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TUCOWS INC /PA/ - Quarter Report: 2023 September (Form 10-Q)

tcx20230930_10q.htm
 
 

 

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023

 

OR

 

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from           to          

 

Commission file number 1-32600

 

TUCOWS INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Pennsylvania

23-2707366

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

Incorporation or Organization)

Identification No.)

 

96 Mowat Avenue,

Toronto, Ontario M6K 3M1, Canada

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(416) 535-0123

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock

 

TCX

 

NASDAQ

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:  Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T §232.405 of this chapter during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☒

  

  

Non-accelerated filer ☐

Smaller reporting company ☐

  

  

 

Emerging Growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):  Yes ☐ No ☒

 

As of October 31, 2023, there were 10,895,180 outstanding shares of common stock, no par value, of the registrant.

 

 

 

TUCOWS INC.

Form 10-Q Quarterly Report

INDEX

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Consolidated Financial Statements

3

  

  

  

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022

3

  

  

  

  

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022

4

  

  

  

  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022

5

  

  

  

  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

6

  

  

  

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

31

  

  

  

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

52

  

  

  

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

53

  

  

  

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

  

  

  

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

54

  

  

  

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

54

  

  

  

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 

  54

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

54

  

  

  

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

54

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

54

  

  

  

Item 6.

Exhibits

55

  

  

  

Signatures

56


TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES AND SERVICE MARKS

 

Tucows®, EPAG®, Hover®, OpenSRS®, Platypus®, Ting®, eNom®, Bulkregister®, Ascio®, Cedar®, Simply Bits®, Wavelo® and YummyNames® are registered trademarks of Tucows Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other service marks, trademarks and trade names of Tucows Inc. or its subsidiaries may be used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”). All other service marks, trademarks and trade names referred to in this Quarterly Report are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, any trademarks referred to in this Quarterly Report may appear without the ® or TM symbol, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we or the owner of such trademark, as applicable, will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our or its rights, or the right of the applicable licensor, to these trademarks.

 

 

 

PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

Tucows Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

(unaudited)

 

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2023

  

2022

 
         

Assets

        
         

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $110,736  $23,496 

Restricted cash (note 7)

  3,138   - 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $595 as of September 30, 2023 and $693 as of December 31, 2022

  24,189   18,404 

Contract asset, net current portion (note 10)

  3,310   5,159 

Inventory

  7,788   7,284 

Prepaid expenses and deposits

  19,399   17,005 

Derivative instrument asset, current portion (note 4)

  186   1,903 

Deferred costs of fulfillment, current portion (note 11)

  97,072   94,198 

Income taxes recoverable

  456   2,471 

Total current assets

  266,274   169,920 
         

Contract asset, net long-term portion (note 10)

  -   2,328 

Deferred costs of fulfillment, long-term portion (note 11)

  15,566   16,476 

Investments

  2,012   2,012 

Secured notes reserve funds (note 7)

  8,543   - 

Deferred tax asset

  3   - 

Property and equipment

  330,874   281,495 

Right of use lease asset

  25,669   20,489 

Contract costs

  2,439   1,827 

Intangible assets, net (note 5)

  32,101   39,790 

Goodwill (note 5)

  130,410   130,410 

Total assets

 $813,891  $664,747 
         
         

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

        
         

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable

 $11,680  $17,171 

Accrued liabilities

  23,096   22,653 

Customer deposits

  18,740   15,783 

Derivative instrument liability, current portion (note 4)

  -   389 

Operating lease liability, current portion (note 12)

  5,284   4,642 

Deferred revenue, current portion (note 10)

  128,101   122,894 

Accreditation fees payable, current portion

  637   809 

Income taxes payable

  837   2,248 

Other current liabilities

  -   1,600 

Total current liabilities

  188,375   188,189 
         

Deferred revenue, long-term portion (note 10)

  21,653   22,237 

Accreditation fees payable, long-term portion

  -   142 

Operating lease liability, long-term portion (note 12)

  16,659   12,438 

Syndicated revolver (note 6)

  221,911   238,930 

Notes payable (note 7)

  222,056   - 

Redeemable preferred shares (note 18)

  107,069   90,434 

Deferred tax liability

  6,123   15,720 

Stockholders' equity (note 14)

        

Common stock - no par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized; 10,879,140 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and 10,817,110 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022

  33,592   31,868 

Additional paid-in capital

  13,237   8,106 

Retained earnings

  (16,924)  55,899 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (note 4)

  140   784 

Total stockholders' equity

  30,045   96,657 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $813,891  $664,747 
         

Contingencies (note 19)

          

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements 

 

 

 

Tucows Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss 

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts) 

(unaudited)

 

  

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

  

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                 
                 

Net revenues (note 10)

 $86,971  $78,050  $252,379  $242,233 
                 

Cost of revenues (note 10)

                

Direct cost of revenues

  50,717   48,302   150,750   147,023 

Network, other costs

  7,322   4,244   20,638   13,188 

Network, depreciation of property and equipment

  9,138   7,136   26,331   19,620 

Network, amortization of intangible assets (note 5)

  378   378   1,135   1,134 

Network, impairment of property and equipment

  2,663   3   4,679   30 

Total cost of revenues

  70,218   60,063   203,533   180,995 
                 

Gross profit

  16,753   17,987   48,846   61,238 
                 

Expenses:

                

Sales and marketing

  17,295   13,894   49,052   39,384 

Technical operations and development

  4,818   2,983   14,214   10,212 

General and administrative

  9,399   7,897   25,674   22,006 

Depreciation of property and equipment

  137   149   439   443 

Loss (gain) on disposition of property and equipment

  -   (19)  -   461 

Amortization of intangible assets (note 5)

  2,242   2,464   6,966   7,394 

Loss (gain) on currency forward contracts (note 4)

  29   -   52   - 

Total expenses

  33,920   27,368   96,397   79,900 
                 

Loss from operations

  (17,167)  (9,381)  (47,551)  (18,662)
                 

Other income (expenses):

                

Interest expense, net

  (10,739)  (4,337)  (29,120)  (8,555)

Loss on debt extinguishment (note 18)

  -   -   (14,680)  - 

Income earned on sale of transferred assets, net (note 17)

  4,312   4,737   12,971   14,009 

Other expense, net

  -   (27)  -   (128)

Total other income (expenses)

  (6,427)  373   (30,829)  5,326 
                 

Loss before provision for income taxes

  (23,594)  (9,008)  (78,380)  (13,336)
                 

Provision (recovery) for income taxes (note 8)

  (822)  (1,027)  (5,557)  790 
                 

Net loss for the period

  (22,772)  (7,981)  (72,823)  (14,126)
                 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

                

Unrealized income (loss) on hedging activities (note 4)

  (483)  (1,674)  163   (510)

Net amount reclassified to earnings (note 4)

  (181)  (100)  (807)  (109)

Other comprehensive loss net of tax recovery of ($211) and ($566) for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, ($204) and ($197) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022 (note 4)

  (664)  (1,774)  (644)  (619)
                 

Comprehensive loss, for the period

 $(23,436) $(9,755) $(73,467) $(14,745)
                 
                 

Basic and diluted loss per common share (note 9)

 $(2.09) $(0.74) $(6.71) $(1.31)
                 

Shares used in computing basic and diluted loss per common share (note 9)

  10,874,659   10,779,348   10,852,079   10,766,657 


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements 

 

 

 

Tucows Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars) 

(unaudited)

 

   

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Cash provided by:

                               

Operating activities:

                               

Net loss for the period

  $ (22,772 )   $ (7,981 )   $ (72,823 )   $ (14,126 )

Items not involving cash:

                               

Depreciation of property and equipment

    9,275       7,285       26,770       20,063  

Impairment of property and equipment

    2,663       3       4,679       30  

Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs

    1,140       215       2,271       482  

Amortization of intangible assets

    2,620       2,842       8,101       8,528  

Net amortization contract costs

    (255 )     (136 )     (612 )     (608 )

Accretion of contingent consideration

    -       50       -       198  

Deferred income taxes (recovery)

    (3,258 )     (1,658 )     (9,381 )     (3,397 )

Excess tax benefits on share-based compensation expense

    -       (103 )     -       (158 )

Net Right of use operating assets/Operating lease liability

    (220 )     (715 )     (317 )     (771 )

Loss on disposal of domain names

    3       -       3       2  

Accretion of redeemable preferred shares

    2,872       1,250       9,247       1,250  

Loss on debt extinguishment

    -       -       14,680       -  

Write off of debt discount and issuance cost

    277       -       277       -  

Loss (Gain) on change in the fair value of forward contracts

    -       (135 )     1,624       (135 )

Amortization of discontinued cash flow hedge

    -       (254 )     (1,144 )     (254 )

Stock-based compensation expense

    2,308       1,569       6,606       4,396  

Change in non-cash operating working capital:

                               

Accounts receivable

    (677 )     (1,192 )     (5,785 )     (139 )

Contract assets

    1,293       892       4,177       (7,284 )

Inventory

    12       (1,092 )     (504 )     (2,611 )

Prepaid expenses and deposits

    1,049       684       (2,394 )     2,359  

Deferred costs of fulfillment

    1,520       1,915       (1,964 )     785  

Income taxes recoverable

    1,445       859       589       2,426  

Accounts payable

    (334 )     791       (5,433 )     6,949  

Accrued liabilities

    (4,000 )     (491 )     293       1,954  

Customer deposits

    (708 )     (2,528 )     2,957       (2,201 )

Deferred revenue

    (1,216 )     (3,050 )     4,623       (666 )

Accreditation fees payable

    27       (28 )     (314 )     (97 )

Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities

    (6,936 )     (1,008 )     (13,774 )     16,975  
                                 

Financing activities:

                               

Proceeds received on exercise of stock options

    -       237       -       808  

Proceeds from issuance of notes payable

    -       -       227,258       -  

Redeemable preferred shares redemption

    -       -       (45,718 )     -  

Proceeds from redeemable preferred shares

    -       60,000       35,000       60,000  

Deferred notes payable financing costs

    70       -       (6,675 )     -  

Deferred preferred financing costs

    -       (754 )     145       (754 )

Contingent payments for acquisitions

    -       -       (1,600 )     (3,125 )

Proceeds received on syndicated revolver

    52,382       12,600       52,382       48,300  

Repayment of syndicated revolver

    (58,852 )     -       (68,652 )     -  

Deferred syndicate revolver issued

    (1,238 )     (403 )     (1,554 )     (668 )

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    (7,638 )     71,680       190,586       104,561  
                                 

Investing activities:

                               

Additions to property and equipment

    (22,572 )     (46,676 )     (77,476 )     (100,018 )

Acquisition of intangible assets

    (32 )     -       (415 )     (117 )

Net cash used in investing activities

    (22,604 )     (46,676 )     (77,891 )     (100,135 )
                                 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents

    (37,178 )     23,996       98,921       21,401  
                                 

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents beginning of period

    159,595       6,510       23,496       9,105  

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents end of period

  $ 122,417     $ 30,506     $ 122,417     $ 30,506  
                                 

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents within the interim consolidated balance sheets to the amounts shown in the interim consolidated statements of cash flows above:

                               

Cash and cash equivalents

    110,736       6,510       110,736       6,510  

Restricted cash included in funds held by trustee

    3,138       -       3,138       -  

Restricted cash included in secured notes reserve funds 

    8,543       -       8,543       -  

Total Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents end of period

  $ 122,417     $ 6,510     $ 122,417     $ 6,510  
                                 

Supplemental cash flow information:

                               

Interest paid

  $ 5,483     $ 3,005     $ 15,810     $ 6,891  

Income taxes paid, net

  $ 1,367     $ 472     $ 3,342     $ 2,759  

Supplementary disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

                               

Property and equipment acquired during the period not yet paid for

  $ 74     $ 1,671     $ 74     $ 1,671  

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

1. Organization of the Company:

 

Tucows Inc. (referred to throughout this report as the “Company”, “Tucows”, “we”, “us” or through similar expressions) is a corporate parent, allocating capital and providing efficient shared services to its three businesses Ting, Wavelo and Tucows Domains Services. Ting provides US consumers and small businesses with high-speed fixed Internet access in selected towns. Wavelo offers platform services which provide solutions to support Communication Service Providers ("CSPs") including subscription and billing management, network orchestration and provisioning, individual developer tools, and other professional services. Tucows Domains Services is a global distributor of Internet services, including domain name registration, digital certificates, and email. It provides these services primarily through a global Internet-based distribution network of Internet Service Providers, web hosting companies and other providers of Internet services to end-users.

 

 

2. Basis of Presentation:

 

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and cash flows reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of Tucows and its subsidiaries as of September 30, 2023 and the results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. The results of operations presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for future periods.

 

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Tucows in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company's annual audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been condensed or omitted. These interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes follow the same accounting policies and methods of application used in the annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2022 included in Tucows' 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on June 6, 2023 (the “2022 Annual Report”). Except set forth as below, there have been no material changes to our significant accounting policies and estimates during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the significant accounting policies and estimates described in our 2022 Annual Report.

 

Restricted cash

 

Restricted cash is solely in connection with the 2023 Term Notes as defined in "Note 7 - Notes Payable" and consists of (i) securitized assets cash receipts held by trustee and (ii) liquidity reserve funds. The non-current portion of the restricted cash is presented in "Secured notes reserve funds" on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

None with an expected material impact on the Company.

 

 

4. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities:

 

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risks managed by using derivative instruments are foreign exchange rate risk and interest rate risk.

 

Since October 2012, the Company has employed a hedging program with a Canadian chartered bank to limit the potential foreign exchange fluctuations incurred on its future cash flows related to a portion of payroll, taxes, rent and payments to Canadian domain name registry suppliers that are denominated in Canadian dollars and are expected to be paid by its Canadian operating subsidiary. In May 2020, the Company entered into a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap with a Canadian chartered bank to limit the potential interest rate fluctuations incurred on its future cash flows related to variable interest payments on the Second Amended 2019 Credit Facility. The notional value of the interest rate swap was $70 million. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, the Company elected to discontinue its application of hedge accounting to its interest rate swaps prospectively. Until the interest rate swaps matured in June 2023, the derivatives continued to be carried at fair value in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets with changes in their fair value from the date of discontinuance recognized in current period earnings in Interest expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Unrealized gains and losses in Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) as of the date of discontinuance were realized in net income over the remaining term of the underlying forecasted interest payments into interest expense over the original term of the hedged debt. Prior to the discontinuance, for the interest rate swap contracts, unrealized gains or losses on the effective portion of these contracts had been included in other comprehensive income (OCI) and reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction settled. As of September 30, 2023 there are no interest swaps held by the Company.

 

The Company does not use hedging forward contracts for trading or speculative purposes. The foreign exchange contracts typically mature between one and twelve months, and the interest rate swap fully matured as of June 30, 2023.

 

The Company has designated certain of these foreign exchange transactions as cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions under ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (“ASC Topic 815”). For certain contracts, as the critical terms of the hedging instrument, and of the entire hedged forecasted transaction, are the same, in accordance with ASC Topic 815, the Company has been able to conclude that changes in fair value and cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged are expected to completely offset at inception and on an ongoing basis. The Company designated the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge of expected future interest payments at the inception of the contract. Accordingly, for the foreign exchange, unrealized gains or losses on the effective portion of these contracts were included within other comprehensive income and reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction is settled. Cash flows from hedging activities were classified under the same category as the cash flows from the hedged items in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The fair value of the foreign exchange contract, as of  September 30, 2023 and the interest swap and foreign exchange contract as of December 31, 2022, is recorded as derivative instrument assets or liabilities. For certain contracts where the hedged transactions are no longer probable to occur, the loss on the associated forward contract is recognized in earnings.

 

 

6

 

As of September 30, 2023, the notional amount of forward contracts that the Company held to sell U.S. dollars in exchange for Canadian dollars was $14.4 million, of which $14.4 million met the requirements of ASC Topic 815 and were designated as hedges.

 

As of December 31, 2022, the notional amount of forward contracts that the Company held to sell U.S. dollars in exchange for Canadian dollars was $49.7 million, of which $49.7 million met the requirements of ASC Topic 815 and were designated as hedges.

 

As of September 30, 2023, the notional amount of interest swaps contracts that the Company held to pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap was nil.

 

As of December 31, 2022, the notional amount of interest swaps contracts that the Company held to pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap was $70 million, of which $70 million met the requirements of ASC Topic 815 and were designated as hedges. 

 

As of September 30, 2023, we had the following outstanding forward contracts to trade U.S. dollars in exchange for Canadian dollars:

 

Maturity date (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

Notional amount of U.S. dollars

  

Weighted average exchange rate of U.S. dollars

  

Fair value Asset

 
             

October - December 2023

 $14,430   1.3721  $186 
  $14,430   1.3721  $186 

 

Fair value of derivative instruments and effect of derivative instruments on financial performance

 

The effect of these derivative instruments on our consolidated financial statements were as follows (amounts presented do not include any income tax effects).

 

Fair value of derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets 

 

Derivatives (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

Balance Sheet Location

 As of September 30, 2023 Fair Value Asset  As of December 31, 2022 Fair Value Asset (Liability) 

Foreign Currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges (net)

 

Derivative instruments

 $186  $(84)

Interest rate swap contract discontinued as a cash flow hedge (net)

 

Derivative instruments

  -   1,598 

Total foreign currency and interest swap forward contracts (net)

 

Derivative instruments

 $186  $1,514 

 

Movement in AOCI balance for the three months ended September 30, 2023 (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

  

Gains and losses on cash flow hedges

  

Tax impact

  

Total AOCI

 

Opening AOCI Balance - June 30, 2023

 $1,059  $(255) $804 

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

  (637)  154   (483)

Amount reclassified from AOCI

  (238)  57   (181)

Other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2023

  (875)  211   (664)
             

Ending AOCI Balance - September 30, 2023

 $184  $(44) $140 

 

 

Movement in AOCI balance for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

  

Gains and losses on cash flow hedges

  

Tax impact

  

Total AOCI

 

Opening AOCI balance - December 31, 2022

 $1,032  $(248) $784 

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

  215   (52)  163 

Amount reclassified from AOCI

  55   (13)  42 

Amortization of discontinued cash flow hedge

  (1,118)  269   (849)

Other comprehensive income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023

  (848)  204   (644)
             

Ending AOCI Balance - September 30, 2023

 $184  $(44) $140 

 

7

 
Effects of derivative instruments on income and OCI for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars) 
 

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationship

 Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI, net of tax, on Derivative 

Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income

 Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income 
     

Operating expenses

 $198 

Foreign currency forward contracts for the three months ended September 30, 2023

 $(483)

Cost of revenues

 $40 
          
     

Operating expenses

 $(97)

Foreign currency forward contracts for the three months ended September 30, 2022

 $(1,666)

Cost of revenues

 $(26)
          

Interest rate swap contract for the three months ended September 30, 2022

 $(8)

Interest expense, net

 $254 

 

Effects of derivative instruments on income and OCI for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars) 

 

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationship

 

Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI, net of tax, on Derivative

 

Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income

 

Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income

 
     

Operating expenses

 $(38)

Foreign currency forward contracts for the nine months ended September 30, 2023

 $163 

Cost of revenues

 $(17)
          
     

Operating expenses

 $(145)

Foreign currency forward contracts for the nine months ended September 30, 2022

 $(1,941)

Cost of revenues

 $(35)
          

Interest rate swap contract for the nine months ended September 30, 2022

 $1,431 

Interest expense, net

 $323 

 

 

5. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:

 

Goodwill:

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in our acquisitions.

 

The Company's Goodwill balance remained consistent at $130.4 million as of  September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company's goodwill relates 83% ($107.7 million) to the Tucows Domains operating segment and 17% ($22.7 million) to the Ting operating segment. 

 

Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to an annual impairment test, or more frequently if impairment indicators are present. No impairment charge was recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.

 

8

 

Other Intangible Assets:

 

Intangible assets consist of acquired brand, technology, customer relationships, surname domain names, direct navigation domain names and network rights. The Company considers its intangible assets consisting of surname domain names and direct navigation domain names as indefinite life intangible assets. The Company has the exclusive right to these domain names as long as the annual renewal fees are paid to the applicable registry. Renewals occur routinely and at a nominal cost. The indefinite life intangible assets are not amortized but are subject to impairment assessments performed throughout the year. As part of the normal renewal evaluation process during the periods ended  September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the Company assessed that all domain names that were originally acquired in the June 2006 acquisition of Mailbank.com Inc. that were up for renewal, should be renewed. 

 

Intangible assets, comprising brand, technology, customer relationships and network rights are being amortized on a straight-line basis over periods of two to fifteen years.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 the Company acquired customer relationship assets through hosting agreements for $0.1 million and $0.4 million respectively. These assets are being amortized over seven years.

