and implied warranty, breach of the Competition Act, unjust enrichment, and waiver of tort. No steps have been taken in this proceeding since it was filed and served.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 163


 


Promotional pricing class action

In 2016 a class action was brought in Quebec against us, other telecommunications carriers, and various other defendants alleging that we violated the Quebec Consumer Protection Act by enticing Quebec consumer customers to contract with us by providing them goods or services at a reduced price, or free as a trial, for a fixed period and, at the end of the fixed period, charging them the regular price if they did not take steps to either renegotiate or cancel their contract with us. This action has not yet proceeded to an authorization hearing.

 

Handset subsidy class action

In 2016 a class action was brought in Quebec against us and other telecommunications carriers alleging that we breached the Quebec Consumer Protection Act and the Civil Code of Quebec by making false or misleading representations relating to the handset subsidy provided to our wireless customers, and by charging our wireless customers inflated rate plan prices and termination fees higher than those permitted under the Act. This action has not yet proceeded to an authorization hearing.

 

Intellectual property infringement claims

Claims and possible claims received by us include:

 

Optik TV patent infringement claim

A patent infringement claim was filed in Ontario in 2014 alleging that TELUS’ IPTV products, including its Optik TV product that utilizes the MediaRoom platform and its previous TELUS TV product that utilized the Minerva platform, infringe two third-party patents. In late 2016, the plaintiff agreed to abandon its claims relating to the TELUS TV product and relating to one of the two patents that it had asserted. This matter is scheduled to proceed to trial on liability issues only in April 2017.

 

4G LTE network patent infringement claim

A patent infringement claim was filed in Ontario in 2016 alleging that communications between devices, including cellular telephones, and base stations on TELUS’ 4G LTE network infringe three third-party patents. No trial date has yet been set for this matter.

 

Summary

We believe that we have good defences to the above matters. Should the ultimate resolution of these matters differ from management’s assessments and assumptions, a material adjustment to our financial position and the results of our operations, including cash flows, could result. Management’s assessments and assumptions include that reliable estimates of any such exposure cannot be made considering the continued uncertainty about: the nature of the damages that may be sought by the plaintiffs; the causes of action that are being, or may ultimately be, pursued; and, in the case of the uncertified class actions, the causes of action that may ultimately be certified.

 

(b) Indemnification obligations

In the normal course of operations, we provide indemnification in conjunction with certain transactions. The terms of these indemnification obligations range in duration. These indemnifications would require us to compensate the indemnified parties for costs incurred as a result of failure to comply with contractual obligations, or litigation claims or statutory sanctions, or damages that may be suffered by an indemnified party. In some cases, there is no maximum limit on these indemnification obligations. The overall maximum amount of an indemnification obligation will depend on future events and conditions and therefore cannot be reasonably estimated. Where appropriate, an indemnification obligation is recorded as a liability. Other than obligations recorded as liabilities at the time of such transactions, historically we have not made significant payments under these indemnifications.

See Note 21(d) for details regarding our guarantees to the real estate joint ventures.

As at December 31, 2016, we had no liability recorded in respect of our indemnification obligations.

 

(c) Concentration of labour

In 2015, we commenced collective bargaining with the Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steel Workers Local Union 1944, to renew the collective agreement that expired on December 31, 2015; the expired contract covered approximately 40% of our Canadian workforce as at December 31, 2015.

On October 3, 2016, the Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steel Workers Local Union 1944 and ourselves announced that the two parties had reached a tentative five-year collective agreement which would be subject to ratification by members of the Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steel Workers Local Union 1944. On November 23, 2016, the Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steel Workers Local Union 1944 announced that its members had voted to accept the October 3, 2016, tentative agreement. The terms and conditions of the new collective agreement are effective from November 27, 2016, to December 31, 2021, and cover approximately 37% of our Canadian workforce as at December 31, 2016.

In December 2016, a new collective agreement between the Syndicat des agents de maîtrise de TELUS and ourselves was ratified by a majority of its members. This collective agreement will take effect on April 1, 2017, and will expire on March 31, 2022. A new collective agreement between the Syndicat québécois des employés de TELUS and ourselves was also ratified in December 2016. The new agreement is effective from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022. The current Syndicat québécois des employés de TELUS collective agreement will remain in effect until it expires on December 31, 2017.


