6-K
Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of August, 2014

Commission File Number: 001-13464

Telecom Argentina S.A.

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

Alicia Moreau de Justo, No. 50, 1107

Buenos Aires, Argentina

(Address of principal executive offices)

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

 

  Form 20-F         X         Form 40-F                   

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

 

  Yes                         No         X      

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

 

  Yes                         No         X      

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the Registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

 

  Yes                         No         X      

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):   N/A

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Telecom Argentina S.A.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item

 

  1.  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2014


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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF JUNE 30, 2014


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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2014 AND 2013

INDEX

 

Operating and financial review and prospects as of June 30, 2014

  I

Unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

Unaudited consolidated statements of financial position

  1

Unaudited consolidated income statements

  2

Unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income

  3

Unaudited consolidated statements of changes in equity

  4

Unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows

  5

Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

  6

Limited review report on condensed interim consolidated financial statements

 

Corporate information

 


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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2014

(In millions of Argentine pesos or as expressly indicated)

 

1.    General considerations

As required by CNV regulations, the Company has prepared its consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2014 under IFRS. Additional information is given in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

2.    Telecom Group’s activities for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 (“1H14”) and 2013 (“1H13”)

Total revenues and other income for 1H14 amounted to $15,615 (+22.7% vs. 1H13), operating costs – including depreciations, amortizations and gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E– amounted to $12,997 (+21.9% vs. 1H13), operating income before depreciation and amortization amounted to $4,119 (+13.7% vs. 1H13) – representing 26.4% of consolidated revenues and -210 bp vs. 1H13–, operating income amounted to $2,618 (+27.1% vs. 1H13) and net income amounted to $1,836 (+24.5% vs. 1H13). Net income attributable to Telecom Argentina amounted to $1,805 in 1H14 (+24.1% vs. 1H13).

 

            Variation
  

 

 

         1H14              1H13              $              %    
  

 

 

Revenues

     15,585         12,713          2,872       22.6 

Other income

     30         13          17       130.8 

Operating costs without depreciation and amortization

     (11,496)         (9,102)          (2,394)       26.3 
  

 

 

Operating income before depreciation and amortization

     4,119         3,624          495       13.7 

Depreciation and amortization

     (1,511)         (1,399)          (112)       8.0 

Gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E

     10         (165)          175       n/a 
  

 

 

Operating income

     2,618         2,060          558       27.1 

Financial results, net

     154         214          (60)       (28.0) 
  

 

 

Income before income tax expense

     2,772         2,274          498       21.9 

Income tax expense

     (936)         (799)          (137)       17.1 
  

 

 

Net income

     1,836         1,475          361       24.5 
  

 

 

Attributable to:

           

Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

     1,805         1,454          351       24.1 

Non-controlling interest

     31         21          10       47.6 
  

 

 

     1,836         1,475          361       24.5 
  

 

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to Telecom Argentina (in pesos)

     1.86         1.48          
  

 

 

       

 

   

Total revenues and other income

During 1H14 consolidated total revenues increased 22,6% (+$2,872 vs. 1H13) amounting to $15,585 mainly fueled by the Broadband, data transmission and mobile businesses, while consolidated other income increased 130.8% (+$17 vs. 1H13), mainly due to penalties imposed to suppliers in the Fixed Services segment and income from prescribing obligations from Personal.

 

            Variation     
  

 

 

  
         1H14                  1H13                  $              %       
  

 

 

  

Services

              

Voice – Retail

     1,386         1,297         89       6.9    

Voice – Wholesale

     453         376         77       20.5    

Internet

     1,503         1,191         312       26.2    

Data

     683         441         242       54.9    
  

 

 

  

Subtotal Fixed Services

     4,025         3,305         720                   21.8    
  

 

 

  

Voice – Retail

     2,595         2,338         257       11.0    

Voice – Wholesale

     976         966         10       1.0    

Internet

     1,425         915         510       55.7    

Data

     3,677         3,364         313       9.3    
  

 

 

  

Subtotal Personal Mobile Services

     8,673         7,583         1,090       14.4    
  

 

 

  

Voice – Retail

     280         177         103       58.2    

Voice – Wholesale

     54         65         (11)       (16.9)    

Internet

     207         124         83       66.9    

Data

     164         157         7       4.5    
  

 

 

  

Subtotal Núcleo Mobile Services

     705         523         182       34.8    
  

 

 

  

Total services revenues

                 13,403                     11,411         1,992       17.5    
  

 

 

  

Equipment

              

Fixed Services

     31         30         1       3.3    

Personal Mobile Services

     2,115         1,235         880       71.3    

Núcleo Mobile Services

     36         37         (1)       (2.7)    
  

 

 

  

Total equipment revenues

     2,182         1,302         880       67.6    
  

 

 

  

Total revenues

     15,585         12,713                     2,872       22.6    

 

 

  
      OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2014   

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

Services revenues amounted to $13,403 (+17.5% vs. 1H13) and represented 86.0 % of consolidated revenues (vs. 89.8% in 1H13). Equipment revenues increased 67.6%, amounting to $2,182 and represented 14.0% of consolidated revenues (vs. 10.2% in 1H13).

Fixed Services

During 1H14, services revenues generated by this segment amounted to $4,025, +$720 or 21.8% vs. 1H13, where Internet revenues have grown the most (+$312 or 26.2% vs. 1H13), followed by data transmission services (+$242 or 54.9% vs. 1H13) and voice retail services (+$89 or 6.9% vs. 1H13).

 

Ø  

Voice

Voice retail revenues amounted to $1,386 in 1H14 (+6.9% vs. 1H13). The results of this line of business are still affected by frozen tariffs of regulated services. Revenues from regulated services reached approximately 29% of the segment services revenues in 1H14 (vs. 33% in 1H13).

Monthly Charges and Supplementary Services increased $44 or 8.0% vs. 1H13, to $592, as a consequence of an increase in supplementary services (not regulated), mainly due to an increase of their prices and, to a lesser extent, to the increase in the subscriber base.

Revenues generated by measured services (Local Measured Service, Domestic Long Distance and International Long Distance services) amounted to $740, (+$63 or 9.3% vs. 1H13), mainly due to the increase of domestic plans and long national distance plans. According to this, DLD revenues increased 5.0% vs. 1H13 and revenues from local measured service increased 4.3% vs. 1H13. The Average Monthly Revenue per User (“ARBU”) amounted to $55.7 pesos per month in 1H14 vs. $51.2 pesos per month amounted in 1H13, representing an increase of 8.8%. The remaining retail voice revenues amounted to $54 in 1H14 (-25.0% vs. 1H13). The decrease was mainly due to a decrease in consumption and customers of public telecommunication services and a decrease in rehabilitation and one-time charges.

Voice wholesale revenues (including fixed and mobile interconnection revenues and lease of circuits, together with the revenues generated by the subsidiary Telecom USA amounting to $49) amounted to $453 in 1H14 (+20.5% vs. 1H13). Interconnection fixed and mobile revenues amounted to $302 (+15.7% vs. 1H13 as a result of the general increase in prices and, to a lower extent, by a slight increase in traffic with mobile operators). The other wholesale revenues amounted to $151 in 1H14 (+31.3% vs. 1H13), mainly due to higher prices related to cell sites rentals due to the variation of the $/US$ exchange rate.

 

Ø  

Internet

Internet revenues amounted to $1,503 (+$312 or 26.2% vs. 1H13) mainly due to the expansion of the Broadband service (+5.6% of customers vs. 1H13) and an increase in average prices resulting in an improvement in the Average Monthly Revenue per User (“ARPU”), that amounted to $143 pesos per month in 1H14 vs. $119.3 pesos per month in 1H13 (+19.9% vs. 1H13). As of June 30, 2014, Telecom Argentina reached approximately 1,726,000 ADSL customers. These connections represent approximately 42.1% of Telecom Argentina’s fixed lines in service (vs. 39.7% in 1H13). The churn rate per month amounted to 1.3% in 1H14 (vs. 1.5% in 1H13).

