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5. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

FINANCIAL POSITION

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CAPITAL STRUCTURE



(IN THOUSANDS OF CANADIAN DOLLARS)





As at
December 31, 2005

As at
December 31, 2004





Cash and cash equivalents $49,420
$186,957
Medium Term Notes 1,800,000
1,000,000
Commercial Paper 208,000
184,000
Obligations under capital leases 6,454
7,731
Long-term debt, including current portion $2,014,454
$1,191,731
Total net debt (net of cash and cash equivalents) 1,965,034
1,004,774
Unitholders' equity 4,995,644
3,511,671
Total capitalization $6,960,678
$4,516,445
Net debt to total capitalization 28.2

%

22.2

%


As at December 31, 2005, YPG had approximately $2.0 billion of debt net of cash and cash equivalents. The amount of debt decreased steadily since the closing of the Acquisition in May 2005 as the cash flow accretion from the ADS acquisition was applied to debt while the distributions per unit remained stable. The net debt to EBITDA ratio stands at 3.1 times as of December 31, 2005, up from 2.6 times as of December 31, 2004, but down from 3.5 times on a 2004 pro forma basis at the time of the Acquisition. The net debt to total capitalization stands at 28.2% as of December 31, 2005, up from 22.2% as of December 31, 2004 as a result of the ADS acquisition.

Credit Facilities

In connection with the Acquisition, YPG established new credit facilities in the aggregate amount of $3.0 billion. The new credit facilities consisted of (i) a 5-year $1.0 billion term credit facility composed of two tranches (the “New Term Credit Facilities”): a $750 million non-revolving single draw tranche and a $250 million non-revolving multiple draw tranche, (ii) a $500 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility composed of two tranches (the “New Revolving Credit Facilities”): a $300 million 364-day revolving tranche with a 2-year term-out option and a $200 million 5-year revolving tranche and (iii) a $1.5 billion subordinated equity bridge credit facility.

The $1.5 billion subordinated equity bridge was cancelled on May 25, 2005 and replaced with proceeds from an equity offering. Subsequently in November 2005, in connection with the issuance of Medium Term Notes described below, the New Term Credit Facilities were fully repaid and cancelled. The size of the 364-day tranche of the New Revolving Credit Facilities was also increased from $300 million to $500 million and its maturity date was extended to May 2009.

The total amount of the New Revolving Credit Facilities can be used as back-up for the commercial paper program and for general corporate purposes. The 364-day tranche can be extended annually, subject to Lenders consent. If not extended, any amount drawn may be converted, at our option, into a 2-year non-revolving term loan.

The New Revolving Credit Facilities are subject to customary terms and conditions including limits on pledging assets without the consent of lenders. These facilities are also subject to the maintenance of a maximum ratio of funded debt to EBITDA and a minimum ratio of EBITDA to interest expense on total debt. YPG was in compliance with all debt covenants as at December 31, 2005.

Medium Term Notes and Shelf Prospectus

On March 11, 2005, the Fund filed a Short Form Base Shelf Prospectus for $3 billion covering the potential issuance of equity and debt securities by the Fund or one of its subsidiaries for a period of 25 months (the Shelf Prospectus). Concurrent with the ADS Acquisition, the Fund issued $1.4 billion of subscription receipts under the Shelf Prospectus and the proceeds were used to pay a portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition and for general corporate purposes. Following this issuance of subscription receipts and the issuance of Medium Term Notes described below, the amount available under the Shelf Prospectus is $0.8 billion.

In November 2005, YPG Holdings, a subsidiary of the Fund issued Medium Term Notes in the principal aggregate amount of $800 million. An amount of $550 million of 10-year Series 4 Notes maturing in February 2016 bears a coupon of 5.25% and an amount of $250 million of 30-year Series 5 Notes maturing in February 2036 bears a coupon of 6.25% . The proceeds from this issuance were used to repay borrowings under the New Term Credit Facilities and for general corporate purposes. The transaction was in line with our stated objective of further extending the term of our indebtedness and diversifying our funding sources. 

