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6-K 1 tm2423291d1_6k.htm FORM 6-K

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

For the month of November 2024
Commission File Number 001-15144

 

TELUS CORPORATION
(Translation of registrant's name into English)

 

 

23rd Floor, 510 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 0M3
Canada
(Address of principal executive office)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

 

Form 20-F ¨                    Form 40-F þ This report on Form 6-K and the exhibits hereto are specifically incorporated by reference into the registration statement on Form F-10 (File No.

 

 

 

 


 

Incorporation by Reference

 

333-281233), the registration statement on Form F-3D (File No. 333-258770) and the registration statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-268186, 333-181463 and 333-125486), of TELUS Corporation.

 

2 


 

Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TELUS CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Andrea Wood
    Name: Andrea Wood
    Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Governance Officer

 

Date: November 8, 2024

 

3 


 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit Number   Description of Document
     
99.1   Consolidated Financial Statements
99.2   Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

4 

 

 

EX-99.1 2 tm2423291d1_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 


 

TELUS CORPORATION

 

CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(UNAUDITED)

 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

 

 


 

condensed interim consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income (unaudited)

 

          Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions except per share amounts)   Note     2024     2023     2024     2023  
OPERATING REVENUES                                        
Service           $ 4,410     $ 4,388     $ 13,081     $ 13,091  
Equipment             632       602       1,727       1,758  
Operating revenues (arising from contracts with customers)     6       5,042       4,990       14,808       14,849  
Other income     7       57       18       197       69  
Operating revenues and other income             5,099       5,008       15,005       14,918  
OPERATING EXPENSES                                        
Goods and services purchased     16       1,868       1,858       5,503       5,451  
Employee benefits expense     8, 16       1,475       1,633       4,432       4,741  
Depreciation     17       597       611       1,895       1,849  
Amortization of intangible assets     18       371       389       1,130       1,179  
              4,311       4,491       12,960       13,220  
OPERATING INCOME             788       517       2,045       1,698  
Financing costs     9       479       352       1,255       995  
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES             309       165       790       703  
Income taxes     10       52       28       172       146  
NET INCOME             257       137       618       557  
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)     11                                  
Items that may subsequently be reclassified to income                                        
Change in unrealized fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges             (21 )     30       11       (5 )
Foreign currency translation adjustment arising from translating financial statements of foreign operations             23       7       64       (28 )
              2       37       75       (33 )
Items never subsequently reclassified to income                                        
Change in measurement of investment financial assets             1       (4 )     (2 )     (12 )
Employee defined benefit plan re-measurements             (20 )     60       31       59  
              (19 )     56       29       47  
              (17 )     93       104       14  
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME           $ 240     $ 230     $ 722     $ 571  
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO:                                        
Common Shares           $ 280     $ 136     $ 635     $ 553  
Non-controlling interests             (23 )     1       (17 )     4  
            $ 257     $ 137     $ 618     $ 557  
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO:                                        
Common Shares           $ 271     $ 218     $ 717     $ 573  
Non-controlling interests             (31 )     12       5       (2 )
            $ 240     $ 230     $ 722     $ 571  
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE     12                                  
Basic           $ 0.19     $ 0.09     $ 0.43     $ 0.38  
Diluted           $ 0.19     $ 0.09     $ 0.43     $ 0.38  
TOTAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING                                        
Basic             1,492       1,454       1,483       1,447  
Diluted             1,497       1,459       1,488       1,451  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements.

 

2 | September 30, 2024    

 

condensed interim consolidated statements of financial position (unaudited)

 

As at (millions)   Note     September 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
ASSETS                        
Current assets                        
Cash and temporary investments, net           $ 814     $ 864  
Accounts receivable     6(b)       3,554       3,597  
Income and other taxes receivable             55       205  
Inventories     1(b)       492       484  
Contract assets     6(c)       413       445  
Prepaid expenses     20       779       682  
Current derivative assets     4(d)       17       36  
              6,124       6,313  
Non-current assets                        
Property, plant and equipment, net     17       17,210       17,248  
Intangible assets, net     18       20,526       19,721  
Goodwill, net     18       10,323       10,058  
Contract assets     6(c)       277       303  
Other long-term assets     20       2,526       2,493  
              50,862       49,823  
            $ 56,986     $ 56,136  
LIABILITIES AND OWNERS’ EQUITY                        
Current liabilities                        
Short-term borrowings     22     $ 925     $ 104  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     23       3,419       3,391  
Income and other taxes payable             156       126  
Dividends payable     13       578       550  
Advance billings and customer deposits     24       950       971  
Provisions     25       235       317  
Current maturities of long-term debt     26       2,613       3,994  
Current derivative liabilities     4(d)       15       25  
              8,891       9,478  
Non-current liabilities                        
Provisions     25       736       744  
Long-term debt     26       25,387       23,355  
Other long-term liabilities     27       865       867  
Deferred income taxes             4,180       4,390  
              31,168       29,356  
Liabilities             40,059       38,834  
Owners’ equity                        
Common equity     28       15,771       16,112  
Non-controlling interests             1,156       1,190  
              16,927       17,302  
            $ 56,986     $ 56,136  
Contingent liabilities     29                  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 3

 

condensed interim consolidated statements of changes in owners’ equity (unaudited)

 

        Common equity              
        Equity contributed                                
        Common Shares (Note 28)                  Accumulated                    
(millions)   Note   Number of
shares
    Share
capital
    Contributed
surplus
    Retained
earnings
    other
comprehensive
income
    Total     Non-
controlling
interests
    Total  
Balance as at January 1, 2023         1,431     $ 11,399     $ 956     $ 4,104     $ 110     $ 16,569     $ 1,089     $ 17,658  
Net income                           553             553       4       557  
Other comprehensive income (loss)   11                       59       (39 )     20       (6 )     14  
Dividends   13                       (1,561 )           (1,561 )           (1,561 )
Dividends reinvested and optional cash payments   13(b), 14(c)     22       559                         559             559  
Equity accounted share-based compensation               1       87                   88       3       91  
Change in ownership interests of subsidiaries   28(b)     2       54       35                   89       99       188  
Balance as at September 30, 2023         1,455     $ 12,013     $ 1,078     $ 3,155     $ 71     $ 16,317     $ 1,189     $ 17,506  
Balance as at January 1, 2024         1,468     $ 12,324     $ 997     $ 2,835     $ (44 )   $ 16,112     $ 1,190     $ 17,302  
Net income                           635             635       (17 )     618  
Other comprehensive income   11                       31       51       82       22       104  
Dividends   13                       (1,709 )           (1,709 )           (1,709 )
Dividends reinvested and optional cash payments   13(b), 14(c)     24       508                         508             508  
Equity accounted share-based compensation   14(b)           2       85                   87       4       91  
Issue of Common Shares in business combination   18(b)           7                         7             7  
Change in ownership interests of subsidiaries   28(b)                 49                   49       (43 )     6  
Balance as at September 30, 2024         1,492     $ 12,841     $ 1,131     $ 1,792     $ 7     $ 15,771     $ 1,156     $ 16,927  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements.

 

4 | September 30, 2024    

 

condensed interim consolidated statements of cash flows (unaudited)

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                
Net income   $ 257     $ 137     $ 618     $ 557  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:                                
Depreciation and amortization     968       1,000       3,025       3,028  
Deferred income taxes (Note 10)     (117 )     (98 )     (285 )     (227 )
Share-based compensation expense, net (Note 14(a))     44       27       110       100  
Net employee defined benefit plans expense (Note 15(a))     16       15       50       46  
Employer contributions to employee defined benefit plans (Note 15(a))     (2 )     (7 )     (16 )     (23 )
Loss from equity accounted investments (Notes 7, 21)     3       2       13       10  
Other     (43 )     10       (88 )     79  
Net change in non-cash operating working capital (Note 31(a))     306       221       343       (385 )
Cash provided by operating activities     1,432       1,307       3,770       3,185  
INVESTING ACTIVITIES                                
Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences (Note 31(a))     (679 )     (745 )     (2,157 )     (2,498 )
Cash payments for spectrum licences (Note 18(a))           (24 )     (620 )     (29 )
Cash payments for acquisitions, net (Note 18(b))     (91 )     (11 )     (258 )     (1,273 )
Advances to, and investment in, real estate joint ventures and associates (Note 21)     (7 )     (19 )     (12 )     (136 )
Real estate joint venture receipts (Note 21)     2       1       5       5  
Proceeds on disposition                 21       7  
Investment in portfolio investments and other     (7 )     7       (8 )     (108 )
Cash used by investing activities     (782 )     (791 )     (3,029 )     (4,032 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES (Note 31(b))                                
Dividends paid to holders of Common Shares (Note 13(a))     (384 )     (338 )     (1,174 )     (976 )
Issue (repayment) of short-term borrowings, net     (118 )     (490 )     822        
Long-term debt issued (Note 26)     1,294       2,808       5,083       8,325  
Redemptions and repayment of long-term debt (Note 26)     (1,529 )     (1,925 )     (5,480 )     (6,195 )
Shares of subsidiary purchased from non-controlling interests, net     (25 )           (25 )     (57 )
Other     (1 )     (16 )     (17 )     (20 )
Cash provided (used) by financing activities     (763 )     39       (791 )     1,077  
CASH POSITION                                
Increase (decrease) in cash and temporary investments, net     (113 )     555       (50 )     230  
Cash and temporary investments, net, beginning of period     927       649       864       974  
Cash and temporary investments, net, end of period   $ 814     $ 1,204     $ 814     $ 1,204  
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF OPERATING CASH FLOWS                                
Interest paid   $ (362 )   $ (307 )   $ (1,011 )   $ (888 )
Interest received   $ 9     $ 4     $ 30     $ 11  
Income taxes paid, net   $ (63 )   $ (63 )   $ (258 )   $ (342 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 5

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

 

TELUS Corporation is one of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies, providing a wide range of technology solutions, which include: mobile and fixed voice and data telecommunications services and products; healthcare services, software and technology solutions (including employee and family assistance programs and benefits administration); agriculture and consumer goods services (software, data management and data analytics-driven smart-food chain and consumer goods technologies); and digital experiences. Data services include: internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology and cloud-based services; and home and business security.

 

TELUS Corporation was incorporated under the Company Act (British Columbia) on October 26, 1998, under the name BCT.TELUS Communications Inc. (BCT). On January 31, 1999, pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act among BCT, BC TELECOM Inc. and the former Alberta-based TELUS Corporation (TC), BCT acquired all of the shares of BC TELECOM Inc. and TC in exchange for Common Shares and Non-Voting Shares of BCT, and BC TELECOM Inc. was dissolved. On May 3, 2000, BCT changed its name to TELUS Corporation and in February 2005, TELUS Corporation transitioned under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), successor to the Company Act (British Columbia). TELUS Corporation maintains its registered office at Floor 5, 510 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 0M3.

 

The terms “TELUS”, “we”, “us”, “our” or “ourselves” refer to TELUS Corporation and, where the context of the narrative permits or requires, its subsidiaries. Our principal subsidiaries are: TELUS Communications Inc., in which, as at September 30, 2024, we have a 100% equity interest; and TELUS International (Cda) Inc. (d.b.a. TELUS Digital Experience), in which, as at September 30, 2024, we have a 57.7% equity interest, as discussed further in Note 28(b), and which completed its initial public offering in February 2021.

 

Notes to consolidated financial statements   Page
General application    
1. Condensed interim consolidated financial statements   7
2. Accounting policy developments   7
3. Capital structure financial policies   8
4. Financial instruments   12
Consolidated results of operations focused    
5. Segment information   19
6. Revenue from contracts with customers   22
7. Other income   23
8. Employee benefits expense   23
9. Financing costs   24
10. Income taxes   24
11. Other comprehensive income   26
12. Per share amounts   28
13. Dividends per share   28
14. Share-based compensation   29
15. Employee future benefits   32
16. Restructuring and other costs   34
Consolidated financial position focused    
17. Property, plant and equipment   35
18. Intangible assets and goodwill   36
19. Leases   38
20. Other long-term assets   38
21. Real estate joint ventures and investments in associates   39
22. Short-term borrowings   41
23. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   42
24. Advance billings and customer deposits   42
25. Provisions   44
26. Long-term debt   45
27. Other long-term liabilities   50
28. Owners’ equity   50
29. Contingent liabilities   51
Other    
30. Related party transactions   52
31. Additional statement of cash flow information   54

 

6 | September 30, 2024    

 

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

1 condensed interim consolidated financial statements

 

(a) Basis of presentation

 

The notes presented in our condensed interim consolidated financial statements include only significant events and transactions and are not fully inclusive of all matters normally disclosed in our annual audited financial statements; thus, our interim consolidated financial statements are referred to as condensed. Our condensed interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

Our condensed interim consolidated financial statements are expressed in Canadian dollars and follow the same accounting policies and methods of their application as set out in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. The generally accepted accounting principles that we use are International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IFRS-IASB) and Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Our condensed interim consolidated financial statements comply with International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting and reflect all adjustments (which are of a normal recurring nature) that are, in our opinion, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented.

 

These consolidated financial statements for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, were authorized by our Board of Directors for issue on November 8, 2024.

 

(b) Inventories

 

Our inventories primarily consist of mobile handsets, parts and accessories totalling $387 million as at September 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023 – $369 million), and communications equipment held for resale. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value, with cost being determined on an average cost basis. Costs of goods sold for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, totalled $0.6 billion (2023 – $0.6 billion) and $1.7 billion (2023 – $1.7 billion), respectively.

 

2 accounting policy developments

 

(a) Initial application of standards, interpretations and amendments to standards and interpretations in the reporting period

 

· In May 2023, the International Accounting Standards Board issued Supplier Finance Arrangements, which amended IAS 7, Statement of Cash Flows and IFRS 7, Financial Instruments: Disclosures, and requires additional quantitative and qualitative disclosure about supplier finance arrangements. The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2024, although earlier application is permitted; comparative prior-period information is not required in the year of initial application. We are currently assessing the impacts of the amended standards, but do not expect that our financial disclosure, set out in Note 23, will be materially affected by the application of the amendments.

 

· In May 2023, the International Accounting Standards Board issued International Tax Reform – Pillar Two Model Rules (Amendments to IAS 12), which amended IAS 12, Income Taxes. The amendments provide, and we use, temporary relief from accounting for deferred income taxes arising from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Pillar Two model rules (such rules ensuring that large multinational corporations would be subject to a minimum 15% income tax rate in every jurisdiction in which they operate). As different jurisdictions are expected to implement the OECD rules at different speeds and at different points in time, the amendments are intended to help ensure consistency within, and comparability across, financial statements. The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and for interim periods ending after December 31, 2023; the effects of these amendments are as set out in Note 10.

 

(b) Standards, interpretations and amendments to standards and interpretations not yet effective and not yet applied

 

· In April 2024, the International Accounting Standards Board issued IFRS 18, Presentation and Disclosure in the Financial Statements, which sets out the overall requirements for presentation and disclosures in the financial statements. The new standard will replace IAS 1, Presentation of Financial Statements. Although much of the substance of IAS 1, Presentation of Financial Statements, will carry over into the new standard, the new standard incrementally will:

 

    September 30, 2024 | 7

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

· With a view to improving comparability amongst entities, require presentation in the statement of operations of a subtotal for operating profit and a subtotal for profit before financing and income taxes (both subtotals as defined in the new standard);

 

· Require disclosure and reconciliation, within a single financial statement note, of management-defined performance measures that are used in public communications to share management’s views of various aspects of an entity’s performance and which are derived from the statements of income and other comprehensive income;

 

· Enhance the requirements for aggregation and disaggregation of financial statement amounts; and

 

· Require limited changes to the statement of cash flows, including elimination of options for the classification of interest and dividend cash flows.

 

The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027, with earlier adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the impacts of the new standard; while there will be a limited shift of where a number of our management-defined performance measures are disclosed and reconciled (primarily a shift from management’s discussion and analysis to the financial statements) and where certain cash flows will be categorized in our statements of cash flows (primarily a shift of interest paid from operating activities to financing activities), we do not expect that the totality of our financial disclosure will be materially affected by the application of the new standard.

 

· In May 2024, the International Accounting Standards Board issued Amendments to the Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments (Amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7). The narrow-scope amendments are to address diversity in accounting practice in respect of: the classification of financial assets with environmental, social and corporate governance and similar features; and to clarify the date on which a financial asset or financial liability is derecognized when using electronic payment systems. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, with earlier adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the impacts of the new standard but do not expect to be materially affected by the application of the amendments.

 

3 capital structure financial policies

 

General

 

Our objective when managing financial capital is to maintain a flexible capital structure that optimizes the cost and availability of capital at an acceptable level of risk. In our definition of financial capital, we include:

 

· Common equity (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income);

 

· Non-controlling interests;

 

· Long-term debt (including long-term credit facilities, commercial paper backstopped by long-term credit facilities and any hedging assets or liabilities associated with long-term debt items, net of amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income);

 

· Cash and temporary investments;

 

· Short-term borrowings (including those arising from securitized trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables); and

 

· Other long-term debts.

 

We manage our financial capital structure and make adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of our business. In order to maintain or adjust our financial capital structure, we may:

 

· Adjust the amount of dividends paid to holders of Common Shares;

 

· Purchase Common Shares for cancellation pursuant to normal course issuer bids;

 

· Issue new shares (including Common Shares and TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting shares);

 

· Issue new debt, issue new debt to replace existing debt with different characteristics; and/or

 

· Increase or decrease the amount of short-term borrowings arising from securitized trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables.

 

During 2024, our financial objectives, which are reviewed annually, were unchanged from 2023. We believe that our financial objectives support our long-term strategy.

 

We monitor financial capital utilizing a number of measures, including: net debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA*) – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio; coverage ratios; and dividend payout ratios.

 

8 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

Debt and coverage ratios

 

Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs is calculated as net debt at the end of the period, divided by 12-month trailing EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. Historically, this measure is substantially similar to the leverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities. Net debt and EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs are measures that do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS-IASB and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The calculation of these measures is set out in the following table. Net debt is one component of a ratio used to determine compliance with certain debt covenants.

 

As at, or for the 12-month periods ended, September 30 ($ in millions)   Objective     2024     2023  
Components of debt and coverage ratios                        
Net debt 1           $ 28,109     $ 26,719  
EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs 2           $ 7,340     $ 6,995  
Net interest cost 3 (Note 9)           $ 1,370     $ 1,218  
Debt ratio                        
Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs     2.20 – 2.70 4       3.83       3.82  
Coverage ratios                        
Earnings coverage 5             1.9       1.9  
EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage 6             5.4       5.7  

 

1 Net debt and total managed capitalization are calculated as follows:

 

As at September 30   Note     2024     2023  
Long-term debt     26     $ 28,000     $ 27,833  
Debt issuance costs netted against long-term debt             124       122  
Derivative (assets) liabilities used to manage interest rate and currency risks associated with U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt, net             78       (90 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income amounts arising from financial instruments used to manage interest rate and currency risks associated with U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt – excluding tax effects             (204 )     (46 )
Cash and temporary investments, net             (814 )     (1,204 )
Short-term borrowings     22       925       104  
Net debt             28,109       26,719  
Common equity             15,771       16,317  
Non-controlling interests             1,156       1,189  
Less: accumulated other comprehensive income amounts included above in common equity and non-controlling interests             (27 )     (88 )
Total managed capitalization           $ 45,009     $ 44,137  

 

2 EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs is calculated as follows:

 

    EBITDA
(Note 5)
    Restructuring
and other
costs
(Note 16)
    EBITDA –
excluding
restructuring
and other costs
 
Add                        
Nine-month period ended September 30, 2024   $ 5,070     $ 425     $ 5,495  
Year ended December 31, 2023     6,431       717       7,148  
Deduct                        
Nine-month period ended September 30, 2023     (4,726 )     (577 )     (5,303 )
EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs   $ 6,775     $ 565     $ 7,340  

 

3 Net interest cost is defined as financing costs, excluding employee defined benefit plans net interest, unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element, recoveries on long-term debt prepayment premium and repayment of debt, calculated on a 12-month trailing basis (expenses recorded for long-term debt prepayment premium, if any, are included in net interest cost) (see Note 9).

 

 

* EBITDA is not a standardized financial measure under IFRS-IASB and might not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other issuers; we define EBITDA as operating revenues and other income less goods and services purchased and employee benefits expense. We report EBITDA because it is a key measure that management uses to evaluate the performance of our business, and it is also utilized to determine compliance with certain debt covenants.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 9

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

4 Our long-term objective range for this ratio is 2.20 – 2.70 times. The ratio as at September 30, 2024, is outside the long-term objective range. We may permit, and have permitted, this ratio to go outside the objective range (for long-term investment opportunities), but we will endeavour to return this ratio to circa 2.70 times in the medium term (following the spectrum auctions in 2021 and 2023, and the mmWave spectrum auction upcoming), consistent with our long-term strategy. We are in compliance with the leverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities, which states that we may not permit our net debt to operating cash flow ratio to exceed 4.25:1.00 (see Note 26(d)); the calculation of the debt ratio is substantially similar to the calculation of the leverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities.

 

5 Earnings coverage is defined in Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 41-101 as net income before borrowing costs and income tax expense, divided by borrowing costs (interest on long-term debt; interest on short-term borrowings and other; long-term debt prepayment premium), and adding back capitalized interest, all such amounts excluding those attributable to non-controlling interests.

 

6 EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage is defined as EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs, divided by net interest cost. This measure is substantially similar to the coverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities.

 

Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs was 3.83 times as at September 30, 2024, compared to 3.82 times one year earlier. The effect of the increase in net debt levels, primarily due to spectrum acquisitions and business acquisitions, was approximately equal to the effect of growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs; net debt levels were already elevated in the current and comparative periods due to our spectrum acquisitions and business acquisitions.

 

The earnings coverage ratio for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2024, was 1.9 times, unchanged from 1.9 times one year earlier. An increase in income before borrowing costs and income taxes raised the ratio by 0.3 and an increase in borrowing costs lowered the ratio by 0.3. The EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage ratio for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2024, was 5.4 times, down from 5.7 times one year earlier. Growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs increased the ratio by 0.3 and an increase of $152 million in net interest costs decreased the ratio by 0.6.

 

TELUS Corporation Common Share dividend payout ratio

 

So as to be consistent with the way we manage our business, our TELUS Corporation Common Share dividend payout ratio is presented as a historical measure calculated as the sum of the dividends declared in the most recent four quarters for TELUS Corporation Common Shares, as recorded in the financial statements, net of dividend reinvestment plan effects (see Note 13), divided by the sum of free cash flow* amounts for the most recent four quarters for interim reporting periods (divided by annual free cash flow if the reported amount is in respect of a fiscal year). The historical measure for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2024, is presented for illustrative purposes in evaluating our target guideline.

 

For the 12-month periods ended September 30   Objective     2024     2023  
Determined using most comparable IFRS-IASB measures                        
Ratio of TELUS Corporation Common Share dividends declared to cash provided by operating activities – less capital expenditures             92 %     151 %
Determined using management measures                        
TELUS Corporation Common Share dividend payout ratio – net of dividend reinvestment plan effects     60%–75% 1       77 %     88 %

 

1 Our objective range for the TELUS Corporation Common Share dividend payout ratio is 60%-75% of free cash flow on a prospective basis.

 

For the 12-month periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023  
TELUS Corporation Common Share dividends declared   $ 2,259     $ 2,063  
Amount of TELUS Corporation Common Share dividends declared reinvested in TELUS Corporation Common Shares     (697 )     (748 )
TELUS Corporation Common Share dividends declared – net of dividend reinvestment plan effects   $ 1,562     $ 1,315  

 

 

* Free cash flow is not a standardized financial measure under IFRS-IASB and might not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers; we define free cash flow as EBITDA (operating revenues and other income less goods and services purchased and employee benefits expense) excluding items that we consider to be of limited predictive value, including certain working capital changes (such as trade receivables and trade payables), proceeds from divested assets, and other sources and uses of cash, as found in the consolidated statements of cash flows. We have issued guidance on, and report, free cash flow because it is a key performance measure that management and investors use to evaluate the performance of our business.

 

10 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

Our calculation of free cash flow, and its reconciliation to cash provided by operating activities, is as follows:

 

For the 12-month periods ended September 30 (millions)   Note     2024     2023  
EBITDA   5     $ 6,775     $ 6,324  
Restructuring and other costs, net of disbursements           21       272  
Effects of contract asset, acquisition and fulfilment and TELUS Easy Payment mobile device financing           (146 )     (153 )
Effect of lease principal   31(b)     (647 )     (523 )
Items from the Consolidated statements of cash flows:                      
Share-based compensation, net   14       127       124  
Net employee defined benefit plans expense   15       76       71  
Employer contributions to employee defined benefit plans           (21 )     (33 )
Loss from equity accounted investments and other           39        
Interest paid           (1,319 )     (1,126 )
Interest received           42       17  
Capital expenditures   5       (2,617 )     (2,949 )
Free cash flow before income taxes           2,330       2,024  
Income taxes paid, net of refunds           (305 )     (532 )
Free cash flow           2,025       1,492  
Add (deduct):                      
Capital expenditures   5       2,617       2,949  
Effect of lease principal           647       523  
Net change in non-cash operating working capital not included in preceding line items and other individually immaterial items included in net income neither providing nor using cash           (205 )     (653 )
Cash provided by operating activities         $ 5,084     $ 4,311  

 

    September 30, 2024 | 11

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

4 financial instruments

 

(a) Credit risk

 

Excluding credit risk, if any, arising from currency swaps settled on a gross basis, the best representation of our maximum exposure (excluding income tax effects) to credit risk, which is a worst-case scenario and does not reflect results we expect, is set out in the following table.

 

As at (millions)   September 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Cash and temporary investments, net   $ 814     $ 864  
Accounts receivable     4,114       4,234  
Contract assets     690       748  
Derivative assets     21       215  
    $ 5,639     $ 6,061  

 

Cash and temporary investments, net

 

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

 

Accounts receivable

 

Credit risk associated with accounts receivable is inherently managed by the size and diversity of our large customer base, which includes substantially all consumer and business sectors in Canada. We follow a program of credit evaluations of customers and limit the amount of credit extended when we deem it to be necessary. Accounts are considered to be past due (in default) when customers have failed to make the contractually required payments when due, which is generally within 30 days of the billing date. Any late payment charges are levied at an industry-based market rate or a negotiated rate on outstanding non-current customer account balances.

 

Customer accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

As at (millions)   Note   Gross     Allowance     Net 1  
September 30, 2024                            
Less than 30 days past billing date       $ 1,088     $ (19 )   $ 1,069  
30-60 days past billing date         382       (17 )     365  
61-90 days past billing date         119       (19 )     100  
More than 90 days past billing date         234       (39 )     195  
Unbilled customer finance receivables         1,545       (33 )     1,512  
        $ 3,368     $ (127 )   $ 3,241  
Current 2   6(b)   $ 2,795     $ (114 )   $ 2,681  
Non-current 3   20     573       (13 )     560  
        $ 3,368     $ (127 )   $ 3,241  
December 31, 2023                            
Less than 30 days past billing date       $ 1,077     $ (14 )   $ 1,063  
30-60 days past billing date         550       (14 )     536  
61-90 days past billing date         139       (17 )     122  
More than 90 days past billing date         193       (36 )     157  
Unbilled customer finance receivables         1,630       (36 )     1,594  
        $ 3,589     $ (117 )   $ 3,472  
Current 2   6(b)   $ 2,938     $ (103 )   $ 2,835  
Non-current 3   20     651       (14 )     637  
        $ 3,589     $ (117 )   $ 3,472  

 

1 Net amounts represent customer accounts receivable for which an allowance had not been made as at the dates of the Consolidated statements of financial position (see Note 6(b)).
2 Presented in the Consolidated statements of financial position as Accounts receivable.
3 Presented in the Consolidated statements of financial position as Other long-term assets.

 

We maintain allowances for lifetime expected credit losses related to doubtful accounts. Current economic conditions (including forward-looking macroeconomic data), historical information (including credit agency reports, if available), reasons for the accounts being past due and the line of business from which the customer accounts receivable arose are all considered when determining whether to make allowances for past-due accounts. The same factors are considered when determining whether to write off amounts charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts against the customer accounts receivable. The doubtful accounts expense is calculated on a specific-identification basis for customer accounts receivable balances above a specific threshold and on a statistically derived allowance basis for the remainder. No customer accounts receivable are written off directly to the doubtful accounts expense, such expense being included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Goods and services purchased.

 

12 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to our allowance for doubtful accounts.

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Balance, beginning of period   $ 120     $ 107     $ 117     $ 109  
Additions (doubtful accounts expense)     41       30       113       78  
Accounts written off 1 less than recoveries     (39 )     (28 )     (105 )     (83 )
Other     5       (1 )     2       4  
Balance, end of period   $ 127     $ 108     $ 127     $ 108  

 

1 For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, accounts that were written off but were still subject to enforcement activity totalled $63 (2023 – $45) and $179 (2023 – $134), respectively.

 

Contract assets

 

Credit risk associated with contract assets is inherently managed by the size and diversity of our large customer base, which includes substantially all consumer and business sectors in Canada. We follow a program of credit evaluations of customers and limit the amount of credit extended when we deem it to be necessary.

 

Contract assets, net of impairment allowance  

 

As at (millions)   Gross     Allowance     Net (Note 6(c))  
September 30, 2024                        
To be billed and thus reclassified to accounts receivable during:                        
The 12-month period ending one year hence   $ 582     $ (20 )   $ 562  
The 12-month period ending two years hence     237       (8 )     229  
Thereafter     49       (1 )     48  
    $ 868     $ (29 )   $ 839  
December 31, 2023                        
To be billed and thus reclassified to accounts receivable during:                        
The 12-month period ending one year hence   $ 616     $ (21 )   $ 595  
The 12-month period ending two years hence     259       (9 )     250  
Thereafter     54       (1 )     53  
    $ 929     $ (31 )   $ 898  

 

We maintain allowances for lifetime expected credit losses related to contract assets. Current economic conditions, historical information (including credit agency reports, if available), and the line of business from which the contract asset arose are all considered when determining impairment allowances. The same factors are considered when determining whether to write off amounts charged to the impairment allowance for contract assets against contract assets.

 

Derivative assets (and derivative liabilities)

 

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

 

(b) Liquidity risk

 

As a component of our capital structure financial policies, discussed further in Note 3, we manage liquidity risk by:

 

· maintaining a daily cash pooling process that enables us to manage our available liquidity and our liquidity requirements according to our actual needs;

 

· maintaining a short-term borrowing agreement associated with trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables (Note 22), bilateral bank facilities (Note 22), a supply chain financing program (Note 23), a commercial paper program (Note 26(c)) and syndicated credit facilities (Note 26(d),(e));

 

· maintaining in-effect shelf prospectuses;

 

· continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows; and

 

· managing maturity profiles of financial assets and financial liabilities.

 

Our debt maturities in future years are disclosed in Note 26(h). As at September 30, 2024, unchanged from December 31, 2023, TELUS Corporation could offer an unlimited amount of securities in Canada, and US$3.5 billion of securities in the United States, qualified pursuant to a Canadian shelf prospectus that is in effect until September 2026 (December 31, 2023 – September 2024). We believe that our investment grade credit ratings contribute to reasonable access to capital markets. TELUS International (Cda) Inc. has a Canadian shelf prospectus that is in effect until June 2026 (December 31, 2023 – May 2024) under which an unlimited amount of debt or equity securities could be offered.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 13

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

We closely match the contractual maturities of our derivative financial liabilities with those of the risk exposures they are being used to manage.

 

The expected maturities of our undiscounted financial liabilities do not differ significantly from the contractual maturities, other than as noted below. The contractual maturities of our undiscounted financial liabilities, including interest thereon (where applicable), are set out in the accompanying tables.

 

    Non-derivative     Derivative        
                Composite long-term debt                    
    Non-interest
bearing
financial
    Short-term     Long-term
debt,
excluding
leases 1
    Leases     Currency swap agreement
amounts to be exchanged 2
    Currency swap agreement
amounts to be exchanged 3
       
As at September 30, 2024 (millions)   liabilities     borrowings 1     (Note 26)     (Note 26)     (Receive)     Pay     (Receive)     Pay     Total  
2024 (remainder of year)   $ 2,609     $ 16     $ 1,157     $ 194     $ (961 )   $ 962     $ (179 )   $ 179     $ 3,977  
2025     651       48       2,386       737       (426 )     411       (404 )     404       3,807  
2026     103       48       2,532       595       (220 )     207                   3,265  
2027     103       945       2,568       466       (1,691 )     1,655                   4,046  
2028     71             4,175       316       (578 )     590                   4,574  
2029 - 2033     10             11,931       626       (1,737 )     1,662                   12,492  
Thereafter                 12,634       407       (2,836 )     2,734                   12,939  
Total   $ 3,547     $ 1,057     $ 37,383     $ 3,341     $ (8,449 )   $ 8,221     $ (583 )   $ 583     $ 45,100  
                      Total (Note 26(h))   $ 40,496                          

 

1 Cash outflows in respect of interest payments on our short-term borrowings, commercial paper and amounts drawn under our credit facilities (if any) have been calculated based upon the interest rates and, if applicable, currency exchange rates, in effect as at September 30, 2024.
2 The amounts included in undiscounted non-derivative long-term debt in respect of U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt, and the corresponding amounts in the long-term debt currency swap receive column, have been determined based upon the currency exchange rates in effect as at September 30, 2024. The hedged U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt contractual amounts at maturity, in effect, are reflected in the long-term debt currency swap pay column as gross cash flows are exchanged pursuant to the currency swap agreements.
3 The amounts included in undiscounted short-term borrowing in respect of U.S. dollar-denominated short-term borrowings, and the corresponding derivative liability amounts, if any, included in the currency swap pay column amounts, have been determined based upon the currency exchange rates in effect as at September 30, 2024. The derivative liability hedging amounts, if any, for the hedged U.S. dollar-denominated short-term borrowings contractual amounts are included in the currency swap pay column amounts as net cash flows are exchanged pursuant to the currency swap agreements.

 

    Non-derivative     Derivative        
                Composite long-term debt                    
As at December 31, 2023   Non-interest
bearing
financial 
    Short-term      Long-term
debt,
excluding
leases 1  
    Leases      Currency swap agreement
amounts to be exchanged 2
          Currency swap agreement
amounts to be exchanged
       
(millions)   liabilities     borrowings 1     (Note 26)     (Note 26)     (Receive)     Pay     Other     (Receive)     Pay     Total  
2024   $ 3,126     $ 111     $ 4,408     $ 685     $ (1,271 )   $ 1,267      $     $ (572 )   $ 578     $ 8,332  
2025     164             2,027       547       (219 )     207       1                   2,727  
2026     93             2,378       416       (215 )     206       1                   2,879  
2027     152             2,383       331       (1,657 )     1,653       1                   2,863  
2028     43             3,388       202       (567 )     576                         3,642  
2029-2033                 10,092       503       (1,702 )     1,662                         10,555  
Thereafter                 12,018       323       (2,778 )     2,734                         12,297  
Total   $ 3,578     $ 111     $ 36,694     $ 3,007     $ (8,409 )   $ 8,305     $ 3     $ (572 )   $ 578     $ 43,295  
                      Total                     $ 39,597                                  

 

1 Cash outflows in respect of interest payments on our short-term borrowings, commercial paper and amounts drawn under our credit facilities (if any) have been calculated based upon the interest rates and, if applicable, currency exchange rates in effect as at December 31, 2023.
2 The amounts included in undiscounted non-derivative long-term debt in respect of U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt, and the corresponding amounts in the long-term debt currency swap receive column, have been determined based upon the currency exchange rates in effect as at December 31, 2023. The hedged U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt contractual amounts at maturity, in effect, are reflected in the long-term debt currency swap pay column as gross cash flows are exchanged pursuant to the currency swap agreements.

 

(c) Market risks

 

Net income and other comprehensive income for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, could have varied if the Canadian dollar: U.S. dollar exchange rate, the U.S. dollar: European euro exchange rate, market interest rates and virtual power purchase agreement forward element valuation varied by reasonably possible amounts from their actual statement of financial position date amounts.

 

The sensitivity analysis of our exposure to currency risk at the reporting date has been determined based upon a hypothetical change taking place at the relevant statement of financial position date. The U.S. dollar-denominated and European euro-denominated balances and the notional amounts of our derivative financial instruments as at the relevant statement of financial position dates have been used in the calculations.

 

14 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

The sensitivity analysis of our exposure to interest rate risk at the reporting date has been determined based upon a hypothetical change taking place at the beginning of the relevant fiscal year and being held constant through to the statement of financial position date. The principal and notional amounts as at the relevant statement of financial position dates have been used in the calculations.

 

The sensitivity analysis of our exposure to wind discount risk and solar premium risk at the reporting date has been determined based upon a hypothetical change taking place at the relevant statement of financial position date. The notional amounts of the virtual power purchase agreements as at the relevant statement of financial position dates have been used in the calculations.

 

Income tax expense, which is reflected net in the sensitivity analysis, was determined using the applicable statutory income tax rates for the reporting periods.

 

Nine-month periods ended September 30   Net income     Other comprehensive
income
    Comprehensive income  
 (increase (decrease) in millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023     2024       2023  
Reasonably possible changes in market risks 1                                                
10% change in C$: US$ exchange rate                                                
Canadian dollar appreciates   $ (7 )   $ (7 )   $ 97     $ 123     $ 90     $ 116  
Canadian dollar depreciates   $ 7     $ 7     $ (97 )   $ (123 )   $ (90 )   $ (116 )
10% change in US$: € exchange rate                                                
U.S. dollar appreciates   $ 13     $ 11     $ (72 )   $ (65 )   $ (59 )   $ (54 )
U.S. dollar depreciates   $ (13 )   $ (11 )   $ 72     $ 65     $ 59     $ 54  
25 basis point change in interest rates                                                
Interest rates increase                                                
Canadian interest rate   $ (4 )   $ (8 )   $ 77     $ 70     $ 73     $ 62  
U.S. interest rate   $     $     $ (66 )   $ (67 )   $ (66 )   $ (67 )
Combined   $ (4 )   $ (8 )   $ 11     $ 3     $ 7     $ (5 )
Interest rates decrease                                                
Canadian interest rate   $ 4     $ 8     $ (81 )   $ (72 )   $ (77 )   $ (64 )
U.S. interest rate   $     $     $ 69     $ 70     $ 69     $ 70  
Combined   $ 4     $ 8     $ (12 )   $ (2 )   $ (8 )   $ 6  
20 basis point change in wind discount                                                
Wind discount increases   $ (23 )   $ (35 )   $     $     $ (23 )   $ (35 )
Wind discount decreases   $ 23     $ 35     $     $     $ 23     $ 35  
20 basis point change in solar premium                                                
Solar premium increases   $ 13     $ 20     $     $     $ 13     $ 20  
Solar premium decreases   $ (13 )   $ (20 )   $     $     $ (13 )   $ (20 )

 

1 These sensitivities are hypothetical and should be used with caution. Changes in net income and/or other comprehensive income generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumption to the change in net income and/or other comprehensive income may not be linear. In this table, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the amount of net income and/or other comprehensive income is calculated without changing any other factors; in reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another, which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities.

 

The sensitivity analysis assumes that we would realize the changes in exchange rates and market interest rates; in reality, the competitive marketplace in which we operate would have an effect on this assumption.  

 

(d) Fair values

 

General

 

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

 

The fair values of our investment financial assets are based on quoted market prices in active markets or other clear and objective evidence of fair value.

 

The fair value of our long-term debt, excluding leases, is based on quoted market prices in active markets.

 

The fair values of the derivative financial instruments we use to manage our exposure to currency risk are estimated based on either quoted market prices in active markets for the same or similar financial instruments or the current rates offered to us for financial instruments of the same maturity, as well as discounted future cash flows determined using current rates for similar financial instruments of similar maturities subject to similar risks (such fair value estimates being largely based on the Canadian dollar: U.S. dollar forward exchange rate as at the statements of financial position dates). The fair values of the derivative financial instruments we use to manage our exposure to price risk associated with the purchase of electrical power are currently estimated using a discounted cash flow approach and are based on industry standard forecasts from EDC Associates Ltd. utilizing observable market data. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Level 3 derivative financial instruments were wind discount, reflecting 76% (December 31, 2023 – 77%) of the electrical power pool price, and solar premium, reflecting 108% (December 31, 2023 – 125%) of the electrical power pool price.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 15

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements   (unaudited)

 

Derivative

 

The derivative financial instruments that we measure at fair value on a recurring basis subsequent to initial recognition are set out in the following table.