 

164 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: NOTE 30

 

 

 

Related party transactions

 

 

 

 


(a) Transactions with key management personnel

Our key management personnel have authority and responsibility for overseeing, planning, directing and controlling our activities and consist of our Board of Directors and our Executive Leadership Team.

Total compensation expense for key management personnel, and the composition thereof, is as follows:

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Short-term benefits

 

$ 12

 

$ 13

 

Post-employment pension1 and other benefits

 

7

 

14

 

Termination benefits

 

–

 

8

 

Share-based compensation2

 

35

 

30

 

 

 

$ 54

 

$ 65

 

1           Our Executive Leadership Team members are either: members of our Pension Plan for Management and Professional Employees of TELUS Corporation and non-registered, non-contributory supplementary defined benefit pension plans; or members of one of our defined contribution pension plans.

2           For the year ended December 31, 2016, share-based compensation expense is net of $2 (2015 – $1) of the effects of derivatives used to manage share-based compensation costs (Note 13(b)). For the year ended December 31, 2016, $4 (2015 – $(6)) is included in share-based compensation expense representing restricted stock unit and deferred share unit expense arising from changes in the fair market value of the corresponding Common Shares, which is not affected by derivatives used to manage share-based compensation costs. For the year ended December 31, 2016, share-based compensation expense of $4 (2015 – $7) was included in restructuring costs (Note 15) .


 

As disclosed in Note 13, we made initial awards of share-based compensation in 2016 and 2015, including, as set out in the following table, to our key management personnel. As most of these awards are cliff-vesting or graded-vesting and have multi-year requisite service periods, the expense will be recognized ratably over a period of years and thus only a portion of the 2016 and 2015 awards are included in the amounts in the table above.

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

restricted

 

Notional

 

Grant-date

 

restricted

 

Notional

 

Grant-date

 

($ in millions)

 

stock units

 

value

1

fair value

1

stock units

 

value

1

fair value

1

Awarded in period

 

585,759

 

$ 23

 

$ 15

 

595,674

 

$ 26

 

$ 30

 

1           Notional value is determined by multiplying the Common Share price at the time of award by the number of units awarded. The grant-date fair value differs from the notional value because the fair values of some awards have been determined using a Monte Carlo simulation (see Note 13(b)).

 


During the year ended December 31, 2016, key management personnel (including retirees) exercised 169,522 share options (2015 – 98,702 share options) that had an intrinsic value of $4 million (2015 – $2 million) at the time of exercise, reflecting a weighted average price at the date of exercise of $42.47 (2015 – $42.04).

The liability amounts accrued for share-based compensation awards to key management personnel are as follows:

 

As at December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Restricted stock units

 

$ 25

 

$ 21

 

Deferred share units1

 

32

 

29

 

 

 

$ 57

 

$ 50

 

1           Our Directors’ Deferred Share Unit Plan provides that, in addition to his or her annual equity grant of deferred share units, a director may elect to receive his or her annual retainer and meeting fees in deferred share units, Common Shares or cash. Deferred share units entitle directors to a specified number of, or a cash payment based on the value of, our Common Shares. Deferred share units are paid out when a director ceases to be a director, for any reason, at a time elected by the director in accordance with the Directors’ Deferred Share Unit Plan; during the year ended December 31, 2016, $4 (2015 – $3) was paid out.

Employment agreements with members of the Executive Leadership Team typically provide for severance payments if an executive’s employment is terminated without cause: generally 18–24 months of base salary, benefits and accrual of pension service in lieu of notice and 50% of base salary in lieu of an annual cash bonus. In the event of a change in control, Executive Leadership Team members are not entitled to treatment any different than that given to our other employees with respect to non-vested share-based compensation.

 

(b) Transactions with defined benefit pension plans

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we provided management and administrative services to our defined benefit pension plans; the charges for these services were on a cost recovery basis and amounted to $6 million (2015 – $7 million).

