Exhibit 99.3

Management's Responsibility for Financial Reporting

December 31, 2019

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Rogers Communications Inc. and its subsidiaries and all the information in Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) are the responsibility of management and have been approved by the Board of Directors.

Management has prepared the consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The consolidated financial statements include certain amounts that are based on management's best estimates and judgments and, in their opinion, present fairly, in all material respects, Rogers Communications Inc.'s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Management has prepared the financial information presented elsewhere in MD&A and has ensured that it is consistent with the consolidated financial statements.

Management has developed and maintains a system of internal controls that further enhances the integrity of the consolidated financial statements. The system of internal controls is supported by the internal audit function and includes management communication to employees about its policies on ethical business conduct.

Management believes these internal controls provide reasonable assurance that:

• transactions are properly authorized and recorded;

• financial records are reliable and form a proper basis for the preparation of consolidated financial statements; and

• the assets of Rogers Communications Inc. and its subsidiaries are properly accounted for and safeguarded.

The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing management's responsibility for financial reporting and is ultimately responsible for reviewing and approving the consolidated financial statements. The Board of Directors carries out this responsibility through its Audit and Risk Committee.

The Audit and Risk Committee meets regularly with management, as well as the internal and external auditors, to discuss internal controls over the financial reporting process, auditing matters, and financial reporting issues; to satisfy itself that each party is properly discharging its responsibilities; and to review MD&A, the consolidated financial statements, and the external auditors' report. The Audit and Risk Committee reports its findings to the Board of Directors for its consideration when approving the consolidated financial statements for issuance to the shareholders. The Audit and Risk Committee also considers the engagement or re-appointment of the external auditors before submitting its recommendation to the Board of Directors for review and for shareholder approval.

The consolidated financial statements have been audited by KPMG LLP, the external auditors, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) on behalf of the shareholders. Our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 has been audited by KPMG LLP, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accountability Oversight Board (United States). KPMG LLP has full and free access to the Audit and Risk Committee.

March 5, 2020

"Joe Natale"		"Anthony Staffieri"
Joe Natale		Anthony Staffieri, FCPA, FCA
President and Chief Executive Officer		Chief Financial Officer

Rogers Communications Inc. 1 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Rogers Communications Inc.

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Rogers Communications Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and its financial performance and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 5, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases during 2019 due to the adoption of IFRS 16, Leases, and included the presentation of the statement of financial position as at January 1, 2019.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the Audit and Risk Committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Assessment of the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill in the Media segment

As discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year or more frequently if indicators of impairment are identified. The impairment tests involve comparing the carrying value of the relevant cash-generating unit (CGU) or group of cash-generating units (CGUs) that contain goodwill to its corresponding recoverable amount. Goodwill is monitored at an operating segment level in the Media segment. The determination that goodwill is monitored at the segment level requires the application of judgment. In addition, a number of businesses within the Company's Media segment are partially reliant on traditional advertising revenues, are subject to a highly competitive environment, and continue to have profitability challenges due to declining advertising revenue growth rates and increasing costs of producing and/or providing content. The estimate of the recoverable amount, which is determined based on the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use, is based on significant estimates developed by the Company relating to future cash flows, the terminal growth rate, and the discount rate applied in its valuation model. The goodwill balance in the Media segment as at December 31, 2019 was $955 million.

Rogers Communications Inc. 2 2019 Annual Financial Statements

We identified the assessment of the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill in the Media segment as a critical audit matter. There were judgments applied in assessing the level at which goodwill was tested and there was a high degree of subjective auditor judgment required in evaluating the key assumptions used in the valuation models, which included the CGUs' future cash flows, the discount rate, and the terminal growth rate.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following. We tested certain internal controls over the Company's impairment testing process, including controls related to the determination that goodwill should be tested at the Media segment level and the key assumptions used in estimating the recoverable amount of the Media CGUs. We compared the Company's historical cash flow forecasts to actual results achieved to assess the Company's ability to accurately forecast financial results. We compared the cash flow forecasts used to estimate the recoverable amount to approved plans. We assessed the assumptions used to determine the Media segment's future cash flows by comparing to underlying documentation and external market and industry data. We involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in evaluating the discount rate, by comparing the Company's inputs to the discount rate to publicly available data for comparable entities, independently developing a range of reasonable discount rates, and comparing those to the Company's rate and the terminal growth rate for the Media Group of CGUs, by comparing to underlying documentation and publicly available market data. We performed a sensitivity analysis over the key assumptions in the valuation model to assess their impact on the Company's determination of the recoverable amount.

"KPMG LLP"

Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants

We have served as the Company's auditor since 1969.

Toronto, Canada

March 5, 2020

Rogers Communications Inc. 3 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Rogers Communications Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited Rogers Communications Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, Rogers Communications Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated March 5, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

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 under the heading Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting contained within Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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 of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s 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 for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. 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 generally accepted accounting principles, 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 its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

"KPMG LLP"

Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants

Toronto, Canada

March 5, 2020

Rogers Communications Inc. 4 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Income

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

Years ended December 31	Note		2019		2018
Revenue	5		15,073		15,096
Operating expenses:
Operating costs	6		8,861		9,113
Depreciation and amortization	7, 8, 9		2,488		2,211
Gain on disposition of property, plant and equipment	7		—		(16	)
Restructuring, acquisition and other	10		139		210
Finance costs	11		840		793
Other income	12		(10	)	(32	)
Income before income tax expense			2,755		2,817
Income tax expense	13		712		758
Net income for the year			2,043		2,059
Earnings per share:
Basic	14		$3.99		$4.00
Diluted	14		$3.97		$3.99

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

Rogers Communications Inc. 5 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In millions of Canadian dollars)

Years ended December 31	Note		2019		2018
Net income for the year			2,043		2,059
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Items that will not be reclassified to net income:
Defined benefit pension plans:
Remeasurements	23		(159	)	53
Related income tax recovery (expense)			40		(12	)
Defined benefit pension plans			(119	)	41
Equity investments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVTOCI):
Increase (decrease) in fair value	18		737		(440	)
Related income tax (expense) recovery			(104	)	63
Equity investments measured at FVTOCI			633		(377	)
Items that will not be reclassified to net income			514		(336	)
Items that may subsequently be reclassified to net income:
Cash flow hedging derivative instruments:
Unrealized gain in fair value of derivative instruments			66		725
Reclassification to net income of loss (gain) on debt derivatives			458		(671	)
Reclassification to net income or property, plant and equipment of gain on expenditure derivatives			(61	)	(8	)
Reclassification to net income for accrued interest			(46	)	(43	)
Related income tax expense			(29	)	(65	)
Cash flow hedging derivative instruments			388		(62	)
Equity-accounted investments:
Share of other comprehensive (loss) income of equity-accounted investments, net of tax			(8	)	14
Equity-accounted investments			(8	)	14
Items that may subsequently be reclassified to net income			380		(48	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) for the year			894		(384	)
Comprehensive income for the year			2,937		1,675

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

Rogers Communications Inc. 6 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(In millions of Canadian dollars)

			As at December 31		As at January 1		As at December 31
	Note		2019		2019		2018
					(see note 2)		(see note 15)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			494		405		405
Accounts receivable	15		2,304		2,236		2,236
Inventories	16		460		466		466
Current portion of contract assets	5		1,234		1,052		1,052
Other current assets			524		436		459
Current portion of derivative instruments	17		101		270		270
Total current assets			5,117		4,865		4,888
Property, plant and equipment	7, 8		13,934		13,261		11,780
Intangible assets	9		8,905		7,205		7,205
Investments	18		2,830		2,134		2,134
Derivative instruments	17		1,478		1,339		1,339
Contract assets	5		557		535		535
Other long-term assets			275		132		132
Goodwill	9		3,923		3,905		3,905
Total assets			37,019		33,376		31,918
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	19		2,238		2,255		2,255
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			3,033		2,997		3,052
Income tax payable			48		177		177
Other current liabilities	20		141		132		132
Contract liabilities	5		224		233		233
Current portion of long-term debt	21		—		900		900
Current portion of lease liabilities	8		230		190		—
Current portion of derivative instruments	17		50		87		87
Total current liabilities			5,964		6,971		6,836
Provisions	20		36		35		35
Long-term debt	21		15,967		13,390		13,390
Derivative instruments	17		90		22		22
Lease liabilities	8		1,495		1,355		—
Other long-term liabilities	22		614		546		546
Deferred tax liabilities	13		3,437		2,901		2,910
Total liabilities			27,603		25,220		23,739
Shareholders' equity	24		9,416		8,156		8,179
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity			37,019		33,376		31,918
Guarantees	27
Commitments and contingent liabilities	28
Subsequent events	24

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

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

"Edward S. Rogers"		"John H. Clappison"
Edward S. Rogers Director		John H. Clappison, FCPA, FCA Director

Rogers Communications Inc. 7 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except number of shares)

	Class A Voting Shares				Class B Non-Voting Shares
Year ended December 31, 2019	Amount		Number of shares (000s)		Amount		Number of shares (000s)		Retained earnings		FVTOCI investment reserve		Hedging reserve		Equity investment reserve		Total shareholders' equity
Balances, December 31, 2018	71		111,155		406		403,657		7,182		636		(125	)	9		8,179
Adjustments pertaining to IFRS 16 adoption (see note 2)	—		—		—		—		(23	)	—		—		—		(23	)
Balances, January 1, 2019 (restated, see note 2)	71		111,155		406		403,657		7,159		636		(125	)	9		8,156
Net income for the year	—		—		—		—		2,043		—		—		—		2,043
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Defined benefit pension plans, net of tax	—		—		—		—		(119	)	—		—		—		(119	)
FVTOCI investments, net of tax	—		—		—		—		—		633		—		—		633
Derivative instruments accounted for as hedges, net of tax	—		—		—		—		—		—		388		—		388
Share of equity-accounted investments, net of tax	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		(8	)	(8	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		—		(119	)	633		388		(8	)	894
Comprehensive income (loss) for the year	—		—		—		—		1,924		633		388		(8	)	2,937
Reclassification to retained earnings for disposition of FVTOCI investments	—		—		—		—		4		(4	)	—		—		—
Transactions with shareholders recorded directly in equity:
Repurchase of Class B Non-Voting Shares	—		—		(9	)	(9,887	)	(646	)	—		—		—		(655	)
Dividends declared	—		—		—		—		(1,022	)	—		—		—		(1,022	)
Share class exchange	—		(1	)	—		1		—		—		—		—		—
Total transactions with shareholders	—		(1	)	(9	)	(9,886	)	(1,668	)	—		—		—		(1,677	)
Balances, December 31, 2019	71		111,154		397		393,771		7,419		1,265		263		1		9,416

	Class A Voting Shares				Class B Non-Voting Shares
Year ended December 31, 2018	Amount		Number of shares (000s)		Amount		Number of shares (000s)		Retained earnings		FVTOCI investment reserve		Hedging reserve		Equity investment reserve		Total shareholders' equity
Balances, January 1, 2018	72		112,407		405		402,403		6,070		1,013		(63	)	(5	)	7,492
Net income for the period	—		—		—		—		2,059		—		—		—		2,059
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Defined benefit pension plans, net of tax	—		—		—		—		41		—		—		—		41
FVTOCI investments, net of tax	—		—		—		—		—		(377	)	—		—		(377	)
Derivative instruments accounted for as hedges, net of tax	—		—		—		—		—		—		(62	)	—		(62	)
Share of equity-accounted investments, net of tax	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		14		14
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		—		41		(377	)	(62	)	14		(384	)
Comprehensive income (loss) for the year	—		—		—		—		2,100		(377	)	(62	)	14		1,675
Transactions with shareholders recorded directly in equity:
Dividends declared	—		—		—		—		(988	)	—		—		—		(988	)
Shares issued on exercise of stock options	—		—		—		2		—		—		—		—		—
Share class exchange	(1	)	(1,252	)	1		1,252		—		—		—		—		—
Total transactions with shareholders	(1	)	(1,252	)	1		1,254		(988	)	—		—		—		(988	)
Balances, December 31, 2018	71		111,155		406		403,657		7,182		636		(125	)	9		8,179

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

Rogers Communications Inc. 8 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In millions of Canadian dollars)

Years ended December 31	Note		2019		2018
Operating activities:
Net income for the year			2,043		2,059
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	7, 8, 9		2,488		2,211
Program rights amortization	9		77		58
Finance costs	11		840		793
Income tax expense	13		712		758
Post-employment benefits contributions, net of expense	23		(75	)	(44	)
Gain on disposition of property, plant and equipment	7		—		(16	)
Net change in contract asset balances	5		(204	)	(354	)
Net change in financing receivable balances	17		(84	)	—
Other			46		33
Cash provided by operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital items, income taxes paid, and interest paid			5,843		5,498
Change in non-cash operating working capital items	29		(138	)	(114	)
Cash provided by operating activities before income taxes paid and interest paid			5,705		5,384
Income taxes paid			(400	)	(370	)
Interest paid			(779	)	(726	)
Cash provided by operating activities			4,526		4,288
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	7, 29		(2,807	)	(2,790	)
Additions to program rights	9		(60	)	(54	)
Changes in non-cash working capital related to capital expenditures and intangible assets			(35	)	(125	)
Acquisitions and other strategic transactions, net of cash acquired	9		(1,731	)	—
Other			21		25
Cash used in investing activities			(4,612	)	(2,944	)
Financing activities:
Net proceeds received on short-term borrowings	19		30		508
Net issuance (repayment) of long-term debt	21		2,184		(823	)
Net (payments) proceeds on settlement of debt derivatives and forward contracts	17		(121	)	388
Transaction costs incurred	21		(61	)	(18	)
Principal payments of lease liabilities	8		(167	)	—
Repurchase of Class B Non-Voting Shares	24		(655	)	—
Dividends paid	24		(1,016	)	(988	)
Other			(19	)	—
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities			175		(933	)
Change in cash and cash equivalents			89		411
Cash and cash equivalents (bank advances), beginning of year			405		(6	)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year			494		405

Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash and short-term deposits that have an original maturity of less than 90 days, less bank advances.

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

Rogers Communications Inc. 9 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

We, us, our, Rogers, Rogers Communications, and the Company refer to Rogers Communications Inc. and its subsidiaries. RCI refers to the legal entity Rogers Communications Inc., not including its subsidiaries. RCI also holds interests in various investments and ventures.

Page		Note		Page		Note
11	Note 1	Nature of the Business		33	Note 16	Inventories
12	Note 2	Significant Accounting Policies		33	Note 17	Financial Risk Management and Financial Instruments
15	Note 3	Capital Risk Management
16	Note 4	Segmented Information		44	Note 18	Investments
17	Note 5	Revenue		46	Note 19	Short-Term Borrowings
21	Note 6	Operating Costs		47	Note 20	Provisions
21	Note 7	Property, Plant and Equipment		49	Note 21	Long-Term Debt
23	Note 8	Leases		52	Note 22	Other Long-Term Liabilities
26	Note 9	Intangible Assets and Goodwill		52	Note 23	Post-Employment Benefits
29	Note 10	Restructuring, Acquisition and Other		57	Note 24	Shareholders' Equity
29	Note 11	Finance Costs		58	Note 25	Stock-Based Compensation
30	Note 12	Other (Income) Expense		61	Note 26	Related Party Transactions
30	Note 13	Income Taxes		63	Note 27	Guarantees
32	Note 14	Earnings Per Share		63	Note 28	Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
32	Note 15	Accounts Receivable		65	Note 29	Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Rogers Communications Inc. 10 2019 Annual Financial Statements

NOTE 1: NATURE OF THE BUSINESS

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

We report our results of operations in three reportable segments. Each segment and the nature of its business is as follows:

Segment	Principal activities
Wireless	Wireless telecommunications operations for Canadian consumers and businesses.
Cable	Cable telecommunications operations, including Internet, television, telephony (phone), and smart home monitoring services for Canadian consumers and businesses, and network connectivity through our fibre network and data centre assets to support a range of voice, data, networking, hosting, and cloud-based services for the business, public sector, and carrier wholesale markets.
Media	A diversified portfolio of media properties, including sports media and entertainment, television and radio broadcasting, specialty channels, multi-platform shopping, and digital media.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, Wireless and Cable were operated by our wholly owned subsidiary, Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (RCCI), and certain other wholly owned subsidiaries. Media was operated by our wholly owned subsidiary, Rogers Media Inc., and its subsidiaries.

See note 4 for more information about our reportable operating segments.

BUSINESS SEASONALITY

Our operating results generally vary from quarter to quarter as a result of changes in general economic conditions and seasonal fluctuations, among other things, in each of our reportable segments. This means our results in one quarter are not necessarily indicative of how we will perform in a future quarter. Wireless, Cable, and Media each have unique seasonal aspects to, and certain other historical trends in, their businesses. Fluctuations in net income from quarter to quarter can also be attributed to losses on the repayment of debt, other income and expenses, impairment of assets, and changes in income tax expense.

Wireless

Wireless operating results are influenced by the timing of our marketing and promotional expenditures and higher levels of subscriber additions and related subsidies, resulting in higher subscriber acquisition- and activation-related expenses, typically in the third and fourth quarters. The third and fourth quarters typically experience higher volumes of activity as a result of "back to school" and holiday season-related consumer behaviour. Aggressive promotional offers are often advertised during these periods. In contrast, we typically see lower subscriber-related activity in the first quarter of the year.

The launch of new products and services, including popular new wireless device models, can also affect the level of subscriber activity. Highly anticipated device launches typically occur in the fall season of each year. Wireless roaming revenue is dependent on customer travel volumes and timing, and is also impacted by foreign exchange rates and general economic conditions.

Cable

Cable's operating results are affected by modest seasonal fluctuations, typically caused by:

• university and college students who live in residences moving out early in the second quarter and canceling their service as well as students moving in late in the third quarter and signing up for cable service;

• individuals temporarily suspending service for extended vacations or seasonal relocations; and

• the concentrated marketing we generally conduct in our fourth quarter.

Cable results from our enterprise customers do not generally have any unique seasonal aspects.

Media

Seasonal fluctuations relate to:

• periods of increased consumer activity and their impact on advertising and related retail cycles, which tend to be most active in the fourth quarter due to holiday spending and slower in the first quarter;

• the Major League Baseball season, where:

• games played are concentrated in the spring, summer, and fall months (generally the second and third quarters of the year);

• revenue related to game day ticket sales, merchandise sales, and advertising are concentrated in the spring, summer, and fall months (generally the second and third quarters of the year), with postseason games commanding a premium in advertising revenue and additional revenue from game day ticket sales and merchandise sales, if and when the Toronto Blue Jays play in the postseason; and

• programming and production costs and player payroll are expensed based on the number of games aired or played, as applicable; and

Rogers Communications Inc. 11 2019 Annual Financial Statements

• the National Hockey League (NHL) season, where:

• regular season games are concentrated in the fall and winter months (generally the first and fourth quarters of the year) and playoff games are concentrated in the spring months (generally the second quarter of the year). We expect a correlation between the quality of revenue and earnings and the extent of Canadian teams' presence during the playoffs;

• programming and production costs are expensed based on the timing of when the rights are aired or are expected to be consumed; and

• advertising revenue and programming expenses are concentrated in the fall, winter, and spring months, with playoff games commanding a premium in advertising revenue.

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

We prepared our consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The Board of Directors (the Board) authorized these consolidated financial statements for issue on March 5, 2020.

NOTE 2: SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a) BASIS OF PRESENTATION

All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. Our functional currency is the Canadian dollar. We prepare the consolidated financial statements on a historical cost basis, except for:

• certain financial instruments as disclosed in note 17, which are measured at fair value;

• the net deferred pension liability, which is measured as described in note 23; and

• liabilities for stock-based compensation, which are measured at fair value as disclosed in note 25.

(b) BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION

Subsidiaries are entities we control. We include the financial statements of our subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements from the date we gain control of them until our control ceases. We eliminate all intercompany transactions and balances between our subsidiaries on consolidation.

(c) FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

We translate amounts denominated in foreign currencies into Canadian dollars as follows:

• monetary assets and liabilities - at the exchange rate in effect as at the date of the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position;

• non-monetary assets and liabilities, and related depreciation and amortization - at the historical exchange rates; and

• revenue and expenses other than depreciation and amortization - at the average rate for the month in which the transaction was recognized.