 

Net book value of acquired intangible assets consist of the following (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

  

Surname domain names

  

Direct navigation domain names

  

Brand

  

Customer relationships

  

Technology

  

Network rights

  

Total

 

Amortization period

 

indefinite life

  

indefinite life

  

7 years

  

3 - 7 years

  

2 - 7 years

  

15 years

     
                             

Balances, June 30, 2023

 $11,155  $1,129  $1,904  $17,111  $2,460  $933  $34,692 

Acquisition of customer relationships

  -   -   -   32   -   -   32 

Additions to/(disposals from) domain portfolio, net

  (2)  (1)  -   -   -   -   (3)

Amortization expense

  -   -   (518)  (1,922)  (155)  (25)  (2,620)

Balances, September 30, 2023

 $11,153  $1,128  $1,386  $15,221  $2,305  $908  $32,101 

 

  

Surname domain names

  

Direct navigation domain names

  

Brand

  

Customer relationships

  

Technology

  

Network rights

  

Total

 

Amortization period

 

indefinite life

  

indefinite life

  

7 years

  

3 - 7 years

  

2 - 7 years

  

15 years

     
                             

Balances, December 31, 2022

 $11,155  $1,129  $2,940  $20,813  $2,770  $983  $39,790 

Acquisition of customer relationships

  -   -   -   415   -   -   415 

Additions to/(disposals from) domain portfolio, net

  (2)  (1)  -   -   -   -   (3)

Amortization expense

  -   -   (1,554)  (6,007)  (465)  (75)  (8,101)

Balances, September 30, 2023

 $11,153  $1,128  $1,386  $15,221  $2,305  $908  $32,101 

 

The following table shows the estimated amortization expense for each of the next 5 years and thereafter, assuming no further additions to acquired intangible assets are made (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars): 

 

  Year ending 
  December 31, 

Remainder of 2023

 $2,488 

2024

  5,565 

2025

  4,382 

2026

  2,802 

2027

  1,608 

Thereafter

  2,975 

Total

 $19,820 

 

9

 
 

6. Syndicated Revolver:

 

Third Amended 2019 Credit Facility 

 

In connection with entering into the 2023 Credit Agreement, on September 22, 2023, the Company paid off the principal balance, including accrued interest thereon, of the revolving loans outstanding under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “RBC Credit Agreement”), dated as of August 8, 2022, as amended, by and among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as borrowers, certain other subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent (“RBC”), and the lenders party thereto, pursuant to which Tucows’ prior credit facility that provided the Borrowers with a $240 million revolving credit facility (the "2019 Credit Facility").  The RBC Credit Agreement automatically terminates upon the receipt by RBC of certain backstop letters of credit to be delivered by BMO.  

 

Prior to entering into the 2023 Credit Agreement, during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 the Company made repayments of $17.8 million on the 2019 Credit Facility.

 

2023 Credit Facility
 
On September 22, 2023, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Tucows.com Co., Ting Inc., Tucows (Delaware) Inc., Wavelo, Inc. and Tucows (Emerald), LLC (each, a “Borrower” and together, the “Borrowers,” collectively with the Company, “Tucows”) and certain other subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent (“BMO” or the “Agent”), and the lenders party thereto, to, among other things, provide the Borrowers with a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed $240 million (the “2023 Credit Facility”). The Borrowers may request an increase to the Credit Facility through new commitments of up to $60 million if the Total Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is less than 3.75:1.00.  The Credit Facility expires on September 22, 2026, which is the third anniversary of the effective date of the Credit Agreement. 
 
In connection with the 2023 Credit Facility, the Company incurred $0.9 million of fees paid to the Lenders and $0.3 million of legal fees related to the debt issuance. These fees have been reflected as a reduction to the carrying amount of the loan payable and will be amortized over the term of the credit facility agreement. The Company evaluated the issuance of the 2023 Credit Facility and the termination of the 2019 Credit Facility (collectively referred to as the "Debt Transactions") under the loan modification and extinguishment guidance within ASC 470. The Debt Transactions were accounted for as a partial modification, partial extinguishment and new debt issuance at the syndicated lender level. Based on the application of the loan modification and extinguishment guidance within ASC 470 to the Debt Transactions, the Company has treated $50.9 million of the loan principal under the 2019 Credit Facility as an extinguishment of debt and $50.9 million of the loan principal under the 2023 Credit Facility as issuance of new debt. The remaining loan principal on the 2023 Credit Facility was treated as a loan modification within the guidance of ASC 470. In accordance with the debt extinguishment, the Company expensed $0.1 million of the unamortized debt issuance costs to Interest expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operation. 
 
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company made a draw of $1.5 million on the 2023 Credit Facility. Subsequently on October 3, 2023, the Company made a repayment of $1.4 million on the 2023 Credit Facility. 
 

2023 Credit Facility Terms

 

The 2023 Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default. The 2023 Credit Agreement requires that the Company comply with certain customary non-financial covenants and restrictions. In addition, the Company has agreed to comply with the following financial covenants: (1) a leverage ratio by maintaining at all times a Total Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio of not more than (i) 4.50:1:00 at any time from and after the Closing Date to and including December 30, 2023; (ii) 4.25:1:00 from December 31, 2023 to and including March 30, 2024; (iii) 4.00:1.00 from March 31, 2024 to and including June 29, 2024; and (iv) 3.75:1.00 thereafter; and (2) an interest coverage ratio by maintaining as of the end of each rolling four financial quarter period, an Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not less than 3.00:1.00. The required principal repayment of $223.4 million is due in 2026.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 the Company was in compliance with the covenants under its credit agreements in effect at the time.  

 

Borrowings under the 2023 Credit Agreement will accrue interest and standby fees based on the Company's Total Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio and the availment type as follows: 

 

  

If Total Funded Debt to EBITDA is:

 

Availment type or fee

 

Less than 2.00

  

Greater than or equal to 2.00 and less than 2.75

  

Greater than or equal to 2.75 and less than 3.50

  

Greater than or equal to 3.50 and less than 4.00

  

Greater than or equal to 4.00

 

Canadian dollar borrowings based on the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate or U.S. dollar borrowings based on SOFR and letter of credit fees (Margin)

  1.50%  2.00%  2.50%  3.00%  3.50%

Canadian borrowings based on Prime Rate or Canadian or U.S. dollar borrowings based on Base Rate (Margin)

  0.25%  0.75%  1.25%  1.75%  2.25%

Standby fees

  0.30%  0.40%  0.50%  0.60%  0.70%

 

10

 

The following table summarizes Excluding-Ting's borrowings under the credit facilities (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars): 

 

  

September 30, 2023

  

December 31, 2022

 
         

Revolver

 $223,430  $239,700 

Less: unamortized debt discount and issuance costs

  (1,519)  (770)

Total Syndicated Revolver

  221,911   238,930 

Less: Syndicated Revolver, current portion

  -   - 

Syndicated Revolver, long-term portion

 $221,911  $238,930 

 

 

7. Notes Payable:

 

2023 Notes

 

On May 4, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), Tucows Inc. through its indirect and wholly owned subsidiaries, including Ting Fiber, LLC entered into a definitive agreement relating to a securitized financing facility related to a privately placed securitization transaction. On the Closing Date, Ting Issuer LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), a limited purpose, bankruptcy-remote, indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company issued (i) $168,357,000 of its 5.95% Secured Fiber Revenue Notes, Series 2023-1, Class A-2, (ii) $23,289,000 of its 7.40% Secured Fiber Revenue Notes, Series 2023-1, Class B and (iii) $46,859,000 initial principal amount of 9.95% Secured Fiber Revenue Notes, Series 2023-1, Class C, together, the “2023 Term Notes”. The offering was exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2023 Term Notes were $220.5 million, after deducting a debt discount of $11.2 million and issuing costs of $6.7 million.

 

The debt discount and issuance costs of the 2023 Term Notes are being amortized using the straight line method over a five-year period between the Closing date and the anticipated repayment date. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized  $0.9 million and $1.5 million of interest expense related to the amortization of the debt discount and issuance costs of the 2023 Notes.

 

The 2023 Term Notes are issued under an indenture, dated May 4, 2023 (the “Base Indenture”) between the Issuer and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”) as supplemented by the Series 2023-1 supplemental indenture dated May 4, 2023, (the “Series 2023-1 Supplement” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Issuer and the Trustee. Interest payments on the 2023 Term Notes are payable on a monthly basis. The legal final maturity date of the 2023 Term Notes is in April of 2053, but, unless earlier prepaid to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the anticipated repayment date of the 2023 Term Notes will be in April 2028. If the Issuer has not repaid or refinanced the 2023 Term Notes prior to the anticipated repayment date, additional interest will accrue on the 2023 Term Notes in an amount equal to the greater of (A) 5.00% per annum and (B) a per annum interest rate equal to the excess, if any, by which the sum of the following exceeds the original interest rate of such 2023 Term Note (i) the yield to maturity (adjusted to a “mortgage equivalent basis” pursuant to the standards and practices of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) on such anticipated repayment date of the United States Treasury Security having a term closest to 10 years, plus (ii) 5.00%, plus (iii) (x) for the 2023 Class A-2 Notes, 3.50%, (y) for the 2023 Class B Notes, 5.00% and (z) for the 2023 Class C Notes, 7.82%.

 

The 2023 Notes are secured by certain of the Company’s revenue-generating assets, consisting principally of fiber-network related agreements, fiber-network assets and customer contracts (collectively, the “Securitized Assets”) that are owned by certain other limited-purpose, bankruptcy-remote, wholly owned indirect subsidiaries of the Company that act as the Guarantors (collectively with the Issuer, the “Obligor”) under the Base Indenture. The 2023 Term Notes are subject to a series of covenants, restrictions and other investor protections including (i) that the Issuer maintains specified reserve accounts to be used to make required payments in respect of the 2023 Term Notes, (ii) provisions relating to optional and mandatory prepayments and the related payment of specified amounts, (iii) certain indemnification payments (iv) the guarantors comply with standard bankruptcy-remoteness covenants, including not guaranteeing or being liable for other affiliates debts or liabilities and (v) covenants relating to recordkeeping, access to information, and similar matters.

 

As of September 30, 2023, we were in compliance with all required covenants. As of September 30, 2023, the Company's scheduled principal repayments for the 2023 Term Notes are set to occur after 2027.

 

 

The following table summarizes Ting's borrowings under the 2023 Term Notes (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars): 

 

  

September 30, 2023

 
     

Principal

 $238,505 

Less: unamortized issuance costs

  (6,121)

Less: unamortized discount

  (10,328)

Total notes payable

  222,056 

Less: notes payable, current portion

  - 

Note payable, long-term portion

 $222,056 

 

11

 

Restricted Cash

 

Under the terms of the Indenture, revenues generated from the Securitized Assets are deposited into accounts controlled by the Indenture Trustee within two business days of receipt. The Company has no access to or control of the funds held in trust until they are disbursed by the Indenture Trustee on the 20th day of each calendar month (the “Payment Date”). In accordance with the Indenture, on each Payment Date the Indenture Trustee disburses, on behalf of the Obligor, administration fees to service providers, interest payments to the noteholders, liquidity reserve top-ups (if required), and the remaining funds to accounts controlled by the Obligor. Funds held in trust with the Indenture Trustee at the reporting date are presented as “Restricted cash” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. 

 

At September 30, 2023, Restricted cash totaled $3.1 million.

 

Under the terms of the Indenture, the Company is also required to maintain a liquidity reserve fund equal to the sum of (A) six times the total amount of fund administration fees payable on each payment date after May 20, 2023 and (B) six times the total amount of monthly interest on the 2023 Notes due and payable on each payment date after May 20, 2023. The liquidity reserve is maintained with the Indenture Trustee until the maturity of the 2023 Term Notes and the balance is presented as “Secured notes reserve funds” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

At September 30, 2023 Secured notes reserve funds totaled $8.5 million. 

 

8. Income Taxes:

 

The Company's provision for income taxes for interim periods is determined by using an estimated annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items arising during the quarter. At each quarter, the Company updates the estimated annual effective tax rate and makes a year-to-date adjustment to the provision. The estimated annual effective tax rate is subject to volatility due to several factors, including accurately forecasting the Company's net income before tax and taxable income or loss and the mix of tax jurisdictions to which they relate, intercompany transactions, and changes in statutes, regulations, and case law.

 

For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded an income tax recovery of $0.8 million and $5.6 million on net loss before income taxes of $23.6 million and $78.4 million respectively, using an estimated effective tax rate for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 adjusted for certain minimum state taxes. Our effective tax rates for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2023 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to changes in valuation allowance on net operating losses and foreign tax credits, and the impact of foreign earnings.

 

Comparatively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recorded an income tax recovery of $1.0 million and an income tax expense of $0.8 million respectively, on net loss before income taxes of $9.0 million and $13.3 million respectively, using an estimated effective tax rate for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. Our effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 differ from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to changes in valuation allowance on foreign tax credit, state tax expense and the impact of foreign earnings. 

 

 

 

9. Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share:

 

The following table reconciles the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per common share computation (Dollar amounts in thousands of US dollars, except for share data):

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                 

Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share:

                               

Net loss for the period

  $ (22,772 )   $ (7,981 )   $ (72,823 )   $ (14,126 )
                                 

Denominator for basic and diluted earnings per common share:

                               

Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding

    10,874,659       10,779,348       10,852,079       10,766,657  

Effect of outstanding stock options

    -       -       -       -  

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding

    10,874,659       10,779,348       10,852,079       10,766,657  
                                 

Basic loss per common share

  $ (2.09 )   $ (0.74 )   $ (6.71 )   $ (1.31 )
                                 

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022 the Company recorded a net loss, thus all outstanding options were considered anti-dilutive and excluded from the computation of diluted income per common share.  

 

12

 
 

10. Revenue:

 

Significant accounting policy

 

The Company’s revenues are derived from (a) the provisioning of retail fiber Internet services through Ting, (b) the CSP solutions and professional services through Wavelo; and from (c) domain name registration contracts, other domain related value-added services, domain sale contracts, and other advertising revenue through Tucows Domains Services. Certain revenues are disclosed under Tucows Corporate as they are considered non-core business activities including Mobile Retail Services, Transition Services Agreement ("TSA") revenue and eliminations of intercompany revenue. Amounts received in advance of meeting the revenue recognition criteria described below are recorded as deferred revenue. All products are generally sold without the right of return or refund.

 

Revenue is measured based on consideration specified in a contract with a customer and excludes any sales incentives and amounts collected on behalf of third parties. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a customer.

 

Nature of goods and services

 

The following is a description of principal activities – separated by reportable segments – from which the Company generates its revenue. For more detailed information about reportable segments, see Note 13 – Segment Reporting.

 

 

(a)

Ting

 

The Company generates Ting revenues primarily through the provisioning of fixed high-speed Internet access, Ting Internet.

 

Ting Internet contracts provide customers Internet access at their home or business through the installation and use of our fiber optic network. Ting Internet contracts are generally prepaid and grant customers with unlimited bandwidth based on a fixed price per month basis. Because consideration is collected before the service period, revenue is initially deferred and recognized as the Company performs its obligation to provide Internet access. Though the Company does not consider the installation of fixed Internet access to be a distinct performance obligation, the fees related to installation are immaterial and therefore revenue is recognized as billed.

 

Ting Internet access services are primarily contracted through the Ting website, for one month at a time and contain no commitment to renew the contract following each customer’s monthly billing cycle. The Company’s billing cycle for all Ting Internet customers is computed based on the customer’s activation date. In addition, revenues associated with the sale of Internet hardware to subscribers are recognized when title and risk of loss is transferred to the subscriber and shipment has occurred. Incentive marketing credits given to customers are recorded as a reduction of revenue.

 

In those cases, where payment is not received at the time of sale, revenue is not recognized at contract inception unless the collection of the related accounts receivable is reasonably assured. The Company records costs that reflect expected refunds, rebates and credit card charge-backs as a reduction of revenues at the time of the sale based on historical experiences and current expectations.

 

 

(b)

Wavelo

 

The Company generates Wavelo revenues by providing billing and provisioning platform services to CSPs to whom we also provide other professional services. 

 

Platform service agreements contain both platform services and professional services. Platform services offer a variety of solutions that support CSPs, including subscription and billing management, network orchestration and provisioning, and individual developer tools through a single, cloud based service. Consideration under platform service arrangements includes both a variable component that changes each month depending on the number of subscribers hosted on the platform, as well as platform payments and credits. The Company estimates platform payment and credit consideration over the term of the contract and recognizes the portion related to platform services evenly over the term of the contract. The Company recognizes variable subscriber fees, as the fees are invoiced. Platform services represent a single promise to provide continuous access (i.e. a stand-ready performance obligation) to the platform. As each month of providing access to the platform is substantially the same and the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as access is provided, the performance obligation consists of a series of distinct service periods. Professional services provided under platform service arrangements can include implementation, training, consulting or software development/modification services. Revenues related to professional services are distinct from the other promises in the contract(s) and are recognized as the related services are performed, on the basis of hours consumed. Platform payment and credit consideration is allocated between the platform services and professional services performance obligations by estimating the standalone selling price (“SSP”) of each performance obligation. The Company estimates the SSP of professional services based on observable standalone sales. The SSP of platform services is derived using the residual approach by estimating the total contract consideration and subtracting the SSP of professional services. Total contract consideration is estimated at contract inception, considering any constraints that may apply and updating the estimates as new information becomes available.

 

Other professional services consist of professional service arrangements with platform services customers which are billed based on separate Statement of Work (“SOW”) arrangements for bespoke feature development. Revenues for professional services contracted through separate SOWs are recognized at a point-in-time when the final acceptance criteria have been met. 

 

13

 
 

(c)

Tucows Domains

 

Domain registration contracts, which can be purchased for terms of one to ten years, provide our resellers and retail registrant customers with the exclusive right to a personalized internet address from which to build an online presence. The Company enters into domain registration contracts in connection with each new, renewed and transferred-in domain registration. At the inception of the contract, the Company charges and collects the registration fee for the entire registration period. Though fees are collected upfront, revenue from domain registrations are recognized ratably over the registration period as domain registration contracts contain a ‘right to access’ license of IP, which is a distinct performance obligation measured over time. The registration period begins once the Company has confirmed that the requested domain name has been appropriately recorded in the registry under contractual performance standards.

 

Domain related value-added services like digital certifications, WHOIS privacy, website hosting and hosted email provide our resellers and retail registrant customers with tools and additional functionality to be used in conjunction with domain registrations. All domain related value-added services are considered distinct performance obligations which transfer the promised service to the customer over the contracted term. Fees charged to customers for domain related value-added services are collected at the inception of the contract, and revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the contracted term, consistent with the satisfaction of the performance obligations.

 

The Company is an ICANN accredited registrar. Thus, the Company is the primary obligor with our reseller and retail registrant customers and is responsible for the fulfillment of our registrar services to those parties. As a result, the Company reports revenue in the amount of the fees we receive directly from our reseller and retail registrant customers. Our reseller customers maintain the primary obligor relationship with their retail customers, establish pricing and retain credit risk to those customers. Accordingly, the Company does not recognize any revenue related to transactions between our reseller customers and their ultimate retail customers.

 

The Company also sells the rights to the Company’s portfolio domains or names acquired through the Company’s domain expiry stream. Revenue generated from sale of domain name contracts, containing a distinct performance obligation to transfer the domain name rights under the Company’s control, is generally recognized once the rights have been transferred and payment has been received in full.

 

Advertising revenue is derived through domain parking monetization, whereby the Company contracts with third-party Internet advertising publishers to direct web traffic from the Company’s domain expiry stream domains and Internet portfolio domains to advertising websites. Compensation from Internet advertising publishers is calculated variably on a cost-per-action basis based on the number of advertising links that have been visited in a given month. Given that the variable consideration is calculated and paid on a monthly basis, no estimation of variable consideration is required.

 

Disaggregation of Revenue

 

The following is a summary of the Company’s revenue earned from each significant revenue stream (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Ting:

                

Fiber Internet Services

 $12,855  $10,946  $37,116  $30,955 
                 

Wavelo:

                

Platform Services

  10,697   4,048   27,537   18,115 

Other Professional Services

  377   -   1,588   1,750 

Total Wavelo

  11,074   4,048   29,125   19,865 
                 

Tucows Domains

                

Wholesale

                

Domain Services

  47,657   46,985   140,734   140,800 

Value Added Services

  4,252   4,883   13,441   16,129 

Total Wholesale

  51,909   51,868   154,175   156,929 
                 

Retail

  9,179   8,413   26,111   25,961 

Total Tucows Domains

  61,088   60,281   180,286   182,890 
                 

Tucows Corporate:

                

Mobile services and eliminations

  1,954   2,775   5,852   8,523 
                 
  $86,971  $78,050  $252,379  $242,233 

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 one customer accounted for 14% and 11% of total revenue, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 no one customer accounted for more than 10% of total revenue.

 

At September 30, 2023, one customer represented 44% of accounts receivables. As of December 31, 2022, one customer represented 46% of total accounts receivable. 

 

14

 

The following is a summary of the Company’s cost of revenue from each significant revenue stream (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars): 

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
                 

Ting:

                

Fiber Internet Services

 $4,869  $4,290  $14,211  $12,746 
                 

Wavelo:

                

Platform Services

  342   235   1,006   622 

Other Professional Services

  228   -   1,289   1,632 

Total Wavelo

  570   235   2,295   2,254 
                 

Tucows Domains:

                

Wholesale

                

Domain Services

  38,060   37,393   112,352   110,728 

Value Added Services

  537   613   1,726   1,912 

Total Wholesale

  38,597   38,006   114,078   112,640 
                 

Retail

  4,116   4,105   12,383   12,383 

Total Tucows Domains

  42,713   42,111   126,461   125,023 
                 

Tucows Corporate:

                

Mobile services and eliminations

  2,565   1,666   7,783   7,000 
                 

Network Expenses:

                

Network, other costs

  7,322   4,244   20,638   13,188 

Network, depreciation of property and equipment

  9,138   7,136   26,331   19,620 

Network, amortization of intangible assets

  378   378   1,135   1,134 

Network, impairment of property and equipment

  2,663   3   4,679   30 

Total Network Expenses

  19,501   11,761   52,783   33,972 
                 
  $70,218  $60,063  $203,533  $180,995 

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 Network expenses included impairment of property and equipment of $2.7 million and $4.7 million, respectively. The impairment losses related to specific network assets that were identified as being damaged and no longer in use. The full cost of the identified assets was recorded as an impairment loss.  

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, Network expenses included nil impairment of property and equipment. 

 

Contract Balances

 

The following tables provide information about contract assets and contract liabilities (deferred revenue) from contracts with customers. The Company accounts for contract assets and liabilities on a contract-by-contract basis, with each contract presented as either a net contract asset or a net contract liability accordingly.