 

(c) Transactions with real estate joint ventures

During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had transactions with the real estate joint ventures, which are related parties, as set out in Note 21.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 165

 


 

 

Additional statement of cash flow information

 

 

 

 


(a) Statements of cash flows – operating activities and investing activities

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

2016

 

2015

 

Net change in non-cash operating working capital

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

$ (45

)

$  55

 

Inventories

 

42

 

(40

)

Prepaid expenses

 

(20

)

(22

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

126

 

(60

)

Income and other taxes receivable and payable, net

 

(128

)

202

 

Advance billings and customer deposits

 

(28

)

7

 

Provisions

 

(18

)

72

 

 

 

$ (71

)

$ 214

 

 

Years ended December 31 (millions)

 

Note

 

2016

 

2015

 

Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital asset additions, excluding spectrum licences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross capital expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

17

 

$ (2,358

)

$ (2,046

)

Intangible assets

 

18

 

(629

)

(531

)

 

 

 

 

(2,987

)

(2,577

)

Additions arising from non-monetary transactions

 

 

 

19

 

–

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

 

(2,968

)

(2,577

)

Asset retirement obligations netted (included) in additions

 

 

 

40

 

(65

)

 

 

 

 

(2,928

)

(2,642

)

Other non-cash items included above

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in associated non-cash investing working capital

 

 

 

231

 

60

 

Non-cash change in asset retirement obligation

 

 

 

(55

)

60

 

 

 

 

 

176

 

120

 

 

 

 

 

$ (2,752

)

$ (2,522

)

 

(b) Changes in liabilities arising from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2015

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of cash flows

 

 

Non-cash changes

 

 

 

Statement of cash flows

 

 

Non-cash changes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions,

 

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions,

 

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at

 

 

 

repayments

 

 

exchange

 

 

 

As at

 

 

 

repayments

 

 

exchange

 

 

 

As at

 

 

 

Jan. 1,

 

Issued or

 

or

 

 

movement

 

 

 

Dec. 31,

 

Issued or

 

or

 

 

movement

 

 

 

Dec. 31,

 

(millions)

 

2015

 

received

 

payments

 

 

(Note 4(i))

 

Other

 

2015

 

received

 

payments

 

 

(Note 4(i))

 

Other

 

2016

 

Dividends paid to holders of Common Shares

 

$    244

 

$        –

 

$    (992

)

 

$

–

 

$ 1,011

 

$      263

 

$        –

 

$ (1,070

)

 

$   –

 

$ 1,091

 

$     284

 

Purchase of Common Shares for cancellation1

 

$        3

 

$        –

 

$    (628

)

 

$

–

 

$    635

 

$        10

 

$        –

 

$   (179

)

 

$   –

 

$   169

 

$         –

 

Short-term borrowings

 

$    100

 

$    401

 

$    (401

)

 

$

–

 

$        –

 

$      100

 

$       3

 

$       (3

)

 

$   –

 

$        –

 

$     100

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TELUS Corporation notes

 

$ 8,437

 

$ 2,732

 

$         –

 

 

$

–

 

$       (5

)

$ 11,164

 

$   785

 

$   (600

)

 

$ 19

 

$      (1

)

$ 11,367

 

TELUS Corporation commercial paper

 

130

 

5,461

 

(5,396

)

 

61

 

–

 

256

 

4,568

 

(4,181

)

 

(30

)

–

 

613

 

TELUS Corporation credit facility

 

–

 

780

 

(780

)

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

TELUS Communications Inc. debentures

 

743

 

–

 

(125

)

 

–

 

–

 

618

 

–

 

–

 

 

–

 

1

 

619

 

TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

373

 

(42

)

 

9

 

(8

)

332

 

Derivatives used to manage currency risks arising from U.S.
dollar-denominated long-term debt – liability (asset)

 

–

 

4,229

 

(4,182

)

 

(61

)

–

 

(14

)

4,181

 

(4,201

)

 

11

 

43

 

20

 

 

 

9,310

 

13,202

 

(10,483

)

 

–

 

(5

)

12,024

 

9,907

 

(9,024

)

 

9

 

35

 

12,951

 

To eliminate effect of gross settlement of derivatives used to
manage currency risks arising from

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt

 

–

 

(4,229

)

4,229

 

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

(4,181

)

4,181

 

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 

 

$ 9,310

 

$ 8,973

 

$ (6,254

)

 

$

–

 

$       (5

)

$ 12,024

 

$ 5,726

 

$ (4,843

)

 

$   9

 

$     35

 

$ 12,951

 

Issue of shares by subsidiary to non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross proceeds on share issuance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$    302

 

$        –

 

 

$   –

 

$  (302

)

$         –

 

Transaction costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–

 

(8

)

 

–

 

12

 

4

 

Income taxes charged directly to contributed surplus2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–

 

–

 

 

–

 

47

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

302

 

(8

)

 

–

 

(243

)

51

 

To eliminate effect of gross settlement of transaction costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8

)

8

 

 

–

 

–

 

–

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$   294

 

$        –

 

 

$   –

 

$  (243

)

$       51

 

1           Normal course issuer bid transactions including employee benefit plan trust transactions (see Note 28(b)).

2           Income taxes charged directly to contributed surplus were comprised of a current income tax charge of $50 and a deferred income tax recovery of $3.

