EX-99.2 3 992-supp_q318.htm SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION - THIRD QUARTER 2018 Supplementary Financial Information

Exhibit 99.2

 


 

 

BCE (1) (2) (3)
Consolidated Operational Data

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except share amounts) (unaudited)   Q3
2018
    Q3
2017
     

$ change

  % change       YTD
2018
    YTD
2017
     

$ change

  % change  

Operating revenues

                                                 

Service

  5,117     5,054       63   1.2 %     15,210     14,943       267   1.8 %

Product

  760     643       117   18.2 %     2,043     1,778       265   14.9 %

Total operating revenues

  5,877     5,697       180   3.2 %     17,253     16,721       532   3.2 %

Operating costs (A)

  (3,355 )   (3,228 )     (127 ) (3.9 %)     (9,911 )   (9,590 )     (321 ) (3.3 %)

Post-employment benefit plans service cost

  (65 )   (64 )     (1 ) (1.6 %)     (201 )   (178 )     (23 ) (12.9 %)

Adjusted EBITDA (4)

  2,457     2,405       52   2.2 %     7,141     6,953       188   2.7 %

Adjusted EBITDA margin (4)

  41.8 %   42.2 %         (0.4 ) pts     41.4 %   41.6 %         (0.2 ) pts

Severance, acquisition and other costs

  (54 )   (23 )     (31 ) n.m.       (78 )   (143 )     65   45.5 %

Depreciation

  (779 )   (760 )     (19 ) (2.5 %)     (2,346 )   (2,251 )     (95 ) (4.2 %)

Amortization

  (220 )   (207 )     (13 ) (6.3 %)     (653 )   (602 )     (51 ) (8.5 %)

Finance costs

                                                 

Interest expense

  (255 )   (242 )     (13 ) (5.4 %)     (741 )   (714 )     (27 ) (3.8 %)

Interest on post-employment benefit obligations

  (17 )   (18 )     1   5.6 %     (51 )   (54 )     3   5.6 %

Other expense

  (41 )   (56 )     15   26.8 %     (190 )   (40 )     (150 ) n.m.  

Income taxes

  (224 )   (249 )     25   10.0 %     (751 )   (797 )     46   5.8 %

Net earnings

  867     850       17   2.0 %     2,331     2,352       (21 ) (0.9 %)

Net earnings attributable to:

                                                 

Common shareholders

  814     803       11   1.4 %     2,179     2,210       (31 ) (1.4 %)

Preferred shareholders

  36     31       5   16.1 %     107     94       13   13.8 %

Non-controlling interest

  17     16       1   6.3 %     45     48       (3 ) (6.3 %)

Net earnings

  867     850       17   2.0 %     2,331     2,352       (21 ) (0.9 %)

Net earnings per common share - basic

$ 0.90   $ 0.90       -   -     $ 2.42   $ 2.48     $ (0.06 ) (2.4 %)

Net earnings per common share - diluted

$ 0.90   $ 0.90       -   -     $ 2.42   $ 2.48     $ (0.06 ) (2.4 %)

Dividends per common share

$ 0.7550   $ 0.7175     $ 0.0375   5.2 %   $ 2.2650   $ 2.1525     $ 0.1125   5.2 %

Average number of common shares outstanding - basic (millions)

  898.0     900.4                   898.7     892.2              

Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (millions)

  898.3     901.1                   899.0     892.9              

Number of common shares outstanding (millions)

  898.0     900.4                   898.0     900.4              

Adjusted net earnings and EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to common shareholders

  814     803       11   1.4 %     2,179     2,210       (31 ) (1.4 %)

Severance, acquisition and other costs

  39     17       22   n.m.       56     109       (53 ) (48.6 %)

Net mark-to-market losses (gains) on derivatives used to economically hedge equity settled share-based compensation plans

  5     (8 )     13   n.m.       83     (26 )     109   n.m.  

Net losses on investments

  -     -      

-

  -       20     14       6   42.9 %

Early debt redemption costs

  2     12       (10 ) (83.3 %)     15     15       -   -  

Impairment charges

  1     -       1  

n.m.

      4     -       4   n.m.  

Adjusted net earnings (4)

  861     824       37   4.5 %     2,357     2,322       35   1.5 %

Impact on net earnings per share

$ 0.06   $ 0.01     $ 0.05   n.m.     $ 0.20   $ 0.12     $ 0.08   66.7 %

Adjusted EPS (4)

$

0.96

 

$

0.91

 

 

$

0.05

 

5.5

%

 

$

2.62

 

$

2.60

 

 

$

0.02

 

0.8

%

 

n.m. : not meaningful
(A) Excludes post-employment benefit plans service cost

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 2


BCE
Consolidated Operational Data - Historical Trend

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except share amounts) (unaudited)   YTD
2018
      Q3 18     Q2 18     Q1 18       TOTAL
2017
      Q4 17     Q3 17     Q2 17     Q1 17  

Operating revenues

                                                           

Service

  15,210       5,117     5,129     4,964       20,095       5,152     5,054     5,078     4,811  

Product

  2,043       760     657     626       2,662       884     643     610     525  

Total operating revenues

  17,253       5,877     5,786     5,590       22,757       6,036     5,697     5,688     5,336  

Operating costs (A)

  (9,911 )     (3,355 )   (3,293 )   (3,263 )     (13,233 )     (3,643 )   (3,228 )   (3,242 )   (3,120 )

Post-employment benefit plans service cost

  (201 )     (65 )   (63 )   (73 )     (242 )     (64 )   (64 )   (64 )   (50 )

Adjusted EBITDA

  7,141       2,457     2,430     2,254       9,282       2,329     2,405     2,382     2,166  

Adjusted EBITDA margin

  41.4 %     41.8 %   42.0 %   40.3 %     40.8 %     38.6 %   42.2 %   41.9 %   40.6 %

Severance, acquisition and other costs

  (78 )     (54 )   (24 )  

-

      (190 )     (47 )   (23 )   (36 )   (84 )

Depreciation

  (2,346 )     (779 )   (787 )   (780 )     (3,034 )     (783 )   (760 )   (767 )   (724 )

Amortization

  (653 )     (220 )   (221 )   (212 )     (810 )     (208 )   (207 )   (210 )   (185 )

Finance costs

                                                           

Interest expense

  (741 )     (255 )   (246 )   (240 )     (955 )     (241 )   (242 )   (238 )   (234 )

Interest on post-employment benefit obligations

  (51 )     (17 )   (17 )   (17 )     (72 )     (18 )   (18 )   (18 )   (18 )

Other (expense) income

  (190 )     (41 )   (88 )   (61 )     (102 )     (62 )   (56 )   (1 )   17  

Income taxes

  (751 )     (224 )   (292 )   (235 )     (1,069 )     (272 )   (249 )   (298 )   (250 )

Net earnings

  2,331       867     755     709       3,050       698     850     814     688  

Net earnings attributable to:

                                                           

Common shareholders

  2,179       814     704     661       2,866       656     803     765     642  

Preferred shareholders

  107       36     35     36       128       34     31     32     31  

Non-controlling interest

  45       17     16     12       56       8     16     17     15  

Net earnings

  2,331       867     755     709       3,050       698     850     814     688  

Net earnings per common share - basic

$ 2.42     $ 0.90   $ 0.79   $ 0.73     $ 3.20     $ 0.72   $ 0.90   $ 0.85   $ 0.73  