 

Some of the Company’s long-term contracts with customers are billed in advance of service, such as domain contracts and some professional service contracts. Consideration received from customers related to performance obligations which have not yet been satisfied are contract liabilities and recorded as deferred revenues.

 

Deferred revenue primarily relates to the portion of the transaction price received in advance related to the unexpired term of domain name registrations and other domain related value-added services, on both a wholesale and retail basis, net of external commissions. 

 

Significant changes in deferred revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars): 

 

Deferred revenue:

  September 30, 2023 
     

Balance, beginning of period

 $145,131 

Deferred revenue

  194,668 

Recognized revenue

  (190,045)

Balance, end of period

 $149,754 

 

15

 

The Company receives consideration for long-term mobile platform service contracts, which we collect variably each month depending on the number of subscribers hosted on the platform (subject to certain minimums) as well as through certain fixed platform fees and credits. Contract assets are recorded for services delivered under long-term mobile platform services contracts, to the extent that the services delivered exceed the services which have been billed to the customer at the reporting date. Contract assets are transferred to receivables when the rights to consideration become unconditional. All contract assets transfer to receivables within three months of when they are recognized. Significant changes in the contract assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S dollars):

 

Contract assets:

  

September 30, 2023

 
     

Balance, beginning of period

 $7,487 

Consideration recognized as revenue

  24,647 

Transferred to receivables

  (28,824)

Balance, end of period

 $3,310 

 

Remaining Performance Obligations:

 

For retail mobile and internet access services, where the performance obligation is part of contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less (typically one month), the Company has elected to apply a practical expedient to not disclose revenues expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied).

 

Although domain registration contracts are deferred over the lives of the individual contracts, which can range from one to ten years, approximately 80 percent of our deferred revenue balance related to domain contracts is expected to be recognized within the next twelve months.

 

Deferred revenue related to Exact hosting contracts is also deferred over the lives of the individual contracts, which are expected to be fully recognized within the next twelve months. 

 

Professional service revenue related to platform services may be deferred over the period not exceeding the term of the contract. 

 

 

11. Costs to obtain and fulfill a Contract:

 

Deferred costs of fulfillment

 

Deferred costs to fulfill contracts primarily consist of domain registration costs which have been paid to a domain registry, and are capitalized as deferred costs of fulfillment. These costs are deferred and amortized over the life of the domain which generally ranges from one to ten years. The Company also defers certain technology design and data migration costs it incurs to fulfill its performance obligations contained in our platform services arrangements. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company deferred $131.6 million and amortized $129.7 million of contract costs. There was no impairment loss recognized in relation to the costs capitalized during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Amortization expense of deferred costs is included in cost of revenue.

 

The breakdown of the movement in the deferred costs of fulfillment balance for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars). 

 

    September 30, 2023  
         

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 110,674  

Deferral of costs

    131,616  

Recognized costs

    (129,652 )

Balance, end of period

  $ 112,638  

 

16

 
 

12. Leases:

 

We lease datacenters, corporate offices and fiber-optic cables under operating leases. The Company does not have any leases classified as finance leases.

 

Our leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 20 years, some of which may include options to extend the leases for up to 5 years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within 1 year.

 

The components of lease expense were as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars): 

 

  

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

  

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Operating Lease Cost (leases with a total term greater than 12 months)

 $1,514  $1,234  $4,152  $3,050 

Short-term Lease Cost (leases with a total term of 12 months or less)

  33   72   168   156 

Variable Lease Cost

  486   267   1,402   523 

Total Lease Cost

 $2,033  $1,573  $5,722  $3,729 

 

Lease Cost is presented in general and administrative expenses and network expenses within our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Information related to leases was as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

  

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

  

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Operating Lease - Operating Cash Flows (Fixed Payments)

 $1,623  $1,697  $4,481  $3,571 

Operating Lease - Operating Cash Flows (Liability Reduction)

 $1,325  $1,132  $3,819  $2,797 

Change due to new Right of Use Assets - Operating Leases

 $9,448  $2,339  $12,565  $5,884 

 

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases:

 September 30, 2023  December 31, 2022 

Weighted Average Discount Rate

  6.48%  3.09%

Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term

 9.36 yrs  7.74 yrs 

 

Maturity of lease liability as of  September 30, 2023 (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

  September 30, 2023 

Remaining of 2023

 $1,666 

2024

  6,206 

2025

  4,825 

2026

  2,928 

2027

  1,962 

Thereafter

  12,598 

Total future lease payments

  30,186 

Less imputed interest

  8,242 

Total

 $21,943 

 

Operating lease payments include payments under the non-cancellable term, without any additional amounts related to options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being exercised.

 

As of September 30, 2023, we have not entered into lease agreements that have not yet commenced. 

 

The Company has elected to use the single exchange rate approach when accounting for lease modifications. Under the single exchange rate approach, the entire right of use asset is revalued at the date of modification in the Company’s functional currency provided the re-measurement is not considered a separate contract or if the re-measurement is related to change the lease term or assessment of a lessee option to purchase the underlying asset being exercised.

 

17

 
 

13. Segment Reporting: 

 

Reportable operating segments:

 

We are organized and managed based on three operating segments which are differentiated primarily by their services, the markets they serve and the regulatory environments in which they operate.  No operating segments have been aggregated to determine our reportable segments.

 

Certain revenues and expenses disclosed under the Corporate category are excluded from segment EBITDA results as they are centrally managed and not monitored by or reported to our CEO by segment, including Mobile Retail Services, eliminations of intercompany transactions, portions of Finance and Human Resources that are centrally managed, Legal and Corporate IT.

 

Our reportable operating segments and their principal activities consist of the following:

 

1.     Ting - This segment derives revenue from providing retail high speed Internet access services to individuals and small businesses.  Revenues are generated in the United States.

    

2.     Wavelo – This segment derives revenue from platform and other professional services related to communication service providers, including Mobile Network Operators and Internet Service Providers, and are primarily generated in the United States.       

 

3.    Tucows Domains – This segment includes wholesale and retail domain name registration services, value added services and portfolio services. The Company primarily earns revenues from the registration fees charged to resellers in connection with new, renewed and transferred domain name registrations; the sale of retail Internet domain name registration and email services to individuals and small businesses. Domain Services revenues are attributed to the country in which the contract originates, primarily Canada and the United States. 

 

Our segmented results include shared services allocations, including a profit margin, from Tucows Corporate for Finance, Human Resources and other technical services, to the operating units.  In addition, Wavelo charges Ting a subscriber based monthly charge for services rendered. Financial impacts from these allocations and cross segment charges are eliminated as part of the Tucows Corporate results. 

 

Key measure of segment performance:

 

The CEO, as the chief operating decision maker, regularly reviews the operations and performance by segment. The CEO reviews segment revenue, gross margin and adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) as (i) key measures of performance for each segment and (ii) to make decisions about the allocation of resources. Sales and marketing expenses, technical operations and development expenses and general and administrative expenses and not reviewed or managed by the CEO separate from adjusted EBITDA, and are thus not included as separate measurements of segment profitability. Depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets, impairment of indefinite life intangible assets, gain on currency forward contracts and other expense net are organized along functional lines and are not included in the measurement of segment profitability. Total assets and total liabilities are centrally managed and are not reviewed at the segment level by the CEO.

 

Our key measures of segment performance and their definitions are:

 

1.     Segment gross margin - Net revenues less Direct cost of revenues attributable to each segment.  

 

2.     Segment adjusted EBITDA - segment gross margin as well as the recurring income earned on sale of transferred assets, less network expenses and certain operating expenses attributable to each segment, such as sales and marketing, technical operations and development, general and administration expenses but excludes gains and losses from unrealized foreign currency, stock-based compensation and transactions that are not indicative of on-going performance, including acquisition and transition costs. Certain revenues and expenses disclosed under the Tucows Corporate category are excluded from segment EBITDA results as they are centrally managed and not monitored by or reported to our CEO by segment, including Mobile Retail Services, eliminations of intercompany transactions, portions of Finance and Human Resources that are centrally managed, Legal and Corporate IT.

 

The Company believes that both segment gross margin and adjusted EBITDA measures are important indicators of the operational strength and performance of its segments, by identifying those items that are not directly a reflection of each segment’s performance or indicative of ongoing operational and profitability trends. Segment gross margin and segment adjusted EBITDA both exclude depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of intangibles assets, impairment of indefinite life intangible assets that are included in the measurement of income before provision for income taxes pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Total assets and total liabilities are centrally managed and are not reviewed at the segment level by the CEO.

 

18

 

Information by reportable segments (with the exception of disaggregated revenue, which is discussed in “Note 10 – Revenue”), which is regularly reported to the chief operating decision maker, and the reconciliations thereof to our income before taxes, are set out in the following tables (Dollar amounts in thousands of US dollars): 

 

Reconciliation of Loss before Provision for Income Taxes to Adjusted EBITDA

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

(In Thousands of US Dollars)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

  

(unaudited)

 
                 

Net Loss for the period

 $(22,772) $(7,981) $(72,823) $(14,126)

Less:

                

Provision (recovery) for income taxes

  (822)  (1,027)  (5,557)  790 

Depreciation of property and equipment

  9,275   7,285   26,770   20,063 

Impairment and loss on disposition of property and equipment

  2,663   (16)  4,679   491 

Amortization of intangible assets

  2,620   2,842   8,101   8,528 

Interest expense, net

  10,739   4,337   29,120   8,555 

Loss on debt extinguishment

  -   -   14,680   - 

Accretion of contingent liability

  -   50   -   198 

Stock-based compensation

  2,308   1,569   6,606   4,396 

Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign exchange revaluation of foreign denominated monetary assets and liabilities

  340   348   254   446 

Acquisition and other costs1

  121   472   1,067   1,549 
                 

Adjusted EBITDA

 $4,472  $7,879  $12,897  $30,890 

1 Acquisition and other costs represent transaction-related expenses, transitional expenses, such as redundant post-acquisition expenses, primarily related to our acquisitions, including Simply Bits in November 2021. Expenses include severance or transitional costs associated with department, operational or overall company restructuring efforts, including geographic alignments.

 

  

Ting

  

Wavelo

  

Tucows Domains

  

Tucows Corporate

  

Consolidated Totals

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023

                    
                     

Net Revenues

                    

External Revenues

 $12,855  $10,397  $61,088  $2,631  $86,971 

Intersegment Revenues

  -   677   -   (677)  - 

Total Net Revenues

  12,855   11,074   61,088   1,954   86,971 

Direct cost of revenues

  4,869   570   42,713   2,565   50,717 

Segment Gross Margin

  7,986   10,504   18,375   (611)  36,254 
                     

Network, other costs

                  7,322 

Network, depreciation of property and equipment

                  9,138 

Network, amortization of intangible assets

                  378 

Network, impairment of property and equipment

                  2,663 

Gross profit

                  16,753 
                     

Expenses:

                    

Sales and marketing

                  17,295 

Technical operations and development

                  4,818 

General and administrative

                  9,399 

Depreciation of property and equipment

                  137 

Amortization of intangible assets

                  2,242 

Loss (gain) on currency forward contracts

                  29 

Total expenses

                  33,920 
                     

Loss from operations

                  (17,167)
                     

Other income (expenses):

                    

Interest expense, net

                  (10,739)

Income earned on sale of transferred assets

                  4,312 

Total other income (expense)

                  (6,427)
                     

Loss before provision for income taxes

                 $(23,594)
                     

Adjusted EBITDA

 $(12,176) $4,207  $10,913  $1,528  $4,472 

 

19

 
  

Ting

  

Wavelo

  

Tucows Domains

  

Tucows Corporate

  

Consolidated Totals

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

                    
                     

Net Revenues

                    

External Revenues

 $10,946  $3,863  $60,281  $2,960  $78,050 

Intersegment Revenues

  -   185   -   (185)  - 

Total Net Revenues

  10,946   4,048   60,281   2,775   78,050 

Direct cost of revenues

  4,290   235   42,111   1,666   48,302 

Segment Gross Margin

  6,656   3,813   18,170   1,109   29,748 
                     

Network, other costs

                  4,244 

Network, depreciation of property and equipment

                  7,136 

Network, amortization of intangible assets

                  378 

Network, impairment of property and equipment

                  3 

Gross profit

                  17,987 
                     

Expenses:

                    

Sales and marketing

                  13,894 

Technical operations and development

                  2,983 

General and administrative

                  7,897 

Depreciation of property and equipment

                  149 

Loss on disposition of property and equipment

                  (19)

Amortization of intangible assets

                  2,464 

Total expenses

                  27,368 
                     

Loss from operations

                  (9,381)
                     

Other income (expenses):

                    

Interest expense, net

                  (4,337)

Income earned on sale of transferred assets

                  4,737 

Other expense, net

                  (27)

Total other income (expense)

                  373 
                     

Loss before provision for income taxes

                 $(9,008)
                     

Adjusted EBITDA

 $(5,040) $(902) $10,385  $3,436  $7,879 

 

20

 
  

Ting

  

Wavelo

  

Tucows Domains

  

Tucows Corporate

  

Consolidated Totals

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

                    
                     

Net Revenues

                    

External Revenues

 $37,116  $27,123  $180,286  $7,854  $252,379 

Intersegment Revenues

  -   2,002   -   (2,002)  - 

Total Net Revenues

  37,116   29,125   180,286   5,852   252,379 

Direct cost of revenues

  14,211   2,295   126,461   7,783   150,750 

Segment Gross Margin

  22,905   26,830   53,825   (1,931)  101,629 
                     

Network, other costs

                  20,638 

Network, depreciation of property and equipment

                  26,331 

Network, amortization of intangible assets

                  1,135 

Network, impairment of property and equipment

                  4,679 

Gross profit

                  48,846 
                     

Expenses:

                    

Sales and marketing

                  49,052 

Technical operations and development

                  14,214 

General and administrative

                  25,674 

Depreciation of property and equipment

                  439 

Amortization of intangible assets

                  6,966 

Loss (gain) on currency forward contracts

                  52 

Total expenses

                  96,397 
                     

Loss from operations

                  (47,551)
                     

Other income (expenses):

                    

Interest expense, net

                  (29,120)

Loss on debt extinguishment

                  (14,680)

Income earned on sale of transferred assets, net

                  12,971 

Other expense, net

                  - 

Total other income (expense)

                  (30,829)
                     

Loss before provision for income taxes

                 $(78,380)
                     

Adjusted EBITDA

 $(31,785) $7,969  $31,829  $4,884  $12,897 

 

21

 
  

Ting

  

Wavelo

  

Tucows Domains

  

Tucows Corporate

  

Consolidated Totals

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

                    
                     

Net Revenues

                    

External Revenues

 $30,955  $19,352  $182,890  $9,036  $242,233 

Intersegment Revenues

  -   513   -   (513)  - 

Total Net Revenues

  30,955   18,839   182,890   9,549   242,233 

Direct cost of revenues

  12,746   2,254   125,023   7,000   147,023 

Segment Gross Margin

  18,209   16,585   57,867   2,549   95,210 
                     

Network, other costs

                  13,188 

Network, depreciation of property and equipment

                  19,620 

Network, amortization of intangible assets

                  1,134 

Network, impairment of property and equipment

                  30 

Gross profit

                  61,238 
                     

Expenses:

                    

Sales and marketing

                  39,384 

Technical operations and development

                  10,212 

General and administrative

                  22,006 

Depreciation of property and equipment

                  443 

Loss on disposition of property and equipment

                  461 

Amortization of intangible assets

                  7,394 

Total expenses

                  79,900 
                     

Loss from operations

                  (18,662)
                     

Other income (expenses):

                    

Interest expense, net

                  (8,555)

Income earned on sale of transferred assets

                  14,009 

Other expense, net

                  (128)

Total other income (expense)

                  5,326 
                     

Loss before provision for income taxes

                 $(13,336)
                     

Adjusted EBITDA

 $(15,546) $5,017  $34,266  $7,153  $30,890 

 

(b)           The following is a summary of the Company’s property and equipment by geographic region (Dollar amounts in thousands of US dollars): 

 

  September 30, 2023  December 31, 2022 
         

Canada

 $1,007  $1,240 

United States

  329,832   280,219 

Europe

  35   36 
  $330,874  $281,495 

 

(c)           The following is a summary of the Company’s amortizable intangible assets by geographic region (Dollar amounts in thousands of US dollars): 

 

  September 30, 2023  December 31, 2022 
         

Canada

 $2,104  $2,736 

United States

  17,716   24,770 
  $19,820  $27,506 

 

22

 

(d)           Valuation and qualifying accounts (Dollar amounts in thousands of US dollars):

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

Balance at beginning of period

  

Charged to costs and expenses

  

Write-offs during period

  

Balance at end of period

 
                 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

 $693  $-  $98  $595 

Twelve months ended December 31, 2022

 $541  $152  $-  $693 

 

Included in Accounts receivables, net, on our consolidated balance sheets are receivables primarily related to customers, as well as other receivables. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, other receivables were $1.1 million and nil. Other receivables related primarily to interest income from short-term cash deposits.

 

 

14. Stockholders' Equity:

 

The following table summarizes stockholders' equity transactions for the three and nine months September 30, 2023 (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars): 

 

                  

Accumulated

     
          

Additional

      

other

  

Total

 
  

Common stock

  

paid in

  

Retained earnings

  

comprehensive

  

stockholders'

 
  

Number

  

Amount

  

capital

  

(Accumulated Deficit)

  

income (loss)

  

equity

 
                         

Balances, June 30, 2023

  10,853,297  $32,945  $11,509  $5,848  $804  $51,106 
                         

Stock-based compensation(1)

  25,843   647   1,728   -   -   2,375 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (22,772)  -   (22,772)

Other comprehensive income (loss)

  -   -   -   -   (664)  (664)

Balances, September 30, 2023

  10,879,140  $33,592  $13,237  $(16,924) $140  $30,045 

 

 

                  

Accumulated

     
          

Additional

      

other

  

Total

 
  

Common stock

  

paid in

  

Retained earnings

  

comprehensive

  

stockholders'

 
  

Number

  

Amount

  

capital

  

(Accumulated Deficit)

  

income (loss)

  

equity

 
                         

Balances, December 31, 2022

  10,817,110  $31,868  $8,106  $55,899  $784  $96,657 
                         

Stock-based compensation(1)

  62,030   1,724   5,131   -       6,855 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (72,823)  -   (72,823)

Other comprehensive income (loss)

  -   -   -   -   (644)  (644)

Balances, September 30, 2023

  10,879,140  $33,592  $13,237  $(16,924) $140  $30,045 

 

(1) The Company capitalizes stock-based compensation costs directly attributable to the development of qualifying assets. Qualifying assets include internally use software (IUS), assets under construction (AUC), equipment, or other long-lived assets that meet the capitalization criteria prescribed by ASC 718. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 the Company capitalized $0.1 million and $0.3 million of stock-based compensation directly attributable to the development of certain IUS assets. 

 

2023 Stock Buyback Program

 

On February 9, 2023, the Company announced that its Board has approved a stock buyback program to repurchase up to $40 million of its common stock in the open market. Purchases will be made exclusively through the facilities of the NASDAQ Capital Market. The $40 million buyback program commenced on February 10, 2023 and is expected to terminate on February 9, 2024. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company did not repurchase shares under this program.

 

2022 Stock Buyback Program

 

On  February 10, 2022, the Company announced that its Board approved a stock buyback program to repurchase up to $40 million of its common stock in the open market. Purchases were to be made exclusively through the facilities of the NASDAQ Capital Market. The stock buyback program commenced on  February 11, 2022 and was terminated on  February 10, 2023. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 the Company did not repurchase shares under this program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 the Company did not repurchase shares under this program.

 

23

 

2021 Stock Buyback Program

 

On  February 9, 2021, the Company announced that its Board approved a stock buyback program to repurchase up to $40 million of its common stock in the open market. Purchases will be made exclusively through the facilities of the NASDAQ Capital Market. The stock buyback program commenced on  February 10, 2021 and was terminated on  February 9, 2022. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 the Company did not repurchase shares under this program. 

 

 

15. Share-based Payments:

 

2006 Tucows Equity Compensation Plan

 

On November 22, 2006, the shareholders of the Company approved the Company’s 2006 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2006 Plan”), which was amended and restated effective July 29, 2010 and which serves as a successor to the 1996 Plan. The 2006 Plan has been established for the benefit of the employees, officers, directors and certain consultants of the Company. The maximum number of common shares which had initially been set aside for issuance under the 2006 Plan is 1.25 million shares. On October 8, 2010, the 2006 Plan was amended to increase the number of shares set aside for issuance by an additional 0.475 million shares to 1.725 million shares. In September 2015, the 2006 Plan was amended to increase the number of shares set aside for issuance by an additional 0.75 million shares to 2.475 million shares. In November 2020, the 2006 Plan was amended to increase the number of shares set aside for issuance by an additional 1.53 million shares to 4.0 million shares. Generally, options issued under the 2006 Plan vest over a four-year period and have a term not exceeding seven years, except for automatic formula grants of non-qualified stock options, which vest after one year and have a five-year term. Prior to the September 2015 amendment to the 2006 Plan, automatic formula grants of non-qualified stock options vested immediately upon grant.

 

Our current equity-based compensation plans include provisions that allow for the “net exercise” of stock options by all plan participants. In a net exercise, any required payroll taxes, federal withholding taxes and exercise price of the shares due from the option holder can be paid for by having the option holder tender back to the Company a number of shares at fair value equal to the amounts due. These transactions are accounted for by the Company as a purchase and retirement of shares. 