 

  September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
As at ($ in millions except price or rate)   Designation     Maximum
maturity
date
    Notional
amount
    Fair value 1
and carrying
value
    Price or rate     Maximum
maturity
date
    Notional
amount
    Fair value 1
and carrying
value
    Price or rate  
Current derivative assets 2                                                                        
Derivatives used to manage currency risk associated with                                                                        
U.S. dollar-denominated transactions     HFT 4       2025     $ 93     $ 3       US$1.00: ₱57       2024     $ 111     $ 2       US$1.00: ₱56  
U.S. dollar-denominated purchases     HFH 3       2025     $ 94             US$1.00: C$1.38       2024     $ 47             US$1.00: C$1.31  
U.S. dollar-denominated debt (Notes 22, 26(c))     HFH 3       2024     $ 925       1       US$1.00: C$1.35       2024     $ 118       1       US$1.00: C$1.31  
European euro functional currency operations purchased with U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt 7 (Note 26(e))     HFH 5       2028     $ 46       13       €1.00: US$1.09       2027     $ 45       17       €1.00: US$1.09  
Derivatives used to manage interest rate risk associated with                                                                        
Non-fixed rate credit facility amounts drawn (Note 26(e))     HFH 3       2028     $ 11             3.5 %     2024     $ 11       2       3.5 %
Derivatives used to manage other price risk associated with                                                                        
Purchase of electrical power     HFT 4           $                   2047     $

25 (0.4 TWh 8) 

      14       $30.60/ MWh 8  
                            $ 17                             $ 36          
Other long-term assets 2 (Note 20)                                                                        
Derivatives used to manage currency risk associated with                                                                        
U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt 6 (Note 26(b))     HFH 3       2027     $ 1,586     $ 4       US$1.00: C$1.32           $     $        
Derivatives used to manage other price risk associated with                                                                        
Purchase of electrical power     HFT 4           $                   2047     $ 672 (6.9 TWh 8)       179       $39.52/ MWh 8  
                            $ 4                             $ 179          
                                                                         
Current derivative liabilities 2                                                                        
Derivatives used to manage currency risk associated with                                                                        
U.S. dollar-denominated transactions     HFT 4       2025     $ 79     $       US$1.00: ₱56       2024     $ 18     $       US$1.00: ₱55  
U.S. dollar-denominated purchases     HFH 3       2025     $ 317       2       US$1.00: C$1.35       2024     $ 401       7       US$1.00: C$1.34  
U.S. dollar-denominated debt (Notes 22, 26(c))     HFH 3       2024     $ 1,097       11       US$1.00: C$1.36       2024     $ 943       18       US$1.00: C$1.35  
Derivatives used to manage other price risk associated with                                                                        
Purchase of electrical power     HFT 4       2047     $

7 (0.4 TWh 8)

      2       $31.37/ MWh 8           $              
                            $ 15                             $ 25          

 

16 | September 30, 2024    

 

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

As at ($ in millions except price or rate)       September 30, 2024   December 31, 2023  
    Designation   Maximum
maturity
date
  Notional
amount
    Fair value 1
and carrying
value
  Price or rate   Maximum
maturity
date
    Notional
amount
    Fair value 1
and carrying
value
  Price or rate  
Other long-term liabilities 2 (Note 27)                                                          
Derivatives used to manage currency risk associated with                                                          
U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt 6 (Note 26(c))   HFH 3   2049   $ 4,919     $ 66     US$1.00: C$1.30     2049     $ 6,610     $ 176     US$1.00: C$1.31  
European euro functional currency operations purchased with U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt 7 (Note 26(e))   HFH 5   2028   $ 574       18     €1.00: US$1.09     2027     $ 591       13     €1.00: US$1.09  
Derivatives used to manage interest rate risk associated with                                                          
Non-fixed rate credit facility amounts drawn (Note 26(e))   HFH 3   2028   $ 201       1     3.5 %   2028     $ 205       2     3.6
Derivatives used to manage other price risk associated with                                                          
Purchase of electrical power   HFT 4   2047   $ 137 (6.6 TWh 8)       33     $40.14/ MWh 8         $            
                    $ 118                         $ 191        

 

1 Fair value measured at the reporting date using significant other observable inputs (Level 2), except the fair value of virtual power purchase agreements (which we use to manage the price risk associated with the purchase of electrical power), which is measured at the reporting date using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy were as follows:

 

    Nine months  
Periods ended September 30   2024     2023  
Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element                
Included in net income, excluding income taxes   $ (228 )   $ (59 )
Balance, beginning of period     193       193  
Balance, end of period   $ (35)     $ 134  

 

2 Caption reflects Consolidated statement of financial position line item where derivative financial instruments are presented. Derivative financial assets and liabilities are not set off.
3 Designated as held for hedging (HFH) upon initial recognition (cash flow hedging item); hedge accounting is applied. Unless otherwise noted, hedge ratio is 1:1 and is established by assessing the degree of matching between the notional amounts of hedging items and the notional amounts of the associated hedged items.
4 Designated as held for trading (HFT) and classified as fair value through net income upon initial recognition; hedge accounting is not applied.
5 Designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation; hedge accounting is applied. Hedge ratio is 1:1 and is established by assessing the degree of matching between the notional amounts of hedging items and the notional amounts of the associated hedged items.
6 We designate only the spot element as the hedging item. As at September 30, 2024, the foreign currency basis spread included in the fair value of the derivative instruments, which is used for purposes of assessing hedge ineffectiveness, was $4 (December 31, 2023 – $163).
7 We designate only the spot element as the hedging item. As at September 30, 2024, the foreign currency basis spread included in the fair value of the derivative instruments, which is used for purposes of assessing hedge ineffectiveness, was $3 (December 31, 2023 – $3).
8 Terawatt hours (TWh) are 1x109 kilowatt hours and megawatt hours (MWh) are 1x103 kilowatt hours.

 

Non-derivative

 

Our long-term debt, which is measured at amortized cost, and the fair value thereof, are set out in the following table.

 

As at (millions)   September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
    Carrying
value
    Fair value     Carrying
value
    Fair value  
Long-term debt, excluding leases (Note 26)   $ 25,297     $ 24,721      $ 24,735      $ 23,853  

 

(e) Recognition of derivative gains and losses

 

The following table sets out the gains and losses, excluding income tax effects, arising from derivative instruments that are classified as cash flow hedging items and their location within the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income.

 

Credit risk associated with such derivative instruments, as discussed further in (a), would be the primary source of hedge ineffectiveness. There was no ineffective portion of the derivative instruments classified as cash flow hedging items for the periods presented.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 17

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

    Amount of gain (loss)
recognized in other
comprehensive income
    Gain (loss) reclassified from other
comprehensive income to income
(effective portion) (Note 11)
    (effective portion) (Note 11)         Amount  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     Location   2024     2023  
THREE-MONTH                                    
Derivatives used to manage currency risk associated with                                    
U.S. dollar-denominated purchases   $ (5)     $ 10   Goods and services purchased   $ 2     $  
U.S. dollar-denominated debt 1 Notes 22, 26(b)-(c)     (47)       142     Financing costs     (79 )     135  
Net investment in a foreign operation 2     (29)       26   Financing costs     6       12
      (81)       178         (71 )     147  
Derivatives used to manage other market risks                                    
Other     (5)       2   Financing costs     1       (5)  
    $ (86)     $ 180       $ (70 )   $ 142  
                                     
NINE-MONTH                                    
Derivatives used to manage currency risk associated with                                    
U.S. dollar-denominated purchases   $ 10     $ 1   Goods and services purchased   $ 6     $ 15  
U.S. dollar-denominated debt 1 Notes 22, 26(b)-(c)     135       (9 )   Financing costs     108       (3 )
Net investment in a foreign operation 2     8       5   Financing costs     17       1
      153       (3 )         131       13  
Derivatives used to manage other market risks                                    
Other     1       2   Financing costs     3       (5 )
    $ 154     $ (1 )       $ 134     $ 8  

 

1 Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income are net of the change in the foreign currency basis spread (which is used for purposes of assessing hedge ineffectiveness) included in the fair value of the derivative instruments; such amounts for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, were $(123) (2023 – $48) and $(167) (2023 – $40), respectively.
2 Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income are net of the change in the foreign currency basis spread (which is used for purposes of assessing hedge ineffectiveness) included in the fair value of the derivative instruments; such amounts for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, were $NIL (2023 – $NIL and $NIL (2023 – $2), respectively,

 

The following table sets out the gains and losses included in Financing costs in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income that arise from derivative instruments that are classified as held for trading and that are not designated as being in a hedging relationship.

 

    Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income  
    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Derivatives used to manage currency risk   $ 3     $ (1 )   $ (3 )   $ 4  
Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element   $ (125 )   $ (33 )   $ (228 )   $ (59 )

 

18 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

5 segment information

 

General

 

Operating segments are components of an entity that engage in business activities from which they earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses related to transactions with the other component(s)), the operations of which can be clearly distinguished and for which the operating results are regularly reviewed by a chief operating decision-maker to make resource allocation decisions and to assess performance. We have embarked upon the modification of our internal and external reporting processes, systems and internal controls arising from the acquisition and ongoing integration of LifeWorks Inc. and correspondingly we are assessing our segmented reporting structure.

 

The TELUS technology solutions segment includes: network revenues and equipment sales arising from mobile technologies; data revenues (which include internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology and cloud-based services; and home and business security); healthcare services, software and technology solutions (including employee and family assistance programs and benefits administration); agriculture and consumer goods services (software, data management and data analytics-driven smart-food chain and consumer goods technologies); voice and other telecommunications services revenues; and equipment sales.

 

The TELUS digital experience segment (formerly the digitally-led customer experiences – TELUS International (DLCX) segment), which has the U.S. dollar as its primary functional currency, is comprised of digital customer experience and digital-enablement transformation solutions, including artificial intelligence and content management, provided by our TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subsidiary.

 

Intersegment sales are recorded at the exchange value, which is the amount agreed to by the parties.

 

The segment information regularly reported to our Chief Executive Officer (our chief operating decision-maker), and the reconciliations thereof to our products and services view of revenues, other revenues and income before income taxes, are set out in the following table.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 19

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

Three-month periods   TELUS technology solutions     TELUS digital                        
ended September 30   Mobile     Fixed   Segment total     experience 1     Eliminations     Total  
(millions)   2024     2023     2024   2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
Operating revenues                                                                                            
External revenues                                                                                            
Service   $ 1,790     $ 1,792     $ 1,945   $ 1,890     $ 3,735     $ 3,682     $ 675     $ 706     $     $     $ 4,410     $ 4,388  
Equipment     567       518     65     84       632       602                               632       602  
Revenues arising from contracts with customers   $ 2,357     $ 2,310     $ 2,010   $ 1,974       4,367       4,284       675       706                   5,042       4,990  
                    Other income (Note 7)       54       18       3                         57       18  
                                  4,421       4,302       678       706                   5,099       5,008  
                    Intersegment revenues       3       4       219       183       (222 )     (187 )            
                                $ 4,424     $ 4,306     $ 897     $ 889     $ (222 )   $ (187 )   $ 5,099     $ 5,008  
                    EBITDA 2     $ 1,659     $ 1,346     $ 109     $ 171     $ (12 )   $     $ 1,756     $ 1,517  
                    Restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA (Note 16)       64       287       22       16                   86       303  
                    Adjusted EBITDA 2     $ 1,723     $ 1,633     $ 131     $ 187     $ (12 )   $     $ 1,842     $ 1,820  
                    Capital expenditures 3     $ 650     $ 734     $ 30     $ 35     $ (12 )   $     $ 668     $ 769  
                    Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures 2     $ 1,073     $ 899     $ 101     $ 152     $   $     $ 1,174     $ 1,051  
                                                                  Operating revenues – external and other income (above)     $ 5,099     $ 5,008  
                                                                  Goods and services purchased       1,868       1,858  
                                                                  Employee benefits expense       1,475       1,633  
                                                                  EBITDA (above)       1,756       1,517  
                                                                  Depreciation       597       611  
                                                                  Amortization of intangible assets       371       389  
                                                                  Operating income       788       517  
                                                                  Financing costs       479       352  
                                                                  Income before income taxes     $ 309     $ 165  

 

20 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

Nine-month periods   TELUS technology solutions     TELUS digital                          
ended September 30   Mobile     Fixed   Segment total     experience 1     Eliminations     Total  
(millions)   2024     2023     2024   2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
Operating revenues                                                                                            
External revenues                                                                                            
Service   $ 5,315     $ 5,265     $ 5,743   $ 5,641     $ 11,058     $ 10,906     $ 2,023     $ 2,185     $     $     $ 13,081     $ 13,091  
Equipment     1,506       1,496     221     262       1,727       1,758                               1,727       1,758  
Revenues arising from contracts with customers   $ 6,821     $ 6,761     $ 5,964   $ 5,903       12,785       12,664       2,023       2,185                   14,808       14,849  
                    Other income (Note 7)       112       69       85                         197       69  
                                  12,897       12,733       2,108       2,185                   15,005       14,918  
                    Intersegment revenues       9       12       649       528       (658 )     (540 )            
                                $ 12,906     $ 12,745     $ 2,757     $ 2,713     $ (658 )   $ (540 )   $ 15,005     $ 14,918  
                    EBITDA 2     $ 4,632     $ 4,256     $ 472     $ 470     $ (34 )   $     $ 5,070     $ 4,726  
                    Restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA (Note 16)       381       522       44       55                   425       577  
                    Equity (income) related to real estate joint venture             (1)                                     (1 )
                    Adjusted EBITDA 2     $ 5,013     $ 4,777     $ 516     $ 525     $ (34 )   $     $ 5,495     $ 5,302  
                    Capital expenditures 3     $ 2,020     $ 2,200     $ 96     $ 89     $ (32 )   $     $ 2,084     $ 2,289  
                    Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures 2     $ 2,993     $ 2,577     $ 420     $ 436     $ (2 )   $     $ 3,411     $ 3,013  
                                                                  Operating revenues – external and other income (above)     $ 15,005     $ 14,918  
                                                                  Goods and services purchased       5,503       5,451  
                                                                  Employee benefits expense       4,432       4,741  
                                                                  EBITDA (above)       5,070       4,726  
                                                                  Depreciation       1,895       1,849  
                                                                  Amortization of intangible assets      

1,130

      1,179  
                                                                  Operating income       2,045       1,698  
                                                                  Financing costs       1,255       995  
                                                                  Income before income taxes     $ 790     $ 703  

 

 

1 The TELUS digital experience segment (formerly the digitally-led customer experiences – TELUS International segment) is comprised of our consolidated TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subsidiary. All of our other international operations are included in the TELUS technology solutions segment.
2 Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), both unadjusted and adjusted, are not standardized financial measures under IFRS-IASB and may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other issuers (including those disclosed by TELUS International (Cda) Inc.); we define EBITDA as operating revenues and other income less goods and services purchased and employee benefits expense. We calculate adjusted EBITDA to exclude items that do not reflect our ongoing operations and, in our opinion, should not be considered in a long-term valuation metric or included in an assessment of our ability to service or incur debt. We report EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures, because they are key measures that management uses to evaluate the performance of our business, and EBITDA is also utilized in determining compliance with certain debt covenants.
3 See Note 31(a) for a reconciliation of capital asset additions, excluding spectrum licences, to cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences, reported in the Consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 21

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

6 revenue from contracts with customers

 

(a) Revenues

 

In the determination of the minimum transaction prices in contracts with customers, amounts are allocated to fulfilling, or the completion of fulfilling, future contracted performance obligations. These unfulfilled, or partially unfulfilled, future contracted performance obligations are largely in respect of services to be provided over the duration of the contract. The following table sets out our aggregate estimated minimum transaction prices allocated to remaining unfulfilled, or partially unfulfilled, future contracted performance obligations and the timing of when we might expect to recognize the associated revenues; actual amounts could differ from these estimates due to a variety of factors, including the unpredictable nature of: customer behaviour; industry regulation; the economic environments in which we operate; and competitor behaviour.

 

As at (millions)   September 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Estimated minimum transaction price allocated to remaining unfulfilled, or partially unfulfilled, performance obligations to be recognized as revenue in a future period 1, 2                
During the 12-month period ending one year hence   $ 2,344     $ 2,576  
During the 12-month period ending two years hence     864       1,022  
Thereafter     118       107  
    $ 3,326     $ 3,705  

 

1 Excludes constrained variable consideration amounts, amounts arising from contracts originally expected to have a duration of one year or less and, as a permitted practical expedient, amounts arising from contracts that are not affected by revenue recognition timing differences arising from transaction price allocation or from contracts under which we may recognize and bill revenue in an amount that corresponds directly with our completed performance obligations.
2 IFRS-IASB requires the explanation of when we might expect to recognize as revenue the amounts disclosed as the estimated minimum transaction price allocated to remaining unfulfilled, or partially unfulfilled, performance obligations. The estimated amounts disclosed are based upon contractual terms and maturities. Actual minimum transaction price revenues recognized, and the timing thereof, will differ from these estimates primarily due to the frequency with which the actual durations of contracts with customers do not match their contractual maturities.

 

(b) Accounts receivable

 

As at (millions)   Note     September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
Customer accounts receivable           $ 2,795     $ 2,938  
Allowance for doubtful accounts     4(a)     (114 )     (103 )
Billed customer accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts             2,681       2,835  
Accrued receivables – customer             553       480  
Billed and unbilled customer accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts             3,234       3,315  
Accrued receivables – other             320       282  
Accounts receivable – current           $ 3,554     $ 3,597  

 

(c) Contract assets

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Balance, beginning of period   $ 843     $ 857     $ 898     $ 908  
Net additions arising from operations     410       378       1,138       1,096  
Amounts billed in the period and thus reclassified to accounts receivable     (410 )   (387 )     (1,199 )     (1,162 )
Change in impairment allowance, net (Note 4(a))     (2 )     1       2       3  
Other     (2 )     1             5  
Balance, end of period 1   $ 839     $ 850     $ 839     $ 850  
Reconciliation of contract assets presented in the Consolidated statements of financial position – current                            
Gross contract assets                   $ 562     $ 570  
Reclassification to contract liabilities of contracts with contract assets less than contract liabilities (Note 24)                     (18 )     (16 )
Reclassification from contract liabilities of contracts with contract liabilities less than contract assets (Note 24)                     (131 )     (131 )
                    $ 413     $ 423  

 

1 Timing of amounts to be billed and thus reclassified to accounts receivable is set out in Note 4(a).

 

22 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

7 other income

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Government assistance   $ 1     $ 2     $ 5     $ 12  
Other sublet revenue (Note 19)     3       1       6       4  
Investment income (loss), gain (loss) on disposal of assets and other, net     49       13       96       6  
Interest income (Note 21(a))     2       1       5       5  
Changes in provisions related to business combinations (Note 25)     2       1       85       42  
    $ 57     $ 18     $ 197     $ 69  

 

8 employee benefits expense

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Employee benefits expense – gross                                
Wages and salaries   $ 1,396     $ 1,424     $ 4,186     $ 4,436  
Share-based compensation 1 (Note 14)     60       40       144       138  
Pensions – defined benefit (Note 15(a))     16       15       50       46  
Pensions – defined contribution (Note 15(b))     31       32       90       95  
Restructuring costs 1 (Note 16(a))     60       221       259       364  
Employee health and other benefits     73       71       200       208  
      1,636       1,803       4,929       5,287  
Capitalized internal labour costs, net                                
Contract acquisition costs (Note 20)                                
Capitalized     (21 )     (22 )     (67 )     (61 )
Amortized     23       24       69       70  
Contract fulfilment costs (Note 20)                                
Capitalized     (8 )     (7 )     (24 )     (18 )
Amortized     1       2       5       3  
Property, plant and equipment     (76 )     (91 )     (243 )     (289 )
Intangible assets subject to amortization     (80 )     (76 )     (237 )     (251 )
      (161 )     (170 )     (497 )     (546 )
    $ 1,475     $ 1,633     $ 4,432     $ 4,741  

 

1 For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, $NIL (2023 – $1) and $4 (2023 – $1), respectively, of share-based compensation in the TELUS technology solutions segment was included in restructuring costs.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 23

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

9 financing costs

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Interest expense                                 
Long-term debt, excluding lease liabilities – gross   $ 297     $ 282     $ 892     $ 815  
Long-term debt, excluding lease liabilities – capitalized 1     (9 )     (1 )     (13 )     (4 )
Long-term debt, excluding lease liabilities     288       281       879       811  
Lease liabilities (Note 19)     42       36       122       95  
Short-term borrowings and other     14       10       24       22  
Accretion on provisions (Note 25)     7       7       22       22  
      351       334       1,047       950  
Employee defined benefit plans net interest (Note 15)     3       1       7       5  
Foreign exchange     8       (12 )     2       (8 )
Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element     125       33       228       59  
      487       356       1,284       1,006  
Interest income     (8 )     (4 )     (29 )     (11 )
    $ 479     $ 352     $ 1,255     $ 995  
Net interest cost (Note 3)                   $ 1,033     $ 935  
Interest expense on long-term debt, excluding lease liabilities – capitalized 1                     (13 )     (4 )
Employee defined benefit plans net interest                     7       5  
Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element                     228       59  
                    $ 1,255     $ 995  

 

1 Interest on long-term debt, excluding lease liabilities, at a composite rate of 5.3% (2023 – 3.1%) was capitalized to intangible assets with indefinite lives during the period.

 

10 income taxes

 

Expense composition and rate reconciliation

 

  Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Current income tax expense                                
For the current reporting period   $ 190     $ 136     $ 483     $ 401  
Adjustments recognized in the current period for income taxes of prior periods     (22 )     (10 )     (28 )     (28 )
Pillar Two global minimum tax     1             2        
      169       126       457       373  
Deferred income tax expense                                
Arising from the origination and reversal of temporary differences     (119 )     (85 )     (287 )     (220 )
Adjustments recognized in the current period for income taxes of prior periods     2       (13 )     2       (7 )
      (117 )     (98 )     (285 )     (227 )
    $ 52     $ 28     $ 172     $ 146  

 

24 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

Our income tax expense and effective income tax rate differ from those computed by applying the applicable statutory rates for the following reasons:

 

Three-month periods ended September 30 ($ in millions)   2024     2023  
Income taxes computed at applicable statutory rates   $ 78       25.2 %   $ 40       23.8 %
Adjustments recognized in the current period for income taxes of prior periods     (20 )     (6.4 )     (23 )     (13.9 )
Pillar Two global minimum tax     1       0.3              
(Non-taxable) non-deductible amounts, net     (6 )     (1.9 )     (2 )     (1.2 )
Withholding and other taxes     6       1.9       6       3.7  
Losses not recognized     1       0.3       9       5.5  
Foreign tax differential     (4 )     (1.3 )     (4 )     (2.4 )
Other     (4 )     (1.3 )     2       1.7  
Income tax expense per Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income   $ 52       16.8 %   $ 28       17.2 %

 

Nine-month periods ended September 30 ($ in millions)   2024     2023  
Income taxes computed at applicable statutory rates   $ 191       24.2 %   $ 165       23.5 %
Adjustments recognized in the current period for income taxes of prior periods     (26 )     (3.3 )     (35 )     (5.0 )
Pillar Two global minimum tax     2       0.3              
(Non-taxable) non-deductible amounts, net     (13 )     (1.7 )     (9 )     (1.3 )
Withholding and other taxes     25       3.2       15       2.1  
Losses not recognized     4       0.5       17       2.4  
Foreign tax differential     (7 )     (0.9 )     (11 )     (1.6 )
Other     (4 )     (0.5 )     4       0.7  
Income tax expense per Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income   $ 172       21.8 %   $ 146       20.8 %

 

We are subject to the global minimum top-up income tax under Pillar Two tax legislation. The top-up income tax relates primarily to our operations in Bulgaria and Ireland, where the statutory income tax rates are 10% and 12.5%, respectively. As at September 30, 2024, both Bulgaria and Ireland have enacted global minimum income tax into domestic tax legislation effective January 1, 2024. As a result, our Bulgarian and Irish subsidiaries will be liable for the top-up income tax rather than the ultimate Canadian parent company.During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, the Company recognized a current income tax expense of $1 million and $2 million, respectively, related to the Pillar Two tax.

 

We have applied a temporary mandatory relief from deferred income tax accounting for the impacts of the top-up income tax and it is recognized as a current income tax in the period it is incurred.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 25

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

11 other comprehensive income

 

    Items that may subsequently be reclassified to income     Item never
reclassified
to income
        Item never
reclassified
to income
       
    Change in unrealized fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges (Note 4(e))                              
    Derivatives used to manage currency risk     Derivatives used to manage
other market risks
          Cumulative               Employee         
(millions)   Gains
(losses)
arising
    Prior period
(gains) losses
reclassified to
net income
    Total     Gains
(losses)
arising
    Prior period
(gains) losses
reclassified to
net income
    Total     Total     foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
    Change in 
measurement
of investment
financial assets
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
  defined
benefit plan
re-measurements
    Other
comprehensive
 income
 
Balance as at July 1, 2023                   $ (55 )                   $ (3 )   $ (58 )   $ 31     $ 82     $ 55                
Other comprehensive income (loss)                                                                                              
Amount arising   $ 178     $ (147 )     31     $ 2     $ 5       7       38       7       (3 )     42   $ 80     $ 122  
Income taxes   $ 26     $ (20 )     6     $ 1     $ 1       2       8             1       9     20       29  
Net                     25                       5       30       7       (4 )     33   $ 60     $ 93  
Balance as at September 30, 2023                   $ (30 )                   $ 2     $ (28 )   $ 38     $ 78     $ 88                
Balance as at July 1, 2024                   $ (129 )                   $ 1     $ (128 )   $ 77     $ 75     $ 24                
Other comprehensive income (loss)                                                                                              
Amount arising   $ (81 )   $ 71       (10 )   $ (5 )   $ (1 )     (6 )     (16 )     23       2       9   $ (27 )   $ (18 )
Income taxes   $ (4 )   $ 11       7     $ (2 )   $       (2 )     5             1       6     (7 )     (1 )
Net                     (17 )                     (4 )     (21 )     23       1       3   $ (20 )   $ (17 )
Balance as at September 30, 2024                   $ (146 )                   $ (3 )   $ (149 )   $ 100     $ 76     $ 27                

 

26 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

    Items that may subsequently be reclassified to income     Item never
reclassified
to income
        Item never
reclassified
to income
       
    Derivatives used to manage currency risk     Derivatives used to manage
other market risks
          Cumulative               Employee         
    Change in unrealized fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges (Note 4(e))                              
(millions)   Gains
(losses)
arising
    Prior period
(gains) losses
reclassified to
net income
    Total     Gains
(losses)
arising
    Prior period
(gains) losses
reclassified to
net income
    Total     Total     foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
    Change in
measurement
of investment
financial assets
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
  defined
benefit plan
re-measurements
    Other
comprehensive
 income
 
Balance as at January 1, 2023                   $ (20 )                   $ (3 )   $ (23 )   $ 66     $ 90     $ 133                
Other comprehensive income (loss)                                                                                              
Amount arising   $ (3 )   $ (13 )     (16 )   $ 2     $ 5       7       (9 )     (28 )     (13 )     (50 $ 79     $ 29  
Income taxes   $ (6 )   $       (6 )   $ 1     $ 1       2       (4 )           (1 )     (5 )   20       15  
Net                     (10 )                     5       (5 )     (28 )     (12 )     (45 $ 59     $ 14  
Balance as at September 30, 2023                   $ (30 )                   $ 2     $ (28 )   $ 38     $ 78     $ 88                
Balance as at January 1, 2024                   $ (158 )                   $ (2 )   $ (160 )   $ 36     $ 78     $ (46              
Other comprehensive income (loss)                                                                                              
Amount arising   $ 153     $ (131 )     22     $ 1     $ (3 )     (2 )     20       64       (2 )     82   $ 42     $ 124  
Income taxes   $ 28     $ (18 )     10     $     $ (1 )     (1 )     9                   9     11       20  
Net                     12                       (1 )     11       64       (2 )     73   $ 31     $ 104  
Balance as at September 30, 2024                   $ (146 )                   $ (3 )   $ (149 )   $ 100     $ 76     $ 27                
Attributable to:                                                                                              
Common Shares                                                                           $ 7                
Non-controlling interests                                                                             20                
                                                                            $ 27                

 

    September 30, 2024 | 27

 

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

12 per share amounts

 

Basic net income per Common Share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to Common Shares by the total weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per Common Share is calculated to give effect to share option awards and restricted share unit awards.

 

The following table presents reconciliations of the denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations. Net income was equal to diluted net income for all periods presented.

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Basic total weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding     1,492       1,454       1,483       1,447  
Effect of dilutive securities – Restricted share units     5       5       5       4  
Diluted total weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding     1,497       1,459       1,488       1,451  

 

For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, no outstanding equity-settled restricted share unit awards were excluded in the calculation of diluted income per Common Share. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, approximately 1 million (2023 – NIL) and 1 million (2023 – NIL), respectively, TELUS Corporation share option awards were excluded in the calculation of diluted income per Common Share.

 

13 dividends per share

 

(a) TELUS Corporation Common Share dividends declared

 

Nine-month periods ended
September 30 (millions except per share amounts)
TELUS Corporation   Declared     Paid to      
Common Share dividends   Effective   Per share     shareholders   Total  
2024                        
Quarter 1 dividend   Mar. 11, 2024   $ 0.3761     Apr. 1, 2024   $ 554  
Quarter 2 dividend   Jun. 10, 2024     0.3891     July 2, 2024     577  
Quarter 3 dividend   Sept. 10, 2024     0.3891     Oct. 1, 2024     578  
        $ 1.1543         $ 1,709  

 

Nine-month periods ended
September 30 (millions except per share amounts)
TELUS Corporation   Declared     Paid to      
Common Share dividends   Effective   Per share     shareholders   Total  
2023                        
Quarter 1 dividend   Mar. 10, 2023   $ 0.3511     Apr. 3, 2023   $ 506  
Quarter 2 dividend   June 8, 2023     0.3636     July 4, 2023     526  
Quarter 3 dividend   Sept. 8, 2023     0.3636     Oct. 3, 2023     529  
        $ 1.0783         $ 1,561  

 

On November 7, 2024, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.4023 per share on issued and outstanding TELUS Corporation Common Shares payable on January 2, 2025, to holders of record at the close of business on December 11, 2024. The final amount of the dividend payment depends upon the number of TELUS Corporation Common Shares issued and outstanding at the close of business on December 11, 2024.

 

(b) Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan

 

We have a Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan under which eligible holders of TELUS Corporation Common Shares may acquire additional TELUS Corporation Common Shares by reinvesting dividends and by making additional optional cash payments to the trustee. Under this plan, we have the option of offering TELUS Corporation Common Shares from Treasury or having the trustee acquire TELUS Corporation Common Shares in the stock market. We may, at our discretion, offer TELUS Corporation Common Shares at a discount of up to 5% from the market price under the plan. Effective with our dividends paid October 1, 2019, we offered TELUS Corporation Common Shares from Treasury at a discount of 2%. In respect of TELUS Corporation Common Shares held by eligible shareholders who have elected to participate in the plan, dividends declared during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, of $177 million (2023 –$177 million) and $466 million (2023 – $525 million), respectively, were to be reinvested in TELUS Corporation Common Shares.

 

28 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

14 share-based compensation

 

(a) Details of share-based compensation expense

 

Included in Employee benefits expense in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income, and in Cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated statements of cash flows, are the share-based compensation amounts set out in the accompanying table.

 

Periods ended September 30 (millions)     2024     2023  
    Note   Employee
benefits
expense 1
    Associated
operating
cash
outflows
    Statement
of cash
flows
adjustment
    Employee
benefits
expense
    Associated
operating
cash
outflows
    Statement
of cash
flows
adjustment
 
THREE-MONTH                                                    
Restricted share units   (b)   $ 51     $ (7 )   $ 44     $ 31     $ (4 )   $ 27  
Employee share purchase plan   (c)     9       (9 )           10       (10 )      
        $ 60     $ (16 )   $ 44     $ 41     $ (14 )   $ 27  
TELUS technology solutions       $ 40     $ (15 )   $ 25     $ 36     $ (11 )   $ 25  
TELUS digital experience 2         20       (1 )     19       5       (3 )     2  
        $ 60     $ (16 )   $ 44     $ 41     $ (14 )   $ 27  
NINE-MONTH                                                    
Restricted share units   (b)   $ 123     $ (13 )   $ 110     $ 105     $ (6 )   $ 99  
Employee share purchase plan   (c)     25       (25 )           33       (33 )      
Share option awards   (d)                       1             1  
        $ 148     $ (38 )   $ 110     $ 139     $ (39 )   $ 100  
TELUS technology solutions       $ 113     $ (33 )   $ 80     $ 112     $ (35 )   $ 77  
TELUS digital experience 2         35       (5 )     30       27       (4 )     23  
        $ 148     $ (38 )   $ 110     $ 139     $ (39 )   $ 100  

 

1 Within employee benefits expense (see Note 8) for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, restricted share units expense of $51 (2023 – $30) and $119 (2023 – $104), respectively, is presented as share-based compensation expense and the balance is included in restructuring costs (see Note 16) of the TELUS technology solutions segment.
2 During the three-month period ended June 30, 2024, the written put options in respect of non-controlling interests associated with the WillowTree acquisition were renegotiated, which resulted in: a change in provisions for business combinations (see Notes 7, 25); the institution of a maximum payout for the non-controlling interests associated with the WillowTree acquisition; and the awarding of share-based compensation. The expense associated with these awards was $10 and $10 for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024.

 

(b) Restricted share units

 

TELUS Corporation restricted share units

 

We also award restricted share units that largely have the same features as our general restricted share units, but have a variable payout (0% – 200%) that depends upon the achievement of our total customer connections performance condition (with a weighting of 25%) and the total shareholder return on TELUS Corporation Common Shares relative to an international peer group of telecommunications companies (with a weighting of 75%). The grant-date fair value of the notional subset of our restricted share units affected by the total customer connections performance condition equals the fair market value of the corresponding TELUS Corporation Common Shares at the grant date, and thus the notional subset has been included in the presentation of our restricted share units with only service conditions. Reflecting a variable payout, we estimate the fair value of the notional subset of our restricted share units affected by the relative total shareholder return performance condition using a Monte Carlo simulation. Grants of restricted share units in 2024 and 2023 are accounted for as equity-settled, as that was the expected manner of their settlement when granted.

 

The following table presents a summary of outstanding TELUS Corporation non-vested restricted share units.

 

As at   September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
Restricted share units without market performance conditions                
Restricted share units with service conditions only     9,278,615       5,769,038  
Notional subset affected by non-market performance conditions     741,541       429,281  
      10,020,156       6,198,319  
Restricted share units with market performance conditions                
Notional subset affected by relative total shareholder return performance condition     2,040,663       1,191,563  
Number of non-vested restricted share units     12,060,819       7,389,882  

 

    September 30, 2024 | 29

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to TELUS Corporation restricted share units without market performance conditions.

 

    Number of restricted
share units 1
   

Weighted average

grant-date

 
    Non-vested     Vested    

fair value

 
THREE-MONTH PERIOD                        
Outstanding, July 1, 2024                        
Non-vested     10,083,940           $ 26.70  
Vested           33,316     $ 28.83  
Granted                        
Initial award     148,210           $ 22.10  
In lieu of dividends     186,361       615     $ 21.05  
Vested     (251,472 )     251,472     $ 27.09  
Settled – in cash           (251,776 )   $ 27.08  
Forfeited     (146,883 )         $ 26.62  
Outstanding, September 30, 2024                        
Non-vested     10,020,156           $ 26.53  
Vested           33,627     $ 28.72  
                         
NINE-MONTH PERIOD                        
Outstanding, January 1, 2024                        
Non-vested     6,198,319           $ 28.68  
Vested           32,521     $ 28.97  
Granted                        
Initial award     4,232,124           $ 23.99  
In lieu of dividends     460,442       1,707     $ 21.57  
Vested     (369,458 )     369,458     $ 26.33  
Settled – in cash           (370,059 )   $ 26.32  
Forfeited     (501,271 )         $ 26.49  
Outstanding, September 30, 2024                        
Non-vested     10,020,156           $ 26.53  
Vested           33,627     $ 28.72  

 

1 Excluding the notional subset of restricted share units affected by the relative total shareholder return performance condition.

 

TELUS International (Cda) Inc. restricted share units

 

We also award restricted share units that largely have the same features as the TELUS Corporation restricted share units. A subset of the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. restricted share units have a variable payout (0% – 200%) that depends upon TELUS International (Cda) Inc. financial performance (with a weighting of 50%) and the total shareholder return of TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting shares relative to an international peer group of customer experience and digital IT services companies (with a weighting of 50%). A second subset of the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. restricted share units have a variable payout (0% – 300%) that depends upon the financial performance of certain TELUS Digital Experience products and services. The grant-date fair value of the notional subset of our restricted share units affected by financial performance conditions equals the fair market value of the corresponding subordinate voting shares at the grant date. Reflecting a variable payout, we estimate the fair value of the notional subset of our restricted share units affected by the relative total shareholder return performance condition using a Monte Carlo simulation. Grants of restricted share units in 2024 and 2023 are accounted for as equity-settled, as that was the expected manner of their settlement when granted.

 

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to TELUS International (Cda) Inc. restricted share units.

 

    Number of restricted
share units
   

Weighted

average

grant-date

 
    Non-vested     Vested     fair value  
THREE-MONTH PERIOD                        
Outstanding, July 1, 2024     13,955,245           US$ 8.05  
Granted – initial award     7,241,699       489,118     US$ 2.97  
Vested     (9,601 )     9,601     US$ 11.35  
Settled in equity           (498,719 )   US$ 3.18  
Forfeited     (343,464 )         US$ 6.52  
Outstanding, September 30, 2024     20,843,879           US$ 6.36  
                         
NINE-MONTH PERIOD                        
Outstanding, January 1, 2024     2,615,746           US$ 21.36  
Granted – initial award     19,836,119       528,234     US$ 5.30  
Vested     (797,904 )     797,904     US$ 20.48  
Settled in equity           (1,326,138 )   US$ 13.69  
Forfeited     (810,082 )         US$ 16.19  
Outstanding, September 30, 2024     20,843,879           US$ 6.36  

 

(c) TELUS Corporation employee share purchase plan

 

We have an employee share purchase plan under which eligible employees can purchase TELUS Corporation Common Shares through regular payroll deductions. In respect of TELUS Corporation Common Shares held within the employee share purchase plan, dividends declared thereon during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, of $13 million (2023 –$13 million) and $40 million (2023 – $39 million), respectively, were to be reinvested in TELUS Corporation Common Shares acquired by the trustee from Treasury, with a discount applicable, as set out in Note 13(b).

 

30 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

(d) Share option awards

 

TELUS Corporation share options

 

Employees may be granted share option awards to purchase TELUS Corporation Common Shares at an exercise price equal to the fair market value at the time of grant. Share option awards granted under the plan may be exercised over specific periods not to exceed seven years from the date of grant.

 

These share option awards have a net-equity settlement feature. The optionee does not have the choice of exercising the net-equity settlement feature; it is at our option whether the exercise of a share option award is settled as a share option or settled using the net-equity settlement feature.

 

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to the TELUS Corporation share option plan.

 

Periods ended September 30, 2024   Three months     Nine months  
    Number of
share
options
    Weighted
average share
option price 1
    Number of
share
options
    Weighted
average share
option price 1
 
Outstanding, beginning of period     1,621,301     $ 22.41       1,778,901     $ 22.35  
Exercised 2     (19,800 )   $ 21.22       (84,000 )   $ 21.32  
Forfeited     (47,200 )   $ 22.33       (140,600 )   $ 22.09  
Outstanding, end of period     1,554,301     $ 22.43       1,554,301     $ 22.43  
Exercisable, end of period                     1,554,301     $ 22.43  
                                 

1 The weighted average remaining contractual life is 2.5 years.

2 For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, the weighted average price at the dates of exercise were $22.57 and $23.48, respectively.

 

TELUS International (Cda) Inc. share options

 

Employees may be granted equity share options (equity-settled) to purchase TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting shares at a price equal to, or a multiple of, the fair market value at the time of grant and/or phantom share options (cash-settled) that provide them with exposure to appreciation in the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting share price. Share option awards granted under the plan may be exercised over specific periods not to exceed ten years from the time of grant. All equity share option awards and most phantom share option awards have a variable payout (0% – 100%) that depends upon the achievement of TELUS International (Cda) Inc. financial performance and non-market quality-of-service performance conditions.

 

The following table presents a summary of the activity related to the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. share option plan.

 

Periods ended September 30, 2024   Three months     Nine months  
    Number of
share
options
    Weighted
average share
option price 1
    Number of
share
options
    Weighted
average share
option price 1
 
Outstanding, beginning of period     2,452,934     US$ 9.89       2,536,783     US$ 10.39  
Granted     2,909,788     US$ 3.69       2,909,788     US$ 3.69  
Forfeited         US$       (83,849 )   US$ 25.00  
Outstanding, end of period     5,362,722     US$ 6.52       5,362,722     US$ 6.52  
Exercisable, end of period                     2,363,846     US$ 9.32  
                                 

1 For 2,909,788 share options, the price is $3.69 per TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinated voting share and the weighted average remaining contractual life is 10 years; for 2,096,582 share options, the range of share option prices is US$4.87 – US$8.95 and the weighted average remaining contractual life is 2.2 years; for the balance of share options, the price is US$25.00 and the weighted average remaining contractual life is 6.4 years.