Net earnings per common share - diluted

$ 2.42     $ 0.90   $ 0.79   $ 0.73     $ 3.20     $ 0.72   $ 0.90   $ 0.85   $ 0.73  

Dividends per common share

$ 2.2650     $ 0.7550   $ 0.7550   $ 0.7550     $ 2.8700     $ 0.7175   $ 0.7175   $ 0.7175   $ 0.7175  

Average number of common shares outstanding - basic (millions)

  898.7       898.0     898.0     900.2       894.3       900.6     900.4     900.1     875.7  

Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (millions)

  899.0       898.3     898.3     900.6       894.9       901.4     901.1     901.0     876.6  

Number of common shares outstanding (millions)

  898.0       898.0     898.0     898.0       901.0       901.0     900.4     900.4     899.5  

Adjusted net earnings and EPS

                                                           

Net earnings attributable to common shareholders

  2,179       814     704     661       2,866       656     803     765     642  

Severance, acquisition and other costs

  56       39     18     (1 )     143       34     17     27     65  

Net mark-to-market losses (gains) on derivatives used to economically hedge equity settled share-based compensation plans

  83       5     22     56       (55 )     (29 )   (8 )   -     (18 )

Net losses on investments

  20       -     20     -       29       15     -     -     14  

Early debt redemption costs

  15       2     13     -       15       -     12     3     -  

Impairment charges

  4       1     -     3       60       60     -     -     -  

Adjusted net earnings

  2,357       861     777     719       3,058       736     824     795     703  

Impact on net earnings per share

$ 0.20     $ 0.06   $ 0.07   $ 0.07     $ 0.22     $ 0.10   $ 0.01   $ 0.04   $ 0.07  

Adjusted EPS

$ 2.62     $ 0.96   $ 0.86   $ 0.80     $ 3.42     $ 0.82   $ 0.91   $ 0.89   $ 0.80  

 

(A) Excludes post-employment benefit plans service cost

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 3


BCE
Segmented Data

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited) Q3
2018
  Q3
2017
    $ change  

% change

    YTD
2018
  YTD
2017
    $ change  

% change

 
                                       

Operating revenues

                                     

Bell Wireless

2,182   2,061     121   5.9 %   6,174   5,777     397   6.9 %

Bell Wireline

3,147   3,088     59   1.9 %   9,366   9,182     184   2.0 %

Bell Media

731   723     8   1.1 %   2,271   2,270     1   -  

Inter-segment eliminations

(183 ) (175 )   (8 ) (4.6 %)   (558 ) (508 )   (50 ) (9.8 %)

Total

5,877   5,697     180   3.2 %   17,253   16,721     532   3.2 %
                                       

Operating costs

                                     

Bell Wireless

(1,231 ) (1,151 )   (80 ) (7.0 %)   (3,497 ) (3,247 )   (250 ) (7.7 %)

Bell Wireline

(1,823 ) (1,780 )   (43 ) (2.4 %)   (5,419 ) (5,304 )   (115 ) (2.2 %)

Bell Media

(549 ) (536 )   (13 ) (2.4 %)   (1,754 ) (1,725 )   (29 ) (1.7 %)

Inter-segment eliminations

183   175     8   4.6 %   558   508     50   9.8 %

Total

(3,420 ) (3,292 )   (128 ) (3.9 %)   (10,112 ) (9,768 )   (344 ) (3.5 %)
                                       

Adjusted EBITDA

                                     

Bell Wireless

951   910     41   4.5 %   2,677   2,530     147   5.8 %

Margin

43.6 % 44.2 %       (0.6 ) pts   43.4 % 43.8 %       (0.4 ) pts

Bell Wireline

1,324   1,308     16   1.2 %   3,947   3,878     69   1.8 %

Margin

42.1 % 42.4 %       (0.3 ) pts   42.1 % 42.2 %       (0.1 ) pts

Bell Media

182   187     (5 ) (2.7 %)   517   545     (28 ) (5.1 %)

Margin

24.9 % 25.9 %       (1.0 ) pts   22.8 % 24.0 %       (1.2 ) pts

Total

2,457   2,405     52   2.2 %   7,141   6,953     188   2.7 %

Margin

41.8 % 42.2 %       (0.4 ) pts   41.4 % 41.6 %       (0.2 ) pts
                                       

Capital expenditures

                                     

Bell Wireless

181   186     5   2.7 %   524   513     (11 ) (2.1 %)

Capital intensity (5)

8.3 % 9.0 %       0.7  pts   8.5 % 8.9 %       0.4  pts

Bell Wireline

799   820     21   2.6 %   2,391   2,329     (62 ) (2.7 %)

Capital intensity

25.4 % 26.6 %       1.2  pts   25.5 % 25.4 %       (0.1 ) pts

Bell Media

30   34     4   11.8 %   82   92     10   10.9 %

Capital intensity

4.1 % 4.7 %       0.6  pts   3.6 % 4.1 %       0.5  pts

Total

1,010   1,040     30   2.9 %   2,997   2,934     (63 ) (2.1 %)

Capital intensity

17.2 % 18.3 %       1.1  pts   17.4 % 17.5 %       0.1  pts

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 4


 

BCE
Segmented Data - Historical Trend

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited) YTD
2018
    Q3 18   Q2 18   Q1 18     TOTAL
2017
    Q4 17   Q3 17   Q2 17   Q1 17  
                                           

Operating revenues

                                         

Bell Wireless

6,174     2,182   2,046   1,946     7,926     2,149   2,061   1,949   1,767  

Bell Wireline

9,366     3,147   3,135   3,084     12,400     3,218   3,088   3,117   2,977  

Bell Media

2,271     731   791   749     3,104     834   723   796   751  

Inter-segment eliminations

(558 )   (183 ) (186 ) (189 )   (673 )   (165 ) (175 ) (174 ) (159 )

Total

17,253     5,877   5,786   5,590     22,757     6,036   5,697   5,688   5,336  
                                           

Operating costs

                                         

Bell Wireless

(3,497 )   (1,231 ) (1,142 ) (1,124 )   (4,550 )   (1,303 ) (1,151 ) (1,098 ) (998 )

Bell Wireline

(5,419 )   (1,823 ) (1,814 ) (1,782 )   (7,210 )   (1,906 ) (1,780 ) (1,810 ) (1,714 )

Bell Media

(1,754 )   (549 ) (586 ) (619 )   (2,388 )   (663 ) (536 ) (572 ) (617 )

Inter-segment eliminations

558     183   186   189     673     165   175   174   159  

Total

(10,112 )   (3,420 ) (3,356 ) (3,336 )   (13,475 )   (3,707 ) (3,292 ) (3,306 ) (3,170 )
                                           

Adjusted EBITDA

                                         