 

The fair value of each option grant ("Company Option") is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Because option-pricing models require the use of subjective assumptions, changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value of the options. The Company calculates expected volatility based on historical volatility of the Company’s common shares. The expected term, which represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, is estimated based on historical exercise experience. The Company evaluated historical exercise behavior when determining the expected term assumptions. The risk-free rate assumed in valuing the options is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the option. The Company determines the expected dividend yield percentage by dividing the expected annual dividend by the market price of Tucows Inc. common shares at the date of grant.

 

Details of Company Option transactions for the three and nine months ended  September 30, 2023 and  September 30, 2022 are as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts):

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023

   

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

 
   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

 
                                 

Outstanding, beginning of period

    1,131,882     $ 55.84       1,070,045     $ 59.88  

Granted

    29,000       20.22       24,500       43.80  

Exercised

    -       -       (14,142 )     20.53  

Forfeited

    (10,326 )     34.72       (4,414 )     66.32  

Expired

    (9,161 )     65.19       (21,312 )     57.96  

Outstanding, end of period

    1,141,395       54.83       1,054,677       60.04  

Options exercisable, end of period

    733,662     $ 61.23       533,395     $ 61.51  

 

24

 
   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

 
   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

 
                                 

Outstanding, beginning of period

    1,036,748     $ 59.97       904,151     $ 64.36  

Granted

    166,055       25.29       242,980       43.09  

Exercised

    -       -       (26,709 )     37.53  

Forfeited

    (32,500 )     61.62       (35,808 )     72.22  

Expired

    (28,908 )     63.43       (29,937 )     58.25  

Outstanding, end of period

    1,141,395       54.83       1,054,677       60.04  

Options exercisable, end of period

    733,662     $ 61.23       533,395     $ 61.51  

 

As of September 30, 2023, the exercise prices, weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options and intrinsic values were as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts):

 

  

Options outstanding

  

Options exercisable

 

Exercise price

 

Number outstanding

  

Weighted average exercise price per share

  

Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)

  

Aggregate intrinsic value

  

Number exercisable

  

Weighted average exercise price per share

  

Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)

  

Aggregate intrinsic value

 
                                 

$19.78 - $19.78

  27,500  $19.78   4.9  $17   -  $-   -  $- 

$21.61 - $28.37

  138,255   26.38   6.7   -   -   -   -   - 

$30.70 - $30.74

  20,000   30.71   6.2   -   -   -   -   - 

$40.04 - $48.00

  221,435   42.39   5.6   -   78,919   43.18   5.3   - 

$51.82 - $59.98

  194,258   55.72   1.3   -   226,462   55.70   1.1   - 

$60.01 - $68.41

  296,860   62.10   2.9   -   293,059   62.39   2.7   - 

$70.13 - $79.51

  226,587   78.51   4.3   -   126,035   78.29   4.3   - 

$80.61 - $82.07

  16,500   81.27   5.0   -   9,187   81.35   5.0   - 
   1,141,395  $54.83   4.0  $17   733,662  $61.23   2.8  $- 

 

Total unrecognized compensation cost relating to unvested stock options at September 30, 2023, prior to the consideration of expected forfeitures, is approximately $6.5 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average periodof 3.1 years.

 

2022 Wavelo Equity Compensation Plan

 

On November 9, 2022 the Board of Wavelo approved Wavelo's Equity Compensation Plan (Wavelo ECP), which has been established for the benefit of the employees, officers, directors and certain consultants of Wavelo or Tucows. The Wavelo stock options were introduced in order to provide variable compensation that helps retain executives and ensures that our executives' interests are aligned with those stakeholders of the business to grow long-term value. Wavelo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tucows. The maximum number of Wavelo common shares which have been set aside for issuance under the 2022 Plan is 20 million shares, currently there are 100 million shares outstanding. The options issued under the ECP primarily vest over a period of three years and have a 7-year term. For the initial grants under the plan, the first 25% became exercisable within three months and vesting ratably monthly thereafter, subsequently for three years. Compensation costs for awards of stock-based compensation settled in shares are determined based on the fair value of the share-based instrument at the time of the grant and are recognized as expense over the vesting period of the share-based instrument. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.

 

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Because option-pricing models require the use of subjective assumptions, changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value of the options.  The Company calculates expected volatility based on the actual volatility of comparable publicly traded companies. The risk-free rate assumed in valuing the options is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the option. The Company assumes the expected dividend yield to be zero.

 

25

 

Details of Wavelo's stock option transactions for the three and nine months ended  September 30, 2023 and  September 30, 2022 are as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts):

 

    Three Months Ended September 30, 2023     Three Months Ended September 30, 2022  
   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

 
                                 

Outstanding, beginning of period

    16,463,965     $ 1.27       -     $ -  

Granted

    92,000       1.74       -       -  

Exercised

    -       -       -       -  

Forfeited

    (36,667 )     1.27       -       -  

Expired

    (15,937 )     1.27       -       -  

Outstanding, end of period

    16,503,361       1.27       -       -  

Options exercisable, end of period

    6,748,600     $ 1.27       -     $ -  

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

 
   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

 
                                 

Outstanding, beginning of period

    15,975,528     $ 1.27       -     $ -  

Granted

    767,500       1.33       -       -  

Exercised

    -       -       -       -  

Forfeited

    (207,413 )     1.27       -       -  

Expired

    (32,254 )     1.27       -       -  

Outstanding, end of period

    16,503,361       1.27       -       -  

Options exercisable, end of period

    6,748,600     $ 1.27       -     $ -  

 

As of September 30, 2023, the exercise prices, weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options and intrinsic values were as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts):

 

  

Options outstanding

  

Options exercisable

 

Exercise price

 

Number outstanding

  

Weighted average exercise price per share

  

Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)

  

Aggregate intrinsic value

  

Number exercisable

  

Weighted average exercise price per share

  

Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)

  

Aggregate intrinsic value

 
                                 

$1.27-$1.27

  16,411,361  $1.27   6.1  $7,713   6,748,600  $1.27   6.1  $3,172 

$1.74-$1.74

  92,000   1.74   6.8   -   -   -   -   - 
   16,503,361  $1.27   6.1  $7,713   6,748,600  $1.27   6.1  $3,172 

 

Total unrecognized compensation cost relating to unvested stock options at September 30, 2023, prior to the consideration of expected forfeitures, is approximately $4.7 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years.

 

26

 

2022 Ting Equity Compensation Plan

 

On January 16, 2023 the Board of Ting Fiber, LLC approved Ting's Equity Compensation Plan (Ting ECP), which has been established for the benefit of the employees, officers, directors and certain consultants of Ting or Tucows. The Ting stock options were introduced in order to provide variable compensation that helps retain executives and ensures that our executives' interests are aligned with those stakeholders of the business to grow the long-term value. The maximum number of Ting common units that have been set aside for issuance under the plan is 10 million units, currently there are 100 million common units outstanding. Generally, options issued under the ECP vest over a four-year period and have a term not exceeding ten years. Compensation costs for awards of stock-based compensation settled in shares are determined based on the fair value of share-based instrument at the time of the grant and are recognized as expense over the vesting period of the share-based instrument. 

 

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Because option-pricing models require the use of subjective assumptions, changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value of the options.  The Company calculates expected volatility based on the actual volatility of comparable publicly traded companies. The risk-free rate assumed in valuing the options is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the option. The Company assumes the expected dividend yield to be zero.

 

Details of Ting's stock option transactions for the three and nine months ended  September 30, 2023 and  September 30, 2022 are as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts):

 

    Three Months Ended September 30, 2023   Three Months Ended September 30, 2022  
   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

 
                                 

Outstanding, beginning of period

    7,428,662     $ 6.00       -     $ -  

Granted

    -       6.00       -       -  

Exercised

    -       -       -       -  

Forfeited

    (62,839 )     6.00       -       -  

Expired

    (49,662 )     6.00       -       -  

Outstanding, end of period

    7,316,161       6.00       -       -  

Options exercisable, end of period

    2,656,504     $ 6.00       -     $ -  

 

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

 
   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

   

Number of shares

   

Weighted average exercise price per share

 
                                 

Outstanding, beginning of period

    -     $ -       -     $ -  

Granted

    7,594,000       6.00       -       -  

Exercised

    -       -       -       -  

Forfeited

    (213,650 )     6.00       -       -  

Expired

    (64,189 )     6.00       -       -  

Outstanding, end of period

    7,316,161       6.00       -       -  

Options exercisable, end of period

    2,656,504     $ 6.00       -     $ -  

 

27

 

As of September 30, 2023, the exercise prices, weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options and intrinsic values were as follows (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts):

 

  

Options outstanding

  

Options exercisable

 

Exercise price

 

Number outstanding

  

Weighted average exercise price per share

  

Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)

  

Aggregate intrinsic value

  

Number exercisable

  

Weighted average exercise price per share

  

Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)

  

Aggregate intrinsic value

 
                                 

$6.00 - $6.00

  7,316,161  $6.00   6.3  $-   2,656,504  $6.00   6.3  $- 
   7,316,161  $6.00   6.3  $-   2,656,504  $6.00   6.3  $- 

 

Total unrecognized compensation cost relating to unvested stock options at September 30, 2023, prior to the consideration of expected forfeitures, is approximately $0.5 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.5 years.

 

The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $2.3 million and $6.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, and $1.6 million and $4.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. The Company details of the stock-based compensation expense are as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Company options

  $ 1,819     $ 1,569     $ 4,999     $ 4,396  

Wavelo options

    505       -       1,561       -  

Ting options

    50       -       296       -  

Capitalized stock based compensation

    (66 )     -       (250 )     -  

Total Stock Based Compensation expense

  $ 2,308     $ 1,569     $ 6,606     $ 4,396  

 

The Company capitalizes stock-based compensation costs directly attributable to the development of qualifying assets. Qualifying assets include internal use software (IUS), assets under construction (AUC), equipment, or other long-lived assets that meet the capitalization criteria prescribed by ASC 718. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 The Company capitalized $0.1 million and $0.3 million of stock based compensation directly attributable to the development of certain IUS assets. 

 

 

16. Fair Value Measurement:

 

For financial assets and liabilities recorded in our financial statements at fair value we utilize a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to valuation used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. A financial asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Equity investments without readily determinable fair value include ownership rights that do not provide the Company with control or significant influence. Such equity investments are recorded at cost, less any impairment, and adjusted for subsequent observable price changes as of the date that an observable transaction takes place. Subsequent adjustments are recorded in other income (expense), net.

 

The following table provides a summary of the fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of  September 30, 2023 (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

   

September 30, 2023

 
   

Fair Value Measurement Using

   

Assets

 
   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

at Fair value

 
                                 

Derivative instrument asset, net

  $ -     $ 186     $ -     $ 186  
                                 

Total asset, net

  $ -     $ 186     $ -     $ 186  

 

The following table provides a summary of the fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2022 (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

    December 31, 2022  
    Fair Value Measurement Using     Assets  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     at Fair value  
                                 

Derivative instrument asset, net

  $ -     $ 1,514     $ -     $ 1,514  
                                 

Total assets, net

  $ -     $ 1,514     $ -     $ 1,514  

 

28

 
 

17. Other income:

 

On August 1, 2020, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and between the Company and DISH Wireless L.L.C.(“DISH”). Under the Purchase Agreement and in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Company sold to DISH its mobile customer accounts that are marketed and sold under the Ting brand (other than certain customer accounts associated with one network operator) (“Transferred Assets”). For a period of 10 years following the execution of the Purchase Agreement, DISH will pay a monthly fee to the Company generally equal to an amount of net revenue received by DISH in connection with the transferred customer accounts minus certain fees and expenses, as further set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The Company earned the amounts noted in the table below under the Purchase Agreement during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022. 

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Income earned on sale of Transferred Assets

 $4,312  $4,737  $12,971  $14,009 

Total Other Income

 $4,312  $4,737  $12,971  $14,009 

 

 

18. Redeemable preferred shares:

 

The Company entered into a Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Unit Purchase Agreement”) with Generate TF Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Generate”) on August 8, 2022 (the "Effective Date"), and closed the transaction contemplated thereby on August 11, 2022 (the "Transaction Close") pursuant to which the Company issued and sold 10,000,000 units of its Series A Preferred Units to Generate at a cash purchase price of $6.00 per unit ("Initial Funding"). Under the Unit Purchase Agreement, after the Transaction Close until the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the "End Date") the Company will, upon the achievement of pre-determined operational and financial drawdown milestones issue and sell in subsequent fundings an aggregate of 23,333,333.34 units of additional Series A Preferred Units on the same terms and conditions as in the Initial Funding ("Milestone Fundings"). The investment provided the Company with $60 million of capital upon the Initial Funding, with an additional $140 million of capital commitments available to the Company over the subsequent three-year period if the milestones are achieved. From the Transaction Close until the earlier of (i) the End Date and (ii) the date upon which Generate has paid $140 million pursuant to Milestone Fundings, the Company is required to pay Generate a standby fee at a rate of 0.50% of any portion of the unpaid $140 million capital commitment which will be paid quarterly. The Series A Preferred Units accrue a preferred return to the holder at a rate of 15% per annum, subject to adjustments based on the value of approved projects under the Equity Capital Contribution Agreement (the “ECC Agreement”). The preferred return on the Series A Preferred Units purchased under the Unit Purchase Agreement may be adjusted down to a floor of 13% or up to a ceiling of 17% per annum based on commitment and contribution amounts under the ECC Agreement. The preferred return accrues daily, and is compounded quarterly. The preferred return accrued during the first two years is not payable unless and until the Series A Preferred Units are redeemed. The preferred return accrued after the second anniversary of the Transaction Close is payable by the Company quarterly. If the Company should redeem the Series A Preferred Units prior to the fourth anniversary of the Transaction Close, the Company is required to pay a make-whole premium, which is calculated as the cumulative and compounded preferred return that would have accrued (at the preferred return rate in effect immediately prior to such redemption) on the outstanding unreturned capital balance with respect to the Series A Preferred Units through and including the six-year anniversary of the Transaction Close had such Series A Preferred Unit not been redeemed, discounted at an agreed upon treasury rate plus 50 basis points, compounded quarterly (the "Make-Whole-Premium").

 

The Company's Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the "LLC Agreement"), states that in the event that (i) the Company fails to pay the preferred return for two consecutive quarters, (ii) the Company fails to pay the redemption price in connection with any redemption of the Series A Preferred Units, (iii) the Company materially breaches its obligations under the LLC Agreement, (iv) there occurs an event of default (or similar term) under Tucows Inc.’s or its affiliates’ credit agreement, (v) there occurs material breach if not cured or otherwise remedied in accordance with the terms of any credit facility (taking into account any cure periods), by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any debt facilities where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries incurs indebtedness for borrowed money, or (vi) the Company breaches any covenant under the Unit Purchase Agreement, Generate has the option to either (i) convert Series A Preferred Units based on the Redemption Price into common units of the Company based on the then applicable conversion price ; or (ii) compelling the sale of certain assets of the Company or its subsidiaries of equal value to the Redemption Price.

 

Under the terms of the LLC Agreement, the Company is mandatorily required to redeem the redeemable preferred shares prior to the earliest of (i) a sale of the Company, (ii) a public offering, (iii) an event of default (or similar term) by Tucows Inc. or any of its affiliates under, (iv) a material breach if not cured or otherwise remedied in accordance with the terms of any credit facility (taking into account any cure periods), by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any debt facilities where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries incurs indebtedness for borrowed money, (v) the Company failed to pay the preferred return for two consecutive quarters, and (vi) the six-year anniversary of the Transaction Close. Due to the fact that the redeemable preferred shares are mandatorily redeemable, the redeemable preferred units are classified as a liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The liability was initially recorded at fair value and subsequently recorded at the present value of the settlement amount, which includes the preferred return payments required until the instrument's expected maturity on the sixth anniversary of the Transaction Close, August 10, 2028 using the implicit rate of return of the instrument, 15%. The Company recorded $4.0 million and $12.4 million of accretion expense on the redeemable preferred shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, as interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. 

 

The Company incurred $0.9 million of legal fees related to the redeemable preferred share issuance, which have been reflected as a reduction to the carrying amount of the redeemable preferred unit balance and will be amortized to interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss over the expected six-year term instrument. 

 

On January 30, 2023, the Company issued and sold an additional 5,000,000 units of its Series A Preferred Units to Generate at a cash purchase price of $6.00 per unit. The Milestone Funding provided the Company with an additional $30.0 million of capital. 

 

29

 

On April 21, 2023, the Company issued and sold an additional 833,333 units of Series A Preferred Units to Generate at a cash purchase price of $6.00 per unit pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement. The Milestone Funding provided the Company with an additional $5.0 million of capital and reduced Generate's future capital commitment under the Unit Purchase Agreement to $77.5 million. 

 

On May 4, 2023, Ting Fiber, LLC executed the Ting Class C Notes - Redemption Agreement (the "Redemption Agreement") and the Ting Class C Notes - Side Letter (the "Side Letter Agreement") with Generate. Under the terms of terms of the Redemption Agreement, Ting Fiber, LLC redeemed 5,173,067 Series A Preferred Units held by Generate at $6 per unit, totaling a redemption of $31 million. The terms of the redemption were modified by the Side Letter Agreement, which granted a 30% discount on the make-whole premium which amounted to $14.7 million for a total redemption price of $45.7 million inclusive of the make-whole premium. The Company has accounted for the redemption of the preferred shares as an extinguishment of debt in accordance with ASC 470 - Debt. The resulting loss on debt extinguishment has been recognized as 'Other Income/Expense' in the financial statements. Terms of the Side Letter Agreement also preclude Ting Fiber, LLC from issuing additional Series A Preferred Units for 365 days from the closing of the Redemption Agreement during which time standby fees will be suspended.

 

As of September 30, 2023, the redeemable preferred units have an aggregate liquidation preference of $103.7 million, plus a Make-Whole Premium should redemption occur before the fourth anniversary of the Transaction Date and are senior to the Ting Fiber, LLC common shares with respect to sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s borrowings under the preferred share agreement (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

  

September 30, 2023

  

December 31, 2022

 
         

Opening Balance

 $91,396  $- 

Add: Funding at Transaction Close

  -   60,000 

Add: Milestone Funding

  35,000   27,500 

Add: Accretion of redeemable preferred shares(1)

  12,246   3,896 

Add: Loss on debt extinguishment

  14,680   - 

Less: Redemption of preferred shares

  (45,718)  - 

Redeemable preferred shares balance

  107,604   91,396 

Less: Deferred preferred financing costs

  (535)  (962)

Total Redeemable preferred shares

 $107,069  $90,434 

 

(1) The Company capitalizes interest expenses directly attributable to the development of qualifying assets. Qualifying assets include internally use software (IUS), assets under construction (AUC), equipment, or other long-lived assets that meet the capitalization criteria prescribed by ASC 718. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company capitalized $0.5 million and $3.0 million of interest expenses directly attributable to the development of certain AUC assets, respectively. 

 

The following table summarizes our scheduled repayments as of September 30, 2023 (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

Remainder of 2023

 $- 

2024

  6,248 

2025

  15,838 

2026

  15,751 

2027

  15,838 

Thereafter

  129,838 
  $183,513 

 

 

19. Contingencies:

 

From time to time, the Company has legal claims and lawsuits in connection with its ordinary business operations. The Company vigorously defends such claims. While the final outcome with respect to any actions or claims outstanding or pending as of  September 30, 2023 cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not believe that the resolution of these claims, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position.

 

 

 

ITEM 2.     MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements by us with regard to our expectations as to financial results and other aspects of our business that involve risks and uncertainties and may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect” and “intend,” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this report include statements regarding, among other things: the competition we expect to encounter as our business develops and competes in a broader range of Internet services; the Company's foreign currency requirements, specifically for the Canadian dollar and Euro; Wavelo, and Ting subscriber growth and retention rates; the number of new, renewed and transferred-in domain names we register as our business develops and competes; the effect of a potential generic top level domain "gTLD") expansion by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") on the number of domains we register and the impact it may have on related revenues; our belief regarding the underlying platform for our Tucows Domains services, our expectation regarding the trend of sales of domain names; our belief that, by increasing the number of services we offer, we will be able to generate higher revenues; our expectation regarding litigation; the potential impact of current and pending claims on our business; our valuations of certain deferred tax assets; our expectation to collect our outstanding receivables, net of our allowance for doubtful accounts; our expectation regarding fluctuations in certain expense and cost categories; our expectations to obtain additional financing to accelerate the Ting Internet footprint while sustaining liquidity; our expectations regarding our unrecognized tax; our expectations regarding cash from operations to fund our business; the impact of cancellations of or amendments to market development fund programs under which we receive funds, our expectation regarding our ability to manage realized gains/losses from foreign currency contracts; our partnership with an affiliate of Generate TF Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Generate Affiliate"); and general business conditions and economic uncertainty. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Many factors affect our ability to achieve our objectives and to successfully develop and commercialize our services including:

 

 

Our ability to continue to generate sufficient working capital to meet our operating requirements;

 

 

 

 

Our ability to further accelerate the expansion of the Ting Internet footprint, by obtaining additional financing;

 

 

 

 

Our ability to service our debt commitments and preferred share commitments;

 

 

Our ability to maintain a good working relationship with our vendors and customers;

 

 

 

 

The ability of vendors to continue to supply our needs;

 

 

 

 

Actions by our competitors;

 

 

 

 

Our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel in our business;

 

 

 

 

Our ability to effectively manage our business;

 

 

 

 

The effects of any material impairment of our goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets;

 

 

 

 

Our ability to obtain and maintain approvals from regulatory authorities on regulatory issues;

 

  

  

 

Our ability to invest in the build-out of fiber networks into selected towns and cities to provide Internet access services to residential and commercial customers while maintaining the development and sales of our established services;

     
  Our ability to meet the operational and financial drawdown milestones under the Unit Purchase Agreement with Generate TF Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Generate”), which provides the Company with the ability to obtain additional financing to invest in the expansion of fiber networks;
     
  Our ability to maintain compliance with the operational and financial covenants of the 2023 Notes, which provides the Company with financing to invest in the expansion of fiber networks;
     

 

Adverse tax consequences such as those related to changes in tax laws or tax rates or their interpretations, including with respect to the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ("OECD") model global minimum tax rules;

     

 

The application of judgment in determining our global provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets or liabilities or other tax liabilities given the ultimate tax determination is uncertain;

 

 

 

 

Our ability to effectively integrate acquisitions;

 

 

 

  Our ability to collect anticipated payments from DISH in connection with the 10-year payment stream that is a function of the margin generated by the transferred subscribers over a 10-year period pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement dated August 1, 2020 between the Company and DISH Wireless "DISH" (the "DISH Purchase Agreement"); 
     
 

Pending or new litigation;

     
  Our ability to effectively respond or comply with new data protection regulations and any conflicts that may arise between such regulations and our ICANN contractual requirements; and
     

 

Factors set forth under the caption “Item 1A Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on June 6, 2023 (the “2022 Annual Report”) and in "Item 1A Risk Factors" in Part II of this report.