Internet revenues represent 9.6% of consolidated revenues (similar to 1H13) and 37.3% of Fixed Services segment revenues (vs. 36.0 % in 1H13).

 

Ø  

Data

Data transmission revenues amounted to $683 (+$242 vs. 1H13), of which $2 were generated by the subsidiary Telecom USA. These revenues were generated focusing on the Company’s position as an integrated TICs provider (Datacenter, VPN, among others) for wholesale and government segments. The increase was primarily due to higher prices related to the variation of the $/US$ exchange rate, the increase of IP transit services customers, VPN IP services customers (private data networks services that replaces the point to point services) and IP direct lines customers in the retail segment, to the increase in customers and higher prices related to the variation of the $/US$ exchange rate of Integra services, mainly in the Large Customer segment, to higher prices related to the variation of the $/US$ exchange rate of the VPN-IP services in the Wholesale segment and to an increase in the monthly charges and transmission Datacenter services (especially in Hosting and Housing monthly charges, and Value added services transmission).

 

 

  
      OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2014   

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

Personal Mobile Services

During 1H14, total services revenues amounted to $8,673, +$1,090 or 14.4% vs. 1H13, being the principal business segment in revenues terms (64.7 % and 66.4% of services consolidated revenues in 1H14 and 1H13, respectively). Personal reached 19.8 million subscribers in Argentina (+2.4% vs. 1H13). Approximately 67.8% of the subscriber base is prepaid subscribers and 32.2% is postpaid subscribers (including “Cuentas claras” plans and Mobile Internet dongles). The churn rate per month amounted to 2.9% in 1H14 (vs. 2.8% in 1H13).

 

Ø  

Voice

Voice retail revenues amounted to $2,595 in 1H14 (+11.0% vs. 1H13). The increase was mainly due to the increase in the lines billed, mainly fueled by the increase in monthly charges prices and the increase in the subscriber base (especially prepaid and “Cuentas claras” subscribers), partially offset by a slight decrease in postpaid customers. Traffic voice sales decreased $106 or 11.0% vs. 1H13 mainly due to the decrease of the Minutes of Use (“MOU”). The MOU amounted to $94.9 pesos per month in 1H14 as compared to $110.3 pesos per month amounted in 1H13, representing a decrease of 14.0%, which was mainly generated by the prepaid segment.

Voice wholesale revenues amounted to $976 in 1H14 (+1.0% vs. 1H13). The increase was mainly due to higher TLRD traffic and to the increase of mobile leases, mainly due to new agreements and to the renegotiation of the existing ones, partially offset by a decrease in roaming revenues with other operators.

 

Ø  

Internet

Mobile Internet revenues amounted to $1.425 (+$510 or 55.7% vs. 1H13). This increase is mainly explained by the increase in browsing services consumption of Personal’s subscribers, which was mainly fueled by the increase in the offer of services, plans and packs (including VAS) launched by Personal. This growth was fueled by new subscribers, the migration of the existing ones to higher-value plans and the increase of subscribers that acquired Smartphone (47.2% in 1H14 vs. 32.8% in 1H13), which facilitate Internet browsing. Internet flat rate services revenues have decreased mainly due to the decrease of Mobile Internet dongles subscribers (-33.6% vs.1H13).

 

Ø  

Data

Mobile data services revenues amounted to $3,677 (+$313 or 9.3% vs. 1H13). This increase was mainly due to the constant SMS with contents sales increase as a result of several campaigns launched by Personal, which represented an inter-annual increase of $333 vs. 1H13. This increase was reflected both in prepaid and postpaid customers and is mainly due to average prices increases and, to a lesser extent, to the increase of the subscribers base. However, the main component of VAS revenues are SMS consumption, which have remained constant as compared to 1H13, although experiencing a decrease in TOU (-35.5% vs. 1H13).

As a consequence of the increase in VAS use (especially Internet browsing and SMS with contents), ARPU increased to $70.0 pesos per month in 1H14 (vs. $63.8 pesos per month in 1H13), which represents an increase of 9.7%.

VAS revenues (data and Internet) amounted to $5,102 (+19.2% vs. 1H13) and represented 58.8% of Personal Mobile Services’ services revenues (vs. 56.4% in 1H13).

Núcleo Mobile Services

This segment generated services revenues equivalent to $705 during 1H14 (+$182 or 34.8% vs. 1H13) mainly due to the appreciation of the Guaraní respect to the argentine peso (+40% inter-annual), generating a positive effect in Núcleo’s revenues conversion, and to the Internet revenues increase over the mentioned conversion effect, mainly related to the increase of browsing generated by subscribers with mobile equipment prepared for that purpose. As of June 30, 2014, Núcleo’s subscriber base reached 2.4 million customers. Prepaid and postpaid subscribers (including “Plan Control” subscribers and mobile Internet subscribers) represented 79.8% and 20.2% in 1H14, respectively. The MOU amounted to $54.2 pesos per month in 1H14 as compared to $61.8 pesos per month in 1H13, representing a decrease of 12.3%, which generated a decrease in voice traffic of approximately 7.6% in Guaraníes, especially in the prepaid segment.

VAS revenues (data and Internet) amounted to $371 (+32.0% vs. 1H13) and represented 52.6% of Núcleo Mobile Services segment services revenues (vs. 53.7% in 1H13).

 

 

  
      OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2014   

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

Equipment

Revenues from equipment amounted to $2.182, +$880 or 67.6% vs. 1H13. This increase is mainly related to the Personal Mobile services segment with an increase of $880 vs. 1H13. The increase was mainly due to an increase in handset’s average sale prices (+92.1 % vs. 1H13), partially offset by lower handsets sold (-9.8% vs. 1H13). This situation was mainly generated by a subsidy reduction policy, the increase in average prices related to higher-value handsets demand (those with 3G browsing aptitude), the business strategy to attract high-value subscribers, a decrease in discounts as a result of the finalization of commercial promotions and lower retail revenues. In the Núcleo Mobile Services segment the decrease was mainly due to a decrease in the handsets sold, partially offset by the effect of the appreciation of the Guaraní respect to the argentine peso. The equipment sale result amounted to a gain of $289 in 1H14 vs. a gain of $14 in 1H13, net of $57 and $164 of SAC capitalization, respectively.

 

   

Operating costs

Consolidated operating costs –including depreciations, amortizations and gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E– totaled $12,997 in 1H14, which represents an increase of $2,331 or +21.9% vs. 1H13. The increase in costs is mainly a consequence of a higher revenues, higher expenses related to competition in mobile and Internet businesses, higher direct and indirect labor costs on the cost structure of the Telecom Group in Argentina, the increase in fees for services related to higher supplier prices, the increase in the cost of equipment and handsets, the increase in taxes and fees with the Regulatory Matters, the increase of VAS costs and the effect of the appreciation of the Guaraní (+40% inter-annual) respect to the argentine peso, affecting the operations in Paraguay.

 

                     Variation      Variation in $ by segment  
For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2014    1H14      1H13      $      %      Fixed
Serv.
     Personal
M. Serv.
    