(d) BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

We account for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. Only acquisitions that result in our gaining control over the acquired businesses are accounted for as business combinations. We possess control over an entity when we conclude we are exposed to variable returns from our involvement with the acquired entity and we have the ability to affect those returns through our power over the acquired entity.

We calculate the fair value of the consideration paid as the sum of the fair value at the date of acquisition of the assets we transferred and the equity interests we issued, less the liabilities we assumed to acquire the subsidiary.

We measure goodwill as the fair value of the consideration transferred less the net recognized amount of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which are generally measured at fair value as of the acquisition date. When the excess is negative, a gain on acquisition is recognized immediately in net income.

We expense the transaction costs associated with acquisitions as we incur them.

(e) NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS ADOPTED IN 2019

We adopted the following IFRS amendments in 2019. They did not have a material effect on our financial statements.

• Amendments to IAS 19, Employee Benefits, providing guidance on accounting for defined benefit plans that have been amended, curtailed, or settled during a period.

• Amendments to IAS 23, Borrowing Costs, clarifying the requirement that borrowings made specifically to finance construction of qualifying assets become part of a pool of general borrowings after completion.

• Amendments to IAS 28, Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures, clarifying the requirement in applying IFRS 9, Financial Instruments including its impairment requirements, to long-term interests in an associate or joint venture that, in substance, form part of the net investment in the associate or joint venture but to which the equity method is not applied.

• Amendments to IFRS 3, Business Combinations and IFRS 11, Joint Arrangements, clarifying the distinction between a business and a group of assets to aid in applying IFRS 3.

Rogers Communications Inc. 12 2019 Annual Financial Statements

• Amendments to IFRIC 23, Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments, aiming to reduce diversity in how companies recognize and measure a tax liability or tax asset when there is uncertainty over income tax treatments.

Additionally, we adopted IFRS 16, Leases (IFRS 16) effective January 1, 2019. The effects this new pronouncement has on our results and operations are described below.

IFRS 16, LEASES

Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted IFRS 16, which supersedes previous accounting standards for leases, including IAS 17, Leases (IAS 17) and IFRIC 4, Determining whether an arrangement contains a lease (IFRIC 4).

IFRS 16 introduced a single accounting model for lessees. A lessee is generally required to recognize, on its statement of financial position, a right-of-use asset, representing its right to use the underlying leased asset, and a lease liability, representing its obligation to make lease payments. As a result of adopting IFRS 16, we have recognized a significant increase to both assets and liabilities on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, as well as a decrease to operating costs (for the removal of rent expense for leases), an increase to depreciation and amortization (due to depreciation of the right-of-use asset), and an increase to finance costs (due to accretion of the lease liability). The accounting treatment for lessors remains largely the same as under IAS 17.

We adopted IFRS 16 with the cumulative effect of initial application recognized as an adjustment to retained earnings within shareholders' equity on January 1, 2019. We have not restated comparatives for 2018. At transition, we applied the practical expedient that allows us to maintain our lease assessments made under IAS 17 and IFRIC 4 for existing contracts. Therefore, the definition of a lease under IFRS 16 was applied only to contracts entered into or changed after January 1, 2019.

For leases that were classified as operating leases under IAS 17, lease liabilities at transition have been measured at the present value of remaining lease payments, discounted at the related incremental borrowing rate as at January 1, 2019. Generally, right-of-use assets at transition have been measured at an amount equal to the corresponding lease liabilities, adjusted for any prepaid or accrued rent relating to that lease. For certain leases where we have readily available information, we have elected to measure the right-of-use assets at their carrying amounts as if IFRS 16 had been applied since the lease commencement date using the related incremental borrowing rate for the remaining lease period as at January 1, 2019.

When applying IFRS 16 to leases previously classified as operating leases, the following practical expedients were available to us. We have:

• applied a single discount rate to a portfolio of leases with similar characteristics;

• excluded initial direct costs from measuring the right-of-use asset as at January 1, 2019;

• used hindsight in determining the lease term where the contract contains purchase, extension, or termination options; and

• relied upon our assessment of whether leases were onerous under the requirements of IAS 37, Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets as at December 31, 2018 as an alternative to reviewing our right-of-use assets for impairment.

We have elected to not separate fixed non-lease components from lease components and instead account for each lease component and associated fixed non-lease components as a single lease component. On transition, we have not elected the recognition exemptions on short-term leases or low-value leases; however, we may choose to elect the recognition exemptions on a class-by-class basis for new classes, and lease-by-lease basis, respectively, in the future.

There was no significant impact for contracts in which we are the lessor.

Rogers Communications Inc. 13 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Reconciliation of condensed consolidated statement of financial position as at January 1, 2019

Below is the effect of transition to IFRS 16 on our condensed consolidated statement of financial position as at January 1, 2019.

(In millions of dollars)	As reported as at December 31, 2018 (see note 15)		Effect of IFRS 16 transition		Subsequent to transition as at January 1, 2019
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	405		—		405
Accounts receivable	2,236		—		2,236
Inventories	466		—		466
Current portion of contract assets	1,052		—		1,052
Other current assets	459		(23	)	436
Current portion of derivative instruments	270		—		270
Total current assets	4,888		(23	)	4,865
Property, plant and equipment	11,780		1,481		13,261
Intangible assets	7,205		—		7,205
Investments	2,134		—		2,134
Derivative instruments	1,339		—		1,339
Contract assets	535		—		535
Other long-term assets	132		—		132
Goodwill	3,905		—		3,905
Total assets	31,918		1,458		33,376
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	2,255		—		2,255
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	3,052		(55	)	2,997
Income tax payable	177		—		177
Other current liabilities	132		—		132
Contract liabilities	233		—		233
Current portion of long-term debt	900		—		900
Current portion of derivative instruments	87		—		87
Current portion of lease liabilities	—		190		190
Total current liabilities	6,836		135		6,971
Provisions	35		—		35
Long-term debt	13,390		—		13,390
Derivative instruments	22		—		22
Lease liabilities	—		1,355		1,355
Other long-term liabilities	546		—		546
Deferred tax liabilities	2,910		(9	)	2,901
Total liabilities	23,739		1,481		25,220
Shareholders' equity	8,179		(23	)	8,156
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	31,918		1,458		33,376

Prior to adopting IFRS 16, our total minimum operating lease commitments as at December 31, 2018 were $979 million. The weighted average discount rate applied to the total lease payments on transition was 3.82%. The difference between the total of the minimum lease payments set out in Note 27 to our 2018 Annual Financial Statements and the total lease liabilities recognized on transition was a result of:

• the inclusion of lease payments beyond minimum commitments relating to reasonably certain renewal periods or extension options that had not yet been exercised as at December 31, 2018; partially offset by

• the effect of discounting on the minimum lease payments; and

Rogers Communications Inc. 14 2019 Annual Financial Statements

• certain costs to which we are contractually committed under lease contracts but which do not qualify to be accounted for as a lease liability, such as variable lease payments not tied to an index or rate.

See note 8 for the accounting policies, including estimates and judgments, we use to account for leases.

(f) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED IN 2019

The IASB has issued the following new standards that will become effective in a future year and could have an impact on our consolidated financial statements in future periods:

• Changes to the Conceptual Framework, seeking to provide improvements to concepts surrounding various financial reporting considerations and existing IFRS standards.

• Amendments to IAS 1, Presentation of Financial Statements and IAS 8, Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors, clarifying the definition of "material".

• IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts, a replacement of IFRS 4, Insurance Contracts, that aims to provide consistency in the application of accounting for insurance contracts.

• Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, and IFRS 7, Interest Rate Benchmark Reform, seeking to reduce uncertainty and diminishing long-term viability of certain interest rate benchmarks used in global financial markets, such as interbank offer rates (IBORs).

We do not expect IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts, will have an effect on our consolidated financial statements. We are assessing the impacts, if any, the remaining new standards or amendments will have on our consolidated financial statements.

(g) ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, ESTIMATES, AND JUDGMENTS

When preparing our consolidated financial statements, management makes judgments, estimates, and assumptions that affect how accounting policies are applied and the amounts we report as assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Our significant accounting policies, estimates, and judgments are identified in this note or disclosed throughout the notes as identified in the table below, including:

• information about assumptions and estimation uncertainties that have a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment to the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements;

• information about judgments made in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements; and

• information on our significant accounting policies.

Note	Topic	Page	Accounting Policy	Use of Estimates	Use of Judgments
4	Reportable Segments	16	X		X
5	Revenue Recognition	17	X	X	X
7	Property, Plant and Equipment	21	X	X	X
8	Leases	23	X	X	X
9	Intangible Assets and Goodwill	26	X	X	X
13	Income Taxes	30	X		X
14	Earnings Per Share	32	X
15	Accounts Receivable	32	X
16	Inventories	33	X
17	Financial Instruments	33	X	X	X
18	Investments	44	X
20	Provisions	47	X	X	X
23	Post-Employment Benefits	52	X	X
25	Stock-Based Compensation	58	X	X
28	Commitments and Contingent Liabilities	63	X		X

NOTE 3: CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT

Our objectives in managing capital are to ensure we have sufficient liquidity to meet all of our commitments and to execute our business plan. We define capital that we manage as shareholders' equity and indebtedness (including the current portion of our long-term debt, long-term debt, short-term borrowings, the current portion of our lease liabilities, and lease liabilities).

We manage our capital structure, commitments, and maturities and make adjustments based on general economic conditions, financial markets, operating risks, our investment priorities, and working capital requirements. To maintain or adjust our capital structure, we may, with approval from the Board, issue or repay debt and/or short-term borrowings, issue or repurchase shares, pay dividends, or undertake other activities as deemed appropriate under the circumstances. The Board reviews and approves the annual capital and operating budgets, as well as any material transactions that are not part of the ordinary course of business, including proposals for acquisitions or other major financing transactions, investments, or divestitures.

Rogers Communications Inc. 15 2019 Annual Financial Statements

We monitor debt leverage ratios as part of the management of liquidity and shareholders' return to sustain future development of the business, conduct valuation-related analyses, and make decisions about capital.

The wholly owned subsidiary through which our Rogers World Elite Mastercard, Rogers Platinum Mastercard, and Fido Mastercard programs are operated is regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, which requires that a minimum level of regulatory capital be maintained. Rogers' subsidiary was in compliance with that requirement as at December 31, 2019 and 2018. The capital requirements are not material to the Company as at December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018.

With the exception of the Rogers World Elite Mastercard, Rogers Platinum Mastercard, and Fido Mastercard programs and the subsidiary through which they are operated, we are not subject to externally imposed capital requirements. Our overall strategy for capital risk management has not changed since December 31, 2018.

NOTE 4: SEGMENTED INFORMATION

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Reportable segments

We determine our reportable segments based on, among other things, how our chief operating decision maker, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of RCI, regularly review our operations and performance. They review adjusted EBITDA as the key measure of profit for the purpose of assessing performance of each segment and to make decisions about the allocation of resources, as they believe adjusted EBITDA reflects segment and consolidated profitability. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income before depreciation and amortization; (gain) loss on disposition of property, plant and equipment; restructuring, acquisition and other; finance costs; other expense (income); and income tax expense.

We follow the same accounting policies for our segments as those described in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. We account for transactions between reportable segments in the same way we account for transactions with external parties, but eliminate them on consolidation.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

JUDGMENTS

We make significant judgments in determining our operating segments. These are components that engage in business activities from which they may earn revenue and incur expenses, for which operating results are regularly reviewed by our chief operating decision makers to make decisions about resources to be allocated and assess component performance, and for which discrete financial information is available.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

Our reportable segments are Wireless, Cable, and Media (see note 1). All three segments operate substantially in Canada. Corporate items and eliminations include our interests in businesses that are not reportable operating segments, corporate administrative functions, and eliminations of inter-segment revenue and costs. Segment results include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis.

INFORMATION BY SEGMENT

	Year ended December 31, 2019	Note		Wireless		Cable		Media		Corporate items and eliminations		Consolidated totals
														(In millions of dollars)
	Revenue													5		9,250		3,954		2,072		(203	)	15,073
	Operating costs	6		4,905		2,035		1,932		(11	)	8,861
	Adjusted EBITDA			4,345		1,919		140		(192	)	6,212
	Depreciation and amortization	7, 8, 9										2,488
	Restructuring, acquisition and other	10										139
	Finance costs	11										840
	Other income	12										(10	)
	Income before income tax expense											2,755
	Capital expenditures 1	7, 29		1,320		1,153		102		232		2,807
	Goodwill	9		1,160		1,808		955		—		3,923
	Total assets			20,105		7,891		2,550		6,473		37,019

¹  Includes proceeds on disposition of $38 million (see note 29).

Rogers Communications Inc. 16 2019 Annual Financial Statements

	Year ended December 31, 2018	Note		Wireless		Cable		Media		Corporate items and eliminations		Consolidated totals
														(In millions of dollars)
	Revenue													5		9,200		3,932		2,168		(204	)	15,096
	Operating costs	6		5,110		2,058		1,972		(27	)	9,113
	Adjusted EBITDA			4,090		1,874		196		(177	)	5,983
	Depreciation and amortization	7, 8, 9										2,211
	Gain on disposition of property, plant and equipment	7										(16	)
	Restructuring, acquisition and other	10										210
	Finance costs	11										793
	Other income	12										(32	)
	Income before income tax expense											2,817
	Capital expenditures 1	7, 29		1,086		1,429		90		185		2,790
	Goodwill	9		1,160		1,808		937		—		3,905
	Total assets			16,572		7,666		2,438		5,242		31,918

¹  Includes proceeds on disposition of $25 million (see note 29).

NOTE 5: REVENUE

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Contracts with customers

We record revenue from contracts with customers in accordance with the five steps in IFRS 15, Revenue from contracts with customers as follows:

1. identify the contract with a customer;

2. identify the performance obligations in the contract;

3. determine the transaction price, which is the total consideration provided by the customer;

4. allocate the transaction price among the performance obligations in the contract based on their relative fair values; and

5. recognize revenue when the relevant criteria are met for each performance obligation.

Many of our products and services are sold in bundled arrangements (e.g. wireless devices and voice and data services). Items in these arrangements are accounted for as separate performance obligations if the item meets the definition of a distinct good or service. We also determine whether a customer can modify their contract within predefined terms such that we are not able to enforce the transaction price agreed to, but can only contractually enforce a lower amount. In situations such as these, we allocate revenue between performance obligations using the minimum enforceable rights and obligations and any excess amount is recognized as revenue as it is earned.

Revenue for each performance obligation is recognized either over time (e.g. services) or at a point in time (e.g. equipment). For performance obligations satisfied over time, revenue is recognized as the services are provided. These services are typically provided, and thus revenue is typically recognized, on a monthly basis. Revenue for performance obligations satisfied at a point in time is recognized when control of the item (or service) transfers to the customer. Typically, this is when the customer activates the goods (e.g. in the case of a wireless device) or has physical possession of the goods (e.g. other equipment).

Rogers Communications Inc. 17 2019 Annual Financial Statements

The table below summarizes the nature of the various performance obligations in our contracts with customers and when we recognize performance on those obligations.

Performance obligations from contracts with customers	Timing of satisfaction of the performance obligation
Wireless airtime, data, and other services; television, telephony, Internet, and smart home monitoring services; network services; media subscriptions; and rental of equipment	As the service is provided (usually monthly)
Roaming, long-distance, and other optional or non-subscription services, and pay-per-use services	As the service is provided
Wireless devices and related equipment	Upon activation or purchase by the end customer
Installation services for Cable subscribers	When the services are performed
Advertising	When the advertising airs on our radio or television stations or is displayed on our digital properties
Subscriptions by television stations for subscriptions from cable and satellite providers	When the services are delivered to cable and satellite providers' subscribers (usually monthly)
Toronto Blue Jays' home game admission and concessions	When the related games are played during the baseball season and when goods are sold
Toronto Blue Jays revenue from the Major League Baseball Revenue Sharing Agreement, which redistributes funds between member clubs based on each club’s relative revenue	When the amount is determinable
Radio and television broadcast agreements	When the related programs are aired
Sublicensing of program rights	Over the course of the applicable licence period

We also recognize interest revenue on credit card receivables using the effective interest method in accordance with IFRS 9.

Payment for Wireless and Cable monthly service fees is typically due 30 days after billing. Payment for Wireless and Cable equipment is typically due either upon receipt of the equipment or over the subsequent 24 months (when equipment is financed through our equipment financing plans). Payment terms for typical Media performance obligations range from immediate (e.g. Toronto Blue Jays tickets) to 30 days (e.g. advertising contracts).

Contract assets and liabilities

We record a contract asset when we have provided goods and services to our customer but our right to related consideration for the performance obligation is conditional on satisfying other performance obligations. Contract assets primarily relate to our rights to consideration for the transfer of wireless devices.

We record a contract liability when we receive payment from a customer in advance of providing goods and services. This includes subscriber deposits, deposits related to Toronto Blue Jays ticket sales, and amounts subscribers pay for services and subscriptions that will be provided in future periods.

We account for contract assets and liabilities on a contract-by-contract basis, with each contract presented as either a net contract asset or a net contract liability accordingly.

Deferred commission cost assets

We defer, to the extent recoverable, the incremental costs we incur to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer and amortize them over their expected period of benefit. These costs include certain commissions paid to internal and external representatives that we believe to be recoverable through the revenue earned from the related contracts. We therefore defer them as deferred commission cost assets in other assets and amortize them to operating costs over the pattern of the transfer of goods and services to the customer, which is typically evenly over either 12 or 24 consecutive months.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

ESTIMATES

We use estimates in the following key areas:

• determining the transaction price of our contracts requires estimating the amount of revenue we expect to be entitled to for delivering the performance obligations within a contract; and

• determining the stand-alone selling price of performance obligations and the allocation of the transaction price between performance obligations.

Determining the transaction price

The transaction price is the amount of consideration that is enforceable and to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for the goods and services we have promised to our customer. We determine the transaction price by considering the terms of the contract and business practices that are customary within that particular line of business. Discounts, rebates, refunds, credits, price concessions, incentives, penalties, and other similar items are reflected in the transaction price at contract inception.

Rogers Communications Inc. 18 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Determining the stand-alone selling price and the allocation of the transaction price

The transaction price is allocated to performance obligations based on the relative stand-alone selling prices of the distinct goods or services in the contract. The best evidence of a stand-alone selling price is the observable price of a good or service when the entity sells that good or service separately in similar circumstances and to similar customers. If a stand-alone selling price is not directly observable, we estimate the stand-alone selling price taking into account reasonably available information relating to the market conditions, entity-specific factors, and the class of customer.

In determining the stand-alone selling price, we allocate revenue between performance obligations based on expected minimum enforceable amounts to which Rogers is entitled. Any amounts above the minimum enforceable amounts are recognized as revenue as they are earned.

JUDGMENTS

We make significant judgments in determining whether a promise to deliver goods or services is considered distinct, in determining the costs that are incremental to obtaining of fulfilling a contract with a customer, and in determining whether our residual value arrangements constitute revenue-generating arrangements or leases.

Distinct goods and services

We make judgments in determining whether a promise to deliver goods or services is considered distinct. We account for individual products and services separately if they are distinct (i.e. if a product or service is separately identifiable from other items in the bundled package and if the customer can benefit from it). The consideration is allocated between separate products and services in a bundle based on their stand-alone selling prices. For items we do not sell separately (e.g. third-party gift cards), we estimate stand-alone selling prices using the adjusted market assessment approach.

Determining costs to obtain or fulfill a contract

Determining the costs we incur to obtain or fulfill a contract that meet the deferral criteria within IFRS 15 requires us to make significant judgments. We expect incremental commission fees paid to internal and external representatives as a result of obtaining contracts with customers to be recoverable.