Bell Wireless

2,677     951   904   822     3,376     846   910   851   769  

Margin

43.4 %   43.6 % 44.2 % 42.2 %   42.6 %   39.4 % 44.2 % 43.7 % 43.5 %

Bell Wireline

3,947     1,324   1,321   1,302     5,190     1,312   1,308   1,307   1,263  

Margin

42.1 %   42.1 % 42.1 % 42.2 %   41.9 %   40.8 % 42.4 % 41.9 % 42.4 %

Bell Media

517     182   205   130     716     171   187   224   134  

Margin

22.8 %   24.9 % 25.9 % 17.4 %   23.1 %   20.5 % 25.9 % 28.1 % 17.8 %

Total

7,141     2,457   2,430   2,254     9,282     2,329   2,405   2,382   2,166  

Margin

41.4 %   41.8 % 42.0 % 40.3 %   40.8 %   38.6 % 42.2 % 41.9 % 40.6 %
                                           

Capital expenditures

                                         

Bell Wireless

524     181   179   164     731     218   186   191   136  

Capital intensity

8.5 %   8.3 % 8.7 % 8.4 %   9.2 %   10.1 % 9.0 % 9.8 % 7.7 %

Bell Wireline

2,391     799   845   747     3,174     845   820   818   691  

Capital intensity

25.5 %   25.4 % 27.0 % 24.2 %   25.6 %   26.3 % 26.6 % 26.2 % 23.2 %

Bell Media

82     30   32   20     129     37   34   33   25  

Capital intensity

3.6 %   4.1 % 4.0 % 2.7 %   4.2 %   4.4 % 4.7 % 4.1 % 3.3 %

Total

2,997     1,010   1,056   931     4,034     1,100   1,040   1,042   852  

Capital intensity

17.4 %   17.2 % 18.3 % 16.7 %   17.7 %   18.2 % 18.3 % 18.3 % 16.0 %

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 5


 

 

BCE
Segmented Data - IFRS 15 Adoption Impacts (2)

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited)   TOTAL 2017   Q4 17   Q3 17   Q2 17   Q1 17
 

As
previously
reported

IFRS 15
impacts

Upon
adoption of
IFRS 15

 

As
previously
reported

IFRS 15
impacts

Upon
adoption of
IFRS 15

 

As
previously
reported

IFRS 15
impacts

Upon
adoption of
IFRS 15

 

As
previously
reported

IFRS 15
impacts

Upon
adoption of
IFRS 15

 

As
previously
reported

IFRS 15
impacts

Upon
 adoption of
IFRS 15

                                         

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bell Wireless

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service

 

7,350

(1,260)

6,090

 

1,894

(338)

1,556

 

1,913

(323)

1,590

 

1,828

(309)

1,519

 

1,715

(290)

1,425

Product

 

533

1,303

1,836

 

176

417

593

 

127

344

471

 

131

299

430

 

99

243

342

Total Bell Wireless

 

7,883

43

7,926

 

2,070

79

2,149

 

2,040

21

2,061

 

1,959

(10)

1,949

 

1,814

(47)

1,767

Bell Wireline

 

12,415

(15)

12,400

 

3,222

(4)

3,218

 

3,092

(4)

3,088

 

3,121

(4)

3,117

 

2,980

(3)

2,977

Bell Media

 

3,104

-

3,104

 

834

-

834

 

723

-

723

 

796

-

796

 

751

-

751

Inter-segment eliminations

 

(683)

10

(673)

 

(168)

3

(165)

 

(177)

2

(175)

 

(177)

3

(174)

 

(161)

2

(159)

Total

 

22,719

38

22,757

 

5,958

78

6,036

 

5,678

19

5,697

 

5,699

(11)

5,688

 

5,384

(48)

5,336

                                         

Operating costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bell Wireless

 

(4,607)

57

(4,550)

 

(1,334)

31

(1,303)

 

(1,169)

18

(1,151)

 

(1,108)

10

(1,098)

 

(996)

(2)

(998)

Bell Wireline

 

(7,229)

19

(7,210)

 

(1,912)

6

(1,906)

 

(1,784)

4

(1,780)

 

(1,815)

5

(1,810)

 

(1,718)

4

(1,714)

Bell Media

 

(2,388)

-

(2,388)

 

(663)

-

(663)

 

(536)

-

(536)

 

(572)

-

(572)

 

(617)

-

(617)

Inter-segment eliminations

 

683

(10)

673

 

168

(3)

165

 

177

(2)

175

 

177

(3)

174

 

161

(2)

159

Total

 

(13,541)

66

(13,475)

 

(3,741)

34

(3,707)

 

(3,312)

20

(3,292)

 

(3,318)

12

(3,306)

 

(3,170)

-

(3,170)

                                         

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bell Wireless

 

3,276

100

3,376

 

736

110

846

 

871

39

910

 

851

-

851

 

818

(49)

769

Margin

 

41.6%

1.0 pts

42.6%

 

35.6%

3.8 pts

39.4%

 

42.7%

1.5 pts

44.2%

 

43.4%

0.3 pts

43.7%

 

45.1%

(1.6) pts

43.5%

Bell Wireline

 

5,186

4

5,190

 

1,310

2

1,312

 

1,308

-

1,308

 

1,306

1

1,307

 

1,262

1

1,263

Margin

 

41.8%

0.1 pts

41.9%

 

40.7%

0.1 pts

40.8%

 

42.3%

0.1 pts

42.4%

 

41.8%

0.1 pts

41.9%

 

42.3%

0.1 pts

42.4%

Bell Media

 

716

-

716

 

171

-

171

 

187

-

187

 

224

-

224

 

134

-

134

Margin

 

23.1%

-

23.1%

 

20.5%

-

20.5%

 

25.9%

-

25.9%

 

28.1%

-

28.1%

 

17.8%

-

17.8%

Total

 

9,178

104

9,282

 

2,217

112

2,329

 

2,366

39

2,405

 

2,381

1

2,382

 

2,214

(48)

2,166

Margin

 

40.4%

0.4 pts

40.8%

 

37.2%

1.4 pts

38.6%

 

41.7%

0.5 pts

42.2%

 

41.8%

0.1 pts

41.9%

 

41.1%

(0.5) pts

40.6%

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 6


 

 

Bell Wireless (1) (2) (3)

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited) Q3
2018
  Q3
2017
   

% change

    YTD
2018
  YTD
2017
   

% change

 

Bell Wireless

                             

Operating revenues

                             

External service revenues

1,618   1,580     2.4 %   4,680   4,503     3.9 %

Inter-segment service revenues

12   10     20.0 %   36   31     16.1 %

Total operating service revenues

1,630   1,590     2.5 %   4,716   4,534     4.0 %

External product revenues

552   469     17.7 %   1,456   1,240     17.4 %

Inter-segment product revenues

-   2     (100.0 %)   2   3     (33.3 %)

Total operating product revenues

552   471     17.2 %   1,458   1,243     17.3 %

Total external revenues

2,170   2,049     5.9 %   6,136   5,743     6.8 %

Total operating revenues

2,182   2,061     5.9 %   6,174   5,777     6.9 %

Operating costs

(1,231 ) (1,151 )   (7.0 %)   (3,497 ) (3,247 )   (7.7 %)

Adjusted EBITDA

951   910     4.5 %   2,677   2,530     5.8 %

Adjusted EBITDA margin (Total operating revenues)