 

 

 

This list of factors that may affect our future performance and financial and competitive position and the accuracy of forward-looking statements is illustrative, but it is by no means exhaustive. Accordingly, all forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to us as of the date of this document, and we assume no obligation to update these cautionary statements or any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. These statements are not guarantees of future performance.

 

We qualify all the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q by the foregoing cautionary statements.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Our mission is to provide simple useful services that help people unlock the power of the Internet.

 

We accomplish this by reducing the complexity of our customers’ experience as they access the Internet (at home or on the go) and while using Internet services such as domain name registration, email and other Internet related services. We are organized into three operating and reporting segments - Ting, Wavelo, and Tucows Domains. Each segment is differentiated primarily by their services, the markets they serve and the regulatory environments in which they operate. The Ting segment contains the operating results of our retail high speed Internet access operations, including its wholly owned subsidiaries - Cedar and Simply Bits. The Wavelo segment includes our platform and professional services offerings, as well as the billing solutions to Internet services providers ("ISPs") (branded as Platypus). Tucows Domains includes wholesale and retail domain name registration services, as well as value added services derived through our OpenSRS, eNom, Ascio, EPAG and Hover brands. Our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is also our chief operating decision maker, reviewed the operating results of Ting, Wavelo and Tucows Domains as three distinct segments in order to make key operating decisions as well as evaluate segment performance. Certain revenues and expenses disclosed under the Corporate category are excluded from segment earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") results as they are centrally managed and not monitored by or reported to our CEO by segment, including Mobile Retail Services, the 10-year payment stream on transferred legacy Mobile subscribers, eliminations of intercompany transactions, portions of Finance and Human Resources, Legal and Corporate IT. 

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, we reported net revenue of $87.0 million and $78.1 million, respectively.  

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, we reported net revenue of $252.4 million and $242.2 million, respectively. 

 

Ting 

 

Ting and its wholly owned subsidiaries - Cedar, and Simply Bits includes the provision of fixed high-speed Internet access services to select towns throughout the United States, with further expansion underway to both new and existing markets. Our primary sales channel is through the Ting website. The primary focus of this segment is to provide reliable Gigabit Internet services to consumer and business customers. Revenues are all generated in the U.S. and are provided on a monthly basis and have no fixed contract terms.

 

Wavelo 

 

Wavelo includes the provision of full-service platforms and professional services providing a variety of solutions that support Communication Services providers ("CSPs"), including subscription and billing management, network orchestration and provisioning, and individual developer tools. Wavelo's focus is to provide accessible telecom software to CSPs globally, minimizing network and technical barriers and improving internet access worldwide. Wavelo's suite of flexible, cloud-based software simplifies the management of mobile and internet network access, enabling CSPs to better utilize their existing infrastructure, focus on customer experience and scale their businesses faster. Wavelo launched as a proven asset for CSPs, with DISH using Wavelo’s Mobile Network Operating System ("MONOS") software to drive additional value within its Digital Operator Platform since 2021. More recently, Ting Internet has also integrated Wavelo’s Internet Service Operating System ("ISOS") and Subscriber Management ("SM") software to enable faster subscriber growth and footprint expansion. The Wavelo segment also includes the Platypus brand and platform, our legacy billing solution for ISPs. Wavelo revenues from MONOS, ISOS, SM and professional services are all generated in the U.S. and our customer agreements have set contract lengths with the underlying CSP. Similarly, Platypus revenues are largely generated in the U.S., with a small portion earned in Canada and other countries.

 

Tucows Domains

 

Tucows Domains includes wholesale and retail domain name registration services, as well as value added services derived through our OpenSRS, eNom, Ascio, EPAG and Hover brands. We earn revenues primarily from the registration fees charged to resellers in connection with new, renewed and transferred domain name registrations. In addition, we earn revenues from the sale of retail domain name registration and email services to individuals and small businesses. Tucows Domains revenues are attributed to the country in which the contract originates, which is primarily in Canada and the U.S for OpenSRS and eNom brands. Ascio domain services contracts and EPAG agreements primarily originate in Europe.

 

Our primary distribution channel is a global network of over 35,000 resellers that operate in over 200 countries and who typically provide their customers, the end-users of Internet-based services, with solutions for establishing and maintaining an online presence.  Our primary focus is serving the needs of this network of resellers by providing the broadest portfolio of generic top-level domain (“gTLD”) and the country code top-level domain options and related services, a white-label platform that facilitates the provisioning and management of domain names, a powerful Application Program Interface, easy-to-use interfaces, comprehensive management and reporting tools, and proactive and attentive customer service. Our services are integral to the solutions that our resellers deliver to their customers. We provide “second tier” support to our resellers by email, chat and phone in the event resellers experience issues or problems with our services. In addition, our Network Operating Center proactively monitors all services and network infrastructure to address deficiencies before customer services are impacted.

 

 

We believe that the underlying platforms for our services are among the most mature, reliable and functional reseller-oriented provisioning and management platforms in our industry, and we continue to refine, evolve and improve these services for both resellers and end-users. Our business model is characterized primarily by non-refundable, up-front payments, which lead to recurring revenue and positive operating cash flow.

 

Wholesale, primarily branded as OpenSRS, eNom, EPAG and Ascio, derives revenue from its domain service and from providing value-added services. The OpenSRS, eNom, EPAG and Ascio domain services manage 24.5 million domain names under the Tucows, eNom, EPAG and Ascio ICANN registrar accreditations and for other registrars under their own accreditations.

 

Value-Added Services include hosted email which provides email delivery and webmail access to millions of mailboxes, Internet security services, WHOIS privacy, publishing tools and other value-added services. All of these services are made available to end-users through a network of over 35,000 web hosts, ISPs, and other resellers around the world. In addition, we also derive revenue by monetizing domain names which are near the end of their lifecycle through advertising or auction sale.

 

Retail, primarily the Hover and eNom portfolio of websites, including eNom, and eNom Central, derive revenues from the sale of domain name registration, email services to individuals and small businesses. Retail also includes our Personal Names Service – based on 36,000 surname domains – that allows roughly two-thirds of Americans to purchase an email address based on their last name. The retail segment includes the sale of the rights to its portfolio of surname domains used in connection with our Realnames email service as well as our Exact Hosting Service, that provides Linux hosting services for websites of individuals and small businesses.

 

KEY BUSINESS METRICS AND NON-GAAP MEASURES

 

We regularly review a number of business metrics, including the following key metrics and non-GAAP measures, to assist us in evaluating our business, measure the performance of our business model, identify trends impacting our business, determine resource allocations, formulate financial projections and make strategic business decisions. The following tables set forth the key business metrics which we believe are the primary indicators of our performance for the periods presented:

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Tucows reports its financial information in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Along with this information, to assist financial statement users in an assessment of our historical performance, we typically disclose and discuss a non-GAAP financial measure, adjusted EBITDA, on investor conference calls and related events that exclude certain non-cash and other charges as we believe that the non-GAAP information enhances investors’ overall understanding of our financial performance. Please see discussion of adjusted EBITDA in the Results of Operations section below.

 

Ting Internet

 

September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

 
   

(in '000's)

 

Ting Internet accounts under management

    41       33  

Ting Internet owned infrastructure serviceable addresses

    114       90  

Ting Internet partner infrastructure serviceable addresses

    25       19  

 

Domain Services

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

 
   

(in 000's)

 

Total new, renewed and transferred-in domain name transactions 2

    5,391       5,234  

Domains under management1

    24,543       24,504  

 

 

(1)

For a discussion of these period-to-period changes in the domains provisioned and domains under management and how they impacted our financial results see the Net Revenues discussion below.

  (2) Includes all transactions processed under our accreditations for our resellers and our retail brands, as well as transactions processed on behalf of other registrars using our platform.

 

 

Domain Services

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

 
   

(in 000's)

 

Total new, renewed and transferred-in domain name transactions 2

    16,778       16,617  

Domains under management1

    24,543       24,504  

 

 

(1)

For a discussion of these period-to-period changes in the domains provisioned and domains under management and how they impacted our financial results see the Net Revenues discussion below.

  (2) Includes all transactions processed under our accreditations for our resellers and our retail brands, as well as transactions processed on behalf of other registrars using our platform.

 

Domain Services

 

September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

 
   

(in 000's)

 

Registered using Registrar Accreditation belonging to the Tucows Group

    17,613       18,066  

Registered using Registrar Accreditation belonging to Resellers

    6,930       6,438  

Total domain names under management

    24,543       24,504  

 

OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND RISKS

 

Our revenue is primarily realized in U.S. dollars and a major portion of our operating expenses are paid in Canadian dollars. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar may have a material effect on our business, financial condition and results from operations. In particular, we may be adversely affected by a significant weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar on a quarterly and an annual basis. Our policy with respect to foreign currency exposure is to manage our financial exposure to certain foreign exchange fluctuations with the objective of neutralizing some or all of the impact of foreign currency exchange movements by entering into foreign exchange forward contracts to mitigate the exchange risk on a portion of our Canadian dollar exposure. We may not always enter into such forward contracts and such contracts may not always be available and economical for us. Additionally, the forward rates established by the contracts may be less advantageous than the market rate upon settlement.

 

Ting

 

As an ISP, we have invested and expect to continue to invest in new fiber to the home (“FTTH”) deployments in select markets in the United States. The investments are a reflection of our ongoing efforts to build FTTH networks via public-private partnerships in communities we identify as having strong, unmet demand for FTTH services. Given the significant upfront build and operational investments for these FTTH deployments, there is risk that future technological and regulatory changes as well as competitive responses from incumbent local providers, may result in us not fully recovering these investments.

  

The communications industry continues to compete on the basis of network reach and performance, types of services and devices offered, and price.

 

Wavelo

 

Wavelo launched as a proven asset for CSPs, with DISH using Wavelo’s MONOS software to drive additional value within its Digital Operator Platform since 2021. More recently, Ting Internet has also integrated Wavelo’s ISOS and SM software to enable faster subscriber growth and footprint expansion. With our external platform and professional services revenues concentrated to one customer in DISH, we are exposed to significant risk if we are unable to maintain this customer relationship or establish new relationships for any of our Platforms in the future. Additionally, our revenues as a platform provider are directly tied to the subscriber volumes of DISH's MVNO or Mobile Network Operator ("MNO") networks, and our profitability is contingent on the ability of DISH to continue to add subscribers, either from organic growth or from migration off legacy systems, onto our platforms.

 

 

Tucows Domains

 

The increased competition in the market for Internet services in recent years, which we expect will continue to intensify in the short and long term, poses a material risk for us. As new registrars are introduced, existing competitors expand service offerings and competitors offer price discounts to gain market share, we face pricing pressure, which can adversely impact our revenues and profitability. To address these risks, we have focused on leveraging the scalability of our infrastructure and our ability to provide proactive and attentive customer service to aggressively compete to attract new customers and to maintain existing customers.

  

Substantially all of our Tucows Domains revenue is derived from domain name registrations and related value-added services from wholesale and retail customers using our provisioning and management platforms. The market for wholesale registrar services is both price sensitive and competitive and is evolving with the introduction of new gTLDs, particularly for large volume customers, such as large web hosting companies and owners of large portfolios of domain names. We have a relatively limited ability to increase the pricing of domain name registrations without negatively impacting our ability to maintain or grow our customer base. Growth in Tucows Domains revenue is dependent upon our ability to continue to attract and retain customers by maintaining consistent domain name registration and value-added service renewal rates and to grow our customer relationships through refining, evolving and improving our provisioning platforms and customer service for both resellers and end-users. In addition, we also generate revenue through pay-per-click advertising and through the OpenSRS Domain Expiry Stream. The revenue associated with name sales and advertising has recently experienced flat to declining trends due to the uncertainty around the implementation of ICANN’s New gTLD Program, lower traffic and advertising yields in the marketplace, which we expect to continue.

  

From time-to-time certain vendors provide us with market development funds to expand or maintain the market position for their services. Any decision by these vendors to cancel or amend these programs for any reason may result in payments in future periods not being commensurate with what we have achieved during past periods.

 

Other opportunities, challenges and risks

 

As described above, the Company is entitled to a long-term payment stream that is a function of the margin generated by the transferred subscribers over the 10-year term of the DISH Purchase Agreement executed in Fiscal 2020. This consideration structure may not prove to be successful or profitable in the long-term to us if the existing subscriber base churns at an above average rate. Additionally, given DISH controls the revenues and costs incurred associated with the acquired subscribers, there could arise a situation where profitability for the subscriber base is diminished either by lower price points or cost inflation. Additionally, as part of the DISH Purchase Agreement, the Company retained a small number of customer accounts associated with one MNO agreement that was not reassigned to DISH at time of sale. We continue to be subject to the minimum revenue commitments previously agreed to with this excluded MNO agreement. The Company is able to continue adding customers under the excluded MNO network in order to meet the commitment. However, with no direct ability to change customer pricing and limited ability to renegotiate contract costs or significant terms, the Company may be unable to meet the minimum commitments with this MNO partner and could incur significant and recurring penalties until such a time that the contract is complete. These penalties would negatively impact our operational performance and financial results if enforced by the MNO. During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company has accrued $0.1 million and $0.5 million of penalties, respectively associated with the minimum commitment shortfall and expects to continue to incur penalties through the end of Fiscal 2023 and thereafter should limited subscriber growth persist. 

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting estimates as previously disclosed in Part II, Item 7 of our 2022 Annual Report. 

 

Inflation, rising interest rates and expected impacts

 

The Company continues to operate in a challenging macro environment as inflation and interest rates continue to rise globally. The impact of these issues on our business will vary by geographic market and operating segment. We continue to monitor economic conditions closely, as well as segment revenues, cash position, cash flow from operations, interest rates and other factors. Across our three operating segments - Ting, Wavelo and Tucows Domains, personnel costs continue to be impacted by sustained wage inflation incurred in the prior periods. These increases were necessary in order to remain competitive to attract and retain the best talent. The Company continues to monitor and assess wage inflation and is managing it against offsets in hiring plans and contractor mix. Outside of wage inflation, the operating segment most impacted by inflation overall is Ting, as sustained levels of inflation increase our Fiber Network build costs across both materials and contracted labor. We continue to assess ways to reduce build costs through more efficient management of our build design, build efficiency and real-time tracking of build costs to more effectively manage total cost estimates against actual spends. We are also managing our significant vendor relationships closely to mitigate supply chain disruptions and ensure optimal pricing. However, there can be no assurance as to the effectiveness of our efforts to mitigate any impact of the current and future adverse economic conditions, and other unknown developments.

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 AS COMPARED TO THE three and nine months ended September 30, 2022

 

NET REVENUES

 

Ting

 

Ting and its subsidiaries - Cedar, and Simply Bits includes the provision of high-speed Internet access services to select towns throughout the United States, with further expansion underway to both new and existing markets. Our primary sales channel is through the Ting website. The primary focus of this segment is to provide reliable Gigabit Fiber and Fixed Wireless Internet services to consumer and business customers. Revenues are all generated in the U.S., have no fixed contract terms and are provided on a monthly basis, with unlimited bandwidth based on a fixed price.

 

The Company’s billing cycle for all Ting Internet customers is computed based on the customer’s activation date. Since consideration is collected before the service period, revenue is initially deferred and recognized as the Company performs its obligation to provide Internet access within each reporting period. In addition, revenues associated with the sale of Internet hardware to subscribers are recognized when title and risk of loss is transferred to the subscriber and shipment has occurred. Incentive marketing credits given to customers are recorded as a reduction of revenue.

 

In those cases, where payment is not received at the time of sale, as is the case for service requiring installation, then revenue is not recognized until a customer's service is activated. The Company records costs that reflect expected refunds, rebates and credit card charge-backs as a reduction of revenues at the time of the sale based on historical experiences and current expectations. 

 

Wavelo

 

Platform Services

 

Tucows' Platform Services include the following full-service platforms from Wavelo, including MONOS, ISOS, SM and our legacy Platypus ISP Billing software. Under each of these platforms there are a variety of solutions that support CSPs, including subscription and billing management, network orchestration and provisioning, and individual developer tools. Wavelo launched as a proven asset for CSPs, with DISH using Wavelo’s MONOS software to drive additional value within its Digital Operator Platform since 2021. More recently, Ting has also integrated Wavelo’s ISOS and SM software to enable faster subscriber growth and footprint expansion. Wavelo's customers are billed monthly, on a postpaid basis. The monthly fees are variable, based on the volume of their subscribers utilizing the platform during a given month, to which minimums may apply. Customers may also be billed fixed platform fees and granted fixed credits as part of the consideration for long-term contracts. Consideration received is allocated to platform services and bundled professional services and recognized as each service obligation is fulfilled. Any fixed fees for Wavelo are recognized into revenue evenly over the service period, while variable usage fees are recognized each month as they are consumed. Professional services revenue is recognized as the hours of professional services granted to the customer are used or expire. When consideration for these platform services is received before the service is delivered, the revenue is initially deferred and recognized only as the Company performs its obligation to provide services. Likewise, if platform services are delivered before the Company has the unconditional right to invoice the customer, revenue is recognized as a Contract Asset.

           

Other Professional Services

 

This revenue stream includes any other professional services earned in connection with the Wavelo business from the provision of standalone technology services development work. These are billed to our customers monthly at set and established rates for services provided in period. The Company recognizes revenue over this new revenue stream as the Company satisfies its obligations to provide professional services.

 

Tucows Domains

 

Wholesale - Domain Services

 

Domain registration contracts, which can be purchased for terms of one to ten years, provide our resellers and retail registrant customers with the exclusive right to a personalized internet address from which to build an online presence. The Company enters into domain registration contracts in connection with each new, renewed and transferred-in domain registration. At the inception of the contract, the Company charges and collects the registration fee for the entire registration period. Though fees are collected upfront, revenue from domain registrations are recognized ratably over the registration period as domain registration contracts contain a ‘right to access’ license of IP, which is a distinct performance obligation measured over time. The registration period begins once the Company has confirmed that the requested domain name has been appropriately recorded in the registry under contractual performance standards.

 

Historically, our wholesale domain service has constituted the largest portion of our business and encompasses all of our services as an accredited registrar related to the registration, renewal, transfer and management of domain names. In addition, this service fuels other revenue categories as it often is the initial service for which a reseller will engage us, enabling us to follow on with other services and allowing us to add to our portfolio by purchasing names registered through us upon their expiration. Tucows Domains will continue to be the largest portion of our business and will further fuel our ability to sell add-on services.

 

The Company is an ICANN accredited registrar. Thus, the Company is the primary obligor with our reseller and retail registrant customers and is responsible for the fulfillment of our registrar services to those parties. As a result, the Company reports revenue in the amount of the fees we receive directly from our reseller and retail registrant customers. Our reseller customers maintain the primary obligor relationship with their retail customers, establish pricing and retain credit risk to those customers. Accordingly, the Company does not recognize any revenue related to transactions between our reseller customers and their ultimate retail customers.

 

 

Wholesale – Value-Added Services

 

We derive revenue from domain related value-added services like digital certifications, WHOIS privacy and hosted email and by providing our resellers and retail registrant customers with tools and additional functionality to be used in conjunction with domain registrations. All domain related value-added services are considered distinct performance obligations which transfer the promised service to the customer over the contracted term. Fees charged to customers for domain related value-added services are collected at the inception of the contract, and revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the contracted term, consistent with the satisfaction of the performance obligations.

 

We also derive revenue from other value-added services, which primarily consists of proceeds from the OpenSRS, eNom and Ascio domain expiry streams.

 

Retail

 

We derive revenues mainly from Hover and eNom’s retail properties through the sale of retail domain name registration and email services to individuals and small businesses. The retail segment also includes the sale of the rights to its portfolio of surname domains used in connection with our Realnames email service and Linux hosting services for websites through our Exact Hosting brand. 

 

Tucows Corporate - Mobile Services and Eliminations

 

Although we still provide mobile telephony services to a small subset of customers retained through the Ting Mobile brand as part of the DISH Purchase Agreement executed in Fiscal 2020, this revenue stream no longer represents the Company's strategic focus going forward. Instead, we have transitioned towards being a platform provider for CSPs globally via Wavelo. Retail telephony services and transition services revenues are excluded from segment EBITDA results as they are centrally managed and not monitored by or reported to our CEO by segment. 