Residual value arrangements

Under certain customer offers, we allow customers to defer a component of the device cost until contract termination. We use judgment in determining whether these arrangements constitute revenue-generating arrangements or leases. In making this determination, we use judgment to assess the extent of control over the devices that passes to our customer, including whether the customer has a significant economic incentive at contract inception to return the device at contract termination.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

CONTRACT ASSETS

Below is a summary of the current and long-term portions of contract assets from contracts with customers and the significant changes in those balances during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Balance, beginning of year	1,587		1,233
Additions from new contracts with customers, net of terminations and renewals	1,653		1,572
Amortization of contract assets to accounts receivable	(1,449	)	(1,218	)
Balance, end of year	1,791		1,587

CONTRACT LIABILITIES

Below is a summary of the current portion of contract liabilities from contracts with customers and the significant changes in those balances during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Balance, beginning of year	233		278
Revenue deferred in previous year and recognized as revenue in current year	(222	)	(268	)
Net additions from contracts with customers	213		223
Balance, end of year	224		233

Rogers Communications Inc. 19 2019 Annual Financial Statements

DEFERRED COMMISSION COST ASSETS

Below is a summary of the changes in the deferred commission cost assets recognized from the incremental costs incurred to obtain contracts with customers during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. The deferred commission cost assets are presented within other current assets (when they will be amortized into net income within twelve months of the date of the financial statements) or other long-term assets.

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Balance, beginning of year	296		278
Additions to deferred commission cost assets	329		340
Amortization recognized on deferred commission cost assets	(320	)	(322	)
Balance, end of year	305		296

UNSATISFIED PORTIONS OF PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS

The table below shows the revenue we expect to recognize in the future related to unsatisfied or partially satisfied performance obligations as at December 31, 2019. The unsatisfied portion of the transaction price of the performance obligations relates to monthly services; we expect to recognize it over the next three to five years.

(In millions of dollars)	2020		2021		2022		Thereafter		Total
Telecommunications service	2,350		983		186		177		3,696

We have elected to utilize the following practical expedients and not disclose:

• the unsatisfied portions of performance obligations related to contracts with a duration of one year or less; or

• the unsatisfied portions of performance obligations where the revenue we recognize corresponds with the amount invoiced to the customer.

DISAGGREGATION OF REVENUE

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Wireless
Service revenue	7,156		7,091
Equipment revenue	2,094		2,109
Total Wireless	9,250		9,200
Cable
Internet	2,259		2,114
Television	1,430		1,442
Phone	251		363
Service revenue	3,940		3,919
Equipment revenue	14		13
Total Cable	3,954		3,932
Total Media	2,072		2,168
Corporate items and intercompany eliminations	(203	)	(204	)
Total revenue	15,073		15,096

Rogers Communications Inc. 20 2019 Annual Financial Statements

NOTE 6: OPERATING COSTS

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Cost of equipment sales	2,254		2,284
Merchandise for resale	242		231
Other external purchases	4,360		4,509
Employee salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation	2,005		2,089
Total operating costs	8,861		9,113

NOTE 7: PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

ACCOUNTING POLICY

The following accounting policy applies to property, plant and equipment excluding right-of-use assets recognized under IFRS 16. Our accounting policies for right-of-use assets are included in note 8.

Recognition and measurement, including depreciation

We measure property, plant and equipment upon initial recognition at cost and begin recognizing depreciation when the asset is ready for its intended use. Subsequently, property, plant and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.

Cost includes expenditures (capital expenditures) that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. The cost of self-constructed assets includes:

• the cost of materials and direct labour;

• costs directly associated with bringing the assets to a working condition for their intended use;

• expected costs of decommissioning the items and restoring the sites on which they are located (see note 20); and

• borrowing costs on qualifying assets.

We depreciate property, plant and equipment over its estimated useful life by charging depreciation expense to net income as follows:

Asset	Basis	Estimated useful life
Buildings	Diminishing balance	5 to 40 years
Cable and wireless network	Straight-line	3 to 40 years
Computer equipment and software	Straight-line	4 to 10 years
Customer premise equipment	Straight-line	3 to 6 years
Leasehold improvements	Straight-line	Over shorter of estimated useful life or lease term
Equipment and vehicles	Diminishing balance	3 to 20 years

We calculate gains and losses on the disposal of property, plant and equipment by comparing the proceeds from the disposal with the item's carrying amount and recognize the gain or loss in net income.

We capitalize development expenditures if they meet the criteria for recognition as an asset and amortize them over their expected useful lives once the assets to which they relate are available for use. We expense research expenditures, maintenance costs, and training costs as incurred.

Impairment testing, including recognition and measurement of an impairment charge

See "Impairment Testing" in note 9 for our policies relating to impairment testing and the related recognition and measurement of impairment charges. The impairment policies for property, plant and equipment are similar to the impairment policies for intangible assets with finite useful lives.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

ESTIMATES

Components of an item of property, plant and equipment may have different useful lives. We make significant estimates when determining depreciation rates and asset useful lives, which require taking into account company-specific factors, such as our past experience and expected use, and industry trends, such as technological advancements. We monitor and review residual values, depreciation rates, and asset useful lives at least once a year and change them if they are different from our previous estimates. We recognize the effect of changes in estimates in net income prospectively.

Rogers Communications Inc. 21 2019 Annual Financial Statements

We use estimates to determine certain costs that are directly attributable to self-constructed assets. These estimates primarily include certain internal and external direct labour, overhead, and interest costs associated with the acquisition, construction, development, or betterment of our networks.

Furthermore, we use estimates in determining the recoverable amount of property, plant and equipment. The determination of the recoverable amount for the purpose of impairment testing requires the use of significant estimates, such as:

• future cash flows;

• terminal growth rates; and

• discount rates.

We estimate value in use for impairment tests by discounting estimated future cash flows to their present value. We estimate the discounted future cash flows for periods of up to five years, depending on the cash-generating unit (CGU), and a terminal value. The future cash flows are based on our estimates and expected future operating results of the CGU after considering economic conditions and a general outlook for the CGU's industry. Our discount rates consider market rates of return, debt to equity ratios, and certain risk premiums, among other things. The terminal value is the value attributed to the CGU's operations beyond the projected time period of the cash flows using a perpetuity rate based on expected economic conditions and a general outlook for the industry.

We determine fair value less costs to sell in one of the following two ways:

• Analyzing discounted cash flows - we estimate the discounted future cash flows for five-year periods and a terminal value, similar to the value in use methodology described above, while applying assumptions consistent with those a market participant would make. Future cash flows are based on our estimates of expected future operating results of the CGU. Our estimates of future cash flows, terminal values, and discount rates consider similar factors to those described above for value in use estimates; or

• Using a market approach - we estimate the recoverable amount of the CGU using multiples of operating performance of comparable entities and precedent transactions in that industry.

We make certain assumptions when deriving expected future cash flows, which may include assumptions pertaining to discount and terminal growth rates. These assumptions may differ or change quickly depending on economic conditions or other events. It is therefore possible that future changes in assumptions may negatively affect future valuations of CGUs and goodwill, which could result in impairment losses.

JUDGMENTS

We make significant judgments in choosing methods for depreciating our property, plant and equipment that we believe most accurately represent the consumption of benefits derived from those assets and are most representative of the economic substance of the intended use of the underlying assets.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

The table below summarizes our property, plant and equipment as at December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

(In millions of dollars)	December 31, 2019						December 31, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Cost		Accumulated depreciation		Net carrying amount		Cost		Accumulated depreciation		Net carrying amount		Cost		Accumulated depreciation		Net carrying amount
Land and buildings	1,182		(461	)	721		1,125		(428	)	697		1,090		(397	)	693
Cable and wireless networks	21,778		(13,814	)	7,964		21,024		(13,550	)	7,474		20,252		(13,206	)	7,046
Computer equipment and software	5,903		(3,749	)	2,154		5,514		(3,305	)	2,209		4,996		(2,807	)	2,189
Customer premise equipment	1,963		(1,387	)	576		1,908		(1,279	)	629		1,565		(1,090	)	475
Leasehold improvements	596		(281	)	315		539		(250	)	289		496		(220	)	276
Equipment and vehicles	1,244		(776	)	468		1,292		(810	)	482		1,246		(782	)	464
Property, plant and equipment	32,666		(20,468	)	12,198		31,402		(19,622	)	11,780		29,645		(18,502	)	11,143
Right-of-use assets	1,911		(175	)	1,736		—		—		—		—		—		—
Total	34,577		(20,643	)	13,934		31,402		(19,622	)	11,780		29,645		(18,502	)	11,143

Rogers Communications Inc. 22 2019 Annual Financial Statements

The tables below summarize the changes in the net carrying amounts of property, plant and equipment during 2019 and 2018.

(In millions of dollars)	December 31, 2018						December 31, 2019
	Net carrying amount		Effect of IFRS 16 transition		Additions 1		Depreciation		Disposals and other 2		Net carrying amount
Land and buildings	697		—		57		(34	)	1		721
Cable and wireless networks	7,474		(95	)	1,739		(1,157	)	3		7,964
Computer equipment and software	2,209		—		644		(706	)	7		2,154
Customer premise equipment	629		—		236		(292	)	3		576
Leasehold improvements	289		—		60		(33	)	(1	)	315
Equipment and vehicles	482		—		109		(75	)	(48	)	468
Property, plant and equipment	11,780		(95	)	2,845		(2,297	)	(35	)	12,198
Right-of-use assets (note 8)	—		1,576		335		(175	)	—		1,736
Total property, plant and equipment	11,780		1,481		3,180		(2,472	)	(35	)	13,934

¹  Excludes proceeds on disposition of $38 million (see note 29).

²  Includes disposals, reclassifications, and other adjustments.

(In millions of dollars)	December 31, 2017				December 31, 2018
	Net carrying amount		Additions 1		Depreciation		Disposals and other 2		Net carrying amount
Land and buildings	693		40		(32	)	(4	)	697
Cable and wireless networks	7,046		1,556		(1,128	)	—		7,474
Computer equipment and software	2,189		653		(633	)	—		2,209
Customer premise equipment	475		423		(269	)	—		629
Leasehold improvements	276		44		(31	)	—		289
Equipment and vehicles	464		99		(81	)	—		482
Total property, plant and equipment	11,143		2,815		(2,174	)	(4	)	11,780

¹  Excludes proceeds on disposition of $25 million (see note 29).

²  Includes disposals, reclassifications, and other adjustments.

Property, plant and equipment not yet in service and therefore not subject to depreciation as at December 31, 2019 was $1,320 million (2018 - $1,339 million). During 2019, capitalized interest pertaining to property, plant and equipment was recognized at a weighted average rate of approximately 3.9% (2018 - 3.9%).

In 2019, we disposed of certain assets with a net carrying amount of $38 million (2018 - $9 million). We received total proceeds of $38 million (2018 - $25 million) for these assets, thereby recognizing a nil (2018 - $16 million) gain on disposition.

Annually, we perform an analysis to identify fully depreciated assets that have been disposed of. In 2019, this resulted in an adjustment to cost and accumulated depreciation of $1,159 million (2018 - $943 million). The disposals had nil impact on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

NOTE 8: LEASES

ACCOUNTING POLICY

At inception of a contract, we assess whether that contract is, or contains, a lease. A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. To assess whether a contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset, we assess whether:

• the contract involves the use of an identified asset;

• we have the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from use of the identified asset throughout the period of use; and

• we have the right to direct the use of the asset.

LESSEE ACCOUNTING

We record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, consisting of:

• the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at or before the commencement date; plus

• any initial direct costs incurred; and

Rogers Communications Inc. 23 2019 Annual Financial Statements

• an estimate of costs to dismantle and remove the underlying asset or restore the site on which it is located; less

• any lease incentives received.

The right-of-use asset is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the lease term, unless we expect to obtain ownership of the leased asset at the end of the lease. The lease term consists of:

• the non-cancellable period of the lease;

• periods covered by options to extend the lease, where we are reasonably certain to exercise the option; and

• periods covered by options to terminate the lease, where we are reasonably certain not to exercise the option.

If we expect to obtain ownership of the leased asset at the end of the lease, we depreciate the right-of-use asset over the underlying asset's estimated useful life. In addition, the right-of-use asset is periodically reduced by impairment losses, if any, and adjusted for certain remeasurements of the lease liability.

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of lease payments that are not paid at the commencement date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, our incremental borrowing rate. We generally use our incremental borrowing rate as the interest rate implicit in our leases cannot be readily determined. The lease liability is subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability include:

• fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments;

• variable lease payments that depend on an index or rate;

• amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee; and

• the exercise price under a purchase option that we are reasonably certain to exercise, lease payments in an optional renewal period if we are reasonably certain to exercise an extension option, and penalties for early termination of a lease unless we are reasonably certain not to terminate early.

The lease liability is remeasured when there is a change in future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate, if there is a change in our estimate of the amount expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee, or if we change our assessment of whether or not we will exercise a purchase, extension, or termination option. When the lease liability is remeasured in this way, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset. The lease liability is also remeasured when the underlying lease contract is amended.

We have elected not to separate fixed non-lease components and account for the lease and any fixed non-lease components as a single lease component.

Variable lease payments

Certain leases contain provisions that result in differing lease payments over the term as a result of market rate reviews or changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or other similar indices. We reassess the lease liabilities related to these leases when the index or other data is available to calculate the change in lease payments.

Certain leases require us to make payments that relate to property taxes, insurance, and other non-rental costs. These non-rental costs are typically variable and are not included in the calculation of the right-of-use asset or lease liability.

LESSOR ACCOUNTING

When we act as a lessor, we determine at lease inception whether each lease is a finance lease or an operating lease.

In order to classify each lease as either finance or operating, we make an overall assessment of whether the lease transfers to the lessee substantially all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset. If it does, the lease is a finance lease; if not, it is an operating lease.

We act as the lessor on certain collocation leases, whereby, due to certain regulatory requirements, we must allow other telecommunication companies to lease space on our wireless network towers. We do not believe we transfer substantially all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying leased asset to the lessee and therefore classify these leases as operating leases.

If an arrangement contains both lease and non-lease components, we apply IFRS 15, Revenue from contracts with customers to allocate the consideration in the contract between the lease and the non-lease components.

We recognize lease payments received under operating leases into income on a straight-line basis. All of the leases for which we act as lessor are classified as operating leases.

Rogers Communications Inc. 24 2019 Annual Financial Statements

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

ESTIMATES

We estimate the lease term by considering the facts and circumstances that can create an economic incentive to exercise an extension option, or not exercise a termination option. We make certain qualitative and quantitative assumptions when deriving the value of the economic incentive.

JUDGMENTS

We make judgments in determining whether a contract is or contains a lease, which involves assessing whether a contract contains an identified asset (either a physically distinct asset or a capacity portion that represents substantially all of the capacity of the asset). Additionally, the contract should provide us with the right to substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset.

We also make judgments in determining whether we have the right to control the use of the identified asset. We have that right when we have the decision-making rights that are most relevant to changing how and for what purpose the asset is used. In rare cases where the decisions about how and for what purpose the asset is used are predetermined, we have the right to direct the use of the asset if we have the right to operate the asset or if we designed the asset in a way that predetermines how and for what purpose the asset will be used.

We make judgments in determining the incremental borrowing rate used to measure our lease liability for each lease contract, including an estimate of the asset-specific security impact. The incremental borrowing rate should reflect the interest that we would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain a similar asset at a similar term, with a similar security, in a similar economic environment.

Certain of our leases contain extension or renewal options that are exercisable only by us and not by the lessor. At lease commencement, we assess whether we are reasonably certain to exercise any of the extension options based on our expected economic return from the lease. We are typically reasonably certain of exercising extension options on our leases, especially related to our networks, primarily due to the significant cost that would be required to relocate our network towers and related equipment. We reassess whether we are reasonably certain to exercise the options if there is a significant event or significant change in circumstance within our control and account for any changes at the date of the reassessment.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

We primarily lease land and buildings relating to our wireless and cable networks, our retail store presence, and certain of our offices and other corporate buildings, as well as customer premise equipment. The non-cancellable contract periods for our leases typically range from five to fifteen years.

Operating leases and other rental contracts are for network sites, office premises, and retail outlets across the country. Variable lease payments during 2019 were $22 million. Total rent expense in 2018 was $228 million.

LEASE LIABILITIES

Below is a summary of the activity related to our lease liabilities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019. Certain of our lease liabilities are secured by the underlying right-of-use assets; the underlying right-of-use assets have a net carrying amount of $114 million.

(In millions of dollars)		December 31, 2019
Lease liabilities, beginning of year		1,545
Net additions		335
Interest expense on lease liabilities		61
Interest payments on lease liabilities		(49	)
Principal payments of lease liabilities		(167	)
Lease liabilities, end of year		1,725
Current liability		230
Long-term liability		1,495
Lease liabilities		1,725

ACCOUNTING POLICY PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2019

Prior to the adoption of IFRS 16, leases of property, plant and equipment were recognized as finance leases if we obtained substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the underlying assets. All other leases were classified as operating leases for which we recognized an operating lease expense in operating costs on the Consolidated Statements of Income on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Rogers Communications Inc. 25 2019 Annual Financial Statements

NOTE 9: INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

ACCOUNTING POLICY

RECOGNITION AND MEASUREMENT, INCLUDING AMORTIZATION

Upon initial recognition, we measure intangible assets at cost unless they are acquired through a business combination, in which case they are measured at fair value. We begin recognizing amortization on intangible assets with finite useful lives when the asset is ready for its intended use. Subsequently, the asset is carried at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses.

Cost includes expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. The cost of a separately acquired intangible asset comprises:

• its purchase price, including import duties and non-refundable purchase taxes, after deducting trade discounts and rebates; and

• any directly attributable cost of preparing the asset for its intended use.

Indefinite useful lives

We do not amortize intangible assets with indefinite lives, including spectrum licences, broadcast licences, and certain brand names.

Finite useful lives

We amortize intangible assets with finite useful lives, other than acquired program rights, into depreciation and amortization on the Consolidated Statements of Income on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives as noted in the table below. We monitor and review the useful lives, residual values, and amortization methods at least once per year and change them if they are different from our previous estimates. We recognize the effects of changes in estimates in net income prospectively.

Intangible asset	Estimated useful life
Customer relationships	3 to 10 years

Acquired program rights

Program rights are contractual rights we acquire from third parties to broadcast programs, including rights to broadcast live sporting events. We recognize them at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses. We capitalize program rights on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position when the licence period begins and the program is available for use and amortize them to other external purchases in operating costs on the Consolidated Statements of Income over the expected exhibition period. If we have no intention to air programs, we consider the related program rights impaired and write them off. Otherwise, we test them for impairment as intangible assets with finite useful lives.

The costs for multi-year sports and television broadcast rights agreements are recognized in operating expenses during the applicable seasons based on the pattern in which the rights are aired or are expected to be consumed. To the extent that prepayments are made at the commencement of a multi-year contract towards future years' rights fees, these prepayments are recognized as intangible assets and amortized to operating expenses over the contract term. To the extent that prepayments are made for annual contractual fees within a season, they are included in other current assets on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, as the rights will be consumed within the next twelve months.

Goodwill

We recognize goodwill arising from business combinations when the fair value of the separately identifiable assets we acquired and liabilities we assumed is lower than the consideration we paid (including the recognized amount of the non-controlling interest, if any). If the fair value of the consideration transferred is lower than that of the separately identified assets and liabilities, we immediately recognize the difference as a gain in net income.

IMPAIRMENT TESTING

We test intangible assets with finite useful lives for impairment whenever an event or change in circumstances indicates that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. We test indefinite-life intangible assets and goodwill for impairment once per year as at October 1, or more frequently if we identify indicators of impairment.

If we cannot estimate the recoverable amount of an individual intangible asset because it does not generate independent cash inflows, we test the entire CGU to which it belongs for impairment.

Goodwill is allocated to CGUs (or groups of CGUs) based on the level at which management monitors goodwill, which cannot be higher than an operating segment. The allocation of goodwill is made to CGUs (or groups of CGUs) that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the business combination from which the goodwill arose.

Rogers Communications Inc. 26 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Recognition and measurement of an impairment charge

An intangible asset or goodwill is impaired if the recoverable amount is less than the carrying amount. The recoverable amount of a CGU or asset is the higher of its:

• fair value less costs to sell; and

• value in use.

If our estimate of the asset's or CGU's recoverable amount is less than its carrying amount, we reduce its carrying amount to the recoverable amount and recognize the loss in net income immediately.