 

 

166 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

Glossary

 

 

 

 

 


4G (fourth generation): Wireless technologies, including HSPA+, LTE and LTE advanced, as defined by the International Telecommunications Union.

 

5G (fifth generation): The next generation of converged wireless technologies, expected to provide higher Internet speeds, improved coverage and lower latency, which is critical as the number of connected devices continues to rapidly increase. 5G technical standards remain in development.

 

AWS (advanced wireless services) spectrum: Spectrum in the 1.7 and 2.1 GHz frequency ranges that is utilized in North America for 4G services. It is commonly used in urban and suburban areas.

 

Double cohort: An elevated number of postpaid wireless customers whose contracts ended in the 12-month period beginning June 3, 2015, as a result of a new regulatory limit on contract lengths.

 

Fibre-optic network: Hair-thin glass fibres along which light pulses are transmitted. Optical fibre networks are used to transmit large amounts of data between locations at high upload and download speeds.

 

FTTx (fibre to the x): A collective term for any broadband network architecture using optical fibre to replace all or part of the existing copper local loops. FTTH denotes fibre to the home, FTTP denotes premises and FTTN denotes node or neighbourhood.

 

GPON (gigabit-capable passive optical network): A fibre-based transmission technology that can deliver data download speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 1.25 Gbps.

 

HSPA+ (high-speed packet access plus): A 4G technology capable of delivering manufacturer-rated wireless data download speeds of up to 21 Mbps (typical speeds of 4 to 6 Mbps expected). HSPA+ dual-cell technology can double those download speeds.

 

ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier): An established telecommunications company providing local telephone service.

 

Internet of Things (IoT): A network of uniquely identifiable end points (or things) that interact without human intervention, most commonly over a wireless network. These systems collect, analyze and act on information in real time and can be deployed to enable the creation of smart connected businesses, homes, cars and cities.

 

IP (Internet protocol): A packet-based protocol for delivering data across networks.

 

IP-based network: A network designed using IP and QoS (quality of service) technology to reliably and efficiently support all types of customer traffic, including voice, data and video. An IP-based network allows a variety of IP devices and advanced applications to communicate over a single common network.

 

IP TV (Internet protocol television): A television service that uses a two-way digital broadcast signal sent through a network by way of a streamed broadband connection to a dedicated set-top box. The TELUS service is trademarked as Optik TV.

 

LTE (long-term evolution): The leading 4G global wireless industry technology standard. TELUS’ 4G LTE coverage is capable of delivering manufacturer-rated peak download speeds of up to 110 Mbps (typical speeds of 12 to 45 Mbps expected). LTE advanced offers higher speeds and greater capacity, with manufacturer-rated peak download speeds of up to 225 Mbps (typical speeds of 12 to 65 Mbps expected).

 

M2M (machine-to-machine): Technologies and networked devices that are able to exchange information and perform actions without any human assistance.

 

Multiple dwelling unit (MDU): An apartment or condominium.

 

Non-ILEC (non-incumbent local exchange carrier):

The telecommunications operations of TELUS outside its traditional ILEC operating territories, where TELUS competes with the incumbent telephone company (e.g. Ontario and most of Quebec).

 

Normal course issuer bid (NCIB): A program that enables a company to purchase its own shares, typically for cancellation, through exchanges or private purchases over a set period of time.

 

Over-the-top (OTT): Content, services and applications in a video environment where the delivery occurs through a medium other than the established video delivery infrastructure.

 

Roaming: A service offered by wireless network operators that allows subscribers to use their mobile phones while in the service area of another operator.

 

Small cell: Low-powered radio access nodes that can operate in licensed and unlicensed spectrum within a small range to provide densification and capacity to a macro wireless network.