 

Ting Mobile wireless usage contracts grant customers access to standard talk, text and data mobile services. Ting Mobile contracts are billed based on the customer's selected rate plan, which can either be usage based or an unlimited plan. All rate plan options are charged to customers on a postpaid, monthly basis at the end of their billing cycle. All future revenues associated with Retail Mobile Services stream will only be for this subset of customers retained by the Company, as mentioned above. Ting Mobile services are primarily contracted through the Ting website, for one month at a time and contain no commitment to renew the contract following each customer's monthly billing cycle. The Company's billing cycle for all Ting Mobile customers is computed based on the customer's activation date. In order to recognize revenue as the Company satisfies its obligations, we compute the amount of revenues earned but not billed from the end of each billing cycle to the end of each reporting period. In addition, revenues associated with the sale of wireless devices and accessories are recognized when title and risk of loss is transferred to the customer and shipment has occurred. Incentive marketing credits given to customers are recorded as a reduction of revenue.

 

The Mobile Services revenue streams also includes transitional services provided to DISH. These are billed monthly at set and established rates for services provided in period and include the provision of sales, marketing, customer support, order fulfillment, and data analytics related to the legacy customer base sold to DISH. The Company recognizes revenue as the Company satisfies its obligations to provide transitional services. 

 

As a form of consideration for the sale of the customer relationships, the Company receives a payout on the margin associated with the legacy customer base sold to DISH, over a period of 10 years. This has been classified as Other Income and not considered revenue in the current period.          

 

The following table presents our net revenues, by revenue source (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                 

Ting:

                               

Fiber Internet Services

  $ 12,855     $ 10,946     $ 37,116     $ 30,955  
                                 

Wavelo:

                               

Platform Services

    10,697       4,048       27,537       18,115  

Other Professional Services

    377       -       1,588       1,750  

Total Wavelo

    11,074       4,048       29,125       19,865  
                                 

Tucows Domains:

                               

Wholesale

                               

Domain Services

    47,657       46,985       140,734       140,800  

Value Added Services

    4,252       4,883       13,441       16,129  

Total Wholesale

    51,909       51,868       154,175       156,929  
                                 

Retail

    9,179       8,413       26,111       25,961  

Total Tucows Domains

    61,088       60,281       180,286       182,890  
                                 

Tucows Corporate:

                               

Mobile services and eliminations

    1,954       2,775       5,852       8,523  
                                 
    $ 86,971     $ 78,050     $ 252,379     $ 242,233  

Increase over prior period

  $ 8,921             $ 10,146          

Increase - percentage

    11 %             4 %        

 

 

The following table presents our net revenues, by revenue source, as a percentage of total net revenues (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars):

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                 

Ting:

                               

Fiber Internet Services

    15 %     14 %     15 %  

13

%
                                 

Wavelo:

                               

Platform Services

    12 %     5 %     11 %  

7

%

Other Professional Services

    0 %     0 %     1 %  

1

%

Total Wavelo

    12 %     5 %     12 %  

8

%
                                 

Tucows Domains:

                               

Wholesale

                               

Domain Services

    55 %     60 %     56 %  

59

%

Value Added Services

    5 %     6 %     5 %  

7

%

Total Wholesale

    60 %     66 %     61 %  

66

%
                                 

Retail

    11 %     11 %     10 %  

11

%

Total Tucows Domains

    71 %     77 %     71 %  

77

%
                                 

Tucows Corporate:

                               

Mobile services and eliminations

    2 %     4 %  

2

%  

2

%
                                 
      100 %     100 %     100 %  

100

%

 

Total net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $8.9 million, to $87.0 million from $78.1 million when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. The three-month increase in net revenue was driven by our Wavelo, Ting, and Tucows Domains segments. The Wavelo segment increased $7.1 million in the current period primarily from the migration of DISH Boost Mobile subscribers onto our platform. The Ting segment increased $2.0 million in the current period as a result of subscriber growth from the continued buildout of our Fiber network across the United States. The Tucows Domains segment increased $0.9 million primarily driven by outsized portfolio sales in the current period. These increases were partially offset by decreased revenues from Mobile Services and eliminations which decreased $0.8 million attributable to increased intercompany revenues, decreased telephony services, and decreased transitional services revenues. 

 

Total net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $10.2 million, to $252.4 million from $242.2 million when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The nine-month increase in net revenue was driven by our Wavelo and Ting segments. The Wavelo segment increased $9.2 million in the current period primarily from the migration of DISH Boost Mobile subscribers onto our platform. The Ting segment increased $6.1 million in the current period as a result of subscriber growth from the continued buildout of our Fiber network across the United States. These increases were partially offset by decreased revenues from both Mobile Services and eliminations as well as the Tucows Domains segment. Mobile Services and eliminations decreased $2.7 million attributable to increased intercompany revenues, decreased transitional services, and decreased telephony services revenues. Tucows Domains decreased $2.6 million in the current period from the continued normalization of domain name registration growth from those observed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in prior years. 

 

Deferred revenue at September 30, 2023 increased by $4.7 million to $149.8 million from $145.1 million at December 31, 2022. This was primarily driven by Tucows Domains, accounting for $4.6 million of the increase which is due to the increase in current period billings for domain name registrations and service renewals, characteristic of the seasonal renewal pattern we see during the beginning of a Fiscal Year. Tucows Domains also increased prices as a result of increased costs from gTLD registries, which is also a factor in increased deferred revenues in the current period. Additionally, Ting saw a small increase of $0.3 million, reflective of the continued growth in customer base and billings of that segment relative to December 31, 2022. These increases were partially offset by a decrease from Wavelo of $1.0 million, specifically related to Other Professional Services revenues for standalone technology services development work with DISH, which we defer until such time as that work is complete and we've satisfied our obligations to provide the professional services. These other professional services were completed in the current period and thus recognized out of previously deferred revenues.

 

As a result of significant subscriber migration onto our platform in the current period, DISH, a customer within our Wavelo segment now accounts for 12% of total net revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 11% of total revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. No customer accounted for more than 10% of total net revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. DISH accounted for 44% of total accounts receivable at September 30, 2023 and 46% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2022. Though a significant portion of the Company’s Tucows Domains revenues are prepaid by our customers, where the Company does collect receivables, significant management judgment is required at the time revenue is recorded to assess whether the collection of the resulting receivables is reasonably assured. On an ongoing basis, we assess the ability of our customers to make required payments. Based on this assessment, we expect the carrying amount of our outstanding receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, to be fully collected.

 

 

Ting

 

Ting generated $12.9 million in net revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2023, up $2.0 million or 18% compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. This growth is driven by subscriber growth across our Fiber network relative to the three months ended September 30, 2022, as well as the continued expansion of our Ting Internet footprint to new Ting towns throughout the United States. 

 

Ting generated $37.1 million in net revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, up $6.1 million or 20% compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the above discussion, this growth is driven by subscriber growth across our Fiber network relative to the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as well as the continued expansion of our Ting Internet footprint to new Ting towns throughout the United States. 

 

As of September 30, 2023, Ting Internet had access to 114,000 owned infrastructure serviceable addresses, 25,000 partner infrastructure serviceable addresses and 41,000 active subscribers under its management; compared to having access to 90,000 owned infrastructure serviceable addresses, 19,000 partner infrastructure serviceable addresses and 33,000 active subscribers under its management as of September 30, 2022. These figures exclude any changes in serviceable addresses and accounts attributable to Simply Bits.

 

Wavelo

 

Platform Services

 

Net revenues from Wavelo Platform Services for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $6.7 million or 168% , to $10.7  million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. This is driven from increased MONOS platform revenues earned from the migration of additional DISH subscribers, from their Boost Mobile brand onto our new platform. Migration of the full Boost Mobile subscriber base onto the MONOS platform was complete by the end of June 30, 2023. The increased platform fees in the current period are partially offset by a reduction of revenues related to the amortization of the related contract asset with DISH. The Company expects the contract asset to continue to amortize against revenue through the remainder of Fiscal 2023 and thereafter as we continue to fulfill the performance obligations of the contract. Our full-service platforms support CSPs with subscription and billing management, network orchestration and provisioning, and individual developer tools. Wavelo launched as a proven asset for CSPs, with DISH using Wavelo’s MONOS software to drive additional value within its Digital Operator Platform since 2021. More recently, Ting Internet has also integrated Wavelo’s ISOS and SM software to enable faster subscriber growth and footprint expansion. Any intercompany ISOS or SM revenues earned from Ting Internet are eliminated upon consolidation.

 

Net revenues from Wavelo Platform Services for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $9.4 million or 52%, to $27.5 million as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the above discussion, this is driven from increased MONOS platform revenues earned from the migration of additional DISH subscribers, from their Boost Mobile brand onto our new platform. The increased platform fees in the current period are partially offset by a reduction of revenues related to the amortization of the related contract asset with DISH. The Company expects the contract asset to continue to amortize against revenue through the remainder of Fiscal 2023 and thereafter as we continue to fulfill the performance obligations of the contract. Any intercompany ISOS or SM revenues earned from Ting Internet are eliminated upon consolidation.

 

Other Professional Services

 

Net revenues from Other Professional Services for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $0.4 million or 100%, to $0.4 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. These revenues related to the provision of standalone technology services development work for our CSP customers and are non-recurring and often one-time in nature, and expectantly can fluctuate period over period. These revenues depend on the volume (if any) and scope of standalone technology services development work our customers engage us to perform. In the current period, we performed more standalone professional services for our customers.

 

Net revenues from Other Professional Services for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $0.2 million or 11%, to $1.6 million as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the above discussion, this is driven by less standalone professional services performed in the current period for our customers as their focus turned to completing subscriber migrations to our platform. 

 

Tucows Domains

 

Wholesale - Domain Services

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2023, Wholesale domain services net revenue increased by $0.7 million to $47.7 million, when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. Increases from Wholesale domain registrations were driven from domain name registration growth and price increases through the current period.

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, Wholesale domain services net revenue decreased by $0.1 million to $140.7 million, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the above discussions, the flat revenue impact from Wholesale domain registrations was driven from the continued normalization of domain name registration growth and slowed renewal rates from those observed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in prior years.

 

As of September 30, 2023 together, the OpenSRS, eNom, EPAG, and Ascio Domain Services manage 24.5 million domain names under the Tucows, eNom, EPAG and Ascio ICANN registrar accreditations and for other registrars under their own accreditations. Domains under management has increased minimally when compared to September 30, 2022. The change in domains under management came largely from an increase in OpenSRS, offset by decreases across our other brands including eNom, Ascio and EPAG. 

 

Wholesale - Value Added Services

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2023, value-added services net revenue decreased by $0.6 million to $4.3 million, when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. The decrease in value-added service revenue was driven in part by lower digital certifications and expiry revenues. Expiry revenue decreases across our Domain Services brands as a result of the normalization of renewal rates and domains under management discussed above in connection to COVID-19. The prior period continued to benefit from a significant volume of expired domain names being available for our expiry streams, which returned favorable proceeds at auction and drove revenue generation for value added services. That continues to hold true, albeit at a slower rate as the value of domain names sold at auction has declined relative to the prior period. 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, value-added services net revenue decreased by $2.7 million to $13.4 million, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the discussion above, the decrease in value-added service revenue was primarily driven by lower expiry revenues across our Domain Services brands as a result of the normalization of renewal rates and domains under management discussed above in connection to COVID-19; and a smaller decrease in revenues from digital certificates. 

 

Retail

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2023, retail domain services net revenue increased by $0.8 million to $9.2 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. This was driven by increased revenues related to numerous outsized domain name portfolio sales in the current period as well as small increases across domain name registrations and Exact Hosting. 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, retail domain services net revenue increased by $0.1 million to $26.1 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This was driven by increased revenues related to outsized domain name portfolio sales in the current period as well as Exact Hosting revenues. These increasing impacts are partially offset by a decrease in domain name registration.  

 

Tucows Corporate - Mobile Services and Eliminations

 

Net revenues from Mobile Services and eliminations for the three months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $0.8 million to $2.0 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. This was driven by incremental intercompany corporate eliminations of $0.5 million, primarily a result of increased revenues associated with ISOS and SM platforms billing between Wavelo and Ting, which increased in the current period consistent with the subscriber growth experienced by the Ting segment as discussed above. The decrease was furthered by decreased revenues of $0.2 million associated with the mobile telephony services and device revenues from the small group of customers retained by the Company as part of the DISH Purchase Agreement as a result of organic subscriber churn we experienced relative to the three months ended September 30, 2022. This was also furthered by decreased transitional services of $0.1 million, notably from a decreased level of customer support and marketing services provided to DISH in connection with the legacy Ting Mobile customer base.

 

Net revenues from Mobile Services and eliminations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $2.6 million to $5.9 million as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This was driven by incremental intercompany corporate eliminations of $1.7 million, a result of increased revenues associated with ISOS and SM platforms billing between Wavelo and Ting, which increased in the current period consistent with the subscriber growth experienced by the Ting segment as discussed above. This was furthered by decreased transitional services of $0.6 million, notably from a decreased level of customer support and marketing services provided to DISH in connection with the legacy Ting Mobile customer base. This decrease was also furthered by decreased revenues of $0.4 million associated with the mobile telephony services and device revenues from the small group of customers retained by the Company as part of the DISH Purchase Agreement as a result of organic subscriber churn we experienced relative to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. 

 

COST OF REVENUES

 

Ting

 

Cost of revenues primarily includes the costs for provisioning high speed Internet access for Ting and its subsidiaries - Cedar, and Simply Bits, which is comprised of network access fees paid to third-parties to use their network, leased circuit costs to directly support enterprise customers, the personnel and related expenses (net of capitalization) for the physical planning, design, construction and build out of the physical Fiber network, and as well as personnel and related expenses (net of capitalization) for the installation, activation, repair, maintenance and overall field service delivery of the Ting business. Hardware costs include the cost of equipment sold to end customers, including routers, ONTs, and IPTV products, and any adjustments on this inventory. Other costs include field vehicle expenses, and small sundry equipment and supplies consumed in building the Fiber network.

 

 

Wavelo

 

Platform Services

 

Cost of revenues to provide the MONOS, ISOS and SM platforms, as well as our legacy Platypus ISP Billing software services including network access, provisioning and billing services for CSPs. This includes the amortization of any capitalized contract fulfillment costs over the period consistent with the pattern of transferring network access, provisioning and billing services to which the cost relates. Additionally, this includes any fees paid to third-party service providers primarily for printing services in connection with the Platypus ISP Billing software.

 

Other Professional Services

 

Cost of revenues to provide standalone technology services development work to our CSP customers to help support their businesses. This includes any personnel and contractor fees for any client service resources retained by the Company. Only a subset of the Company's employee base provides professional services to our customers. This cost reflects that group of resources.

 

Tucows Domains 

 

Wholesale - Domain Services

 

Cost of revenues for domain registrations represents the amortization of registry and accreditation fees on a basis consistent with the recognition of revenues from our customers, namely ratably over the term of provision of the service. Registry fees, the primary component of cost of revenues, are paid in full when the domain is registered, and are initially recorded as prepaid domain registry fees. This accounting treatment reasonably approximates a recognition pattern that corresponds with the provision of the services during the period. Market development funds that do not represent a payment for distinct goods or services provided by the Company, and thus do not meet the criteria for revenue recognition under ASU 2014-09, are reflected as cost of goods sold and are recognized as earned.

 

Wholesale - Value-Added Services

 

Costs of revenues for value-added services include licensing and royalty costs related to the provisioning of certain components for hosted email and fees paid to third-party hosting services. Fees payable for trust certificates are amortized on a basis consistent with the provision of service, generally one year, while email hosting fees and monthly printing fees are included in cost of revenues in the month they are incurred.

 

Retail

 

Costs of revenues for our provision and management of Internet services through our retail sites, Hover.com and the eNom branded sites, include the amortization of registry fees on a basis consistent with the recognition of revenues from our customers, namely ratably over the term of provision of the service. Registry fees, the primary component of cost of revenues, are paid in full when the domain is registered, and are recorded as prepaid domain registry fees and are expensed ratably over the renewal term. Costs of revenues for our surname portfolio represent the amortization of registry fees for domains added to our portfolio over the renewal period, which is generally one year, the value attributed under intangible assets to any domain name sold and any impairment charges that may arise from our assessment of our domain name intangible assets. 

 

Tucows Corporate - Mobile Services and Eliminations

 

Cost of revenues for Retail Mobile Services includes the costs of provisioning mobile services, which is primarily our customers' voice, messaging, data usage provided by our MNO partner, and the costs of providing mobile phone hardware, which is the cost of mobile phone devices and SIM cards sold to our customers, order fulfillment related expenses, and inventory write-downs. Included in the costs of provisioning mobile services are any penalties associated with the minimum commitments with our MNO partner. 

 

These Mobile Services costs also include the personnel and related costs of transitional services provided to DISH. These are billed monthly at set and established rates for services provided in period and include the provision of sales, marketing, customer support, order fulfillment, and data analytics related to the legacy customer base sold to DISH. The Company recognizes costs as the Company satisfies its obligations to provide professional services. 

 

Network expenses

 

Network expenses include personnel and related expenses related to platform and network site reliability engineering, network operations centers, IT infrastructure and supply chain teams that support our various business segments. It also includes the depreciation and any impairment charges of property and equipment related to our networks and platforms, amortization of any intangible assets related to our networks and platforms, communication and productivity tool costs, and equipment maintenance costs. Communication and productivity tool costs include collaboration, customer support, bandwidth, co-location and provisioning costs we incur to support the supply of all our services.

 

 

The following table presents our cost of revenues, by revenue source:

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                 

Ting:

                               

Fiber Internet Services

  $ 4,869     $ 4,290     $ 14,211     $ 12,746  
                                 

Wavelo:

                               

Platform Services

    342       235       1,006       622  

Other Professional Services

    228       -       1,289       1,632  

Total Wavelo

    570       235       2,295       2,254  
                                 

Tucows Domains:

                               

Wholesale

                               

Domain Services

    38,060       37,393       112,352       110,728  

Value Added Services

    537       613       1,726       1,912  

Total Wholesale

    38,597       38,006       114,078       112,640  
                                 

Retail

    4,116       4,105       12,383       12,383  

Total Tucows Domains

    42,713       42,111       126,461       125,023  
                                 

Tucows Corporate:

                               

Mobile services and eliminations

    2,565       1,666       7,783       7,000  
                                 

Network Expenses:

                               

Network, other costs

    7,322       4,244       20,638       13,188  

Network, depreciation of property and equipment

    9,138       7,136       26,331       19,620  

Network, amortization of intangible assets

    378       378       1,135       1,134  

Network, impairment of property and equipment

    2,663       3       4,679       30  
      19,501       11,761       52,783       33,972  
                                 
    $ 70,218     $ 60,063     $ 203,533     $ 180,995  

Increase over prior period

  $ 10,155             $ 22,538          

Increase - percentage

    17 %             12 %        

 

The following table presents our cost of revenues, as a percentage of total cost of revenues for the periods presented:

 

   

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                 

Ting:

                               

Fiber Internet Services

    7 %     7 %     7 %     7 %
                                 
                                 

Wavelo:

                               

Platform Services

    0 %     0 %     0 %     0 %

Other Professional Services

    0 %     0 %     1 %     1 %

Total Wavelo

    0 %     0 %     1 %     1 %
                                 

Tucows Domains:

                               

Wholesale

                               

Domain Services

    54 %     62 %     55 %     61 %

Value Added Services

    1 %     1 %     1 %     1 %

Total Wholesale

    55 %     63 %     56 %     62 %
                                 

Retail

    6 %     7 %     6 %     7 %

Total Tucows Domains

    61 %     70 %     62 %     69 %
                                 

Tucows Corporate:

                               

Mobile services and eliminations

    4 %     3 %     4 %     4 %
                                 

Network Expenses:

                               

Network, other costs

    10 %     7 %     10 %     7 %

Network, depreciation of property and equipment

    13 %     12 %     13 %     11 %

Network, amortization of intangible assets

    1 %     1 %     1 %     1 %

Network, impairment of property and equipment

    4 %     0 %     2 %     0 %
      28 %     20 %     26 %     19 %
                                 
      100 %     100 %     100 %     100 %

 

 

Total cost of revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2023, increased by $10.1 million, or 17%, to $70.2 million from $60.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2022. The three-month increase in cost of revenues was driven by increases across Network Expenses, Mobile Service and eliminations, Tucows Domains, Ting, and Wavelo by $7.7 million, $0.9 million, $0.6 million, $0.6 million, and $0.3 million respectively. Network Expenses increase of $7.7 million is primarily a result of the expansion of the Company’s increased network infrastructure associated with the continuing expansion of the Ting Internet network footprint, the ramp up of Wavelo's platforms, increased communication and productivity tool costs across our operating segments, and impairment of assets within the Ting segment. The increase in Mobile Services and eliminations of $0.9 million was a primarily a result of penalties associated with the MNO minimum commitment shortfall in comparison to the three months ended September 30, 2022 The increase in Tucows Domains of $0.6 million was a result of increased registry related costs from the registration of domain names. The increase in Ting of $0.6 million was primarily driven by the costs of revenues associated with growth in active subscribers. Lastly, the increase in Wavelo of $0.3 million was primarily driven by Other Professional Services as consistent with the standalone technology development work in the current period.

 

Total cost of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, increased by $22.5 million, or 12%, to $203.5 million from $181.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The nine-month increase in cost of revenues was driven by increases across Network Expenses, Ting, Tucows Domains, and Mobile Service and eliminations by $18.8 million, $1.5 million, $1.4 million, and $0.8 million respectively. Network Expenses increase of $18.8 million is primarily a result of the expansion of the Company’s increased network infrastructure associated with the continuing expansion of the Ting Internet network footprint, the ramp up of Wavelo's platforms, increased communication and productivity tool costs across our operating segments, and impairment of assets within the Ting segment. The increase in Ting of $1.4 million was primarily driven the costs of revenues associated with growth in active subscribers. The increase in Tucows Domains of $0.6 million was a result of increased registry related costs from the registration of domain names. Lastly, increase in Mobile Services and eliminations of $0.8 million as a primarily a result of penalties associated with the MNO minimum commitment shortfall in comparison to the nine months ended September 30, 2022

 

Deferred costs of fulfillment as of September 30, 2023increased by $1.9 million, or 2%, to $112.6 million from $110.7 million at December 31, 2022. This was primarily driven by Tucows Domains with an increase of $3.1 million, consistent with the increase in deferred revenues discussed above from the increase in current period deferred costs for domain name registrations and service renewals that typically occur at the beginning of each Fiscal Year. This increase was partially offset by Wavelo, with a decrease of $1.5 million related to the completion of Other Professional Services discussed above for standalone technology services development work with DISH. As these professional services were completed in the current period, the deferred costs to fulfill those services were amortized into costs of revenues.  