We reverse a previously recognized impairment loss, except in respect of goodwill, if our estimate of the recoverable amount of a previously impaired asset or CGU has increased such that the impairment recognized in a previous year has reversed. The reversal is recognized by increasing the asset's or CGU's carrying amount to our new estimate of its recoverable amount. The carrying amount of the asset or CGU subsequent to the reversal cannot be greater than its carrying amount had we not recognized an impairment loss in previous years.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

ESTIMATES

We use estimates in determining the recoverable amount of intangible assets and goodwill. The determination of the recoverable amount for the purpose of impairment testing requires the use of significant estimates, such as:

• future cash flows;

• terminal growth rates; and

• discount rates.

We estimate value in use for impairment tests by discounting estimated future cash flows to their present value. We estimate the discounted future cash flows for periods of up to five years, depending on the CGU, and a terminal value. The future cash flows are based on our estimates and expected future operating results of the CGU after considering economic conditions and a general outlook for the CGU's industry. Our discount rates consider market rates of return, debt to equity ratios, and certain risk premiums, among other things. The terminal value is the value attributed to the CGU's operations beyond the projected time period of the cash flows using a perpetuity rate based on expected economic conditions and a general outlook for the industry.

We determine fair value less costs to sell in one of the following two ways:

• Analyzing discounted cash flows - we estimate the discounted future cash flows for five-year periods and a terminal value, similar to the value in use methodology described above, while applying assumptions consistent with those a market participant would make. Future cash flows are based on our estimates of expected future operating results of the CGU. Our estimates of future cash flows, terminal values, and discount rates consider similar factors to those described above for value in use estimates; or

• Using a market approach - we estimate the recoverable amount of the CGU using multiples of operating performance of comparable entities and precedent transactions in that industry.

We make certain assumptions when deriving expected future cash flows, which may include assumptions pertaining to discount and terminal growth rates. These assumptions may differ or change quickly depending on economic conditions or other events. It is therefore possible that future changes in assumptions may negatively affect future valuations of CGUs and goodwill, which could result in impairment losses.

JUDGMENTS

We make significant judgments that affect the measurement of our intangible assets and goodwill.

Judgment is applied when deciding to designate our spectrum and broadcast licences as assets with indefinite useful lives since we believe the licences are likely to be renewed for the foreseeable future such that there is no limit to the period over which these assets are expected to generate net cash inflows. We make judgments to determine that these assets have indefinite lives, analyzing all relevant factors, including the expected usage of the asset, the typical life cycle of the asset, and anticipated changes in the market demand for the products and services the asset helps generate. After review of the competitive, legal, regulatory, and other factors, it is our view that these factors do not limit the useful lives of our spectrum and broadcast licences.

Judgment is also applied in choosing methods of amortizing our intangible assets and program rights that we believe most accurately represent the consumption of those assets and are most representative of the economic substance of the intended use of the underlying assets.

Finally, we make judgments in determining CGUs and the allocation of goodwill to CGUs or groups of CGUs for the purpose of impairment testing.

Rogers Communications Inc. 27 2019 Annual Financial Statements

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

The table below summarizes our intangible assets as at December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

(In millions of dollars)	December 31, 2019								December 31, 2018								December 31, 2017
	Cost prior to impairment losses		Accumulated amortization		Accumulated impairment losses		Net carrying amount		Cost prior to impairment losses		Accumulated amortization		Accumulated impairment losses		Net carrying amount		Cost prior to impairment losses		Accumulated amortization		Accumulated impairment losses		Net carrying amount
Indefinite-life intangible assets:
Spectrum licences	8,331		—		—		8,331		6,600		—		—		6,600		6,600		—		—		6,600
Broadcast licences	333		—		(99	)	234		333		—		(99	)	234		329		—		(99	)	230
Brand names	420		(270	)	(14	)	136		420		(270	)	(14	)	136		420		(270	)	(14	)	136
Finite-life intangible assets:
Customer relationships	1,611		(1,578	)	—		33		1,609		(1,562	)	—		47		1,609		(1,525	)	—		84
Acquired program rights	253		(77	)	(5	)	171		251		(58	)	(5	)	188		263		(64	)	(5	)	194
Total intangible assets	10,948		(1,925	)	(118	)	8,905		9,213		(1,890	)	(118	)	7,205		9,221		(1,859	)	(118	)	7,244
Goodwill	4,144		—		(221	)	3,923		4,126		—		(221	)	3,905		4,126		—		(221	)	3,905
Total intangible assets and goodwill	15,092		(1,925	)	(339	)	12,828		13,339		(1,890	)	(339	)	11,110		13,347		(1,859	)	(339	)	11,149

The tables below summarize the changes in the net carrying amounts of intangible assets and goodwill in 2019 and 2018.

(In millions of dollars)	December 31, 2018				December 31, 2019
	Net carrying amount		Net additions		Amortization 1		Net carrying amount
Spectrum licences	6,600		1,731		—		8,331
Broadcast licences	234		—		—		234
Brand names	136		—		—		136
Customer relationships	47		2		(16	)	33
	7,017		1,733		(16	)	8,734
Acquired program rights	188		60		(77	)	171
Total intangible assets	7,205		1,793		(93	)	8,905
Goodwill	3,905		18		—		3,923
Total intangible assets and goodwill	11,110		1,811		(93	)	12,828

¹  Of the $93 million of total amortization, $77 million related to acquired program rights is included in other external purchases in operating costs (see note 6), and $16 million in depreciation and amortization on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

(In millions of dollars)	December 31, 2017				December 31, 2018
	Net carrying amount		Net additions		Amortization 1		Other 2		Net carrying amount
Spectrum licences	6,600		—		—		—		6,600
Broadcast licences	230		4		—		—		234
Brand names	136		—		—		—		136
Customer relationships	84		—		(37	)	—		47
	7,050		4		(37	)	—		7,017
Acquired program rights	194		54		(58	)	(2	)	188
Total intangible assets	7,244		58		(95	)	(2	)	7,205
Goodwill	3,905		—		—		—		3,905
Total intangible assets and goodwill	11,149		58		(95	)	(2	)	11,110

¹  Of the $95 million of total amortization, $58 million related to acquired program rights is included in other external purchases in operating costs (see note 6), and $37 million in depreciation and amortization on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

²  Includes disposals, writedowns, reclassifications, and other adjustments.

Rogers Communications Inc. 28 2019 Annual Financial Statements

ANNUAL IMPAIRMENT TESTING

For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, our CGUs, or groups of CGUs, correspond to our operating segments as disclosed in note 4.

Below is an overview of the methods and key assumptions we used in 2019 to determine recoverable amounts for CGUs, or groups of CGUs, with indefinite-life intangible assets or goodwill that we consider significant.

(In millions of dollars, except periods used and rates)
	Carrying value of goodwill		Carrying value of indefinite-life intangible assets		Recoverable amount method	Period of projected cash flows (years)	Terminal growth rates (%)	Pre-tax discount rates (%)
Wireless	1,160		8,465		Value in use	5	0.5	8.4
Cable	1,808		—		Value in use	5	1.5	7.8
Media	955		235		Fair value less cost to sell	5	2.0	9.8

Our fair value measurement for Media is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

We did not recognize an impairment charge related to our goodwill or intangible assets in 2019 or 2018 because the recoverable amounts of the CGUs exceeded their carrying values.

NOTE 10: RESTRUCTURING, ACQUISITION AND OTHER

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we incurred $139 million (2018 - $210 million) in restructuring, acquisition and other expenses. These expenses in 2019 and 2018 primarily consisted of severance costs associated with the targeted restructuring of our employee base and other contract termination costs.

In 2018, these costs also included certain sports-related contract termination costs.

NOTE 11: FINANCE COSTS

			Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	Note		2019		2018
Interest on borrowings 1			746		709
Interest on post-employment benefits liability	23		11		14
Loss on repayment of long-term debt	21		19		28
(Gain) loss on foreign exchange			(79	)	136
Change in fair value of derivative instruments			80		(95	)
Capitalized interest			(19	)	(20	)
Other			21		21
Finance costs before interest on lease liabilities			779		793
Interest expense on lease liabilities	8		61		—
Total finance costs			840		793

¹  Interest on borrowings includes interest on short-term borrowings and on long-term debt.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

We recognized $79 million in net foreign exchange gains in 2019 (2018 - $136 million in net losses). These gains and losses were primarily attributed to our US dollar-denominated commercial paper (US CP) program borrowings (see note 17).

These foreign exchange gains (2018 - losses) were partially offset by the $80 million loss related to the change in fair value of derivatives (2018 - $95 million gain) that was primarily attributed to the debt derivatives, which were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, we used to substantially offset the foreign exchange risk related to these US dollar-denominated borrowings.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, after determining we would not be able to exercise our outstanding bond forward derivatives (bond forwards) within the designated time frame, we discontinued hedge accounting and reclassified a $21 million loss from the hedging reserve within shareholders' equity to "change in fair value of derivative instruments" within finance costs. We subsequently extended the bond forwards and redesignated them as effective hedges. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we exercised these bond forwards. See note 17 for more information on our bond forwards.

Rogers Communications Inc. 29 2019 Annual Financial Statements

NOTE 12: OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE

			Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	Note		2019		2018
Losses from associates and joint ventures	18		25		—
Other investment income			(35	)	(32	)
Total other income			(10	)	(32	)

NOTE 13: INCOME TAXES

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Income tax expense includes both current and deferred taxes. We recognize income tax expense in net income unless it relates to an item recognized directly in equity or other comprehensive income. We provide for income taxes based on all of the information that is currently available.

Current tax expense is tax we expect to pay or receive based on our taxable income or loss during the year. We calculate the current tax expense using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted as at the reporting date, including any adjustment to taxes payable or receivable related to previous years.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities arise from temporary differences between the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities we recognize on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and their respective tax bases. We calculate deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted or substantively enacted tax rates that will apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and they relate to income taxes levied by the same authority on:

• the same taxable entity; or

• different taxable entities where these entities intend to settle current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis or the tax assets and liabilities will be realized and settled simultaneously.

We recognize a deferred tax asset for unused losses, tax credits, and deductible temporary differences to the extent it is probable that future taxable income will be available to use the asset.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

JUDGMENTS

We make significant judgments in interpreting tax rules and regulations when we calculate income tax expense. We make judgments to evaluate whether we can recover a deferred tax asset based on our assessment of existing tax laws, estimates of future profitability, and tax planning strategies.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

		Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Total current tax expense		269		483
Deferred tax expense:
Origination of temporary differences		466		275
Revaluation of deferred tax balances due to legislative changes		(23	)	—
Total deferred tax expense		443		275
Total income tax expense		712		758

Rogers Communications Inc. 30 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Below is a summary of the difference between income tax expense computed by applying the statutory income tax rate to income before income tax expense and the income tax expense for the year.

		Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars, except rates)		2019		2018
Statutory income tax rate		26.7	%	26.7	%
Income before income tax expense		2,755		2,817
Computed income tax expense		736		752
Increase (decrease) in income tax expense resulting from:
Non-deductible stock-based compensation		—		5
Non-deductible portion of equity losses		7		1
Income tax adjustment, legislative tax change		(23	)	—
Non-taxable portion of capital gains		(2	)	(9	)
Other		(6	)	9
Total income tax expense		712		758
Effective income tax rate		25.8	%	26.9	%

DEFERRED TAX ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Below is a summary of the movement of net deferred tax assets and liabilities during 2019 and 2018.

Deferred tax assets (liabilities) (In millions of dollars)	Property, plant and equipment and inventory		Goodwill and other intangibles		Investments		Non-capital loss carryforwards		Contract and deferred commission cost assets		Other		Total
December 31, 2018	(1,145	)	(1,192	)	(66	)	29		(515	)	(21	)	(2,910	)
Effect of IFRS 16 adoption (see note 2)	—		—		—		—		—		9		9
(Expense) recovery in net income	(221	)	(126	)	2		(17	)	(55	)	(26	)	(443	)
(Expense) recovery in other comprehensive income	—		—		(104	)	—		—		11		(93	)
December 31, 2019	(1,366	)	(1,318	)	(168	)	12		(570	)	(27	)	(3,437	)

Deferred tax assets (liabilities) (In millions of dollars)	Property, plant and equipment and inventory		Goodwill and other intangibles		Investments		Non-capital loss carryforwards		Contract and deferred commission cost assets		Other		Total
December 31, 2017	(1,060	)	(1,075	)	(126	)	18		(418	)	40		(2,621	)
(Expense) recovery in net income	(85	)	(117	)	(3	)	11		(97	)	16		(275	)
Recovery (expense) in other comprehensive income	—		—		63		—		—		(77	)	(14	)
December 31, 2018	(1,145	)	(1,192	)	(66	)	29		(515	)	(21	)	(2,910	)

We have not recognized deferred tax assets for the following items:

	As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Realized and accrued capital losses in Canada that can be applied against future capital gains	41		98
Tax losses in foreign jurisdictions that expire between 2023 and 2038	67		68
Deductible temporary differences in foreign jurisdictions	41		25
Total unrecognized temporary differences	149		191

There are taxable temporary differences associated with our investments in Canadian domestic subsidiaries. We do not recognize deferred tax liabilities for these temporary differences because we are able to control the timing of the reversal and the reversal is not probable in the foreseeable future. Reversing these taxable temporary differences is not expected to result in any significant tax implications.

Rogers Communications Inc. 31 2019 Annual Financial Statements

NOTE 14: EARNINGS PER SHARE

ACCOUNTING POLICY

We calculate basic earnings per share by dividing the net income or loss attributable to our RCI Class A Voting and RCI Class B Non-Voting shareholders by the weighted average number of RCI Class A Voting and RCI Class B Non-Voting shares (Class A Shares and Class B Non-Voting Shares, respectively) outstanding during the year.

We calculate diluted earnings per share by adjusting the net income or loss attributable to Class A and Class B Non-Voting shareholders and the weighted average number of Class A Shares and Class B Non-Voting Shares outstanding for the effect of all dilutive potential common shares. We use the treasury stock method for calculating diluted earnings per share, which considers the impact of employee stock options and other potentially dilutive instruments.

Options with tandem stock appreciation rights or cash payment alternatives are accounted for as cash-settled awards. As these awards can be exchanged for common shares of RCI, they are considered potentially dilutive and are included in the calculation of our diluted net earnings per share if they have a dilutive impact in the period.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars, except per share amounts)	2019			2018
Numerator (basic) - Net income for the year	2,043			2,059
Denominator - Number of shares (in millions):
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic	512			515
Effect of dilutive securities (in millions):
Employee stock options and restricted share units	1			1
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted	513			516
Earnings per share:
Basic		$3.99			$4.00
Diluted		$3.97			$3.99

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, accounting for outstanding share-based payments using the equity-settled method for stock-based compensation was determined to be more dilutive than using the cash-settled method. As a result, net income for the year ended December 31, 2019 was reduced by $6 million (2018 - $2 million) in the diluted earnings per share calculation.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, there were 1,077,875 options out of the money (2018 - 37,715) for purposes of the calculation of earnings per share. These options were excluded from the calculation of the effect of dilutive securities because they were anti-dilutive.

NOTE 15: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Accounts receivable represent amounts owing to us that are currently due and collectible. We initially recognize accounts receivable on the date they originate. We measure accounts receivable initially at fair value, and subsequently at amortized cost, with changes recognized in net income. We measure an impairment loss for accounts receivable as the excess of the carrying amount over the present value of future cash flows we expect to derive from it, if any. The excess is allocated to an allowance for doubtful accounts and recognized as a loss in net income.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

			As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)	Note		2019		2018
Customer accounts receivable			1,579		1,529
Other accounts receivable			785		762
Allowance for doubtful accounts	15		(60	)	(55	)
Total accounts receivable			2,304		2,236

Rogers Communications Inc. 32 2019 Annual Financial Statements

We have retrospectively reclassified $23 million as at December 31, 2018 and January 1, 2019 related to our wireless financing programs from "accounts receivable" to "other current assets" as the collection time frame of the amounts differs from accounts receivable.

NOTE 16: INVENTORIES

ACCOUNTING POLICY

We measure inventories, including wireless devices and merchandise for resale, at the lower of cost (determined on a weighted average cost basis for Wireless devices and accessories and a first-in, first-out basis for other finished goods and merchandise) and net realizable value. We reverse a previous writedown to net realizable value, not to exceed the original recognized cost, if the inventories later increase in value.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

		As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Wireless devices and accessories		380		399
Other finished goods and merchandise		80		67
Total inventories		460		466

Cost of equipment sales and merchandise for resale includes $2,496 million of inventory costs for 2019 (2018 - $2,515 million).

NOTE 17: FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Recognition

We initially recognize cash and cash equivalents, bank advances, accounts receivable, financing receivables, debt securities, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the date they originate. All other financial assets and financial liabilities are initially recognized on the trade date when we become a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Classification and measurement

We measure financial instruments by grouping them into classes upon initial recognition, based on the purpose of the individual instruments. We initially measure all financial instruments at fair value plus, in the case of our financial instruments not classified as fair value through profit and loss (FVTPL) or FVTOCI, transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or issuance of the financial instruments.

Rogers Communications Inc. 33 2019 Annual Financial Statements

The classifications and methods of measurement subsequent to initial recognition of our financial assets and financial liabilities are as follows:

Financial instrument	Classification and measurement method
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	Amortized cost
Accounts receivable	Amortized cost
Financing receivables	Amortized cost
Investments, measured at FVTOCI	FVTOCI with no reclassification to net income 1
Financial liabilities
Bank advances	Amortized cost
Short-term borrowings	Amortized cost
Accounts payable	Amortized cost
Accrued liabilities	Amortized cost
Long-term debt	Amortized cost
Lease liabilities	Amortized cost
Derivatives 2
Debt derivatives 3	FVTOCI and FVTPL
Bond forwards	FVTOCI
Expenditure derivatives	FVTOCI
Equity derivatives	FVTPL 4

¹  Subsequently measured at fair value with changes recognized in the FVTOCI investment reserve.

²  Derivatives can be in an asset or liability position at a point in time historically or in the future. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, the effective portion of the hedge is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income and the ineffective portion of the hedge is recognized immediately into net income.

³  Debt derivatives related to our credit facility and commercial paper borrowings have not been designated as hedges for accounting purposes and are measured at FVTPL. Debt derivatives related to our senior notes and debentures are designated as hedges for accounting purposes and are measured at FVTOCI.

⁴  Subsequent changes are offset against stock-based compensation expense or recovery in operating costs.

Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities

We offset financial assets and financial liabilities and present the net amount on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position when we have a legal right to offset them and intend to settle on a net basis or realize the asset and liability simultaneously.

Derivative instruments

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

Derivatives	The risk they manage	Types of derivative instruments
Debt derivatives	Impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on principal and interest payments for US dollar-denominated senior notes and debentures, credit facility borrowings, commercial paper borrowings, and certain lease liabilities	Cross-currency interest rate exchange agreements Forward foreign exchange agreements (from time to time as necessary)
Bond forwards	Impact of fluctuations in market interest rates on forecast interest payments for expected long-term debt	Forward interest rate agreements
Expenditure derivatives	Impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on forecast US dollar-denominated expenditures	Forward foreign exchange agreements and foreign exchange option agreements
Equity derivatives	Impact of fluctuations in share price on stock-based compensation expense	Total return swap agreements

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

When we designate a derivative instrument as a hedging instrument for accounting purposes, we first determine that the hedging instrument will be highly effective in offsetting the changes in fair value or cash flows of the item it is hedging. We then formally document the relationship between the hedging instrument and hedged item, including the risk management objectives and strategy and the methods we will use to assess the ongoing effectiveness of the hedging relationship.

Rogers Communications Inc. 34 2019 Annual Financial Statements

We assess, on a quarterly basis, whether each hedging instrument continues to be highly effective in offsetting the changes in the fair value or cash flows of the item it is hedging.

We assess host contracts in order to identify embedded derivatives. Embedded derivatives are separated from the host contract and accounted for as separate derivatives if the host contract is not a financial asset and certain criteria are met.