43.6 % 44.2 %   (0.6 ) pts   43.4 % 43.8 %   (0.4 ) pts

Capital expenditures

181   186     2.7 %   524   513     (2.1 %)

Capital intensity

8.3 % 9.0 %   0.7  pts   8.5 % 8.9 %   0.4  pts

Wireless gross activations

535,647   460,053     16.4 %   1,408,589   1,211,923     16.2 %

Postpaid

426,719   390,985     9.1 %   1,168,174   1,026,993     13.7 %

Prepaid

108,928   69,068     57.7 %   240,415   184,930     30.0 %

Wireless net activations (losses)

177,834   106,982     66.2 %   336,697   174,570     92.9 %

Postpaid

135,323   117,182     15.5 %   325,902   241,575     34.9 %

Prepaid

42,511   (10,200 )   516.8 %   10,795   (67,005 )   116.1 %

Wireless subscribers end of period (EOP)(A)

9,487,368   9,008,273     5.3 %   9,487,368   9,008,273     5.3 %

Postpaid(A)

8,728,436   8,243,446     5.9 %   8,728,436   8,243,446     5.9 %

Prepaid

758,932   764,827     (0.8 %)   758,932   764,827     (0.8 %)

Blended average revenue per user(5) (ARPU)($/month)

56.67   57.77     (1.9 %)   55.50   55.92     (0.8 %)

Blended average billing per user(5) (ABPU)($/month)

69.28   69.78     (0.7 %)   67.86   67.60     0.4 %

Churn (%) (5) (average per month)

1.27 % 1.32 %   0.05  pts   1.29 % 1.31 %   0.02  pts

Postpaid

1.14 % 1.16 %   0.02  pts   1.13 % 1.14 %   0.01  pts

Prepaid

2.76 % 2.95 %   0.19  pts   3.17 % 3.15 %   (0.02 ) pts

 

(A) At the beginning of Q1 2018, we adjusted our postpaid wireless subscriber base to remove 16,116 subscribers with a corresponding increase to our high-speed Internet subscribers to reflect the transfer of fixed wireless Internet subscribers.

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 7


 

Bell Wireless - Historical Trend

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited) YTD
2018
    Q3 18   Q2 18   Q1 18     TOTAL
2017
    Q4 17   Q3 17   Q2 17   Q1 17  

Bell Wireless

                                         

Operating revenues

                                         

External service revenues

4,680     1,618   1,562   1,500     6,048     1,545   1,580   1,508   1,415  

Inter-segment service revenues

36     12   12   12     42     11   10   11   10  

Total operating service revenues

4,716     1,630   1,574   1,512     6,090     1,556   1,590   1,519   1,425  

External product revenues

1,456     552   470   434     1,833     593   469   430   341  

Inter-segment product revenues

2     -   2   -     3     -   2   -   1  

Total operating product revenues

1,458     552   472   434     1,836     593   471   430   342  

Total external revenues

6,136     2,170   2,032   1,934     7,881     2,138   2,049   1,938   1,756  

Total operating revenues

6,174     2,182   2,046   1,946     7,926     2,149   2,061   1,949   1,767  

Operating costs

(3,497 )   (1,231 ) (1,142 ) (1,124 )   (4,550 )   (1,303 ) (1,151 ) (1,098 ) (998 )

Adjusted EBITDA

2,677     951   904   822     3,376     846   910   851   769  

Adjusted EBITDA margin (Total operating revenues)

43.4 %   43.6 % 44.2 % 42.2 %   42.6 %   39.4 % 44.2 % 43.7 % 43.5 %

Capital expenditures

524     181   179   164     731     218   186   191   136  

Capital intensity

8.5 %   8.3 % 8.7 % 8.4 %   9.2 %   10.1 % 9.0 % 9.8 % 7.7 %

Wireless gross activations

1,408,589     535,647   468,152   404,790     1,780,478     568,555   460,053   403,418   348,452  

Postpaid

1,168,174     426,719   394,136   347,319     1,532,425     505,432   390,985   339,392   296,616  

Prepaid

240,415     108,928   74,016   57,471     248,053     63,123   69,068   64,026   51,836  

Wireless net activations (losses)

336,697     177,834   114,486   44,377     333,084     158,514   106,982   66,916   672  

Postpaid

325,902     135,323   122,092   68,487     416,779     175,204   117,182   88,611   35,782  

Prepaid

10,795     42,511   (7,606 ) (24,110 )   (83,695 )   (16,690 ) (10,200 ) (21,695 ) (35,110 )

Wireless subscribers EOP(A)(B)

9,487,368     9,487,368   9,309,534   9,195,048     9,166,787     9,166,787   9,008,273   8,901,291   8,946,476  

Postpaid(A)(B)

8,728,436     8,728,436   8,593,113   8,471,021     8,418,650     8,418,650   8,243,446   8,126,264   8,144,936  

Prepaid(B)

758,932     758,932   716,421   724,027     748,137     748,137   764,827   775,027   801,540  

Blended ARPU(C) ($/month)

55.50     56.67   55.53   54.28     55.88     55.77   57.77   55.61   54.31  

Blended ABPU(C) ($/month)

67.86     69.28   67.71   66.56     67.77     68.27   69.78   67.28   65.66  

Churn (%)(average per month)

1.29 %   1.27 % 1.28 % 1.31 %   1.36 %   1.51 % 1.32 % 1.27 % 1.36 %

Postpaid

1.13 %   1.14 % 1.10 % 1.13 %   1.19 %   1.35 % 1.16 % 1.08 % 1.17 %

Prepaid

3.17 %   2.76 % 3.34 % 3.40 %   3.17 %   3.25 % 2.95 % 3.19 % 3.29 %

 

(A) At the beginning of Q1 2018, we adjusted our postpaid wireless subscriber base to remove 16,116 subscribers with a corresponding increase to our high-speed Internet subscribers to reflect the transfer of fixed wireless Internet subscribers.
(B) In Q2 2017, Bell’s wireless subscriber base reflected the divestiture of 104,833 postpaid subscribers to TELUS Communications Inc. related to BCE’s acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. Bell’s wireless subscriber base in Q2 2017 also reflected the removal of 7,268 subscribers (2,450 postpaid and 4,818 prepaid), due to the decommissioning of the code division multiple access (CDMA) network in western Canada.
(C) Our Q1 2018 blended ARPU and blended ABPU were adjusted to exclude the unfavourable retroactive impact of the recent CRTC decision on wholesale wireless domestic roaming rates of $14 million.