Núcleo

M. Serv.

 

Employee benefit expenses and severance payments

     (2,537)         (1,873)         (664)         35.5         (490)         (158)         (16)   

Interconnection costs and other telecommunication charges

     (1,020)         (1,006)         (14)         1.4         (64)         50         -   

Fees for services, maintenance, materials and supplies

     (1,599)         (1,214)         (385)         31.7         (156)         (215)         (14)   

Taxes and fees with the Regulatory Authority

     (1,564)         (1,248)         (316)         25.3         (77)         (233)         (6)   

Commissions

     (1,480)         (1,242)         (238)         19.2         (26)         (192)         (20)   

Agent commissions capitalized as SAC

     362         218         144         66.1         10         131         3   

Cost of equipment and handsets

     (1,950)         (1,452)         (498)         34.3         (1)         (489)         (8)   

Cost of equipment and handsets capitalized as SAC

     57         164         (107)         (65.2)         -         (113)         6   

Advertising

     (341)         (286)         (55)         19.2         (17)         (34)         (4)   

Cost of VAS

     (406)         (301)         (105)         34.9         (2)         (92)         (11)   

Provisions

     (102)         (97)         (5)         5.2         (30)         25         -   

Bad debt expenses

     (233)         (165)         (68)         41.2         (12)         (51)         (5)   

Other operating expenses

     (683)         (600)         (83)         13.8         (28)         (41)         (14)   

Subtotal

     (11,496)         (9,102)         (2,394)         26.3         (893)         (1,412)         (89)   

Depreciation of PP&E

     (1,106)         (955)         (151)         15.8         (66)         (32)         (53)   

Amortization of SAC and service connection charges

     (393)         (432)         39         (9.0)         (17)         67         (11)   

Amortization of other intangible assets

     (12)         (12)         -         -         -         -         -   

Gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E

     10         (165)         175         n/a         125         51         (1)   

Total operating costs

     (12,997)         (10,666)         (2,331)         21.9         (851)         (1,326)         (154)   

The costs breakdown is as follows:

Employee benefit expenses and severance payments

Employee benefit expenses and severance payments amounted to $2,537 (+$664 or 35.5% vs. 1H13). The increase was mainly due to increases in salaries agreed by Telecom Argentina with several trade unions for the unionized employees and also to non-unionized employees, together with related social security charges and to increases in severance payments (+$79 or 184.6% vs. 1H13). With a total headcount of 16,549 by the end of 1H14, slightly lower than 1H13 between employees and eventual employees, lines in service per employee reached 371 in the Fixed Services segment (slightly lower than 1H13), subscribers per employee reached 3,912 in the Personal Mobile Services segment (+6.3% vs. 1H13) and subscribers per employee reached 5,618 (+3.6% vs. 1H13) in the Núcleo Mobile Services segment.

Interconnection costs and other telecommunication charges

Interconnection costs and other telecommunication charges (including charges for TLRD, Roaming, Interconnection costs, cost of international outbound calls and lease of circuits) amounted to $1,020 (+$14 or 1.4% vs. 1H13). The increase was mainly due to higher traffic volume in the international market, partially offset by the TLRD traffic decrease vs. 1H13.

Fees for services, maintenance, materials and supplies

Fees for services, maintenance, materials and supplies amounted to $1,599, +$385 or 31.7% vs. 1H13. The increase was mainly due to higher maintenance costs of radio bases, systems and buildings in the mobile services segments, as a result of the variation in the $/US$ exchange rate, an increase in technical assistance cost of radio bases, higher system licenses maintenance costs and higher costs of building maintenance. There were also increases in other maintenance costs and fees for services, mainly due to higher costs recognized to suppliers in all segments.

 

 

  
      OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2014   

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

Taxes and fees with the Regulatory Authority

Taxes and fees with the Regulatory Authority (including turnover tax, fees with the Regulatory Authority, IDC, municipal and other taxes) amounted to $1,564 (+25.3% vs. 1H13), influenced mainly by the increase in revenues of fixed and mobile services, by the increase in equipment sales in Argentina, by the increase of the IDC related to the dividends payment and by higher collections and payments to suppliers in 1H14 vs. 1H13.

Commissions

Commissions (including Agent, distribution of prepaid cards and other commissions) amounted to $1,480 (+$238 or 19.2% vs. 1H13). The increase was mainly due to the increase in Agents’ commissions (associated to higher revenues) as a result of higher customer’s acquisition and retention costs recognized to them and the increase of outsourced sales commissions and collection commissions, especially of handsets sold, partially offset by lower prepaid cards sales and lower prepaid recharges.

On the other hand, agent commissions capitalized as SAC amounted to $362, +$144 or 66.1% vs.1H13, and it’s directly related to the increase in the “Cuentas claras” subscribers’ base in the Personal Mobile Services segment and the increase in the commissions prices.

Cost of equipment and handsets

Cost of equipments and handsets amounted to $1,950 (+$498 or 34.3% vs. 1H13) mainly due to an increase in the average unit cost of sales (+52.1% vs. 1H13), partially offset by a decrease in the units of handsets sold (-9.8% vs. 1H13) in the Personal Mobile Services segment.

On the other hand, SAC deferred costs from handsets sold amounted to $57, -$107 or -65.2% vs. 1H13. The lower capitalized amount was mainly due to the significant reduction of subsidies provided to customers in the Personal Mobile Services segment, especially in the “Cuentas claras” segment.

Advertising

Advertising amounted to $341 (+$55 or 19.2% vs. 1H13), mainly due to higher commercial campaigns of Personal as compared to 1H13.

Cost of VAS

Cost of VAS amounted to $406 (+$105 or 34.9% vs. 1H13). The increase was mainly due to the increase of VAS sales in the Personal Mobile Services segment, especially the SMS with content service, which grew $333 as compared to 1H13, as a consequence of several campaigns launched by Personal. SVA costs represented approximately 5.6% and 4.9% of the SVA sales in 1H14 and 1H13, respectively.

Provisions

Provisions amounted to $102, +$5 or 5.2% vs. 1H13. The increase was mainly due to higher regulatory and municipal claims (+$20 vs. 1H13), partially offset by lower labor claims ($6 vs. 1H13) and lower civil and commercial claims ($9 vs. 1H13).

Bad debt expenses

Bad debt expenses amounted to $233 (+$68 or 41.2% vs. 1H13), representing approximately 1.5% and 1.3% of the consolidated revenues in 1H14 and 1H13, respectively. The major increase is observed in the Personal Mobile Services segment by $51 as a consequence of higher aging of the accounts receivables and higher incidence of handsets sales financed by Personal. These charges have also increased in Telecom Argentina by $10 in the Government and Corporate segment.

Other operating costs

Other operating costs amounted to $683 (+$83 or 12.3% vs. 1H13). The increase was mainly due to higher prices on related services, especially in transportation, freight and travel expenses (+$56 or 27.1% vs. 1H13), among others, in the operations in Argentina; and the increase of rent prices (+$38 or 25% vs. 1H13), as a result of new agreements and the renegotiation of some of the existing ones.

 

   

Operating income before depreciation and amortization

Operating income before depreciation and amortization amounted to $4,119 (+$495 or 13.7% vs. 1H13), representing 26.4% of consolidated revenues in 1H14 (vs. 28.5% in 1H13). This growth was mainly fueled by the Personal Mobile Services segment (+$418 or 17.0% vs. 1H13).

 

 

  
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Operating income before depreciation and amortization generated by equipment and handset sales amounted to $289 in 1H14 vs. $14 in 1H13 (+$275 or 1,964% vs. 1H13), while operating income before depreciation and amortization generated by services sales amounted to $3,830 in 1H14 vs. $3,610 in 1H13 (+$220 or 6.1% vs. 1H13).

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization amounted to $1,511 (+$112 or +8.0% vs. 1H13). The increase in PP&E depreciation amounted to $151 partially offset by a decrease in amortization of SAC and service connection costs of $39 due to lower levels of capitalization of subsidies from the sale of mobile handsets and the extension of the contractual terms for mobile customers from 18 to 24 months. The increase in depreciation and amortization corresponds 74.1% to the Fixed Services segment and 25.9% to the mobile services segments.

Gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E

Gain on disposal of PP&E amounted to $10, +$3 vs. $7 amounted in 1H13, and was mainly related to the Fixed Services segment. Impairment of PP&E amounted to $172 in 1H13 and was mainly related to the discontinuation of a commercial system of Personal (amounting to $50) and to the write-down of some projects of Telecom Argentina that presented uncertainty regarding their development and future associated cash flows (amounting to $122).

 

   

Operating income

Operating income amounted to $2,618 in 1H14 (+$558 or 27.1% vs. 1H13). The margin over consolidated revenues represented 16.8% in 1H14 (vs. 16.2% in 1H13). Personal Mobile Services segment shows the higher increase (+31.2% vs. 1H13).

If the impairment of PP&E recorded in 1H13 was excluded, the operating income increase would have been 17.3% vs. 1H13.