 

The weighted average fair value of the share option awards granted, and the weighted average assumptions used in the fair value at time of grant, calculated using the Black-Scholes model, are as follows:

 

Periods ended September 30, 2024   Three
months
    Nine
months
 
Share option award fair value (per share option)   US$ 1.50     US$ 1.50  
Risk-free interest rate     2.7 %     2.7 %
Expected lives 1 (years)     6.5       6.5  
Expected volatility     35.4 %     35.4 %
Dividend yield     NIL %     NIL %

 

1 The maximum contractual term of the share option awards granted in 2024 was ten years.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 31

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

15 employee future benefits

 

(a) Defined benefit pension plans – summary

 

Amounts in the primary financial statements relating to defined benefit pension plans

 

Three-month periods ended September 30   2024     2023  
(millions)   Note   Plan
assets
    Defined
benefit
obligations
accrued 1
    Net     Plan
assets
    Defined
benefit
obligations
accrued 1
    Net  
Employee benefits expense   8                                                
Benefits earned for current service       $     $ (19 )           $     $ (18 )        
Benefits earned for past service                                            
Employees’ contributions         4                     4                
Administrative fees         (1 )                   (1 )              
          3       (19 )   $ (16 )     3       (18 )   $ (15 )
Financing costs   9                                                
Notional income on plan assets 2 and interest on defined benefit obligations accrued         105       (97 )             111       (100 )        
Interest effect on asset ceiling limit         (11 )                   (12 )              
          94       (97 )     (3 )     99       (100 )     (1 )
DEFINED BENEFIT (COST) INCLUDED IN NET INCOME 3                         (19 )                     (16 )
Other comprehensive income   11                                                
Difference between actual results and estimated plan assumptions 4         317                     (447 )              
Changes in plan financial assumptions 5               (388 )                   771          
Changes in the effect of limiting net defined benefit plan assets to the asset ceiling         44                     (244 )              
          361       (388 )     (27 )     (691 )     771       80  
DEFINED BENEFIT (COST) INCLUDED IN COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 3                       $ (46 )                   $ 64  

 

32 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

Nine-month periods ended September 30   2024     2023  
(millions)   Note   Plan
assets
    Defined
benefit
obligations
accrued 1
    Net     Plan
assets
    Defined
benefit
obligations
accrued 1
    Net  
Employee benefits expense   8                                                
Benefits earned for current service       $     $ (59 )           $     $ (56 )        
Benefits earned for past service               (1 )                            
Employees’ contributions         13                     13                
Administrative fees         (3 )                   (3 )              
          10       (60 )   $ (50 )     10       (56 )   $ (46 )
Financing costs   9                                                
Notional income on plan assets 2 and interest on defined benefit obligations accrued         315       (290 )             330       (300 )        
Interest effect on asset ceiling limit         (32 )                    (35 )              
          283       (290 )     (7 )     295       (300 )     (5 )
DEFINED BENEFIT (COST) INCLUDED IN NET INCOME 3                         (57 )                     (51 )
Other comprehensive income   11                                                
Difference between actual results and estimated plan assumptions 4         312                   (213              
Changes in plan financial assumptions 5               (61                   571        
Changes in the effect of limiting net defined benefit plan assets to the asset ceiling         (209 )                   (279 )              
          103     (61     42       (492     571     79
DEFINED BENEFIT (COST) INCLUDED IN COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 3                         (15                     28
AMOUNTS INCLUDED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES CASH FLOWS                                                    
Employer contributions         16             16       23             23  
BENEFITS PAID BY PLANS         (351 )     351             (351 )     351        
PLAN ACCOUNT BALANCES 6                                                    
Change in period         61     (60     1        (515     566     51
Balance, beginning of period         8,352       (8,489 )     (137 )     7,990       (8,075 )     (85 )
Balance, end of period       $ 8,413     $ (8,549 )   $ (136 )   $ 7,475     $ (7,509 )   $ (34 )
FUNDED STATUS – PLAN SURPLUS (DEFICIT)                                                    
Pension plans that have plan assets in excess of defined benefit obligations accrued 7   20   $ 7,556     $ (7,240 )   $ 316     $ 6,976     $ (6,640 )   $ 336  
Pension plans that have defined benefit obligations accrued in excess of plan assets 8                                                    
Funded         857       (1,086 )     (229 )     499       (680 )     (181 )
Unfunded               (223 )     (223 )           (189 )     (189 )
    27     857       (1,309 )     (452 )     499       (869 )     (370 )
        $ 8,413     $ (8,549 )   $ (136 )   $ 7,475     $ (7,509 )   $ (34 )

 

1 Defined benefit obligations accrued are the actuarial present values of benefits attributed to employee services rendered to a particular date.

2 The interest income on the plan assets portion of the employee defined benefit plans net interest amount included in Financing costs reflects a rate of return on plan assets equal to the discount rate used in determining the defined benefit obligations accrued at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year.

3 Excluding income taxes.

4 Financial assumptions in respect of plan assets (interest income on plan assets included in Financing costs reflects a rate of return on plan assets equal to the discount rate used in determining the defined benefit obligations accrued) and demographic assumptions in respect of the actuarial present values of the defined benefit obligations accrued, as at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year for both.

5 The discount rate used to measure the defined benefit obligations accrued at September 30, 2024, was 4.59% (December 31, 2023 – 4.65%).

6 Effect of asset ceiling limit at September 30, 2024, was $1,155 (December 31, 2023 – $914).

7 Presented in the Consolidated statements of financial position as Other long-term assets

8 Presented in the Consolidated statements of financial position as Other long-term liabilities.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 33

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

(b) Defined contribution plans – expense

 

Our total defined contribution pension plan costs included as Employee benefits expense in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income are the amounts set out as follows:

 

Periods ended   Three months     Nine months  
September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Union pension plan and public service pension plan contributions   $ 4     $ 5     $ 10     $ 13  
Other defined contribution pension plans     27       27       80       82  
    $ 31     $ 32     $ 90     $ 95  

 

16 restructuring and other costs

 

(a) Details of restructuring and other costs

 

With the objective of reducing ongoing costs, we incur associated incremental non-recurring restructuring costs, as discussed further in (b) following. We may also incur atypical charges when undertaking major or transformational changes to our business or operating models or post-acquisition business integration. In other costs, we include incremental atypical external costs incurred in connection with business acquisition or disposition activity; significant litigation costs in respect of losses or settlements; and adverse retrospective regulatory decisions.

 

Restructuring and other costs are presented in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income, as set out in the accompanying table.

 

Periods ended   Three months     Nine months  
September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Restructuring 1 (b)                                
Goods and services purchased   $ 25     $ 80     $ 163     $ 131  
Employee benefits expense     60       221       259       364  
      85       301       422       495  
Other (c)                                
Goods and services purchased     1       2       3       8  
Employee benefits expense                       74  
      1       2       3       82  
Total                                
Goods and services purchased     26       82       166       139  
Employee benefits expense     60       221       259       438  
    $ 86     $ 303     $ 425     $ 577  

 

1 For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, excludes real estate rationalization-related restructuring impairments of property, plant and equipment of $3 (2023 – $13) and $102 (2023 – $65), respectively, which are included in depreciation.

 

(b) Restructuring provisions

 

Employee-related provisions and other provisions, as presented in Note 25, include amounts in respect of restructuring activities. In 2024, restructuring activities included ongoing and incremental efficiency initiatives, some of which involved personnel-related costs and rationalization of real estate. These initiatives were intended to improve our long-term operating productivity and competitiveness.

 

(c) Other

 

During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, incremental external costs were incurred in connection with business acquisitions. In connection with business acquisitions, non-recurring atypical business integration expenditures that would be considered neither restructuring costs nor part of the fair value of the net assets acquired have been included in other costs.

 

34 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

17 property, plant and equipment

 

    Owned assets   Right-of-use lease assets (Note 19)      
(millions)   Network assets   Buildings and leasehold improvements   Computer hardware and other   Land   Assets under construction   Total   Network assets   Real estate   Other   Total   Total  
AT COST                                                                    
Balance as at January 1, 2024   $ 37,154   $ 3,830   $ 1,842   $ 83   $ 689   $ 43,598   $ 1,308   $ 2,386   $ 116   $ 3,810   $ 47,408  
Additions     694     20     33         609     1,356     360     206     25     591     1,947  
Additions arising from business acquisitions             2             2         3         3     5  
Assets under construction put into service     361     46     53         (460 )                        
Transfers     148     7     45             200     (200 )           (200 )    
Dispositions, retirements and other     (1,183 )   (144 )   (133 )   (3 )       (1,463 )   1     (37 )   (24 )   (60 )   (1,523 )
Net foreign exchange differences     3     6     21             30         16         16     46  
Balance as at September 30, 2024   $ 37,177   $ 3,765   $ 1,863   $ 80   $ 838   $ 43,723   $ 1,469   $ 2,574   $ 117   $ 4,160   $ 47,883  
                                                                     
ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION                                                                    
Balance as at January 1, 2024   $ 25,254   $ 2,404   $ 1,226   $   $   $ 28,884   $ 172   $ 1,056   $ 48   $ 1,276   $ 30,160  
Depreciation 1     1,177     135     145             1,457     143     280     15     438     1,895  
Transfers     58     1     28             87     (87 )           (87 )    
Dispositions, retirements and other     (1,194 )   (103 )   (76 )           (1,373 )       (26 )   (13 )   (39 )   (1,412 )
Net foreign exchange differences     2     4     19             25         5         5     30  
Balance as at September 30, 2024   $ 25,297   $ 2,441   $ 1,342   $   $   $ 29,080   $ 228   $ 1,315   $ 50   $ 1,593   $ 30,673  
                                                                     
NET BOOK VALUE                                                                    
Balance as at December 31, 2023   $ 11,900   $ 1,426   $ 616   $ 83   $ 689   $ 14,714   $ 1,136   $ 1,330   $ 68   $ 2,534   $ 17,248  
Balance as at September 30, 2024   $ 11,880   $ 1,324   $ 521   $ 80   $ 838   $ 14,643   $ 1,241   $ 1,259   $ 67   $ 2,567   $ 17,210  

 

1 For nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, depreciation includes $100 in respect of impairment of real estate right-of-use lease assets.

 

As at September 30, 2024, our contractual commitments for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment totalled $309 million over a period ending December 31, 2027 (December 31, 2023 – $297 million over a period ending December 31, 2027).

 

    September 30, 2024 | 35

 

18 intangible assets and goodwill

 

(a) Intangible assets and goodwill, net

 

      Intangible assets subject to amortization     Intangible
assets with
indefinite lives
                   
(millions)    Note   Customer
contracts, related
customer
relationships and
subscriber base
    Software     Access to
rights-of-way,
crowdsource
assets and other
    Assets under
construction
    Total       Spectrum
licences
      Total
intangible
assets
      Goodwill 1, 2     Total
intangible
assets and
goodwill
 
AT COST                                                                            
Balance as at January 1, 2024       $ 5,360     $ 7,915     $ 582     $ 530     $ 14,387       $ 12,250     $ 26,637     $ 10,422   $ 37,059  
Additions         33       81       38       613       765         919       1,684           1,684  
Additions arising from business acquisitions   (b)     143       13       3             159               159       203     362  
Assets under construction put into service               603             (603 )                              
Dispositions, retirements and other (including capitalized interest)       (14 )     (230 )     (6 )           (250       12       (238 )         (238 )
Net foreign exchange differences         55       2       6             63               63       62     125  
Balance as at September 30, 2024       $ 5,577     $ 8,384     $ 623     $ 540     $ 15,124       $ 13,181     $ 28,305     $ 10,687   $ 38,992  
                                                                             
ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION                                                                            
Balance as at January 1, 2024       $ 1,533     $ 5,136     $ 247     $     $ 6,916       $     $ 6,916     $ 364   $ 7,280  
Amortization         354       708       68             1,130               1,130           1,130  
Dispositions, retirements and other         (4 )     (257 )     (32 )           (293 )             (293 )       (293 )
Net foreign exchange differences         14       7       5             26               26           26  
Balance as at September 30, 2024       $ 1,897     $ 5,594     $ 288     $     $ 7,779       $     $ 7,779     $ 364   $ 8,143  
                                                                             
NET BOOK VALUE                                                                            
Balance as at December 31, 2023       $ 3,827     $ 2,779     $ 335     $ 530     $ 7,471       $ 12,250     $ 19,721     $ 10,058   $ 29,779  
Balance as at September 30, 2024       $ 3,680     $ 2,790     $ 335     $ 540     $ 7,345       $ 13,181     $ 20,526     $ 10,323   $ 30,849  

 

1 Accumulated amortization of goodwill is amortization recorded prior to 2002; there are no accumulated impairment losses in the accumulated amortization of goodwill.

 

2 As at September 30, 2024, relevant events and circumstances were such that it was considered appropriate to test the carrying value of the TELUS digital experience cash-generating unit (formerly the Digitally-led customer experiences – TELUS International cash-generating unit) goodwill. As at September 30, 2024, the recoverable amount of the TELUS digital experience cash-generating unit was in excess of its carrying amount by approximately $800 million (approximately 16% of its carrying amount). Such recoverable amount was determined based on a fair value less costs of disposal method (such method categorized as a Level 3 fair value measure) and used a discount rate of 9.3%, a perpetual growth rate of 3.0% and cash flow projections through the end of 2029. We validated the results of the recoverable amount through a market-comparable approach and an analytical review of industry facts and facts that are specific to us.

 

The fair value less costs of disposal method uses discounted cash flow projections that employ the following key assumptions: future cash flows and growth projections; associated economic risk assumptions and estimates of the likelihood of achieving key operating metrics and drivers; and the future weighted average cost of capital. Had growth projections declined in the projection period by more than trivial amounts, or if the discount rate increased by more than a trivial amount, the September 30, 2024, estimate of the recoverable amount of the TELUS digital experience cash-generating unit would be less than its carrying amount; we believe that any reasonably possible change in other key assumptions on which our calculation of the recoverable amount of the TELUS digital experience cash-generating unit is based would not cause its carrying value to exceed its recoverable amount. If the future were to adversely differ from management’s best estimates for the key assumptions and associated cash flows were to be materially adversely affected, we could potentially experience future material impairment charges in respect of the TELUS digital experience cash-generating unit’s goodwill.

 

36 | September 30, 2024    

 

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

As at September 30, 2024, our contractual commitments for the acquisition of intangible assets totalled $21 million over a period ending December 31, 2026 (December 31, 2023 – $25 million over a period ending December 31, 2026).

 

The Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 3800 MHz band spectrum auction occurred during the period from October 24, 2023, through November 24, 2023. We were the successful auction participant for 1,430 spectrum licences with a total purchase price of $620 million. In accordance with the auction terms, 20% ($124 million) was remitted to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on its due date, January 17, 2024, while the remaining balance was paid on May 29, 2024. Until such time as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada determines that we qualify as a radio communications carrier and comply with the Canadian Ownership and Control rules, we may not commercially use the licences.

 

During the three-month period ended June 30, 2024, we obtained the use of AWS-4 spectrum from the original licensee and we have accounted for it as an intangible asset with an indefinite life; such subordination of licences has been approved by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. The terms of payment for the use of the spectrum are such that an initial amount of $298 million has been accounted for as a long-term liability, as set out in Note 26(f).

 

(b) Business acquisitions

 

Individually immaterial transactions

 

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, we acquired 100% ownership of businesses that were complementary to our existing lines of business. The primary factor that gave rise to the recognition of goodwill was the earnings capacity of the acquired businesses in excess of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired (such excess arising from the low level of tangible assets relative to the earnings capacity of the businesses). A portion of the amounts assigned to goodwill may be deductible for income tax purposes.

 

Acquisition-date fair values

 

Acquisition-date fair values assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are set out in the following table:

 

(millions)   Individually immaterial transactions 1  
Assets        
Current assets        
Cash   $ 8  
Accounts receivable 2     15  
Other     10  
      33  
Non-current assets        
Property plant and equipment        
Owned assets     2  
Right-of-use lease assets     3  
Intangible assets subject to amortization 3     159  
      164  
Total identifiable assets acquired     197  
Liabilities        
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     16  
Income and other taxes payable     16  
Advance billings and customer deposits     17  
Provisions     7  
Current maturities of long-term debt     1  
      57  
Non-current liabilities        
Provisions     1  
Long-term debt     3  
Deferred income taxes     29  
      33  
Total liabilities assumed     90  
Net identifiable assets acquired     107  
Goodwill     203  
Net assets acquired   $ 310  
         
Acquisition effected by way of:        
Cash consideration   $ 266  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     5  
Provisions     32  
Issue of TELUS Corporation Common Shares 4     7  
    $ 310  

 

1 The purchase price allocation, primarily in respect of customer contracts, related customer relationships and deferred income taxes, had not been finalized as of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements. As is customary in a business acquisition transaction, until the time of acquisition of control, we did not have full access to the books and records of the acquired businesses. Upon having sufficient time to review the books and records of the acquired businesses, we expect to finalize our purchase price allocations.

2 The fair value of accounts receivable is equal to the gross contractual amounts receivable and reflects the best estimate at the acquisition date of the contractual cash flows expected to be collected.

3 Customer contracts and customer relationships (including those related to customer contracts) are generally expected to be amortized over a period of 10-15 years, and other intangible assets are expected to be amortized over a period of 5-15 years.
4 The fair value of TELUS Corporation Common Shares was measured based upon market prices observed at the date of acquisition of control.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 37

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

19 leases

 

Maturity analyses of lease liabilities are set out in Note 4(b) and Note 26(h); the period interest expense in respect thereof is set out in Note 9. The additions to, the depreciation charges for, and the carrying amounts of, right-of-use lease assets are set out in Note 17. We have not currently elected to exclude low-value and short-term leases from lease accounting.

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Income from subleasing right-of-use lease assets                                
Co-location sublet revenue included in Operating revenues – service   $ 4     $ 4     $ 13     $ 13  
Other sublet revenue included in Other income (Note 7)   $ 3     $ 1     $ 6     $ 4  
Lease payments 1   $ 213     $ 170     $ 626     $ 489  

 

1 In the Consolidated statements of cash flows the principal component of lease payments is included in Cash provided (used) by financing activities (see Note 31(b)) and the interest component of lease payments is included in Interest paid.

 

20 other long-term assets

 

As at (millions)   Note     September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
Pension assets   15     $ 316     $ 316  
Unbilled customer finance receivables   4(a)       560       637  
Derivative assets   4(d)       4       179  
Deferred income taxes           53       38  
Costs incurred to obtain or fulfill contracts with customers           274       218  
Real estate joint venture advances   21(a)       94       94  
Investments in real estate joint ventures   21(a)       182       50  
Investments in associates   21(b)       211       232  
Portfolio investments 1                      
At fair value through net income           63       42  
At fair value through other comprehensive income           567       502  
Prepaid maintenance           41       46  
Refundable security deposits and other           161       139  
          $ 2,526     $ 2,493  

 

1 Fair value measured at reporting date using significant other observable inputs (Level 2).

 

The costs incurred to obtain and fulfill contracts with customers are set out in the following table:

 

      Costs incurred to    
(millions)     Obtain
contracts with
customers
      Fulfill contracts
with
customers
      Total  
Balance as at July 1, 2024   $ 521     $ 51     $ 572  
Additions     118       9       127  
Amortization     (89 )     (2 )     (91 )
Balance as at  September 30, 2024   $ 550     $ 58     $ 608  
Balance as at January 1, 2024   $ 476     $ 39     $ 515  
Additions     329       26       355  
Amortization     (255 )     (7 )     (262 )
Balance as at  September 30, 2024   $ 550     $ 58     $ 608  
Current 1   $ 318     $ 16     $ 334  
Non-current     232       42       274  
    $ 550     $ 58     $ 608  

 

1 Presented in the Consolidated statements of financial position as Prepaid expenses.

 

38 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

21 real estate joint ventures and investments in associates

 

(a) Real estate joint ventures

 

In 2013, we partnered, as equals, with two arm’s-length parties in TELUS Sky, a residential and commercial real estate redevelopment project in Calgary, Alberta. The new-build tower, completed in 2020, was built to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standard for the commercial portion and the Gold standard for the residential portion. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the TELUS Sky real estate joint venture entered into an agreement to sell the income-producing properties and the related net assets to the venture partners; the two arm’s-length parties will purchase the residential parcel and we will purchase the commercial parcel. Timing for the closing of these sales and purchases is dependent upon timing for the subdivision of the parcels, as well as other customary closing conditions.

 

In 2024 and 2023, we partnered, as equals, with an arm’s-length party in real estate redevelopment projects in British Columbia.

 

Summarized financial information

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)1     2024       2023       2024       2023  
Revenue   $ 6     $ 7     $ 19     $ 20  
Depreciation and amortization 1   $     $ 2     $     $ 6  
Interest expense   $     $ 2     $ 5     $ 7  
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) 2   $ (4 )   $ (5 )   $ (11 )   $ (16 )

 

1 Substantially all information summarized in this table is in respect of operations held for sale. Depreciation and amortization of the TELUS Sky investment property ceased upon its classification as held for sale.

2 As the real estate joint ventures are partnerships, no provision is made for income taxes in respect of the partners in determining the real estate joint ventures’ net income and comprehensive income.

 

As at (millions)   September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
ASSETS                
Current assets                
Cash and temporary investments, net   $ 5     $ 5  
Other     28       29  
      33       34  
Non-current assets                
Investment property 1     324       326  
Investment property under development     326       81  
Promissory notes and other 2     318       90  
      968       497  
    $ 1,001     $ 531  
LIABILITIES AND OWNERS’ EQUITY                
Current liabilities                
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   $ 5     $ 8  
Construction credit facilities 1     282       282  
      287       290  
Non-current liabilities                
Long-term debt – mortgage     12        
      299       290  
Owners’ equity                
TELUS 2     338       108  
Other partners 3     364       133  
      702       241  
    $ 1,001     $ 531  

 

1 Classified as held for sale as at September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023.

2 Other partners’ equity is gross of $308 (December 31, 2023 – $80) promissory notes issued to the joint ventures by the arm’s-length party in the real estate redevelopment projects in British Columbia; in the event of dissolution or other wind-up of the partnerships, the other partner’s equity will first be reduced by the promissory notes’ amounts outstanding when determining the equity of the joint ventures. The primary intended method of repayment of the promissory notes is through contribution of in-kind development costs, but may optionally include cash payments.

3 The equity amounts recorded by the real estate joint ventures differ from those recorded by us by the amount of the deferred gains on our real estate contributed and the valuation provision we have recorded in excess of that recorded by the real estate joint venture.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 39

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

Our real estate joint ventures activity

Our real estate joint ventures investment activity is set out in the following tables.

 

(millions)   Loans and receivables 1     Equity 2  
Balance as at July 1, 2023   $ 114     $ (8 )
Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of income and other comprehensive income                
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to us 3       (2 )
Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of financial position                
Items not affecting currently reported cash flows                
Construction credit facilities financing costs charged by us (Note 7)   1      
Reduction in construction credit facility and increase in capital contributed   (20 )   20  
Our real estate contributed       20  
Deferred gains on our remaining interests in our real estate contributed       (9 )
Cash flows in the current reporting period                
Construction credit facilities                
Financing costs paid to us   (1 )    
Funds we advanced or contributed, excluding construction credit facilities       2  
Balance as at September 30, 2023   $ 94     $ 23  
                 
Balance as at July 1, 2024   $ 94     $ 117  
Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of income and other comprehensive income                
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to us 3       (1 )
Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of financial position                
Items not affecting currently reported cash flows                
Construction credit facilities financing costs charged by us (Note 7)   2      
Our real estate contributed       111  
Deferred gains on our remaining interests in our real estate contributed       (49 )
Cash flows in the current reporting period                
Construction credit facilities                
Financing costs paid to us   (2 )    
Funds we advanced or contributed, excluding construction credit facilities       4  
Balance as at September 30, 2024   $ 94     $ 182  

 

(millions)   Loans and receivables 1     Equity 2  
Balance as at January 1, 2023   $ 114     $ (8 )
Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of income and other comprehensive income                
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to us 3       (4 )
Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of financial position                
Items not affecting currently reported cash flows                
Construction credit facilities financing costs charged by us (Note 7)   5      
Reduction in construction credit facility and increase in capital contributed   (20 )   20  
Our real estate contributed       20  
Deferred gains on our remaining interests in our real estate contributed       (9 )
Cash flows in the current reporting period                
Construction credit facilities                
Financing costs paid to us   (5 )    
Funds we advanced or contributed, excluding construction credit facilities       4  
Balance as at September 30, 2023   $ 94     $ 23  
                 
Balance as at January 1, 2024   $ 94     $ 50  
Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of income and other comprehensive income                
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to us 3       (3 )
Related to real estate joint ventures’ statements of financial position                
Items not affecting currently reported cash flows                
Construction credit facilities financing costs charged by us (Note 7)   5      
Our real estate contributed       225  
Deferred gains on our remaining interests in our real estate contributed       (100 )
Cash flows in the current reporting period                
Construction credit facilities                
Financing costs paid to us   (5 )    
Funds we advanced or contributed, excluding construction credit facilities       10  
Balance as at September 30, 2024   $ 94     $ 182  

 

1 Loans and receivables are included in our Consolidated statements of financial position as Other long-term assets (see Note 20) and are comprised of advances under construction credit facilities.

2 We account for our interests in the real estate joint ventures using the equity method of accounting and such interests are included in our Consolidated statements of financial position as Other long-term assets (see Note 20).

3 As the real estate joint ventures are partnerships, no provision is made for income taxes in respect of the partners in determining the real estate joint ventures’ net income and comprehensive income.

 

40 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

We have entered into lease agreements with the TELUS Sky real estate joint venture. During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, the TELUS Sky real estate joint venture recognized $2 million (2023 – $3 million) and $6 million (2023 – $7 million), respectively, of revenue from our office tenancy; of this amount, as at the statement of financial position date, one-third was due to our economic interest and two-thirds was due to our partners’ economic interests.

 

Construction credit facilities

 

The TELUS Sky real estate joint venture had a credit agreement, maturing December 2, 2024 (December 31, 2023 – July 12, 2025), with Canadian financial institutions and others (as 66-2/3% lenders) and TELUS Corporation (as 33-1/3% lender), that provides $282 million (December 31, 2023 – $282 million) of construction financing for the project. The construction credit facilities contain customary real estate construction financing representations, warranties and covenants and are secured by demand debentures constituting first fixed and floating charge mortgages over the underlying real estate assets. The construction credit facilities are available by way of bankers’ acceptance or prime loan and bear interest at rates in line with similar construction financing facilities.

 

(b) Investments in associates

 

As set out in Note 20, our investments in associates are included in our Consolidated statements of financial position as Other long-term assets. As at September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, we had an equity interest in Miovision Technologies Incorporated, an associate that is incorporated in Canada and is complementary to, and is viewed to grow, our existing Internet of Things business; our judgment is that we obtained significant influence over the associate concurrent with acquiring our initial equity interest. Miovision Technologies Incorporated is developing a suite of hardware and cloud-based solutions that provide cities with the data and tools they need to reduce traffic congestion, make better urban planning decisions and improve safety on their roads. Our aggregate interests in other individually immaterial associates as at September 30, 2024, totalled $36 million (December 31, 2023 – $48 million).

 

Miovision Technologies Incorporated                        
As at, or for the periods ended, ($ in millions)     September 30, 2024       September 30, 2023       December 31, 2023  
Statement of financial position 1                        
Current assets   $ 84             $ 109  
Non-current assets   $ 413             $ 395  
Current liabilities   $ 32             $ 40  
Non-current liabilities   $ 62             $ 43  
Net assets   $ 403             $ 421  
Statement of income and other comprehensive income 1                        
THREE-MONTH                        
Revenue and other income   $ 42     $ 35          
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)   $ (6 )   $ (6 )        
NINE-MONTH                        
Revenue and other income   $ 115     $ 88          
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)   $ (24 )   $ (22 )        
Reconciliation of statement of financial position summary financial information to carrying amounts                        
Net assets (above)   $ 403             $ 421  
Our interest     43.4 %             43.5 %
Our interest in net assets (our carrying amount)   $ 175             $ 184  

 

1 As required by IFRS-IASB, this summarized information is not just our share of these amounts.

 

22 short-term borrowings

 

On May 22, 2024, we entered into an agreement with an arm’s-length securitization trust associated with a major Schedule I bank under which we are currently able to borrow, up to a maximum of $1.6 billion, secured by $2.0 billion of certain trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables; the term of this revolving period securitization agreement ends May 22, 2027, and requires minimum cash advances of $920 million. Funding under the agreement may be provided in either Canadian dollars or U.S. dollars. Foreign currency forward contracts are used to manage currency risk associated from funding denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 41

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

The new agreement replaced a previous agreement with an arm’s-length securitization trust associated with a major Schedule I bank under which we were able to sell an interest in certain trade receivables up to a maximum of $0.6 billion and which was otherwise due to end December 31, 2024. The previous securitization agreement required minimum cash proceeds of $100 million from monthly sales of interests in certain trade receivables. In the previous agreement, sales of trade receivables in securitization transactions were recognized as collateralized short-term borrowings and thus did not result in our de-recognition of the trade receivables sold. When we sold our trade receivables, we retained reserve accounts, which were retained interests in the securitized trade receivables, and servicing rights. As at December 31, 2023, we had sold to the current trust (but continued to recognize) trade receivables of $121 million.

 

Short-term borrowings of $0.9 billion (December 31, 2023 – $0.1 billion for the previous trust) are comprised of amounts advanced to us by the arm’s-length securitization trust; all amounts advanced as at September 30, 2024, were denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

The balance of short-term borrowings (if any) is comprised of amounts drawn on bilateral bank facilities and/or other.

 

23 accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

As at (millions)   September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
Trade accounts payable 1   $ 1,016     $ 996  
Accrued liabilities     1,338       1,342  
Payroll and other employee-related liabilities     691       674  
Interest payable     239       235  
Indirect taxes payable and other     135       144  
    $ 3,419     $ 3,391  

 

1 The composition of trade accounts payable varies due to factors that include suppliers’ invoice timing, our data processing cycle timing and the seasonal nature of some of business activities, as well as whether the statement of financial position date is a business day. Trade accounts payable represent future payments for invoices received in respect of both operating and capital activities, and may include amounts for assessed and self-assessed government remittances.

 

Initiated in 2023, we have a supply chain financing program that allows suppliers of qualifying trade accounts payable to choose to be paid in advance of industry-standard payment terms by an arm’s-length third party; in turn, we reimburse the arm’s-length third party for those payments when the trade accounts payable would otherwise have been due.

 

24 advance billings and customer deposits

 

As at (millions)   September 30, 2024     December 31,
2023
 
Advance billings   $ 734     $ 718  
Deferred customer activation and connection fees     3       3  
Customer deposits     15       15  
Contract liabilities     752       736  
Other     198       235  
    $ 950     $ 971  

 

Contract liabilities represent our future performance obligations to customers in respect of services and/or equipment for which we have received consideration from the customer or for which an amount is due from the customer. Our contract liability balances, and the changes in those balances, are set out in the following table:

 

42 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Balance, beginning of period   $ 1,049     $ 974     $ 974     $ 914  
Revenue deferred in previous period and recognized in current period     (667 )     (669 )     (632 )     (625 )
Net additions arising from operations     627       671       651       680  
Additions arising from business acquisitions     1             17       7  
Balance, end of period   $ 1,010     $ 976     $ 1,010     $ 976  
Current                   $ 901     $ 873  
Non-current (Note 27)                                
Deferred revenues                     105       97  
Deferred customer activation and connection fees                     4       6  
                    $ 1,010     $ 976  
                                 
Reconciliation of contract liabilities presented in the Consolidated statements of financial position – current                                
Gross contract liabilities                   $ 901     $ 873  
Reclassification to contract assets of contracts with contract liabilities less than contract assets (Note 6(c))                     (131 )     (131 )
Reclassification from contract assets of contracts with contract assets less than contract liabilities (Note 6(c))                     (18 )     (16 )
                    $ 752     $ 726  

 

    September 30, 2024 | 43

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

25 provisions

 

(millions)   Note   Asset
retirement
obligations 1
    Employee-
related 2
    Written put
options and
contingent
consideration 3
    Other 2     Total  
Balance as at July 1, 2024       $ 380     $ 118     $ 210     $ 269     $ 977  
Additions               67       8       27       102  
Reversals               (7 )     (10 )           (17 )
Uses         (2 )     (49 )           (43 )     (94 )
Interest effects 4   9     3             4             7  
Effects of foreign exchange, net 4                     (4 )           (4 )
Balance as at September 30, 2024       $ 381     $ 129     $ 208     $ 253     $ 971  
                                             
Balance as at January 1, 2024       $ 378     $ 219     $ 276     $ 188     $ 1,061  
Additions               261       8       203       472  
Reversals               (7 )     (92 )     (10 )     (109 )
Uses         (8 )     (344 )           (128 )     (480 )
Interest effects  4   9     11             11             22  
Effects of foreign exchange, net 4                     5             5  
Balance as at September 30, 2024       $ 381     $ 129     $ 208     $ 253     $ 971  
Current       $ 17     $ 124     $ 5     $ 89     $ 235  
Non-current         364       5       203       164       736  
Balance as at September 30, 2024       $ 381     $ 129     $ 208     $ 253     $ 971  

 

1 Additions and reversals for Asset retirement obligations are included in the Consolidated statements of financial position as Property, plant and equipment, net. Uses, to the extent that such items includes a flow of cash, are included net in Cash used by investing activities in the Consolidated statements of cash flows (see Note 31(a)).
2 Generally, additions and reversals for Employee-related and Other are included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Employee benefits expense and Goods and services purchased, respectively. Uses, to the extent that such items include a flow of cash, are generally included net in Cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated statements of cash flows.
3 Additions and reversals for Written put options and contingent consideration are included in the Consolidated statements of financial position as Goodwill, net, and in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Other income, respectively. Uses, to the extent that such items include a flow of cash, are included in Cash used by investing activities in the Consolidated statements of cash flows.
4 Interest effects and Effects of foreign exchange, net, are included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Financing costs.

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

We establish provisions for liabilities associated with the retirement of property, plant and equipment when those obligations result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal operation of the assets. We expect that the associated cash outflows in respect of the balance accrued as at the financial statement date will occur proximate to the dates these assets are retired.

 

Employee-related

 

Our employee-related provisions are largely in respect of restructuring activities (as discussed further in Note 16(b)). The timing of the associated cash outflows in respect of the balance accrued as at the financial statement date is substantially short-term in nature.

 

Written put options and contingent consideration

 

In connection with certain business acquisitions, we have established provisions for written put options in respect of non-controlling interests. Provisions for some written put options are determined based on the net present value of estimated future earnings, and such provisions require us to make key economic assumptions about the future. Similarly, we have established provisions for contingent consideration. No cash outflows in respect of the written put options are expected prior to their initial exercisability, and no cash outflows in respect of contingent consideration are expected prior to completion of the periods during which the contingent consideration can be earned; in some instances, settlement of the provision for written put options may include the use of equity instruments.

 

Other

 

The provisions for other include: legal claims; rationalization of real estate and other non-employee-related restructuring activities; and contract termination costs and onerous contracts related to business acquisitions. Other than as set out following, we expect that the associated cash outflows in respect of the balance accrued as at the financial statement date will occur over an indeterminate multi-year period.

 

44 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

As discussed further in Note 29, we are involved in a number of legal claims and we are aware of certain other possible legal claims. In respect of legal claims, we establish provisions, when warranted, after taking into account legal assessments, information presently available, and the expected availability of recourse. The timing of cash outflows associated with legal claims cannot be reasonably determined.

 

In connection with business acquisitions, we have established provisions for contract termination costs and onerous contracts acquired.

 

26 long-term debt

 

(a) Details of long-term debt

 

As at (millions)   Note     September 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Senior unsecured                      
TELUS Corporation senior notes    (b)     $ 21,783     $ 20,301  
TELUS Corporation commercial paper   (c)       1,063       1,021  
TELUS Corporation credit facilities   (d)             1,144  
TELUS Communications Inc. debentures            200       200  
Secured                      
TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility   (e)       1,654       1,781  
Other   (f)       597       288  
            25,297       24,735  
Lease liabilities   (g)       2,703       2,614  
Long-term debt         $ 28,000     $ 27,349  
Current         $ 2,613     $ 3,994  
Non-current           25,387       23,355  
Long-term debt         $ 28,000     $ 27,349  

 

(b) TELUS Corporation senior notes

 

The notes are senior unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured unsubordinated obligations, are senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness, and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future obligations of, or guaranteed by, our subsidiaries. The indentures governing the notes contain covenants that, among other things, place limitations on our ability, and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries, to: grant security in respect of indebtedness; enter into sale-leaseback transactions; and incur new indebtedness.

 

Interest is payable semi-annually. The notes require us to make an offer to repurchase them at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase upon the occurrence of a change in control triggering event, as defined in the supplemental trust indenture.

 

At any time prior to the respective maturity dates set out in the table below, the notes issued prior to September 2023 are redeemable at our option, in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, on not fewer than 30 days’ and not more than 60 days’ prior notice; for notes issued subsequent to August 2023, the notice period is not fewer than 10 days’ and not more than 60 days’ prior notice. On or after the respective redemption present value spread cessation dates set out in the table below, the notes issued prior to September 2023 are redeemable at our option, in whole but not in part, on not fewer than 30 days’ and not more than 60 days’ prior notice, at redemption prices equal to 100% of the principal amounts thereof; for notes issued subsequent to August 2023, the notice period is not fewer than 10 days’ and not more than 60 days’ prior notice. In addition, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the date fixed for redemption.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 45

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

              Principal face amount   Redemption present
value spread
Series   Issued   Maturity   Issue price   Effective
interest rate 1
    Originally
issued
  Outstanding at
financial statement
date
  Basis
points 2
  Cessation
date
3.35% Notes, Series CK    April 2013   April 2024   $994.35   3.41 %   $1.1 billion   $NIL   36   Jan. 2, 2024
3.75% Notes, Series CQ    September 2014   January 2025   $997.75   3.78 %   $800 million   $800 million   38.5   Oct. 17, 2024
3.75% Notes, Series CV    December 2015   March 2026   $992.14   3.84 %   $600 million   $600 million   53.5   Dec. 10, 2025
2.75% Notes, Series CZ   July 2019   July 2026   $998.73   2.77 %   $800 million   $800 million   33   May 8, 2026
2.80% U.S. Dollar Notes 3   September 2016   February 2027   US$991.89   2.89 %   US$600 million   US$600 million   20   Nov. 16, 2026
3.70% U.S. Dollar Notes 3   March 2017   September 2027   US$998.95   3.71 %   US$500 million   US$500 million   20   June 15, 2027
2.35% Notes, Series CAC   May 2020   January 2028   $997.25   2.39 %   $600 million   $600 million   48   Nov. 27, 2027
3.625% Notes, Series CX   March 2018   March 2028   $989.49   3.75 %   $600 million   $600 million   37   Dec. 1, 2027
4.80% Notes, Series CAO   February 2024   December 2028   $998.95   4.83 %   $700 million   $700 million   28   Nov. 15, 2028
3.30% Notes, Series CY   April 2019   May 2029   $991.75   3.40 %   $1.0 billion   $1.0 billion   43.5   Feb. 2, 2029
5.00% Notes, Series CAI   September 2022   September 2029   $995.69   5.07 %   $350 million   $350 million   46.5   July 13, 2029
3.15% Notes, Series CAA   December 2019   February 2030   $996.49   3.19 %   $600 million   $600 million   39.5   Nov. 19, 2029
5.60% Notes, Series CAM   September 2023   September 2030   $998.85   5.62 %   $500 million   $500 million   46   July 9, 2030
2.05% Notes, Series CAD   October 2020   October 2030   $997.93   2.07 %   $500 million   $500 million   38   July 7, 2030
4.95% Notes, Series CAP   February 2024   February 2031   $997.07   5.00 %   $600 million   $600 million   34.5   Dec. 18, 2030
4.65% Notes, Series CAQ   August 2024   August 2031   $999.11   4.66%     $700 million   $700 million   38.5   June 13, 2031
2.85% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAF   June 2021   November 2031   $997.52   2.88 %4   $750 million   $750 million   34   Aug. 13, 2031
3.40% U.S. Dollar Sustainability-Linked Notes 3   February 2022   May 2032   US$997.13   3.43 %4   US$900 million   US$900 million   25   Feb. 13, 2032
5.25% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAG   September 2022   November 2032   $996.73   5.29 %4   $1.1 billion   $1.1 billion   51.5   Aug. 15, 2032
4.95% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAJ   March 2023   March 2033   $998.28   4.97 %4   $500 million   $500 million   54.5   Dec. 28, 2032
5.75% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAK   September 2023   September 2033   $997.82   5.78 %4   $850 million   $850 million   52   June 8, 2033
5.10% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAN   February 2024   February 2034   $996.44   5.15 %4   $500 million   $500 million   38.5   Nov. 15, 2033
4.40% Notes, Series CL    April 2013   April 2043   $997.68   4.41 %   $600 million   $600 million   47   Oct. 1, 2042
5.15% Notes, Series CN      November 2013   November 2043   $995.00   5.18 %   $400 million   $400 million   50   May 26, 2043
4.85% Notes, Series CP    Multiple 5   April 2044   $987.91 5   4.93 % 5   $500 million 5   $900 million 5   46   Oct. 5, 2043
4.75% Notes, Series CR    September 2014   January 2045   $992.91   4.80 %   $400 million   $400 million   51.5   July 17, 2044
4.40% Notes, Series CU    March 2015   January 2046   $999.72   4.40 %   $500 million   $500 million   60.5   July 29, 2045
4.70% Notes, Series CW   Multiple 6   March 2048   $998.06 6   4.71 % 6   $325 million 6   $475 million 6    58.5   Sept. 6, 2047
4.60% U.S. Dollar Notes 3   June 2018   November 2048   US$987.60   4.68 %   US$750 million   US$750 million   25   May 16, 2048
4.30% U.S. Dollar Notes 3   May 2019   June 2049   US$990.48   4.36 %   US$500 million   US$500 million   25   Dec. 15, 2048
3.95% Notes, Series CAB   Multiple 7   February 2050   $997.54 7   3.97 % 7   $400 million 7    $800 million 7   57.5   Aug. 16, 2049
4.10% Notes, Series CAE   April 2021   April 2051   $994.70   4.13 %   $500 million   $500 million   53   Oct. 5, 2050
5.65% Notes, Series CAH   September 2022   September 2052   $996.13   5.68 %   $550 million   $550 million   61.5   Mar. 13, 2052
5.95% Notes, Series CAL   September 2023   September 2053   $992.67   6.00 %   $400 million   $400 million   61.5   Mar. 8, 2053

 

1 The effective interest rate is that which the notes would yield to an initial debt holder if held to maturity and, in respect of sustainability-linked notes, no trigger events or MFN step-ups occur.

2 For Canadian dollar-denominated notes, the redemption price is equal to the greater of (i) the present value of the notes discounted at the Government of Canada yield plus the redemption present value spread calculated over the period to the redemption present value spread cessation date, or (ii) 100% of the principal amount thereof.