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 8


 

Bell Wireline (1) (2) (3)

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited) Q3
2018
  Q3
2017
   

% change

    YTD
2018
  YTD
2017
   

% change

 

Bell Wireline

                             

Operating revenues

                             

Data

1,867   1,817     2.8 %   5,556   5,348     3.9 %

Voice

950   994     (4.4 %)   2,857   2,995     (4.6 %)

Other services

60   52     15.4 %   187   151     23.8 %

Total external service revenues

2,877   2,863     0.5 %   8,600   8,494     1.2 %

Inter-segment service revenues

61   51     19.6 %   177   149     18.8 %

Total operating service revenues

2,938   2,914     0.8 %   8,777   8,643     1.6 %

Data

111   79     40.5 %   313   273     14.7 %

Equipment and other

97   95     2.1 %   274   265     3.4 %

Total external product revenues

208   174     19.5 %   587   538     9.1 %

Inter-segment product revenues

1   -     n.m.     2   1     100.0 %

Total operating product revenues

209   174     20.1 %   589   539     9.3 %

Total external revenues

3,085   3,037     1.6 %   9,187   9,032     1.7 %

Total operating revenues

3,147   3,088     1.9 %   9,366   9,182     2.0 %

Operating costs

(1,823 ) (1,780 )   (2.4 %)   (5,419 ) (5,304 )   (2.2 %)

Adjusted EBITDA

1,324   1,308     1.2 %   3,947   3,878     1.8 %

Adjusted EBITDA margin

42.1 % 42.4 %   (0.3 ) pts   42.1 % 42.2 %   (0.1 ) pts

Capital expenditures

799

 

820

 

 

2.6

%

 

2,391

 

2,329

 

 

(2.7

%)

Capital intensity

25.4 % 26.6 %   1.2  pts   25.5 % 25.4 %   (0.1 ) pts

High-speed Internet

                             

High-speed Internet net activations

47,749   44,424     7.5 %   78,212   60,820     28.6 %

High-speed Internet subscribers EOP(A)(B)

3,904,304   3,763,101     3.8 %   3,904,304   3,763,101     3.8 %

TV

                             

Net subscriber activations (losses)

8,601   1,738     394.9 %   (3,071 ) (27,262 )   88.7 %

Internet protocol television (IPTV)

40,091   36,399     10.1 %   74,317   75,228     (1.2 %)

Total subscribers EOP(B)

2,843,828   2,825,754     0.6 %   2,843,828   2,825,754     0.6 %

IPTV(B)

1,639,233   1,517,833     8.0 %   1,639,233   1,517,833     8.0 %

Network access services (NAS)

                             

Residential NAS(B)

3,051,630   3,275,589     (6.8 %)   3,051,630   3,275,589     (6.8 %)

Residential NAS net losses

(74,921 ) (57,387 )   (30.6 %)   (203,119 ) (197,813 )   (2.7 %)

 

n.m. : not meaningful
(A) At the beginning of Q1 2018, we adjusted our high-speed Internet subscriber base to add 16,116 subscribers with a corresponding decrease to our postpaid wireless subscribers to reflect the transfer of fixed wireless Internet subscribers.
(B) At the beginning of Q1 2018, our high-speed Internet subscriber base was increased by 19,835, our IPTV by 14,599 and our residential NAS by 23,441, mainly as a result of a small acquisition made in Q1 2018.

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 9


 

Bell Wireline - Historical Trend

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited) YTD
2018
    Q3 18   Q2 18   Q1 18     TOTAL
2017
    Q4 17   Q3 17   Q2 17   Q1 17  

Bell Wireline

                                         

Operating revenues

                                         

Data

5,556     1,867   1,869   1,820     7,192     1,844   1,817   1,812   1,719  

Voice

2,857     950   957   950     3,968     973   994   1,020   981  

Other services

187     60   64   63     211     60   52   55   44  

Total external service revenues

8,600     2,877   2,890   2,833     11,371     2,877   2,863   2,887   2,744  

Inter-segment service revenues

177     61   57   59     199     50   51   49   49  

Total operating service revenues

8,777     2,938   2,947   2,892     11,570     2,927   2,914   2,936   2,793  

Data

313     111   98   104     410     137   79   95   99  

Equipment and other

274     97   89   88     419     154   95   85   85  

Total external product revenues

587     208   187   192     829     291   174   180   184  

Inter-segment product revenues

2     1   1   -     1     -   -   1   -  

Total operating product revenues

589     209   188   192     830     291   174   181   184  

Total external revenues

9,187     3,085   3,077   3,025     12,200     3,168   3,037   3,067   2,928  

Total operating revenues

9,366     3,147   3,135   3,084     12,400     3,218   3,088   3,117   2,977  

Operating costs

(5,419 )   (1,823 ) (1,814 ) (1,782 )   (7,210 )   (1,906 ) (1,780 ) (1,810 ) (1,714 )

Adjusted EBITDA

3,947     1,324   1,321   1,302     5,190     1,312   1,308   1,307   1,263  

Adjusted EBITDA margin

42.1 %   42.1 % 42.1 % 42.2 %   41.9 %   40.8 % 42.4 % 41.9 % 42.4 %

Capital expenditures

2,391     799   845   747     3,174     845   820   818   691  

Capital intensity

25.5 %   25.4 % 27.0 % 24.2 %   25.6 %   26.3 % 26.6 % 26.2 % 23.2 %

High-speed Internet

                                         

High-speed Internet net activations

78,212     47,749   10,816   19,647     87,860     27,040   44,424   1,407   14,989  

High-speed Internet subscribers EOP(A)(B)

3,904,304     3,904,304   3,856,555   3,845,739     3,790,141     3,790,141   3,763,101   3,718,677   3,717,270  

TV

                                         

Net subscriber (losses) activations

(3,071 )   8,601   809   (12,481 )   (20,716 )   6,546   1,738   (13,337 ) (15,663 )

IPTV

74,317     40,091   20,653   13,573     107,712     32,484   36,399   16,427   22,402  

Total subscribers EOP(B)

2,843,828     2,843,828   2,835,227   2,834,418     2,832,300     2,832,300   2,825,754   2,824,016   2,837,353  

IPTV(B)

1,639,233     1,639,233   1,599,142   1,578,489     1,550,317     1,550,317   1,517,833   1,481,434   1,465,007  

Network access services (NAS)

                                         

Residential NAS(B)

3,051,630     3,051,630   3,126,551   3,197,216     3,231,308     3,231,308   3,275,589   3,332,976   3,399,981  

Residential NAS net losses

(203,119 )   (74,921 ) (70,665 ) (57,533 )   (242,094 )   (44,281 ) (57,387 ) (67,005 ) (73,421 )

 

(A) At the beginning of Q1 2018, we adjusted our high-speed Internet subscriber base to add 16,116 subscribers with a corresponding decrease to our postpaid wireless subscribers to reflect the transfer of fixed wireless Internet subscribers.
(B) At the beginning of Q1 2018, our high-speed Internet subscriber base was increased by 19,835, our IPTV by 14,599 and our residential NAS by 23,441, mainly as a result of a small acquisition made in Q1 2018.