 

Spectrum: The range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used in the transmission of voice, data and video. The capacity of a wireless network is in part a function of the amount of spectrum licensed and utilized by the carrier.

 

VoIP (voice over Internet protocol): The transmission of voice signals over the Internet or IP network.

 

Wave 3 solutions: Next-generation wireless offerings that use Internet of Things technology to provide solutions to businesses and consumers.

 

Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity): Networking technology that allows any user with a Wi-Fi-enabled device to connect to a wireless access point or hotspot in high-traffic public locations.

 

xDSL: A fibre-to-the-node IP technology that allows existing telephone lines to carry voice, data and video.

 

 

For financial definitions, see Section 11 of Management’s discussion and analysis in this report

 

 


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 167


 

 

Investor information

 

 

 

 


Stock exchanges and TELUS trading symbols

 

Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)

 

Common shares

T

CUSIP: 87971M103

 

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

 

Common shares

TU

CUSIP: 87971M103

 

Member of

 

·

S&P/TSX Composite Index

·

S&P/TSX 60 Index

·

S&P/TSX Telecom Index

·

MSCI World Telecom Index

·

Jantzi Social Index

·

FTSE4Good Index

·

Dow Jones Sustainability World Index

·

Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index

·

STOXX Global ESG Leaders indices

·

Euronext Vigeo Index: World 120

 

Share ownership facts as at December 31, 2016

 

 

·           Total outstanding shares were 590,424,956

·           TELUS team members held 16,488,361 shares in employee share plans, equivalent to 2.8% of the total number of outstanding shares, which collectively made team members the fifth largest TELUS shareholder

·           We estimate that approximately 70% of TELUS shares were held by institutional investors and 30% by retail investors

·           Registered shareholders totalled 37,009. The Canadian Depository for Securities (CDS) represents one registration and holds securities for many non-registered shareholders. We estimate that TELUS had more than 440,000 non-registered shareholders at year-end.

 

 

Dividend policy and dividend growth program

 

The January 2017 quarterly dividend paid was 48 cents or $1.92 on an annualized basis, representing a 9.1% increase over the previous year.

 

Our long-term dividend payout ratio guideline is 65 to 75% of prospective sustainable net earnings. In May 2016, we announced an intention to target ongoing semi-annual dividend increases, with the annual increase in the range of seven to 10%, through to the end of 2019. This further extends our multi-year dividend growth program originally announced in May 2011 and initially extended in May 2013, and provides investors with ongoing clarity with respect to our intentions regarding our dividend growth program. Since 2011, we have raised our dividend 12 times, bringing the total number of our dividend increases to 19 since 2004.

 

Notwithstanding this, quarterly dividend decisions are subject to assessment and determination by our Board of Directors based on our financial position and outlook. There can be no assurance that the Company will maintain its dividend growth program through 2019.

 

TELUS advises that, unless noted otherwise, all quarterly dividends paid since January 2006 are eligible dividends under the Income Tax Act. Under this legislation, Canadian residents may be entitled to enhanced dividend tax credits that reduce the income tax otherwise payable. More information is available on telus.com/dividends.

 

 


Dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan

 

Investors may take advantage of the automatic dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan to acquire additional common shares without fees. Under this plan, eligible shareholders can have their dividends reinvested automatically into additional shares.

 


We also offer a share purchase feature, under which eligible shareholders can, on a monthly basis, buy TELUS shares (maximum $20,000 per calendar year and minimum $100 per transaction) without brokerage commissions or service charges.

 

This plan is managed by Computershare Trust Company of Canada.

 

 

Visit telus.com/drisp or contact Computershare for information and enrolment forms

 


2017 expected dividend1 and earnings dates

 

 

 

Ex-dividend dates2

 

Dividend record dates

 

Dividend payment dates

 

Earnings release dates

Quarter 1

 

March 8

 

March 10

 

April 3

 

May 11

Quarter 2

 

June 7

 

June 9

 

July 4

 

August 11

Quarter 3

 

September 6

 

September 8

 

October 2

 

November 9

Quarter 4

 

December 7

 

December 11

 

January 2, 2018

 

February 8, 2018

 

1           Dividends are subject to Board of Directors’ approval.

 

2           Shares purchased on this date forward will not be entitled to the dividend payable on the corresponding dividend payment date.