 

   

Financial results, net

Financial results, net resulted in a net gain of $154, representing a decrease of $60 vs. 1H13. The decrease was mainly due to higher foreign currency exchange losses (+$160 vs. 1H13), higher interests on provisions (+$27 vs. 1H13) and higher losses on NDF (+$6 vs. 1H13), partially offset by higher financial interest on time deposits and other investments – including Interest on related parties– (+$69 vs. 1H13), higher gains on mutual funds (+$57 vs. 1H13) and higher interests on receivables (+$24 vs. 1H13).

 

   

Net income

Telecom Argentina reached a net income of $1,836 in 1H14, +$361 or +24.5% when compared to 1H13. Net income attributable to Telecom Argentina amounted to $1,805 in 1H14, +$351 or +24.1% as compared to 1H13.

 

   

Net financial assets

As of June 30, 2014, Net financial assets (Cash and Cash Equivalents plus financial investments minus Financial debt) amounted to $3,807, showing a decrease of $1,287 as compared to June 30, 2013 (amounting to $5,094). This decrease was mainly due to a decrease in the generation of cash from operating activities of the Telecom Group, mainly by higher CAPEX payments and higher equipment and handsets acquisitions affected by the devaluation of the argentine peso vs. the US dollar, cash dividends paid to its shareholders’ for a total amount of $1,637 (including tax withholding on cash dividends) and treasury shares acquisitions of $378 during 2H13. The Fixed Services segment has a financial asset of $1,650 and the Personal Mobile Services segment has a financial asset of $2,411, while the Núcleo Mobile Services segment has a net financial debt of $254.

 

 

  
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Capital expenditures (CAPEX)

CAPEX composition for 1H14 and 1H13 is as follows:

 

        In millions of $     % of participation     Variation  
            1H14             1H13              1H14          1H13             $             %      

Fixed Services

      899        671        40     43     228        34.0   

Personal Mobile Services

      1,241        765        55     49     476        62.2   

Núcleo Mobile Services

        125        118        5     8     7        5.9   

Total CAPEX

      2,265        1,554        100     100     711        45.8   
               
                                                   

PP&E CAPEX amounted to $1,806 and intangible assets CAPEX amounted to $459 in 1H14, while in 1H13 amounted to $1,137 and $417, respectively.

In relative terms, CAPEX represented 14.5% of consolidated revenues in 1H14 (12.2% in 1H13), and were intended mainly for the external wiring and network access equipment, transmission and switching equipment, computer equipment and SAC.

PP&E and intangible assets additions (CAPEX plus materials additions) for 1H14 and 1H13 are as follows:

 

        In millions of $     % of participation   Variation
                1H14                  1H13                 1H14                 1H13                   $                 %   

Fixed Services

      1,131        789      45%    46%      342      43.3 

Personal Mobile Services

      1,229        768      49%    45%      461      60.0 

Núcleo Mobile Services

        134        149      6%    9%      (15)      (10.1) 

Total additions

      2,494        1,706      100%    100%      788      46.2 
               
                                       

Main PP&E CAPEX projects are related to the expansion of fixed broadband services in order to improve transmission and speed offered to customers; deployment of 3G services to support the growth of mobile Internet together with the launch of innovative VAS services and the expansion of transmission and transport networks to meet the growing demand of services of our fixed and mobile customers and also improve our services protection quality.

 

3.    Telecom Group’s activities for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2014 (“2Q14”) and 2013 (“2Q13”)

Telecom Group’s net income amounted to $930 in 2Q14, +$268 or 40.5% vs. 2Q13. Net income attributable to Telecom Argentina amounted to $916 in 2Q14 (+$264 or 40.5% vs. 2Q13).

Total revenues and other income increased 22.3% vs. 2Q13 and operating income before depreciation and amortization amounted to $2,007 (+$182 or 10.0% vs. 2Q13), representing 24.7% of the consolidated revenues (vs. 27.4% in 2Q13). Operating income amounted to $1,241 (+$296 or 31.3% vs. 2Q13). Financial results, net amounted to $186 (+$107 or 135.4% vs. 2Q13), while income tax amounted to $497 (+$135 or 37.3% vs. 2Q13).

 

          Variation  
 

 

 

 
            2Q14           2Q13               %        
 

 

 

 

Revenues

    8,119        6,649        1,470        22.1    

Other income

    20        4        16        400.0    

Operating costs without depreciation and amortization

    (6,132)            (4,828)            (1,304)        27.0    
 

 

 

 

Operating income before depreciation and amortization

    2,007        1,825        182        10.0    

Depreciation and amortization

    (772)        (708)        (64)        9.0    

Gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E

    6        (172)        178        n/a    
 

 

 

 

Operating income

    1,241        945        296        31.3    

Financial results, net

    186        79        107            135.4    
 

 

 

 

Income before income tax expense

    1,427        1,024        403        39.4    

Income tax expense

    (497)        (362)        (135)        37.3    
 

 

 

 

Net income

    930        662        268        40.5    
 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

       

Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

    916        652        264        40.5    

Non-controlling interest

    14        10        4        40.0    
 

 

 

 
    930        662        268        40.5    
 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to Telecom Argentina (in pesos)

    0.94        0.66       
 

 

 

     

 

 

  
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During 2Q14 consolidated revenues increased 22.1% (+$1,470 vs. 2Q13) amounting to $8,119, mainly fueled by mobile services (including handset sales), Broadband and data transmission in the Fixed Services segment.

 

                      Variation
Services           2Q14             2Q13                 $                       %              

Voice – Retail

      704        668        36      5.4    

Voice – Wholesale

      228        191        37      19.4    

Internet

      777        616        161      26.1    

Data

      364        228        136      59.6    

Subtotal Fixed Services

      2,073        1,703        370      21.7    

Voice – Retail

      1,250        1,127        123      10.9    

Voice – Wholesale

      488        518        (30)      (5.8)    

Internet

      781        503        278      55.3    

Data

      1,890        1,767        123      7.0    

Subtotal Personal Mobile Services

      4,409        3,915        494      12.6    

Voice – Retail

      148        90        58      64.4    

Voice – Wholesale

      28        43        (15)      (34.9)    

Internet

      107        62        45      72.6    

Data

      79        79        -      -    

Subtotal Núcleo Mobile Services

      362        274        88      32.1    

Total services revenues

      6,844        5,892        952      16.2    
           
                               

Equipment

         

Fixed Services

      18        16        2      12.5    

Personal Mobile Services

      1,236        717        519      72.4    

Núcleo Mobile Services

      21        24        (3)      (12.5)    

Total equipment revenues

      1,275        757        518      68.4    
           
                               
   

Total revenues

        8,119        6,649        1,470      22.1

Consolidated operating costs –including depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E– amounted to $6,898 in 2Q14, which represented an increase of $1,190 or 20.8% vs. 2Q13. The increase in costs is mainly a consequence of a higher revenues, higher expenses related to competition in mobile and Internet businesses, higher direct and indirect labor costs on the cost structure of the Telecom Group in Argentina, the increase in fees for services related to higher supplier prices, the increase in taxes and fees with the Regulatory Matters, the increase in the cost of equipment and handsets, the increase in taxes and fees with the Regulatory Matters, the increase of VAS costs and the effect of the appreciation of the Guaraní respect to the argentine peso, affecting the operations in Paraguay.

Consolidated operating costs included an impairment of PP&E charge of $172 in 2Q13. If these one-time charges were excluded, the increase of operating costs in 2Q14 would have reached 24.6% vs. 2Q13.

