Cogeco 2013 Annual Report Download - page 28

Management's discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) COGECO CABLE INC. 2013 27
• In our largest facility, we replaced 163 lights with LED lights that use 80% less electricity.
• New social responsibility sections were created on both the external and internal websites. We are also active in social media to engage
with our customers and communities on our initiatives.
• We implemented better waste management programs at our Headquarters location in Montreal including composting and expanded
recycling programs.
• The Corporation has calculated its green house gas emissions and identified targets for emissions reduction. The targets are as follow:
decrease air travel by 10% by PSU over 5 years, decrease energy consumption by 2% by PSU over 5 years, decrease total vehicle
emissions by 500 tons of CO2e over 5 years. We are now in our second year of working on these targets and continue to monitor our
progress.
• Through multiple initiatives, in fiscal 2013, we decreased Cogeco Cable’s fleet fuel consumption by 418,753 litres. This means a
greenhouse gas emissions decrease for our fleet.
• We decreased the targets for our truck idle time program during an installation (from 25 to 20 minutes) and network fleet vehicle
programs (from 45 to 40 minutes). Our technicians met the idle time reduction targets in 3 of the 4 categories we measure throughout
the entire fiscal year, a significant achievement given the proposed objective.
• We continued our waste management process in the Corporation’s facilities in order to redeploy or recycle electronic waste. In fiscal
2013, 325,284 pounds of electronic waste was diverted from landfills. Cogeco Cable also joined the Electronic Product Recycling
Association ("EPRA") in Québec in order to comply with the new waste management legislation. Since July 14, 2013, we have been
subject to the Regulation respecting the recovery and reclamation of products by enterprises.
• 20% of Cogeco Cable's facilities underwent environmental assessments provided by a third party. Meaningful issues identified through
the risk assessments process are remedied within the same fiscal year.
Many other activities were undertaken by the Corporation’s regional green committees, focused on internal initiatives in order to reduce Cogeco
Cable’s carbon footprint, such as awareness and communications campaigns, campaigns promoting the reduction of consumables and opting
for environmentally sensitive options where possible. Cogeco Cable participated in several activities such as Car Free Day, Earth Week and
Earth Hour events.
FISCAL 2014 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOCUS
In fiscal 2014, the Corporation will continue to monitor its environmental performance, its progress towards its targets and decrease its carbon
footprint by looking for fleet and building technology and management practices that will result in additional energy savings. Our CSR teams
currently have 6 initiatives under investigation that, if implemented, will decrease our environmental impact. For example, in fiscal 2014, Cogeco
Cable will investigate the energy-efficiency of the video set top boxes used by our customers. The Corporation will expand its responsibility
towards the societies in which it operates by strengthening the CSR program.
In fiscal 2014, Cogeco Cable will also file a second CSR report and a third Carbon Disclosure Project report.
MEASUREMENT
To achieve its corporate social responsibility goals of continually reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency, Cogeco Cable
has developed key performance indicators, for social, economic and environment objectives which are tracked and reported on monthly or
quarterly, as appropriate. The indicators are communicated to the Management level employees.
The Corporation continues to believe that the Cable and Enterprise services segment have a smaller environmental impact as compared to many
other industries. However, Cogeco Cable is committed to progressively reducing its environmental footprint in respect of the communities in which
it operates and achieving an improved balance between its environmental, social and economic objectives.
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
OPERATING RESULTS
Years ended August 31, 2013 2012 Change
(in thousands of dollars, except percentages) $$ %
Revenue 1,692,466 1,277,698 32.5
Operating expenses 902,374 679,161 32.9
Management fees – COGECO Inc. 9,569 9,485 0.9
Operating income before depreciation and amortization 780,523 589,052 32.5
Operating margin 46.1% 46.1%
REVENUE
For fiscal 2013, revenue amounted to $1.7 billion, an increase of $414.8 million, or 32.5% compared to the same period of fiscal 2012. Revenue
increase is mainly attributable to the operating results of the recent acquisitions as well as rate increases implemented in June and July 2012 in
the Canadian cable services segment. For further details on the Corporation’s revenue, please refer to the “Segmented operating results” sections.