From June to November 2005, we entered into bond forward transactions in order to effectively lock in the interest rate on a portion of the expected debt issuance, described above.

Notes were also issued in three series in 2004 under the same medium term notes program, with different maturity dates. The $450 million Series 1, 5-year notes mature in April 2009; the $300 million Series 2, 10-year notes mature in April 2014, the $250 million Series 3, 15- year notes mature in November 2019. All notes issued under the program are rated BBB (high) by DBRS and BBB- by Standard & Poor's.

Commercial Paper Program

A subsidiary of the Fund maintains a commercial paper program with an authorized limit of $500 million. The New Revolving Credit Facilities serve as a back-up facility for the program. Commercial paper outstanding amounted to $208 million as at December 31, 2005. The short-term notes issued under the program are rated R-1 (low) by DBRS. In November 2005, the limit under the program was increased from $300 million to $500 million, concurrently with a similar increase in the size of the New Revolving Credit Facilities. Issuances under the program can be used for general corporate purposes.

Liquidity

On December 31, 2005, cash and cash equivalents amounted to $49.4 million. In addition to cash and cash equivalents, YPG may issue additional notes amounting to $292 million under its $500 million commercial paper program and access another $200 million under the New Revolving Credit Facilities that remains undrawn. All of these amounts can be used for general corporate purposes.

Unit data

As at December 31, 2005, outstanding unit data was as follows:


OUTSTANDING UNIT DATA

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As at
December 31, 2005

As at
December 31, 2004


Units outstanding 472,245,176
344,330,140
Options outstanding 3,006,321
4,176,827

The units are voting and participate equally in the income, losses and capital distributions of the partnership. The substantial increase in units outstanding is mainly due to the issue and subsequent conversion of 104,100,000 subscription receipts on April 1, 2005 each of which entitled its holder to automatically receive one unit of the Fund upon closing and the private placement of 22,727,273 units of the Fund on May 25, 2005 to finance the Acquisition.

No options were granted following the initial public offering on August 1, 2003.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS

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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS









(IN THOUSANDS OF CANADIAN DOLLARS)









Payments due for the periods ending December 31



1–3
4 – 5



Total
years
years
After 5 years

Long-term debt $2,008,000
$—
$658,000
$1,350,000
Capital lease obligations 6,454
3,823
2,444
187
Operating leases 150,900
38,805
23,961
88,134
Purchase obligations 42,424
40,174
2,250

Total contractual obligations $2,207,778
$82,802
$686,655
$1,438,321

Obligations under capital leases

We entered into various capital lease agreements for office equipment and software. As of December 31, 2005, minimum payments under these capital leases over the next five years and thereafter totaled $6.5 million.

Operating leases

We rent our premises under various operating leases. As of December 31, 2005, minimum payments under these operating leases over the next five years and thereafter totaled $150.9 million.

Purchase obligations

We use the services of outside suppliers to distribute our directories and have entered into long-term agreements with such suppliers. These agreements expire between 2007 and 2010. As at December 31, 2005, we have an obligation to purchase services for $42.4 million over the next five years. Cash from operations will be used to satisfy these purchase obligations.

SOURCES AND USES OF CASH

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Consistent with the directory publishing industry, the Company has minimal capital spending requirements combined with low operating costs.


SOURCES AND USES OF CASH 





(IN THOUSANDS OF CANADIAN DOLLARS)





Year ended
December 31,
2005

Year ended
December 31,
2004








CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES



Cash flow from operations

$458,383
$369,294

Change in operating assets and liabilities

38,989
(19,107 )


$497,372
$350,187



CASH FLOW USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES



Business acquisitions

$(2,623,822 ) $—

Acquisition of non-controlling interest, net of restricted cash


(535,199 )

Restricted cash

227,622
(178,400 )

Acquisition of capital assets

(36,461 ) (29,194 )

Acquisition of intangibles


(25 )