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 10


 

BCE (2) (3)
Net debt and other information

BCE - Net debt and preferred shares                                        
(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited)                                        

 

                        September 30   June 30   March 31   December 31  

 

                        2018   2018   2018   2017  

Debt due within one year

                        4,877   5,732   5,520   5,178  

Long-term debt

                        19,584   18,367   19,347   18,215  

Preferred shares - BCE (A)

                        2,002   2,002   2,002   2,002  

Cash and cash equivalents

                        (826 ) (390 ) (1,199 ) (625 )

Net debt (4)

                        25,637   25,711   25,670   24,770  

Net debt leverage ratio (4)

                        2.71   2.73   2.74   2.67  

Adjusted EBITDA /net interest expense ratio (4)

                        9.11   9.18   9.22   9.23  

 

                                       
Cash flow information                                        
(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited)     Q3
2018
  Q3
2017
  $ change    

% change 

    YTD
2018
  YTD
2017
  $ change   % change  

Free cash flow (FCF) (4)

                                       

Cash flows from operating activities

    2,043   2,233   (190 )   (8.5 %)   5,596   5,700   (104 ) (1.8 %)

Capital expenditures

    (1,010 ) (1,040 ) 30     2.9 %   (2,997 ) (2,934 ) (63 ) (2.1 %)

Dividends paid on preferred shares

    (35 ) (21 ) (14 )   (66.7 %)   (103 ) (94 ) (9 ) (9.6 %)

Dividends paid by subsidiaries to non-controlling interest

    (3 ) (13 ) 10     76.9 %   (16 ) (34 ) 18   52.9 %

Acquisition and other costs paid

    19   24   (5 )   (20.8 %)   65   128   (63 ) (49.2 %)

FCF

    1,014   1,183   (169 )   (14.3 %)   2,545   2,766   (221 ) (8.0 %)

 

                                       
Cash flow information - Historical trend                                        
(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited)

YTD
2018

  Q3
2018
  Q2
2018
  Q1
2018
   

TOTAL
2017

    Q4
2017
  Q3
2017
  Q2
2017
  Q1
2017
 

FCF

                                       

Cash flows from operating activities

5,596   2,043   2,057   1,496     7,358     1,658   2,233   2,154   1,313  

Capital expenditures

(2,997 ) (1,010 ) (1,056 ) (931 )   (4,034 )   (1,100 ) (1,040 ) (1,042 ) (852 )

Dividends paid on preferred shares

(103 ) (35 ) (35 ) (33 )   (127 )   (33 ) (21 ) (30 ) (43 )

Dividends paid by subsidiaries to non-controlling interest

(16 ) (3 ) -   (13 )   (34 )   -   (13 ) (9 ) (12 )

Acquisition and other costs paid

65   19   28   18     155     27   24   21   83  

Voluntary defined benefit pension plan contribution

-   -   -   -     100     100   -   -   -  

FCF

2,545   1,014   994   537     3,418     652   1,183   1,094   489  

 

(A) Net debt includes 50% of preferred shares

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 11


 

BCE (2) (3)
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

 

  September 30    

June 30

    March 31     December 31  

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited)

  2018     2018     2018     2017  

ASSETS

                       

Current assets

                       

Cash

  496     254     675     442  

Cash equivalents

  330     136     524     183  

Trade and other receivables

  2,948     2,932     2,938     3,129  

Inventory

  491     436     443     380  

Contract assets

  906     856     836     832  

Contract costs

  355     345     337     350  

Prepaid expenses

  312     376     344     217  

Other current assets

  164     222     169     122  

Total current assets

  6,002     5,557     6,266     5,655  

Non-current assets

                       

Contract assets

  440     414     414     431  

Contract costs

  318     287     280     286  

Property, plant and equipment

  24,726     24,392     24,169     24,029  

Intangible assets

  13,357     13,407     13,410     13,258  

Deferred tax assets

  122     156     153     144  

Investments in associates and joint ventures

  770     803     829     814  

Other non-current assets

  1,262     975     584     757  

Goodwill

  10,657     10,568     10,543     10,428  

Total non-current assets

  51,652     51,002     50,382     50,147  

Total assets

  57,654     56,559     56,648     55,802  

LIABILITIES

                       

Current liabilities

                       

Trade payables and other liabilities

  3,778     3,603     3,534     3,875  

Contract liabilities

  701     687     706     693  

Interest payable

  230     177     176     168  

Dividends payable

  701     701     701     678  

Current tax liabilities

  159     148     49     140  

Debt due within one year

  4,877     5,732     5,520     5,178  

Total current liabilities

  10,446     11,048     10,686     10,732  

Non-current liabilities

                       

Contract liabilities

  201     196     196     201  

Long-term debt

  19,584     18,367     19,347     18,215  

Deferred tax liabilities

  3,230     3,139     2,916     2,870  

Post-employment benefit obligations

  1,890     1,987     2,124     2,108  

Other non-current liabilities

  1,160     1,098     1,083     1,051  

Total non-current liabilities

  26,065     24,787     25,666     24,445  

Total liabilities

  36,511     35,835     36,352     35,177  
                         

EQUITY

                       

Equity attributable to BCE shareholders

                       

Preferred shares

  4,004     4,004     4,004     4,004  

Common shares

  20,028     20,027     20,026     20,091  

Contributed surplus

  1,161     1,151     1,141     1,162  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

  4     34     9     (17 )

Deficit

  (4,378 )   (4,811 )   (5,192 )   (4,938 )

Total equity attributable to BCE shareholders

  20,819     20,405     19,988     20,302  

Non-controlling interest

  324     319     308     323  

Total equity

  21,143     20,724     20,296     20,625  

Total liabilities and equity

  57,654     56,559     56,648     55,802  

Number of common shares outstanding (millions)

  898.0     898.0     898.0     901.0  

 

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 12


 

 

BCE (2) (3)
Consolidated Cash Flow Data

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (unaudited) Q3
2018
  Q3
2017
    $ change     YTD
2018
  YTD
2017
    $ change  

Net earnings

867   850     17     2,331   2,352     (21 )

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows from operating activities

                             

Severance, acquisition and other costs

54   23     31     78   143     (65 )

Depreciation and amortization

999   967     32     2,999   2,853     146  

Post-employment benefit plans cost

82   82     -     252   232     20  

Net interest expense

251   239     12     732   704     28  

Losses on investments

-   -     -     -   12     (12 )

Income taxes

224   249     (25 )   751   797     (46 )

Contributions to post-employment benefit plans

(69 ) (64 )   (5 )   (230 ) (238 )   8  

Payments under other post-employment benefit plans

(20 ) (20 )   -     (58 ) (58 )   -  

Severance and other costs paid

(27 ) (30 )   3     (95 ) (111 )   16  

Interest paid

(207 ) (242 )   35     (695 ) (714 )   19  

Income taxes paid (net of refunds)

(161 ) (66 )   (95 )   (558 ) (468 )   (90 )

Acquisition and other costs paid

(19 ) (24 )   5     (65 ) (128 )   63  

Net change in operating assets and liabilities

69   269     (200 )   154   324     (170 )

Cash flows from operating activities

2,043   2,233     (190 )   5,596   5,700     (104 )

Capital expenditures

(1,010 ) (1,040 )   30     (2,997 ) (2,934 )   (63 )

Cash dividends paid on preferred shares

(35 ) (21 )   (14 )   (103 ) (94 )   (9 )

Cash dividends paid by subsidiaries to non-controlling interest

(3 ) (13 )   10     (16 ) (34 )   18  

Acquisition and other costs paid

19   24     (5 )   65   128     (63 )

Free cash flow

1,014   1,183     (169 )   2,545   2,766     (221 )

Business acquisitions

(151 ) -     (151 )   (395 ) (1,635 )   1,240  

Acquisition and other costs paid

(19 ) (24 )   5     (65 ) (128 )   63  

Acquisition of spectrum licences

(19 ) -     (19 )   (55 ) -     (55 )