 

 

168 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

INVESTOR INFORMATION

 

 

 


Normal course issuer bid programs1

In September, our 2016 normal course issuer bid (NCIB) program concluded, under which we purchased and cancelled 9,691,400 common shares for $379 million. Further, we received TSX approval for our 2017 NCIB program to purchase and cancel up to eight million of our outstanding shares valued up to $250 million over the 12-month period ending September 29, 2017.

Since beginning our multi-year share purchase program in May 2013 through to the end of 2016, we have purchased a total of 68 million shares for $2.5 billion. Of these amounts, 1.0 million shares were purchased for $41 million on behalf of an employee benefit plan and all other shares purchased were cancelled.

We will purchase shares only when and if we consider it opportunistic. The share purchase program is subject to the Board’s ongoing

 

 

1           See Caution regarding forward-looking statements on page 38 of this report.

2           Includes 1.0 million shares purchased for $41 million on behalf of the employee benefit plan that were not cancelled.

 

assessment and determination and there can be no assurance that the share purchase program will be completed or maintained.


 

Per-share data1

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

Basic earnings

 

$    2.06

 

$    2.29

 

$    2.31

 

$    2.02

 

$    1.85

 

$      1.74

 

$    1.53

 

Dividends declared

 

$    1.84

 

$    1.68

 

$    1.52

 

$    1.36

 

$    1.22

 

$ 1.1025

 

$    1.00

 

Dividends declared as per cent of basic earnings

 

89%

 

73%

 

66%

 

67%

 

66%

 

63%

 

65%

 

Free cash flow

 

$    0.24

 

$    1.81

 

$    1.74

 

$    1.69

 

$    2.04

 

$     1.53

 

$    1.46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closing price

 

$ 42.75

 

$ 38.26

 

$ 41.89

 

$ 36.56

 

$ 32.55

 

$  28.82

 

$ 22.74

 

Dividend yield

 

4.3%

 

4.4%

 

3.6%

 

3.7%

 

3.7%

 

3.8%

 

4.4%

 

Price to earnings ratio

 

21

 

17

 

18

 

18

 

18

 

17

 

15

 

 

1           Adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effective April 16, 2013.

 

Share prices and volumes

 

Toronto Stock Exchange

 

Common shares (T)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

(C$ except volume)

 

Year 2016

 

Q4

 

Q3

 

Q2

 

Q1

 

Year 2015

 

Q4

 

Q3

 

Q2

 

Q1

 

High

 

44.39

 

43.68

 

44.39

 

42.38

 

42.59

 

45.19

 

44.51

 

45.19

 

43.70

 

45.14

 

Low

 

35.51

 

40.97

 

41.54

 

39.11

 

35.51

 

36.74

 

36.74

 

41.09

 

40.61

 

41.08

 

Close

 

42.75

 

42.75

 

43.29

 

41.60

 

42.28

 

38.26

 

38.26

 

42.05

 

43.03

 

42.07

 

Volume (millions)

 

279.5

 

63.5

 

48.8

 

73.9

 

93.2

 

295.6

 

90.8

 

67.9

 

67.7

 

69.2

 

Dividend declared (per share)

 

1.84

 

0.48

 

0.46

 

0.46

 

0.44

 

1.68

 

0.44

 

0.42

 

0.42

 

0.40

 

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

Common shares (TU)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

(U.S.$ except volume)

 

Year 2016

 

Q4

 

Q3

 

Q2

 

Q1

 

Year 2015

 

Q4

 

Q3

 

Q2

 

Q1

 

High

 

34.12

 

33.22

 

34.12

 

32.82

 

32.96

 

36.18

 

33.85

 

34.90

 

35.54

 

36.18

 

Low

 

30.31

 

30.31

 

31.50

 

30.64

 

24.34

 

26.38

 

26.38

 

31.05

 

32.97

 

32.53

 

Close

 

31.85

 

31.85

 

33.00

 

32.20

 

32.53

 

27.65

 

27.65

 

31.54

 

34.44

 

33.24

 

Volume (millions)

 

55.6

 

14.3

 

11.4

 

12.7

 

17.3

 

70.5

 

17.7

 

17.8

 

17.6

 

17.5

 

Dividend declared (per share)

 

1.41

 

0.357

 

0.357

 

0.362

 

0.332

 

1.30

 

0.324

 

0.318

 

0.338

 

0.318

 

 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 169


 

 

1           Adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effective April 16, 2013.

2           Common shares were listed and began trading on the NYSE on February 4, 2013. Prior to that, our former non-voting share class traded on the NYSE under the symbol TU.

