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1 Industry Comment Monday, April 21, 2014, Pre-Market

Telecommunications and Cable


Third Time's a Charm? More Likely to See Strike Three

Jeff Fan, CPA, CA, CFA - (416) 863-7780 (Scotia Capital Inc. - Canada)
jeff.fan@scotiabank.com

Jay Oduwole - (416) 945-4249 (Scotia Capital Inc. - Canada)


jay.oduwole@scotiabank.com

Shay Nulman, MBA - (416) 862-3721 (Scotia Capital Inc. - Canada)


shay.nulman@scotiabank.com

Event

ScotiaView Analyst Link

Mobilicity announced on Friday, April 18 that it is proposing to sell itself to TELUS for $350M pursuant to an arrangement under CCAA.
Implications

TELUS tried to acquire Mobilicity in mid-2013 and unofficially again later in 2013 but was rejected both times by Industry Canada (IC). Mobilicity has been under CCAA since Sept 2013 and received 5 official bids. Mobilicity stated TELUS is the only one acceptable. In the Mobilicity release, there were a number of concessions if the transaction is approved. We believe that this deal is "dead on arrival" for the regulators but at this point, there is no real downside to TELUS' move. Plan A is to have the bankruptcy court overrule IC's rejection. If the court sides with IC, then we think that plan B would be for Mobilicity to pursue the next bid (or wait for another lower offer to emerge). The lower offer would help Mobilicity crystallize the "damage" for potential legal action against IC in the future. We do not believe IC will budge on allowing the transfer of set-aside spectrum licenses to the incumbents. Prices are again on the rise and we are not sure what victory the government can really declare. We believe IC is determined to devalue Wind and Mobilicity to the point that it becomes attractive for consolidation. It is not even clear that IC will even let SJR or QBR sell their spectrum licenses to RCI under their option agreements.
Recommendation

Our valuations remain unchanged.


Universe of Coverage Price BA-T BCE-T CCA-T CMCSA-Q GLN-T MBT-T QBR.B-T RCI.B-T SJR.B-T T-T T-N TWC-N VZ-N C$27.01 C$48.96 C$60.90 US$49.10 C$11.96 C$30.27 C$26.80 C$44.27 C$26.56 C$38.42 US$36.04 US$135.33 US$47.60 Rating SO SP SP SO SO SU FS SP SO SP SU SO SO Risk Medium Medium Medium Medium High Medium High Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium 1-Yr $27.00 $48.00 $64.00 $63.00 $15.00 $31.00 $33.50 $46.00 $30.00 $39.00 $35.00 $181.00 $55.00 ROR 7.0% 3.1% 6.8% 30.1% 29.6% 8.0% 25.4% 8.0% 17.1% 5.1% 2.2% 35.7% 20.0%

For Reg AC and important disclosures see Appendix A of this report. Analysts employed by non-U.S. affiliates are not registered/qualified as research analysts with FINRA in the U.S .