 

                      Variation
            2Q14             2Q13                 $                       %              

Employee benefit expenses and severance payments

      (1,354)        (1,005)        (349)      34.7    

Interconnection costs and other telecommunication charges

      (505)        (522)        17      (3.3)    

Fees for services, maintenance, materials and supplies

      (844)        (658)        (186)      28.3    

Taxes and fees with the Regulatory Authority

      (809)        (646)        (163)      25.2    

Commissions

      (806)        (637)        (169)      26.5    

Agent commissions capitalized as SAC

      229        115        114      99.1    

Cost of equipment and handsets

      (1,144)        (791)        (353)      44.6    

Cost of equipment and handsets capitalized as SAC

      26        61        (35)      (57.4)    

Advertising

      (177)        (132)        (45)      34.1    

Cost of VAS

      (215)        (170)        (45)      26.5    

Provisions

      (65)        (57)        (8)      14.0    

Bad debt expenses

      (115)        (72)        (43)      59.7    

Other operating expenses

      (353)        (314)        (39)      12.4    

Subtotal

      (6,132)        (4,828)        (1,304)      27.0    

Depreciation of PP&E

      (568)        (488)        (80)      16.4    

Amortization of SAC and service connection charges

      (198)        (213)        15      (7.0)    

Amortization of other intangible assets

      (6)        (7)        1      (14.3)    

Gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E

      6        (172)        178      n/a    

Total operating costs

      (6,898)        (5,708)        (1,190)      (20.8)    
           
                               

CAPEX amounted to $1,203 in 2Q14 and amounted to $813 in 2Q13 (+$390 or 48.0%).

In 2Q14 the operating income before depreciation and amortization generated by equipment and handset sales (including SAC activations) amounted to $157 (+$130 or 481% vs. 2Q13). The operating income before depreciation and amortization generated by services sales amounted to $1.850 (+$52 or 2.9% vs. 2Q13).

 

 

  
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4.    Summary of comparative consolidated statements of financial position

 

        June 30,
            2014               2013                2012               2011      

Current assets

      8,346        8,987        5,277      3,505 

Non-current assets

      15,309        11,089        10,012      8,959 

Total assets

      23,655        20,076        15,289      12,464 
           
                               

Current liabilities

      8,695        6,801        5,019      4,300 

Non-current liabilities

      2,094        1,729        1,620      1,232 

Total liabilities

      10,789        8,530        6,639      5,532 

Equity attributable to Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

      12,538        11,349        8,503      6,790 

Equity attributable non-controlling interest

      328        197        147      142 

Total Equity

      12,866        11,546        8,650      6,932 

Total liabilities and equity

      23,655        20,076        15,289      12,464 
           
                               

Net financial position

         

Financial assets

      4,107        5,267        2,356      1,425 

Financial debts

      (300)        (173)        (133)      (189) 

Net financial assets

      3,807        5,094        2,223      1,236 
           
                               

 

5.    Summary of comparative consolidated income statements

 

        2Q14     2Q13     2Q12     2Q11         1H14     1H13     1H12     1H11  

Revenues and other income

      8,139        6,653        5,259        4,457          15,615        12,726        10,389      8,601 

Operating costs

      (6,898)        (5,708)        (4,410)        (3,486)          (12,997)        (10,666)        (8,507)      (6,672) 

Operating income

      1,241        945        849        971          2,618        2,060        1,882      1,929 

Financial results, net

      186        79        51        (2)          154        214        112      17 

Income before income tax expense

      1,427        1,024        900        969          2,772        2,274        1,994      1,946 

Income tax expense

      (497)        (362)        (314)        (333)          (936)        (799)        (700)      (670) 

Net income

      930        662        586        636          1,836        1,475        1,294      1,276 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

      27        (34)        (4)        13          233        29        21      60 

Total comprehensive income

      957        628        582        649          2,069        1,504        1,315      1,336 
                     
                                                                 

 Attributable to Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

      934        631        574        635          1,957        1,473        1,289      1,301 

 Attributable to non-controlling interest

      23        (3)        8        14          112        31        26      35 

 

6.    Statistical data (in physical units)

 

v  

Fixed services

Voice and data services (in thousands, except for lines in service per inhabitants and employees)

 

     1H14     1H13     1H12     1H11     1H10
     Accumulated       Quarter       Accumulated       Quarter       Accumulated       Quarter       Accumulated       Quarter       Accumulated        Quarter 

Equipment lines

    3,528        -        3,823        15        3,804        4        3,804        3        3,834      (10)

NGN lines

    1,184        8        1,108        16        987        32        923        43        777      22

Installed lines (a)

    4,712        8        4,931        31        4,791        36        4,727        46        4,611      12
                     

Lines in service (b)

    4,103        (5)        4,114        5        4,148        10        4,119        9        4,066      8
                     

Customers lines (c)

    4,025        (3)        4,033        6        4,064        10        4,033        9        3,975      9
                     

Public phones installed

    31        (2)        35        (1)        39        -        42        (1)        47      (2)
                     

Lines in service per 100 inhabitants (d)

    20,2        -        20.4        -        20.7        -        20.7        -        20.6      -
                     

Lines in service per employee (e)

    371        (2)        373        2        370        -        372        (5)        368      2

a)    Reflects total number of lines available in Switches, considered independently of its technology (TDM or NGN).

b)    Includes customers lines, own lines, public telephones and DDE and ISDN channels.

c)    The number of customers is measured in relation to the physical occupation of network resources.

d)    Corresponding to the Northern Region of Argentina.

e)    Defined as lines in service / number of actual employees.

 

 

  
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Internet (in thousands)

 

      1H14    1H13    1H12    1H11    1H10
      Accumulated      Quarter      Accumulated      Quarter      Accumulated      Quarter      Accumulated      Quarter      Accumulated        Quarter
                     

Total ADSL subscribers

   1,726     12     1,634        1,594     28     1,457     50     1,274     42 

 

v  

Mobile services

Personal (in thousands, except customers per employee in units)

 

     1H14   1H13   1H12   1H11   1H10
     Accumulated     Quarter     Accumulated     Quarter     Accumulated     Quarter     Accumulated     Quarter     Accumulated       Quarter

Post-paid subscribers

  2,303    (62)    2,437    22    2,296    70    1,988    102    1,660    47
                     

“Cuentas claras” plans

  3,853    (3)    3,644    61    3,232    56    2,887    73    2,737    30
                     

Prepaid subscribers

  13,407    (54)    12,905    142    12,714    42    12,125    284    10,727    273
                     

Dongles (*)

  213    (18)    321    (32)    481      392    51    210    36
                     

Total subscribers

  19,776    (137)    19,307    193    18,723    176    17,392    510    15,334    386
                   

Lines per employee

  3,912      3,680    38    3,651    (83)    3,789    (42)    3,907    78

Núcleo (in thousands, except customers per employee in units)

 

     1H14   1H13   1H12   1H11   1H10
     Accumulated     Quarter     Accumulated     Quarter     Accumulated     Quarter     Accumulated     Quarter     Accumulated       Quarter

Post-paid subscribers

  29      29      29    (1)    27      24    -
                     

“Plan control” subscribers

  308      278      238    11    207      170    9
                     

Prepaid subscribers

  1,904    (25)    1,906    18    1,849    20    1,664    60    1,604    -
                     

Dongles (*)

  141    (6)    162    20    119      76    13    26    7
                     

Subtotal mobile

  2,382    (26)    2,375    46    2,235    39    1,974    82    1,824    16
                     

Internet subscribers - Wimax

                  11    -
                     

Total subscribers

  2,387    (26)    2,381    46    2,242    39    1,983    82    1,835    16
                   

Lines per employee (**)

  5,618    (142)    5,422    68    5,174    55    4,634    53    4,375    38

 

(*) Corresponds to mobile Internet subscribers with post-paid, “Cuentas claras”, “Plan control” and prepaid contracts.
(**) Internet Wimax subscribers are not included.

 

7.    Consolidated ratios

 

              1H14                    1H13                    1H12                   1H11       

Liquidity (1)

   0.96    1.32    1.05     0.82

Solvency (2)

   1.19    1.35    1.30     1.25

Locked-up capital (3)

   0.65    0.55    0.65     0.72

 

  (1) Current assets/Current liabilities.
  (2) Total equity/Total liabilities.
  (3) Non-current assets/Total assets.

 

8.    Outlook

In this fiscal year the evolution prospects for fixed line services will continue in line with the trend of recent years, influenced by the maturity of the market and the replacement of the fixed-service for the mobile-service. Arnet Broadband business got well-positioned to continue to capture market opportunities.