Proceeds from lease inducements

1,036
9,824


$(2,431,625 ) $(732,994 )



CASH FLOW (USED IN) / FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES


Issuance of long-term debt

$3,328,500
$1,857,000

Repayment of long-term debt

(2,733,838 ) (1,724,596 )

Distributions to unitholders

(407,823 ) (310,282 )

Issuance of units, net

1,624,737
713,599

Deferred financing costs and other

(14,860 ) (11,502 )


$1,796,716
$524,219

Cash flow from operating activities

Interest paid during the year ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 amounted to $69.5 million and $33.4 million, respectively. This increase was mainly due to the additional interest on the debt incurred for the Acquisition combined with the change in the timing of interest payments following the refinancing of our credit facilities through the issuance of Medium Term Notes in 2004 and 2005 as described above. The change in operating assets and liabilities of $38.9 million in 2005 resulted mainly from the collection of $24.5 million of accounts receivable balances of ADS during the second quarter due to the timing of the Acquisition.

The Company generates sufficient free cash flows from operations to fund distributions, working capital requirements and to service debt obligations.

Cash flow used in investing activities

Cash used in investing activities increased from $733 million in 2004 to $2,432 million in 2005, primarily due to the Acquisition which accounted for $2,624 million of the increase, partially offset by the acquisition of the non-controlling interest on June 11, 2004, which accounted for $535.2 million.


ACQUISITION OF CAPITAL ASSETS, NET OF PROCEEDS FROM LEASE INDUCEMENTS 




(IN THOUSANDS OF CANADIAN DOLLARS)





Year ended
December 31,
2005

Year ended
December 31,
2004








Transition capital $10,407
$ 9,557
Maintenance 14,513
7,949
New initiatives 13,028
4,092
Leasehold improvements, net of lease inducements 3,410
808

Total $41,358
$22,406

Adjustment to reflect expenditures on a cash basis (5,933 ) (3,036 )

Acquisition of capital assets,



net of proceeds from lease inducements $35,425
$19,370

Transition Capital – Pursuant to the acquisition of the directories business from affiliates of Bell Canada and the initial public offering, $10 million was set aside as pre-funded capital for the purpose of the Company's transition to a stand-alone company. This transition period ended in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Pursuant to the ADS acquisition, approximately $15 million was set aside as pre-funded capital for purposes of integrating ADS operations into those of YPG. Capital spending associated with the integration of the ADS Acquisition amounted to $10.4 million during the year 2005.

Maintenance capital expenditures increased from $7.9 million in 2004 to $14.5 million in 2005 as a result of the acquisition of ADS. We expect maintenance capital expenditures of approximately $15 million per year.

Capital spending for new initiatives increased from $4.1 million in 2004 to $13 million in 2005 as a result of the timing of certain projects discussed in section 4 – Results, namely, client information automated tools, the content management system and the customer portal.

Leasehold improvements – Renovations to our Toronto office in the form of leasehold improvements began in 2004 and were completed in the third quarter of 2005. A substantial portion of these leasehold improvements were reimbursed to us through tenant inducements.

Cash flow (used in) / from financing activities

Net issuance of long-term debt increased from $132.4 million in 2004 to $594.7 million in 2005, and reflects the additional debt incurred for the ADS acquisition net of repayments arising from operating cash flow generation.

The issuance of additional units, combined with an increase in the level of cash distributions per unit, resulted in an increase in distributions to unitholders from $310.3 million in 2004 to $407.8 million in 2005.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

(See note 21 of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2005).

Operating leases

The Company has $150.9 million in outstanding commitments under various leases for premises and equipment over the next five years and thereafter.

Guarantees

YPG has entered into agreements which provide for indemnification provisions for its trustees and officers against expenses including legal fees, judgments, fines and any amount actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or proceeding in which the trustees and/or officers are sued as a result of their service subject to certain provisions. YPG purchases directors' and officers' liability insurance. With respect to this indemnity, no amount was accrued in the audited consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2005.