 

 


TELUS Corporation Notes

 

 

 

Rate

 

Face value

 

Maturing

 

Canadian dollar Notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series CD

 

4.95%

 

$700 million

 

March 2017

 

Series CG

 

5.05%

 

$1.0 billion

 

December 2019

 

Series CH

 

5.05%

 

$1.0 billion

 

July 2020

 

Series CJ

 

3.35%

 

$500 million

 

March 2023

 

Series CK

 

3.35%

 

$1.1 billion

 

April 2024

 

Series CL

 

4.40%

 

$600 million

 

April 2043

 

Series CM

 

3.60%

 

$400 million

 

January 2021

 

Series CN

 

5.15%

 

$400 million

 

November 2043

 

Series CO

 

3.20%

 

$500 million

 

April 2021

 

Series CP1

 

4.85%

 

$900 million

 

April 2044

 

Series CQ

 

3.75%

 

$800 million

 

January 2025

 

Series CR

 

4.75%

 

$400 million

 

January 2045

 

Series CS

 

1.50%

 

$250 million

 

March 2018

 

Series CT

 

2.35%

 

$1.0 billion

 

March 2022

 

Series CU

 

4.40%

 

$500 million

 

January 2046

 

Series CV

 

3.75%

 

$600 million

 

March 2026

 

U.S. dollar Notes

 

2.80%

 

U.S.$600 million

 

February 2027

 

 

1         Includes $500 million issued in April 2014 and $400 million issued in December 2015.

 

Credit rating summary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard &

 

Moody’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poor’s Rating

 

Investors

 

Fitch

 

As at December 31, 2016

 

DBRS Ltd.

 

Services

 

Service

 

Ratings

 

TELUS Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes

 

BBB (high)

 

BBB+

 

Baa1

 

BBB+

 

Commercial paper

 

R-2 (high)

 

A-2

 

P-2

 

–

 

TELUS Communications Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debentures

 

BBB (high)

 

BBB+

 

–

 

BBB+

 

 

 

At the end of 2016, the average term to maturity of our long-term debt (excluding commercial paper and the revolving component of the TELUS International credit facility) was 10.4 years, compared to 11.1 years at the end of 2015.

For a detailed list of long-term debt of the Company and our subsidiaries, see Note 26 of the Consolidated financial statements.


 

 

170 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

INVESTOR INFORMATION

 

 


Investor relations activities

In 2016, we held four conference calls, with simultaneous webcasts to all investors, relating to our quarterly results and outlook. We also participated in numerous investor conferences and tours throughout the year in Canada, the United States and Europe. For certain investor meetings and to reduce travel expenses and time, we also use high-definition video-conference services.

An archive of our quarterly conference calls, events and presentations can be found on telus.com/investors.

 

Key TELUS investment events

·           Appointed Doug French as Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

·           Extended our semi-annual dividend growth program with annual increases targeted in the range of seven to 10% from 2017 through 2019

·           Entered into an agreement with Baring Private Equity Asia for it to acquire a 35% non-controlling interest in TELUS International

·           Reached an agreement with BCE Inc. that will expand TELUS’ wireless customer base and dealer locations in Manitoba once the purchase of Manitoba Telecom Services by BCE concludes on or about April 1, 2017

·           Purchased and cancelled 9.7 million shares for a total of $379 million under our 2016 NCIB program

·           Received TSX approval for our 2017 NCIB program to purchase and cancel up to eight million common shares valued up to $250 million over a 12-month period

·           Issued U.S.$600 million in senior unsecured notes with a 10-year maturity at 2.80% due February 16, 2027, marking our return to the U.S. long-term debt market.