       For U.S. dollar-denominated notes, the redemption price is equal to the greater of (i) the present value of the notes discounted at the U.S. Adjusted Treasury Rate (at the U.S. Treasury Rate for the 3.40% U.S. Dollar Sustainability-Linked Notes) plus the redemption present value spread calculated over the period to the redemption present value spread cessation date, or (ii) 100% of the principal amount thereof.

3 We have entered into foreign exchange derivatives (cross currency interest rate exchange agreements) that effectively convert the principal payments and interest obligations to Canadian dollar obligations as follows:

 

Series   Interest rate
fixed at
    Canadian dollar
equivalent
principal
  Exchange
rate
 
2.80% U.S. Dollar Notes     2.95 %   $792 million     $1.3205  
3.70% U.S. Dollar Notes     3.41 %   $667 million     $1.3348  
3.40% U.S. Dollar Sustainability-Linked Notes     3.89 %   $1,148 million     $1.2753  
4.60% U.S. Dollar Notes     4.41 %   $974 million     $1.2985  
4.30% U.S. Dollar Notes     4.27 %   $672 million     $1.3435  

 

46 | September 30, 2024    

 

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

4 If we have not obtained a sustainability performance target verification assurance certificate for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2030, the sustainability-linked notes will bear interest at an increased rate from the trigger date through to their individual maturities. The interest rate on certain of the sustainability-linked notes may also increase (MFN step-up) in certain circumstances if we fail to meet additional sustainability and/or environmental, social or governance targets as may be provided for in a sustainability-linked bond; the interest rate on the sustainability-linked notes, however, in no event can exceed the initial rate by more than the aggregate MFN step-up and trigger event limit, whether as a result of not obtaining a sustainability performance target verification assurance certificate and/or any targets provided for in one or more future sustainability-linked bonds. Similarly, if we redeem any of the sustainability-linked notes and we have not obtained a sustainability performance target verification assurance certificate at the end of the fiscal year immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption, the interest accrued (if any) will be determined using the rates set out in the following table:

 

    Sustainability performance
target verification
assurance certificate
        Redemption  
Series   Fiscal
year
    Trigger
date
    Post-trigger
event
interest
rate
    Aggregate
MFN step-up
and trigger
event limit
    interest
accrual rate
if certificate
not obtained
 
2.85% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAF   2030     Nov. 14, 2030       3.85 %     N/A       3.85 %
3.40% U.S. Dollar Sustainability-Linked Notes   2030     Nov. 14, 2030       4.40 %     1.50 %     4.40 %
5.25% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAG   2030     Nov. 15, 2030       6.00 %     1.50 %     6.00 %
4.95% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAJ   2030     Mar. 28, 2031       5.70 %     1.50 %     5.70 %
5.75% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAK   2030     Apr. 30, 2031       6.35 %     1.20 %     6.35 %
5.10% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAN   2030     Feb. 15, 2031       5.60 %     1.00 %     5.60 %

 

5 $500 million of 4.85% Notes, Series CP were issued in April 2014 at an issue price of $998.74 and an effective interest rate of 4.86%. This series of notes was reopened in December 2015 and a further $400 million of notes were issued at an issue price of $974.38 and an effective interest rate of 5.02%.

6 $325 million of 4.70% Notes, Series CW were issued in March 2017 at an issue price of $990.65 and an effective interest rate of 4.76%. This series of notes was reopened in February 2018 and a further $150 million of notes were issued in March 2018 at an issue price of $1,014.11 and an effective interest rate of 4.61%.

7 $400 million of 3.95% Notes, Series CAB were issued in December 2019 at an issue price of $991.54 and an effective interest rate of 4.00%. This series of notes was reopened in May 2020 and a further $400 million of notes were issued at an issue price of $1,003.53 and an effective interest rate of 3.93%.

 

(c) TELUS Corporation commercial paper

 

TELUS Corporation has an unsecured commercial paper program, which is backstopped by our revolving $2.75 billion syndicated credit facility (see (d)) and is to be used for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and investments. This program enables us to issue commercial paper, subject to conditions related to debt ratings, up to a maximum aggregate equivalent amount at any one time of $2.0 billion (US$1.5 billion maximum). Foreign currency forward contracts are used to manage currency risk arising from issuing commercial paper denominated in U.S. dollars. Commercial paper debt is due within one year and is classified as a current portion of long-term debt, as the amounts are fully supported, and we expect that they will continue to be supported, by the revolving credit facility, which has no repayment requirements within the next year. As at September 30, 2024, we had $1.1 billion (December 31, 2023 – $1.0 billion) of commercial paper outstanding, all of which was denominated in U.S. dollars (US$0.8 billion; December 31, 2023 – US$0.8 billion), with an effective average interest rate of 5.5%, maturing through March 2025.

 

(d) TELUS Corporation credit facilities

 

As at September 30, 2024, TELUS Corporation had an unsecured revolving $2.75 billion bank credit facility, expiring on July 14, 2028 (unchanged from December 31, 2023), with a syndicate of financial institutions, which is to be used for general corporate purposes, including the backstopping of commercial paper.

 

As at June 30, 2024, TELUS Corporation had repaid an unsecured, non-revolving, syndicated $1.1 billion bank credit facility, which was to be used for general corporate purposes and that was to mature July 9, 2024; as at December 31, 2023, we had drawn $1.1 billion on the facility.

 

The TELUS Corporation credit facilities bear interest at prime rate, U.S. Dollar Base Rate, Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average (CORRA) or term secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) (as such terms are used or defined in the credit facilities), plus applicable margins. The credit facilities contain customary representations, warranties and covenants, including two financial quarter-end ratio tests. These tests are that our leverage ratio must not exceed 4.25:1.00 and our operating cash flow to interest expense ratio must not be less than 2.00:1.00, all as defined in the credit facilities.

 

Continued access to the TELUS Corporation credit facilities is not contingent upon TELUS Corporation maintaining a specific credit rating.

 

As at (millions)   September 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  
Net available   $ 1,687     $ 1,729  
Backstop of commercial paper     1,063       1,021  
Gross available revolving $2.75 billion bank credit facility   $ 2,750     $ 2,750  

 

We had $62 million of letters of credit outstanding as at September 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023 – $60 million), issued under various uncommitted facilities; such letter of credit facilities are in addition to the ability to provide letters of credit pursuant to our committed revolving bank credit facility. Further, we had arranged $338 million of incremental letters of credit to allow us to participate in the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 3800 MHz band spectrum auction that was held in October-November 2023, as discussed further in Note 18(a). Concurrent with funding the purchase of the spectrum licences, these incremental letters of credit were extinguished.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 47

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

(e) TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility

 

As at September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, TELUS International (Cda) Inc. had a credit facility, secured by its assets, expiring on January 3, 2028, with a syndicate of financial institutions, including TELUS Corporation. The credit facility is comprised of revolving components totalling US$800 million, with TELUS Corporation as approximately 7.2% lender, and amortizing term loan components totalling US$1.2 billion, with TELUS Corporation as approximately 7.2% lender. The credit facility is non-recourse to TELUS Corporation. The outstanding revolving components and term loan components had a weighted average interest rate of 7.0% as at September 30, 2024.

 

The TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility bears interest at prime rate, U.S. Dollar Base Rate or term secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) (all such terms as used or defined in the credit facility), plus applicable margins. The credit facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including two financial quarter-end ratio tests: the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. quarter-end net debt to operating cash flow ratio must not exceed 3.75:1.00 through fiscal 2024, and 3.25:1.00 subsequently; and the quarter-end operating cash flow to debt service (interest and scheduled principal repayment) ratio must not be less than 1.50:1.00; all as defined in the credit facility.

 

The term loan components are subject to amortization schedules which require that 5% of the principal advanced be repaid each year of the term of the agreement, with the balance due at maturity.

 

As at (millions)   Revolving components     Term loan components 1     Total  
September 30, 2024                  
Available   US$ 580      US$     US$ 580   
Outstanding                  
Due to other   205     1,030     1,235  
Due to TELUS Corporation   15     80     95  
    US$ 800      US$ 1,110      US$ 1,910   
December 31, 2023                  
Available   US$ 492      US$     US$ 492   
Outstanding                  
Due to other   286     1,072     1,358  
Due to TELUS Corporation   22     83     105  
    US$ 800      US$ 1,155      US$ 1,955   

 

1 Relative to amounts owed to the syndicate of financial institutions, excluding TELUS Corporation, we have entered into foreign exchange derivatives (cross currency interest rate exchange agreements) that effectively convert an amortizing amount of US$415 of the principal payments, and associated interest obligations, to European euro obligations with an effective fixed interest rate of 2.6% and an effective fixed exchange rate of US$1.088:€1.00. These have been accounted for as a net investment hedge in a foreign operation (see Note 4).

 

(f) Other

 

Other liabilities bear interest at 4.4%, are secured by the AWS-4 spectrum licences associated with these other liabilities, and are subject to amortization schedules, so that the principal is repaid over the periods to maturity, the last period ending March 31, 2035.

 

(g) Lease liabilities

 

Lease liabilities are subject to amortization schedules, so that the principal is repaid over various periods, including reasonably expected renewals. The weighted average interest rate on lease liabilities was approximately 5.7% as at September 30, 2024.

 

48 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

(h) Long-term debt maturities

 

Anticipated requirements for long-term debt repayments, calculated for long-term debt owing as at September 30, 2024, are as follows:

 

Composite long-term debt denominated in   Canadian dollars     U.S. dollars     Other
currencies
       
    Long-term
debt,
                Long-term
debt,
          Currency swap agreement
amounts to be exchanged
                   
Years ending December 31 (millions)   excluding
leases
    Leases
(Note 19)
    Total     excluding
leases
    Leases
(Note 19)
    (Receive) 1     Pay     Total     Leases
(Note 19)
    Total  
2024 (remainder of year)   $ 10     $ 134     $ 144     $ 905     $ 7     $ (894 )   $ 902     $ 920     $ 14     $ 1,078  
2025     1,047       514       1,561       278       30       (234 )     235       309       53       1,923  
2026     1,450       409       1,859       75       32       (32 )     32       107       45       2,011  
2027     53       324       377       1,560       28       (1,517 )     1,491       1,562       36       1,975  
2028     1,955       212       2,167       1,423       19       (461 )     473       1,454       29       3,650  
2029 - 2033     7,746       383       8,129       1,215       50       (1,215 )     1,148       1,198       61       9,388  
Thereafter     6,105       317       6,422       1,687             (1,687 )     1,646       1,646             8,068  
Future cash outflows in respect of composite long-term debt principal repayments     18,366       2,293       20,659       7,143       166       (6,040 )     5,927       7,196       238       28,093  
Future cash outflows in respect of associated interest and like carrying costs 2     9,173       502       9,675       2,701       76       (2,409 )     2,294       2,662       66       12,403  
Undiscounted contractual maturities (Note 4(b))   $ 27,539     $ 2,795     $ 30,334     $ 9,844     $ 242     $ (8,449 )   $ 8,221     $ 9,858     $ 304     $ 40,496  

 

1 Where applicable, cash flows reflect foreign exchange rates as at September 30, 2024.
2 Future cash outflows in respect of associated interest and like carrying costs for commercial paper and amounts drawn under our credit facilities (if any) have been calculated based upon the rates in effect as at September 30, 2024.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 49

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

27 other long-term liabilities

 

As at (millions)   Note   September 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Contract liabilities   24   $ 105     $ 84  
Other         2       2  
Deferred revenues         107       86  
Pension benefit liabilities   15     452       453  
Other post-employment benefit liabilities         83       76  
Derivative liabilities   4(d)     118       191  
Deferred capital expenditure government grants         49        
Other         52       57  
          861       863  
Deferred customer activation and connection fees   24     4       4  
        $ 865     $ 867  

 

28 owners’ equity

 

(a) TELUS Corporation Common Share capital – general

 

Our authorized share capital is as follows:

 

As at   September 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
First Preferred Shares     1 billion       1 billion    
Second Preferred Shares     1 billion       1 billion    
Common Shares     4 billion       4 billion    

 

Only holders of Common Shares may vote at our general meetings, with each holder of Common Shares entitled to one vote per Common Share held at all such meetings so long as not less than 66-2/3% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares are owned by Canadians. With respect to priority in the payment of dividends and in the distribution of assets in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of our assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, preferences are as follows: First Preferred Shares; Second Preferred Shares; and finally Common Shares.

 

As at September 30, 2024, approximately 95 million Common Shares were reserved for issuance from Treasury under a dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan (see Note 13(b)); approximately 46 million Common Shares were reserved for issuance from Treasury under a restricted share unit plan (see Note 14(b)); and approximately 12 million Common Shares were reserved for issuance from Treasury under a share option plan (see Note 14(d)).

 

(b) Subsidiary with significant non-controlling interest

 

Our TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subsidiary is incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and has geographically dispersed operations, with its principal places of business located in Asia, Central America, Europe and North America.

 

Changes in our economic and voting interests during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and which are included in the Consolidated statement of changes in owners’ equity, are set out in the following table.

 

    Economic interest 1     Voting interest 1  
    2024     2023     2024     2023  
Interest in TELUS International (Cda) Inc., beginning of period     56.0 %     56.6 %     85.4 %     72.4 %
Effect of                                
Issue of TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting shares as consideration in business acquisition           (1.4 )           (0.2 )
TELUS Corporation acquisition of shares from non-controlling interests 2     2.0       0.9       0.3       1.2  
Share-based compensation and other     (0.3 )     (0.1 )            
Non-controlling interests conversion of multiple voting shares to subordinate voting shares                 1.3        
Interest in TELUS International (Cda) Inc., end of period     57.7 %     56.0 %     87.0 %     73.4 %

 

1 Due to the voting rights associated with the multiple voting shares held by TELUS Corporation, our economic and voting interests differ.

2 Acquisition of shares from non-controlling interests of $25 million (2023 – $57 million), of which $30 million was credited (2023 – $32 million was charged) to amounts recorded in owners’ equity for contributed surplus and the balance was charged to non-controlling interests.

 

50 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

Summarized financial information

 

Summarized financial information of our TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subsidiary is set out in the accompanying table.

 

As at, or for the periods ended, ($ in millions) 1   September 30,
2024
    September 30,
2023
    December 31,
2023
 
Statement of financial position 1                        
Current assets   $ 1,330             $ 1,122  
Non-current assets   $ 5,341             $ 5,395  
Current liabilities   $ 1,297             $ 990  
Non-current liabilities   $ 2,604             $ 2,829  
Statement of income and other comprehensive income                        
THREE-MONTH                        
Revenue and other income   $ 897     $ 889          
Net income (loss)   $ (43 )   $ 11          
Comprehensive income (loss)   $ (63 )   $ 38          
NINE-MONTH                        
Revenue and other income   $ 2,757     $ 2,713          
Net income (loss)   $ (10 )   $ 21          
Comprehensive income (loss)   $ 39     $ 7          
Statement of cash flows                        
THREE-MONTH                        
Cash provided by operating activities   $ 122     $ 201          
Cash used by investing activities   $ (34 )   $ (28 )        
Cash used by financing activities   $ (95 )   $ (186 )        
NINE-MONTH                        
Cash provided by operating activities   $ 372     $ 344          
Cash used by investing activities   $ (106 )   $ (1,231 )        
Cash provided (used) by financing activities   $ (238 )   $ 896          

 

1 As required by IFRS-IASB, this summarized financial information excludes inter-company eliminations.

 

29 contingent liabilities

 

Claims and lawsuits

 

General

 

A number of claims and lawsuits (including class actions and intellectual property infringement claims) seeking damages and other relief are pending against us and, in some cases, other mobile carriers and telecommunications service providers. As well, we have received notice of, or are aware of, certain possible claims (including intellectual property infringement claims) against us and, in some cases, other mobile carriers and telecommunications service providers.

 

It is not currently possible for us to predict the outcome of such claims, possible claims and lawsuits due to various factors, including: the preliminary nature of some claims; uncertain damage theories and demands; an incomplete factual record; uncertainty concerning legal theories and procedures and their resolution by the courts, at both the trial and the appeal levels; and the unpredictable nature of opposing parties and their demands.

 

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

 

Certified class actions

 

Certified class actions against us include the following:

 

System access fee class action

 

In 2004, a class action was brought in Saskatchewan against a number of past and present wireless service providers, including us, which alleged breach of contract, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and violation of competition, trade practices and consumer protection legislation across Canada in connection with the collection of system access fees. In September 2007, a national opt-in class was certified by the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench in relation to the unjust enrichment claim only. In February 2008, the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench granted an order amending the certification order so as to exclude from the class of plaintiffs any customer bound by an arbitration clause with us. After a long period of dormancy, the Plaintiff sought, in 2024, to advance the class action. The defendants have applied to dismiss the class action for want of prosecution.

 

Per minute billing class action

 

In 2008, a class action was brought in Ontario against us alleging breach of contract, breach of the Ontario Consumer Protection Act, breach of the Competition Act and unjust enrichment, in connection with our practice of “rounding up” mobile airtime to the nearest minute and charging for the full minute. The action sought certification of a national class. In November 2014, an Ontario class only was certified by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in relation to the breach of contract, breach of Consumer Protection Act, and unjust enrichment claims; all appeals of the certification decision have now been exhausted. At the same time, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice declined to stay the claims of our business customers, notwithstanding an arbitration clause in our customer service agreements with those customers. This latter decision was appealed and on May 31, 2017, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed our appeal. The Supreme Court of Canada granted us leave to appeal this decision and on April 4, 2019, granted our appeal and stayed the claims of business customers. Notice of this certified class action was provided to potential class members in 2022.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 51

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

Call set-up time class actions

 

In 2005, a class action was brought against us in British Columbia alleging that we have engaged in deceptive trade practices in charging for incoming calls from the moment the caller connects to the network, and not from the moment the incoming call is connected to the recipient. In 2011, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld a stay of all of the causes of action advanced by the plaintiff in this class action, with one exception, based on the arbitration clause that was included in our customer service agreements. The sole exception was the cause of action based on deceptive or unconscionable practices under the British Columbia Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, which the Supreme Court of Canada declined to stay. In January 2016, the British Columbia Supreme Court certified this class action in relation to the claim under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act. The class is limited to residents of British Columbia who contracted mobile services with us in the period from January 21, 1999, to April 2010. We have appealed the certification decision. A companion class action was brought against us in Alberta at the same time as the British Columbia class action. The Alberta class action duplicates the allegations in the British Columbia action, but has not proceeded to date. Subject to a number of conditions, including court approval, we have now settled both the British Columbia and the Alberta class actions.

 

Uncertified class actions

 

Uncertified class actions against us include:

 

9-1-1 class actions

 

In 2008, a class action was brought in Saskatchewan against us and other Canadian telecommunications carriers alleging that, among other matters, we failed to provide proper notice of 9-1-1 charges to the public, have been deceitfully passing them off as government charges, and have charged 9-1-1 fees to customers who reside in areas where 9-1-1 service is not available. The plaintiffs advance causes of action in breach of contract, misrepresentation and false advertising and seek certification of a national class. A virtually identical class action was filed in Alberta at the same time, but the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench declared that class action expired against us as of 2009. No steps have been taken in this proceeding since 2016.

 

Public Mobile class actions

 

In 2014, class actions were brought against us in Quebec and Ontario on behalf of Public Mobile’s customers, alleging that changes to the technology, services and rate plans made by us contravene our statutory and common law obligations. In particular, the Quebec action alleges that our actions constitute a breach of the Quebec Consumer Protection Act, the Quebec Civil Code, and the Ontario Consumer Protection Act. On June 28, 2021, the Quebec Superior Court approved the discontinuance of this claim against TELUS. The Ontario class action alleges negligence, breach of express and implied warranty, breach of the Competition Act, unjust enrichment, and waiver of tort. No steps have been taken in this proceeding since it was filed and served.

 

Summary

 

We believe that we have good defences to the above matters. Should the ultimate resolution of these matters differ from management’s assessments and assumptions, a material adjustment to our financial position and the results of our operations, including cash flows, could result. Management’s assessments and assumptions include that reliable estimates of any such exposure cannot be made considering the continued uncertainty about: the nature of the damages that may be sought by the plaintiffs; the causes of action that are being, or may ultimately be, pursued; and, in the case of the uncertified class actions, the causes of action that may ultimately be certified.

 

30 related party transactions

 

(a) Transactions with key management personnel

 

Our key management personnel have authority and responsibility for overseeing, planning, directing and controlling our activities and consist of our Board of Directors and our Executive Team.

 

52 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

Total compensation expense for key management personnel, and the composition thereof, included in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Employee benefits expense, is as follows:

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Short-term benefits   $ 4     $ 5     $ 13     $ 16  
Post-employment pension 1 and other benefits     4       5       8       9  
Share-based compensation 2     17       8       37       35  
    $ 25     $ 18     $ 58     $ 60  

  

1 The members of our Executive Team are members of our Pension Plan for Management and Professional Employees of TELUS Corporation and certain other non-registered, non-contributory supplementary defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans.

2 We accrue an expense for the notional subset of our restricted share units with market performance conditions using a fair value determined by a Monte Carlo simulation. Restricted share units with an equity settlement feature are accounted for as equity instruments. The expense in respect of restricted share units that do not ultimately vest is reversed against the expense that was previously recorded in their respect.

 

As disclosed in Note 14, we made initial awards of share-based compensation in 2024 and 2023 to our key management personnel, as set out in the following table. As most of these awards are cliff-vesting or graded-vesting and have multi-year requisite service periods, the related expense is being recognized rateably over a period of years and thus only a portion of the 2024 and 2023 initial awards is included in the amounts in the table above.

 

Nine-month periods ended September 30 ($ in millions)   Number of
units
    Notional
value 1
    Grant-date
fair value 1
 
2024                        
TELUS Corporation                        
Restricted share units     1,465,459     $ 35     $ 41  
TELUS International (Cda) Inc.                        
Restricted share units     1,054,899       12       12  
            $ 47     $ 53  
                         
2023                        
TELUS Corporation                        
Restricted share units     1,220,549     $ 33     $ 35  
TELUS International (Cda) Inc.                        
Restricted share units     353,789       10       10  
            $ 43     $ 45  

 

1 The notional value of restricted share units is determined by multiplying the equity share price at the time of award by the number of units awarded; the grant-date fair value differs from the notional value because the fair values of some awards have been determined using a Monte Carlo simulation (see Note 14(b)). The notional value of share options has been determined using an option pricing model

 

Our Directors’ Deferred Share Unit Plan provides that, in addition to his or her annual equity grant of deferred share units, a director may elect to receive his or her annual retainer and meeting fees in deferred share units, TELUS Corporation Common Shares or cash. Deferred share units entitle directors to a specified number of TELUS Corporation Common Shares. Deferred share units are settled when a director ceases to be a director, for any reason, at a time elected by the director in accordance with the Directors’ Deferred Share Unit Plan. As at September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, no share-based compensation awards accounted for as liabilities were outstanding.

 

Employment agreements with members of the Executive Team typically provide for severance payments if an executive’s employment is terminated without cause: generally, 18 months of base salary, benefits and accrual of pension service in lieu of notice, and 50% of base salary in lieu of an annual cash bonus. In the event of a change in control, Executive Team members are not entitled to treatment any different than that given to our other employees with respect to non-vested share-based compensation.

 

(b) Transactions with defined benefit pension plans

 

During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, we provided our defined benefit pension plans with management and administrative services on a cost recovery basis and actuarial services on an arm’s-length basis; the charges for these services amounted to $2 million (2023 – $2 million) and $7 million (2023 – $7 million), respectively, and are included net in the Consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income as Goods and services purchased.

 

(c) Transactions with real estate joint ventures and associate

 

During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, we had transactions with the real estate joint ventures, which are related parties, as set out in Note 21.

 

As at September 30, 2024, presented in the Consolidated statements of financial position as Long-term debt, we had recorded lease liabilities of $82 million (December 31, 2023 – $84 million) in respect of our TELUS Sky leases, and monthly cash payments are made in accordance with the lease agreements; as at the statement of financial position date, one-third of those amounts is due to our economic interest in the real estate joint venture.

 

    September 30, 2024 | 53

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

31 additional statement of cash flow information

 

(a) Statements of cash flows – operating activities and investing activities

 

    Three months     Nine months  
Periods ended September 30 (millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                
Net change in non-cash operating working capital                                
Current                                
Accounts receivable   $ (51 )   $ (124 )   $ 57     $ 40  
Inventories     38       30       (8 )     (13 )
Contract assets     9       4       32       18  
Prepaid expenses     104       33       (87 )     (153 )
Unrealized change in held for trading derivatives (Note 4(d))     (7 )     12       15       7  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     109       108       76       (417 )
Income and other taxes receivable and payable, net     83       33       164       (22 )
Advance billings and customer deposits (Note 24)     (76 )     (5 )     (38 )     39  
Provisions     11       105       (80 )     179  
      220       196       131       (322 )
Non-current                                
Contract assets     2       10       26       40  
Unbilled customer finance receivables     10       (2 )     77       (24 )
Unrealized change in held for trading derivatives (Note 4(d))     123       23       212       51  
Costs incurred to obtain or fulfill contracts with customers (Note 20)     (22 )     (24 )     (56 )     (43 )
Prepaid maintenance     2       4       5       12  
Refundable security deposits and other     (21 )     7       (22 )     (13 )
Provisions     (10 )     5       (53 )     (103 )
Contract liabilities (Note 24)     2       8       21       15  
Other post-employment benefit liabilities     3       3       7       8  
Other long-term liabilities     (3 )     (9 )     (5 )     (6 )
      86       25       212       (63 )
    $ 306     $ 221     $ 343     $ (385 )
                                 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES                                
Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences                                
Capital asset additions                                
Gross capital expenditures                                
Property, plant and equipment (Note 17)   $ (621 )   $ (703 )   $ (1,947 )   $ (2,074 )
Intangible assets subject to amortization (Note 18)     (231 )     (246 )     (765 )     (720 )
      (852 )     (949 )     (2,712 )     (2,794 )
Additions arising from leases (Note 17)     184       180       591       505  
Additions arising from non-monetary transactions                 37        
Capital expenditures (Note 5)     (668 )     (769 )     (2,084 )     (2,289 )
Change in associated non-cash investing working capital     (11 )     24       (73 )     (209 )
    $ (679 )   $ (745 )   $ (2,157 )   $ (2,498 )

 

54 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

(b) Changes in liabilities arising from financing activities

 

    Three-month period ended September 30, 2023     Three-month period ended September 30, 2024  
          Statement of cash flows     Non-cash changes                 Statement of cash flows     Non-cash changes        
(millions)   Beginning of
period
    Issued or
received
    Redemptions,
repayments or
payments
    Foreign
exchange
movement
(Note 4(e))
    Other     End of period     Beginning of
period
    Issued or
received
    Redemptions,
repayments or
payments
    Foreign
exchange
movement
(Note 4(e))
    Other     End of period  
Dividends payable to holders of Common Shares   $ 526     $     $ (526 )   $     $ 529     $ 529     $ 577     $     $ (577 )   $     $ 578     $ 578  
Dividends reinvested in shares from Treasury                 188             (188 )                       193             (193 )      
    $ 526     $     $ (338 )   $     $ 341     $ 529     $ 577     $     $ (384 )   $     $ 385     $ 578  
Short-term borrowings   $ 594     $ 17     $ (507 )   $     $     $ 104     $ 1,044     $     $ (103 )   $ (16 )   $     $ 925  
Net-settled derivatives used to manage currency risk arising from U.S. dollar-denominated short-term borrowings – liability (asset)                                                     (15 )     14             (1 )
    $ 594     $ 17     $ (507 )   $     $     $ 104     $ 1,044     $     $ (118 )   $ (2 )   $     $ 924  

 

    September 30, 2024 | 55

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

    Three-month period ended September 30, 2023     Three-month period ended September 30, 2024  
          Statement of cash flows     Non-cash changes                 Statement of cash flows     Non-cash changes        
(millions)   Beginning of
period
    Issued or
received
    Redemptions,
repayments or
payments
    Foreign
exchange
movement
(Note 4(e))
    Other     End of period     Beginning of
period
    Issued or
received
    Redemptions,
repayments or
payments
    Foreign
exchange
movement
(Note 4(e))
    Other     End of period  
Long-term debt                                                                                                
TELUS Corporation senior notes   $ 18,564     $ 1,750     $     $ 91     $ (12 )   $ 20,393     $ 21,145     $ 700     $     $ (61 )   $ (1 )   $ 21,783  
TELUS Corporation commercial paper     1,944       1,008       (1,576 )     41             1,417       1,760       467       (1,145 )     (19 )           1,063  
TELUS Corporation credit facilities     1,144                               1,144                                      
TELUS Communications Inc. debentures     199                               199       200                               200  
TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility     2,023       50       (208 )     43       1       1,909       1,745       127       (194 )     (26 )     2       1,654  
Other     298             (6 )                 292       613             (20 )           4       597  
Lease liabilities     2,416             (135 )     5       193       2,479       2,688             (171 )     5       181       2,703  
Derivatives used to manage currency risk arising from U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt – liability (asset)     72       1,595       (1,595 )     (161 )     (1 )     (90 )     (7 )     1,164       (1,163 )     58       26       78  
      26,660       4,403       (3,520 )     19       181       27,743       28,144       2,458       (2,693 )     (43 )     212       28,078  
To eliminate effect of gross settlement of derivatives used to manage currency risk arising from U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt           (1,595 )     1,595                               (1,164 )     1,164                    
    $ 26,660     $ 2,808     $ (1,925 )   $ 19     $ 181     $ 27,743     $ 28,144     $ 1,294     $ (1,529 )   $ (43 )   $ 212     $ 28,078  

 

56 | September 30, 2024    

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

    Nine-month period ended September 30, 2023     Nine-month period ended September 30, 2024  
          Statement of cash flows     Non-cash changes                 Statement of cash flows     Non-cash changes        
(millions)   Beginning of
period
    Issued or
received
    Redemptions,
repayments or
payments
    Foreign
exchange
movement
(Note 4(e))
    Other     End of period     Beginning of
period
    Issued or
received
    Redemptions,
repayments or
payments
    Foreign
exchange
movement
(Note 4(e))
    Other     End of period  
Dividends payable to holders of Common Shares   $ 502     $     $ (1,534 )   $     $ 1,561     $ 529     $ 550     $     $ (1,681 )   $     $ 1,709     $ 578  
Dividends reinvested in shares from Treasury                 558             (558 )                       507             (507 )      
    $ 502     $     $ (976 )   $     $ 1,003     $ 529     $ 550     $     $ (1,174 )   $     $ 1,202     $ 578  
Short-term borrowings   $ 104     $ 607     $ (607 )   $     $     $ 104     $ 104     $ 1,040     $ (203 )   $ (16 )   $     $ 925  
Net-settled derivatives used to manage currency risk arising from U.S. dollar-denominated short-term borrowings – liability (asset)                                                     (15 )     14             (1 )
    $ 104     $ 607     $ (607 )   $     $     $ 104     $ 104     $ 1,040     $ (218 )   $ (2 )   $     $ 924  

 

    September 30, 2024 | 57

 

notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

 

    Nine-month period ended September 30, 2023     Nine-month period ended September 30, 2024  
          Statement of cash flows     Non-cash changes                 Statement of cash flows     Non-cash changes        
(millions)   Beginning of
period
    Issued or
received
    Redemptions,
repayments or
payments
    Foreign
exchange
movement
(Note 4(e))
    Other     End of period     Beginning of
period
    Issued or
received
    Redemptions,
repayments or
payments
    Foreign
exchange
movement
(Note 4(e))
    Other     End of period  
Long-term debt                                                                                                
TELUS Corporation senior notes   $ 18,660     $ 2,250     $ (500 )   $ (8 )   $ (9 )   $ 20,393     $ 20,301     $ 2,500     $ (1,100 )   $ 89     $ (7 )   $ 21,783  
TELUS Corporation commercial paper     1,458       4,712       (4,752 )     (1 )           1,417       1,021       2,343       (2,317 )     16             1,063  
TELUS Corporation credit facilities     1,145                         (1 )     1,144       1,144             (1,144 )                  
TELUS Communications Inc. debentures     199                               199       200                               200  
TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility     914       1,363       (356 )     (14 )     2       1,909       1,781       240       (405 )     37       1       1,654  
Other     321             (179 )           150       292       288             (27 )           336       597  
Lease liabilities     2,340             (394 )     11       522       2,479       2,614             (503 )     13       579       2,703  
Derivatives used to manage currency risk arising from U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt – liability (asset)     (80 )     4,789       (4,803 )     (1 )     5       (90 )     13       2,374       (2,358 )     (109 )     158       78  
      24,957       13,114       (10,984 )     (13 )     669       27,743       27,362       7,457       (7,854 )     46       1,067       28,078  
To eliminate effect of gross settlement of derivatives used to manage currency risk arising from U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt           (4,789 )     4,789                               (2,374 )     2,374                    
    $ 24,957     $ 8,325     $ (6,195 )   $ (13 )   $ 669     $ 27,743     $ 27,362     $ 5,083     $ (5,480 )   $ 46     $ 1,067     $ 28,078  

 

58 | September 30, 2024    

 

EX-99.2 3 tm2423291d1_ex99-2.htm EXHIBIT 99.2

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

 


 

 

 

TELUS CORPORATION

 

Management’s discussion and analysis

 

2024 Q3

 

 

 

 


 

TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Caution regarding forward-looking statements

 

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

 

This document contains forward-looking statements about expected events and our financial and operating performance. Forward-looking statements include any statements that do not refer to historical facts. They include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our objectives and our strategies to achieve those objectives, our expectations regarding trends in the telecommunications industry (including demand for data and ongoing subscriber base growth), and our financing plans (including our multi-year dividend growth program). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words assumption, goal, guidance, objective, outlook, strategy, target and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as aim, anticipate, believe, could, expect, intend, may, plan, predict, seek, should, strive and will. These statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbour” provisions of applicable securities laws in Canada and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on assumptions, including assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. These assumptions may ultimately prove to have been inaccurate and, as a result, our actual results or other events may differ materially from expectations expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 

The assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are described in additional detail in Section 9 General trends, outlook and assumptions, and regulatory developments and proceedings and Section 10 Risks and risk management in our 2023 annual Management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A). Those descriptions are incorporated by reference in this cautionary statement. Updates to the assumptions on which our 2024 outlook is based are presented in Section 9 Update to general trends, outlook and assumptions, and regulatory developments and proceedings in this MD&A.

 

Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or other events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in other TELUS filings include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

· Regulatory matters. We operate in a number of highly regulated industries and are therefore subject to a wide variety of laws and regulations domestically and internationally. Policies and practices of elected officials and regulatory decisions, reviews and government activity may have strategic, operational and/or financial implications (including on revenue and free cash flow).

 

Risks and uncertainties include:

 

o potential changes to our regulatory regime or the outcomes of proceedings, cases or inquiries relating to its application, including but not limited to those set out in Section 9.1 Communications industry regulatory developments and proceedings in this MD&A.

 

o our ability to comply with complex and changing regulation of the healthcare, virtual care and medical devices industries in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including as an operator of health clinics; and

 

o our ability to comply with, or facilitate our clients’ compliance with, numerous, complex and sometimes conflicting legal regimes, both domestically and internationally.

 

· Competitive environment. Competitor expansion, activity and intensity (pricing, including discounting, bundling), as well as non-traditional competition, disruptive technology and disintermediation, may alter the nature of the markets in which we compete and impact our market share and financial results (including revenue and free cash flow). TELUS Digital Experience, TELUS Health and TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods face intense competition in different markets.

 

· Technology. Consumer adoption of alternative technologies and changing customer expectations have the potential to impact our revenue streams and customer churn rates.

 

Risks and uncertainties include:

 

o a declining overall market for TV services;

 

o disruptive technologies, including software-defined networks in the business market, that may displace or cause us to reprice our existing data services, and self-installed technology solutions;

 

o any failure to innovate, maintain technological advantages or respond effectively and in a timely manner to changes in technology;

 

o the roll-out, anticipated benefits and efficiencies, and ongoing evolution of wireless broadband technologies and systems;

 

o our reliance on wireless network access agreements, which have facilitated our deployment of mobile technologies;

 

o supplier limitations and concentration and market power for products such as network equipment, TELUS TV and mobile handsets;

 

o our expected long-term need to acquire additional spectrum capacity through future spectrum auctions and from third parties to address increasing demand for data, and our ability to utilize spectrum we acquire;

 

o deployment and operation of new fixed broadband network technologies at a reasonable cost and the availability and success of new products and services to be rolled out using such network technologies; and

 

o our deployment of self-learning tools and automation, which may change the way we interact with customers.

 

· Security and data protection. Our ability to detect and identify potential threats and vulnerabilities depends on the effectiveness of our security controls in protecting our infrastructure and operating environment, and our timeliness in responding to attacks and recovering business operations. A successful attack may impede the operations of our network or lead to the unauthorized interception, destruction, use or dissemination of customer, team member or business information.

 

· Generative AI (GenAI). GenAI exposes us to numerous risks including risks related to the responsible use of AI, data privacy and cybersecurity, and the possibility that our use of AI may produce inaccurate or inappropriate content or create negative perceptions among companies and regulators that could affect demand for our services.

 

   

 

Page 2 of 54

 


 

TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

· Climate and the environment. Natural disasters, pandemics, disruptive events and climate change may impact our operations, customer satisfaction and team member experience.

 

Our goals to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our operations are subject to our ability to identify, procure and implement solutions to reduce energy consumption and adopt cleaner sources of energy, our ability to identify and make suitable investments in renewable energy, including in the form of virtual power purchase agreements, and our ability to continue to realize significant absolute reductions in energy use and the resulting GHG emissions in our operations.

 

· Operational performance and business combination. Investments and acquisitions present opportunities to expand our operational scope, but may expose us to new risks. We may be unsuccessful in gaining market traction/share and realizing benefits, and integration efforts may divert resources from other priorities. Risks include:

 

o our reliance on third-party cloud-based computing services to deliver our IT services; and

 

o economic, political and other risks associated with doing business globally (including war and other geopolitical developments).

 

· Our systems and processes. Systems and technology innovation, maintenance and management may impact our IT systems and network reliability, as well as our operating costs.

 

Risks and uncertainties include:

 

o our ability to maintain customer service and operate our network in the event of human error or human-caused threats, such as cyberattacks and equipment failures that could cause various degrees of network outages;

 

o technical disruptions and infrastructure breakdowns;

 

o delays and rising costs, including as a result of government restrictions or trade actions; and

 

o the completeness and effectiveness of business continuity and disaster recovery plans and responses.

 

· Our team. The rapidly evolving and highly competitive nature of our markets and operating environment, along with the globalization and evolving demographic profile of our workforce, and the effectiveness of our internal training, development, succession and health and well-being programs, may impact our ability to attract, develop and retain team members with the skills required to meet the changing needs of our customers and our business. There may be greater physical and mental health challenges faced by team members (and their families) as a result of the pandemic and its aftermath, and the effect of other significant change initiatives at the organization may result in the loss of key team members through short-term and long-term disability.

 

· Suppliers. We may be impacted by supply chain disruptions and lack of resiliency in relation to global or local events. Dependence on a single supplier for products, components, service delivery or support may impact our ability to efficiently meet constantly changing and rising customer expectations while maintaining quality of service. Our suppliers’ ability to maintain and service their product lines could affect the success of upgrades to, and evolution of, technology that we offer.

 

· Real estate matters. Real estate investments are exposed to possible financing risks and uncertainty related to future demand, occupancy and rental rates, especially following the pandemic. Future real estate developments may not be completed on budget or on time and may not obtain lease commitments as planned.

 

· Financing, debt and dividends. Our ability to access funding at optimal pricing may be impacted by general market conditions and changing assessments in the fixed-income and equity capital markets regarding our ability to generate sufficient future cash flow to service our debt. Our current intention to pay dividends to shareholders could constrain our ability to invest in our operations to support future growth.

 

Risks and uncertainties include:

 

o our ability to use equity as consideration in business acquisitions is impacted by stock market valuations of TELUS Common Shares and TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting shares;

 

o our capital expenditure levels and potential outlays for spectrum licences in auctions or purchases from third parties affect and are affected by: our broadband initiatives; our ongoing deployment of newer mobile technologies; investments in network technology required to comply with laws and regulations relating to the security of cyber systems, including bans on the products and services of certain vendors; investments in network resiliency and reliability; the allocation of resources to acquisitions and future spectrum auctions held by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Our capital expenditure levels could be impacted if we do not achieve our targeted operational and financial results or if there are changes to our regulatory environment; and

 

o lower than planned free cash flow could constrain our ability to invest in operations, reduce leverage or return capital to shareholders. Quarterly dividend decisions are made by our Board of Directors based on our financial position and outlook. There can be no assurance that our dividend growth program will be maintained through 2025 or renewed.

 

Factors that may affect TELUS Digital’s financial performance are described in TELUS International (Cda) Inc. public filings available on SEDAR+ and EDGAR. TELUS Digital may choose to publicize targets or provide other guidance regarding its business and it may not achieve such targets. Failure to meet these targets could affect TELUS’ ability to achieve targets for the organization as a whole and could result in a decline in the trading price of the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting shares or the TELUS Common Shares or both.

 

· Tax matters. Complexity of domestic and foreign tax laws, regulations and reporting requirements applying to TELUS and our international operating subsidiaries may impact financial results. International acquisitions and expansion of operations heighten our exposure to multiple forms of taxation.

 

   

 

Page 3 of 54

 


 

TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

· The economy. Changing global economic conditions, including a potential recession and alternating expectations about inflation, as well as our effectiveness in monitoring and revising growth assumptions and contingency plans, may impact the achievement of our corporate objectives, our financial results (including free cash flow), and our defined benefit pension plans.