During 2014 Personal will continue to work on the mass of the mobile Internet experience, assuming the responsibility over quality of services with the continuity of the technological upgrading of the national network. The recent auction of additional spectrum launched by the Regulatory Authority is a fundamental step for the resolution of one of the national mobile industry’s critical needs that will allow quality services improvement and the launch of new services. Personal has started to work on the analysis of the auction conditions to increase its spectrum within the limits ruled by the regulation in force. We will also continue working with the Regulatory Authority in order to enable the municipalities to install the necessary sites to improve the network coverage of all operators.

Coverage expansion and speed access improvement to 3G and HSPA+ networks with the more complete portfolio of advanced mobile devices will continue to be the drivers to our revenues through proposals of value. The opportunity to grow in capacity data will come from the network evolution to 4G, once the spectrum that the Government has auctioned is available and the plan of such technology is developed.

 

 

  
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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

During 1H14 some changes to the economic policy of the Government which, among other things, would seek to improve public finances, competitiveness of the country, the BCRA reserves and lower inflation rates were introduced. These changes have depreciated the argentine peso against the U.S. dollar and new inflation rates calculated by the INDEC using a new methodology have been determined, impacting directly over the pricing policies, the cost and investment structures of the companies, the levels of employment and consumption of the population and of our customers in particular. Additionally, the Argentine Government, as of the date of this Operating and Financial Prospect, is negotiating with bonds holders that have not tendered in the exchange offers in 2005 and 2010. The results of these negotiations would have relevant consequences for the country and the financial and non-financial private sector.

The Telecom Group’s Management will continue to monitor these macroeconomic variables to achieve its strategic objectives of improving quality of service, strengthening its market position and increasing its operational efficiency to meet the growing demands of the dynamic telecommunication market without neglecting the return on investment for the shareholders. The investment plans of the Telecom Group are based on the Telecom Group’s commitment to its country and its people.

 

 

Enrique Garrido
Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

  
      OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2014   

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(In millions of Argentine pesos)

 

                 June 30,           December 31,  
ASSETS      Note             2014       2013

Current Assets

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   2   2,582   5,224

Investments

   2   626   123

Trade receivables

   2   3,417   2,986

Other receivables

   2   689   646

Inventories

   2   1,032   772
    

 

Total current assets

     8,346   9,751
    

 

Non-Current Assets

      

Trade receivables

   2   11   21

Deferred income tax assets

   2   195   128

Other receivables

   2   255   242

Investments

   2   900   243

Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”)

   2   12,361   11,226

Intangible assets

   2   1,587   1,519
    

 

Total non-current assets

     15,309   13,379
    

 

TOTAL ASSETS

     23,655   23,130
    

 

LIABILITIES

      

Current Liabilities

      

Trade payables

   2   5,305   6,130

Deferred revenues

   2   470   423

Financial debt

   2   26   15

Salaries and social security payables

   2   732   741

Income tax payables

   2   659   801

Other taxes payables

   2   668   667

Dividends payables

   2   627   -

Other liabilities

   2   43   49

Provisions

   6   165   224
    

 

Total current liabilities

     8,695   9,050
    

 

Non-Current Liabilities

      

Trade payables

   2   -   1

Deferred revenues

   2   448   453

Financial debt

   2   274   220

Salaries and social security payables

   2   126   118

Deferred income tax liabilities

   2   -   126

Income tax payables

   2   9   10

Other liabilities

   2   81   68

Provisions

   6   1,156   1,033
    

 

Total non-current liabilities

     2,094   2,029
    

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

     10,789   11,079
    

 

EQUITY (see Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity)

      

Equity attributable to Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

     12,538   11,783

Equity attributable to non-controlling interest

     328   268
    

 

TOTAL EQUITY

   7   12,866   12,051
    

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     23,655   23,130
    

 

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

 

 

Adrián Calaza    Enrique Garrido
Chief Financial Officer    Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS

(In millions of Argentine pesos, except per share data in Argentine pesos)

 

        

  Three-month periods

ended June 30,

      

        Six-month periods    

  ended June 30,    

       Note       2014      2013          2014    2013      

Revenues

   2   8,119    6,649       15,585    12,713 

Other income

   2   20         30    13 

Total revenues and other income

     8,139    6,653               15,615            12,726 

Employee benefit expenses and severance payments

   2   (1,354)    (1,005)       (2,537)    (1,873) 

Interconnection costs and other telecommunication charges

   2   (505)    (522)       (1,020)    (1,006) 

Fees for services, maintenance, materials and supplies

   2   (844)    (658)       (1,599)    (1,214) 

Taxes and fees with the Regulatory Authority

   2   (809)    (646)       (1,564)    (1,248) 

Commissions

   2   (577)    (522)       (1,118)    (1,024) 

Cost of equipments and handsets

   2   (1,118)    (730)       (1,893)    (1,288) 

Advertising

   2   (177)    (132)       (341)    (286) 

Cost of VAS

   2   (215)    (170)       (406)    (301) 

Provisions

   6   (65)    (57)       (102)    (97) 

Bad debt expenses

   2   (115)    (72)       (233)    (165) 

Recovery of restructuring costs

   2   -         -   

Other operating expenses

   2   (353)    (322)       (683)    (608) 

Depreciation and amortization

   2   (772)    (708)       (1,511)    (1,399) 

Gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E

   2   6    (172)       10    (165) 

Operating income

     1,241    945       2,618    2,060 

Finance income

   2   264    260       1,063    465 

Finance expenses

   2   (78)    (181)       (909)    (251) 

Income before income tax expense

     1,427    1,024       2,772    2,274 

Income tax expense

   2   (497)    (362)       (936)    (799) 

Net income for the period

     930    662       1,836    1,475 
           
               

Attributable to:

               

Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

     916    652       1,805    1,454 

Non-controlling interest

     14    10       31    21 
     930    662       1,836    1,475 
           
               

Earnings per share attributable to Telecom Argentina – basic and diluted

   1.d   0.94    0.66       1.86    1.48 
           
               

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

 

Adrián Calaza    Enrique Garrido
Chief Financial Officer    Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In millions of Argentine pesos)

 

 

 

         Three-month periods              Six-month periods    
    

ended June 30,

    

    ended June 30,    

            2014          2013                      2014          2013      
          
  

 

 

    

 

 

Net income for the period

     930         662                1,836      1,475 
  

 

 

    

 

 

Other components of the Statements of Comprehensive Income

          

Will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

          

Currency translation adjustments (non-taxable)

     27         (34)                233      29 
  

 

 

    

 

 

Other components of the comprehensive income, net of tax

     27         (34)                233      29 
  

 

 

    

 

 

Total comprehensive income for the period

               957         628                2,069      1,504 
  

 

 

    

 

 

Attributable to:

          

Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

     934         631                1,957      1,473 

Non-controlling interest

     23         (3)              112      31 
  

 

 

    

 

 

     957         628              2,069      1,504 
  

 

 

    

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Adrián Calaza    Enrique Garrido
Chief Financial Officer    Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(In millions of Argentine pesos)

 

    Equity attributable to Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)              
    Owners Contribution                               
    Outstanding shares            Treasury shares                             
    Capital
nominal
value
(1)
    Inflation
adjustment
    Capital
nominal
value
(1) (2)
    Inflation
adjustment
(2)
    Treasury
shares
acquisition
cost
(2)
    Legal
reserve
    Special reserve
for IFRS
implemen-
tation
    Voluntary
reserve for
future
dividends
payments
    Voluntary
reserve for
capital
investments
    Voluntary
reserve for
future
investments
    Deferred
results
    Retained
earnings
    Total     Equity
attributable
to non-
controlling
interest
    Total
Equity
 

 

 

Balances as of January 1, 2013

    984        2,688        -        -        -        572        -        -        -        2,553        107        3,055        9,959        199        10,158    

 

 

Dividends from Núcleo (3)

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        (33)        (33)    

Legal Reserve (4)

    -        -        -        -        -        153        -        -        -        -        -        (153)        -        -          

Special reserve for IFRS implementation (4)