Pursuant to the initial public offering and the two subsequent equity issues, the Company also entered into underwriting agreements and into Investor Liquidity Agreements with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (“KKR”), TMB Directories Inc. (

“Teachers”) and BCE Inc., whereby the Company may have to indemnify the parties relating to representations made at the time of the offerings. No amount has been accrued in the audited consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2005, with respect to these indemnities. The nature of these guarantees prevents the Company from making a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount it could be required to pay to counterparties, if any.

Pursuant to the acquisitions of ADS and TMC, the Fund has entered into agreements whereby the Fund agrees to indemnify the vendors and hold them harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, costs and expenses arising out of, based upon or related to (i) any breach by the Fund in the performance of its obligations under these agreements and (ii) any breach of a representation contained therein. Furthermore, agreements entered into by ADS prior to acquisition contain indemnifications similar to the ones just described. No amount was accrued in the consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2005 with respect to these indemnities. The nature of these guarantees prevents the Fund from making a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount it could be required to pay to counterparties, if any.

FINANCIAL AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS

(See note 21 of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2005)

The Company's financial instruments consist of cash and short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, distributions payable, short-term debt, long-term debt and interest rate derivative agreements.

Derivative Instruments

The Company uses various derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to interest rates risk on debt financing. YPG does not hold or use any derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes. We formally assess, both at the hedge's inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in our hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items.

We manage interest rate exposure by having a balanced schedule of debt maturities, as well as a combination of fixed and floating interest rate obligations and have entered into interest rate swap agreements and other interest rate derivatives to manage this exposure.

Taking into consideration the debt instruments outstanding, the cash and the above-mentioned derivative instruments, our fixed-tofloating ratio of net debt was 92% fixed rate as at December 31, 2005.

In December 2005, we entered into swaption agreements for a notional amount of $200 million maturing on June 30, 2006. These swaptions grant an option to the counterparty to enter into an interest rate swap agreement with us. If exercised, we would enter into a swap to receive a fixed rate of 5.25% and pay a floating rate based on Banker's Acceptance plus a spread of 0.7%, maturing in February 2016. This would effectively convert a portion of our recently issued 10-year Series 4 Medium Term Notes to a floating rate. A premium of $2.1 million was received to enter into these agreements.

These agreements were the only derivative instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2005. Please refer to note 21 in the consolidated financial statements for a complete description of derivative instruments used during 2005.

While the counterparties of these agreements expose YPG to credit losses in the event of non-performance, we believe that the possibility of incurring such a loss is remote due to the creditworthiness of the counterparties, all of whom are highly-rated financial institutions that have strong credit ratings.

The carrying value of all outstanding derivative instruments was $1.7 million on December 31, 2005 and their fair values amounted to $1.7 million. The fair value is calculated as is customary in the industry using discounted cash flows with year-end market rates. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we reported an unrealized loss on interest rate swaps of $2.6 million (2004 – unrealized gain of $1.1 million).

Derivatives that are economic hedges but do not qualify for hedge accounting are recorded on the balance sheet with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. Realized and unrealized gains or losses associated with derivative instruments, which have been terminated or have ceased to be effective prior to maturity, are deferred on the balance sheet and recognized in income during the period in which the underlying hedged transaction is recognized.

Short-term Investments

Credit risk associated with short-term investments is minimized substantially by ensuring that these financial assets are placed with creditworthy counterparties. An ongoing review is performed to evaluate changes in the status of counterparties.

Accounts receivable

YPG is exposed to credit risk with respect to accounts receivable from customers. Pursuant to the billing and collection services Agreement, Bell and Telus receive money from customers on behalf of YPG. There are no individual customers that account for 1% or more of revenues and there are no accounts receivable from any one party that exceed 1% of the total balance at any point in time during the year. Included in trade accounts receivable of $125.5 million at December 31, 2005 is $44.6 million (2004 - $42.7 million) to be remitted by Bell and $25.5 million (2004 – nil) to be remitted by Telus under the billing and collection services Agreement.


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