 

· Litigation and legal matters. Complexity of, and compliance with, laws, regulations, commitments and expectations may have a financial and reputational impact. Risks include:

 

o our ability to defend against existing and potential claims or our ability to negotiate and exercise indemnity rights or other protections in respect of such claims; and

 

o the complexity of legal compliance in domestic and foreign jurisdictions, including compliance with competition, anti-bribery and foreign corrupt practices laws.

 

Additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on our financial position, financial performance, cash flows, business or reputation. Except as otherwise indicated in this document, the forward-looking statements made herein do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or special items or any mergers, acquisitions, dispositions or other business combinations or transactions that may be announced or that may occur after the date of this document.

 

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

 

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

 

   

 

Page 4 of 54

 


 

TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A)

 

November 8, 2024

 

Contents

 

Section Page  Subsection
1. Introduction 1.1 Preparation of the MD&A
   

6 

1.2 The environment in which we operate
    1.3 Consolidated highlights
2. Core business and strategy 10   
3. Corporate priorities for 2024 10   
4. Capabilities

12 

4.1 Principal markets addressed and competition
    12  4.2 Operational resources
    13  4.3 Liquidity and capital resources
    15  4.4 Changes in internal control over financial reporting
5. Discussion of operations 15  5.1 General
  16  5.2 Summary of consolidated quarterly results and trends
    17  5.3 Consolidated operations
    21  5.4 TELUS technology solutions segment
    27  5.5 TELUS digital experience segment
6. Changes in financial position 31   
7. Liquidity and capital resources 32  7.1 Overview
  33  7.2 Cash provided by operating activities
    34  7.3 Cash used by investing activities
   

36 

7.4 Cash provided (used) by financing activities
   

37 

7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures
    38  7.6 Credit facilities
    39  7.7 Short-term borrowings
    40  7.8 Credit ratings
    40  7.9 Financial instruments, commitments and contingent liabilities
    40  7.10 Outstanding share information
    41  7.11 Transactions between related parties
8. Accounting matters 41  8.1 Critical accounting estimates and judgments
    41  8.2 Accounting policy developments
9. Update to general trends, outlook and assumptions, and regulatory developments and proceedings 42  9.1 Communications industry regulatory developments and proceedings
10. Risks and risk management 47   
11. Definitions and reconciliations

47 

11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures
    54  11.2 Operating indicators

 

© 2024 TELUS Corporation. All rights reserved. The symbols ™ and ® indicate trademarks owned by TELUS Corporation or its subsidiaries used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

   

 

Page 5 of 54

 


 

TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

1. Introduction

 

The forward-looking statements in this section, including, for example, estimates regarding economic growth, inflation, unemployment, housing starts and immigration, are qualified by the Caution regarding forward-looking statements at the beginning of this Management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A).

 

1.1 Preparation of the MD&A

 

The following sections are a discussion of our consolidated financial position and financial performance for the three-month period and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, and should be read together with our September 30, 2024 condensed interim consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income, statements of financial position, statements of changes in owners’ equity and statements of cash flows, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the interim consolidated financial statements). The generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that we use are International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and Canadian GAAP. In this MD&A, the term IFRS refers to these standards. In our discussion, we also use certain non-GAAP and other specified financial measures to evaluate our performance, monitor compliance with debt covenants and manage our capital structure. These measures are defined, qualified and reconciled with their nearest GAAP measures, as required by National Instrument 52-112, Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure, in Section 11.1. All currency amounts are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified.

 

Additional information relating to the Company, including our Annual Information Form and other filings with securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada, is available on SEDAR+ (sedarplus.com). Our information filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States, including Form 40-F, is available on EDGAR (sec.gov). Additional information about our TELUS International (Cda) Inc. (d.b.a. TELUS Digital Experience) subsidiary, including discussion of its business and results, can be found in its public filings available on SEDAR+ and EDGAR; the legal name of the company remains TELUS International (Cda) Inc.

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that all relevant information is gathered and reported to senior management on a timely basis, so that appropriate decisions can be made regarding public disclosure. This MD&A and the interim consolidated financial statements were reviewed by our Audit Committee and authorized by our Board of Directors (Board) for issuance on November 8, 2024.

 

In this MD&A, unless otherwise indicated, results for the third quarter of 2024 (three-month period ended September 30, 2024) and the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024 are compared with results for the third quarter of 2023 (three-month period ended September 30, 2023) and the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023.

 

1.2 The environment in which we operate

 

The success of our business and the challenges we face can best be understood with reference to the environment in which we operate, including broader economic factors that affect both TELUS and our customers, and the competitive nature of our business operations.

 

TELUS technology solutions (TTech) segment

 

Across TTech, we are leveraging our leading technology and social purpose to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our long-standing commitment to put our customers first fuels every aspect of our business across the full range of our solutions spanning mobile, data, IP, voice, TV, entertainment, video and security, delivered over our reliable, expansive, award-winning networks. Leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance our services has made us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty, reducing already-low customer churn, and is demonstrating our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that matter most. The healthcare industry continues to move toward the digitization of everyday functions across the healthcare ecosystem. We are helping Canadians and others live healthier lives by leveraging technology and data insights that enable access to health information and deliver improved health outcomes with solutions such as employer-focused healthcare. We are also implementing innovative technology solutions to help feed the world, putting data to work for customers in the agriculture, food and consumer goods sectors. This efficient and effective collaboration helps ensure the quality and safety of food and consumer goods.

 

TELUS digital experience segment (TELUS Digital) (formerly the digitally-led customer experiences – TELUS International (DLCX) segment)

 

Technology is transforming the way businesses interact with their customers at an accelerating pace and scale. This transformation is making customer experience (CX) and digital experience critically important competitive differentiators across a wide range of industries and sectors. TELUS Digital clients and their customers have access to more information and more choices than ever before, and their expectations about brand experiences and the speed at which companies must process and respond to customer interactions are changing rapidly. Customers value a consistent and personalized experience across every channel when interacting with the companies that serve them. Businesses face pressure to engage with their customers across digital and human channels, and seek to do so by combining technology with an authentic human experience that demonstrates a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction. Clients need to move at the speed of the customer, which means rapid response and fast resolution with low customer effort, powered by next-generation technology. The opportunities that AI presents for augmenting and enhancing CX are far-reaching.

 

   

 

Page 6 of 54

 


 

TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Economic estimates

 

Our estimates regarding our economic and operational environment, including economic growth, inflation, unemployment, housing starts and immigration, serve as important inputs for the assumptions on which our targets are based. The extent of the impact these estimates will have on us, and the timing of that impact, will depend upon the actual future outcomes in specific sectors of the Canadian economy.

 

    Economic growth     Inflation     Unemployment     Housing starts     Immigration  
    (percentage points)     (percentage points)     (percentage points)     (thousands of units)     (thousands)  
    Estimated
gross domestic
product (GDP)
growth rates
     Our estimated
GDP growth
rates1 
    Estimated
inflation
rates
     Our estimated
annual
inflation rates1 
    Unemployment rates     Our estimated
annual
unemployment
rates1 
    Seasonally adjusted
annual rate of housing
starts2 
    Our estimated
annual rate of
housing starts on an
unadjusted basis1 
    Overall planned
permanent
resident
admissions3 
 
                              For the month of           For the month of              
                              Sept.     Sept.           Sept.     Sept.              
    2024      2024     2024      2024     20244      20234      2024     2024     2023     2024     2024  
Canada     1.2     1.1       2.5     2.6       6.5       5.5       6.4       224       270       248       485  
B.C.     1.0     0.9       2.7     2.6       6.0       5.4       5.7       44       40       48       n/a  
Alberta     3.3     1.8       3.0     3.0       7.5       5.7       6.8       47       49       44       n/a  
Ontario     0.3     1.0       2.6     2.5       6.9       6.0       6.9       65       104       81       n/a  
Quebec     0.6     0.9       2.8     2.7       5.5       4.4       5.4       40       53       47       n/a  

 

n/a – not applicable
1 Assumptions are as of September 13, 2024 and are based on a composite of estimates from Canadian banks and other sources.
2 Source: Statistics Canada. Table 34-10-0158-01 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing starts, all areas, Canada and provinces, seasonally adjusted at annual rates, monthly (x 1,000).
3 Source: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2024-2026.html. Excludes non-permanent residents of Canada.
4 Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, September 2024 and September 2023, respectively.
5 Source: Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report, October 2024.
6 Source: British Columbia Ministry of Finance, First Quarterly Report, September 2024; Alberta Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance, 2024 – 25 First Quarter Fiscal Update and Economic Statement, August 2024; Ontario Ministry of Finance, 2024 Budget: Building a Better Ontario, March 26, 2024; and Ministère des Finances du Québec, Budget 2024 – 2025, March 2024, respectively.

 

 

1.3 Consolidated highlights

 

Long-term debt issue

 

On August 8, 2024, we announced an offering of $700 million of senior unsecured 4.65% Notes, Series CAQ. The notes were issued on August 13, 2024, and will mature on August 13, 2031. The net proceeds from this offering were used for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, including the repayment of commercial paper and the reduction of cash amounts outstanding under an arm’s length securitization trust, and for other general corporate purposes.

 

   

 

Page 7 of 54

 


 

TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Consolidated highlights

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ millions, except footnotes and unless noted otherwise)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Consolidated statements of income                                                
Operating revenues and other income     5,099       5,008       1.8 %     15,005       14,918       0.6 %
Operating income     788       517       52.4 %     2,045       1,698       20.4 %
Income before income taxes     309       165       87.3 %     790       703       12.4 %
Net income     257       137       87.6 %     618       557       11.0 %
Net income attributable to Common Shares     280       136       n/m       635       553       14.8 %
Adjusted Net income1      413       373       10.7 %     1,169       1,032       13.3 %
                                                 
Earnings per share (EPS) ($)                                                
Basic EPS     0.19       0.09       n/m       0.43       0.38       13.2 %
Adjusted basic EPS1      0.28       0.25       12.0 %     0.79       0.71       11.3 %
Diluted EPS     0.19       0.09       n/m       0.43       0.38       13.2 %
Dividends declared per Common Share ($)     0.3891       0.3636       7.0 %     1.1543       1.0783       7.0 %
                                                 
Basic weighted-average Common Shares outstanding (millions)     1,492       1,454       2.6 %     1,483       1,447       2.5 %
Consolidated statements of cash flows                                                
Cash provided by operating activities     1,432       1,307       9.6 %     3,770       3,185       18.4 %
                                                 
Cash used by investing activities     (782 )     (791 )     (1.1 )%     (3,029 )     (4,032 )     (24.9 )%
Acquisitions     (91 )     (11 )     n/m       (258 )     (1,273 )     (79.7 )%
Capital expenditures2      (668 )     (769 )     (13.1 )%     (2,084 )     (2,289 )     (9.0 )%
                                                 
Cash provided (used) by financing activities     (763 )     39       n/m       (791 )     1,077       n/m  
Other highlights                                                
Telecom subscriber connections3 (thousands)                             19,847       18,652       6.4 %
Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization1 (EBITDA)     1,756       1,517       15.8 %     5,070       4,726       7.3 %
EBITDA margin1 (%)     34.4       30.3       4.1  pts.     33.8       31.7       2.1  pts.
Restructuring and other costs     86       303       (71.6 )%     425       577       (26.3 )%
Adjusted EBITDA1      1,842       1,820       1.3 %     5,495       5,302       3.7 %
Adjusted EBITDA margin1 (%)     36.1       36.3       (0.2 ) pts.     36.6       35.5       1.1  pts.
Free cash flow1      561       355       58.0 %     1,435       1,169       22.8 %
Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1 (times)                             3.83       3.82       0.01  

 

Notations used in MD&A: n/m – not meaningful; pts. – percentage points.
   
1 These are non-GAAP and other specified financial measures. See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures.
2 Capital expenditures include assets purchased, excluding right-of-use lease assets, but not yet paid for, and consequently differ from Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences, as reported in the interim consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 31 of the interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
3 The sum of active mobile phone subscribers, connected device subscribers, internet subscribers, residential voice subscribers, TV subscribers and security subscribers, measured at the end of the respective periods based on information in billing and other source systems. Effective for the first quarter of 2024, with retrospective application to January 1, 2023, we reduced our mobile phone subscriber base by 283,000 subscribers to remove a subset of our public services customers that are now subject to dynamic pricing auction models. We believe adjusting our base for these low-margin customers provides a more meaningful reflection of the underlying performance of our mobile phone business and our focus on profitable growth. As a result of this change, associated operating statistics (ARPU and churn) have also been adjusted. Effective January 1, 2024, on a prospective basis, we adjusted our TV subscriber base to remove 97,000 subscribers as we have ceased marketing our Pik TV® product.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Operating highlights

 

· Consolidated Operating revenues and other income increased by $91 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $87 million in the first nine months of 2024.

 

Service revenues increased by $22 million in the third quarter of 2024, reflecting: (i) mobile network, residential internet, TV and security subscriber growth; (ii) health services growth; (iii) agriculture and consumer goods services growth; and (iv) growth in managed, unmanaged and other fixed data services. These factors were partly offset by: (i) rate reductions in mobile network, residential internet, and security services; (ii) lower external revenues in TELUS Digital; and (iii) declines in TV and fixed legacy voice services revenues. Service revenues decreased by $10 million in the first nine months of 2024 due to the same negating factors as the third quarter, partly offset by the same lower growth factors as the third quarter.

 

Equipment revenues increased by $30 million in the third quarter of 2024, largely driven by higher mobile equipment revenues stemming from higher-value smartphones volume in the sales mix. Equipment revenues decreased by $31 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily driven by lower mobile equipment revenues due to a reduction in contracted volumes and lower fixed business premises equipment sales, partly offset by higher-value smartphones in the sales mix.

 

Other income increased by $39 million in the third quarter of 2024, largely due to higher gains on real estate projects resulting from our PureFibre build and copper decommissioning program. Other income increased by $128 million in the first nine months of 2024, due to the same factors as the quarter, in addition to higher reversals of business combination-related provisions.

 

For additional details on Operating revenues and other income, see Section 5.4 TELUS technology solutions segment and Section 5.5 TELUS digital experience segment.

 

· Operating income increased by $271 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $347 million in the first nine months of 2024. (See Section 5.3 Consolidated operations for additional details.)

 

EBITDA increased by $239 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $344 million in the first nine months of 2024. EBITDA includes restructuring and other costs of $86 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $425 million in the first nine months of 2024, and other equity income related to real estate joint ventures.

 

Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes restructuring and other costs and other equity income related to real estate joint ventures, increased by $22 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $193 million in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting: (i) mobile network, residential internet, TV and security subscriber growth; (ii) broad-based cost reduction efforts, synergies achieved between LifeWorks® and our legacy health business, and an increase in TTech leveraging TELUS Digital, as well as savings in marketing costs; (iii) higher gains on real estate projects and in the first nine months of 2024, higher reversals of business combination-related provisions; (iv) growth in health services margin; (v) higher agriculture and consumer goods margins; and (vi) growth in fixed data services to new and existing business customers. These factors were partly offset by: (i) lower mobile phone ARPU; (ii) lower operational growth in TELUS Digital (excluding other income); (iii) declining TV and fixed legacy voice margins; (iv) lower mobile equipment margins; (v) higher network operations costs; (vi) higher bad debt expense; and (vii) higher costs related to the scaling of our digital capabilities. (See Section 5.3 Consolidated operations for additional details.)

 

· Income before income taxes increased by $144 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $87 million in the first nine months of 2024, resulting from higher operating income partly offset by higher Financing costs. The increase in Financing costs largely resulted from the impact of unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element and higher interest expense. (See Financing costs in Section 5.3.)

 

· Income tax expense increased by $24 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $26 million in the first nine months of 2024. The effective tax rate decreased from 17.2% to 16.8% in the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to lower losses not recognized and withholding and other taxes. In the first nine months of 2024, the effective tax rate increased from 20.8% to 21.8%, largely as a result of lower adjustments recognized in the current period for income taxes of prior periods.

 

· Net income attributable to Common Shares increased by $144 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $82 million in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting the after-tax impacts of higher Operating income partly offset by higher Financing costs.

 

Adjusted Net income excludes the effects of restructuring and other costs, income tax-related adjustments, real estate rationalization-related restructuring impairments, other equity income related to real estate joint ventures and unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element. Adjusted Net income increased by $40 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $137 million in the first nine months of 2024.

 

· Basic EPS increased by $0.10 in the third quarter of 2024 and $0.05 in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting the after-tax impacts of higher Operating income partly offset by higher Financing costs, as well as the effect of a higher number of Common Shares outstanding.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Adjusted basic EPS excludes the effects of restructuring and other costs, income tax-related adjustments, real estate rationalization-related restructuring impairments, other equity income related to real estate joint ventures and unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element. Adjusted basic EPS increased by $0.03 in the third quarter of 2024 and $0.08 in the first nine months of 2024.

 

· Dividends declared per Common Share were $0.3891 in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 7.0% from one year earlier. On November 7, 2024, the Board declared a fourth quarter dividend of $0.4023 per share on our issued and outstanding Common Shares, payable on January 2, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 11, 2024. The fourth quarter dividend increased by $0.0262 per share or 7.0% from the dividend of $0.3761 per share declared one year earlier, consistent with our multi-year dividend growth program described in Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources.

 

· During the 12-month period ended on September 30, 2024, our total telecom subscriber connections increased by 1,195,000 or 6.4%. This reflected growth of 4.2% in mobile phone subscribers, 21.4% in connected device subscribers, 5.1% in internet subscribers, 6.4% in TV subscribers excluding the first quarter 2024 Pik TV subscriber adjustment, and 7.5% in security subscribers, partly offset by a decline of 3.0% in residential voice subscribers. (See Section 5.4 TELUS technology solutions segment for additional details.)

 

Liquidity and capital resource highlights

 

· Cash provided by operating activities increased by $125 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $585 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily driven by EBITDA growth, and for the first nine months of 2024, other working capital changes and lower income taxes paid, net of recoveries received. These factors were partially offset by increased restructuring and other costs disbursements, net of expense, and increased interest paid. (See Section 7.2 Cash provided by operating activities.)

 

· Cash used by investing activities decreased by $9 million in the third quarter of 2024 largely attributable to lower Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences. Cash used by investing activities decreased by $1,003 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily driven by lower cash payments for business acquisitions and lower cash payments for capital assets, partly offset by greater Cash payments for spectrum licences. Acquisitions decreased by $1,015 million in the first nine months of 2024, mainly reflecting the impact of the WillowTreeTM acquisition in the first quarter of 2023. (See Section 7.3 Cash used by investing activities.)

 

· Cash used by financing activities increased by $802 million in the third quarter of 2024 primarily reflecting lower issuances of long-term debt. Cash used by financing activities increased by $1,868 million in the first nine months of 2024, largely attributable to lower issuances of long-term debt, partly offset by increased issuances of short-term borrowings, net and lower redemptions and repayment of long-term debt. (See Section 7.4 Cash provided (used) by financing activities.)

 

· Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio was 3.83 times at September 30, 2024, up from 3.82 times at September 30, 2023. The effect of the increase in net debt levels, primarily due to spectrum acquisitions and business acquisitions, was approximately equal to the effect of growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs; net debt levels were already elevated in the current and comparative periods due to our spectrum acquisitions and business acquisitions. As at September 30, 2024, the acquisition of spectrum licences increased the ratio by approximately 0.56. (See Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources and Section 7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.)

 

· Free cash flow increased by $206 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $266 million in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting higher EBITDA and lower capital expenditures. These factors were partly offset by increased interest paid, greater lease payments and for the first nine months of 2024, increased restructuring and other costs disbursements, net of expense. Our definition of free cash flow, for which there is no industry alignment, is unaffected by accounting standards that do not impact cash.

 

2. Core business and strategy

 

Our core business and our strategic imperatives were described in our 2023 annual MD&A.

 

3. Corporate priorities for 2024

 

Our annual corporate priorities are used to advance our long-term strategic imperatives and address near-term opportunities and challenges. The following table provides a discussion of activities and initiatives that relate to our 2024 corporate priorities.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Elevating our customers, communities and social purpose by honouring our brand promise, Let’s make the future friendly™

 

· In August 2024, to support those impacted by the wildfires in Jasper, Alberta, TELUS, our team members, customers and the Foundation have enabled more than $200,000 in cash donations and in-kind contributions. Our assistance included:

 

· Distributing adult and youth disaster kits at evacuation centers containing essential items such as emergency blankets, reusable water bottles, charging cables and activities for kids.

 

· Rapidly deploying three cell towers on wheels (COWs) to provide wireless connectivity and support emergency communications along a no-coverage section of Highway 16, to an RCMP checkpoint and one within the town of Jasper.

 

· Implementing our first ever deployment of a low earth orbit satellite temporary connectivity solution for a cell tower where its fibre connection was destroyed by the fire, thereby allowing access to 9-1-1.

 

· Continually refuelling back-up generators to keep communication lines safely up and running after a loss of commercial power.

 

· Working closely with the incident command centre and its membership to protect critical network infrastructure.

 

· Offering data top-ups and waiving long-distance mobile, home phone, texting and roaming fees for evacuees and those affected.

 

· Offering a free community crisis support line for emotional support, accessible 24/7 to all Canadians, provided by TELUS Health.

 

· Supplying free counselling sessions through TELUS Health MyCare™.

 

· Providing no-cost veterinary technician appointments through TELUS Health MyPet.

 

· Partnering with the Red Cross to establish a recovery centre, providing tents, site-wide Wi-Fi connectivity and essential care items for returning evacuees. Additionally, our technicians conducted re-entry checks and prioritized service restoration in a strategic manner.

 

· In October 2024, we received our third consecutive Disaster Recovery Institute Canada (DRI) Response and Recovery Award for crisis management during the 2024 Jasper wildfires, demonstrating outstanding business continuity, disaster recovery, and community and customer support despite concurrent challenges.

 

· Throughout the first nine months of 2024, we continued to leverage our Connecting for Good® programs to support marginalized individuals by enhancing their access to both technology and healthcare, as well as our TELUS Wise® program to improve digital literacy and online safety knowledge. Since the launch of these programs, they have provided support for 1.3 million individuals.

 

· During the first nine months of 2024, we welcomed over 6,500 new households to our Internet for Good® program. Since we launched the program in 2016, we have connected close to 62,000 households, resulting in more than 194,000 low-income family members and seniors, persons in need who are living with disabilities, government-assisted refugees and youth leaving foster care with low-cost, high-speed internet service.

 

· Our Mobility for Good® program offers free or low-cost smartphones and mobility plans to youth aging out of foster care, low-income seniors and low-income families, across Canada. During the first nine months of 2024, we added 6,500 youth, low-income seniors and families, as well as Indigenous women at risk of or surviving violence, government-assisted refugees and other marginalized individuals to the program. Since we launched Mobility for Good in 2017, the program has provided support for 59,000 people.

 

· Our Health for Good® mobile health clinics facilitated 46,500 patient visits during the first nine months of 2024. Since the program’s inception, we have enabled 246,500 cumulative patient visits in 27 communities across Canada, bringing primary and mental healthcare to individuals experiencing homelessness.

 

· In September 2024, we increased our overall commitment to the TELUS Health for Good program to over $16 million through 2027 and launched a new mobile health clinic, bringing primary care and harm reduction services directly to people experiencing homelessness across the B.C. Interior.

 

· During the first nine months of 2024, our Tech for Good® program provided access to personalized assessments, recommendations and training on mobile devices, computers, laptops and related assistive technology and/or access to discounted mobile plans for 2,600 Canadians living with disabilities, helping them improve their independence and quality of life. Since the program’s inception in 2017, we have supported 11,400 individuals in Canada who are living with disabilities through the program and/or the TELUS Wireless Accessibility Discount.

 

· During the first nine months of 2024, more than 95,700 individuals in Canada and around the world participated in virtual TELUS Wise workshops and events to improve digital literacy and online safety, bringing total cumulative participation to over 775,500 since the program launched in 2013.

 

· Currently, we have 19 TELUS Community Boards, 13 operating in Canada and six international boards. Our Community Boards entrust local leaders to make recommendations on the allocation of grants in their communities. These grants support registered charities that offer health, education or technology programs to help youth thrive. Since 2005, our 19 TELUS Community Boards and TELUS Friendly Future Foundation® (the Foundation) have supported 33.6 million youth in-need in Canada and around the world, by granting $131 million in cash donations to 10,500 initiatives.

 

· During the third quarter of 2024, we announced a major milestone in charitable giving in Canada with TELUS’ Community Board program reaching $100 million in donations to local charities across the country since inception in 2005.

 

· Working in close partnership with our 13 Canadian TELUS Community Boards, the Foundation provides grants to charities that promote education, health and well-being for youth across the country. Additionally, through the TELUS Student Bursary program, the Foundation provides bursaries for post-secondary students who are facing financial barriers and are committed to making a difference in their communities. During the first nine months of 2024, the Foundation supported over 535,500 youth by granting over $7 million to 500 Canadian registered charities. Since its inception in 2018, the Foundation has provided $54 million in cash donations to our communities, helping 15.7 million youth reach their full potential. For more information about the TELUS Student Bursary program, please visit friendlyfuture.com/bursary.

 

· Throughout the third quarter, we continued to engage our global team to volunteer in their communities, with more than 665,000 hours of service recorded so far, and on track to achieve our annual goal of 1.5 million hours for the second consecutive year.

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Leveraging TELUS’ world-leading technology to drive superior growth across mobile, home and business services

 

· Through Badal, a recently acquired company providing cloud and data analytics services, in July 2024, we announced a collaboration with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute to successfully deploy advancements to the Sayhut app – a secure, privacy-compliant point-of-care smartphone application that helps to reduce diagnostic time for patients who may be experiencing a heart attack due to a blocked artery. The app improves the speed and accuracy of communication between first responders, emergency doctors and interventional cardiologists at regional cardiac centres, enabling real-time review and decision-making.

 

· In July 2024, we unveiled the first step in a multi-year strategic partnership with WestJet that will transform the inflight experience for WestJet guests by providing fast and free internet onboard WestJet aircraft, sponsored by TELUS.

 

· In August 2024, we announced our membership in the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s U.S. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Institute Consortium to support the development and deployment of trustworthy and safe AI, making us the first and currently only Canadian telecom company to join. Our involvement with the consortium underscores our commitment to responsible AI, ensuring that AI is developed and deployed in a trustworthy, ethical manner that is safe and benefits everyone.

 

· In September 2024, we launched SmartEnergy, helping Canadians to manage and control their home energy usage. Through the SmartHome+ app, subscribers can optimize their connected smart devices to save money on their energy bills, support their community power grids by joining energy-saving events, and reduce their environmental footprint through various initiatives, including the planting of a tree each quarter on their behalf.

 

· In September 2024, we announced a strategic partnership with Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, to build on both organizations’ efforts to develop AI for the benefit of society. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to bolstering Canada’s technology ecosystem through the development of trustworthy, ethical AI.

Scaling our innovative digital capabilities in TELUS Health and TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods to build assets of consequence

 

TELUS Health

 

· In July 2024, we announced a collaboration with Nova Scotia Health to enable residents of Nova Scotia to access their primary care information through the YourHealthNS app. This health data interoperability initiative marks the first large-scale effort in Canada to standardize and connect primary care data and empowers people in Nova Scotia to better manage their health and improve health outcomes.

 

· During the quarter, we acquired international digital health and well-being providers, expanding our global footprint in Europe and Asia.

 

TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods

 

· The third quarter of 2024 was a notable quarter for bookings growth, leading to a strong increase on a year-to-date basis across all lines of business within TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods.

Scaling our innovative digital capabilities in TELUS Digital Experience (TELUS Digital), to build an asset of consequence

 

· In July 2024, IDC in collaboration with Foundry’s CIO, selected the single point of contact (SPOC) co-pilot that operates on the Fuel iXTM platform at TELUS, as a recipient of a 2024 CIO of the Year Award for Canada.

 

· In July, we launched Fuel EX, an enterprise-safe generative AI (GenAI) employee assistant to support productivity, creativity and research. Fuel EX gives companies a single point of entry for their employees to access an intuitive GenAI interface where they can select from more than 20 large language models from multiple vendors to help them with everyday tasks including knowledge searches, summarization, copywriting, image generation and code writing.

 

· In August, we unveiled TELUS Expert Messaging, a GenAI asynchronous messaging solution, part of the My TELUS app, that eliminates wait times associated with traditional phone and live chat queues. This tool lets TELUS customers access human support whenever it is most convenient for them, 24/7, by sending a message from their mobile device and receiving a notification when an expert has responded, often resolving their inquiry in a single message.

 

· In September, we were named as a Leader in the Everest Group’s PEAK Matrix for Customer Experience Management (the Americas) for the sixth consecutive year.

 

· In September, we completed the global rebrand from TELUS International to TELUS Digital. The new name reflects TELUS Digital’s commitment to providing a digital-first experience across every service it delivers to clients, ensuring a seamless integration of digital, AI-powered and human interactions that optimize customer journeys and employee experiences.

 

4. Capabilities

 

The forward-looking statements in this section, including statements regarding our dividend growth program and our financial objectives in Section 4.3, are qualified by the Caution regarding forward-looking statements at the beginning of this MD&A.

 

4.1 Principal markets addressed and competition

 

For a discussion of our principal markets and an overview of competition, refer to Section 4.1 in our 2023 annual MD&A.

 

4.2 Operational resources

 

TELUS technology solutions (TTech)

 

From mid-2013 through September 30, 2024, we invested more than $8.1 billion to acquire wireless spectrum licences in spectrum auctions and other private transactions, including the entire $620 million we remitted in the first nine months of 2024 to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) in connection with our recently licensed 3800 MHz spectrum. Additionally, in the second quarter of 2024, we completed a transaction to obtain the use of AWS-4 spectrum from the original licensee. These investments have more than doubled our national spectrum holdings in support of our top priority to put customers first.

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Mobile data consumption has been increasing rapidly and is expected to continue growing at a fast rate as the industry continues to transition to 5G. We have responded by investing in the coverage, capacity, performance and reliability of our network to ensure we are able to support additional data consumption and growth in our mobile subscriber base in a geographically diverse country, while maintaining the high quality of our network. This includes investments in wireless small cells connected directly to our TELUS PureFibre® technology to improve coverage and capacity utilized in our 5G network.

 

As at September 30, 2024, our 4G LTE technology covered 99% of Canada’s population, consistent with September 30, 2023. We have continued to invest in the roll-out of our LTE advanced technology, which covered over 95% of Canada’s population at September 30, 2024, consistent with one year earlier. Furthermore, our 5G network covered approximately 87% of Canada’s population at September 30, 2024, up from over 85% at September 30, 2023.

 

We are continuing to invest in urban and rural communities across B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec with commitments to deliver broadband technology capabilities to as many Canadians in these communities as possible, including expanding our PureFibre footprint by connecting more homes and businesses directly to PureFibre. In addition, we have increased broadband internet speeds, expanded our IP TV video-on-demand library and high-definition content, including 4K TV and 4K HDR capabilities, and enhanced the marketing of data products and bundles. This has resulted in improved churn rates. Our PureFibre technology is also an essential component of our wireless access technology and has enabled our 5G deployment. Our home and business security solutions integrate safety and security monitoring with smart devices.

 

As at September 30, 2024, more than 3.3 million households and businesses in B.C., Alberta and Eastern Quebec were connected to fibre-optic cable. This is up from more than 3.1 million households and businesses in the third quarter of 2023.

 

Our core areas of focus in the global healthcare and financial well-being marketplace are: employers (small, medium and large enterprise), payors (insurers, third-party payors and third-party administrators, and public sector), providers (clinics and physicians, pharmacists and allied health professionals) and consumer solutions. We offer a variety of integrated health and well-being products, solutions and services including: employee assistance programs (EAP), internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT), absence and disability management, executive, premier and occupational health services, corporate reward, training programs, recognition and perks programs, pension and benefits administration solutions, retirement and financial consulting, virtual care (comprehensive primary care, mental health support, wellness offerings for employees and citizens, pet care), remote patient monitoring and personal emergency response services, medication management (virtual pharmacy, pharmacy management systems), health records management (personal health records, electronic medical records (EMR)), claims management solutions, and curation of health content.

 

Our agriculture and consumer goods solutions include agronomy record-keeping and recommendations, rebate management services, supplier management, order management, index labelling, compliance management, animal agriculture solutions, food traceability and quality assurance, data management solutions and software solutions for trade promotion management, optimization and analytics (TPx), retail execution, supply chain solutions and analytics capabilities.

 

TELUS digital experience

 

Our TELUS Digital segment is dedicated to crafting lasting customer experiences through data, technology and a human-centric approach. We support our clients’ entire customer lifecycle with a portfolio of integrated digital customer experience solutions, including digital information technology (IT) services, such as cloud solutions and AI-fuelled automation, trust and safety services, AI data solutions, including computer vision, and front-end digital design and consulting services.

 

TELUS Digital has built an agile delivery model with global scale to support next-generation, digitally-led customer experiences. Substantially all of the delivery locations are connected through a carrier-grade infrastructure backed by cloud technologies, enabling globally distributed and virtualized teams. The interconnectedness of our TELUS Digital teams and ability to seamlessly shift interactions between physical and digital channels enables our TELUS Digital teams to tailor our delivery strategy to clients’ evolving needs.

 

4.3 Liquidity and capital resources

 

Capital structure financial policies

 

Our objective when managing financial capital is to maintain a flexible capital structure that optimizes the cost and availability of capital at acceptable risk. In our definition of financial capital, we include:

 

· Common equity (excluding Accumulated other comprehensive income);

· Non-controlling interests;

· Long-term debt (including long-term credit facilities, commercial paper backstopped by long-term credit facilities and any hedging assets or liabilities associated with Long-term debt items, net of amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income);

· Cash and temporary investments;

· Short-term borrowings (including those arising from securitized trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables); and

· Other long-term debts.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

We manage our financial capital structure and make adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of our business. In order to maintain or adjust our financial capital structure, we may:

 

· Adjust the amount of dividends paid to holders of Common Shares;

· Purchase Common Shares for cancellation pursuant to normal course issuer bid programs;

· Issue new shares (including Common Shares and TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting shares);

· Issue new debt, issue new debt to replace existing debt with different characteristics; and/or

· Increase or decrease the amount of short-term borrowings arising from securitized trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables.

 

We monitor financial capital utilizing a number of measures, including net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio, coverage ratios and dividend payout ratios. (See definitions in Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures.)

 

Financing and capital structure management plans

 

Report on financing and capital structure management plans

 

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

 

·      In May 2022, we announced our intention to target ongoing semi-annual dividend increases, with the annual increase in the range of 7 to 10% from 2023 through to the end of 2025, thereby extending the policy first announced in May 2011. Notwithstanding this target, dividend decisions will continue to be subject to our Board’s assessment and the determination of our financial position and outlook on a quarterly basis. Our long-term Common Share dividend payout ratio guideline is 60 to 75% of free cash flow on a prospective basis. (See Section 7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.) There can be no assurance that we will maintain a dividend growth program or that it will be unchanged through 2025. (See Caution regarding forward-looking statements – Financing, debt and dividends and Section 10.15 Financing, debt and dividends in our 2023 annual MD&A.)

 

·      On November 7, 2024, the Board elected to declare a fourth quarter dividend of $0.4023 per share, payable on January 2, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 11, 2024. The fourth quarter dividend for 2024 reflects a cumulative increase of $0.0262 per share or 7.0% from the dividend of $0.3761 per share declared one year earlier.

 

·      Our dividend reinvestment and share purchase (DRISP) plan trustee acquired shares from Treasury for the DRISP plan, rather than acquiring Common Shares in the stock market. We may, at our discretion, offer Common Shares at a discount of up to 5% from the market price under the DRISP plan. Effective with the dividends paid beginning on October 1, 2019, we offered Common Shares from Treasury at a discount of 2%. During the third quarter of 2024, for the dividends paid on July 2, 2024, our DRISP plan trustee acquired from Treasury approximately 10 million dividend reinvestment Common Shares for $193 million.

 

        For these dividends, the DRISP participation rate, calculated as the DRISP investment of $193 million (including the employee share purchase plan) as a percentage of gross dividends, was approximately 34%. For the dividends paid on October 1, 2024, the DRISP participation rate, calculated as the DRISP investment of $190 million (including the employee share purchase plan) as a percentage of gross dividends, was approximately 33%.

 

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

 

·      Our issued and outstanding commercial paper was $1.1 billion at September 30, 2024, all of which was denominated in U.S. dollars (US$0.8 billion), compared to $1.0 billion (US$0.8 billion) at December 31, 2023, and $1.4 billion (US$1.0 billion) at September 30, 2023.

 

·      Net draws due to a syndicate of financial institutions (excluding TELUS Corporation) on the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility were US$1.2 billion at September 30, 2024, compared to US$1.4 billion at December 31, 2023, and US$1.4 billion at September 30, 2023. The TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility is non-recourse to TELUS Corporation.

 

·      Proceeds from securitized trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables were $0.9 billion at September 30, 2024 under the new agreement. This is compared to $0.1 billion at both December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023 under the previous securitization agreement (see Section 7.7). Funding under the 2024 agreement may be provided in either Canadian dollars or U.S. dollars. Foreign currency forward contracts are used to manage currency risk associated from funding denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

Maintain compliance with financial objectives

 

·      Maintain investment-grade credit ratings – On November 8, 2024, investment-grade credit ratings from all rating agencies that cover TELUS were in the desired range. (See Section 7.8 Credit ratings.)

 

·      Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio of 2.20 to 2.70 times – As measured at September 30, 2024, this ratio was 3.83 times, outside of the objective range, primarily due to the acquisition of spectrum licences (as spectrum is our largest indefinite life asset) and business acquisitions. Given the cash demands of the 600 MHz auction in 2019, the 3500 MHz auction in 2021, the 3800 MHz auction in 2023 and the upcoming auction for millimetre wave spectrum, the assessment of the guideline and timing of return to the objective range remains to be determined; however, it is our intent to return to a ratio of circa 2.70 times in the medium term (following the spectrum auctions in 2021 and 2023, and the upcoming auction for millimetre wave spectrum), consistent with our long-term strategy. (See Section 7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.)

 

·      Common Share dividend payout ratio of 60 to 75% of free cash flow on a prospective basis – Our objective range is on a prospective basis. The Common Share dividend payout ratio1 we present in this MD&A is a historical measure utilizing the dividends declared in the most recent four quarters, net of dividend reinvestment plan effects, and free cash flow, and is presented on a retrospective basis for illustrative purposes in evaluating our target guideline. As at September 30, 2024, the ratio was 77%, outside of the objective range. We estimate the ratio will be within the objective range on a prospective basis. (See Section 7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.)

 

·      Generally maintain a minimum of $1 billion in available liquidity – As at September 30, 2024, our available liquidity1 was approximately $3.2 billion. (See Section 7.6 Credit facilities and Liquidity risk in Section 7.9.)

 

1        These are non-GAAP and other specified financial measures. See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

4.4 Changes in internal control over financial reporting

 

For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, there were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

5. Discussion of operations

 

This section contains forward-looking statements, including those with respect to mobile phone average revenue per subscriber per month (ARPU) growth, products and services trends regarding loading and retention spending, equipment margins, subscriber growth and various future trends. There can be no assurance that we have accurately identified these trends based on past results or that these trends will continue. See Caution regarding forward-looking statements at the beginning of this MD&A.

 

5.1 General

 

Operating segments are components of an entity that engage in business activities from which they earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses related to transactions with the other component(s)), the operations of which can be clearly distinguished and for which the operating results, and in particular, Adjusted EBITDA, are regularly reviewed by a chief operating decision-maker to make resource allocation decisions and to assess performance. We have embarked upon the modification of our internal and external reporting processes, systems and internal controls arising from the acquisition and ongoing integration of LifeWorks, and correspondingly we are assessing our segmented reporting structure. Segmented information in Note 5 of the interim consolidated financial statements is regularly reported to our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (our chief operating decision-maker).

 

The TELUS technology solutions (TTech) segment includes: network revenues and equipment sales arising from mobile technologies; data revenues (which include internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology and cloud-based services; and home and business security); healthcare services, software and technology solutions (including employee and family assistance programs and benefits administration); agriculture and consumer goods services (software, data management and data analytics-driven smart-food chain and consumer goods technologies); voice and other telecommunications services revenues; and equipment sales.

 

The TELUS digital experience segment (TELUS Digital), which has the U.S. dollar as its primary functional currency, is comprised of digital customer experience and digital-enablement transformation solutions, including artificial intelligence (AI) and content management, provided by our TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subsidiary.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

5.2 Summary of consolidated quarterly results and trends

 

Summary of quarterly results

 

($ millions, except per share amounts)   2024 Q3     2024 Q2     2024 Q1     2023 Q4     2023 Q3     2023 Q2     2023 Q1     2022 Q4  
Operating revenues and other income     5,099       4,974       4,932       5,198       5,008       4,946       4,964       5,058  
Operating expenses                                                                
Goods and services purchased1      1,868       1,825       1,810       2,086       1,858       1,790       1,803       2,082  
Employee benefits expense1      1,475       1,473       1,484       1,407       1,633       1,568       1,540       1,378  
Depreciation and amortization     968       994       1,063       1,041       1,000       1,006       1,022       929  
Total operating expenses     4,311       4,292       4,357       4,534       4,491       4,364       4,365       4,389  
Operating income     788       682       575       664       517       582       599       669  
Financing costs     479       382       394       278       352       323       320       322  
Income before income taxes     309       300       181       386       165       259       279       347  
Income taxes     52       79       41       76       28       63       55       82  
Net income     257       221       140       310       137       196       224       265  
Net income attributable to Common Shares     280       228       127       288       136       200       217       248  
Net income per Common Share:                                                                
Basic earnings per share (EPS)     0.19       0.15       0.09       0.20       0.09       0.14       0.15       0.17  
Adjusted basic EPS2      0.28       0.25       0.26       0.24       0.25       0.19       0.27       0.24  
Diluted EPS     0.19       0.15       0.09       0.20       0.09       0.14       0.15       0.17  
Dividends declared per Common Share     0.3891       0.3891       0.3761       0.3761       0.3636       0.3636       0.3511       0.3511  
Additional information:                                                                
EBITDA     1,756       1,676       1,638       1,705       1,517       1,588       1,621       1,598  
Restructuring and other costs     86       121       218       140       303       115       159       94  
Other equity losses (income) related to real estate joint ventures                       2                   (1 )     (3 )
Adjusted EBITDA     1,842       1,797       1,856       1,847       1,820       1,703       1,779       1,689  
Cash provided by operating activities     1,432       1,388       950       1,314       1,307       1,117       761       1,126  
Free cash flow     561       478       396       590       355       279       535       323  

 

1 Goods and services purchased and Employee benefits expense amounts include restructuring and other costs.
2 See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures.