Mobilicity Attempts to Sell Itself to TELUS Again


Mobilicity announced on Friday, April 18 that it is proposing to sell itself to TELUS for $350M pursuant to an arrangement under CCAA. TELUS tried to acquire Mobilicity in mid-2013 and unofficially again later in 2013 but was rejected both times by IC. Mobilicity has been under CCAA since Sept 2013 and has received 5 official offers (out of the 25 organizations invited to submit bids). Of the five bids, only the TELUS offer was deemed acceptable. Approximately 95% of the holders of Mobilicity's 15% senior unsecured debentures due 2018 also support the transaction and have agreed to vote in favour of the transaction. In the Mobilicity release, there were a number of concessions if the transaction is approved. Specifically, these include: The vast majority of Mobilicity's 165K active subscribers will be able to seamlessly migrate onto TELUS' advanced HSPA network after the transition. No foreseen changes to employee staffing levels as a result of the proposed transaction. All of Mobilicity's retail landlords and licensors will have their contracts honoured. All of Mobilicity's landlords and licensors who provide space for placement of Mobilicity's dealers and their employees who sell Mobilicity's products will continue to benefit from those arrangements. All service agreements with Mobilicity's business partners will continue uninterrupted. The trade claims of Mobilicity's creditors will continue unaffected against the restructured Mobilicity and will be addressed in the ordinary course. We believe that this deal is dead on arrival for the regulators. We believe TELUS is hoping that the bankruptcy court will overrule Industry Canada. At this point, there's no downside to TELUS' move. They are also hoping that if this stays quiet enough and with the concessions, maybe Industry Canada would change its mind. Plan A is to have the bankruptcy court overrule IC's rejection. If this is not successful, then we think that plan B is for Mobilicity to pursue the next bid (or wait for another lower offer to emerge). The lower offer should help Mobilicity crystallize the "damage" which would help it build a legal challenge against IC for not following through on the 5-year moratorium. These are all long shots in our view, but Mobilicity (specifically the unsecured bondholders) does not have many options left. We do not believe IC will budge on allowing the transfer of set-aside spectrum licenses to the incumbents. Prices are again on the rise and we are not sure what victory the government can really declare. It is not clear that IC will even let SJR or QBR sell their spectrum licenses to RCI under their option agreements. We believe IC is determined to push the value of Wind and Mobilicity down to a point that a party will step forward and consolidate the licenses and assets. Key dates to watch. Mobilicity has on April 18, 2014 filed materials with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to seek, on April 23, 2014, an order permitting Mobilicity to hold a meeting of its Affected Unsecured Creditors on April 30, 2014 to consider and, if appropriate, approve the proposed Plan. On April 23, 2014, Mobilicity will ask the Court for an extension of the current Stay of Proceedings from April 30, 2014 until June 30, 2014.

Pertinent Data
Rating Risk Bell Aliant Inc. (BA-T) 1-Yr Target Year 1

Key Data Year 2

Year 3

Valuation

Valuation: 1-yr fwd: 8.0x NTM EBITDA; 6.8% NTM FCF yield (fully-taxed); 13.0x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: Ownership structure (Bell take-out at a premium); Market interest rate risk BCE Inc. (BCE-T) Valuation: 1-yr fwd: 7.4x NTM EBITDA; 5.8% NTM FCF yield (fully-taxed); 13.2x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: Faster acceleration in access line loss and higher wireline capex to compete on broadband. Cogeco Cable Inc. (CCA-T) Valuation: 1-yr fwd: 6.5x NTM EBITDA; 9.2% NTM FCF yield (fully-taxed); 11.6x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: Cdn. IPTV and fiber expansion and content costs; acquisitions Comcast Corporation (CMCSA-Q) Valuation: 1-yr fwd: 8.3x NTM EV/EBITDA; 5.6% NTM FCF yield (fully-taxed); 11.8x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: U.S. economic slowdown; OTT cord-cutting; content costs; telco/satellite competition Glentel Inc. (GLN-T) Valuation: 10x Forward Cash P/E Key Risks to Price Target: Slowing wireless market growth, increasing retail competition Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MBT-T) Valuation: 1-year fwd: 5.9x NTM EBITDA, 5.8% NTM FCF yield (fully-taxed); 13.8x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: Pension funding, Further Allstream deterioration Quebecor Inc. (QBR.B-T) Valuation: 1-yr fwd: 6.7x NTM EBITDA; 6.1% NTM FCF yield (fully-taxed); 12.2x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: Wireless execution; IPTV competition; Newspaper/TV cyclicality Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI.B-T) Valuation: 1-yr fwd: 7.3x NTM EBITDA; 6.2% NTM FCF yield (fully-taxed); 13.3x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: Wireless competition (from both incumbents and new entrants) Shaw Communications Inc. (SJR.B-T) Valuation: 1-yr fwd: 8.1x NTM EV/EBITDA; 4.2% NTM FCF yield (fully-taxed); 14.5x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: Irrational competitive behaviour by Shaw or TELUS. TELUS Corporation (T-T) Valuation: 1-yr fwd: 7.5x NTM EBITDA; 5.2% NTM FCF Yield (Fully-Tax); 14.6x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: Wireless competition; Wireline business deterioration AT&T Inc. (T-N) Valuation: 13.5x NTM EPS 1-year forward; 11.3x NTM EV/Cash EBIT; 5.8x NTM EV/EBITDA; 6.3% FCF Yield (Fully-taxed) Key Risks to Price Target: Cable/wireless competitive intensity; pension funding; U.S. economy Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC-N) Valuation: 2.875x exchange ratio of 1-year forward CMCSA target price ($63) Key Risks to Price Target: U.S. economy; cord-cutting; programming costs