 

Awards

·           Received top honours from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada with the Overall Award of Excellence in Corporate Reporting, an award TELUS has won for seven of the past 10 years. We also received the Awards of Excellence in Corporate Governance Disclosure and in Corporate Reporting in the Communications and Media sector at the 2016 Corporate Reporting Awards. This is now the 22nd year that TELUS has been recognized

·           Placed 14th in the world in the 2016 Annual Report on Annual Reports by ReportWatch for the TELUS 2015 annual report

·           Recognized by Mediacorp Canada as one of:

·            Canada’s Top 100 Employers for the eighth year

·            Canada’s Greenest Employers for the fifth year

·            Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the eighth year

·            Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for the sixth year

·           Recognized for corporate social responsibility by being included in the:

·           Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for the 16th consecutive year

·           Dow Jones Sustainability World Index

·           Canada 200 for the Carbon Disclosure Project

·           Corporate Knights Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada for the 10th time

 

·           Awarded the global Architizer A+ Award for excellence in innovation, architecture and design for TELUS Garden, our new corporate headquarters in Vancouver

·           Received our 11th BEST award for excellence in employee learning and development from the Association for Talent Development and are the only organization inducted into the Best of the BEST Hall of Fame.

 

Analyst coverage

As of February 2017, 19 equity analysts covered TELUS. For a detailed list, see the investor information section on telus.com/investors.

 

Information for security holders outside of Canada

Cash dividends paid to shareholders resident in countries with which Canada has an income tax convention are usually subject to Canadian non-resident withholding tax of 15%. If you have any questions, contact Computershare. For individual investors who are U.S. citizens and/or U.S. residents, quarterly dividends paid on TELUS shares are considered qualified dividends under the Internal Revenue Code and may be eligible for special U.S. tax treatment.

 

Foreign ownership monitoring – non-Canadian common shares

Under federal legislation, total non-Canadian ownership of common shares of Canadian telecommunications companies, including TELUS, is limited to 331/3%.

For registered shareholders and shares trading on the TSX, a reservation system controls and monitors this level. This system requires non-Canadian purchasers of common shares to obtain a reservation number from Computershare by contacting the Reservations Unit at 1-877-267-2236 (toll-free) or telusreservations@computershare.com. If the reservation request is received during regular business hours, the purchaser is typically notified within two hours if common shares are available for registration.

For shares trading on the NYSE, non-Canadian ownership is monitored by utilizing the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s SEG-100 Account program. All TELUS common shares held by non-Canadians must be transferred to this account (no reservation application is required).

 

Mergers and acquisitions – shareholder impacts

Visit telus.com/m&a for information on how your shareholdings may have been affected by various merger and acquisition transactions. Information is also available regarding capital gains, valuation dates and share prices for 1971 and 1994.


 

 

TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT · 171


 

 

e-delivery of shareholder documents

We invite you to sign up for electronic delivery of TELUS information by visiting telus.com/electronicdelivery. The benefits of e-delivery include access to important Company documents in a convenient, timely and environmentally friendly way that also reduces printing and mailing costs. Approximately 47,000 of our shareholders receive the annual report by e-delivery.

 

 

 

For more information

For questions on:

·         Direct registration system (DRS) advice or accounts

·         Dividend payments and the dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan

·         Change of address and e-delivery of shareholder documents

·         Transfer or loss of share certificates and estate settlements

·         Exchange of share certificates due to a merger or acquisition

 

Contact the transfer agent and registrar:

Computershare Trust Company of Canada

1-800-558-0046 or 1-514-982-7129 (outside North America)

email: telus@computershare.com

visit: computershare.com

 

 

 

 

For questions regarding additional financial or statistical information, industry and Company developments, or the latest news releases and investor presentations, contact:

 

TELUS Investor Relations

1-800-667-4871 or 1-604-643-4113 (outside North America)

email: ir@telus.com

visit: telus.com/investors

 

 

TELUS executive office

510 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada V6B 0M3

phone: 1-604-697-8044

 

TELUS general information

phone:                                   1-800-308-5992

1-604-432-2151

Auditors

Deloitte LLP

 

EthicsLine

As part of our code of ethics and conduct, this hotline allows team members and others to anonymously and confidentially raise accounting, internal controls and ethical inquiries or complaints.

phone: 1-888-265-4112

visit: telus.ethicspoint.com

 

 

172 · TELUS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Our values

 

 

 

We embrace change and initiate opportunity

We have a passion for growth

We believe in spirited teamwork

We have the courage to innovate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

telus.com/annualreport

 

telus.com/rapportannuel

 

 

TELUS Corporation

510 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada V6B 0M3

Phone (604) 697-8044