 

Trends

 

For further discussion of trends related to revenues, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, see Section 5.4 TELUS technology solutions segment and Section 5.5 TELUS digital experience segment.

 

The trend of year-over-year increases in Depreciation and amortization reflects the addition of capital assets acquired in business acquisitions; growth in capital assets in support of the expansion of our broadband footprint, including our generational investment to connect homes and businesses to TELUS PureFibre and 5G technology coverage; and successful internet, TV and security subscriber loading. Investments in our PureFibre technology also support our technology strategy to improve network coverage and capacity, including the ongoing build-out of our 5G network.

 

The trend of general year-over-year increases in Financing costs reflects greater long-term debt outstanding and increases in effective interest rates attributable to both floating-rate debt and recent fixed-rate issuances, mainly associated with our investments in spectrum and PureFibre technology, as well as business acquisitions. Financing costs are net of capitalized interest related to spectrum licences acquired during the 3500 MHz spectrum auction in 2021 and during the 3800 MHz spectrum auction in 2023. Financing costs also include Interest accretion on provisions (asset retirement obligations and written put options) and Employee defined benefit plans net interest. Additionally, for the eight periods shown, Financing costs include varying amounts of foreign exchange gains or losses, varying amounts of interest income and unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element, which contributed to income up to the third quarter of 2022 and to losses thereafter.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

5.3 Consolidated operations

 

The following is a discussion of our consolidated financial performance. Segment information in Note 5 of the interim consolidated financial statements is regularly reported to our CEO. We discuss the performance of our segments in Section 5.4 TELUS technology solutions segment and Section 5.5 TELUS digital experience segment.

 

Operating revenues

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Operating revenues                                                
Service     4,410       4,388       0.5 %     13,081       13,091       (0.1 )%
Equipment     632       602       5.0 %     1,727       1,758       (1.8 )%
Operating revenues (arising from contracts with customers)     5,042       4,990       1.0 %     14,808       14,849       (0.3 )%
Other income     57       18       n/m       197       69       n/m  
Operating revenues and other income     5,099       5,008       1.8 %     15,005       14,918       0.6 %

 

Consolidated Operating revenues and other income increased by $91 million in the third quarter of 2024 and increased by $87 million in the first nine months of 2024.

 

· Service revenues increased by $22 million in the third quarter of 2024 largely due to: (i) mobile network, residential internet, TV and security subscriber growth; (ii) growth across multiple lines of business in health services; (iii) higher agriculture and consumer goods service revenues related to business acquisitions and improving organic growth; and (iv) growth in managed, unmanaged and other fixed data services to new and existing business customers. These factors were partly offset by: (i) rate reductions in mobile network, residential internet, and security services; (ii) lower external revenues in TELUS Digital primarily from macroeconomic conditions; and (iii) declines in TV and fixed legacy voice services revenues due to technological substitution. In the first nine months of 2024, Service revenues decreased by $10 million due to the same negating factors as the third quarter, partly offset by the same lower growth factors as the third quarter.

 

· Equipment revenues increased by $30 million in the third quarter of 2024, largely driven by higher mobile equipment revenues stemming from higher-value smartphones volume in the sales mix, partly offset by a reduction in mobile contracted volumes and lower fixed business premises equipment sales. Equipment revenues decreased by $31 million in the first nine months of 2024, largely driven by lower mobile equipment revenues due to a reduction in contracted volumes and lower fixed business premises equipment sales, partly offset by higher-value smartphones in the sales mix.

 

· Other income increased by $39 million in the third quarter of 2024, largely due to higher gains on real estate projects resulting from our PureFibre build and copper decommissioning program. In the first nine months of 2024, Other income increased by $128 million, due to the same factors as the quarter, in addition to higher reversals of business combination-related provisions.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Operating expenses

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Goods and services purchased     1,868       1,858       0.5 %     5,503       5,451       1.0 %
Employee benefits expense     1,475       1,633       (9.7 )%     4,432       4,741       (6.5 )%
Depreciation     597       611       (2.3 )%     1,895       1,849       2.5 %
Amortization of intangible assets     371       389       (4.6 )%     1,130       1,179       (4.2 )%
Operating expenses     4,311       4,491       (4.0 )%     12,960       13,220       (2.0 )%

 

Consolidated operating expenses decreased by $180 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $260 million in the first nine months of 2024. See Adjusted EBITDA below for further details.

 

· Depreciation decreased by $14 million in the third quarter of 2024 due to lower asset retirement activity, partly offset by higher depreciation on network asset leases. Depreciation increased by $46 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily due to higher depreciation on network asset leases and increased real estate rationalization.

 

· Amortization of intangible assets decreased by $18 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $49 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily due to write-offs of software assets in the prior year largely driven by changes in business strategy.

 

Operating income

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
TTech EBITDA1 (See Section 5.4)     1,659       1,346       23.4 %     4,632       4,256       8.8 %
TELUS Digital EBITDA1 (See Section 5.5)     109       171       (36.6 )%     472       470       0.5 %
Eliminations2      (12 )           n/m       (34 )           n/m  
EBITDA     1,756       1,517       15.8 %     5,070       4,726       7.3 %
Depreciation and amortization (discussed above)     (968 )     (1,000 )     (3.2 )%     (3,025 )     (3,028 )     (0.1 )%
Operating income (consolidated earnings before interest and income taxes (EBIT))     788       517       52.4 %     2,045       1,698       20.4 %

 

1 See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures.
2 See Intersegment revenues in Section 5.5 for additional details.

 

Operating income increased by $271 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $347 million in the first nine months of 2024, while EBITDA increased by $239 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $344 million in the first nine months of 2024. In addition to the growth drivers discussed within Adjusted EBITDA below, EBITDA also reflects lower restructuring and other costs of $217 million in the third quarter of 2024, primarily related to significant investments in cost efficiency and effectiveness programs, including real estate rationalization, which predominantly took place during the third quarter of 2023. Restructuring and other costs decreased by $152 million in the first nine months of 2024, largely due to the factors listed for the quarter, in addition to one-time amounts recorded in the first nine months of 2023 of $68 million for the ratification of the new collective agreement between the Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers Local 1944 (TWU) and ourselves.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
TTech Adjusted EBITDA1 (See Section 5.4)     1,723       1,633       5.6 %     5,013       4,777       5.0 %
TELUS Digital Adjusted EBITDA1,2 (See Section 5.5)     131       187       (30.3 )%     516       525       (1.7 )%
Eliminations3      (12 )           n/m       (34 )           n/m  
Adjusted EBITDA1      1,842       1,820       1.3 %     5,495       5,302       3.7 %

 

1 See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures.
2 For certain financial metrics, there are definitional differences between TELUS and TELUS Digital reporting. These differences largely arise from TELUS Digital adopting definitions consistent with practice in its industry.
3 See Intersegment revenues in Section 5.5 for additional details.

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $22 million or 1.3% in the third quarter of 2024 and $193 million or 3.7% in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting: (i) mobile network, residential internet, TV and security subscriber growth; (ii) broad-based cost reduction efforts, including workforce reductions, synergies achieved between LifeWorks and our legacy health business, and an increase in TTech leveraging TELUS Digital resulting in competitive benefits given the lower cost structure in TELUS Digital, as well as savings in marketing costs; (iii) higher gains on real estate projects and in the first nine months of 2024, higher reversals of business combination-related provisions; (iv) growth in health services margin; (v) higher agriculture and consumer goods margins; and (vi) growth in fixed data services to new and existing business customers. These factors were partly offset by: (i) lower mobile phone ARPU; (ii) lower operational growth in TELUS Digital (excluding other income) comprised of lower operating revenues from external clients and higher indirect operating expenses; (iii) declining TV and fixed legacy voice margins; (iv) lower mobile equipment margins; (v) higher network operations costs; (vi) higher bad debt expense; and (vii) higher costs related to the scaling of our digital capabilities, inclusive of increased subscription-based licenses and cloud usage costs.

 

Financing costs

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Interest on long-term debt, excluding lease liabilities – gross     297       282       5.3 %     892       815       9.4 %
Interest on long-term debt, excluding lease liabilities – capitalized     (9 )     (1 )     n/m       (13 )     (4 )     n/m  
Interest on lease liabilities     42       36       16.7 %     122       95       28.4 %
Interest on short-term borrowings and other     14       10       40.0 %     24       22       9.1 %
Interest accretion on provisions     7       7       %     22       22       —%  
Interest expense     351       334       5.1 %     1,047       950       10.2 %
Employee defined benefit plans net interest     3       1       n/m       7       5       40.0 %
Foreign exchange losses (gains)     8       (12 )     n/m       2       (8 )     n/m  
Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element     125       33       n/m       228       59       n/m  
Interest income     (8 )     (4 )     100.0 %     (29 )     (11 )     n/m  
Financing costs     479       352       36.1 %     1,255       995       26.1 %

 

Financing costs increased by $127 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $260 million in the first nine months of 2024, mainly due to the following factors:

 

· Interest expense increased by $17 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $97 million in the first nine months of 2024, largely resulting from:

 

·

An increase in gross interest expense on long-term debt, excluding lease liabilities, of $15 million in third quarter of 2024 and $77 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily driven by an increase in average long-term debt balances outstanding, attributable in part to investments in spectrum and PureFibre technology, in addition to an increase in the effective interest rate. Our weighted average interest rate on long-term debt (excluding commercial paper, the revolving components of the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility, lease liabilities and other long-term debt) was 4.40% at September 30, 2024, compared to 4.33% one year earlier. (See Long-term debt issued and Redemptions and repayments of long-term debt in Section 7.4.)

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

· Capitalized long-term debt interest, excluding lease liabilities, is in respect of debt incurred for the purchase of spectrum licences during the 3800 MHz spectrum auction held in October to November 2023 by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

 

· Interest on lease liabilities increased by $6 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $27 million in the first nine months of 2024, resulting from increases in both lease principal and the effective interest rate.

 

· Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element represent the estimated unrealized amounts recorded from our virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) with renewable energy projects as of September 30, 2024. We have entered into VPPAs with renewable energy projects that develop solar and wind power facilities as part of our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint.

 

Income taxes

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions, except tax rates)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Income taxes computed at applicable statutory rates (%)     25.2       23.8       1.4  pts.     24.2       23.5       0.7  pts.
Adjustments recognized in the current period for income taxes of prior periods (%)     (6.4 )     (13.9 )     7.5  pts.     (3.3 )     (5.0 )     1.7  pts.
Pillar Two global minimum tax (%)     0.3             0.3  pts.     0.3             0.3  pts.
(Non-taxable) non-deductible amounts, net (%)     (1.9 )     (1.2 )     (0.7 ) pts.     (1.7 )     (1.3 )     (0.4 ) pts.
Withholding and other taxes (%)     1.9       3.7       (1.8 ) pts.     3.2       2.1       1.1  pts.
Losses not recognized (%)     0.3       5.5       (5.2 ) pts.     0.5       2.4       (1.9 ) pts.
Foreign tax differential (%)     (1.3 )     (2.4 )     1.1  pts.     (0.9 )     (1.6 )     0.7  pts.
Other (%)     (1.3 )     1.7       (3.0 ) pts.     (0.5 )     0.7       (1.2 ) pts.
Effective tax rate (%)     16.8       17.2       (0.4 ) pts.     21.8       20.8       1.0  pt.
Income taxes computed at applicable statutory rates     78       40       95.0 %     191       165       15.8 %
Adjustments recognized in the current period for income taxes of prior periods     (20 )     (23 )     (13.0 )%     (26 )     (35 )     (25.7 )%
Pillar Two global minimum tax     1             n/m       2             n/m  
(Non-taxable) non-deductible amounts, net     (6 )     (2 )     n/m       (13 )     (9 )     44.4 %
Withholding and other taxes     6       6       %     25       15       66.7 %
Losses not recognized     1       9       (88.9 )%     4       17       (76.5 )%
Foreign tax differential     (4 )     (4 )     %     (7 )     (11 )     (36.4 )%
Other     (4 )     2       n/m       (4 )     4       n/m  
Income taxes     52       28       85.7 %     172       146       17.8 %

 

Total income tax expense increased by $24 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $26 million in the first nine months of 2024. The effective tax rate decreased from 17.2% to 16.8% in the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to lower losses not recognized and withholding and other taxes. In the first nine months of 2024, the effective tax rate increased from 20.8% to 21.8%, largely as a result of lower adjustments recognized in the current period for income taxes of prior periods.

 

Comprehensive income

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Net income     257       137       87.6 %     618       557       11.0 %
Other comprehensive income (net of income taxes):                                                
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to income     2       37       (94.6 )%     75       (33 )     n/m  
Items never subsequently reclassified to income     (19 )     56       n/m       29       47       (38.3 )%
Comprehensive income     240       230       4.3 %     722       571       26.4 %

 

Comprehensive income increased by $10 million in the third quarter of 2024, primarily as a result of employee defined benefit plan re-measurement amounts, partly offset by the increase in Net income. Comprehensive income increased by $151 million in the first nine months of 2024, largely driven by the increase in Net income and foreign currency translation adjustment arising from translating financial statements of foreign operations. Items that may subsequently be reclassified to income include changes in the unrealized fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges and foreign currency translation adjustments arising from translating financial statements of foreign operations. Items never subsequently reclassified to income include employee defined benefit plans re-measurement amounts and changes in measurement of investment financial assets.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

5.4 TELUS technology solutions segment

 

TTech trends and seasonality

 

The historical trend over the past eight quarters in mobile network revenue improvement primarily reflects growth in our mobile phone subscriber base, as well as an increase in Internet of Things (IoT) connections. Domestic ARPU declines were largely attributable to larger allotments of data for a given price point, as well as more aggressive retail pricing, which has persisted since the second quarter of 2023.

 

Mobile equipment revenues have been growing largely as a result of the impact of higher-value smartphones in the sales mix. As a partial offset, sales volumes of mobile devices have been slowly declining, attributable to improvements in durability and increases in cost that are causing customers to defer upgrades and increase adopting bring-your-own-device (BYOD) plans. We continue to offer certified pre-owned devices and our Bring-It-Back® program to provide customers with alternative options for handset upgrades, at the same time contributing to a circular economy.

 

Our spectrum investments and capital expenditures in network improvements increase capacity, reliability and coverage, allowing us to grow revenue through net additions of new mobile phone and connected device subscribers. Growth in our mobile phone subscriber base is attributable to: (i) industry-leading product offerings with continuous improvements in the speed, performance and reliability of our network, coupled with our enhanced digital capabilities; (ii) the success of our promotions, including our bundling of mobility and home services; (iii) our ability to attract a larger proportion of the growing population driven by immigration, and changing demographics such as an increasing number of customers with multiple devices; and (iv) our relatively low churn rate, which reflects our customers first efforts and upgrade volume programs.

 

Our connected device subscriber base has been growing, primarily in response to our expanded IoT offerings across various industries, including transportation, healthcare, smart buildings and smart cities, energy, retail and agriculture. Our investments in network infrastructure and the expansion of our IoT product portfolio have also allowed us to provide reliable and scalable IoT solutions to our customers.

 

Growth in our internet subscriber base has been supported by our continued investments in building out our fibre-optic infrastructure, as well as the benefits of our relatively low customer churn rate. Excluding the first quarter 2024 adjustment to remove Pik TV subscribers, our TV subscribers have increased, reflecting net subscriber additions in response to our diverse and flexible product offerings catered towards the changing needs of our consumers. Growth in our security subscriber base is accelerating as a result of organic growth and bundling of mobility and home services. Bundling increases our services per home and positively impacts churn for most services, supported by the effectiveness of our self-install and virtual-install models. Residential voice subscriber losses have remained low, as a result of the success of our bundled services and lower-priced offerings, as well as effective retention efforts to mitigate the ongoing substitution to mobile and internet-based services.

 

The trend of moderating fixed data services revenue growth is attributable to the growth in our internet and security subscriber bases, bolstered by sustained demand for faster internet speeds and larger bandwidth, as well as home and business security offerings and other advanced applications, which are enabled by investments in our fibre-optic footprint. The trend of declining TV revenues and fixed voice revenues is a result of technological substitution and intensification of competition. However, we are mitigating this trend with our bundled product and lower-priced offerings, product diversification and effective retention efforts. The migration of business product and service offerings to IP platforms and the entry of new competitors have yielded inherently lower margins compared to some legacy business product and service offerings. However, we are continually refining and diversifying our innovative portfolio of business offerings.

 

The trend of growth in health services revenues has been propelled by the acquisition of LifeWorks in the third quarter of 2022, as well as organic growth in our existing health offerings, which include virtual care, virtual and conventional pharmacy solutions, collaborative health records, health benefits management, personal health monitoring solutions, and employee and family assistance programs and benefits administration. The LifeWorks acquisition immediately enabled our health services business to expand on a global scale through long-standing corporate relationships, with notable areas of focus in employee health and wellness programs, mental and physical health solutions, pensions and benefits management, and retirement solutions. Our diversified virtual care offerings continue to grow to meet the healthcare needs of Canadians and enable better health outcomes, including the accelerated adoption of virtual consultations, which is reflected in the growing number of virtual care members. The growing number of lives covered is largely driven by the expansion of our employee and family assistance programs.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Previous trends of declining agriculture and consumer goods services were attributed to macroeconomic headwinds that generated customer churn, hampered subscription growth and limited the sales funnel, however agriculture and consumer goods has recently shown improvement. With our global team and cloud-based solutions, we are able to service our diverse client base, including growers, producers, agronomists, advisors, processors and retailers, by enabling more effective and agile decision-making that can address changing consumer demands, improve profitability and generate a better flow of information across the value chain. This improves the safety and sustainability of our outputs and drives efficiencies in the way we produce, distribute and consume food and consumer goods. We also acquired Proagrica® in the first quarter of 2024 to meet the growing demand for digital solutions in the agriculture industry.

 

TTech operating indicators

 

At September 30   2024     2023     Change  
Subscriber connections (thousands):                        
Mobile phone1      10,077       9,675       4.2 %
Connected device     3,535       2,911       21.4 %
Internet     2,723       2,590       5.1 %
TV2      1,362       1,371       (0.7 )%
Security     1,110       1,033       7.5 %
Residential voice     1,040       1,072       (3.0 )%
Total telecom subscriber connections     19,847       18,652       6.4 %
LTE population coverage3 (millions)     36.7       36.7       %
5G population coverage3 (millions)     32.1       31.6       1.6 %

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
    2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Mobile phone gross additions (thousands)     455       455       %     1,246       1,131       10.2 %
Subscriber connection net additions (losses) (thousands):                                                
Mobile phone     130       160       (18.8 )%     276       317       (12.9 )%
Connected device     159       179       (11.2 )%     421       361       16.6 %
Internet     34       37       (8.1 )%     97       107       (9.3 )%
TV     21       20       5.0 %     65       46       41.3 %
Security     12       18       (33.3 )%     54       55       (1.8 )%
Residential voice     (9 )     (8 )     (12.5 )%     (25 )     (24 )     (4.2 )%
Total telecom subscriber connection net additions     347       406       (14.5 )%     888       862       3.0 %
Mobile phone ARPU, per month1,4 ($)     58.85       60.94       (3.4 )%     58.88       60.63       (2.9 )%
Mobile phone churn, per month1,5 (%)     1.09       1.03       0.06  pts.     1.10       0.96       0.14  pts.
                                                 
Health services (millions)                                                
                                                 
At September 30     2024     2023     Change  
Healthcare lives covered                             76.0       69.6       9.2 %
Virtual care members                             6.5       5.5       18.2 %

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
    2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Digital health transactions     161.5       150.6       7.2 %     483.8       452.4       6.9 %

 

1 Effective for the first quarter of 2024, with retrospective application to January 1, 2023, we reduced our mobile phone subscriber base by 283,000 subscribers to remove a subset of our public services customers that are now subject to dynamic pricing auction models. We believe adjusting our base for these low-margin customers provides a more meaningful reflection of the underlying performance of our mobile phone business and our focus on profitable growth. As a result of this change, associated operating statistics (ARPU and churn) have also been adjusted.
2 Effective January 1, 2024, on a prospective basis, we adjusted our TV subscriber base to remove 97,000 subscribers as we have ceased marketing our Pik TV product.
3 Including network access agreements with other Canadian carriers.
4 This is an other specified financial measure. See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures. This is an industry measure useful in assessing operating performance of a mobile products and services company, but is not a measure defined under IFRS-IASB.
5 See Section 11.2 Operating indicators.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Mobile phone gross additions were 455,000 in the third quarter of 2024, consistent with the prior year. Mobile phone gross additions were 1,246,000 in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting an increase of 115,000, driven by greater promotional activity, our shift to digital loading, and growth in the Canadian population.

 

Our mobile phone churn rate was 1.09% in the third quarter of 2024 and 1.10% in the first nine months of 2024, compared to 1.03% in the third quarter of 2023 and 0.96% in the first nine months of 2023. These churn rates increased largely as a result of customer switching decisions in response to more aggressive marketing and promotional pricing, in addition to increased adoption of BYOD plans. These factors have been partly mitigated by our continued focus on customer retention through our industry-leading service and network quality, along with successful promotions and bundled offerings.

 

Mobile phone net additions were 130,000 in the third quarter of 2024 and 276,000 in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting decreases of 30,000 for the quarter and 41,000 for the nine-month period, driven by a higher mobile phone churn rate. For the nine-month period, our higher churn rate was partially offset by higher mobile phone gross additions.

 

Mobile phone ARPU was $58.85 in the third quarter of 2024 and $58.88 in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting decreases of $2.09 or 3.4% for the quarter and $1.75 or 2.9% for the nine-month period. These decreases were attributable to the adoption of base rate plans with lower prices in response to more aggressive marketing and promotional pricing targeting both new and existing customers, and a decline in overage and roaming revenues, partly offset by higher IoT revenue. We continue to see increasing adoption of unlimited data and Canada-U.S. plans which provide higher and more stable ARPU on a monthly basis while also giving customers cost certainty in lower roaming fees to the U.S. and lower data overage fees, respectively.

 

Connected device net additions were 159,000 in the third quarter of 2024, reflecting a decrease of 20,000, largely due to one customer decommissioning a subset of their legacy, low-usage IoT connections during the quarter, partly offset by growth in gross additions of IoT connections. Connected device net additions were 421,000 for the nine-month period, reflecting an increase of 60,000, attributable to growth in IoT connections from customers in the transportation, smart buildings and healthcare industries.

 

Internet net additions were 34,000 in the third quarter of 2024 and 97,000 in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting decreases of 3,000 and 10,000, respectively. These decreases were largely attributable to a higher churn rate due to macroeconomic and competitive pressures that have continued to impact consumer purchasing decisions. These factors were partly offset by our success in driving strong gross additions through robust sales strategies and the strength of our fibre optic offering.

 

TV net additions were 21,000 in the third quarter of 2024 and 65,000 in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting increases of 1,000 for the quarter and 19,000 for the nine-month period, attributable to our diverse offerings catered towards the changing needs of our consumers, partly offset by a higher churn rate due to the same factors as internet net additions.

 

Security net additions were 12,000 in the third quarter of 2024, reflecting a decrease of 6,000, primarily due to a higher churn rate related to the same factors as internet net additions. For the first nine months of 2024, security net additions were 54,000, reflecting a decrease of 1,000, attributable to a higher churn rate related to the same factors as the quarter, partly offset by higher demand for our bundled offerings and diverse suite of products and services.

 

Residential voice net losses were 9,000 in the third quarter of 2024 and 25,000 in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting an increase of 1,000 losses for both the quarter and nine-month period.

 

Healthcare lives covered were 76.0 million as of the end of the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 6.4 million over the past 12 months, mainly reflecting robust growth in our employee and family assistance programs from both new and existing clients across all of our regions, in addition to continued demand for virtual solutions.

 

Virtual care members were 6.5 million as of the end of the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 1.0 million over the past 12 months, attributable to the continued adoption of virtual solutions that keep Canadians and others safely connected to health and wellness care.

 

Digital health transactions were 161.5 million in the third quarter of 2024 and 483.8 million in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting increases of 10.9 million for the quarter and 31.4 million for the nine-month period, largely driven by increased paid exchange of healthcare data between our health benefits management system and care providers resulting from higher patient demand for elective health services.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Operating revenues and other income – TTech segment

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Mobile network revenue     1,766       1,753       0.7 %     5,246       5,168       1.5 %
Mobile equipment and other service revenues     591       557       6.1 %     1,575       1,593       (1.1 )%
Fixed data services1      1,175       1,153       1.9 %     3,492       3,427       1.9 %
Fixed voice services     179       191       (6.3 )%     536       573       (6.5 )%
Fixed equipment and other service revenues     117       125       (6.4 )%     359       384       (6.5 )%
Health services     439       422       4.0 %     1,304       1,273       2.4 %
Agriculture and consumer goods services     100       83       20.5 %     273       246       11.0 %
Operating revenues (arising from contracts with customers)     4,367       4,284       1.9 %     12,785       12,664       1.0 %
Other income     54       18       n/m       112       69       62.3 %
External Operating revenues and other income     4,421       4,302       2.8 %     12,897       12,733       1.3 %
Intersegment revenues     3       4       (25.0 )%     9       12       (25.0 )%
TTech Operating revenues and other income     4,424       4,306       2.7 %     12,906       12,745       1.3 %

 

1      Excludes health services and agriculture and consumer goods services.

 

TTech Operating revenues and other income increased by $118 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $161 million in the first nine months of 2024.

 

Mobile network revenue increased by $13 million or 0.7% in the third quarter of 2024 and $78 million or 1.5% in the first nine months of 2024, largely due to growth in our mobile phone and an increase in IoT connections, partly offset by lower mobile phone ARPU.

 

Mobile equipment and other service revenues increased by $34 million in the third quarter of 2024, due to the impact of higher-value smartphones in the sales mix, partly offset by a reduction in contracted volumes attributable to our efforts to match only on profitable offers from more aggressive promotional activity in the current year compared to the prior year, in addition to the growing number of customers taking advantage of BYOD offerings. Mobile equipment and other service revenues decreased by $18 million in the first nine months of 2024 due to the same negating factors as the third quarter, partly offset by the impact of higher-value smartphones in the sales mix.

 

Fixed data services revenues increased by $22 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $65 million in the first nine months of 2024, driven by an increase in our internet, security and TV subscribers, and growth in our managed, unmanaged and other services to new and existing business customers. These were partly offset by lower TV revenue per customer, reflecting an increased mix of customers selecting smaller TV combination packages and technological substitution, slightly lower internet revenue per customer reflecting competitive pressures, as well as lower security revenue per customer reflecting increased demand for inherently lower-ARPU home automation services.

 

Fixed voice services revenues decreased by $12 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $37 million in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting the ongoing decline in legacy voice revenues as a result of technological substitution and price plan changes. Declines were partly mitigated by the success of our bundled product offerings and our retention efforts.

 

Fixed equipment and other service revenues decreased by $8 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $25 million in the first nine months of 2024, largely due to a reduction in business premises equipment sales, as equipment sales tend to be more one-time in nature.

 

Health services revenues increased by $17 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $31 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily driven by pharmacy upgrades, virtual pharmacy sales, employee assistance programs, and increased demand for health benefits management services and retirement benefits solutions.

 

Agriculture and consumer goods services revenues increased by $17 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $27 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily attributed to business acquisitions and improving organic growth across certain lines of business, including increased subscription and license revenues. These factors were partially offset by an increase of agriculture customer churn and macroeconomic headwinds slowing down subscription growth and sales funnel opportunities.

 

Other income increased by $36 million in the third quarter of 2024, largely due to gains on real estate projects resulting from our fibre build and copper decommissioning program. In the first nine months of 2024, Other income increased by $43 million, due to the same factors as the quarter, partly offset by the non-recurrence of net reversals of provisions related to business combinations in the prior year.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Intersegment revenues represent services provided to the TELUS Digital segment that are eliminated upon consolidation, together with the associated TELUS Digital expenses.

 

Direct contribution – TTech segment

 

    Mobile products and services     Fixed products and services1      Total TTech  
Three-month periods ended September 30 ($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change      2024     2023     Change      2024     2023     Change   
Revenues                                                                        
Service     1,790       1,792       (0.1 )%     1,945       1,890       2.9 %     3,735       3,682       1.4 %
Equipment     567       518       9.5 %     65       84       (22.6 )%     632       602       5.0 %
Operating revenues (arising from contracts with customers)     2,357       2,310       2.0 %     2,010       1,974       1.8 %     4,367       4,284       1.9 %
Expenses                                                                        
Direct expenses     777       707       9.9 %     660       675       (2.2 )%     1,437       1,382       4.0 %
Direct contribution     1,580       1,603       (1.4 )%     1,350       1,299       3.9 %     2,930       2,902       1.0 %

 

Direct contribution – TTech segment

 

    Mobile products and services     Fixed products and services1      Total TTech  
Nine-month periods ended September 30 ($ in millions)   2024     2023      Change      2024     2023      Change      2024     2023      Change   
Revenues                                                                        
Service     5,315       5,265       0.9 %     5,743       5,641       1.8 %     11,058       10,906       1.4 %
Equipment     1,506       1,496       0.7 %     221       262       (15.6 )%     1,727       1,758       (1.8 )%
Operating revenues (arising from contracts with customers)     6,821       6,761       0.9 %     5,964       5,903       1.0 %     12,785       12,664       1.0 %
Expenses                                                                        
Direct expenses     2,111       2,025       4.2 %     1,972       2,006       (1.7 )%     4,083       4,031       1.3 %
Direct contribution     4,710       4,736       (0.5 )%     3,992       3,897       2.4 %     8,702       8,633       0.8 %

 

1      Includes health services and agriculture and consumer goods services.

 

The direct expenses included in the direct contribution calculations in the preceding tables represent components of the Goods and services purchased and Employee benefits expense totals included in the table below and have been calculated in accordance with the accounting policies used to prepare the totals presented in the financial statements. TTech direct contribution increased by $28 million or 1.0% in the third quarter of 2024 and $69 million or 0.8% in the first nine months of 2024.

 

TTech mobile products and services direct contribution decreased by $23 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $26 million in the first nine months of 2024, largely reflecting the impact of lower mobile phone ARPU, lower mobile equipment margin from lower contracted volume and increased competitor-driven discounting, and higher amortization of deferred commissions attributable to rising retail traffic in the current and prior periods. These were partly offset by mobile phone subscriber growth.

 

TTech fixed products and services direct contribution increased by $51 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $95 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily driven by increased health and agriculture and consumer goods revenues and continued subscriber growth. These were partly offset by declines in TV and legacy voice margins attributable to technological substitution.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Operating expenses – TTech segment

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Goods and services purchased1      1,909       1,886       1.2 %     5,640       5,516       2.2 %
Employee benefits expense1      856       1,074       (20.3 )%     2,634       2,973       (11.4 )%
TTech operating expenses     2,765       2,960       (6.6 )%     8,274       8,489       (2.5 )%

 

1    Includes restructuring and other costs.

 

TTech operating expenses decreased by $195 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $215 million in the first nine months of 2024. See TTech Adjusted EBITDA below for further details.

 

EBITDA – TTech segment

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions, except margins)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
EBITDA     1,659       1,346       23.4 %     4,632       4,256       8.8 %
Add restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA     64       287       n/m       381       522       n/m  
Deduct other equity income related to real estate joint ventures                 n/m             (1 )     n/m  
Adjusted EBITDA     1,723       1,633       5.6 %     5,013       4,777       5.0 %
EBITDA margin1 (%)     37.5       31.3       6.2  pts.     35.9       33.4       2.5  pts.
Adjusted EBITDA margin1 (%)     39.0       37.9       1.1  pts.     38.9       37.5       1.4  pts.

 

1      These are non-GAAP and other specified financial measures. See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures.

 

TTech EBITDA increased by $313 million or 23.4% in the third quarter of 2024 and $376 million or 8.8% in the first nine months of 2024. In addition to the growth drivers discussed within TTech Adjusted EBITDA below, EBITDA also reflects lower restructuring and other costs of $223 million in the third quarter of 2024, primarily related to significant investments in cost efficiency and effectiveness programs, inclusive of real estate rationalization, which predominantly took place during the third quarter of 2023. Restructuring and other costs decreased by $141 million in the first nine months of 2024, largely due to the factors listed for the quarter, in addition to one-time amounts recorded in the first nine months of 2023 of $68 million for the ratification of the new collective agreement between the TWU and ourselves.

 

TTech Adjusted EBITDA increased by $90 million or 5.6% in the third quarter of 2024 and $236 million or 5.0% in the first nine months of 2024 reflecting: (i) mobile network, residential internet, TV and security subscriber growth; (ii) broad-based cost reduction efforts, including workforce reductions, synergies achieved between LifeWorks and our legacy health business, and an increase in TTech leveraging TELUS Digital resulting in competitive benefits given the lower cost structure in TELUS Digital, as well as savings in marketing costs; (iii) higher gains on real estate projects; (iv) growth in health services margin; (v) higher agriculture and consumer goods margins; and (vi) growth in fixed data services to new and existing business customers. These factors were partially offset by: (i) lower mobile phone ARPU; (ii) declining TV and fixed legacy voice margins; (iii) lower mobile equipment margins; (iv) higher network operations costs; (v) higher bad debt expense; and (vi) higher costs related to the scaling of our digital capabilities, inclusive of increased subscription-based licenses and cloud usage costs.

 

TTech Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 1.1 percentage points in the third quarter of 2024 and 1.4 percentage points in the first nine months of 2024. These improvements were largely driven by our broad-based cost efficiency and effectiveness programs as described above, in addition to higher gains on real estate projects.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures – TTech segment

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Adjusted EBITDA     1,723       1,633       5.6 %     5,013       4,777       5.0 %
Capital expenditures     (650 )     (734 )     (11.4 )%     (2,020 )     (2,200 )     (8.2 )%
Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures1      1,073       899       19.4 %     2,993       2,577       16.1 %

 

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

 

TTech Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures increased by $174 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $416 million in the first nine months of 2024. See Section 7.3 for further discussion on capital expenditures.

 

EBIT – TTech segment

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
EBITDA     1,659       1,346       23.4 %     4,632       4,256       8.8 %
Depreciation     (551 )     (563 )     (2.1 )%     (1,754 )     (1,713 )     2.4 %
Amortization of intangible assets     (308 )     (329 )     (6.4 )%     (946 )     (993 )     (4.7 )%
EBIT1      800       454       76.2 %     1,932       1,550       24.6 %

 

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

 

TTech EBIT increased by $346 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $382 million in the first nine months of 2024, in line with the increases in EBITDA.

 

5.5 TELUS digital experience segment

 

TELUS Digital trends

 

The historical trend over the past eight quarters in TELUS Digital revenue reflects changes in service volume demand from our existing clients, services provided to new clients, and growth from acquisitions, including our acquisition of WillowTree on January 3, 2023. During 2024, we observed a stabilization in service volume demand after experiencing a notable reduction which became more pronounced beginning in the second quarter of 2023, arising from some of our larger technology clients that was more significant than expected, particularly in Europe. At the same time, several of our key clients also began to reduce their costs, which resulted in delays and near-term reductions in spending commitments.

 

Goods and services purchased and Employee benefits expense increased, reflecting: (i) the expansion of our TELUS Digital team member base to meet the growing service volumes and increased complexity from both existing and new customers, including those arising from our acquisition of WillowTree; (ii) higher average salaries and wages over time; (iii) cost efficiency programs; (iv) changes in external labour requirements to support the growth in our digital services business; (v) changes in our crowdsourced-enabled workforce to support our AI business; (vi) increases in our software licensing costs associated with our growing team member base; and (vii) increases in administrative expenses and facility costs to support overall business growth and acquisitions. Beginning in the second quarter of 2023, Employee benefits expense was positively impacted by employee-related cost efficiency initiatives resulting in decreases in our team member count in certain regions in response to the reduction in service volume demand from some clients, and a favourable mix of labour sourced from lower-cost jurisdictions.

 

Depreciation and amortization have generally been steady as growth in capital assets to support the expansion of our delivery sites required to serve customer demand have been offset by the timing of full depreciation or amortization of existing capital assets.

 

   

 

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TELUS Digital operating indicators

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Operating revenues by industry vertical                                                
Tech and games     376       404       (6.9 )%     1,127       1,191       (5.4 )%
Communications and media     223       208       7.2 %     655       626       4.6 %
eCommerce and fintech     81       95       (14.7 )%     262       291       (10.0 )%
Healthcare     66       51       29.4 %     196       155       26.5 %
Banking, financial services and insurance     56       46       21.7 %     158       156       1.3 %
All others1      92       85       8.2 %     274       294       (6.8 )%
      894       889       0.6 %     2,672       2,713       (1.5 )%
Operating revenues by geographic region                                                
Europe     263       271       (3.0 )%     782       841       (7.0 )%
North America     242       248       (2.4 )%     742       786       (5.6 )%
Asia-Pacific     202       217       (6.9 )%     626       638       (1.9 )%
Central America and others2      187       153       22.2 %     522       448       16.5 %
      894       889       0.6 %     2,672       2,713       (1.5 )%

 

1 All others includes, among others, travel and hospitality, energy and utilities, retail and consumer packaged goods industry verticals.
2 Others includes South America and Africa geographic regions.

 

Across all of our verticals, the reported rates of revenue growth were positively impacted by the strengthening of both the U.S. dollar and the European euro against the Canadian dollar compared to the same periods in the prior year.

 

Revenue from our tech and games industry vertical decreased by $28 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $64 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily due to lower revenue from a leading social media client and certain other technology and gaming clients, partially offset by growth in revenue from other clients within this industry vertical, including Google in the first nine months of 2024. Revenue from our communications and media industry vertical increased by $15 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $29 million in the first nine months of 2024, driven primarily by more services provided to the TTech segment, partially offset by lower service revenue from certain other telecommunication clients. Revenue from our eCommerce and fintech industry vertical decreased by $14 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $29 million in the first nine months of 2024, due to lower service volume demand from a large eCommerce client as well as certain fintech clients. Revenue from our healthcare industry vertical increased by $15 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $41 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily due to additional services provided to the healthcare business unit of the TTech segment. Revenue from our banking, financial services and insurance industry vertical increased by $10 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $2 million in the first nine months of 2024, due to growth from certain Canadian banks and smaller regional financial services firms in North America, partially offset by lower service volume demand from a global financial institution client. All other verticals increased by $7 million in the third quarter of 2024 due to seasonality and higher service volume demand from certain clients in the travel and hospitality, and retail and consumer packaged goods industry verticals, and decreased by $20 million in the first nine months of 2024, due to lower revenue across various client accounts notably in the travel and hospitality industry vertical.

 

We serve our clients, who are primarily domiciled in North America and Europe, from multiple delivery locations across various geographic regions. In addition, our AI data solutions business clients are largely supported by crowdsourced contractors that are globally dispersed and not limited to the physical locations of our delivery centres. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, the decline in revenue in Europe and Asia-Pacific was primarily due to lower service volume demand from technology clients serviced from these regions, while the decline in revenue in North America was primarily due to lower service volume demand from certain clients served from this region as well as offshoring of certain client services to lower cost regions. The table above presents the revenue generated in each geographic region, based on the location of our delivery centre or where the services were provided from, for the periods presented.

 

   

 

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Operating revenues and other income – TELUS digital experience segment

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Operating revenues (arising from contracts with customers)     675       706       (4.4 )%     2,023       2,185       (7.4 )%
Other income     3             n/m       85             n/m  
External Operating revenues and other income     678       706       (4.0 )%     2,108       2,185       (3.5 )%
Intersegment revenues     219       183       19.7 %     649       528       22.9 %
TELUS Digital Operating revenues and other income     897       889       0.9 %     2,757       2,713       1.6 %

 

TELUS Digital Operating revenues and other income increased by $8 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $44 million in the first nine months of 2024.

 

Our Operating revenues (arising from contracts with customers) decreased by $31 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $162 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily attributable to: (i) lower revenues from a leading social media client and other technology clients; (ii) a reduction in revenue in other industry verticals, notably among communications (excluding the TTech segment) and eCommerce clients; and (iii) a persistently challenging macroeconomic environment and competitive conditions in the industry. These decreases were partially offset by: (i) growth in services provided to existing clients, including Google during the first nine months of 2024; (ii) new clients added since the same period in the prior year; and (iii) the strengthening of both the U.S. dollar and the European euro against the Canadian dollar, which resulted in a favourable foreign currency impact on our TELUS Digital operating results. Revenues from contracts denominated in U.S. dollars, European euros and other currencies will be affected by changes in foreign exchange rates.

 

Other income increased by $3 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $85 million in the first nine months of 2024, as we amended the payout structure and terms associated with our provisions for written put options and revised our estimates of certain performance-based criteria, which resulted in a reduction of our provisions for written put options.