 

Ting

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2023, costs related to provisioning high speed Internet access for Ting and its subsidiaries - Cedar, and Simply Bits increased by $0.6 million, to $4.9 million as compared to three months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the discussion above in the Net Revenue section, the subscriber growth across our Fiber network drove an increase in costs of revenues which includes network connectivity, dark fiber, bandwidth and colocation costs.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, costs related to provisioning high speed Internet access for Ting and its subsidiaries - Cedar, and Simply Bits increased by $1.4 million, to $14.2 million as compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the discussion above, the subscriber growth across our Fiber network drove an increase in costs of revenues which includes network connectivity, dark fiber, bandwidth and colocation costs. The increase was furthered by higher construction and customer operations teams costs in support of the continued expansion of the Ting Internet network footprint.

 

Wavelo

 

Platform Services

 

Cost of revenues from Wavelo Platform Services for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $0.1 million or 46%, to $0.3 million as compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Costs incurred are driven by the amortization of previously capitalized costs incurred to fulfill the DISH Master Services Agreement ("MSA") over the term of the agreement. The continued incurrence of additional costs to fulfill the contract have resulted in increased amortization in the current period relative to the fixed term of the agreement. 

 

Cost of revenues from Wavelo Platform Services for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $0.4  million or 100%, to $1.0 million as compared to $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the above discussion, this is driven by the continued incurrence of additional costs to fulfill the contract and increased amortization in the current period relative to the fixed term of the agreement. 

 

Other Professional Services

 

Cost of revenues from Other Professional Services for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $0.2 million or 100% to $0.2 million as compared to nil for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Costs of revenues to provide other professional services change depending on the nature and scope of work we are engaged to perform for our customers for select statements of work. The increase in cost of revenues is aligned to the increase in Net Revenues discussed above; a result of more standalone technology development work with our CSP customers in the current period. 

 

Cost of revenues from Other Professional Services for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $0.3 million or 21% to $1.3 million as compared $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Costs of revenues to provide other professional services change depending on the nature and scope of work we are engaged to perform for our customers for select statements of work. The decrease in cost of revenues is aligned to the decrease in Net Revenues discussed above; a result of less standalone technology development work with our CSP customers in the current period.

 

 

Tucows Domain

 

Wholesale - Domain Services

 

Costs for Wholesale domain services for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $0.7 million or 2%, to $38.1 million, as compared to $37.4 million to the three months ended September 30, 2022. The increase is driven by escalating registry costs for gTLDs, and partially offset by savings from increased rebates earned from registries. 

 

Costs for Wholesale domain services for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $1.7 million or 2%, to $112.4 million, as compared to $110.7 million to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the discussion above, the increase is driven by escalating registry costs for gTLDs, and partially offset by savings from increased rebates earned from registries. 

 

Wholesale - Value-Added Services

 

Costs for wholesale value-added services for the three months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $0.1 million or 17%, to $0.5 million, as compared to $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. This decrease was driven by decreased costs related to the Digital Certificate stream of revenue, consistent with the decline in Net Revenue discussed above.  

 

Costs for wholesale value-added services for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $0.2 million or 11%, to $1.7 million, as compared to $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This decrease was driven by decreased costs related to Digital Certificates and Expiry stream revenues, consistent with the decline in Net Revenues discussed above.

 

Retail

 

Costs for retail domain services for the three months ended September 30, 2023 remained flat at $4.1 million, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. 

 

Costs for retail domain services for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 remained flat at $12.4 million, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. 

 

Tucows Corporate - Mobile Services and Eliminations

 

Cost of revenues from Mobile Services and Eliminations for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $0.9 or 53%, to $2.6 million, as compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The Company accrued $0.1 million in penalties associated with the MNO minimum commitment shortfall in the current period, whereas in the three months ended September 30, 2022  included a reversal of $0.8 million in penalties following a successful amendment to the agreement with the MNO partner. The company expects to continue to incur penalties through the end of Fiscal 2023 and thereafter should limited subscriber growth persist. 

 

Cost of revenues from Mobile Services and Eliminations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $0.8 million or 11% to $7.8 million, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the above discussion around net revenues, cost of revenues were impacted by decreased transitional services costs provided to DISH in connection with the legacy Ting Mobile customer base, offset by increased costs of revenues associated with mobile telephony services and device cost of revenues from the small group of customers retained by the Company as part of the DISH Purchase Agreement. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company has accrued $0.5 million in penalties associated with the MNO minimum commitment shortfall and expects to continue to incur penalties through the end of Fiscal 2023 and thereafter should limited subscriber growth persist. 

 

Network Expenses

 

Network expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $7.7 million or 65%, to $19.5 million, as compared to $11.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The current period increase was driven by increased network costs, network impairment, and network depreciation by $3.0 million, $2.7 million, and $2.0 million respectively. The current period increase in network costs relates to the investment in hiring additional personnel for both Ting Internet and Wavelo network operations focused teams as well as increased spending on colocation costs and contracted services including tools and systems to better monitor and manage our network infrastructure and platforms. The current period increase in network impairment of $2.7 million was driven by an impairment charge for Ting cable plant and assets under construction in the current period. The current period increase in network depreciation relates to $1.6 million in incremental depreciation from Ting's continued capital expansion of the Fiber network with increased footprint across the United States, incremental depreciation of Wavelo's newly developed platform assets of $0.5 million, partially offset by decreased amortization related to Tucows Domains of $0.1 million.

 

 

Network expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $18.8 million or 55%, to $52.8 million, as compared to $34.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The current period increase was driven by increased network costs, network depreciation, and network impairment by $7.5 million, $6.7 million, and $4.6 million respectively. Consistent with the discussion above, the current period increase in network costs relates to the investment in hiring additional personnel for both Ting Internet and Wavelo network operations focused teams as well as increased spending on colocation costs and contracted services including tools and systems to better monitor and manage our network infrastructure and platforms. The current period increase in network depreciation relates to $5.5 million in incremental depreciation from Ting's continued capital expansion of the Fiber network with increased footprint across the United States, incremental depreciation of Wavelo's newly developed platform assets of $1.5 million, partially offset by decreased amortization of $0.3 million related to Tucows Domains. In addition to network costs and network depreciation, the current period increase in network impairment of $4.6 million was primarily driven by an impairment charge for Ting for cable plant, asset under construction, and capital inventory that occurred in the current period. 

 

SALES AND MARKETING

 

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel costs. These costs include commissions and related expenses of our sales, product management, public relations, call center, support and marketing personnel. Other sales and marketing expenses include customer acquisition costs, advertising and other promotional costs.

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Sales and marketing

  $ 17,295     $ 13,894     $ 49,052     $ 39,384  

Increase over prior period

  $ 3,401             $ 9,668          

Increase - percentage

    24

%

            25

%

       

Percentage of net revenues

    20

%

    18

%

    19

%

    16

%

 

Sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $3.4 million, or 24%, to $17.3 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. This current period increase was primarily related to the investment in hiring additional personnel for Ting's sales, product, marketing, customer support and success teams to drive growth in Ting markets. Outside of additional hiring, personnel costs were further impacted by wage inflation sustained from prior years and increased stock-based compensation expenses in order to attract, retain sales and marketing personnel, primarily for Wavelo. These increases were furthered by increases in marketing, facility, and travel related costs increased to drive active subscription growth in Ting markets given the increase in serviceable addresses available to Ting and to support our growing workforce in select Ting towns across the United States.

 

Sales and marketing expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $9.7 million, or 25%, to $49.1 million as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the discussion above, this current period increase was primarily related to the investment in hiring additional personnel for Ting's sales, product, marketing, customer support and success teams to drive growth in Ting markets. Outside of additional hiring, personnel costs were further impacted by wage inflation sustained from prior years and increased stock-based compensation expenses in order to attract, retain sales and marketing personnel, primarily for Wavelo. These increases were furthered by increases in marketing, facility, and travel related costs to drive active subscription growth in Ting markets given the increase in serviceable addresses available to Ting and to support our growing workforce in select Ting towns across the United States.

 

TECHNICAL OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

 

Technical operations and development expenses consist primarily of personnel costs and related expenses required to support the development of new or enhanced service offerings and the maintenance and upgrading of existing infrastructure. This includes expenses incurred in the research, design and development of technology that we use to register domain names, provide Wavelo's platform services, provide Ting's Internet Services, email, retail, domain portfolio and other Internet services. All technical operations and development costs are expensed as incurred.

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Technical operations and development

  $ 4,818     $ 2,983     $ 14,214     $ 10,212  

Increase (decrease) over prior period

  $ 1,835             $ 4,002          

Increase (decrease) - percentage

    62

%

            39

%

       

Percentage of net revenues

    6

%

    4

%

    6

%

    4

%

 

Technical operations and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $1.8 million, or 62%, to $4.8 million when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. The current period increase was primarily related to the investment in hiring additional personnel for Wavelo as well as Ting. Outside of additional hiring, personnel costs were further impacted by wage inflation sustained from prior years due to broader economic conditions. In addition to these personnel and related costs, both contracted services for tools, systems and labor to support the technical operations and development of our systems and platforms increased compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022.

 

Technical operations and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $4.0 million, or 39% to $14.2 million when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the discussion above, the current period increase was primarily related to the investment in hiring additional personnel for Wavelo as well as Ting. Outside of additional hiring, personnel costs were further impacted by wage inflation sustained from prior years due to broader economic conditions as well as increased stock-based compensation expenses in order to attract, retain technical operations and development personnel, primarily for Wavelo. In addition to these personnel and related costs, both contracted services for tools, systems and labor to support the technical operations and development of our systems and platforms increased compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. 

 

 

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

 

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation and related costs for managerial and administrative personnel, fees for professional services, public listing expenses, rent, foreign exchange and other general corporate expenses.

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

General and administrative

  $ 9,399     $ 7,897     $ 25,674     $ 22,006  

Increase over prior period

  $ 1,502             $ 3,668          

Increase - percentage

    19

%

            17

%

       

Percentage of net revenues

    11

%

    10

%

    10

%

    9

%

 

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $1.5 million, or 19% to $9.4 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022.  The increase was driven in part by increases in professional fees incurred in the current period, higher property tax and other expenses within the Ting segment consistent with the continued expansion of our Ting Internet footprint to new Ting towns throughout the United States, and higher stock-based compensation expenses in order to attract, retain and scale core administrative teams to meet projected Company growth. 

 

General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $3.7 million, or 17% to $25.7 million as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022.  The increase was primarily driven by an increase in personnel costs driven by continued investment in administrative teams to better support our segments as part of our new corporate reorganization, wage inflation sustained from prior years due to broader economic conditions across our three segments, and higher stock-based compensation expenses in order to attract, retain and scale core administrative teams to meet projected Company growth. 

 

DEPRECIATION OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

  $ 137     $ 149     $ 439     $ 443  

Decrease over prior period

  $ (12 )           $ (4 )        

Decrease - percentage

    (8

)%

            (1

)%

       

Percentage of net revenues

    0

%

    0

%

    0

%

    0

%

 

Depreciation costs remained flat at $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and the three months ended September 30, 2022. 

 

Depreciation costs remained flat at $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the nine months ended September 30, 2022. 

 

 

LOSS ON DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

 

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

  For the Three Months Ended September 30,     For the Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2023     2022     2023     2022  

Loss on disposition of property and equipment

  $ -     $ (19 )   $ -     $ 461  

Increase over prior period

  $ 19             $ (461 )        

Increase - percentage

    (100

)%

            (100

)%

       

Percentage of net revenues

    -

%

    (0

)%

    -

%

    0

%

 

Loss on disposition of property and equipment remained flat at nil for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and the three months ended September 30, 2022. 

 

Loss on disposition of property and equipment for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $0.5 million as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the discussion above, the nine months ended September 30, 2022 included a disposal of minor internal use software related to Tucows Domains for which the Company no longer expects to realize the intended benefits that it initially did when those development costs were initially capitalized. No such disposal exists during the current period. 

 

 

AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Amortization of intangible assets

  $ 2,242     $ 2,464     $ 6,966     $ 7,394  

Decrease over prior period

  $ (222 )           $ (428 )        

Decrease - percentage

    (9

)%

            (6

)%

       

Percentage of net revenues

    3

%

    3

%

    3

%

    3

%

 

Amortization of intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $0.2 million, or 9% to $2.2 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. The decrease was driven in part by the completed amortization of customer relationships associated with the Company's Fiscal 2016 acquisition of Melbourne IT assets. The amortization of the customer relationships was completed during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

 

Amortization of intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $0.4 million, or 6% to $7.0 million as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the discussion above, the decrease was driven in part by the completed amortization of customer relationships associated with the Company's Fiscal 2016 acquisition of Melbourne IT assets. The amortization of the customer relationships was completed during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

 

LOSS (GAIN) ON CURRENCY FORWARD CONTRACTS

 

Although our functional currency is the U.S dollar, a major portion of our fixed expenses are incurred in Canadian dollars. Our goal with regard to foreign currency exposure is, to the extent possible, to achieve operational cost certainty, manage financial exposure to certain foreign exchange fluctuations and to neutralize some of the impact of foreign currency exchange moves. Accordingly, we enter into foreign exchange contracts to mitigate the exchange rate risk on portions of our Canadian dollar exposure. 

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Loss (gain) on currency forward contracts

  $ 29     $ -     $ 52     $ -  

Increase over prior period

  $ 29             $ 52          

Increase - percentage

    N/A

%

            N/A

%

       

Percentage of net revenues

    0

%

    -

%

    0

%

    -

%

 

The Company recorded a net loss of less than $0.1 million in the change in fair value of outstanding contracts as well as realized on matured contracts during the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to a net gain of nil during the three months ended September 30, 2022.

 

The Company recorded a net loss of less than $0.1 million in the change in fair value of outstanding contracts as well as realized on matured contracts during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to a net gain of nil during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

 

At September 30, 2023, our balance sheet reflects a derivative instrument asset of $0.2 million and a liability of nil as a result of our existing foreign exchange contracts. Until their respective maturity dates, these contracts will fluctuate in value in line with movements in the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar.

 

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Other income (expense), net

  $ (6,427 )   $ 373     $ (30,829 )   $ 5,326  

Increase (decrease) over prior period

  $ (6,800 )           $ (36,155 )        

Increase (decrease) - percentage

    (1,823

)%

            (679

)%

       

Percentage of net revenues

    (7

)%

    0

%

    - 12

%

    2

%

 

Other Income during the three months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $6.8 million when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. Interest expense increased by $10.4 million to $14.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2023 driven by a $6.8 increase in connection with Ting's Generate preferred share and asset backed securitization financing facilities and the residual $3.6 million relates primarily to the interest expense on the Credit Agreement Amendment for the non-Ting related businesses. In addition to higher interest expense, the Company experienced a $0.4 million decrease in the gain on sale of Ting Customer Assets to DISH in the current period. As described above, the Company receives a payout on the margin associated with the legacy customer base sold to DISH over the 10-year term of the agreement, as form of consideration for the sale of the legacy customer relationships. The Company expects the gain on the sale of Ting Customer Assets to continue to decrease over the term of the payout as legacy customers naturally churn away from Ting Mobile. These decreases to Other Income were partially offset by $3.0 million increase primarily from the inclusion of interest income following the execution of Ting's asset backed securitization financing facility as well as a $1.0 million increase from the capitalization for interest expense related to the Fiber network assets under construction as part of our Ting segment.

 

Other Income during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $36.2 million when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Consistent with the discussion above, this was driven by a $41.4 million increase in expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2023  The increase in interest expense was driven by a $15.5 million increase in connection with Ting's Generate preferred share and asset backed securitization financing facilities, the $14.7 million relating to the make-whole premium payable to Generate, a result of the redemption of Series A Preferred Units held by Generate, and the residual $11.2 million relates primarily to the interest expense on the Credit Facility for the non-Ting related businesses. In addition to higher interest expense, the Company experienced a $1.0 million decrease in the gain on sale of Ting Customer Assets to DISH in the current period. As described above, the Company receives a payout on the margin associated with the legacy customer base sold to DISH over the 10-year term of the agreement, as form of consideration for the sale of the legacy customer relationships. The Company expects the gain on the sale of Ting Customer Assets to continue to decrease over the term of the payout as legacy customers naturally churn away from Ting Mobile. These decreases to Other Income were partially offset by a $3.1 million increase primarily from the inclusion of interest income following the execution of Ting's asset backed securitization financing facility as well as $3.0 million increase from the capitalization for interest expense related to the Fiber network assets under construction as part of our Ting segment.

 

INCOME TAXES

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Provision for income taxes

  $ (822 )   $ (1,027 )   $ (5,557 )   $ 790  

Increase in provision over prior period

  $ 205             $ (6,347 )        

Increase - percentage

    *               *          

Effective tax rate

    3

%

    11

%

    7

%

    (6

)%

* not  meaningful

 

Income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased by $0.2 million and decreased by $6.3 million respectively when compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. The change in effective tax rate is primarily due to the net loss before tax for the period, and it is partially offset by an increase in valuation allowance on net operating losses and interest limitation as a result of a change in the geographical mix of income.

 

 

ADJUSTED EBITDA

 

We believe that the provision of this supplemental non-GAAP measure allows investors to evaluate the operational and financial performance of our core business using similar evaluation measures to those used by management. We use adjusted EBITDA to measure our performance and prepare our budgets. Since adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial performance measure, our calculation of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies, and should not be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or superior to measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because adjusted EBITDA is calculated before recurring cash charges, including interest expense and taxes, and is not adjusted for capital expenditures or other recurring cash requirements of the business, it should not be considered as a liquidity measure. See the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in the attached financial statements. Non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar captions that are used by other companies and/or analysts and may differ from period to period. We endeavor to compensate for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of the items excluded in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA to net income based on GAAP, which should be considered when evaluating the Company's results. Tucows strongly encourages investors to review its financial information in its entirety and not to rely on a single financial measure.

 

Our adjusted EBITDA definition excludes depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, income tax provision, interest expense (net), loss on debt extinguishment, accretion of contingent consideration, stock-based compensation, asset impairment, gains and losses from unrealized foreign currency transactions and costs that are one-time in nature and not indicative of on-going performance (profitability), including acquisition and transition costs. Gains and losses from unrealized foreign currency transactions removes the unrealized effect of the change in the mark-to-market values on outstanding foreign currency contracts not designated in accounting hedges, as well as the unrealized effect from the translation of monetary accounts denominated in non-U.S. dollars to U.S. dollars.

 

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA to net income:

 

Reconciliation of Loss before Provision for Income Taxes to Adjusted EBITDA

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

(In Thousands of US Dollars)

 

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

   

(unaudited)

   

(unaudited)

   

(unaudited)

 
                                 

Net Loss for the period

  $ (22,772 )   $ (7,981 )   $ (72,823 )   $ (14,126 )

Less:

                               

Provision (recovery) for income taxes

    (822 )     (1,027 )     (5,557 )     790  

Depreciation of property and equipment

    9,275       7,285       26,770       20,063  

Impairment and loss on disposition of property and equipment

    2,663       (16 )     4,679       491  

Amortization of intangible assets

    2,620       2,842       8,101       8,528  

Interest expense, net

    10,739       4,337       29,120       8,555  

Loss on debt extinguishment

    -       -       14,680       -  

Accretion of contingent liability

    -       50       -       198  

Stock-based compensation

    2,308       1,569       6,606       4,396  

Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign exchange revaluation of foreign denominated monetary assets and liabilities

    340       348       254       446  

Acquisition and other costs1

    121       472       1,067       1,549  
                                 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 4,472     $ 7,879     $ 12,897     $ 30,890  

 

1 Acquisition and other costs represent transaction-related expenses, transitional expenses, such as redundant post-acquisition expenses, primarily related to our acquisitions, including Simply Bits in November 2021. Expenses include severance or transitional costs associated with department, operational or overall company restructuring efforts, including geographic alignments

 

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $3.4 million to $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. The decrease in adjusted EBITDA from period-to-period was primarily driven by decreased contribution from Ting and Mobile Services and elimination. The Ting contribution decreased $7.1 million, from the increased investment for the ramp of expenditures related to the Fiber Internet network build and expansion plan. Mobile Services and eliminations contribution decreased $1.9 million primarily from the impact of the penalties associated with the MNO minimum commitment. These decreases in Adjustment EBITDA were partially offset by increases in Wavelo and Tucows Domains. The Wavelo contribution increased $5.1 million primarily driven increased MONOS platform revenues earned from the increased subscribers on the platform, offset partially by investment in network and technical operations and development costs in the current period. Tucows Domains contribution increased by $0.5 million from improved pricing as well as lower marketing and other spend when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022.

 

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $18.0 million to $12.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The decrease in adjusted EBITDA from period-to-period was primarily driven by decreased contribution from Ting, Tucows Domains and Mobile Services and elimination. The Ting contribution decreased $16.2 million, from the increased investment for the ramp of expenditures related to the Fiber Internet network build and expansion plan. Tucows Domains contribution decreased $2.4 million from the continued normalization of domain registrations and slowed renewal rates relative to patterns experienced over the last fiscal years from the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile Services and eliminations contribution decreased $2.3 million from lower mobile telephony and transitional service revenues as well as increased penalties associated with the MNO minimum commitment. These decreases were partially offset by Wavelo contribution increasing $2.9 million primarily driven increased MONOS platform revenues earned from the increased subscribers on the platform, offset partially by investment in network and technical operations and development costs in the current period.