Hedge ratio

Our policy is to hedge 100% of the foreign currency risk arising from principal and interest payment obligations on US dollar-denominated senior notes and debentures using debt derivatives. We also hedge up to 100% of the remaining lease payments when we enter into debt derivatives on our US dollar-denominated lease liabilities. We typically hedge up to 100% of forecast foreign currency expenditures net of foreign currency cash inflows using expenditure derivatives. From time to time, we hedge up to 100% of the interest rate risk on forecast future senior note issuances using bond forwards.

Hedging reserve

The hedging reserve represents the accumulated change in fair value of our derivative instruments to the extent they were effective hedges for accounting purposes, less accumulated amounts reclassified into net income.

Deferred transaction costs and discounts

We defer transaction costs and discounts associated with issuing long-term debt and direct costs we pay to lenders to obtain certain credit facilities and amortize them using the effective interest method over the life of the related instrument.

FVTOCI investment reserve

The FVTOCI investment reserve represents the accumulated change in fair value of our equity investments that are measured at FVTOCI less accumulated impairment losses related to the investments and accumulated amounts reclassified into equity.

Impairment (expected credit losses)

We consider the credit risk of a financial asset at initial recognition and at each reporting period thereafter until it is derecognized. For a financial asset that is determined to have low credit risk at the reporting date and that has not had significant increases in credit risk since initial recognition, we measure any impairment loss based on the credit losses we expect to recognize over the next twelve months. For other financial assets, we will measure an impairment loss based on the lifetime expected credit losses. Certain assets, such as trade receivables and contract assets without significant financing components, must always be recorded at lifetime expected credit losses.

Lifetime expected credit losses are estimates of all possible default events over the expected life of a financial instrument. Twelve-month expected credit losses are estimates of all possible default events within twelve months of the reporting date or over the expected life of a financial instrument, whichever is shorter.

Financial assets that are significant in value are assessed individually. All other financial assets are assessed collectively based on the nature of each asset.

We measure impairment for financial assets as follows:

• Contract assets - we measure an impairment loss for contract assets based on the lifetime expected credit losses, which is allocated to an allowance for doubtful accounts and recognized as a loss in net income (see note 5).

• Accounts receivable - we measure an impairment loss for accounts receivable based on the lifetime expected credit losses, which is allocated to an allowance for doubtful accounts and recognized as a loss in net income (see note 15).

• Financing receivables - we measure an impairment loss for financing receivables based on the lifetime expected credit losses, which is allocated to an allowance for doubtful accounts and recognized as a loss in net income.

• Investments measured at FVTOCI - we measure an impairment loss for equity investments measured at FVTOCI as the excess of the cost to acquire the asset (less any impairment loss we have previously recognized) over its current fair value, if any. The difference is recognized in the FVTOCI investment reserve.

We consider financial assets to be in default when, in the case of contract assets and accounts receivable, the counterparty is unlikely to satisfy its obligations to us in full. Our investments measured at FVTOCI cannot default. To determine if our financial assets are in default, we consider the amount of time for which it has been outstanding, the reason for the amount being outstanding (for example, if the customer has ongoing service or, if they have been deactivated, whether voluntarily or involuntarily), and the risk profile of the underlying customers. We typically write-off accounts receivable when they have been outstanding for a significant period of time.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

ESTIMATES

Fair value estimates related to our derivatives are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about the underlying financial instruments. These estimates require assessment of the credit risk of the parties to the instruments and the instruments' discount rates. These fair values and underlying estimates are also used in the tests of effectiveness of our hedging relationships.

Rogers Communications Inc. 35 2019 Annual Financial Statements

JUDGMENTS

We make significant judgments in determining whether our financial instruments qualify for hedge accounting. These judgments include assessing whether the forecast transactions designated as hedged items in hedging relationships will materialize as forecast, whether the hedging relationships designated as effective hedges for accounting purposes continue to qualitatively be effective, and determining the methodology to determine the fair values used in testing the effectiveness of hedging relationships.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

We are exposed to credit, liquidity, market price, foreign exchange, and interest rate risks. Our primary risk management objective is to protect our income, cash flows, and, ultimately, shareholder value. We design and implement the risk management strategies discussed below to ensure our risks and the related exposures are consistent with our business objectives and risk tolerance. Below is a summary of our potential risk exposures by financial instrument.

Financial instrument	Financial risks
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	Credit and foreign exchange
Accounts receivable	Credit and foreign exchange
Financing receivables	Credit
Investments, measured at FVTOCI	Liquidity, market price, and foreign exchange
Financial liabilities
Bank advances	Liquidity
Short-term borrowings	Liquidity, foreign exchange, and interest rate
Accounts payable	Liquidity
Accrued liabilities	Liquidity
Long-term debt	Liquidity, foreign exchange, and interest rate
Lease liabilities	Liquidity and foreign exchange
Derivatives 1
Debt derivatives	Credit, liquidity, and foreign exchange
Bond forwards	Credit, liquidity, and interest rate
Expenditure derivatives	Credit, liquidity, and foreign exchange
Equity derivatives	Credit, liquidity, and market price

¹  Derivatives can be in an asset or liability position at a point in time historically or in the future.

CREDIT RISK

Credit risk represents the financial loss we could experience if a counterparty to a financial instrument, from whom we have an amount owing, failed to meet its obligations under the terms and conditions of its contracts with us.

Our credit risk exposure is primarily attributable to our accounts receivable, our financing receivables, and to our debt, expenditure, and equity derivatives. Our broad customer base limits the concentration of this risk. Our accounts receivable and financing receivables on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position are net of allowances for doubtful accounts.

Accounts receivable

Our accounts receivable do not contain significant financing components and therefore we measure our allowance for doubtful accounts using lifetime expected credit losses related to our accounts receivable. We believe the allowance for doubtful accounts sufficiently reflects the credit risk associated with our accounts receivable. As at December 31, 2019, $464 million (2018 - $477 million) of gross accounts receivable are considered past due, which is defined as amounts outstanding beyond normal credit terms and conditions for the respective customers.

Rogers Communications Inc. 36 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Below is a summary of the aging of our customer accounts receivable.

		As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Customer accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts)
Less than 30 days past billing date		1,053		970
30-60 days past billing date		274		300
61-90 days past billing date		90		100
Greater than 90 days past billing date		102		104
Total		1,519		1,474

Below is a summary of the activity related to our allowance for doubtful accounts.

		Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Balance, beginning of year		55		61
Allowance for doubtful accounts expense		238		201
Net use 1		(233	)	(207	)
Balance, end of year		60		55

¹  Includes $17 million of recoveries arising from the sale of fully provided for accounts receivable for the year ended December 31, 2018.

We use various controls and processes, such as credit checks, deposits on account, and billing in advance, to mitigate credit risk. We monitor and take appropriate action to suspend services when customers have fully used their approved credit limits or violated established payment terms. While our credit controls and processes have been effective in managing credit risk, they cannot eliminate credit risk and there can be no assurance that these controls will continue to be effective or that our current credit loss experience will continue.

Derivative instruments

Credit risk related to our debt derivatives, expenditure derivatives, and equity derivatives arises from the possibility that the counterparties to the agreements may default on their obligations. We assess the creditworthiness of the counterparties to minimize the risk of counterparty default and do not require collateral or other security to support the credit risk associated with these derivatives. Counterparties to the entire portfolio of our derivatives are financial institutions with a S&P Global Ratings (or the equivalent) ranging from A to AA-.

LIQUIDITY RISK

Liquidity risk is the risk that we will not be able to meet our financial obligations as they fall due. We manage liquidity risk by managing our commitments and maturities, capital structure, and financial leverage (see note 3). We also manage liquidity risk by continually monitoring actual and projected cash flows to ensure we will have sufficient liquidity to meet our liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to our reputation.

Rogers Communications Inc. 37 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Below is a summary of the undiscounted contractual maturities of our financial liabilities and the receivable components of our derivatives as at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

December 31, 2019	Carrying			Contractual		Less than		1 to 3		4 to 5		More than
(In millions of dollars)	amount			cash flows		1 year		years		years		5 years
Short-term borrowings	2,238			2,238		2,238		—		—		—
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	3,033			3,033		3,033		—		—		—
Long-term debt	15,967			16,130		—		2,050		2,353		11,727
Lease liabilities	1,725			2,220		230		413		326		1,251
Other long-term financial liabilities	26			26		—		12		7		7
Expenditure derivative instruments:
Cash outflow (Canadian dollar)	—			1,287		1,248		39		—		—
Cash inflow (Canadian dollar equivalent of US dollar)	—			(1,286	)	(1,247	)	(39	)	—		—
Equity derivative instruments	—			(55	)	(55	)	—		—		—
Debt derivative instruments accounted for as hedges:
Cash outflow (Canadian dollar)	—			9,903		—		—		1,392		8,511
Cash inflow (Canadian dollar equivalent of US dollar) 1	—			(10,780	)	—		—		(1,753	)	(9,027	)
Debt derivative instruments not accounted for as hedges:
Cash outflow (Canadian dollar)	—			1,622		1,622		—		—		—
Cash inflow (Canadian dollar equivalent of US dollar) 1	—			(1,593	)	(1,593	)	—		—		—
Net carrying amount of derivatives (asset)	(1,439	)
	21,550			22,745		5,476		2,475		2,325		12,469

¹  Represents Canadian dollar equivalent amount of US dollar inflows matched to an equal amount of US dollar maturities in long-term debt for debt derivatives.

December 31, 2018	Carrying			Contractual		Less than		1 to 3		4 to 5		More than
(In millions of dollars)	amount			cash flows		1 year		years		years		5 years
Short-term borrowings	2,255			2,255		2,255		—		—		—
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	3,052			3,052		3,052		—		—		—
Long-term debt	14,290			14,404		900		2,350		2,442		8,712
Other long-term financial liabilities	38			38		1		24		5		8
Expenditure derivative instruments:
Cash outflow (Canadian dollar)	—			1,341		1,045		296		—		—
Cash inflow (Canadian dollar equivalent of US dollar)	—			(1,473	)	(1,146	)	(327	)	—		—
Equity derivative instruments	—			(92	)	(92	)	—		—		—
Debt derivative instruments accounted for as hedges:
Cash outflow (Canadian dollar)	—			6,920		—		—		1,392		5,528
Cash inflow (Canadian dollar equivalent of US dollar) 1	—			(8,254	)	—		—		(1,842	)	(6,412	)
Debt derivative instruments not accounted for as hedges:
Cash outflow (Canadian dollar)	—			1,560		1,560		—		—		—
Cash inflow (Canadian dollar equivalent of US dollar) 1	—			(1,601	)	(1,601	)	—		—		—
Bond forwards	—			87		87		—		—		—
Net carrying amount of derivatives (asset)	(1,500	)
	18,135			18,237		6,061		2,343		1,997		7,836

¹  Represents Canadian dollar equivalent amount of US dollar inflows matched to an equal amount of US dollar maturities in long-term debt for debt derivatives.

Below is a summary of the net interest payments over the life of the long-term debt, including the impact of the associated debt derivatives, as at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

December 31, 2019	Less than 1 year		1 to 3 years		4 to 5 years		More than 5 years
(In millions of dollars)
Net interest payments	735		1,299		1,121		8,763

December 31, 2018	Less than 1 year		1 to 3 years		4 to 5 years		More than 5 years
(In millions of dollars)
Net interest payments	658		1,141		913		5,923

Rogers Communications Inc. 38 2019 Annual Financial Statements

MARKET PRICE RISK

Market price risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as fluctuations in the market prices of our investments measured at FVTOCI or our share price will affect our income, cash flows, or the value of our financial instruments. The derivative instruments we use to manage this risk are described in this note.

Market price risk - publicly traded investments

We manage risk related to fluctuations in the market prices of our investments in publicly traded companies by regularly reviewing publicly available information related to these investments to ensure that any risks are within our established levels of risk tolerance. We do not engage in risk management practices such as hedging, derivatives, or short selling with respect to our publicly traded investments.

Market price risk - Class B Non-Voting Shares

Our liability related to stock-based compensation is remeasured at fair value each period. Stock-based compensation expense is affected by changes in the price of our Class B Non-Voting Shares during the life of an award, including stock options, restricted share units (RSUs), and deferred share units (DSUs). We use equity derivatives from time to time to manage the exposure in our stock-based compensation liability. As a result of our equity derivatives, a one-dollar change in the price of a Class B Non-Voting Share would not have a material effect on net income.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK

We use debt derivatives to manage risks from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates associated with our US dollar-denominated long-term debt, short-term borrowings, and lease liabilities. We designate the debt derivatives related to our senior notes and debentures and lease liabilities as hedges for accounting purposes against the foreign exchange risk associated with specific debt instruments and lease contracts, respectively. We have not designated the debt derivatives related to our US CP program as hedges for accounting purposes. We use expenditure derivatives to manage the foreign exchange risk in our operations, designating them as hedges for certain of our forecast operational and capital expenditures. As at December 31, 2019, all of our US dollar-denominated long-term debt, short-term borrowings, and lease liabilities were hedged against fluctuations in foreign exchange rates using debt derivatives. With respect to our long-term debt and US CP program, as a result of our debt derivatives, a one-cent change in the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar would have no effect on net income.

A portion of our accounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued liabilities is denominated in US dollars. Due to the short-term nature of these receivables and payables, they carry no significant risk from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates as at December 31, 2019.

INTEREST RATE RISK

We are exposed to risk of changes in market interest rates due to the impact this has on interest expense for our short-term borrowings and bank credit facilities. As at December 31, 2019, 87.2% of our outstanding long-term debt and short-term borrowings was at fixed interest rates (2018 - 85.3%).

Sensitivity analysis

Below is a sensitivity analysis for significant exposures with respect to our publicly traded investments, expenditure derivatives, short-term borrowings, senior notes, and bank credit facilities as at December 31, 2019 and 2018 with all other variables held constant. It shows how net income and other comprehensive income would have been affected by changes in the relevant risk variables.

	Net income				Other comprehensive income
(Change in millions of dollars)	2019		2018		2019		2018
Share price of publicly traded investments
$1 change	—		—		14		14
Expenditure derivatives - change in foreign exchange rate
$0.01 change in Cdn$ relative to US$	—		—		7		8
Short-term borrowings
1% change in interest rates	17		17		—		—

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

As at December 31, 2019 and 2018, all of our US dollar-denominated long-term debt instruments were hedged against fluctuations in foreign exchange rates for accounting purposes. Below is a summary of our net asset (liability) position for our various derivatives.

Rogers Communications Inc. 39 2019 Annual Financial Statements

	As at December 31, 2019
(In millions of dollars, except exchange rates)	Notional amount (US$)		Exchange rate		Notional amount (Cdn$)		Fair value  (Cdn$)
Debt derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges:
As assets	5,800		1.1357		6,587		1,508
As liabilities	2,570		1.3263		3,409		(96	)
Short-term debt derivatives not accounted for as hedges:
As liabilities	1,223		1.3227		1,618		(29	)
Net mark-to-market debt derivative asset							1,383
Expenditure derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges:
As assets	270		1.2391		335		16
As liabilities	720		1.3228		952		(15	)
Net mark-to-market expenditure derivative asset							1
Equity derivatives not accounted for as hedges:
As assets					223		55
Net mark-to-market asset							1,439

	As at December 31, 2018
(In millions of dollars, except exchange rates)	Notional amount (US$)		Exchange rate		Notional amount (Cdn$)		Fair value  (Cdn$)
Debt derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges:
As assets	5,500		1.1243		6,184		1,354
As liabilities	550		1.3389		736		(22	)
Short-term debt derivatives not accounted for as hedges:
As assets	1,178		1.3276		1,564		41
Net mark-to-market debt derivative asset							1,373
Bond forwards accounted for as cash flow hedges:
As liabilities	—		—		900		(87	)
Expenditure derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges:
As assets	1,080		1.2413		1,341		122
Equity derivatives not accounted for as hedges:
As assets	—		—		258		92
Net mark-to-market asset							1,500

Below is a summary of the net cash (payments) proceeds on debt derivatives.

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Proceeds on debt derivatives related to US commercial paper	17,056		19,211
Proceeds on debt derivatives related to credit facility borrowings	564		157
Proceeds on debt derivatives related to senior notes	—		1,761
Total proceeds on debt derivatives	17,620		21,129
Payments on debt derivatives related to US commercial paper	(17,069	)	(19,148	)
Payments on debt derivatives related to credit facility borrowings	(561	)	(157	)
Payments on debt derivatives related to senior notes	—		(1,436	)
Total payments on debt derivatives	(17,630	)	(20,741	)
Net (payments) proceeds on settlement of debt derivatives	(10	)	388

Rogers Communications Inc. 40 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Below is a summary of the changes in fair value of our derivative instruments for 2019 and 2018.

Year ended December 31, 2019	Debt derivatives (hedged)		Debt derivatives (unhedged)		Bond forwards		Expenditure derivatives		Equity derivatives		Total instruments
(In millions of dollars)
Derivative instruments, beginning of year	1,332		41		(87	)	122		92		1,500
Proceeds received from settlement of derivatives	—		(17,620	)	—		(1,194	)	(15	)	(18,829	)
Payment on derivatives settled	—		17,630		111		1,124		—		18,865
Increase (decrease) in fair value of derivatives	80		(80	)	(24	)	(51	)	(22	)	(97	)
Derivative instruments, end of year	1,412		(29	)	—		1		55		1,439
Mark-to-market asset	1,508		—		—		16		55		1,579
Mark-to-market liability	(96	)	(29	)	—		(15	)	—		(140	)
Mark-to-market asset (liability)	1,412		(29	)	—		1		55		1,439

Year ended December 31, 2018	Debt derivatives (hedged)		Debt derivatives (unhedged)		Bond forwards		Expenditure derivatives		Equity derivatives		Total instruments
(In millions of dollars)
Derivative instruments, beginning of year	1,152		(23	)	(64	)	(39	)	68		1,094
Proceeds received from settlement of derivatives	(1,761	)	(19,368	)	—		(1,089	)	(4	)	(22,222	)
Payment on derivatives settled	1,436		19,305		—		1,093		—		21,834
Increase (decrease) in fair value of derivatives	505		127		(23	)	157		28		794
Derivative instruments, end of year	1,332		41		(87	)	122		92		1,500
Mark-to-market asset	1,354		41		—		122		92		1,609
Mark-to-market liability	(22	)	—		(87	)	—		—		(109	)
Mark-to-market asset (liability)	1,332		41		(87	)	122		92		1,500

Below is a summary of the derivative instruments assets and derivative instruments liabilities reflected on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

		As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Current asset		101		270
Long-term asset		1,478		1,339
		1,579		1,609
Current liability		(50	)	(87	)
Long-term liability		(90	)	(22	)
		(140	)	(109	)
Net mark-to-market asset		1,439		1,500

As at December 31, 2019, US$8.4 billion notional amount of our outstanding debt derivatives have been designated as hedges for accounting purposes (2018 - US$6.1 billion). As at December 31, 2019, 100% of our currently outstanding expenditure derivatives have been designated as hedges for accounting purposes (2018 - 100% of our then-outstanding bond forwards and expenditure derivatives). In 2019, we recognized a nil impact to net income related to hedge ineffectiveness (2018 - $10 million decrease).

Debt derivatives

We use cross-currency interest exchange agreements to manage risks from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates associated with our US dollar-denominated debt instruments, credit facility borrowings, and commercial paper borrowings (see note

Rogers Communications Inc. 41 2019 Annual Financial Statements

19). We designate the debt derivatives related to our senior notes and debentures as hedges for accounting purposes against the foreign exchange risk associated with specific debt instruments. We do not designate the debt derivatives related to our credit facility borrowings or commercial paper borrowings as hedges for accounting purposes.