 

Intersegment revenues represent services provided to the TTech segment, including those provided under the TELUS master services agreement. Such revenue is eliminated upon consolidation, together with the associated TTech operating expenses and the TELUS Digital margin on costs capitalized within TTech. Commencing in the first quarter of 2024, new and incremental services have been provided to the TTech segment which are capital expenditures for software and contract acquisition costs that are deferred and amortized.

 

The increase in intersegment revenues reflects the competitive benefits TELUS derives from the lower cost structure in the TELUS Digital segment and the significant amounts of value-generating digital, customer experience, telecommunications, health and consumer goods solutions TELUS receives, while maintaining control over the quality of the associated services delivered and, on a consolidated basis, retaining the margin that a third-party vendor would otherwise earn.

 

Operating expenses – TELUS digital experience segment

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Goods and services purchased1      169       159       6.3 %     483       475       1.7 %
Employee benefits expense1      619       559       10.7 %     1,802       1,768       1.9 %
TELUS Digital operating expenses     788       718       9.7 %     2,285       2,243       1.9 %

 

1     Includes restructuring and other costs.

 

TELUS Digital operating expenses increased by $70 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $42 million in the first nine months of 2024. See TELUS Digital Adjusted EBITDA below for further details.

 

   

 

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EBITDA – TELUS digital experience segment

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions, except margins)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
EBITDA   109     171     (36.6 )%   472     470     0.5 %
Add restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA   22     16     n/m     44     55     n/m  
Adjusted EBITDA1    131     187     (30.3 )%   516     525     (1.7 )%
EBITDA margin2 (%)   12.1     19.2     (7.1 ) pts.   17.1     17.3     (0.2 ) pts.
Adjusted EBITDA margin2 (%)   14.5     21.0     (6.5 ) pts.   18.7     19.3     (0.6 ) pts.

 

1 For certain metrics, there are definitional differences between TELUS and TELUS Digital reporting. These differences largely arise from TELUS Digital adopting definitions consistent with practice in its industry.
2 These are non-GAAP and other specified financial measures. See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures.

 

TELUS Digital EBITDA decreased by $62 million or 36.6% in the third quarter of 2024 and increased by $2 million or 0.5% in the first nine months of 2024. TELUS Digital Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $56 million or 30.3% in the third quarter of 2024 and $9 million or 1.7% in the first nine months of 2024, while Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased by 6.5 percentage points in the third quarter of 2024 and 0.6 percentage points in the first nine months of 2024. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 was driven by higher investments in corporate initiatives, such as expansion of our commercial sales team and operational effectiveness programs, as reflected in the increase in salaries and benefits and Goods and services purchased, as well as higher share-based compensation compared to a slight reduction in revenue, which was partially offset by other income arising from the revaluation of our provisions for written put options.

 

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures – TELUS digital experience segment              

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Adjusted EBITDA   131     187     (30.3 )%   516     525     (1.7 )%
Capital expenditures   (30 )   (35 )   (14.3 )%   (96 )   (89 )   7.9 %
Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures1    101     152     (33.6 )%   420     436     (3.7 )%

 

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

 

TELUS Digital Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures decreased by $51 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $16 million in the first nine months of 2024. See Section 7.3 for further discussion on capital expenditures.

 

EBIT – TELUS digital experience segment              

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ in millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
EBITDA   109     171     (36.6 )%   472     470     0.5 %
Depreciation   (46 )   (48 )   (4.2 )%   (141 )   (136 )   3.7 %
Amortization of intangible assets   (63 )   (60 )   5.0 %   (184 )   (186 )   (1.1 )%
EBIT1        63     (100.0 )%   147     148     (0.7 )%

 

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

 

TELUS Digital EBIT decreased by $63 million in the third quarter of 2024, in line with the decrease in EBITDA, and $1 million in the first nine months of 2024, as a result of higher depreciation and amortization.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

6. Changes in financial position

 

Financial position at:   Sept. 30   Dec. 31          
($ millions)   2024   2023   Change     Change includes:
Current assets                  
Cash and temporary investments, net   814   864   (50 )   See Section 7 Liquidity and capital resources
Accounts receivable   3,554   3,597   (43 )   A decrease primarily driven by seasonally lower sales volume from our dealer and retail channels and lower TELUS Digital receivables
Income and other taxes receivable   55   205   (150 )   Instalments to date are less than the expense
Inventories   492   484   8     An increase primarily driven by timing of inventory in transit, and higher average cost of new handsets
Contract assets   413   445   (32 )   Refer to description in non-current contract assets
Prepaid expenses   779   682   97     An increase mainly driven by seasonality related to the costs incurred to obtain or fulfill contracts with customers, prepayment of maintenance contracts, wireless spectrum license fees, and statutory employee benefits
Current derivative assets   17   36   (19 )   A decrease in the notional amount of virtual power purchase agreements driven by a sharp decline in the forecasted Alberta energy rates.
Current liabilities                  
Short-term borrowings   925   104   821     See Note 22 of the interim consolidated financial statements
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   3,419   3,391   28   An increase associated with trade accounts payable and payroll and other employee-related liabilities, partially offset by indirect taxes payable and other.
Income and other taxes payable   156   126   30     Instalments to date are less than the expense
Dividends payable   578   550   28     Effects of an increase in the dividend rate and number of shares outstanding
Advance billings and customer deposits   950   971   (21 )   A decrease in advance billings primarily due to deferred handset revenue and subsidies. See Note 24 of the interim consolidated financial statements
Provisions   235   317   (82 )   A decrease primarily driven by employee-related provisions
Current maturities of long-term debt   2,613   3,994   (1,381 )   A decrease driven by the repayment of $1.1 billion of the non-revolving TELUS bank credit facility in June 2024 and maturity of $1.1 billion Notes, Series CK, in April 2024; party offset by the reclassification of long-term debt related to the upcoming maturity of $800 million Notes, Series CQ, in January 2025, and an increase in outstanding commercial paper
Current derivative liabilities   15   25   (10 )   A decrease primarily due to a smaller spread between hedged foreign exchange rate and exchange rate at the end of the period.
Working capital
(Current assets subtracting Current liabilities)
  (2,767 ) (3,165 ) 398     TELUS normally has a negative working capital position. See Financing and capital structure management plans in Section 4.3 and Note 4(b) of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

   

 

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Financial position at:   Sept. 30   Dec. 31          
($ millions)   2024   2023   Change     Change includes:
Non-current assets                  
Property, plant and equipment, net   17,210   17,248   (38 )   See Capital expenditures in Section 7.3 Cash used by investing activities and Depreciation in Section 5.3 Consolidated operations
Intangible assets, net   20,526   19,721   805     See Capital expenditures in Section 7.3 Cash used by investing activities and Amortization of intangible assets in Section 5.3 Consolidated operations
Goodwill, net   10,323   10,058   265     An increase primarily due to individually immaterial business acquisitions and foreign exchange movements. See Note 18 of the interim consolidated financial statements
Contract assets   277   303   (26 )   A decrease driven by lower subsidized devices offset by our Bring-It-Back and TELUS Easy Payment® programs
Other long-term assets   2,526   2,493   33     An increase primarily driven by investments in real estate joint ventures and portfolio investments, as well as costs incurred to obtain or fulfill contracts with customers, partly offset by decreases in derivative assets related to virtual power purchase agreements and unbilled customer finance receivables.
Non-current liabilities                  
Provisions   736   744   (8 )   A decrease primarily driven by a reversal of a written put option, partially offset by continued real estate rationalization
Long-term debt   25,387   23,355   2,032     See Section 7.4 Cash provided (used) by financing activities
Other long-term liabilities   865   867   (2 )   A decrease primarily due to a decrease in derivative liabilities arising from a change in interest rates and exchange rates largely offset by an increase in deferred capital expenditure government grants. See Note 27 of the interim consolidated financial statements
Deferred income taxes   4,180   4,390   (210 )   An overall decrease in temporary differences between the accounting and tax basis of assets and liabilities.
Owners’ equity                  
Common equity   15,771   16,112   (341 )   See Consolidated statements of changes in owners’ equity in the interim consolidated financial statements
Non-controlling interests   1,156   1,190   (34 )   See Consolidated statements of changes in owners’ equity in the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

7. Liquidity and capital resources

 

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

 

7.1 Overview

 

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

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Cash flows              

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Cash provided by operating activities   1,432     1,307     125     3,770     3,185     585  
Cash used by investing activities   (782 )   (791 )   9     (3,029 )   (4,032 )   1,003  
Cash provided (used) by financing activities   (763 )   39     (802 )   (791 )   1,077     (1,868 )
Increase (decrease) in Cash and temporary investments, net   (113 )   555     (668 )   (50 )   230     (280 )
Cash and temporary investments, net, beginning of period   927     649     278     864     974     (110 )
Cash and temporary investments, net, end of period   814     1,204     (390 )   814     1,204     (390 )

 

7.2 Cash provided by operating activities

 

Analysis of changes in cash provided by operating activities

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Operating revenues and other income (see Section 5.3)   5,099     5,008     91     15,005     14,918     87  
Goods and services purchased (see Section 5.3)   (1,868 )   (1,858 )   (10 )   (5,503 )   (5,451 )   (52 )
Employee benefits expense (see Section 5.3)   (1,475 )   (1,633 )   158     (4,432 )   (4,741 )   309  
Restructuring and other costs, net of disbursements   21     90     (69 )   5     190     (185 )
Share-based compensation expense, net of payments   44     27     17     110     100     10  
Net employee defined benefit plans expense   16     15     1     50     46     4  
Employer contributions to employee defined benefit plans   (2 )   (7 )   5     (16 )   (23 )   7  
Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element (VPPAs) (see Section 5.3)   125     33     92     228     59     169  
Loss from equity accounted investments   3     2     1     13     10     3  
Interest paid   (362 )   (307 )   (55 )   (1,011 )   (888 )   (123 )
Interest received   9     4     5     30     11     19  
Income taxes paid, net of recoveries received   (63 )   (63 )       (258 )   (342 )   84  
Other operating working capital changes   (115 )   (4 )   (111 )   (451 )   (704 )   253  
Cash provided by operating activities   1,432     1,307     125     3,770     3,185     585  

 

Cash provided by operating activities increased by $125 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $585 million in the first nine months of 2024.

 

· Restructuring and other costs, net of disbursements, represented a net change of $69 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $185 million in the first nine months of 2024, which was largely related to ongoing and incremental cost efficiency and effectiveness initiatives. In the first quarter of 2024, we paid personnel-related restructuring and other costs that were recorded in the prior year.

 

· Interest paid increased by $55 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $123 million in the first nine months of 2024, largely due to the issuance of three-tranche notes in the third quarter of 2023, and the issuance of three-tranche notes in the first quarter of 2024 as described in Section 7.4.

 

· Income taxes paid, net of recoveries received, was unchanged in the third quarter of 2024 and decreased by $84 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily related to lower required income tax instalments attributable to the prior year’s lower taxable income.

 

· For a discussion of Other operating working capital changes, see Section 6 Changes in financial position and Note 31(a) of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

7.3 Cash used by investing activities

 

Analysis of changes in cash used by investing activities

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences   (679 )   (745 )   66     (2,157 )   (2,498 )   341  
Cash payments for spectrum licences       (24 )   24     (620 )   (29 )   (591 )
Cash payments for acquisitions, net   (91 )   (11 )   (80 )   (258 )   (1,273 )   1,015  
Advances to, and investment in, real estate joint ventures and associates   (7 )   (19 )   12     (12 )   (136 )   124  
Real estate joint venture receipts   2     1     1     5     5      
Proceeds on disposition               21     7     14  
Investment in portfolio investments and other   (7 )   7     (14 )   (8 )   (108 )   100  
Cash used by investing activities   (782 )   (791 )   9     (3,029 )   (4,032 )   1,003  

 

Cash used by investing activities decreased by $9 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $1,003 million in the first nine months of 2024.

 

· The decrease in Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences in both the third quarter of 2024 and first nine months of 2024 was primarily composed of:

 

· Higher capital expenditure payments of $35 million in the third quarter of 2024 and lower capital expenditure payments of $136 million in the first nine months of 2024 with respect to payment timing differences.

 

· A decrease in capital expenditures of $101 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $205 million in the first nine months of 2024 (see Capital expenditure measures table and discussion below).

 

· Cash payments for spectrum licences decreased by $24 million in the third quarter of 2024 as we made cash payments for the acquisition of AWS-1 and broadband radio service (BRS) bands in the prior year. Cash payments for spectrum licences increased by $591 million in the first nine months of 2024 related to the 3800 MHz spectrum auction as further described in Section 1.3 in our 2023 annual MD&A and Note 18(a) of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

· Cash payments for spectrum licences excludes the non-cash $298 million of subordinated AWS-4 spectrum licences acquired during the second quarter of 2024 included within indefinite life intangible assets; the subordination resulted in us also recognizing the amount as a long-term liability. See Note 18(a) of the interim consolidated financial statements for further details.

 

· Cash payments for acquisitions, net, were $80 million higher in the third quarter of 2024 as we made cash payments for individually immaterial business acquisitions that were complementary to our existing lines of business in the third quarter of 2024. Cash payments for acquisitions, net, were $1,015 million lower in the first nine months of 2024 as we made cash payments for the acquisitions of WillowTree and other individually immaterial business acquisitions that were complementary to our existing lines of business in the first nine months of 2023.

 

· Advances to, and investments in, real estate joint ventures and associates decreased by $12 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $124 million in the first nine months of 2024, as we increased our equity interest in Miovision Technologies Incorporated in the prior periods. See Note 21 of the interim consolidated financial statements for further details.

 

· Proceeds on disposition were $14 million higher in the first nine months of 2024, resulting from the sale of an associate.

 

· Investment in portfolio investments and other increased by $14 million in the third quarter of 2024 driven by investments in a larger number of portfolio investments. Investment in portfolio investments and other decreased by $100 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily as a result of lower capital inventory and investments in a larger number of portfolio investments in the first nine months of 2023.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Capital expenditure measures

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ millions, except capital expenditure intensity)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Capital expenditures1                                     
TELUS technology solutions (TTech) segment                                    
TTech operations   622     712     (12.6 )%   1,955     2,161     (9.5 )%
TTech real estate development   28     22     27.3 %   65     39     66.7 %
    650     734     (11.4 )%   2,020     2,200     (8.2 )%
TELUS digital experience segment (TELUS Digital)   30     35     (14.3 )%   96     89     7.9 %
Eliminations2    (12 )       n/m     (32 )       n/m  
Consolidated   668     769     (13.1 )%   2,084     2,289     (9.0 )%
TTech segment capital expenditure intensity3 (%)   14     17     (3 ) pts.   15     17     (2 ) pts.
TELUS digital experience segment capital expenditure intensity3 (%)   3     4     (1 ) pt.   3     3      pts.
Consolidated capital expenditure intensity3 (%)   13     15     (2 ) pts.   13     15     (2 ) pts.

 

1 Capital expenditures include assets purchased, excluding right-of-use lease assets, but not yet paid for. Consequently, capital expenditures differ from Cash payments for capital assets, excluding spectrum licences, as reported in the interim consolidated statements of cash flows. Refer to Note 31 of the interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
2 See Intersegment revenues in Section 5.5 for additional details.
3 See Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures.

 

Consolidated capital expenditures decreased by $101 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $205 million in the first nine months of 2024. TTech operations drove $90 million of the decrease in the third quarter of 2024 and $206 million in the first nine months of 2024, primarily driven by the planned slowdown of our fibre and wireless network builds and systems development. Our TTech operations’ capital investments have enabled: (i) ongoing growth in our internet, TV and security subscriber bases, as well as the connection of more premises to our fibre network; (ii) the extended coverage of our 5G network; (iii) the expansion of our health product offerings and capabilities, as well as support for business integration; and (iv) enhancement of our product and digital development to increase our system capacity and reliability. By September 30, 2024, our 5G network covered approximately 32.1 million Canadians, representing approximately 87% of the population.

 

TTech real estate development capital expenditures increased by $6 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $26 million in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting an increase in capital investment to support construction of multi-year development projects, including TELUS OceanTM, TELUS Living residential buildings and other commercial buildings in B.C.

 

TELUS Digital capital expenditures decreased by $5 million in the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to slower demand for client growth. In the first nine months of 2024, TELUS Digital capital expenditures increased by $7 million, primarily driven by increased software investment in our managed digital solutions business and AI data solutions (software and application development), as well as our continued expansion in Africa.

 

   

 

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7.4 Cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

Analysis of changes in cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

    Three-month periods ended September 30     Nine-month periods ended September 30  
($ millions)   2024     2023     Change     2024     2023     Change  
Dividends paid to holders of Common Shares   (384 )   (338 )   (46 )   (1,174 )   (976 )   (198 )
Issue (repayment) of short-term borrowings, net   (118 )   (490 )   372     822         822  
Long-term debt issued   1,294     2,808     (1,514 )   5,083     8,325     (3,242 )
Redemptions and repayment of long-term debt   (1,529 )   (1,925 )   396     (5,480 )   (6,195 )   715  
Shares of subsidiary purchased from non-controlling interests, net   (25 )       (25 )   (25 )   (57 )   32  
Other   (1 )   (16 )   15     (17 )   (20 )   3  
Cash provided (used) by financing activities   (763 )   39     (802 )   (791 )   1,077     (1,868 )

 

Cash used by financing activities increased by $802 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $1,868 million in the first nine months of 2024.

 

Dividends paid to holders of Common Shares

 

Our dividend reinvestment and share purchase (DRISP) plan trustee acquired shares from Treasury for the DRISP plan, rather than acquiring Common Shares in the stock market. Effective with the dividends paid on October 1, 2019, we offered Common Shares from Treasury at a discount of 2%. Cash payments for dividends increased by $46 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $198 million in the first nine months of 2024, which reflected higher dividend rates under our dividend growth program (see Section 4.3) and an increase in the number of shares outstanding. During the third quarter of 2024, our DRISP plan trustee acquired Common Shares for $193 million.

 

In October 2024, we paid dividends of $388 million to the holders of Common Shares and the trustee acquired dividend reinvestment Common Shares from Treasury for $190 million, totalling $578 million.

 

Issue (repayment) of short-term borrowings, net

 

In the second quarter of 2024, we entered into an agreement with an arm’s-length securitization trust further described in Section 7.7. In the second quarter of 2024, Short-term borrowings under the current trust were $1.0 billion and the repayment of short-term borrowings under the previous trust was $100 million. In the third quarter of 2024, we repaid $0.1 billion under the current securitization trust.

 

In the first quarter of 2023, we drew down amounts advanced to us from an arm’s-length securitization for the previous trust to finance working capital. These amounts were repaid in the third quarter of 2023.

 

Long-term debt issued and Redemptions and repayment of long-term debt

 

In the third quarter of 2024, long-term debt issued decreased by $1.5 billion, while redemptions and repayment of long-term debt decreased by $0.4 billion. These changes were primarily composed of:

 

· A net decrease in commercial paper outstanding, including foreign exchange effects, of $0.7 billion to a balance of $1.1 billion (US$0.8 billion) at September 30, 2024, from a balance of $1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) at June 30, 2024. Our commercial paper program, when utilized, provides funds at a lower cost than our revolving credit facility and is fully backstopped by the revolving credit facility (see Section 7.6 Credit facilities).

 

· A decrease in net draws on the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility, including foreign exchange effects, of $91 million. As at September 30, 2024, net draws due to a syndicate of financial institutions (excluding TELUS Corporation) were US$1.2 billion, while as at June 30, 2024, net draws were US$1.3 billion. The TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility is non-recourse to TELUS Corporation.

 

· The August 13, 2024 note issuance of $700 million of senior unsecured 4.65% Notes, Series CAQ, maturing on August 13, 2031. The net proceeds from this offering were used for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, including the repayment of commercial paper and the reduction of cash amounts outstanding under an arm’s length securitization trust, and for other general corporate purposes.

 

For the first nine months of 2024, long-term debt issued decreased by $3.2 billion, while redemptions and repayment of long-term debt deceased by $0.7 billion. In addition to some activity from the third quarter of 2024, the change in balance for the first nine months of 2024 was primarily composed of:

 

· A net increase in commercial paper outstanding, including foreign exchange effects, of $42 million from a balance of $1.0 billion (US$0.8 billion) at December 31, 2023.

 

· A decrease in net draws on the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility, including foreign exchange effects, of $127 million. As at December 31, 2023, net draws due to a syndicate of financial institutions (excluding TELUS Corporation) were US$1.4 billion.

 

   

 

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· The February 15, 2024 three-tranche note issuance of $500 million of senior unsecured 5.10% Sustainability-Linked Notes, Series CAN, maturing on February 15, 2034; $700 million of senior unsecured 4.80% Notes, Series CAO, maturing on December 15, 2028; and $600 million of senior unsecured 4.95% Notes, Series CAP, maturing on February 18, 2031. The net proceeds from the three-tranche offering were used for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, including the repayment of the $1.1 billion of 3.35% Notes, Series CK, upon maturity in April 2024, repayment of commercial paper and for other general corporate purposes, while some proceeds were used for the repayment of the unsecured, non-revolving $1.1 billion bank credit facility.

 

· The repayment upon maturity of $1.1 billion of 3.35% Notes, Series CK, as previously noted.

 

· The repayment in the second quarter of 2024 of an unsecured, non-revolving $1.1 billion bank credit facility, which was to be used for general corporate purposes and that was to mature July 9, 2024.

 

The average term to maturity of our long-term debt (excluding commercial paper, TELUS bank credit facilities, the revolving components of the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility, lease liabilities and other long-term debt) was 10.6 years at September 30, 2024, a decrease from 11.3 years at December 31, 2023 and from 11.5 years at September 30, 2023. Additionally, the weighted average cost of our long-term debt (excluding commercial paper, TELUS bank credit facilities, the revolving components of the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility, lease liabilities and other long-term debt) was 4.40% at September 30, 2024, an increase from 4.33% at December 31, 2023 and from 4.33% at September 30, 2023.

 

Shares of subsidiary purchased from non-controlling interests, net

 

In the third quarter of 2024, we acquired 5.4 million subordinate voting shares of TELUS International (Cda) Inc. over the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

 

In the second quarter of 2023, we acquired 2.5 million multiple voting shares of TELUS International (Cda) Inc. from a non-controlling interest.

 

Other

 

In the third quarter of 2024, we incurred debt issuance costs in connection with our Series CAQ note issuance. This was less than the debt issuance costs in connection with the three-tranche note issuance in the third quarter of 2023.

 

7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures

 

Net debt was $28.1 billion at September 30, 2024, an increase of $1.4 billion compared to one year earlier, resulting mainly from: the first quarter 2024 three-tranche issuance of $1.8 billion of notes and the third quarter 2024 issuance of $700 million of notes as described in Section 7.4; short-term borrowings advanced to us under a new agreement with an arm’s-length securitization trust as described in Section 7.7; and less Cash and temporary investments. These factors were partially offset by: the repayment upon maturity of 3.35% Notes, Series CK in the second quarter of 2024; the repayment of an unsecured, non-revolving bank credit facility in the second quarter of 2024; and a decrease in commercial paper outstanding.

 

Fixed-rate debt as a proportion of total indebtedness, which excludes lease liabilities and other long-term debt, was 89% as at September 30, 2024, up from 85% one year earlier. The increase was primarily due to: (i) the second quarter 2024 repayment of the unsecured non-revolving syndicated $1.1 billion bank credit facility which was classified as floating-rate debt in this calculation; (ii) the first quarter 2024 three-tranche issuance of $1.8 billion of notes and the third quarter 2024 issuance of $700 million of notes; and (iii) a decrease in commercial paper outstanding, which is classified as floating-rate debt in this calculation. These factors were partially offset by the repayment upon maturity of 3.35% Notes, Series CK in the second quarter of 2024 and the increased draw-down of amounts advanced to us from an arm’s-length securitization trust, which is classified as floating-rate debt in this calculation.

 

Our Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio supports our financial objective of maintaining investment-grade credit ratings, which facilitates reasonable access to capital. This ratio was 3.83 times, as measured at September 30, 2024, up from 3.82 times one year earlier. The effect of the increase in net debt levels, primarily due to spectrum acquisitions and business acquisitions, was approximately equal to the effect of growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs; net debt levels were already elevated in the current and comparative periods due to our spectrum acquisitions and business acquisitions. As at September 30, 2024, the acquisition of spectrum licences increased the ratio by approximately 0.56. Our recent acquisitions of spectrum licences have increased our national spectrum holdings and represent an investment in building greater network capacity to support continuing growth in demand for data, as well as growth in our mobile subscriber base. Given the cash demands of the 600 MHz auction in 2019, the 3500 MHz auction in 2021, the 3800 MHz auction in 2023 and the upcoming auction for millimetre wave spectrum, the assessment of the guideline and timing of return to the objective range remains to be determined; however, it is our intent to return to a ratio circa 2.70 times in the medium term (following the spectrum auctions in 2021 and 2023, and the upcoming millimetre wave spectrum auction), consistent with our long-term strategy. While this ratio exceeds our long-term objective range, we are well in compliance with the leverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities, which states that we may not permit our leverage ratio to exceed 4.25 to 1.00 at September 30, 2024 (see Section 7.6 Credit facilities).

 

   

 

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Liquidity and capital resource measures

 

As at, or for the 12-month periods ended, September 30   2024     2023      Change  
Components of debt and coverage ratios ($ millions)                        
Long-term debt     28,000       27,833       167  
Net debt1      28,109       26,719       1,390  
Net income     928       822       106  
EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1      7,340       6,995       345  
Financing costs     1,533       1,317       216  
Net interest cost1      1,370       1,218       152  
Debt ratios                        
Fixed-rate debt as a proportion of total indebtedness (excluding lease liabilities and other long-term debt) (%)     89       85       4  pts.
Average term to maturity of long-term debt (excluding commercial paper, TELUS bank credit facilities, the revolving components of the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility, lease liabilities and other long-term debt) (years)     10.6       11.5       (0.9 )
Weighted average interest rate on long-term debt (excluding commercial paper, TELUS bank credit facilities, the revolving components of the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility, lease liabilities and other long-term debt) (%)     4.40       4.33       0.07  pts.
Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs1 (times)     3.83       3.82       0.01  
Coverage ratios1 (times)                        
Earnings coverage     1.9       1.9        
EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage     5.4       5.7       (0.3 )
Other measures1 (%)                        
Determined using most comparable IFRS-IASB measures                        
Ratio of Common Share dividends declared to cash provided by operating activities – less capital expenditures     92       151       (59 ) pts.
Determined using management measures                
Common Share dividend payout ratio – net of dividend reinvestment plan effects     77       88       (11 )  pts.

 

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

 

Earnings coverage ratio for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2024 was 1.9 times, unchanged from 1.9 times one year earlier. An increase in income before borrowing costs and income taxes raised the ratio by 0.3, while an increase in borrowing costs lowered the ratio by 0.3. Restructuring and other costs lowered the ratio by 0.3.

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage ratio for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2024 was 5.4 times, down from 5.7 times one year earlier. Growth in EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs increased the ratio by 0.3 and an increase in net interest costs of $152 million decreased the ratio by 0.6.

 

Common Share dividend payout ratios: Actual Common Share dividend payout decisions will continue to be subject to our Board’s assessment of our financial position and outlook, as well as our long-term Common Share dividend payout objective range of 60 to 75% of prospective free cash flow. So as to be consistent with the way we manage our business, our Common Share dividend payout ratio is presented as a historical measure calculated as the sum of the dividends declared in the most recent four quarters for Common Shares, as recorded in the financial statements, net of dividend reinvestment plan effects, divided by the sum of the most recent four quarters’ free cash flow amounts for interim reporting periods. For fiscal years, the denominator is annual free cash flow. The historical measure for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2024 is presented for illustrative purposes in evaluating our target guideline. As at September 30, 2024, the ratio was outside of the objective range. We estimate the ratio will be within the objective range on a prospective basis.

 

7.6 Credit facilities

 

At September 30, 2024, we had approximately $1.7 billion of liquidity available from the TELUS revolving credit facility and $726 million of liquidity available from the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions (excluding TELUS Corporation). We are well within our objective of generally maintaining at least $1 billion of available liquidity.

 

TELUS credit facilities

 

We have a $2.75 billion (or U.S. dollar equivalent) unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions, expiring July 14, 2028. The revolving credit facility is to be used for general corporate purposes, including the backstop of commercial paper, as required.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

As at June 30, 2024, we had repaid an unsecured non-revolving, syndicated $1.1 billion bank credit facility, that was to mature July 9, 2024, which was to be used for general corporate purposes.

 

TELUS revolving credit facility at September 30, 2024

 

($ millions)   Expiry     Size     Drawn     Outstanding
undrawn
letters of
credit
    Backstop
for
commercial
paper
program
    Available liquidity  
Revolving credit facility1    July 14, 2028     2,750             (1,063 )   1,687  

 

1 Canadian dollars or U.S. dollar equivalent.

 

Our credit facilities contain customary covenants, including a requirement that we not permit our consolidated leverage ratio to exceed 4.25 to 1.00 and that we not permit our consolidated coverage ratio to be less than 2.00 to 1.00 at the end of any financial quarter. As at September 30, 2024, our consolidated leverage ratio was 3.83 to 1.00 and our consolidated coverage ratio was 5.4 to 1.00. These ratios are expected to remain well within the covenants. There are certain minor differences in the calculation of the leverage ratio and coverage ratio under the revolving credit facility, as compared with the calculation of Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs and EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage. Historically, the calculations are substantially similar. The covenants are not impacted by revaluation, if any, of Property, plant and equipment, Intangible assets or Goodwill for accounting purposes. Continued access to our credit facilities is not contingent on maintaining a specific credit rating.

 

Commercial paper

 

TELUS Corporation has an unsecured commercial paper program, which is backstopped by our revolving credit facility, enabling us to issue commercial paper up to a maximum aggregate equivalent amount at any one time of $2.0 billion (US$1.5 billion maximum) as at September 30, 2024. Foreign currency forward contracts are used to manage currency risk arising from issuing commercial paper denominated in U.S. dollars. The commercial paper program is to be used for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, capital expenditures and investments. Our ability to reasonably access the commercial paper market in the United States is dependent on our credit ratings (see Section 7.8 Credit ratings).

 

TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility

 

As at September 30, 2024, TELUS International (Cda) Inc. had a credit facility, secured by its assets, expiring on January 3, 2028, with a syndicate of financial institutions, including TELUS Corporation. The credit facility is comprised of revolving components totalling US$800 million (TELUS Corporation as approximately 7.2% lender) and amortizing term loan components totalling US$1.2 billion (TELUS Corporation as approximately 7.2% lender). The credit facility is non-recourse to TELUS Corporation. The outstanding revolving components and term loan components had a weighted average interest rate of 7.0% as at September 30, 2024.

 

The term loan components are subject to amortization schedules which require that 5% of the principal advanced be repaid each year of the term of the agreement, with the balance due at maturity.

 

Other letter of credit facilities

 

At September 30, 2024, we had $62 million of letters of credit outstanding issued under various uncommitted facilities; such letter of credit facilities are in addition to the ability to provide letters of credit pursuant to our committed revolving bank credit facility. Available liquidity under various uncommitted letters of credit facilities was $123 million at September 30, 2024. Further, we had arranged $338 million of incremental letters of credit to allow us to participate in the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 3800 MHz band spectrum auction that was held in October to November 2023, as discussed further in Note 18(a) of the interim consolidated financial statements. Concurrent with funding the purchase of the spectrum licences, these incremental letters of credit were extinguished.

 

Other long-term debt

 

Other liabilities bear interest at 4.4%, are secured by the AWS-4 spectrum licences associated with these other liabilities, and are subject to amortization schedules, so that the principal is repaid over the periods to maturity, the last period ending March 31, 2035.

 

7.7 Short-term borrowings

 

On May 22, 2024, we entered into an agreement with an arm’s-length securitization trust associated with a major Schedule I bank under which we are currently able to borrow, up to a maximum of $1.6 billion, secured by $2.0 billion of certain trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables; the term of this revolving period securitization agreement ends May 22, 2027, and requires minimum cash advances of $920 million. Funding under the 2024 agreement may be provided in either Canadian dollars or U.S. dollars. Foreign currency forward contracts are used to manage currency risk associated from funding denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

This new agreement replaced a previous agreement with an arm’s-length securitization trust associated with a major Schedule I Canadian bank, under which we were able to sell an interest in certain trade receivables up to a maximum of $600 million and which was otherwise due to end December 31, 2024. Available liquidity under this new agreement was $679 million as at September 30, 2024. (See Note 22 of the interim consolidated financial statements.)

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

7.8 Credit ratings

 

We continued to have investment-grade ratings in the third quarter of 2024 and as at November 8, 2024. We believe adherence to most of our stated financial policies (see Section 4.3), coupled with our efforts to maintain a constructive relationship with banks, investors and credit rating agencies, continues to provide reasonable access to capital markets.

 

7.9 Financial instruments, commitments and contingent liabilities

 

Financial instruments

 

Our financial instruments, their accounting classification and the nature of certain risks that they may be subject to were described in Section 7.9 in our 2023 annual MD&A.

 

Liquidity risk

 

As a component of our capital structure financial policies, discussed in Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources, we manage liquidity risk by: maintaining a daily cash pooling process that enables us to manage our available liquidity and our liquidity requirements according to our actual needs; maintaining a short-term borrowing agreement associated with trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables; maintaining bilateral bank facilities and syndicated credit facilities; maintaining a supply chain financing program; maintaining a commercial paper program; maintaining in-effect shelf prospectuses; continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows; and managing maturity profiles of financial assets and financial liabilities.

 

As at September 30, 2024, TELUS Corporation could offer an unlimited amount of securities in Canada, and US$3.5 billion of securities in the United States, qualified pursuant to a Canadian shelf prospectus that is in effect until September 2026. TELUS International (Cda) Inc. has a Canadian shelf prospectus that is in effect until June 2026 under which an unlimited amount of debt or equity securities could be offered.

 

As at September 30, 2024, we had approximately $1.7 billion of liquidity available from the TELUS revolving credit facility and $726 million of liquidity available from the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions (excluding TELUS Corporation) (see Section 7.6 Credit facilities), as well as $679 million available under our trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables securitization program (see Section 7.7 Short-term borrowings). Excluding the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. credit facility and including cash and temporary investments of $814 million, we had available liquidity of approximately $3.2 billion at September 30, 2024 (see Section 11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures). This aligns with our objective of generally maintaining at least $1 billion of available liquidity. We believe that our investment-grade credit ratings contribute to reasonable access to capital markets.

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities

 

Purchase obligations

 

As at September 30, 2024, our contractual commitments related to the acquisition of Property, plant and equipment were $309 million through to December 31, 2027, as compared to $297 million over a period ending December 31, 2027 reported as at December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to increased commitments attributable to real estate development initiatives, partly offset by executing on our planned capital investments.

 

Claims and lawsuits

 

A number of claims and lawsuits (including class actions and intellectual property infringement claims) seeking damages and other relief are pending against us and, in some cases, other mobile carriers and telecommunications service providers. As well, we have received notice of, or are aware of, certain possible claims (including intellectual property infringement claims) against us and, in some cases, other mobile carriers and telecommunications service providers.

 

It is not currently possible for us to predict the outcome of such claims, possible claims and lawsuits due to various factors, including: the preliminary nature of some claims; uncertain damage theories and demands; an incomplete factual record; uncertainty concerning legal theories and procedures and their resolution by the courts, at both the trial and the appeal levels; and the unpredictable nature of opposing parties and their demands.

 

However, subject to the foregoing limitations, management is of the opinion, based upon legal assessments and information presently available, that it is unlikely that any liability, to the extent not provided for through insurance or otherwise, would have a material effect on our financial position and the results of our operations, including cash flows, with the exception of the items disclosed in Note 29 of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

7.10 Outstanding share information

 

Outstanding shares (millions)   September 30, 2024     October 31, 2024  
Common Shares     1,492       1,500  
Common Share options     2       2  
Restricted share units and deferred share units – equity-settled     13       13  

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

7.11 Transactions between related parties

 

Transactions with key management personnel

 

Our key management personnel have authority and responsibility for overseeing, planning, directing and controlling our activities and consist of our Board of Directors and our Executive Team. Total compensation expense for key management personnel was $25 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $58 million in the first nine months of 2024 compared to $18 million and $60 million in the respective periods in 2023. The increase in compensation expense for key management personnel in the third quarter of 2024 was primarily due to greater share-based compensation. See Note 30(a) of the interim consolidated financial statements for additional details.

 

Transactions with defined benefit pension plans

 

We provided our defined benefit pension plans with management and administrative services on a cost recovery basis and actuarial services on an arm’s-length basis. Charges for these services were immaterial.

 

Transactions with real estate joint ventures and associate

 

During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, we had transactions with real estate joint ventures, which are related parties, as set out in Note 21 of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the TELUS Sky® real estate joint venture entered into an agreement to sell the income-producing properties and the related net assets to the venture partners; the two arm’s-length parties will purchase the residential parcel and we will purchase the commercial parcel. Timing for the closing of these sales and purchases is dependent upon timing for the subdivision of the parcels, as well as other customary closing conditions. In addition, for the TELUS Sky real estate joint venture, commitments and contingent liabilities include construction financing ($282 million, with Canadian financial institutions and others as 66-2/3% lenders and TELUS as 33-1/3% lender) under a credit agreement maturing December 2 2024. We have entered into lease agreements with the TELUS Sky real estate joint venture.

 

8. Accounting matters

 

8.1 Critical accounting estimates and judgments

 

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the Consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect: the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and the reported amounts and classification of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our critical accounting estimates and significant judgments are generally discussed with the Audit Committee each quarter and are described in Section 8.1 in our 2023 annual MD&A, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

8.2 Accounting policy developments

 

Our accounting policy developments were discussed in Section 8.2 Accounting policy developments in our 2023 annual MD&A. See Note 2 of the interim consolidated financial statements for additional details.

 

9. Update to general trends, outlook and assumptions, and regulatory developments and proceedings

 

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

 

The assumptions for our 2024 outlook, as described in Section 9 in our 2023 annual MD&A, remain the same, except for the following:

 

· Our revised estimates for 2024 economic growth in Canada, B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are 1.1%, 0.9%, 1.8%, 1.0% and 0.9%, respectively (compared to 0.6%, 0.4%, 1.1%, 0.4% and 0.4%, respectively, as reported in our 2023 annual MD&A).

 

· Our revised estimates for 2024 annual inflation rates in Canada, B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are 2.6%, 2.6%, 3.0%, 2.5%, and 2.7%, respectively (compared to 2.5%, 2.4%, 2.4%, 2.4%, and 2.5%, respectively, as reported in our 2023 annual MD&A).

 

· Our revised estimates for 2024 annual unemployment rates in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are 5.7%, 6.8%, 6.9% and 5.4%, respectively (compared to 6.1%, 6.3%, 6.7% and 5.5%, respectively, as reported in our 2023 annual MD&A).

 

· Our revised estimates for 2024 annual rates of housing starts on an unadjusted basis in Canada, B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are 248,000 units, 48,000 units, 44,000 units, 81,000 units and 47,000 units, respectively (compared to 234,000 units, 42,000 units, 36,000 units, 79,000 units and 46,000 units, respectively, as reported in our 2023 annual MD&A).

 

The extent to which these economic estimates affect us and the timing of their impact will depend upon the actual experience of specific sectors of the Canadian economy.

 

· The Effects of contract asset, acquisition and fulfilment and TELUS Easy Payment device financing assumption has been revised to a net cash outflow of approximately $100 million to $200 million from a net cash outflow of approximately $150 million to $250 million.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

· Our restructuring and other costs assumption has been revised to approximately $450 million from approximately $300 million. This was largely driven by new cost efficiency programs implemented to drive EBITDA expansion, margin accretion and accelerated cash flow growth. Approximately $200 million of cash restructuring and other disbursements from our 2023 efficiency program flowed into our 2024 free cash flow guidance, and we expect total cash restructure and other disbursements of approximately $500 million in 2024 from approximately $400 million.

 

· Our income taxes computed at an applicable statutory rate assumption has been revised downward to 24.0 to 24.6% from 24.5 to 25.1%, and our cash income tax payments assumption has been revised downward to a range of approximately $310 million to $390 million from a range of approximately $370 million to $450 million. The decrease in applicable statutory rate assumption is primarily due to lower income earned in jurisdictions with higher statutory income tax rates. The decrease in our cash income tax payments range is due to excess instalment amounts from the prior period applied to the current period.

 

· While Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) had initially announced its intention to hold its millimetre wave spectrum auction in 2024, it is possible that the auction may be deferred until after 2024. We do not expect to be materially impacted should the timing of the auction be after 2024.

 

· We anticipate a 2024 Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar average exchange rate of C$1.35: US$1.00, compared to our original assumption of C$1.32: US$1.00.

 

9.1 Communications industry regulatory developments and proceedings

 

Our telecommunications, broadcasting and radiocommunication services are regulated under federal laws by various authorities, including the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), ISED, Canadian Heritage and the Competition Bureau.

 

The operations of our health business are also subject to various federal and provincial health laws and regulations, as well as policies, guidelines and directives issued by regulatory and administrative bodies. See Section 10.3 Regulatory matters in our 2023 annual MD&A.

 

The following is a summary of certain significant communications industry regulatory developments and proceedings that are relevant to our telecommunications and broadcasting business and our industry. This summary is not intended to be a comprehensive legal analysis or description of all of the specific issues described. Although we have indicated those issues for which we do not currently expect the outcome of a development or proceeding to be material for us, there can be no assurance that the expected outcome will occur or that our current assessment of its likely impact on us will be accurate. See Section 10.3 Regulatory matters in our 2023 annual MD&A.

 

Radiocommunication licences and spectrum-related matters

 

ISED regulates, among other matters, the allocation and use of radio spectrum in Canada and licenses radio apparatus, frequency bands and/or radio channels within various frequency bands to service providers and private users. The department also establishes the terms and conditions that may attach to such radio authorizations, including restrictions on licence transfers, coverage obligations, research and development obligations, annual reporting, and obligations concerning mandated roaming and antenna site sharing with competitors.