Disposition of intangibles and other assets

-   -     -     68   323     (255 )

Other investing activities

(9 ) (37 )   28     (64 ) (51 )   (13 )

(Decrease) increase in notes payable

(30 ) (379 )   349     10   56     (46 )

Decrease in securitized trade receivables

-   -     -     (2 ) (10 )   8  

Issue of long-term debt

1,530   1,515     15     2,996   3,011     (15 )

Repayment of long-term debt

(1,134 ) (142 )   (992 )   (2,375 ) (1,218 )   (1,157 )

Issue of common shares

1   4     (3 )   3   93     (90 )

Repurchase of common shares

-   -     -     (175 ) -     (175 )

Repurchase of shares for settlement of share-based payments

(39 ) (38 )   (1 )   (176 ) (179 )   3  

Cash dividends paid on common shares

(678 ) (646 )   (32 )   (2,002 ) (1,866 )   (136 )

Return of capital to non-controlling interest

(10 ) -     (10 )   (51 ) -     (51 )

Other financing activities

(20 ) (14 )   (6 )   (61 ) (36 )   (25 )

 

(578 ) 239     (817 )   (2,344 ) (1,640 )   (704 )

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

436   1,422     (986 )   201   1,126     (925 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

390   557     (167 )   625   853     (228 )

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

826   1,979     (1,153 )   826   1,979     (1,153 )

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 13


 

 

BCE
Consolidated Cash Flow Data - Historical Trend

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated)
(unaudited)
YTD
2018
    Q3 18   Q2 18   Q1 18     TOTAL
2017
    Q4 17   Q3 17   Q2 17   Q1 17  

Net earnings

2,331     867   755   709     3,050     698   850   814   688  

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows from operating activities

                                         

Severance, acquisition and other costs

78     54   24   -     190     47   23   36   84  

Depreciation and amortization

2,999     999   1,008   992     3,844     991   967   977   909  

Post-employment benefit plans cost

252     82   80   90     314     82   82   82   68  

Net interest expense

732     251   243   238     942     238   239   235   230  

Losses (gains) on investments

-     -   -   -     5     (7 ) -   -   12  

Income taxes

751     224   292   235     1,069     272   249   298   250  

Contributions to post-employment benefit plans

(230 )   (69 ) (74 ) (87 )   (413 )   (175 ) (64 ) (86 ) (88 )

Payments under other post-employment benefit plans

(58 )   (20 ) (19 ) (19 )   (77 )   (19 ) (20 ) (19 ) (19 )

Severance and other costs paid

(95 )   (27 ) (33 ) (35 )   (147 )   (36 ) (30 ) (40 ) (41 )

Interest paid

(695 )   (207 ) (252 ) (236 )   (965 )   (251 ) (242 ) (249 ) (223 )

Income taxes paid (net of refunds)

(558 )   (161 ) (113 ) (284 )   (675 )   (207 ) (66 ) (114 ) (288 )

Acquisition and other costs paid

(65 )   (19 ) (28 ) (18 )   (155 )   (27 ) (24 ) (21 ) (83 )

Net change in operating assets and liabilities

154     69   174   (89 )   376     52   269   241   (186 )

Cash flows from operating activities

5,596     2,043   2,057   1,496     7,358     1,658   2,233   2,154   1,313  

Capital expenditures

(2,997 )   (1,010 ) (1,056 ) (931 )   (4,034 )   (1,100 ) (1,040 ) (1,042 ) (852 )

Cash dividends paid on preferred shares

(103 )   (35 ) (35 ) (33 )   (127 )   (33 ) (21 ) (30 ) (43 )

Cash dividends paid by subsidiaries to non-controlling interest

(16 )   (3 ) -   (13 )   (34 )   -   (13 ) (9 ) (12 )

Acquisition and other costs paid

65     19   28   18     155     27   24   21   83  

Voluntary defined benefit pension plan contribution

-     -   -   -     100     100   -   -   -  

Free cash flow

2,545     1,014   994   537     3,418     652   1,183   1,094   489  

Business acquisitions

(395 )   (151 ) (21 ) (223 )   (1,649 )   (14 ) -   -   (1,635 )

Acquisition and other costs paid

(65 )   (19 ) (28 ) (18 )   (155 )   (27 ) (24 ) (21 ) (83 )

Voluntary defined benefit pension plan contribution

-     -   -   -     (100 )   (100 ) -   -   -  

Acquisition of spectrum licences

(55 )   (19 ) -   (36 )   -     -   -   -   -  

Disposition of intangibles and other assets

68     -   -   68     323     -   -   323   -  

Other investing activities

(64 )   (9 ) (20 ) (35 )   (77 )   (26 ) (37 ) (5 ) (9 )

Increase (decrease) in notes payable

10     (30 ) 97   (57 )   333     277   (379 ) 127   308  

(Decrease) increase in securitized trade receivables

(2 )   -   (2 ) -     (10 )   -   -   (360 ) 350  

Issue of long-term debt

2,996     1,530   -   1,466     3,011     -   1,515   -   1,496  

Repayment of long-term debt

(2,375 )   (1,134 ) (1,068 ) (173 )   (2,653 )   (1,435 ) (142 ) (472 ) (604 )

Issue of common shares

3     1   1   1     117     24   4   41   48  

Repurchase of common shares

(175 )   -   -   (175 )   -     -   -   -   -  

Repurchase of shares for settlement of share-based payments

(176 )   (39 ) (49 ) (88 )   (224 )   (45 ) (38 ) (45 ) (96 )

Cash dividends paid on common shares

(2,002 )   (678 ) (678 ) (646 )   (2,512 )   (646 ) (646 ) (626 ) (594 )

Return of capital to non-controlling interest

(51 )   (10 ) (12 ) (29 )   -     -   -   -   -  

Other financing activities

(61 )   (20 ) (23 ) (18 )   (50 )   (14 ) (14 ) (9 ) (13 )

 

(2,344 )   (578 ) (1,803 ) 37     (3,646 )   (2,006 ) 239   (1,047 ) (832 )

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

201     436   (809 ) 574     (228 )   (1,354 ) 1,422   47   (343 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

625     390   1,199   625     853     1,979   557   510   853  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

826     826   390   1,199     625     625   1,979   557   510  

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 14


 

 

(1) We report our results in three segments: Bell Wireless, Bell Wireline and Bell Media. Our reporting structure reflects how we manage our business and how we classify our results for planning and measuring performance.

Throughout this report, we, us, our, the company and BCE mean, as the context may require, either BCE Inc. or, collectively, BCE Inc., Bell Canada, their subsidiaries, joint arrangements and associates. Bell means, as the context may require, either Bell Canada or, collectively, Bell Canada, its subsidiaries, joint arrangements and associates. MTS means, as the context may require, until March 17, 2017, either Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. or, collectively, Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. and its subsidiaries and Bell MTS means, from March 17, 2017, the combined operations of MTS and Bell Canada in Manitoba.