    -        -        -        -        -        -        351        -        -        -        -        (351)        -        -          

Voluntary reserve for future dividends payments (4)

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        1,000        -        -        -        (1,000)        -        -          

Voluntary reserve for capital investments (4)

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        1,200        -        -        (1,200)        -        -          

Voluntary reserve for future investments (4)

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        351        -        (351)        -        -          

Treasury Shares Acquisition (2)

    (3)        (9)        3        9        (83)        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        (83)        -        (83)    

Comprehensive income:

                             

 Net income for the period

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        1,454        1,454        21        1,475    

 Other comprehensive income

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        19        -        19        10        29    
 

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive Income

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        19        1,454        1,473        31        1,504    
                             

 

 

Balances as of June 30, 2013

    981        2,679        3        9        (83)        725        351        1,000        1,200        2,904        126        1,454        11,349        197        11,546    

 

 
 

 

 

 
                             

 

 

Balances as of January 1, 2014

    969        2,646        15        42        (461)        725        351        -        1,200        2,904        190        3,202        11,783        268        12,051    

 

 

Dividends from Núcleo (5)

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        (52)        (52)    

Dividends (6)

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        (1,202)        (1,202)        -        (1,202)    

Legal Reserve (6)

    -        -        -        -        -        9        -        -        -        -        -        (9)        -        -          

Voluntary reserve for capital investments (6)

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        1,991        -        -        (1,991)        -        -          

Comprehensive income:

                             

 Net income for the period

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        1,805        1,805        31        1,836    

 Other comprehensive income

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        152        -        152        81        233    
 

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive Income

    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        152        1,805        1,957        112        2,069    
                             

 

 

Balances as of June 30, 2014

    969        2,646        15        42        (461)        734        351        -        3,191        2,904        342        1,805        12,538        328        12,866    

 

 
 

 

 

 

(1) As of June 30, 2014 and 2013, total shares (984,380,978), of $1 argentine peso of nominal value each, were issued and fully paid. As of June 30, 2014, 15,221,373 were treasury shares.

(2) Corresponds to 15,221,373 shares of $1 argentine peso of nominal value each, equivalent to 1.55% of total capital. The treasury shares acquisition costs amounted to 461. See Note 7 – Equity to the consolidated financial statements.

(3) As approved by the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of Núcleo held on March 22, 2013.

(4) As approved by the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of the Company held on May 21, 2013 (second tranche).

(5) As approved by the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of Núcleo held on March 28, 2014.

(6) As approved by the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of the Company held on May 21, 2014 (second tranche).

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

      Adrián Calaza    Enrique Garrido
      Chief Financial Officer    Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions of Argentine pesos)

 

        

      Six-month periods          

      ended June 30,         

       Note             2014                       2013          

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Net income for the period

     1,836   1,475

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities

      

Bad debt expenses and other allowances

     297   222

Depreciation of PP&E

   2   1,106   955

Amortization of intangible assets

   2   405   444

Consumption of materials

   2   108   76

Gain on disposal of PP&E

   2   (10)   (7)

Impairment of PP&E

   2   -   172

Recovery of restructuring costs

   6   -   (8)

Provisions

   6   161   140

Interest and other financial losses

     (363)   (41)

Income tax expense

   2   936   799

Income tax paid

   3   (1,297)   (842)

Net increase in assets

   3   (950)   (899)

Net (decrease) increase in liabilities

   3   (225)   774
    

 

Total cash flows provided by operating activities

     2,004   3,260
    

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

PP&E acquisitions

   3   (2,658)   (1,425)

Intangible assets acquisitions

   3   (478)   (384)

Proceeds from the sale of PP&E

     12   10

Investments not considered as cash and cash equivalents

   3   (1,211)   (355)
    

 

Total cash flows used in investing activities

     (4,335)   (2,154)
    

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Proceeds from financial debt

   3   -   43

Payment of financial debt

   3   (6)   (18)

Payment of interest

   3   (13)   (8)

Payment of cash dividends and related tax withholdings

   3   (672)   (16)

Treasury shares acquisition

   3 / 7   -   (83)
    

 

Total cash flows used in financing activities

     (691)   (82)
    

 

      
    

 

NET FOREIGN EXCHANGE DIFFERENCES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     380   49
    

 

(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     (2,642)   1,073

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

     5,224   3,160
    

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE PERIOD

     2,582   4,233
    

 

See Note 3 for additional information on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

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

 

 

Adrián Calaza    Enrique Garrido
Chief Financial Officer    Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2014 AND 2013

(In millions of Argentine pesos, except as otherwise indicated)

 

INDEX    
        Page
  Glossary of terms   7
  Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements  

1

  Basis of preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and significant accounting policies   9

2

  Breakdown of the main accounts   10

3

  Supplementary cash flow information   21

4

  Segment information   23

5

  Related party balances and transactions   26

6

  Commitments and contingencies of the Telecom Group   28

7

  Equity   30

8

  Restrictions on distribution of profits   31

9

  Selected consolidated quarterly information   31

10

  Recent developments corresponding to the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 for the Telecom Group   31

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The following explanations are not intended as technical definitions, but to assist the general reader to understand certain terms as used in these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

AMBA (Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires): the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires.

ADS: Telecom Argentina’s American Depositary Share, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, each representing 5 Class B Shares.

ARSAT (Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales S.A.): the Satellite Solutions National Argentine Company.

BCBA (Bolsa de Comercio de Buenos Aires): The Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.

CNC (Comisión Nacional de Comunicaciones): The Argentine National Communications Commission.

CNDC (Comisión Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia): Argentine Antitrust Commission.

CNV (Comisión Nacional de Valores): The Argentine National Securities Commission.

Company or Telecom Argentina: Telecom Argentina S.A.

CONATEL (Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones del Paraguay): The Regulatory Authority of Paraguay.

CPCECABA (Consejo Profesional de Ciencias Económicas de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires): The Professional Council of Economic Sciences of the City of Buenos Aires.

“Cuentas claras”: Under the “Cuentas claras” plans, a subscriber pays a set monthly bill and, once the contract minutes per month have been used, the subscriber can obtain additional credit by recharging the phone card through the prepaid system.

D&A: Depreciation and amortization.

DLD: Domestic long-distance.

ENARD (Ente Nacional de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo): National High Sport Performance Organization.

FACPCE (Federación Argentina de Consejos Profesionales en Ciencias Económicas): Argentine Federation of Professional Councils of Economic Sciences.

IAS: International Accounting Standards.

IASB: International Accounting Standards Board.

IDC: Tax on deposits to and withdrawals from bank accounts.

IFRS: International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

LSC (Ley de Sociedades Comerciales): Argentine Corporations Law.

Micro Sistemas: Micro Sistemas S.A.

NDF: Non-Deliverable Forward.

Nortel: Nortel Inversora S.A., the parent company of the Company.

Núcleo: Núcleo S.A.

NYSE: New York Stock Exchange.

Personal: Telecom Personal S.A.

PP&E: Property, plant and equipment.

Regulatory Bodies: Collectively, the SC and the CNC.

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

Roaming: a function that enables mobile subscribers to use the service on networks of operators other than the one with which they signed their initial contract. The roaming service is active when a mobile device is used in a foreign country (included in the GSM network).

RT: Technical resolutions issued by the FACPCE.

RT 26: Technical resolution No, 26 issued by the FACPCE, amended by RT29.

SAC: Subscriber Acquisition Costs.

SBT (Servicio básico telefónico): Basic telephone service.

SC (Secretaría de Comunicaciones): The Argentine Secretary of Communications.

SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America.

Sofora: Sofora Telecomunicaciones S.A. Nortel’s controlling company.

Springville: Springville S.A. Personal sold its equity interest in Springville on February 19, 2014.

SU: The availability of Basic telephone service, or access to the public telephone network via different alternatives, at an affordable price to all persons within a country or specified area.

Telecom Group: Telecom Argentina and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Telecom Italia Group: Telecom Italia S.p.A and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where referring to the Telecom Italia Group as Telecom Argentina’s operator in which case it means Telecom Italia S.p.A and Telecom Italia International, N.V.