 

Spectrum transfer moratorium and review of the spectrum transfer framework

 

On March 31, 2023, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry announced a moratorium on high-impact transfers of spectrum licences in commercial mobile bands. “High-impact” transfers are those that would have a significant effect on the ability of telecommunications service providers to offer wireless services in Canada. The Minister also directed ISED to launch a comprehensive review of Canada’s spectrum transfer framework, with the moratorium expiring once a new framework comes into effect. No details were released about when the framework review would take place or when a new framework will be implemented. There is a risk that this moratorium could have a material impact on us depending on how long it remains in place.

 

Millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum auction to support 5G

 

On June 5, 2019, ISED released its Decision on Releasing Millimetre Wave Spectrum to Support 5G, repurposing several tranches of mmWave spectrum for mobile use. On June 6, 2022, ISED issued its Consultation on a Policy and Licensing Framework for Spectrum in the 26, 28 and 38 GHz bands, which is the first step in setting the auction framework rules, including competitive measures for these mmWave bands. There is a risk that the auction rules will favour certain carriers over us and impact our ability to acquire an adequate quantity of mmWave spectrum. ISED has not indicated when the mmWave auction will commence.

 

Regulatory and federal government reviews

 

The CRTC and the federal government have initiated public proceedings to review various matters. A number of key proceedings are discussed below.

 

Review of the wholesale high-speed access service framework

 

On August 13, 2024, the CRTC issued Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2024-180 (TRP 2024-180), Competition in Canada’s Internet service markets. TRP 2024-180 is the CRTC’s final decision further to its consultation on the wholesale high-speed access framework in Canada, which has been ongoing since March 2023. In the March 2023 consultation document, the CRTC sought comment on a number of issues, including whether wholesale access to fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) service should be offered on an aggregated basis and whether any further regulation, including retail regulation, is warranted.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

In November 2023, the CRTC issued an interim decision imposing an interim wholesale mandate pending the final disposition of the proceeding. The interim order requires Bell to provide aggregated wholesale FTTP access in its incumbent Ontario and Quebec serving territories and requires us to provide the same service in our incumbent serving territory in Quebec. The CRTC did not make any similar order with respect to our incumbent serving territories in British Columbia or Alberta. Bell sought leave to appeal the interim order to the Federal Court of Appeal and a stay of the interim order pending the disposition of its leave application and appeal. Bell has also brought a petition to Cabinet to rescind the interim order and has sought alternative relief that would apply the decision nationwide and could exclude larger carriers from accessing the mandated service. In February 2024, the Federal Court of Appeal allowed Bell’s application for leave to appeal but dismissed its application for a stay. Bell later discontinued its appeal on August 28, 2024. On November 6, 2024, further to Bell’s petition, Cabinet issued an order directing the CRTC to reconsider within 90 days whether TELUS, Bell, and Rogers should be prohibited from using the interim mandated service in Ontario and Quebec. The order relates only to the interim decision, and does not directly affect the CRTC’s final decision in this matter.

 

In TRP 2024-180, the CRTC ruled that TELUS, Bell, and SaskTel must provide aggregated wholesale access to their FTTP networks, effective February 13, 2025. The interim order will remain in effect until that date. As a result, all companies, including TELUS, will now be permitted to obtain wholesale FTTP access effective February 13, 2025, with two notable restrictions. First, incumbent telephone and cable companies will not be able to access the wholesale framework within their traditional wireline serving territories, but may access it outside those territories. Second, any new FTTP deployed by TELUS, Bell or SaskTel after August 13, 2024 will not be eligible for wholesale access until August 13, 2029. On October 25, 2024, the CRTC set out interim rates for the wholesale aggregated FTTP service. The rates will remain in effect until the CRTC completes its cost study analysis and publishes final rates, likely at some point in 2025.

 

On September 12, 2024, SaskTel brought two court challenges to TRP 2024-180: an application for leave to appeal the decision pursuant to the Telecommunications Act, and an application for judicial review pursuant to the Federal Courts Act. As of the date of publication, no party has brought a petition to Cabinet that would affect TRP 2024-180, but parties have until November 12, 2024 to do so.

 

On October 29, 2024, we filed an application to the CRTC requesting an extension to the implementation of wholesale FTTP access in our B.C. and Alberta ILEC territories until June 13, 2025. We are seeking this four-month extension to ensure that we have sufficient time to complete the system requirements for wholesale FTTP access. Interested parties have until November 28, 2024 to comment on our application, after which time we have 10 days to file our reply comments.

 

Review of mobile wireless services

 

On April 15, 2021, the CRTC released its decision in the Wireless Regulatory Framework Review. The CRTC determined that TELUS, Bell, Rogers and SaskTel must provide wholesale mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) access to facilities-based regional wireless providers in areas where those providers hold a mobile wireless spectrum licence. MVNO access is based on commercially-negotiated rates and will be phased out after seven years. TELUS, Bell, Rogers and SaskTel each filed tariffs containing proposed MVNO terms and conditions and the Commission granted final tariff approval in Telecom Order 2023-133. TELUS, Bell, Rogers and SaskTel now have the MVNO service operational and available for use.

 

We appealed two determinations from the Wireless Regulatory Framework Review decision to the Federal Court of Appeal: (i) the requirement for the national mobile carriers, including us, to offer seamless roaming as an additional condition under which the existing mandated wholesale roaming service must be offered; and (ii) the ruling that sections 43 and 44 of the Telecommunications Act do not provide the CRTC with jurisdiction to adjudicate disputes involving mobile wireless transmission facilities. The appeal was heard in December 2022 and was dismissed on April 13, 2023. In December 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada granted us leave to appeal the issue of CRTC jurisdiction over mobile wireless transmission facilities. The matter was heard on October 16, 2024 and is under reserve.

 

Amendment of the CRTC MVNO mandate to include additional retail market segments

 

On October 9, 2024, the CRTC issued Telecom Decision CRTC 2024-238, Facilities-based wholesale mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) access tariffs – Expanding the scope to include enterprise and Internet of Things customers. This decision follows a proceeding held in 2023. In the decision, the CRTC amended existing regulations to allow regional wireless carriers to use wholesale MVNO access to serve enterprise and IoT customers. The decision does not affect existing wholesale MVNO access agreements and final offer arbitration decisions, which will remain in effect. Rather, regional wireless carriers are now permitted to seek to negotiate an amendment to existing agreements or to negotiate separate agreements should they wish to do so. Until and unless we sign any such agreements, it is too early to determine the impact of this decision on us.

 

Amendments to the Telecommunications Act

 

In June 2024, Parliament passed Bill C-69, the Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1. The Bill makes a number of amendments to the Telecommunications Act, including requirements for providers to offer a self-service option to modify or cancel plans and to provide certain notices in advance of contract expiry. The Bill also prohibits providers from charging activation fees or certain other fees and requires the CRTC to set out details on how providers should comply with these amendments. While the Bill is now law, these provisions will only come into force at a later date, to be fixed by the Governor in Council. Parliament also passed Bill C-288, a private members bill, which requires Canadian carriers to make certain information available in respect of the fixed broadband services that they offer, and obligates the CRTC to hold a public hearing to determine how carriers should comply with these amendments. Until the CRTC makes the determinations to set out the compliance requirements under these amendments, it is too early to determine their impact on us.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Review of domestic wholesale roaming rates and rate-setting approach

 

On May 19, 2022, Bragg Communications Inc., Cogeco Communications Inc., Videotron Ltd., Xplornet Communications Inc. and Xplore Mobile Inc. filed a joint application to the CRTC seeking a review of the tariffed rates currently charged by TELUS, Bell and Rogers for domestic wholesale roaming, claiming that the current rates are no longer just and reasonable. The CRTC rendered its decision on October 7, 2024. In its decision, the CRTC moved away from the existing tariffed domestic roaming rates, and instead mandated parties to set rates using commercial negotiation with final offer arbitration. The CRTC directed carriers to negotiate in good faith and conclude negotiations within 60 days of the submission of a wholesale roaming request by a regional carrier. The CRTC also permitted and encouraged regional carriers to negotiate as a group. The CRTC stated that it will publish certain rate benchmarks on an annual basis, including the weighted average retail revenue per gigabyte of data in Canada. Until we negotiate new agreements with regional carriers, it is too early to determine the impact of this decision on us.

 

In addition, the CRTC released Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-235, where it set out a preliminary view that each of TELUS and Bell should be required to provide roaming access for their full national footprint, areas for regional wireless carriers. This would mean, for example, that TELUS would be required to provide domestic roaming in the geographic areas where Bell is responsible for the radio access network, and vice versa. We filed our intervention in this proceeding on November 6, 2024, setting out why we disagree with the CRTC’s preliminary view. Reply comments are due on November 18, 2024. Until the CRTC makes a determination in this proceeding, it is too early to determine its impact on us.

 

Review of international roaming options

 

On October 7, 2024, the CRTC sent a letter to TELUS, Bell and Rogers stating that it had conducted a review of roaming fees that Canadians pay when traveling internationally. The letter states that the CRTC found that Canadians lack choice when traveling internationally and that roaming rates are too high. The CRTC directed TELUS, Bell and Rogers to report back to the CRTC by November 4, 2024 on the steps they are taking to address the CRTC’s concerns. The letter states that if the CRTC finds that sufficient action is not taken, it will launch a formal public proceeding. We intend to respond to the CRTC accordingly by November 4, 2024. Unless and until the CRTC launches and completes a formal public proceeding, it is too early to determine the effect of this decision on us.

 

New draft cybersecurity legislation

 

On June 14, 2022, the federal government introduced Bill C-26, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts. The legislation would amend the Telecommunications Act, among other things, to allow the Governor in Council to prohibit telecommunications service providers from using equipment from designated companies in their networks. In practice, this will allow the federal government to ban the use of Huawei and ZTE equipment in our network and impose penalties for non-compliance. The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry stated that the government intends to use its powers under Bill C-26, if passed, to, among other things, require the removal of existing Huawei and ZTE 5G equipment. The legislation would also create a new statute, the Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act (CCSPA). The CCSPA would require designated federally regulated corporations to maintain cybersecurity plans, impose reporting requirements and impose penalties for non-compliance. Bill C-26 received first reading in the Senate on June 20, 2024. If we are ultimately subject to an order requiring us to remove a significant amount of equipment from our network, the effect could be material.

 

Government of Canada and CRTC activities to improve Canadian network resiliency

 

On February 22, 2023, the CRTC issued Call for comments – Development of a regulatory framework to improve network reliability and resiliency – Mandatory notification and reporting about major telecommunications service outages, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-39, in which it sought comments on a notification and reporting regime for major service outages. In addition, the Commission mandated the implementation of an interim notification and reporting regime for major service outages while the consultation is ongoing. We implemented the interim regime on March 8, 2023 and are participating in the consultation. ISED is also conducting further steps via the Canadian Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (CSTAC) to examine network resiliency. We continue to participate in all follow-up initiatives as required. It is too early to determine if these initiatives will have a material impact until they are concluded.

 

Nova Scotia 911 legislation

 

In November 2022, Nova Scotia passed amendments to the Emergency 911 Act and the Emergency Management Act that, among other things, require telecommunications service providers to take certain actions to prevent certain outages, to inform stakeholders, and to refund customers in the case of certain outages. These amendments have received royal assent but have not been proclaimed into force. Most of the obligations of telecommunications service providers are to be set out in regulations, which have yet to be made by the Governor in Council. Until the regulations are made, it is too early to determine the impact of this legislation on us.

 

CRTC proceeding regarding potential barriers to the deployment of broadband-capable networks in underserved areas in Canada

 

On December 10, 2019, the CRTC issued Call for comments regarding potential barriers to the deployment of broadband-capable networks in underserved areas in Canada, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-406. In this proceeding, the CRTC sought comment on barriers that service providers and communities face in building new facilities, or interconnecting to or accessing existing facilities, and in extending networks into underserved areas in order to offer universal service objective-level services. The CRTC has specifically identified access to affordable transport services and efficient use of support structures as potential barriers. The record of the proceeding is now closed and we anticipate a decision this year. It is too early to determine the impact of the proceeding on us.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Implementation of next-generation 9-1-1 service

 

On June 14, 2021, the CRTC issued Telecom Decision CRTC 2021-199, Establishment of new deadlines for Canada’s transition to next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1), where the CRTC stipulated revised implementation for NG9-1-1 service in Canada. Consistent with the CRTC’s requirements, we are now transiting live NG9-1-1 traffic over our NG9-1-1 network, but full implementation of NG9-1-1 in our NG9-1-1 territory is contingent on interconnections with 9-1-1 call centres and such implementation is dependent upon local government authorities. On January 9, 2024, the national associations of Chiefs of Police, Fire Chiefs and Paramedic Chiefs filed an application seeking an extension to the NG9-1-1 implementation dates, from March 2025 to March 2026. TELUS and Bell supported the request. The outcome of this process is not expected to have a material impact on us as we continue our work to fully implement NG9-1-1.

 

On October 4, 2023, a group of public safety answering points (PSAPs), the entities that receive 9-1-1 calls and dispatch emergency services, filed an application to the CRTC asking that NG9-1-1 network providers, including us, make available a NG9-1-1 network testing environment for PSAPs. TELUS, Bell and Rogers opposed this application and are awaiting a Commission decision. The outcome of this application is not expected to be material and will not affect our ability to meet our regulatory mandate to implement NG9-1-1.

 

Development of a network-level blocking framework to limit botnet traffic

 

On June 23, 2022, the CRTC released Development of a network-level blocking framework to limit botnet traffic and strengthen Canadians’ online safety, Compliance and Enforcement and Telecom Decision CRTC 2022-170. The technical working group, the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee, has examined the issue and filed a report about how internet service providers (ISPs) can implement network blocking of malicious botnet traffic. A Commission decision on that report is pending. The outcome is not expected to be material.

 

Federal private sector privacy bill proposes to repeal and replace the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act

 

The Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022 (C-27) proposes to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act (replacing the existing private sector privacy legislation and implementing new consumer privacy rights, enhanced enforcement powers and a private right of action), the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act (a new adjudicative body to provide independent oversight on enforcement activities by the regulator) and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (a new regulatory regime for the use of AI in the private sector, supported by extensive enforcement powers). C-27 is currently before the INDU Committee of the House of Commons. The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry has proposed extensive amendments to all elements of C-27. The bill proposes significant changes to federal privacy legislation in Canada; however, until the bill is passed in its final form, we are unable to determine the materiality of the proposed changes.

 

Amendments to Quebec’s public and private sector privacy law

 

On September 22, 2021, the Quebec National Assembly passed An Act to modernize legislative provisions as regards the protection of personal information, which received assent the same day. Extensive new requirements governing the collection, use and disclosure of the personal information of individuals in Quebec have been phased in over three years, with data portability rights being the last phase, coming into force September 22, 2023. The Act also creates a new enforcement regime with significant criminal fines and administrative monetary penalties for certain infractions and a private right of action with minimum statutory punitive damages. We are continuing to implement compliance for products, services and processes that are within the Act’s jurisdiction, as additional guidance is issued by the Quebec government and the provincial regulator.

 

Federal and Provincial Privacy regulators investigate OpenAI

 

On May 25, 2023, the privacy authorities for Canada, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec announced a joint investigation of OpenAI, the company behind artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot ChatGPT. The wide ranging investigation will examine whether OpenAI obtained valid and meaningful consent for the collection, use and disclosure of the personal information of individuals using ChatGPT; its obligations with respect to openness and transparency; and whether it collected, used and/or disclosed personal information for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate. The findings of this investigation could materially impact our use of AI.

 

CRTC review of telecommunications services to the Far North

 

On November 2, 2020, the CRTC initiated the first phase of a review of its regulatory framework for Northwestel Inc. and the state of telecommunications services in Canada’s North in Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2020-367. On January 20, 2021, a number of interveners proposed large subsidy increases to Northwestel and other companies providing service in Canada’s North. On June 8, 2022, the CRTC released Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2022-147, initiating the second phase of this review, leaving open the potential for subsidy increases. A hearing was held in Whitehorse, Yukon, from April 17 to 21, 2023. Since then, the CRTC has issued some requests for information that suggested a subsidy of up to $55 million per year (of which we would pay approximately 25%) be created, and we have transferred incumbency in Atlin, British Columbia to Northwestel (along with associated obligations). The proceeding is now closed and we await the CRTC’s decision.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Consultation regarding small cell access to wireline support structures

 

The CRTC has initiated a proceeding, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-25, Call for comments – Attachment of wireless facilities on support structures owned or controlled by incumbent local exchange carriers (ILEC), in order to examine the issues surrounding potential placement of wireless facilities on ILEC-owned or -controlled support structures. The consultation includes a consideration of the technical and operational challenges associated with such attachments, as well as CRTC jurisdiction in this area. Comments were submitted on April 5, 2024 and our reply to interventions received was filed on May 6, 2024. Until the CRTC issues a determination in this proceeding, it is too early to determine its impact on us.

 

Proceeding regarding support structure relocation compensation

 

On January 16, 2023, we filed a proposed revision to our support structure tariff that allows support structure licensees to negotiate relocation terms and compensation directly with the party forcing the relocation, pursuant to the CRTC’s direction in Telecom Decision CRTC 2022-311, Rogers Communications Canada Inc. and Shaw Cablesystems G.P. – Application regarding compensation for transmission line relocation in British Columbia. Concurrent with the tariff application proceeding, which included requests for information and replies to interventions, on February 28, 2023, British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) filed an application with the CRTC to stay the Commission’s directives in the decision, as well as to review and rescind or vary the decision. We responded on March 30, 2023, asking the Commission to dismiss MOTI’s review and vary application (R&V) and on May 16, 2023, the Commission denied MOTI’s request for a stay of the directives but had yet to conclude on the R&V. On June 5, 2024, the CRTC released Telecom Order 2024-122 directing us to file, within 30 days, a proposal to compensate attaching carriers through our Support Structure Tariff. The CRTC also imposed an interim compensation formula effective June 5, 2024, requiring us to compensate attachers by dividing any compensation that we receive from public authorities by the total number of attachers. On July 5, 2024, as directed by the CRTC, we filed a tariff application proposing a formula to compensate attaching carriers. If approved, it is expected that the impact will be limited in practice as it is only applicable when we receive compensation from a public authority requesting a relocation of TELUS-owned poles. Interventions on our tariff application were received on August 8, 2024 and we submitted reply comments on August 19, 2024. On September 12, 2024, the CRTC issued requests for information (RFI) and we filed responses on September 26, 2024. Parties had until October 3, 2024 to file reply comments to our RFI responses and we are now awaiting a Commission decision on the tariff application. On September 19, 2024, the CRTC also officially closed MOTI’s request to review and vary Telecom Order 2022-311, since it had not heard from MOTI if it wished to have the CRTC still consider its application.

 

Legislation to ban the use of replacement workers during strikes and lockouts

 

In November 2023, the federal government introduced Bill C-58, which would establish greater limitations on employers in federally regulated industries from using replacement workers during work stoppages related to collective bargaining. Bill C-58 received royal assent in June 2024 but will not come into force until June 2025, at which point it may affect how we continue to provide our services during strikes or lockouts, subject to the applicability of exceptions and limitations provided in the law.

 

Broadcasting and content-related issues

 

Regulatory plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting system

 

Parliament amended the Broadcasting Act in April 2023 to include online streaming services, and as a response, the CRTC has begun to update its regulatory framework through a multi-phase consultation process and has issued its first decisions on this matter. In September 2023, the CRTC determined that the large streaming companies, as well as traditional broadcasting undertakings like TELUS, must register their online services with the CRTC. In March 2024, the CRTC issued a decision requiring online streaming services to pay a portion of the broadcasting fees collected from the industry to cover the CRTC’s operational expenditures. Because the regulations expand the pool of payors, we can expect our share of overall contributions to decrease. Most recently, on June 4, 2024, the CRTC determined that online undertakings that are not affiliated with traditional Canadian broadcasting undertakings (generally the large streaming companies) will be required to contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues to support the domestic broadcasting system. Online streaming services operated by TELUS and other traditional Canadian services are not subject to this requirement.

 

The schedule for the remainder of the framework review contemplates a consultation and hearing on structural relationships (including in respect of online streaming) set to launch in the winter of 2024/2025. The CRTC also expects to launch consultations on the definition of Canadian content, and to examine support for news programming in the spring of 2025, while it intends to finalize the contributions that online streaming services and traditional broadcasters will have to make to support Canadian and Indigenous content by late 2025.

 

Review of the Copyright Act and consultations on copyright reform to address specific issues

 

The Copyright Act’s last statutorily mandated review was launched in 2017 and resulted in reports from the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology and the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage being presented to the House of Commons in the summer of 2019. The parliamentary review led to further government consultations launched in 2021 and 2023 to explore specific issues raised during the review, such as how to modernize the copyright framework for online intermediary liability, AI and IoT. The timeline for potential changes to the Copyright Act is uncertain, although the next statutorily mandated review was supposed to be launched in 2022. It is unclear whether and how this might impact the timeline for comprehensive copyright reform legislation or whether such a copyright reform legislation will have a material impact on us. In the meantime, the federal government has made smaller changes to the Copyright Act, such as the inclusion in the 2022 budget of proposed amendments to extend the term of copyright by 20 years, which was required to satisfy Canada’s obligations under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.

 

   

 

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Consultation on the government’s proposed approach to address harmful content online

 

On July 29, 2021, the government launched a consultation on its proposed approach to address harmful content online. The government’s proposals largely target social media and content platforms, but a few proposals would also have impacted ISPs. Accordingly, we participated in this consultation and filed joint comments with other ISPs on September 25, 2021. Among other things, the joint comments advocated that the legal framework for addressing harmful online content should not create undue obligations or liability for telecommunications carriers, and that requirements to block access to content online or to provide subscriber information should continue to require judicial orders. In March 2022, the government established an expert advisory group on online safety, with a mandate to provide the Minister of Canadian Heritage with advice on how to design the legislative and regulatory framework to address harmful content online and how to best incorporate the feedback received during the national consultation held from July to September 2021. Following the publication of the group’s report, the government conducted further consultations with stakeholder groups regarding the advice it received from the expert advisory group. On February 26, 2024, the government introduced a bill in Parliament, which, if passed, will create a new Online Harms Act, and amend the Criminal Code, the Human Rights Act and existing child pornography reporting legislation. Among other things, the legislation would require large social media providers to integrate safer design features and remove offending content, and would establish a new regulator to administer the legislation and an ombudsperson to address public concerns. The legislation would not hold ISPs liable for merely providing the service used to access the content in question. Until the bill is passed in its final form, it is too early to assess its impact upon us.

 

10. Risks and risk management

 

The principal risks and uncertainties that could affect our future business results and associated risk mitigation activities were described in our 2023 annual MD&A and have not materially changed since December 31, 2023. Reference is made as well to the summary of risks and uncertainties in the Caution regarding forward-looking statements at the beginning of this MD&A.

 

11. Definitions and reconciliations

 

11.1 Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures

 

We have issued guidance on and report certain non-GAAP measures that are used to evaluate the performance of TELUS, as well as to determine compliance with debt covenants and to manage our capital structure. As non-GAAP measures generally do not have a standardized meaning, they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For certain financial metrics, there are definitional differences between TELUS and TELUS Digital reporting. These differences largely arise from TELUS Digital adopting definitions consistent with practice in its industry. Securities regulations require such measures to be clearly defined, qualified and reconciled with their nearest GAAP measure. Certain of the metrics do not have generally accepted industry definitions.

 

Adjusted Net income and adjusted basic earnings per share (EPS): These are non-GAAP measures that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS-IASB and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Adjusted Net income excludes the effects of restructuring and other costs, income tax-related adjustments, other equity (income) losses related to real estate joint ventures, long-term debt prepayment premium, unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element, and other adjustments (identified in the following tables). Adjusted basic EPS is calculated as adjusted Net income divided by the basic weighted-average number of Common Shares outstanding. These measures are used to evaluate performance at a consolidated level and exclude items that, in management’s view, may obscure underlying trends in business performance or items of an unusual nature that do not reflect our ongoing operations. They should not be considered alternatives to Net income and basic EPS in measuring TELUS’ performance.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Reconciliation of adjusted Net income

 

    Three-month periods
ended September 30
    Nine-month periods ended
September 30
 
($ millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Net income attributable to Common Shares     280       136       635       553  
Add (deduct) amounts net of amount attributable to non-controlling interests:                                
Restructuring and other costs     79       297       409       553  
Tax effect of restructuring and other costs     (22 )     (71 )     (98 )     (129 )
Real estate rationalization-related restructuring impairments     3       13       102       65  
Tax effect of real estate rationalization-related restructuring impairments     (1 )     (3 )     (27 )     (17 )
Income tax-related adjustments     (20 )     (23 )     (22 )     (35 )
Other equity income related to real estate joint ventures                       (1 )
Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element     125       33       228       59  
Tax effect of unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element     (31 )     (9 )     (58 )     (16 )
Adjusted Net income     413       373       1,169       1,032  

 

Reconciliation of adjusted basic EPS

 

    Three-month periods
ended September 30
    Nine-month periods ended
September 30
 
($)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Basic EPS     0.19       0.09       0.43       0.38  
Add (deduct) amounts net of amount attributable to non-controlling interests:                                
Restructuring and other costs, per share     0.05       0.20       0.27       0.38  
Tax effect of restructuring and other costs, per share     (0.01 )     (0.05 )     (0.06 )     (0.09 )
Real estate rationalization-related restructuring impairments, per share                 0.07       0.04  
Tax effect of real estate rationalization-related restructuring impairments, per share                 (0.02 )     (0.01 )
Income tax-related adjustments, per share     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.02 )
Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element, per share     0.08       0.03       0.15       0.04  
Tax effect of unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element, per share     (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.04 )     (0.01 )
Adjusted basic EPS     0.28       0.25       0.79       0.71  

 

Available liquidity: This is a non-GAAP measure that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS-IASB and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Available liquidity is calculated as the sum of Cash and temporary investments, net, amounts available from the revolving credit facility and amounts available under our trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables securitization program measured at the end of the period. We believe this to be a useful measure because it allows us to monitor compliance with our financial objectives. It should not be considered as an alternative to Cash and temporary investments, net in measuring TELUS’ performance.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Available liquidity reconciliation

 

As at September 30 ($ millions)   2024     2023   
Cash and temporary investments, net     814       1,204  
Net amounts available from the TELUS Corporation revolving credit facility     1,687       1,333  
Amounts available under trade receivables and unbilled customer finance receivables securitization program     679        
Amounts available under previous securitization program           500  
Available liquidity     3,180       3,037  

 

Capital expenditure intensity: This measure is calculated as capital expenditures excluding real estate development divided by Operating revenues and other income. It provides a basis for comparing the level of capital expenditures to those of other companies of varying size within the same industry.

 

Calculation of Capital expenditure intensity

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Three-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except ratio)   2024     2023      2024     2023      2024     2023      2024     2023   
Numerator – Capital expenditures excluding real estate development     622       712       30       35       (12 )           640       747  
Denominator – Operating revenues and other income     4,424       4,306       897       889       (222 )     (187 )     5,099       5,008  
Capital expenditure intensity (%)     14       17       3       4       n/m        n/m        13       15  

 

Calculation of Capital expenditure intensity

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Nine-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except ratio)   2024     2023      2024     2023      2024     2023      2024     2023   
Numerator – Capital expenditures excluding real estate development     1,955       2,161       96       89       (32 )           2,019       2,250  
Denominator – Operating revenues and other income     12,906       12,745       2,757       2,713       (658 )     (540 )     15,005       14,918  
Capital expenditure intensity (%)     15       17       3       3       n/m        n/m        13       15  

 

TELUS Corporation Common Share (Common Share) dividend payout ratio: This is a historical measure calculated as the sum of the most recent four quarterly dividends declared, as recorded in the financial statements, net of dividend reinvestment plan effects, divided by the sum of free cash flow amounts for the most recent four quarters for interim reporting periods. For fiscal years, the denominator is annual free cash flow. Our objective range for the annual TELUS Corporation Common Share dividend payout ratio is on a prospective basis, rather than on a trailing basis. (See Section 4.3 Liquidity and capital resources and Section 7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.)

 

Calculation of ratio of Common Share dividends declared to cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures

 

Determined using most comparable IFRS-IASB measures

 

For the 12-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except ratio)   2024     2023   
Numerator – Sum of the last four quarterly dividends declared     2,259       2,063  
Cash provided by operating activities     5,084       4,311  
Less:                
Capital expenditures     (2,617 )     (2,949 )
Denominator – Cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures     2,467       1,362  
Ratio (%)     92       151  

 

   

 

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Calculation of Common Share dividend payout ratio, net of dividend reinvestment plan effects

 

Determined using management measures    

 

For the 12-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except ratio)   2024     2023   
Sum of the last four quarterly dividends declared     2,259       2,063  
Sum of the amounts of the last four quarterly dividends declared reinvested in Common Shares     (697 )     (748 )
Numerator – Sum of the last four quarterly dividends declared, net of dividend reinvestment plan effects     1,562       1,315  
Denominator – Free cash flow     2,025       1,492  
Ratio (%)     77       88  

 

Earnings coverage: This measure is defined in the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 41-101 and related instruments, and is calculated as follows:

 

Calculation of Earnings coverage 

 

For the 12-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except ratio)   2024     2023   
Net income attributable to Common Shares     923       801  
Income taxes (attributable to Common Shares)     236       235  
Borrowing costs (attributable to Common Shares)1      1,289       1,125  
Numerator     2,448       2,161  
Denominator – Borrowing costs     1,289       1,125  
Ratio (times)     1.9       1.9  

 

1 Interest on Long-term debt plus Interest on short-term borrowings and other plus long-term debt prepayment premium, adding capitalized interest and deducting borrowing costs attributable to non-controlling interests.

 

EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization): We have issued guidance on and report EBITDA because it is a key measure used to evaluate performance at a consolidated level. EBITDA is commonly reported and widely used by investors and lending institutions as an indicator of a company’s operating performance and ability to incur and service debt, and as a valuation metric. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to Net income in measuring TELUS’ performance, nor should it be used as a measure of cash flow. EBITDA as calculated by TELUS is equivalent to Operating revenues and other income less the total of Goods and services purchased expense and Employee benefits expense.

 

We calculate EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs, as it is a component of the EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage ratio and the Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio.

 

We also calculate Adjusted EBITDA to exclude items of an unusual nature that do not reflect our ongoing operations and should not, in our opinion, be considered in a long-term valuation metric or should not be included in an assessment of our ability to service or incur debt.

 

EBIT (earnings before interest and income taxes) is calculated for our reportable segments because we believe it is a meaningful indicator of our operating performance, as it represents our earnings from operations before costs of capital structure and income taxes.

 

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA reconciliations

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Three-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023   
Net income                                                     257       137  
Financing costs                                                     479       352  
Income taxes                                                     52       28  
EBIT     800       454             63       (12 )           788       517  
Depreciation     551       563       46       48                   597       611  
Amortization of intangible assets     308       329       63       60                   371       389  
EBITDA     1,659       1,346       109       171       (12 )           1,756       1,517  
Add restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA     64       287       22       16                   86       303  
EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs and Adjusted EBITDA     1,723       1,633       131       187       (12 )           1,842       1,820  

 

   

 

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EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA reconciliations

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Nine-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
Net income                                                     618       557  
Financing costs                                                     1,255       995  
Income taxes                                                     172       146  
EBIT     1,932       1,550       147       148       (34 )           2,045       1,698  
Depreciation     1,754       1,713       141       136                   1,895       1,849  
Amortization of intangible assets     946       993       184       186                   1,130       1,179  
EBITDA     4,632       4,256       472       470       (34 )           5,070       4,726  
Add restructuring and other costs included in EBITDA     381       522       44       55                   425       577  
EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs     5,013       4,778       516       525       (34 )           5,495       5,303  
Other equity income related to real estate joint ventures           (1 )                                   (1 )
Adjusted EBITDA     5,013       4,777       516       525       (34 )           5,495       5,302  

 

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures is calculated for our reportable segments, as it represents a performance measure that may be more comparable to other issuers.

 

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures reconciliation

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Three-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
Adjusted EBITDA     1,723       1,633       131       187       (12 )           1,842       1,820  
Capital expenditures     (650 )     (734 )     (30 )     (35 )     12             (668 )     (769 )
Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures     1,073       899       101       152                   1,174       1,051  

 

Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures reconciliation

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Nine-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
Adjusted EBITDA     5,013       4,777       516       525       (34 )           5,495       5,302  
Capital expenditures     (2,020 )     (2,200 )     (96 )     (89 )     32             (2,084 )     (2,289 )
Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures     2,993       2,577       420       436       (2 )           3,411       3,013  

 

We calculate EBITDA margin and Adjusted EBITDA margin to evaluate the performance of our operating segments and we believe these measures are also used by investors as indicators of a company’s operating performance. We calculate EBITDA margin as EBITDA divided by Operating revenues and other income. Adjusted EBITDA margin is a non-GAAP ratio that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS-IASB and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by adjusted Operating revenues and other income.

 

Calculation of EBITDA margin

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Three-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except margin)   2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
Numerator – EBITDA     1,659       1,346       109       171       (12 )           1,756       1,517  
Denominator – Operating revenues and other income     4,424       4,306       897       889       (222 )     (187 )     5,099       5,008  
EBITDA margin (%)     37.5       31.3       12.1       19.2       n/m        n/m        34.4       30.3  

 

   

 

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Calculation of EBITDA margin

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Nine-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except margin)   2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
Numerator – EBITDA     4,632       4,256       472       470       (34 )           5,070       4,726  
Denominator – Operating revenues and other income     12,906       12,745       2,757       2,713       (658 )     (540 )     15,005       14,918  
EBITDA margin (%)     35.9       33.4       17.1       17.3       n/m        n/m        33.8       31.7  

 

Calculation of Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Three-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except margin)   2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
Numerator – Adjusted EBITDA     1,723       1,633       131       187       (12 )           1,842       1,820  
Adjusted Operating revenues and other income:                                                                
Denominator – Operating revenues and other income     4,424       4,306       897       889       (222 )     (187 )     5,099       5,008  
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)     39.0       37.9       14.5       21.0       n/m        n/m        36.1       36.3  

 

Calculation of Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

    TTech     TELUS Digital     Eliminations     Total  
Nine-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except margin)   2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
Numerator – Adjusted EBITDA     5,013       4,777       516       525       (34 )           5,495       5,302  
Adjusted Operating revenues and other income:                                                                
Operating revenues and other income     12,906       12,745       2,757       2,713       (658 )     (540 )     15,005       14,918  
Other equity income related to real estate joint ventures           (1 )                                   (1 )
Denominator – Adjusted Operating revenues and other income     12,906       12,744       2,757       2,713       (658 )     (540 )     15,005       14,917  
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)     38.9       37.5       18.7       19.3       n/m        n/m        36.6       35.5  

 

EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage: This measure is defined as EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs, divided by Net interest cost, calculated on a 12-month trailing basis. It is similar to the coverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities, as described in Section 7.6 Credit facilities.

 

Calculation of EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage

 

For the 12-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except ratio)   2024     2023   
Numerator – EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs     7,340       6,995  
Denominator – Net interest cost     1,370       1,218  
Ratio (times)     5.4       5.7  

 

Free cash flow: We report this measure as a supplementary indicator of our operating performance, and there is no generally accepted industry definition of free cash flow. It should not be considered as an alternative to the measures in the condensed interim consolidated statements of cash flows. Free cash flow excludes certain working capital changes (such as trade receivables and trade payables), proceeds from divested assets and other sources and uses of cash, as found in the condensed interim consolidated statements of cash flows. It provides an indication of how much cash generated by operations is available after capital expenditures that may be used to, among other things, pay dividends, repay debt, purchase shares or make other investments. We exclude impacts of accounting standards that do not impact cash, such as IFRS 15 and IFRS 16. Free cash flow may be supplemented from time to time by proceeds from divested assets or financing activities.

 

   

 

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TELUS Corporation – Management’s discussion and analysis – 2024 Q3

 

Free cash flow calculation

 

    Three-month periods
ended September 30
    Nine-month periods ended
September 30
 
($ millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
EBITDA     1,756       1,517       5,070       4,726  
Restructuring and other costs, net of disbursements     21       90       5       190  
Effects of contract asset, acquisition and fulfilment (IFRS 15 impact) and TELUS Easy Payment mobile device financing     (22 )     (17 )     29       32  
Effects of lease principal (IFRS 16 impact)     (171 )     (135 )     (503 )     (394 )
Items from the condensed interim consolidated statements of cash flows:                                
Share-based compensation, net     44       27       110       100  
Net employee defined benefit plans expense     16       15       50       46  
Employer contributions to employee defined benefit plans     (2 )     (7 )     (16 )     (23 )
Loss from equity accounted investments and other     3             13        
Interest paid     (362 )     (307 )     (1,011 )     (888 )
Interest received     9       4       30       11  
Capital expenditures1      (668 )     (769 )     (2,084 )     (2,289 )
Free cash flow before income taxes     624       418       1,693       1,511  
Income taxes paid, net of refunds     (63 )     (63 )     (258 )     (342 )
Free cash flow     561       355       1,435       1,169  

 

1 Refer to Note 31 of the interim consolidated financial statements for further information.

 

The following reconciles our definition of free cash flow with Cash provided by operating activities.

 

Free cash flow reconciliation with Cash provided by operating activities

 

    Three-month periods
ended September 30
    Nine-month periods ended
September 30
 
($ millions)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
Free cash flow     561       355       1,435       1,169  
Add (deduct):                                
Capital expenditures1      668       769       2,084       2,289  
Effect of lease principal     171       135       503       394  
Net change in non-cash operating working capital not included in preceding line items and other individually immaterial items included in Net income neither providing nor using cash     32       48       (252 )     (667 )
Cash provided by operating activities     1,432       1,307       3,770       3,185  

 

1 Refer to Note 31 of the interim consolidated financial statements for further information.

 

Mobile phone average revenue per subscriber per month (ARPU) is calculated as network revenue derived from monthly service plan, roaming and usage charges; divided by the average number of mobile phone subscribers on the network during the period, and is expressed as a rate per month.

 

Net debt: We believe that net debt is a useful measure because it represents the amount of Short-term borrowings and long-term debt obligations that are not covered by available Cash and temporary investments. The nearest IFRS measure to net debt is Long-term debt, including Current maturities of Long-term debt. Net debt is a component of the Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs ratio.

 

Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs: This measure is defined as net debt at the end of the period divided by 12-month trailing EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs. (See discussion in Section 7.5 Liquidity and capital resource measures.) This measure is similar to the leverage ratio covenant in our credit facilities, as described in Section 7.6 Credit facilities.

 

   

 

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Calculation of Net debt to EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs

 

For the 12-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions, except ratio)   2024     2023   
Numerator – Net debt     28,109       26,719  
Denominator – EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs     7,340       6,995  
Ratio (times)     3.83       3.82  

 

Net interest cost: This measure is the denominator in the calculation of EBITDA – excluding restructuring and other costs interest coverage. Net interest cost is defined as financing costs, excluding capitalized long-term debt interest, employee defined benefit plans net interest, unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element, and recoveries on redemption and repayment of debt, calculated on a 12-month trailing basis. Expenses recorded for the long-term debt prepayment premium, if any, are included in net interest cost.

 

Calculation of Net interest cost    

 

For the 12-month periods ended September 30 ($ millions)   2024     2023   
Financing costs     1,533       1,317  
Add (deduct):                
Employee defined benefit plans net interest     (9 )     (7 )
Interest on long-term debt, excluding lease liabilities – capitalized     15       5  
Unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward element     (169 )     (97 )
Net interest cost     1,370       1,218  

 

11.2 Operating indicators

 

The following measures are industry metrics that are useful in assessing the operating performance of a mobile and fixed telecommunications entity, but do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS-IASB.

 

Churn is calculated as the number of subscribers deactivated during a given period divided by the average number of subscribers on the network during the period, and is expressed as a rate per month. Mobile phone churn refers to the aggregate average of both prepaid and postpaid mobile phone churn. A TELUS, Koodo® or Public Mobile® brand prepaid mobile phone subscriber is deactivated when the subscriber has no usage for 90 days following expiry of the prepaid credits.

 

Connected device subscriber means a subscriber on an active TELUS service plan with a recurring revenue-generating portable unit (e.g. tablets, internet keys, Internet of Things, wearables and connected cars) that is supported by TELUS and is intended for limited or no cellular voice capability.

 

Mobile phone subscriber means a subscriber on an active TELUS service plan with a recurring revenue-generating portable unit (e.g. feature phones and smartphones) where TELUS provides voice, text and/or data connectivity.

 

Internet subscriber means a subscriber on an active TELUS internet plan with a recurring revenue-generating unit where TELUS provides internet connectivity.

 

Residential voice subscriber means a subscriber on an active TELUS phone plan with a recurring revenue-generating unit where TELUS provides voice service.

 

Security subscriber means a subscriber on an active TELUS security plan with a recurring revenue-generating unit that is connected to the TELUS security and automation platform.

 

TV subscriber means a subscriber on an active TELUS TV plan with a recurring revenue-generating subscription for video services from a TELUS TV platform.

 

Healthcare lives covered means the number of users (primary members and their dependents) enrolled in various health programs supported by TELUS Health services (e.g. virtual care, health benefits management, preventative care, personal health security, and employee and family assistance programs). It is probable that some members and their dependents will be a user of multiple TELUS Health services.

 

Virtual care member means primary enrolment to receive services on an active TELUS Health virtual care plan.

 

Digital health transactions mean the total number of health claims, dental claims, consultations or other transactions facilitated by TELUS Health products and services.

 

   

 

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