During 2019 and 2018, we entered and settled debt derivatives related to our credit facility borrowings and US CP program as follows:

	Year ended December 31, 2019							Year ended December 31, 2018
(In millions of dollars, except exchange rates)	Notional (US$)		Exchange rate		Notional (Cdn$)			Notional (US$)		Exchange rate		Notional (Cdn$)
Credit facilities
Debt derivatives entered	420		1.336		561			125		1.257		157
Debt derivatives settled	420		1.343		564			125		1.256		157
Net cash received (paid)					3							(1	)
Commercial paper program
Debt derivatives entered	12,897		1.328		17,127			15,262		1.294		19,751
Debt derivatives settled	12,847		1.329		17,069			14,833		1.291		19,148
Net cash (paid) received					(13	)						63

In 2019 and 2018, we entered into debt derivatives to hedge the foreign currency risk associated with the principal and interest components of the US dollar-denominated senior notes issued during these years (see note 21). Below is a summary of the debt derivatives we entered to hedge senior notes issued during 2019 and 2018.

(In millions of dollars, except for coupon and interest rates)
			US$				Hedging effect
Effective date	Principal/Notional amount (US$)		Maturity date	Coupon rate			Fixed hedged (Cdn$) interest rate 1		Equivalent (Cdn$)
2019 issuances
April 30, 2019	1,250		2049	4.350	%		4.173	%	1,676
November 12, 2019	1,000		2049	3.700	%		3.996	%	1,308
2018 issuances
February 8, 2018	750		2048	4.300	%		4.193	%	938

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

During the year, concurrent with the issuances of our US$1,250 million and US$1,000 million senior notes, we entered into debt derivatives to convert all interest and principal payment obligations to Canadian dollars. As a result, we received net proceeds of $1,676 million and $1,308 million, respectively, from the issuances.

In 2018, concurrent with the issuance of our US$750 million senior notes, we entered into debt derivatives to convert all interest and principal payment obligations to Canadian dollars. As a result, we received net proceeds of $938 million from the issuance.

Bond forwards

During the year ended December 31, 2018, after determining we would not be able to exercise our $900 million notional amount of outstanding bond forwards within the designated time frame, we discontinued hedge accounting and reclassified a $21 million loss from the hedging reserve within shareholders' equity to "change in fair value of derivative instruments" within finance costs. We subsequently extended the bond forwards and redesignated them as effective hedges.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we exercised a $500 million notional bond forward due 2019 in relation to the issuance of the $1 billion senior notes due 2029 and paid $54 million to settle the derivative. We also exercised a $400 million notional bond forward due 2019 in relation to the issuance of the US$1.25 billion senior notes due 2049 and paid $57 million to settle the derivative. We did not enter into or settle any other bond forwards during the years ended December 31, 2019 or 2018. As at December 31, 2019, we have no outstanding bond forwards.

Rogers Communications Inc. 42 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Expenditure derivatives

Below is a summary of the expenditure derivatives we entered and settled during 2019 and 2018 to manage foreign exchange risk related to certain forecast expenditures.

	Years ended December 31
	2019						2018
(In millions of dollars, except exchange rates)	Notional (US$)		Exchange rate		Notional (Cdn$)		Notional (US$)		Exchange rate		Notional (Cdn$)
Expenditure derivatives entered	810		1.321		1,070		720		1.244		896
Expenditure derivatives settled	900		1.249		1,124		840		1.301		1,093

As at December 31, 2019, we had US$990 million of expenditure derivatives outstanding (2018 - US$1,080 million), at an average rate of $1.300/US$ (2018 - $1.241/US$), with terms to maturity ranging from January 2020 to December 2021 (2018 - January 2019 to December 2020). As at December 31, 2019, our outstanding expenditure derivatives maturing in 2020 were hedged at an average exchange rate of $1.30/US$.

Equity derivatives

We have equity derivatives to hedge market price appreciation risk associated with Class B Non-Voting Shares that have been granted under our stock-based compensation programs for stock options, RSUs, and DSUs (see note 25). The equity derivatives were originally entered into at a weighted average price of $50.37 with terms to maturity of one year, extendible for further one-year periods with the consent of the hedge counterparties. In 2019, we executed extension agreements for each of our equity derivative contracts under substantially the same committed terms and conditions with revised expiry dates of April 2020 (from April 2019). The equity derivatives have not been designated as hedges for accounting purposes.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we settled 0.7 million (2018 - 0.4 million) equity derivatives at a weighted average price of $71.66 (2018 - $61.15) for net proceeds of $16 million (2018 - $4 million).

During 2019, we recognized an expense, net of interest receipts, of $18 million (2018 - $33 million recovery), in stock-based compensation expense related to the change in fair value of our equity derivative contracts net of received payments. As at December 31, 2019, the fair value of the equity derivatives was an asset of $55 million (2018 - $92 million asset), which is included in current portion of derivative instruments.

As at December 31, 2019, we had equity derivatives outstanding for 4.3 million (2018 - 5.0 million) Class B Non-Voting Shares with a weighted average price of $51.76 (2018 - $51.54).

FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, bank advances, short-term borrowings, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values because of the short-term natures of these financial instruments. The carrying values of our financing receivables also approximate their fair values based on our recognition of an expected credit loss allowance.

We determine the fair value of each of our publicly traded investments using quoted market values. We determine the fair value of our private investments by using implied valuations from follow-on financing rounds, third-party sale negotiations, or market-based approaches. These are applied appropriately to each investment depending on its future operating and profitability prospects.

The fair values of each of our public debt instruments are based on the period-end estimated market yields, or period-end trading values, where available. We determine the fair values of our debt derivatives and expenditure derivatives using an estimated credit-adjusted mark-to-market valuation by discounting cash flows to the measurement date. In the case of debt derivatives and expenditure derivatives in an asset position, the credit spread for the financial institution counterparty is added to the risk-free discount rate to determine the estimated credit-adjusted value for each derivative. For these debt derivatives and expenditure derivatives in a liability position, our credit spread is added to the risk-free discount rate for each derivative.

The fair values of our equity derivatives are based on the period-end quoted market value of Class B Non-Voting Shares.

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

• financial assets and financial liabilities in Level 1 are valued by referring to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

• financial assets and financial liabilities in Level 2 are valued using inputs based on observable market data, either directly or indirectly, other than the quoted prices;

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

Rogers Communications Inc. 43 2019 Annual Financial Statements

There were no material financial instruments categorized in Level 3 as at December 31, 2019 and 2018 and there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 during the respective periods.

Below is a summary of the financial instruments carried at fair value.

									As at December 31
	Carrying value				Fair value (Level 1)				Fair value (Level 2)
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018		2019		2018		2019		2018
Financial assets
Investments, measured at FVTOCI:
Investments in publicly traded companies	1,831		1,051		1,831		1,051		—		—
Held-for-trading:
Debt derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges	1,508		1,354		—		—		1,508		1,354
Debt derivatives not accounted for as cash flow hedges	—		41		—		—		—		41
Expenditure derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges	16		122		—		—		16		122
Equity derivatives not accounted for as cash flow hedges	55		92		—		—		55		92
Total financial assets	3,410		2,660		1,831		1,051		1,579		1,609
Financial liabilities
Held-for-trading:
Debt derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges	96		22		—		—		96		22
Debt derivatives not accounted for as hedges	29		—		—		—		29		—
Bond forwards accounted for as cash flow hedges	—		87		—		—		—		87
Expenditure derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges	15		—		—		—		15		—
Total financial liabilities	140		109		—		—		140		109

Below is a summary of the fair value of our long-term debt.

					As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)			2019				2018
	Carrying amount		Fair value 1		Carrying amount		Fair value 1
Long-term debt (including current portion)	15,967		18,354		14,290		15,110

¹  Long-term debt (including current portion) is measured at Level 2 in the three-level fair value hierarchy, based on year-end trading values.

We did not have any non-derivative held-to-maturity financial assets during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

NOTE 18: INVESTMENTS

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Investments in publicly traded and private companies

We have elected to irrevocably classify our investments in companies over which we do not have control or significant influence as FVTOCI with no subsequent reclassification to net income because we do not hold these investments with the intent of short-term trading. We account for them as follows:

• publicly traded companies - at fair value based on publicly quoted prices; and

• private companies - at fair value using implied valuations from follow-on financing rounds, third-party sale negotiations, or market-based approaches.

Investments in associates and joint arrangements

An entity is an associate when we have significant influence over the entity's financial and operating policies but do not control the entity. We are generally presumed to have significant influence over an entity when we hold more than 20% of the voting power.

A joint arrangement exists when there is a contractual agreement that establishes joint control over activities and requires unanimous consent for strategic financial and operating decisions. We classify our interests in joint arrangements into one of two categories:

• joint ventures - when we have the rights to the net assets of the arrangement; and

• joint operations - when we have the rights to the assets and obligations for the liabilities related to the arrangement.

We use the equity method to account for our investments in associates and joint ventures; we recognize our proportionate interest in the assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses of our joint operations.

Rogers Communications Inc. 44 2019 Annual Financial Statements

We initially recognize our investments in associates and joint ventures at cost and subsequently increase or decrease the carrying amounts based on our share of each entity's income or loss. Distributions we receive from these entities reduce the carrying amounts of our investments.

We eliminate unrealized gains and losses from our investments in associates or joint ventures against our investments, up to the amount of our interest in the entities.

Impairment in associates and joint ventures

At the end of each reporting period, we assess whether there is objective evidence that impairment exists in our investments in associates and joint ventures. If objective evidence exists, we compare the carrying amount of the investment to its recoverable amount and recognize the excess over the recoverable amount, if any, as a loss in net income.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

		As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Investments in:
Publicly traded companies		1,831		1,051
Private companies		107		145
Investments, measured at FVTOCI		1,938		1,196
Investments, associates and joint ventures		892		938
Total investments		2,830		2,134

INVESTMENTS, MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Publicly traded companies

We hold a number of interests in publicly traded companies, including Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Communications Inc. This year, we recognized realized losses of nil and unrealized gains of $780 million (2018 - nil of realized losses and $414 million of unrealized losses) in other comprehensive income.

INVESTMENTS, ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES

We have interests in a number of associates and joint ventures, some of which include:

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Limited (MLSE)

MLSE, a sports and entertainment company, owns and operates the Scotiabank Arena, the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA's Toronto Raptors, MLS' Toronto FC, the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, the AHL's Toronto Marlies, and other assets. We, along with BCE Inc. (BCE), jointly own an indirect net 75% equity interest in MLSE with our portion representing a 37.5% equity interest in MLSE. Our investment in MLSE is accounted for as a joint venture using the equity method.

Glentel

Glentel is a large, multicarrier mobile phone retailer with several hundred Canadian wireless retail distribution outlets. We own a 50% equity interest in Glentel, with the remaining 50% interest owned by BCE. Our investment in Glentel is accounted for as a joint venture using the equity method.

Rogers Communications Inc. 45 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Below is a summary of financial information pertaining to our significant associates and joint ventures and our portions thereof.

		As at or years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Current assets		491		489
Long-term assets		3,501		3,303
Current liabilities		(906	)	(740	)
Long-term liabilities		(1,407	)	(1,258	)
Total net assets		1,679		1,794
Our share of net assets		851		935
Revenue		2,314		1,903
Expenses		(2,366	)	(1,902	)
Net (loss) income		(52	)	1
Our share of net (loss) income		(24	)	—

One of our joint ventures has a non-controlling interest that has a right to require our joint venture to purchase that non-controlling interest at a future date at fair value.

NOTE 19: SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS

Below is a summary of our short-term borrowings as at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

	As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Accounts receivable securitization program	650		650
US commercial paper program	1,588		1,605
Total short-term borrowings	2,238		2,255

Below is a summary of the activity relating to our short-term borrowings for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

	Year ended December 31, 2019							Year ended December 31, 2018
	Notional		Exchange		Notional			Notional		Exchange		Notional
(In millions of dollars, except exchange rates)	(US$)		rate		(Cdn$)			(US$)		rate		(Cdn$)
Proceeds received from US commercial paper	12,897		1.328		17,127			15,262		1.294		19,752
Repayment of US commercial paper	(12,876	)	1.328		(17,094	)		(14,858	)	1.295		(19,244	)
Net proceeds received from US commercial paper					33							508
Proceeds received from accounts receivable securitization					—							225
Repayment of accounts receivable securitization					—							(225	)
Net proceeds received from accounts receivable securitization					—							—
Proceeds received from credit facilities	420		1.336		561			—		—		—
Repayment of credit facilities	(420	)	1.343		(564	)		—		—		—
Net repayment of credit facilities					(3	)						—
Net proceeds received on short-term borrowings					30							508

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECURITIZATION PROGRAM

We participate in an accounts receivable securitization program with a Canadian financial institution that allows us to sell certain trade receivables into the program. As at December 31, 2019, the proceeds of the sales were committed up to a maximum of $1,050 million (2018 - $1,050 million) and the program has a term of November 1, 2020.

	As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Trade accounts receivable sold to buyer as security	1,359		1,391
Short-term borrowings from buyer	(650	)	(650	)
Overcollateralization	709		741

There was no net activity related to our accounts receivable securitization program for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

We continue to service and retain substantially all of the risks and rewards relating to the accounts receivable we sell, and therefore, the receivables remain recognized on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and the funding received is recognized as short-term borrowings. The buyer's interest in these trade receivables ranks ahead of our interest. The program restricts us from using the receivables as collateral for any other purpose. The buyer of our trade receivables has no claim on any of our other assets.

US COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM

We have a US CP program that allows us to issue up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of US$1.5 billion. Funds can be borrowed under this program with terms to maturity ranging from 1 to 397 days, subject to ongoing market conditions. Any issuances made under the US CP program will be issued at a discount. Borrowings under our US CP program are classified as short-term borrowings on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position when they are due within one year from the date of the financial statements.

Below is a summary of the activity relating to our US CP program for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

	Year ended December 31, 2019						Year ended December 31, 2018
	Notional		Exchange		Notional		Notional		Exchange		Notional
(In millions of dollars, except exchange rates)	(US$)		rate		(Cdn$)		(US$)		rate		(Cdn$)
US commercial paper, beginning of year	1,177		1.364		1,605		746		1.253		935
Net proceeds received from US commercial paper	21		1.571		33		404		1.257		508
Discounts on issuance 1	25		1.320		33		27		1.333		36
(Gain) loss on foreign exchange 1					(83	)					126
US commercial paper, end of year	1,223		1.298		1,588		1,177		1.364		1,605

Rogers Communications Inc. 46 2019 Annual Financial Statements

¹ Included in finance costs.

Concurrent with the US CP borrowings, we entered into debt derivatives to hedge the foreign currency risk associated with the principal and interest components of the borrowings under the US CP program (see note 17). We have not designated these debt derivatives as hedges for accounting purposes.

NON-REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

On April 1, 2019, we entered into a new US$2.2 billion ($2.9 billion) non-revolving credit facility. Subsequently, we borrowed US$420 million ($561 million) and repaid US$420 million ($564 million) on this facility. Concurrent with the borrowings, we entered into debt derivatives to hedge the foreign currency risk associated with the borrowings under the non-revolving credit facility. We did not designate these debt derivatives as hedges for accounting purposes. On May 3, 2019, we cancelled the non-revolving credit facility.

NOTE 20: PROVISIONS

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Decommissioning and restoration costs

We use network and other assets on leased premises in some of our business activities. We expect to exit these premises in the future and we therefore make provisions for the costs associated with decommissioning the assets and restoring the locations to their original conditions when we have a legal or constructive obligation to do so. We calculate these costs based on a current estimate of the costs that will be incurred, project those costs into the future based on management's best

Rogers Communications Inc. 47 2019 Annual Financial Statements

estimates of future trends in prices, inflation, and other factors, and discount them to their present value. We revise our forecasts when business conditions or technological requirements change.

When we recognize a decommissioning liability, we recognize a corresponding asset in property, plant and equipment (as property, plant and equipment or a right-of-use asset, as applicable based on the underlying asset) and depreciate the asset based on the corresponding asset's useful life following our depreciation policies for property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets, as applicable. We recognize the accretion of the liability as a charge to finance costs on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Restructuring

We make provisions for restructuring when we have approved a detailed and formal restructuring plan and either the restructuring has started or management has announced the plan's main features to the employees affected by it. Restructuring obligations that have uncertain timing or amounts are recognized as provisions; otherwise they are recognized as accrued liabilities. All charges are recognized in restructuring, acquisition and other on the Consolidated Statements of Income (see note 10).

Onerous contracts

We make provisions for onerous contracts when the unavoidable costs of meeting our obligation under a contract exceed the benefits we expect to realize from it. We measure these provisions at the present value of the lower of the expected cost of terminating the contract or the expected cost of continuing with the contract. We recognize any impairment loss on the assets associated with the contract before we make the provision.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

ESTIMATES

We recognize a provision when a past event creates a legal or constructive obligation that can be reasonably estimated and is likely to result in an outflow of economic resources. We recognize a provision even when the timing or amount of the obligation may be uncertain, which can require us to use significant estimates.

JUDGMENTS

Significant judgment is required to determine when we are subject to unavoidable costs arising from onerous contracts. These judgments may include, for example, whether a certain promise is legally binding or whether we may be successful in negotiations with the counterparty.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

(In millions of dollars)	Decommissioning Liabilities		Other		Total
December 31, 2018	36		3		39
Adjustments to existing provisions	7		—		7
Amounts used	(2	)	—		(2	)
December 31, 2019	41		3		44
Current (recorded in "other current liabilities")	7		1		8
Long-term	34		2		36

Decommissioning and restoration costs

Cash outflows associated with our decommissioning liabilities are generally expected to occur at the decommissioning dates of the assets to which they relate, which are long-term in nature. The timing and extent of restoration work that will ultimately be required for these sites is uncertain.

Rogers Communications Inc. 48 2019 Annual Financial Statements

NOTE 21: LONG-TERM DEBT

							As at December 31
(In millions of dollars, except interest rates)	Due date		Principal amount		Interest rate		2019		2018
Senior notes	2019		400		2.800	%	—		400
Senior notes	2019		500		5.380	%	—		500
Senior notes	2020		900		4.700	%	—		900
Senior notes	2021		1,450		5.340	%	1,450		1,450
Senior notes	2022		600		4.000	%	600		600
Senior notes	2023	US	500		3.000	%	649		682
Senior notes	2023	US	850		4.100	%	1,104		1,160
Senior notes	2024		600		4.000	%	600		600
Senior notes	2025	US	700		3.625	%	909		955
Senior notes	2026	US	500		2.900	%	649		682
Senior notes	2029		1,000		3.250	%	1,000		—
Senior debentures 1	2032	US	200		8.750	%	260		273
Senior notes	2038	US	350		7.500	%	455		478
Senior notes	2039		500		6.680	%	500		500
Senior notes	2040		800		6.110	%	800		800
Senior notes	2041		400		6.560	%	400		400
Senior notes	2043	US	500		4.500	%	649		682
Senior notes	2043	US	650		5.450	%	844		887
Senior notes	2044	US	1,050		5.000	%	1,365		1,433
Senior notes	2048	US	750		4.300	%	973		1,022
Senior notes	2049	US	1,250		4.350	%	1,624		—
Senior notes	2049	US	1,000		3.700	%	1,299		—
							16,130		14,404
Deferred transaction costs and discounts							(163	)	(114	)
Less current portion							—		(900	)
Total long-term debt							15,967		13,390

¹  Senior debentures originally issued by Rogers Cable Inc. which are unsecured obligations of RCI and for which RCCI was an unsecured guarantor as at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Each of the above senior notes and debentures are unsecured and, as at December 31, 2019, were guaranteed by RCCI, ranking equally with all of RCI's other senior notes, debentures, bank credit facilities, and letter of credit facilities. We use derivatives to hedge the foreign exchange risk associated with the principal and interest components of all of our US dollar-denominated senior notes and debentures (see note 17).