(2) As required by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), effective January 1, 2018, we have adopted IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, retrospectively to each period in 2017 previously reported. For further details, see note 3, note 14 and note 15, Adoption of IFRS 15, respectively, of the Q1 2018, Q2 2018 and Q3 2018 consolidated interim financial statements.
(3) On March 17, 2017, BCE acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of MTS. Bell MTS offers wireless, Internet, television (TV), phone services, security systems and information solutions including unified cloud and managed services to residential and business customers in Manitoba. The results from the acquired MTS operations are included in our Bell Wireline and Wireless segments. For further details, see note 3, Business acquisitions and dispositions, of the 2017 annual consolidated financial statements and the Q3 2018 consolidated interim financial statements, respectively.
(4) Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In Q1 2018, we updated our definition of adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS to exclude net mark-to-market losses (gains) on derivatives used to economically hedge equity settled share-based compensation plans as they may affect the comparability of our financial results and could potentially distort the analysis of trends in business performance. Adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS for 2017 have also been updated for comparability purposes.

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin

The terms adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Therefore, they are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

We define adjusted EBITDA as operating revenues less operating costs (including post-employment benefit plans service cost) as shown in BCE’s consolidated income statements. Adjusted EBITDA for BCE’s segments is the same as segment profit as reported in BCE’s consolidated financial statements. We define adjusted EBITDA margin as adjusted EBITDA divided by operating revenues.

We use adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to evaluate the performance of our businesses as they reflect their ongoing profitability. We believe that certain investors and analysts use adjusted EBITDA to measure a company’s ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations or as a common measurement to value companies in the telecommunications industry. We believe that certain investors and analysts also use adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to evaluate the performance of our businesses. Adjusted EBITDA also is one component in the determination of short-term incentive compensation for all management employees.

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin have no directly comparable IFRS financial measure. Alternatively, adjusted EBITDA may be reconciled to net earnings as shown in this document.

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 15


 

  Adjusted net earnings and adjusted earnings per share (EPS)

The terms adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Therefore, they are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

We define adjusted net earnings as net earnings attributable to common shareholders before severance, acquisition and other costs, net mark-to-market losses (gains) on derivatives used to economically hedge equity settled share-based compensation plans, net losses (gains) on investments, early debt redemption costs and impairment charges. We define adjusted EPS as adjusted net earnings per BCE common share.

We use adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS, and we believe that certain investors and analysts use these measures, among other ones, to assess the performance of our businesses without the effects of severance, acquisition and other costs, net mark-to-market losses (gains) on derivatives used to economically hedge equity settled share-based compensation plans, net losses (gains) on investments, early debt redemption costs and impairment charges, net of tax and non-controlling interest (NCI). We exclude these items because they affect the comparability of our financial results and could potentially distort the analysis of trends in business performance. Excluding these items does not imply they are non-recurring.

The most comparable IFRS financial measures are net earnings attributable to common shareholders and EPS, as reconciled in this document.

Free cash flow

The term free cash flow does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Therefore, it is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

We define free cash flow as cash flows from operating activities, excluding acquisition and other costs paid (which include significant litigation costs) and voluntary pension funding, less capital expenditures, preferred share dividends and dividends paid by subsidiaries to NCI. We exclude acquisition and other costs paid and voluntary pension funding because they affect the comparability of our financial results and could potentially distort the analysis of trends in business performance. Excluding these items does not imply they are non-recurring.

We consider free cash flow to be an important indicator of the financial strength and performance of our businesses because it shows how much cash is available to pay dividends, repay debt and reinvest in our company.

We believe that certain investors and analysts use free cash flow to value a business and its underlying assets and to evaluate the financial strength and performance of our businesses.

The most comparable IFRS financial measure is cash flows from operating activities, as reconciled in this document.

Net debt

The term net debt does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Therefore, it is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

We define net debt as debt due within one year plus long-term debt and 50% of preferred shares, less cash and cash equivalents, as shown in BCE’s consolidated statements of financial position. We include 50% of outstanding preferred shares in our net debt as it is consistent with the treatment by certain credit rating agencies.

We consider net debt to be an important indicator of the company’s financial leverage because it represents the amount of debt that is not covered by available cash and cash equivalents. We believe that certain investors and analysts use net debt to determine a company’s financial leverage.

Net debt has no directly comparable IFRS financial measure, but rather is calculated using several asset and liability categories from the statements of financial position, as shown in this document.

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 16


 

  Net debt leverage ratio

The net debt leverage ratio does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Therefore, it is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. We use, and believe that certain investors and analysts use, the net debt leverage ratio as a measure of financial leverage.

The net debt leverage ratio represents net debt divided by adjusted EBITDA. For the purposes of calculating our net debt leverage ratio, adjusted EBITDA is twelve-month trailing adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA to net interest expense ratio

The ratio of adjusted EBITDA to net interest expense does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Therefore, it is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. We use, and believe that certain investors and analysts use, the adjusted EBITDA to net interest expense ratio as a measure of financial health of the company.

The adjusted EBITDA to net interest expense ratio represents adjusted EBITDA divided by net interest expense. For the purposes of calculating our adjusted EBITDA to net interest expense ratio, adjusted EBITDA is twelve-month trailing adjusted EBITDA. Net interest expense is twelve-month trailing net interest expense as shown in our statements of cash flows, plus 50% of declared preferred share dividends as shown in our income statements.

(5) Key performance indicators (KPIs)

In addition to the non-GAAP financial measures described previously, we use a number of KPIs to measure the success of our strategic imperatives. These KPIs are not accounting measures and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Average revenue per user (ARPU) or subscriber is a measure used to track our recurring revenue streams, which has been updated to reflect the adoption of IFRS 15. Wireless blended ARPU is calculated by dividing certain service revenues by the average subscriber base for the specified period and is expressed as a dollar unit per month.

Average billing per user (ABPU) or subscriber approximates the average amount billed to customers on a monthly basis, which is used to track our recurring billing streams. This measure is the same as blended ARPU prior to the adoption of IFRS 15. Wireless blended ABPU is calculated by dividing certain customer billings by the average subscriber base for the specified period and is expressed as a dollar unit per month.

Capital intensity is capital expenditures divided by operating revenues.

Churn is the rate at which existing subscribers cancel their services. It is a measure of our ability to retain our customers. Wireless churn is calculated by dividing the number of deactivations during a given period by the average number of subscribers in the base for the specified period and is expressed as a percentage per month.

Wireless subscriber unit is comprised of an active revenue-generating unit (e.g. mobile device, tablet or wireless Internet products), with a unique identifier (typically International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number), that has access to our wireless networks. We report wireless subscriber units in two categories: postpaid and prepaid. Prepaid subscriber units are considered active for a period of 120 days following the expiry of the subscriber’s prepaid balance.

Wireline subscriber unit consists of an active revenue-generating unit with access to our services, including Internet, satellite TV, IPTV, and/or NAS. A subscriber is included in our subscriber base when the service has been installed and is operational at the customer premise and a billing relationship has been established.

  • Internet, IPTV and satellite TV subscribers have access to stand-alone services, and are primarily represented by a dwelling unit
  • NAS subscribers are based on a line count and are represented by a unique telephone number

 

BCE Supplementary Financial Information - Third Quarter 2018 Page 17