Pertinent Data
Rating Risk 1-Yr Target Year 1

Key Data Year 2

Year 3

Valuation

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ-N) Valuation: 1-yr fwd: 7.0x NTM EV/EBITDA; 6.2% NTM FCF yield (fully-taxed); 11.0x NTM EV/Cash EBIT Key Risks to Price Target: U.S. economy; pension funding; VZW cash to support dividend
Source: Scotiabank GBM estimates.

ScotiaView Analyst Link

Appendix A: Important Disclosures

Company BCE Inc. Bell Aliant Inc. Cogeco Cable Inc. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. Quebecor Inc. Rogers Communications Inc. Shaw Communications Inc. TELUS Corporation Time Warner Cable Inc. Verizon Communications Inc.

Ticker BCE BA CCA MBT QBR.B RCI.B SJR.B T TWC VZ

Disclosures (see legend below)* B26, B8, G, I, S, T, U G, I, T, U G, I, N1, T, U B9, G, I, S, T, U I, T G, I, N1, S, T, U G, I, S, T, U G, I, J, T, U I H.P.230

I, Jeff Fan, certify that (1) the views expressed in this report in connection with securities or issuers that I analyze accurately reflect my personal views and (2) no part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by me in this report This research report was prepared by employees of Scotia Capital Inc. and/or its affiliates who have the title of Analyst. All pricing of securities in reports is based on the closing price of the securities principal marketplace on the night before the publication date, unless otherwise explicitly stated. All Equity Research Analysts report to the Head of Equity Research. The Head of Equity Research reports to the Managing Director, Head of Institutional Equity Sales, Trading and Research, who is not and does not report to the Head of the Investment Banking Department. Scotiabank, Global Banking and Markets has policies that are reasonably designed to prevent or control the sharing of material non-public information across internal information barriers, such as between Investment Banking and Research. The compensation of the research analyst who prepared this report is based on several factors, including but not limited to, the overall profitability of Scotiabank, Global Banking and Markets and the revenues generated from its various departments, including investment banking. Furthermore, the research analysts compensation is charged as an expense to various Scotiabank, Global Banking and Markets departments, including investment banking. Research Analysts may not receive compensation from the companies they cover Non-U.S. analysts may not be associated persons of Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. and therefore may not be subject to FINRA Rule 2711 restrictions on communications with subject company, public appearances and trading securities held by the analysts. For Scotiabank, Global Banking and Markets Research analyst standards and disclosure policies, please visit gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures. Scotiabank, Global Banking and Markets Research, 40 King Street West, 33rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1H1. * B8 B9 B26 G H.P.230 I J Legend Ronald Brenneman is a director of BCE Inc and is a director of The Bank of Nova Scotia. N. Ashleigh Everett is a director of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. and is a director of The Bank of Nova Scotia. Thomas C. O'Neill is a director of BCE Inc. and is Chairman of the Board of The Bank of Nova Scotia. Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. or its affiliates has managed or co-managed a public offering in the past 12 months. Jay Oduwole, a member of Jay Oduwole's household and/or an account related to Jay Oduwole own securities of this issuer. Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. or its affiliates has received compensation for investment banking services in the past 12 months. Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. or its affiliates expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services in the next 3 months.

N1 S T U

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. had an investment banking services client relationship during the past 12 months. Scotia Capital Inc. and its affiliates collectively beneficially own in excess of 1% of one or more classes of the issued and outstanding equity securities of this issuer. The Fundamental Research Analyst/Associate has visited material operations of this issuer. Within the last 12 months, Scotia Capital Inc. and/or its affiliates have undertaken an underwriting liability with respect to equity or debt securities of, or have provided advice for a fee with respect to, this issuer.

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Source: Scotiabank GBM.

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