Rogers Communications Inc. 49 2019 Annual Financial Statements

The tables below summarize the activity relating to our long-term debt for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

	Year ended December 31, 2019							Year ended December 31, 2018
(In millions of dollars, except exchange rates)	Notional		Exchange		Notional			Notional		Exchange		Notional
	(US$)		rate		(Cdn$)			(US$)		rate		(Cdn$)
Credit facility borrowings (US$)	—		—		—			125		1.257		157
Credit facility repayments (US$)	—		—		—			(125	)	1.256		(157	)
Net borrowings under credit facilities					—							—
Senior note issuances (Cdn$)					1,000							—
Senior note issuances (US$)	2,250		1.326		2,984			750		1.251		938
Total senior note issuances					3,984							938
Senior note repayments (Cdn$)					(1,800	)						—
Senior note repayments (US$)	—		—		—			(1,400	)	1.258		(1,761	)
Total senior note repayments					(1,800	)						(1,761	)
Net issuance (repayment) of senior notes					2,184							(823	)
Net issuance (repayment) of long-term debt					2,184							(823	)

		Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Long-term debt net of transaction costs, beginning of year		14,290		14,448
Net issuance (repayment) of long-term debt		2,184		(823	)
(Gain) loss on foreign exchange		(458	)	672
Deferred transaction costs incurred		(61	)	(18	)
Amortization of deferred transaction costs		12		11
Long-term debt net of transaction costs, end of year		15,967		14,290

WEIGHTED AVERAGE INTEREST RATE

As at December 31, 2019, our effective weighted average interest rate on all debt and short-term borrowings, including the effect of all of the associated debt derivatives and bond forwards, was 4.30% (2018 - 4.45%).

BANK CREDIT AND LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITIES

Our $3.2 billion revolving credit facility is available on a fully revolving basis until maturity and there are no scheduled reductions prior to maturity. The interest rate charged on borrowings from the revolving credit facility ranges from nil to 1.25% per annum over the bank prime rate or base rate, or 0.85% to 2.25% over the bankers' acceptance rate or London Inter-Bank Offered Rate.

In 2018, we amended our revolving credit facility to, among other things, extend the maturity date of the $2.5 billion tranche from March 2022 to September 2023 and to extend the maturity date on the $700 million tranche from March 2020 to September 2021.

As at December 31, 2019, we had available liquidity of $1.6 billion (2018 - $1.6 billion) under our $3.3 billion bank and letter of credit facilities (2018 - $4.2 billion), of which we had utilized $0.1 billion (2018 - $1.0 billion) for letters of credit and reserved $1.6 billion to backstop amounts outstanding under our US CP program borrowings (2018 - $1.6 billion).

SENIOR NOTES AND DEBENTURES

We pay interest on all of our fixed-rate senior notes and debentures on a semi-annual basis.

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

Rogers Communications Inc. 50 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Issuance of senior notes

Below is a summary of the senior notes that we issued in 2019 and 2018.

(In millions of dollars, except interest rates and discounts)
Date issued		Principal amount		Due date	Interest rate		Discount/ premium at issuance		Total gross proceeds 1 (Cdn$)		Transaction costs and discounts 2 (Cdn$)
2019 issuances
April 30, 2019		1,000		2029	3.250	%	99.746	%	1,000		7
April 30, 2019	US	1,250		2049	4.350	%	99.667	%	1,676		20
November 12, 2019	US	1,000		2049	3.700	%	98.926	%	1,308		25
2018 issuances
February 8, 2018	US	750		2048	4.300	%	99.398	%	938		16

¹  Gross proceeds before transaction costs and discounts.

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

Concurrent with the 2019 and 2018 US dollar-denominated issuances, we entered into debt derivatives to convert all interest and principal payment obligations to Canadian dollars (see note 17).

Repayment of senior notes and related derivative settlements

Below is a summary of the repayment of our senior notes during 2019 and 2018. There were no debt derivatives associated with the 2019 repayments. The associated debt derivatives for the 2018 repayment were settled at time of repayment.

(In millions of dollars)
Maturity date	Notional amount (US$)		Notional amount (Cdn$)
2019 repayments
March 2019	—		400
November 2019	—		500
September 2020, repaid November 2019	—		900
Total 2019 repayments	—		1,800
2018 repayments
August 2018, repaid April 2018	1,400		1,761

In November 2019, we repaid the entire outstanding principal amount of our $900 million 4.7% senior notes otherwise due in September 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we recognized a $19 million loss on repayment of long-term debt reflecting our obligation to pay redemption premiums upon repayment (see note 11).

In April 2018, we repaid the entire outstanding principal amount of our US$1.4 billion ($1.8 billion) 6.8% senior notes otherwise due in August 2018. At the same time, the associated debt derivatives were settled for net proceeds received of $326 million. As a result, we repaid a net amount of $1.5 billion, including settlement of the associated debt derivatives, which was separately funded through our US CP program and our bank credit facility. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we recognized a $28 million loss on repayment of long-term debt reflecting our obligation to pay redemption premiums upon repayment (see note 11).

PRINCIPAL REPAYMENTS

Below is a summary of the principal repayments on our long-term debt due in each of the next five years and thereafter as at December 31, 2019.

(In millions of dollars)
2020	—
2021	1,450
2022	600
2023	1,753
2024	600
Thereafter	11,727
Total long-term debt	16,130

Rogers Communications Inc. 51 2019 Annual Financial Statements

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

As at December 31, 2019 and 2018, we were in compliance with all financial covenants, financial ratios, and all of the terms and conditions of our long-term debt agreements. There were no financial leverage covenants in effect other than those under our bank credit and letter of credit facilities.

The 8.75% debentures due in 2032 contain debt incurrence tests and restrictions on additional investments, sales of assets, and payment of dividends, all of which are suspended in the event the public debt securities are assigned investment-grade ratings by at least two of three specified credit rating agencies. As at December 31, 2019, these public debt securities were assigned an investment-grade rating by each of the three specified credit rating agencies and, accordingly, these restrictions have been suspended as long as the investment-grade ratings are maintained. Our other senior notes do not have any of these restrictions, regardless of the related credit ratings. The repayment dates of certain debt agreements can also be accelerated if there is a change in control of RCI.

NOTE 22: OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

			As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)	Note		2019		2018
Deferred pension liability	23		465		373
Supplemental executive retirement plan	23		73		67
Stock-based compensation	25		47		66
Other			29		40
Total other long-term liabilities			614		546

NOTE 23: POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Post-employment benefits - defined benefit pension plans

We offer contributory and non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide employees with a lifetime monthly pension on retirement.

We separately calculate our net obligation for each defined benefit pension plan by estimating the amount of future benefits employees have earned in return for their service in the current and prior years and discounting those benefits to determine their present value.

We accrue our pension plan obligations as employees provide the services necessary to earn the pension. We use a discount rate based on market yields on high-quality corporate bonds at the measurement date to calculate the accrued pension benefit obligation. Remeasurements of the accrued pension benefit obligation are determined at the end of the year and include actuarial gains and losses, returns on plan assets, and any change in the effect of the asset ceiling. These are recognized in other comprehensive income and retained earnings.

The cost of pensions is actuarially determined and takes into account the following assumptions and methods for pension accounting related to our defined benefit pension plans:

• expected rates of salary increases for calculating increases in future benefits;

• mortality rates for calculating the life expectancy of plan members; and

• past service costs from plan amendments are immediately expensed in net income.

We recognize our net pension expense for our defined benefit pension plans and contributions to defined contribution plans as an employee benefit expense in operating costs on the Consolidated Statements of Income in the periods the employees provide the related services.

Post-employment benefits - defined contribution pension plan

In 2016, we closed the defined benefit pension plans to new members and introduced a defined contribution pension plan. This change did not impact current defined benefit members at the time; any employee enrolled in any of the defined benefit pension plans at that date continues to earn pension benefits and credited service in their respective plan.

We recognize a pension expense in relation to our contributions to the defined contribution pension plan when the employee provides service to the Company.

Termination benefits

We recognize termination benefits as an expense when we are committed to a formal detailed plan to terminate employment before the normal retirement date and it is not realistic that we will withdraw it.

Rogers Communications Inc. 52 2019 Annual Financial Statements

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

ESTIMATES

Detailed below are the significant assumptions used in the actuarial calculations used to determine the amount of the defined benefit pension obligation and related expense.

Significant estimates are involved in determining pension-related balances. Actuarial estimates are based on projections of employees' compensation levels at the time of retirement. Retirement benefits are primarily based on career average earnings, subject to certain adjustments. The most recent actuarial valuations were completed as at January 1, 2019.

Principal actuarial assumptions

	2019		2018
Weighted average of significant assumptions:
Defined benefit obligation
Discount rate	3.2	%	3.9	%
Rate of compensation increase	1.0% to 4.5%, based on employee age		1.0% to 4.5%, based on employee age
Mortality rate	CIA Private with CPM B Scale		CIA Private with CPM B scale
Pension expense
Discount rate	3.9	%	3.7	%
Rate of compensation increase	1.0% to 4.5%, based on employee age		3.0	%
Mortality rate	CIA Private with CPM B Scale		CIA Private with CPM B scale

Sensitivity of key assumptions

In the sensitivity analysis shown below, we determine the defined benefit obligation for our funded plans using the same method used to calculate the defined benefit obligation we recognize on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. We calculate sensitivity by changing one assumption while holding the others constant. This leads to limitations in the analysis as the actual change in defined benefit obligation will likely be different from that shown in the table, since it is likely that more than one assumption will change at a time, and that some assumptions are correlated.

	Increase (decrease) in accrued benefit obligation
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Discount rate
Impact of 0.5% increase	(233	)	(196	)
Impact of 0.5% decrease	266		224
Rate of future compensation increase
Impact of 0.25% increase	17		16
Impact of 0.25% decrease	(17	)	(16	)
Mortality rate
Impact of 1 year increase	61		47
Impact of 1 year decrease	(64	)	(50	)

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

We sponsor a number of contributory and non-contributory pension arrangements for employees, including defined benefit and defined contributions plans. We do not provide any non-pension post-retirement benefits. We also provide unfunded supplemental pension benefits to certain executives.

The Rogers Defined Benefit Pension Plan provides a defined pension based on years of service and earnings, with no increases in retirement for inflation. The plan was closed to new members in 2016. Participation in the plan was voluntary and enrolled employees are required to make regular contributions into the plan. An unfunded supplemental pension plan is provided to certain senior executives to provide benefits in excess of amounts that can be provided from the defined benefit pension plan under the Income Tax Act (Canada)'s maximum pension limits.

We also sponsor smaller defined benefit pension plans in addition to the Rogers Defined Benefit Pension Plan. The Pension Plan for Employees of Rogers Communications Inc. and the Rogers Pension Plan for Selkirk Employees are closed legacy defined benefit pension plans. The Pension Plan for Certain Federally Regulated Employees of Rogers Cable Communications

Rogers Communications Inc. 53 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Inc. is similar to the main pension plan but only federally regulated employees from the Cable business were eligible to participate; this plan was closed to new members in 2016.

In addition to the defined benefit pension plans, we provide various defined contribution plans to certain groups of employees of the Company and to employees hired after March 31, 2016 who choose to join. Additionally, we provide other tax-deferred savings arrangements, including a Group RRSP and a Group TFSA program, which are accounted for as deferred contribution arrangements.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we amended certain of our defined benefit pension plans and recognized a $21 million reduction in past service cost (2018 - $43 million), which was recorded as a reduction of pension expense, included in "operating costs" in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Pension Committee of the Board oversees the administration of our registered pension plans, which includes the following principal areas:

• overseeing the funding, administration, communication, and investment management of the plans;

• selecting and monitoring the performance of all third parties performing duties in respect of the plans, including audit, actuarial, and investment management services;

• proposing, considering, and approving amendments to the plans;

• proposing, considering, and approving amendments to the Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures;

• reviewing management and actuarial reports prepared in respect of the administration of the pension plans; and

• reviewing and approving the audited financial statements of the pension plan funds.

The assets of the defined benefit pension plans are held in segregated accounts that are isolated from our assets. They are invested and managed following all applicable regulations and the Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures with the objective of having adequate funds to pay the benefits promised by the plans. Investment and market return risk is managed by:

• contracting professional investment managers to execute the investment strategy following the Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures and regulatory requirements;

• specifying the kinds of investments that can be held in the plans and monitoring compliance;

• using asset allocation and diversification strategies; and

• purchasing annuities from time to time.

The defined benefit pension plans are registered with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and are subject to the Federal Pension Benefits Standards Act. Two of the defined contribution pension plans are registered with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, subject to the Ontario Pension Benefits Act. The plans are also registered with the Canada Revenue Agency and are subject to the Income Tax Act (Canada). The benefits provided under the plans and the contributions to the plans are funded and administered in accordance with all applicable legislation and regulations.

The defined benefit pension plans are subject to certain risks related to contribution increases, inadequate plan surplus, unfunded obligations, and market rates of return, which we mitigate through the governance described above. Any significant changes to these items may affect our future cash flows.

Below is a summary of the estimated present value of accrued plan benefits and the estimated market value of the net assets available to provide these benefits for our funded plans.

			As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)	Note		2019		2018
Plan assets, at fair value			2,449		1,965
Accrued benefit obligations			(2,900	)	(2,330	)
Net deferred pension liability			(451	)	(365	)
Consists of:
Deferred pension asset			14		8
Deferred pension liability	22		(465	)	(373	)
Net deferred pension liability			(451	)	(365	)

Rogers Communications Inc. 54 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Below is a summary of our pension fund assets.

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Plan assets, beginning of year	1,965		1,890
Interest income	81		73
Remeasurements, recognized in other comprehensive income and equity	277		(114	)
Contributions by employees	36		39
Contributions by employer	179		148
Benefits paid	(86	)	(68	)
Administrative expenses paid from plan assets	(3	)	(3	)
Plan assets, end of year	2,449		1,965

Below is a summary of the accrued benefit obligations arising from funded obligations.

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Accrued benefit obligations, beginning of year	2,330		2,342
Current service cost	121		143
Past service recovery	(21	)	(43	)
Interest cost	89		85
Benefits paid	(86	)	(68	)
Contributions by employees	36		39
Remeasurements, recognized in other comprehensive income and equity	431		(168	)
Accrued benefit obligations, end of year	2,900		2,330

Plan assets are comprised mainly of pooled funds that invest in common stocks and bonds that are traded in an active market. Below is a summary of the fair value of the total pension plan assets by major category.

	As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Equity securities	1,472		1,149
Debt securities	967		810
Other - cash	10		6
Total fair value of plan assets	2,449		1,965

Below is a summary of our net pension expense. Net interest cost is included in finance costs; other pension expenses are included in salaries and benefits expense in operating costs on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Plan cost:
Current service cost	121		143
Past service recovery	(21	)	(43	)
Net interest cost	8		12
Net pension expense	108		112
Administrative expense	4		4
Total pension cost recognized in net income	112		116

Rogers Communications Inc. 55 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Net interest cost, a component of the plan cost above, is included in finance costs and is outlined as follows:

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Interest income on plan assets	(81	)	(73	)
Interest cost on plan obligation	89		85
Net interest cost, recognized in finance costs	8		12

The remeasurement recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income is determined as follows:

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Return (loss) on plan assets (excluding interest income)	277		(114	)
Change in financial assumptions	(401	)	158
Change in demographic assumptions	—		(10	)
Effect of experience adjustments	(30	)	20
Remeasurement (loss) gain, recognized in other comprehensive income and equity	(154	)	54

We also provide supplemental unfunded defined benefit pensions to certain executives. Below is a summary of our accrued benefit obligations, pension expense included in employee salaries and benefits, net interest cost, remeasurements, and benefits paid.

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Accrued benefit obligation, beginning of year	67		66
Pension expense, recognized in employee salaries and benefits expense	2		2
Net interest cost, recognized in finance costs	3		2
Remeasurements, recognized in other comprehensive income	5		1
Benefits paid	(4	)	(4	)
Accrued benefit obligation, end of year	73		67

We also have defined contribution plans with total pension expense of $12 million in 2019 (2018 - $8 million), which is included in employee salaries and benefits expense.

ALLOCATION OF PLAN ASSETS

	Allocation of plan assets				Target asset allocation percentage
	2019		2018
Equity securities:
Domestic	12.0	%	11.8	%	8% to 18%
International	48.1	%	46.7	%	37% to 67%
Debt securities	39.5	%	41.2	%	25% to 45%
Other - cash	0.4	%	0.3	%	0% to 2%
Total	100.0	%	100.0	%

Plan assets consist primarily of pooled funds that invest in common stocks and bonds. The pooled funds have investments in our equity securities. As a result, approximately $10 million (2018 - $5 million) of plan assets are indirectly invested in our own securities under our defined benefit plans.

We make contributions to the plans to secure the benefits of plan members and invest in permitted investments using the target ranges established by our Pension Committee, which reviews actuarial assumptions on an annual basis.

Rogers Communications Inc. 56 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Below is a summary of the actual contributions to the plans.

	Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)	2019		2018
Employer contribution	179		148
Employee contribution	36		39
Total contribution	215		187

We estimate our 2020 employer contributions to our funded plans to be $145 million. The actual value will depend on the results of the 2020 actuarial funding valuations. The average duration of the defined benefit obligation as at December 31, 2019 is 17 years (2018 - 18 years).

Plan assets recognized an actual net gain of $355 million in 2019 (2018 - $44 million net loss).

We have recognized a cumulative loss in other comprehensive income and retained earnings of $503 million as at December 31, 2019 (2018 - $384 million) associated with post-retirement benefit plans.

NOTE 24: SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

CAPITAL STOCK

Share class	Number of shares authorized for issue		Features		Voting rights
Preferred shares	400,000,000		●	Without par value	●	None
			●	Issuable in series, with rights and terms of each series to be fixed by the Board prior to the issue of any series
RCI Class A Voting Shares	112,474,388		●	Without par value	●	Each share entitled to 50 votes
			●	Each share can be converted into one Class B Non-Voting share
RCI Class B Non-Voting Shares	1,400,000,000		●	Without par value	●	None

RCI's Articles of Continuance under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) impose restrictions on the transfer, voting, and issue of Class A Shares and Class B Non-Voting Shares to ensure we remain qualified to hold or obtain licences required to carry on certain of our business undertakings in Canada. We are authorized to refuse to register transfers of any of our shares to any person who is not a Canadian, as defined in RCI's Articles of Continuance, in order to ensure that Rogers remains qualified to hold the licences referred to above.

DIVIDENDS

We declared and paid the following dividends on our outstanding Class A Shares and Class B Non-Voting Shares:

		Dividend per
Date declared	Date paid	share (dollars)
January 24, 2019	April 1, 2019	0.50
April 18, 2019	July 2, 2019	0.50
June 5, 2019	October 1, 2019	0.50
October 23, 2019	January 2, 2020	0.50
		2.00
January 25, 2018	April 3, 2018	0.48
April 19, 2018	July 3, 2018	0.48
August 15, 2018	October 3, 2018	0.48
October 19, 2018	January 3, 2019	0.48
		1.92

Rogers Communications Inc. 57 2019 Annual Financial Statements

The holders of Class A Shares are entitled to receive dividends at the rate of up to five cents per share but only after dividends at the rate of five cents per share have been paid or set aside on the Class B Non-Voting Shares. Class A Shares and Class B Non-Voting Shares therefore participate equally in dividends above $0.05 per share.

On January 22, 2020, the Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per Class A Voting Share and Class B Non-Voting Share, to be paid on April 1, 2020, to shareholders of record on March 10, 2020.

NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID

In April 2019, the TSX accepted a notice of our intention to commence a normal course issuer bid (NCIB) program (2019 NCIB) that allows us to purchase, during the twelve-month period beginning April 24, 2019 and ending April 23, 2020, the lesser of 35.7 million Class B Non-Voting Shares and that number of Class B Non-Voting Shares that can be purchased under the 2019 NCIB for an aggregate purchase price of $500 million. RCI security holders may obtain a copy of this notice, without charge, by contacting us.

In April 2018, the TSX accepted a notice of our intention to commence a NCIB program (2018 NCIB) that allowed us to purchase, during the twelve-month period beginning April 24, 2018 and ending April 23, 2019, the lesser of 35.8 million Class B Non-Voting Shares and that number of Class B Non-Voting Shares that could be purchased under the NCIB for an aggregate purchase price of $500 million. We did not repurchase any shares during the year ended December 31, 2018.

In 2019, we purchased 9.9 million shares under our NCIB programs for $655 million. Pursuant to the 2019 NCIB, we repurchased for cancellation 7.7 million Class B Non-Voting Shares for $500 million, thereby purchasing the maximum allowed under the 2019 NCIB. In 2019, pursuant to the 2018 NCIB, we repurchased for cancellation 2.2 million Class B Non-Voting Shares for $155 million.