 

 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

To mitigate the impact of the change in fair value of our foreign exchange contracts on our financial results, in October 2012 we begun applying hedge accounting for the majority of the contracts we need to meet our Canadian dollar requirements on a prospective basis.

 

The following table presents other comprehensive income for the periods presented:

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

  $ (664 )   $ (1,774 )   $ (644 )   $ (619 )

Increase over prior period

  $ 1,110             $ (25 )        

Increase - percentage

    (63

)%

            4

%

       

Percentage of net revenues

    (1

)%

    (2

)%

    (0

)%

    (0

)%

 

The impact of the fair value adjustments on outstanding hedged contracts for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was a loss in OCI before reclassifications of $0.5 million as compared to a loss in OCI of $1.7 million before reclassifications for the three months ended September 30, 2022.

 

The impact of the fair value adjustments on outstanding hedged contracts for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a gain in OCI before reclassifications of $0.2 million as compared to a loss in OCI of $0.5 million before reclassifications for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

 

The net amount reclassified to earnings during the three months ended September 30, 2023 was a loss of $0.2 million compared to a loss of $0.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2022.

 

The net amount reclassified to earnings during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a loss of $0.8 million compared to a loss of less than $0.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

As of September 30, 2023, our cash and cash equivalents balance increased by $87.2 million, our secured notes reserve funds balance increased by $8.5 million, and our funds held by trustee balance increased by $3.1 million, respectively when compared to December 31, 2022. The increase in our cash balance was driven primarily by $227.3 million in proceeds from the issuance of notes payable, $52.4 million from the proceeds of the syndicate revolver, and $35.0 million in proceeds from redeemable preferred shares. These increases were partially offset by $77.5 million for the continued investment in property and equipment primarily driven by Ting Internet expansion, $68.7 million related to the repayment of the syndicated revolver, $45.7 million for the cash payment for the redeemable preferred shares redemption, $13.8 million from cash used in operating activities, $6.7 million related to deferred notes payable financing costs, $1.6 million related to the payment of contingent consideration related to the acquisition of Cedar, $1.6 million related to the deferred issuance cost of the syndicate revolver, and $0.4 million related to the acquisition of intangible assets.

 

Third Amended 2019 Credit Facility 

 

On June 14, 2019, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Tucows.com Co, Ting Fiber, Inc., Tucows (Delaware) Inc. and Tucows (Emerald), LLC entered into an Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Agreement (the "Amended 2019 Credit Facility") with Royal Bank ("RBC") as administrative agent and lenders party thereto (collectively with RBC, the "Lenders") under which the Company had access to an aggregate of up to $240 million in funds. 

 

On August 8, 2022, the Company entered into a Third Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) with its existing lenders. The Amended Credit Agreement continued to provide the Company with access to an aggregate of $240 million in committed funds (the Credit Facility). Under the Amended Credit Agreement, and in connection with the Unit Purchase Agreement (as defined in Note 18 - "Redeemable preferred shares" of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements), the Lenders agreed that Ting Fiber Inc. (converted to Ting LLC) and its wholly owned subsidiaries ceased to be Guarantors under the Credit Facility and were automatically released from the respective guarantee and security documents, including a release of the Lenders' security interests and liens upon the assets of such entities. The terms of the LLC agreement with Generate prohibited Tucows from funding the operations or capital investments in Ting, LLC with funds generated by its subsidiaries outside of Ting LLC or its wholly owned subsidiaries ("Excluding-Ting"). Additionally, the Amended Credit Agreement extended the maturity of the Credit Facility to June 14, 2024. 

 

On March 14, 2023 Excluding-Ting entered into an Amending Agreement No.2 (the "Credit Agreement Amendment") to the Third Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Agreement with its existing syndicate of lenders (The "Amended Credit Agreement"). The Amended Credit Agreement continued to provide Excluding-Ting with access to an aggregate of $240 million in committed funds, however there was a suspension to the $60 million accordion during the relief period (the "Leverage Step Up Period"), which was defined as from Closing (March 14, 2023) to the date that Excluding-Ting delivered a compliance certificate for the period ending on December 31, 2023 demonstrating compliance with financial covenants. Additionally, the Credit Agreement Amendment had extended the maturity of the Credit Facility to September 30, 2024.  

 

2023 Credit Facility 

 

On September 22, 2023, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Tucows.com Co., Ting Inc., Tucows (Delaware) Inc., Wavelo, Inc. and Tucows (Emerald), LLC (each, a “Borrower” and together, the “Borrowers,” collectively with the Company) and certain other subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent (“BMO” or the “Agent”), and the lenders party thereto, to, among other things, provide the Borrowers with a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed $240 million (the “2023 Credit Facility”). The Borrowers may request an increase to the Credit Facility through new commitments of up to $60M if the Total Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is less than 3.75:1.00.  The Credit Facility expires on September 22, 2026, which is the third anniversary of the effective date of the Credit Agreement. 

 

The 2023 Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default. The 2023 Credit Agreement requires that the Company comply with certain customary non-financial covenants and restrictions. In addition, the Company has agreed to comply with the following financial covenants: (1) a leverage ratio by maintaining at all times a Total Funded Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio of not more than (i) 4.50:1:00 at any time from and after the Closing Date to and including December 30, 2023; (ii) 4.25:1:00 from December 31, 2023 to and including March 30, 2024; (iii) 4.00:1.00 from March 31, 2024 to and including June 29, 2024; and (iv) 3.75:1.00 thereafter; and (2) an interest coverage ratio by maintaining as of the end of each rolling four financial quarter period, an Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not less than 3.00:1.00. The required principal repayment of $223.4 million is due in 2026.

 

Prior to entering into the 2023 Credit Agreement, during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 the Company made repayments of $17.8 million on the 2019 Credit Facility.

 

Cash Flow from Operating Activities
 

Net cash inflows (outflows) from operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 totaled ($13.8) million, a decrease of 181% when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

 

Net income, after adjusting for items not involving cash, during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was ($10.0) million, a decrease of 165% when compared to the prior year. Net income included non-cash charges and recoveries of $62.8 million such as depreciation, loss on debt extinguishment, accretion of redeemable preferred shares, amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation, impairment of property and equipment, amortization of debt discount and issuance costs, loss (gain) on change in fair value of currency forward contracts, write off of debt discount and issuance cost, loss on disposal of domain names, net right of use operating asset or liability, net amortization of contract costs, amortization of discontinued cash flow hedge, and deferred income taxes (recovery). In addition, changes in our working capital contributed to a net cash outflow of $3.7 million. Utilized cash of $16.4 million from the changes in accounts receivable, accounts payable, prepaid expenses and deposits, deferred costs of fulfillment, inventory, and accreditation fees payable, were offset by positive contributions of $12.6 million from movements in deferred revenue, contract asset, customer deposits, income taxes recoverable, and accrued liabilities.

 

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

 

Net cash inflows from financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 totaled $190.6 million, an increase of 82% when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Total cash inflows were driven by $227.3 million of proceeds from the issuance of notes payable, $52.4 million of proceeds from the syndicate revolver, and $35.0 million of proceeds from redeemable preferred shares issued to Generate. These cash inflows were partially offset by $68.7 million related to the repayment of the syndicate revolver, $45.7 million related to the redemption of preferred shares held by Generate, $6.7 million from deferred notes payable financing costs, $1.6 million related to the payment of contingent consideration related to the acquisition of Cedar, and $1.6 million related to the syndicate revolver issued.

 

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

 

Investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 used net cash of $77.9 million, an increase of 22% when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Cash outflows of $77.5 million primarily related to the investment in property and equipment, primarily to support the continued expansion of our Ting Internet Fiber network footprints in California, Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia as we seek to extend both our current network and expand to new markets. We expect our capital expenditures on building and expanding our fiber network to continue to increase during Fiscal 2023. In addition to investment in property and equipment, the current period used $0.4 million for the acquisition of other intangible assets.

 

Material Cash Requirements

 

At September 30, 2023, the Company's Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents totaled $122.4 million, of which $115.7 million belonged to Ting and $6.7 million belonged to Excluding-Ting. 

 

In order to continue the Company’s planned expansion of the Ting Internet footprint, the Company will need to access additional financing under the Unit Purchase Agreement by meeting certain predetermined operational and financial drawdown milestones. Under the Unit Purchase Agreement, from the Transaction Close until the earlier of (i) the End Date and (ii) the date upon which Generate has purchased $140 million of Series A Preferred units pursuant to Milestone Fundings, Ting LLC is required to pay Generate a standby fee at a rate of 0.50% of the unpaid $140 million capital commitment which will be paid quarterly. In addition, in order to further accelerate the expansion of the Ting Internet footprint, the Company may seek additional financing, which may include an equity or debt issuance, a partnership or collaborating arrangement with another third party. We may not be able to secure additional financing on favorable terms, or at all, at the time when we need that funding. We currently have no commitments or agreements regarding the acquisition of other businesses. Any additional financing may be dilutive to existing investors.

 

On April 21, 2023, the Company issued and sold an additional 833,333 units of Series A Preferred Units to Generate at a cash purchase price of $6.00 per unit pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement. The Milestone Funding provided the Company with an additional $5.0 million of capital and reduced Generate's future capital commitment under the Unit Purchase Agreement to $77.5 million. 

 

On May 4, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), Tucows Inc. through certain of its indirect and wholly owned subsidiaries, including Ting Fiber, LLC entered into a definitive agreement relating to a securitized financing facility pursuant to a privately placed securitization transaction. On the Closing Date, Ting Issuer LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), a limited purpose, bankruptcy-remote, indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company issued (i) $168,357,000 of its 5.95% Secured Fiber Revenue Notes, Series 2023-1, Class A-2, (ii) $23,289,000 of its 7.40% Secured Fiber Revenue Notes, Series 2023-1, Class B and (iii) $46,859,000 initial principal amount of 9.95% Secured Fiber Revenue Notes, Series 2023-1, Class C. Subject to certain limitations, the 2023 Notes are secured by certain of the Company’s revenue-generating assets, consisting principally of fiber-network related agreements, fiber-network assets and customer contracts, that are owned by certain other limited-purpose, bankruptcy-remote, wholly owned indirect subsidiaries of the Company.

 

On May 4, 2023, Ting Fiber, LLC executed the Redemption Agreement and the Side Letter Agreement with Generate. Under the terms of terms of the Redemption Agreement, Ting Fiber, LLC redeemed 5,173,067 Series A Preferred Units held by Generate. The terms of the redemption were modified by the Side Letter Agreement, which granted a 30% discount on the make-whole premium for a total redemption price of $45.7 million inclusive of the make-whole premium. Terms of the Side Letter Agreement also preclude Ting Fiber, LLC from issuing additional Series A Preferred Units for 365 days from the closing of the Redemption Agreement during which time standby fees will be suspended.   

  

In our 2022 Annual Report, we disclosed our material cash requirements of both the Ting segment as well as the other segments excluding Ting. As of September 30, 2023, other than the items mentioned above, there have been no other material changes to our material cash requirements outside the ordinary course of business.

 

 

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We develop products in Canada and sell these services in North America and Europe. Our sales are primarily made in U.S. dollars, while a major portion of expenses are incurred in Canadian dollars. Our financial results could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in foreign markets. Our interest income is sensitive to changes in the general level of Canadian and U.S. interest rates, particularly since the majority of our investments are in short-term instruments. Based on the nature of our short-term investments, we have concluded that there is no material interest rate risk exposure as of September 30, 2023.

 

We are also subject to market risk exposure related to changes in interest rates under our Amended Credit Agreement. Changes in interest rates will impact our borrowing cost. However, fluctuations in interest rates are beyond our control. We will continue to monitor and assess the risks associated with interest expense exposure and may act in the future to mitigate these risks.

 

Although our functional currency is the U.S. dollar, a substantial portion of our fixed expenses are incurred in Canadian dollars. Our policy with respect to foreign currency exposure is to manage financial exposure to certain foreign exchange fluctuations with the objective of neutralizing some of the impact of foreign currency exchange movements. Exchange rates are, however, subject to significant and rapid fluctuations, and therefore we cannot predict the prospective impact of exchange rate fluctuations on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Accordingly, we have entered into foreign exchange forward contracts to mitigate the exchange rate risk on portions of our Canadian dollar exposure.

 
As of September 30, 2023, we had the following outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts to trade U.S. dollars in exchange for Canada dollars:

 

Maturity date (Dollar amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

Notional amount of U.S. dollars

   

Weighted average exchange rate of U.S. dollars

   

Fair value Asset

 
                         

October - December 2023

  $ 14,430       1.3721     $ 186  
    $ 14,430       1.3721     $ 186  

 

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $14.4million of outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts which will convert to $19.8 million Canadian dollars. Of these contracts, $14.4 million met the requirements for hedge accounting. As of December 31, 2022, the Company held contracts in the amount of $49.7 million to trade U.S. dollars in exchange for $67.0 million Canadian dollars. Of these contracts, $49.7 million met the requirements for hedge accounting.

 

We have performed a sensitivity analysis model for foreign exchange exposure over the three months ended September 30, 2023. The analysis used a modeling technique that compares the U.S. dollar equivalent of all expenses incurred in Canadian dollars, at the actual exchange rate, to a hypothetical 10% adverse movement in the foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar, with all other variables held constant. Foreign currency exchange rates used were based on the market rates in effect during the three months ended September 30, 2023. The sensitivity analysis indicated that a hypothetical 10% adverse movement in foreign currency exchange rates would result in a decrease in net income for the three months ended September 30, 2023 of approximately $1.6 million, before the effects of hedging. We will continue to monitor and assess the risk associated with these exposures and may take additional actions in the future to hedge or mitigate these risks.

 

Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents, marketable securities, foreign exchange contracts and accounts receivable. Our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are in high-quality securities placed with major banks and financial institutions whom we have evaluated as highly creditworthy and commercial papers. Similarly, we enter into our foreign exchange contracts with major banks and financial institutions. With respect to accounts receivable, we perform ongoing evaluations of our customers, generally granting uncollateralized credit terms to our customers, and maintaining an allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical experience and our expectation of future losses.

 

Interest rate risk

 

Our exposure to interest rate fluctuations relate primarily to our Amended Credit Agreement.

 

As of September 30, 2023, we had an outstanding balance of $221.9 million on the Amended Credit Agreement.  The Amended Credit Agreement added SOFR Loans as a form of advance available under the Credit Facility to replace LIBOR Rate Advances, and such SOFR Loans may bear interest based on Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR (defined to be the applicable SOFR rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York plus 0.10% per annum subject to a floor of zero) or Adjusted Term SOFR (defined to be the applicable SOFR rate published by CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited plus 0.10% for one-month, 0.15% for three-months, and 0.25% for six-months per annum). As of September 30, 2023, an adverse change of one percent on the interest rate would have the effect of increasing our annual interest payment on Amended Credit Agreement by approximately $2.1 million, assuming that the loan balance as of September 30, 2023 is outstanding for the entire period.

 

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

(a)    Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based on the evaluation as of September 30, 2023 management has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as a result of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

We have made progress remediating the material weakness identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2022 which is described in the next section. Notwithstanding the material weakness described in Item 9A of the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2022, we believe our consolidated statements presented in this Form 10-Q fairly represent, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented herein. 

 

(b)    Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Except set forth below, during the during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 there have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 

 

(c)    Plan for Remediation of Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

As previously discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2022, we are in the process of remediating the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. In connection with our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting we determined that the design and operating effectiveness of our controls pertaining to capitalizing certain costs were inadequate to ensure that i) a technical accounting assessment was completed related to secondary accounting implications of the Redeemable Preferred Share transaction in the third quarter of 2022 as it related to capitalization of interest on Ting assets under construction and ii) the accuracy of labor cost inputs used to determine the capitalization costs of internal efforts for the build and installation of Ting fiber network. Our remediation plan includes our taking steps to redesign processes and controls to ensure a more precise review of certain costs to identify those that should be capitalized. In addition, we have also been evaluating our financial team organizational structure, and what changes to roles and responsibilities we can make to enhance controls and compliance, including investing in additional technical accounting support. 

 

Management, with oversight of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, has made substantial progress toward remediation of the material weakness through the following actions:

 

●       redesign of processes and controls over review of certain costs to identify those that should be capitalized 

●       recruitment of resources to provide capacity to fully implement and sustain adherence to redesigned policies 

 

 

When fully implemented and operating effectively, we expect these enhancements will remediate the material weakness described above. We have incurred and expect to incur additional costs associated with our remediation efforts. We plan to remediate the material weakness during our fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. However, we cannot determine how long it will take to fully and effectively execute our remediation plan, and we cannot provide any assurance that these remediation efforts will be successful or that our internal control over financial reporting will be effective as a result of these efforts. 

 

 

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

We are involved in various investigations, claims and lawsuits arising in the normal conduct of our business, none of which, individually or in the aggregate, we believe will materially harm our business. We cannot assure that we will prevail in any litigation. Regardless of the outcome, any litigation may require us to incur significant litigation expense and may result in significant diversion of our attention.

 

In addition, pursuant to Item 103(c)(3)(iii) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, the Company is required to disclose certain information about environmental proceedings to which governmental authority is a party if the Company reasonably believes such proceedings may result in monetary sanctions, exclusive of interest and costs, above a stated threshold. The Company has elected to apply a threshold of $1 million for purposes of determining whether disclosure of any such proceedings is required.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting that, if not properly remediated, could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

In connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, we have concluded that there is a material weakness relating to our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company's annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

Specifically, as discussed in more detail in Item 9A of the Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, we identified a material weakness relating to the operation of internal controls over the capitalization of certain costs that have been identified and included in our assessment. Notwithstanding that we did not identify any material misstatements to the consolidated financial statements and there were no changes to the previously released results as a result of this material weakness, the control deficiencies created a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement to the consolidated financial statements would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.  As a result of this material weakness, management has determined that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting were not effective as of December 31, 2022, March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023. 

 

In light of the material weakness identified, we performed additional analysis and other post-closing procedures to ensure that our consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP and accurately reflected our financial position and results of its operations as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023. Subsequent to our December 31, 2022 fiscal year end, we began taking a number of actions, including designing and implementing new controls and revising existing controls as well as investment in additional technical accounting support, in order to remediate the material weakness described above. We expect to continue our remediation efforts, including testing of operating effectiveness of new controls, and expect to incur additional costs remediating this material weakness.

 

Although we believe we are taking appropriate actions to remediate the control deficiency we identified and to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting, we may need to take additional measures to fully mitigate the material weakness, and the measures we have taken, and expect to take, to improve our internal controls may not be sufficient to address the issues identified, to ensure that our internal controls are effective or to ensure that the identified material weakness will not result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements. In addition, other material weaknesses or deficiencies may be identified in the future. If we are unable to correct material weaknesses or deficiencies in internal controls in a timely manner, our ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information accurately and within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC will be adversely affected. This failure could negatively affect the market price and trading liquidity of our common stock, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, subject us to civil and criminal investigations and penalties, and generally materially and adversely impact our business and financial condition.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

On February 9, 2023, the Company announced that its Board approved a stock buyback program (the "2023 Buyback Program") to repurchase up to $40 million of its common stock in the open market. Purchases will be made exclusively through the facilities of the NASDAQ Capital Market. The stock buyback program commenced on February 10, 2023 and will terminate on or before February 9, 2024. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company did not repurchase any shares under the 2023 Buyback Program.

 

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans

 

On  September 15, 2023Elliot Noss, our President and Chief Executive Officer, entered into a trading plan intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act (a “10b5-1 Plan”).  Under the 10b5-1 Plan, Mr. Noss may sell an aggregate number of shares having a maximum value of up to $2,295,000.  Following a mandatory cooling-off period, trading under the 10b5-1 Plan is expected to commence on or about December 15, 2023.  The 10b5-1 Plan will terminate the earlier of (i) December 31, 2025 or (ii) the date on which the maximum value of shares has been sold.

 

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

 

No.

  

Description

     

3.1.1

  

Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Tucows Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with Tucows’ Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on November 29, 2007).

3.1.2

  

Articles of Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Tucows Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with Tucows’ Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on January 3, 2014).

3.2

  

Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Tucows Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 filed with Tucows’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, as filed with the SEC on March 29, 2007).

3.3

  

Amendment No. 1 to Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Tucows Inc. (Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 3.3 filed with Tucows’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2012)

10.1*   Credit Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2023, by and among, Tucows Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Tucows.com Co., Ting Inc., Tucows (Delaware) Inc., Wavelo Inc., and Tucows (Emerald), LLC, Bank of Montreal as Agent and other parties thereto (Incorporated by References to Exhibit 10.1 filed with Tucows' Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on September 25, 2023)

31.1#

  

Chief Executive Officer's Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification

31.2#

  

Chief Financial Officer's Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification

32.1

  

Chief Executive Officer's Section 1350 Certification †

32.2

  

Chief Financial Officer's Section 1350 Certification †

101.INS#

  

Inline XBRL Instance Document (the Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

101.SCH#

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL#

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF#

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB#

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE#

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104#   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

#

Filed herewith.

Furnished herewith.

* Certain schedules and similar attachments have been omitted in reliance on Item 601 (a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company will provide, on supplemental basis, a copy of any omitted schedule or attachment to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 

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.

 

Date: November 2, 2023

TUCOWS INC.

  

  

  

By:

/s/ ELLIOT NOSS

  

  

Elliot Noss

  

  

President and Chief Executive Officer

  

  

  

  

By:

/s/ DAVINDER SINGH

  

  

Davinder Singh

Chief Financial Officer

  

  

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

56