NOTE 25: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Stock option plans

Cash-settled share appreciation rights (SARs) are attached to all stock options granted under our employee stock option plan. This feature allows the option holder to choose to receive a cash payment equal to the intrinsic value of the option (the amount by which the market price of the Class B Non-Voting Share exceeds the exercise price of the option on the exercise date) instead of exercising the option to acquire Class B Non-Voting Shares. We classify all outstanding stock options with cash settlement features as liabilities and carry them at their fair value, determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model or a trinomial option pricing model, depending on the nature of the share-based award. We remeasure the fair value of the liability each period and amortize it to operating costs using graded vesting, either over the vesting period or to the date an employee is eligible to retire (whichever is shorter).

Restricted share unit (RSU) and deferred share unit (DSU) plans

We recognize outstanding RSUs and DSUs as liabilities, measuring the liabilities and compensation costs based on the awards' fair values, which are based on the market price of the Class B Non-Voting Shares, and recognizing them as charges to operating costs over the vesting period of the awards. If an award's fair value changes after it has been granted and before the exercise date, we recognize the resulting changes in the liability within operating costs in the year the change occurs. For RSUs, the payment amount is established as of the vesting date. For DSUs, the payment amount is established as of the exercise date.

Employee share accumulation plan

Employees voluntarily participate in the share accumulation plan by contributing a specified percentage of their regular earnings. We match employee contributions up to a certain amount and recognize our contributions as a compensation expense in the year we make them. Expenses relating to the employee share accumulation plan are included in operating costs.

Rogers Communications Inc. 58 2019 Annual Financial Statements

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

ESTIMATES

Significant management estimates are used to determine the fair value of stock options, RSUs, and DSUs. The table below shows the weighted average fair value of stock options granted during 2019 and 2018 and the principal assumptions used in applying the Black-Scholes model for non-performance-based options and trinomial option pricing models for performance-based options to determine their fair value at the grant date.

		Years ended December 31
		2019			2018
Weighted average fair value			$8.11			$8.42
Risk-free interest rate		1.9		%	1.7		%
Dividend yield		2.8		%	3.3		%
Volatility of Class B Non-Voting Shares		16.4		%	20.1		%
Weighted average expected life		5.5 years			6.2 years
Weighted average time to vest		n/a			2.5 years
Weighted average time to expiry		n/a			10.0 years
Employee exit rate		n/a			4.9		%
Suboptimal exercise factor		n/a			1.4
Lattice steps		n/a			50

n/a - no performance-based options were issued during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Volatility has been estimated based on the actual trading statistics of our Class B Non-Voting Shares.

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

Below is a summary of our stock-based compensation expense, which is included in employee salaries and benefits expense.

		Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Stock options		1		17
Restricted share units		47		51
Deferred share units		4		30
Equity derivative effect, net of interest receipt		18		(33	)
Total stock-based compensation expense		70		65

As at December 31, 2019, we had a total liability recognized at its fair value of $220 million (2018 - $252 million) related to stock-based compensation, including stock options, RSUs, and DSUs. The current portion of this is $173 million (2018 - $186 million) and is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The long-term portion of this is $47 million (2018 - $66 million) and is included in other long-term liabilities (see note 22).

The total intrinsic value of vested liabilities, which is the difference between the exercise price of the share-based awards and the trading price of the Class B Non-Voting Shares for all vested share-based awards, as at December 31, 2019 was $106 million (2018 - $112 million).

We paid $84 million in 2019 (2018 - $69 million) to holders of stock options, RSUs, and DSUs upon exercise using the cash settlement feature, representing a weighted average share price on the date of exercise of $70.97 (2018 - $61.84).

STOCK OPTIONS

Options to purchase our Class B Non-Voting Shares on a one-for-one basis may be granted to our employees, directors, and officers by the Board or our Management Compensation Committee. There are 65 million options authorized under various plans; each option has a term of seven to ten years. The vesting period is generally graded vesting over four years; however, the Management Compensation Committee may adjust the vesting terms on the grant date. The exercise price is equal to the fair market value of the Class B Non-Voting Shares, determined as the five-day average before the grant date as quoted on the TSX.

Performance options

We granted nil performance-based options to certain key executives in 2019 (2018 - 439,435). These options vest on a graded basis over four years provided that certain targeted stock prices are met on or after each anniversary date. As at December 31, 2019, we had 1,068,776 performance options (2018 - 1,575,605) outstanding.

Rogers Communications Inc. 59 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Summary of stock options

Below is a summary of the stock option plans, including performance options.

	Year ended December 31, 2019					Year ended December 31, 2018
(In number of units, except prices)	Number of options		Weighted average exercise price			Number of options		Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding, beginning of year	2,719,612			$53.22		2,637,890			$49.42
Granted	1,179,160			$72.03		850,700			$58.88
Exercised	(743,977	)		$46.56		(679,706	)		$45.20
Forfeited	—		—			(89,272	)		$55.94
Outstanding, end of year	3,154,795			$61.82		2,719,612			$53.22
Exercisable, end of year	993,645			$52.38		1,059,590			$46.26

Below is a summary of the range of exercise prices, the weighted average exercise price, and the weighted average remaining contractual life as at December 31, 2019.

	Options outstanding						Options exercisable
Range of exercise prices	Number outstanding		Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)	Weighted average exercise price			Number exercisable		Weighted average exercise price
$42.85 - $44.99	153,937		4.82		$44.24		153,937			$44.24
$45.00 - $49.99	506,011		4.67		$48.88		442,257			$48.73
$50.00 - $59.99	910,595		7.76		$58.10		265,564			$57.82
$60.00 - $64.99	415,057		7.72		$62.91		122,459			$62.82
$65.00 - $69.99	129,025		9.38		$66.21		9,428			$68.10
$70.00 - $73.00	1,040,170		8.90		$73.00		—		—
	3,154,795		7.56		$61.82		993,645			$52.38

Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense as at December 31, 2019 related to stock-option plans was $6 million (2018 - $8 million) and will be recognized in net income over the next four years as the options vest.

RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS

The RSU plan allows employees, directors, and officers to participate in the growth and development of Rogers. Under the terms of the plan, RSUs are issued to the participant and the units issued vest over a period of up to three years from the grant date.

On the vesting date, we will redeem all of the participants' RSUs in cash or by issuing one Class B Non-Voting Share for each RSU. We have reserved 4,000,000 Class B Non-Voting Shares for issue under this plan.

Performance RSUs

We granted 180,896 performance-based RSUs to certain key executives in 2019 (2018 - 263,239). The number of units that vest and will be paid three years from the grant date will be within 50% to 150% of the initial number granted based upon the achievement of certain annual and cumulative three-year non-market targets.

Summary of RSUs

Below is a summary of the RSUs outstanding, including performance RSUs.

		Years ended December 31
(In number of units)		2019		2018
Outstanding, beginning of year		2,218,925		1,811,845
Granted and reinvested dividends		1,013,900		1,217,487
Exercised		(582,314	)	(597,015	)
Forfeited		(177,737	)	(213,392	)
Outstanding, end of year		2,472,774		2,218,925

Rogers Communications Inc. 60 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense as at December 31, 2019 related to these RSUs was $56 million (2018 - $59 million) and will be recognized in net income over the next three years as the RSUs vest.

DEFERRED SHARE UNITS

The DSU plan allows directors, certain key executives, and other senior management to elect to receive certain types of compensation in DSUs. Under the terms of the plan, DSUs are issued to the participant and the units issued cliff vest over a period of up to three years from the grant date.

Performance DSUs

We granted 29,300 performance-based DSUs to certain key executives in 2019 (2018 - 40,269). The number of units that vest and may be redeemed by the holder three years from the grant date will be within 50% to 150% of the initial number granted based upon the achievement of certain annual and cumulative three-year non-market targets.

Summary of DSUs

Below is a summary of the DSUs outstanding, including performance DSUs.

		Years ended December 31
(In number of units)		2019		2018
Outstanding, beginning of year		2,004,440		2,327,647
Granted and reinvested dividends		110,003		131,051
Exercised		(348,285	)	(334,930	)
Forfeited		(24,274	)	(119,328	)
Outstanding, end of year		1,741,884		2,004,440

Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense as at December 31, 2019 related to these DSUs was $1 million (2018 - $7 million) and will be recognized in net income over the next three years as the executive DSUs vest. All other DSUs are fully vested.

EMPLOYEE SHARE ACCUMULATION PLAN

Participation in the plan is voluntary. Employees can contribute up to 10% of their regular earnings through payroll deductions (up to an annual maximum contribution of $25 thousand). The plan administrator purchases Class B Non-Voting Shares on a monthly basis on the open market on behalf of the employee. At the end of each month, we make a contribution of 25% to 50% of the employee's contribution that month and the plan administrator uses this amount to purchase additional shares on behalf of the employee. We recognize our contributions made as a compensation expense.

Compensation expense related to the employee share accumulation plan was $51 million in 2019 (2018 - $46 million).

EQUITY DERIVATIVES

We have entered into equity derivatives to hedge a portion of our stock-based compensation expense (see note 17) and recognized an $18 million expense (2018 - $33 million recovery) in stock-based compensation expense for these derivatives.

NOTE 26: RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER

Our ultimate controlling shareholder is the Rogers Control Trust (the Trust), which holds voting control of RCI. The beneficiaries of the Trust are members of the Rogers family. Certain directors of RCI represent the Rogers family.

We entered into certain transactions with private Rogers family holding companies controlled by the Trust. These transactions were recognized at the amount agreed to by the related parties and are subject to the terms and conditions of formal agreements approved by the Audit and Risk Committee. The totals received or paid were less than $1 million for each of 2019 and 2018.

Rogers Communications Inc. 61 2019 Annual Financial Statements

TRANSACTIONS WITH KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

Key management personnel include the directors and our most senior corporate officers, who are primarily responsible for planning, directing, and controlling our business activities.

Compensation

Compensation expense for key management personnel included in "employee salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation" was as follows:

		Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Salaries and other short-term employee benefits		15		13
Post-employment benefits		2		2
Stock-based compensation 1		20		18
Total compensation		37		33

¹  Stock-based compensation does not include the effect of changes in fair value of Class B Non-Voting Shares or equity derivatives.

Transactions

We have entered into business transactions with companies whose partners or senior officers are Directors of RCI. These directors are:

• The Hon. David R. Peterson, P.C., Q.C., the non-executive chairman emeritus of Cassels Brock and Blackwell LLP, a law firm that provides legal services to the Company; and

• Isabelle Marcoux, C.M., the chair of the board of Transcontinental Inc., a company that provides printing services to the Company.

We recognize these transactions at the amount agreed to by the related parties, which are also reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee. The amounts owing are unsecured, interest-free, and due for payment in cash within one month of the date of the transaction. Below is a summary of related party activity for the business transactions described above.

(In millions of dollars)	Years ended December 31				Outstanding balance as at December 31
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Printing and legal services 1	6		13		—		—

¹  The amounts paid for legal services are nominal.

SUBSIDIARIES, ASSOCIATES, AND JOINT ARRANGEMENTS

We have the following material operating subsidiaries as at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

• Rogers Communications Canada Inc.; and

• Rogers Media Inc.

We have 100% ownership interest in these subsidiaries. They are incorporated in Canada and have the same reporting period for annual financial statements reporting.

When necessary, adjustments are made to conform the accounting policies of the subsidiaries to those of RCI. There are no significant restrictions on the ability of subsidiaries, joint arrangements, and associates to transfer funds to Rogers as cash dividends or to repay loans or advances, subject to the approval of other shareholders where applicable.

We carried out the following business transactions with our associates and joint arrangements, being primarily MLSE and Glentel. Transactions between us and our subsidiaries have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed in this note.

		Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Revenue		69		86
Purchases		212		197

Rogers Communications Inc. 62 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Outstanding balances at year-end are unsecured, interest-free, and settled in cash.

		As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Accounts receivable		86		99
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		24		20

NOTE 27: GUARANTEES

We had the following guarantees as at December 31, 2019 and 2018 as part of our normal course of business:

BUSINESS SALE AND BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENTS

As part of transactions involving business dispositions, sales of assets, or other business combinations, we may be required to pay counterparties for costs and losses incurred as a result of breaches of representations and warranties, intellectual property right infringement, loss or damages to property, environmental liabilities, changes in laws and regulations (including tax legislation), litigation against the counterparties, contingent liabilities of a disposed business, or reassessments of previous tax filings of the corporation that carries on the business.

SALES OF SERVICES

As part of transactions involving sales of services, we may be required to make payments to counterparties as a result of breaches of representations and warranties, changes in laws and regulations (including tax legislation), or litigation against the counterparties.

PURCHASES AND DEVELOPMENT OF ASSETS

As part of transactions involving purchases and development of assets, we may be required to pay counterparties for costs and losses incurred as a result of breaches of representations and warranties, loss or damages to property, changes in laws and regulations (including tax legislation), or litigation against the counterparties.

INDEMNIFICATIONS

We indemnify our directors, officers, and employees against claims reasonably incurred and resulting from the performance of their services to Rogers. We have liability insurance for our directors and officers and those of our subsidiaries.

No amount has been accrued in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position relating to these types of indemnifications or guarantees as at December 31, 2019 or 2018. Historically, we have not made any significant payments under these indemnifications or guarantees.

NOTE 28: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

ACCOUNTING POLICY

Contingent liabilities are liabilities of uncertain timing or amount and are not recognized until we have a present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that we will experience an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

We disclose our contingent liabilities unless the possibility of an outflow of resources in settlement is remote.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

JUDGMENTS

We are exposed to possible losses related to various claims and lawsuits against us for which the outcome is not yet known. We therefore make significant judgments in determining the probability of loss when we assess contingent liabilities.

Rogers Communications Inc. 63 2019 Annual Financial Statements

EXPLANATORY INFORMATION

COMMITMENTS

Below is a summary of the future minimum payments for our contractual commitments that are not recognized as liabilities as at December 31, 2019.

	Less than						After
(In millions of dollars)	1 Year		1-3 Years		4-5 Years		5 Years		Total
Player contracts 1	95		108		45		—		248
Purchase obligations 2	312		215		92		41		660
Program rights 3	620		1,111		1,052		830		3,613
Total commitments	1,027		1,434		1,189		871		4,521

¹  Toronto Blue Jays players' salary contracts into which we have entered and are contractually obligated to pay.

²  Contractual obligations under service, product, and wireless device contracts to which we have committed.

³  Agreements into which we have entered to acquire broadcasting rights for programs and films for periods in excess of one year at contract inception.

Below is a summary of our other contractual commitments that are not included in the table above.

		As at December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment		200
Acquisition of intangible assets		63
Commitments related to associates and joint ventures		312
Total other commitments		575

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

We have the following contingent liabilities as at December 31, 2019:

Wholesale Internet costing and pricing

On August 15, 2019, in Telecom Order CRTC 2019-288, Follow-up to Telecom Orders 2016-396 and 2016-448 - Final rates for aggregated wholesale high-speed access services (Order), the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) set final rates for facilities-based carriers' wholesale high-speed access services, including Rogers' third-party Internet access (TPIA) service. The Order set final rates for Rogers that are significantly lower than the interim rates that were previously billed and it further determined that these final rates will apply retroactively to March 31, 2016.

We do not believe the final rates set by the CRTC are just and reasonable as required by the Telecommunications Act as we believe they are below cost. On September 13, 2019, Rogers, in conjunction with the other large Canadian cable companies (Cable Carriers), filed a motion for Leave to Appeal pursuant to Section 64(1) of the Telecommunications Act with the Federal Court of Appeal (Court) and an associated motion for an interlocutory Stay of the CRTC Order. On September 27, 2019, the Court granted an Interim Stay suspending the Order until the Court rules on the Cable Carriers' motion for an interlocutory Stay of the CRTC's Order pending the Court's determination of the Cable Carriers' motion for Leave to Appeal. On November 22, 2019, the Court granted Leave to Appeal and an interlocutory Stay of the CRTC Order. It is anticipated that the appeal will be heard in mid-2020 with a decision thereafter.

Due to the Court's granting of the interlocutory Stay and Leave to Appeal, and the significant uncertainty surrounding both the outcome and the amount, if any, we could ultimately have to repay to the resellers, we have not recorded a liability for this contingency at this time. The CRTC's order as drafted would have resulted in a refund of amounts previously billed to the resellers of approximately $150 million, representing the impact on a retroactive basis from March 31, 2016 to December 31, 2019. We estimate the ongoing impact would be approximately $11 million per quarter.

System access fee - Saskatchewan

In 2004, a class action was commenced against providers of wireless communications in Canada under the Class Actions Act (Saskatchewan). The class action relates to the system access fee wireless carriers charge to some of their customers. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and punitive damages, which would effectively be a reimbursement of all system access fees collected.

In 2007, the Saskatchewan Court granted the plaintiffs' application to have the proceeding certified as a national, "opt-in" class action where affected customers outside Saskatchewan must take specific steps to participate in the proceeding. In 2008, our motion to stay the proceeding based on the arbitration clause in our wireless service agreements was granted. The

Rogers Communications Inc. 64 2019 Annual Financial Statements

Saskatchewan Court directed that its order, in respect of the certification of the action, would exclude customers who are bound by an arbitration clause from the class of plaintiffs.

In 2009, counsel for the plaintiffs began a second proceeding under the Class Actions Act (Saskatchewan) asserting the same claims as the original proceeding. If successful, this second class action would be an "opt-out" class proceeding. This second proceeding was ordered conditionally stayed on the basis that it was an abuse of process.

At the time the Saskatchewan class action was commenced, corresponding claims were filed in multiple jurisdictions across Canada. The claims in all provinces other than Saskatchewan have now been dismissed or discontinued. We have not recognized a liability for this contingency.

911 fee

In June 2008, a class action was launched in Saskatchewan against providers of wireless communications services in Canada. It involves allegations of breach of contract, misrepresentation, and false advertising, among other things, in relation to the 911 fee that had been charged by us and the other wireless telecommunication providers in Canada. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and restitution. The plaintiffs intend to seek an order certifying the proceeding as a national class action in Saskatchewan. We have not recognized a liability for this contingency.

Cellular devices

In July 2013, a class action was launched in British Columbia against providers of wireless communications in Canada and manufacturers of wireless devices. The class action relates to the alleged adverse health effects incurred by long-term users of cellular devices. The plaintiffs were seeking unspecified damages and punitive damages, effectively equal to the reimbursement of the portion of revenue the defendants have received that can reasonably be attributed to the sale of cellular phones in Canada. In March 2019, the plaintiffs discontinued the class action without any payment by Rogers.

Income taxes

We provide for income taxes based on all of the information that is currently available and believe that we have adequately provided for these items. The calculation of applicable taxes in many cases, however, requires significant judgment (see note 13) in interpreting tax rules and regulations. Our tax filings are subject to audits, which could materially change the amount of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities and provisions, and could, in certain circumstances, result in the assessment of interest and penalties.

Other claims

There are certain other claims and potential claims against us. We do not expect any of these, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

Outcome of proceedings

The outcome of all the proceedings and claims against us, including the matters described above, is subject to future resolution that includes the uncertainties of litigation. It is not possible for us to predict the result or magnitude of the claims due to the various factors and uncertainties involved in the legal process. Based on information currently known to us, we believe it is not probable that the ultimate resolution of any of these proceedings and claims, individually or in total, will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial results, or financial condition. If it becomes probable that we will be held liable for claims against us, we will recognize a provision during the period in which the change in probability occurs, which could be material to our Consolidated Statements of Income or Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

NOTE 29: SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

CHANGE IN NON-CASH OPERATING WORKING CAPITAL ITEMS

		Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Accounts receivable		(174	)	(133	)
Inventories		7		(31	)
Other current assets		(41	)	(6	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		61		103
Contract and other liabilities		9		(47	)
Total change in non-cash operating working capital items		(138	)	(114	)

Rogers Communications Inc. 65 2019 Annual Financial Statements

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

		Years ended December 31
(In millions of dollars)		2019		2018
Capital expenditures before proceeds on disposition		2,845		2,815
Proceeds on disposition		(38	)	(25	)
Capital expenditures		2,807		2,790

Rogers Communications Inc. 66 2019 Annual Financial Statements