Telecom USA: Telecom Argentina USA Inc.

TLRD (Terminación Llamada Red Destino): Termination charges from third parties’ wireless networks.

VAS (Value-Added Services): Services that provide additional functionality to the basic transmission services offered by a telecommunications network such as SMS, Video streaming, Personal Video, Personal Cloud, M2M (Communication Machine to Machine), Social networks, Personal Messenger, Contents and Entertainment (content and text subscriptions, games, music ringtones, wallpaper, screensavers, etc), MMS (Mobile Multimedia Services) and Voice Mail, among others.

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

NOTE 1 –   BASIS OF PREPARATION OF THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

  a) Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with RT 26 (as amended by RT 29) of FACPCE as adopted by the CPCECABA, and as required by the CNV.

For the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, the Company has elected to make use of the option provided by IAS 34, so, these consolidated financial statements do not include all the information required in an annual financial statement, and must be read jointly with the 2013 annual consolidated financial statements which can be consulted at the Company’s website (www.telecom.com.ar/inversores).

Entities included in consolidation and the respective equity interest owned by Telecom Argentina as of June 30, 2014 is presented as follows:

 

        Company            Percentage of capital
  stock owned and voting  
rights (a)
        Indirect control     
through
     Date of acquisition     

      Segment that consolidates      

(Note 4)

Personal

   99.99%         07.06.94    Personal Mobile Services

Micro Sistemas (b)

   99.99%         12.31.97    Fixed Services

Telecom USA

   100.00%         09.12.00    Fixed Services

Núcleo (c)

   67.50%    Personal    02.03.98    Núcleo Mobile Services

   (a) Percentage of equity interest owned has been rounded.

   (b) Dormant entity as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

   (c) Non-controlling interest of 32.50% is owned by the Paraguayan company ABC Telecomunicaciones S.A.

For the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, the Company followed the same accounting policies applied in the most recent annual financial statements. As from January 1, 2014 certain amendments to IAS 32 have come into effect, clarifying the meaning of “currently has a legally enforceable right to compensation” and how compensation requirements which offset gross amounts that do not operate simultaneously should be applied. The Telecom Group mainly offset financial assets and liabilities that relate to Interconnection transactions, TLRD and Roaming with other national and foreign operators. See Note 2.ac). The application of these new provisions has not had a significant impact on these consolidated financial statements.

The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the Company’s Management to use certain critical accounting estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

These consolidated financial statements (except for cash flow information) are prepared on an accrual basis of accounting. Under this basis, the effects of transactions and other events are recognized when they occur. Therefore income and expenses are recognized at fair value on an accrual basis regardless of when they are perceived or paid. When significant, the difference between the fair value and the nominal amount of income and expenses is recognized as finance income or expense using the effective interest method over the relevant period.

These consolidated financial statements have also been prepared on a going concern basis, as there is a reasonable expectation that Telecom Argentina and its subsidiaries will continue its operational activities in the foreseeable future (and in any event with a time horizon of more than twelve months).

Publication of these consolidated financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2014 was approved by resolution of the Board of Directors’ meeting held on July 29, 2014.

 

  b) Financial statement formats

The financial statement formats adopted are consistent with IAS 1, In particular:

 

  the consolidated statements of financial position have been prepared by classifying assets and liabilities according to “current and non-current” criterion. Current assets and liabilities are those that are expected to be realized/paid settled within twelve months after the period-end;
  the consolidated income statements have been prepared by classifying operating expenses by nature of expense as this form of presentation is considered more appropriate and representative of the specific business of the Telecom Group as evaluated by the Management, and are in line with the industrial sector of telecommunications;

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

  the consolidated statements of comprehensive income include the profit or (loss) for the period as shown in the consolidated income statement and all components of other comprehensive income;
  the consolidated statements of changes in equity have been prepared showing separately (i) profit (loss) for the period, (ii) other comprehensive income (loss) for the period, and (iii) transactions with shareholders (controlling and non-controlling);
  the consolidated statements of cash flows have been prepared by presenting cash flows from operating activities according to the “indirect method”, as permitted by IAS 7.

These consolidated financial statements contain all material disclosures required under IAS 34. Some additional disclosures required by the LSC and/or by the CNV have been also included, among them, complementary information required in the last paragraph of Article 1 Chapter III Title IV of the CNV General Resolution No. 622/13. Such information is disclosed in Notes 2 and 6 to these consolidated financial statements, as admitted by IFRS.

Also, some reclassifications to the comparative figures of the consolidated statements of cash flows have been included in the lines total cash flows provided by operating activities and total cash flows used in investing activities with the purpose of improving the information comparability.

 

  c) Segment reporting

An operating segment is defined as a component of an entity that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, and whose financial information is available, held separately, and evaluated regularly by the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).

Operating segments are reported in a consistent manner with the internal reporting provided to the CEO, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments at the net income (loss) level and under the accounting principles effective (IFRS) at each time for reporting to the Regulatory Bodies. The accounting policies applied for segment information are the same for all operating segments.

Information regarding segment reporting is included in Note 4.

 

  d) Net income per share

The Company computes net income per common share by dividing net income for the period attributable to Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing the net income for the period by the weighted average number of common and dilutive potential common shares then outstanding during the period. Since the Company has no dilutive potential common stock outstanding, there are no dilutive earnings per share amounts.

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 the weighted average number of shares outstanding totaled 984.090.580 shares. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 the weighted average number of shares outstanding totaled 969.159.605 shares. The changes in the weighted average number of shares outstanding for each period are a consequence of the Treasury Shares Acquisition Process that began in May 2013. For further information, see Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2 – BREAKDOWN OF THE MAIN ACCOUNTS

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION            June 30,             December 31,     
CURRENT ASSETS    2014     2013    

a) Cash and cash equivalents

    

Cash

     14        12   

Banks

     148        336   

Time deposits

     1,900        3,949   

Mutual funds

     520        927   
  

 

 

 
     2,582        5,224   
  

 

 

 

b) Investments

    

Investments over 90 days maturity

     487        -   

Argentine companies notes

     108        86   

Provincial government bonds

     17        35   

Government bonds

     14        2   
  

 

 

 
     626        123   
  

 

 

 

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

             June 30,             December 31,     
c) Trade receivables    2014     2013    

Fixed Services

     1,088        950   

Personal Mobile Services

     2,488        2,170   

Núcleo Mobile Services

     127        105   
  

 

 

 

Subtotal                       3,703

  

    3,225   

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (286)        (239)   
  

 

 

 
     3,417        2,986   
  

 

 

 

Movements in the allowance for current doubtful accounts are as follows:

 

             June 30,             December 31,     
     2014     2013    
     (6 months)     (12 months)    

At the beginning of the year

     (239)        (202)   

Additions – bad debt expenses

     (231)        (283)   

Uses

     186        249   

Currency translation adjustments

     (2)        (3)   
  

 

 

 

At the end of the period/year

     (286)        (239)   
  

 

 

 

 

             June 30,             December 31,     
d) Other receivables    2014     2013    

Prepaid expenses

     373        276   

Expenditure reimbursement

     95        91   

Investment reimbursement

     10        -   

Prepaid expenses related parties (Note 5.c)

     64        76   

Tax credits

     52        50   

Restricted funds

     21        26   

Receivables for suppliers indemnities

     7        6   

Guarantee deposits

     7        5   

Receivables for return of handsets under warranty

     4        9   

NDF

     -        42   

Other

     75        83   
  

 

 

 

Subtotal                          708

  

    664   

Allowance for other receivables

     (19)        (18)   
  

 

 

 
        689           646   
  

 

 

 

Movements in the allowance for other receivables are as follows:

 

             June 30,             December 31,     
     2014     2013    
     (6 months)     (12 months)    

At the beginning of the year

     (18)        (15)   

Additions (*)

     (2)        (3)   

Uses

     1        -   
  

 

 

 

At the end of the period/year

          (19)            (18)   
  

 

 

 
(*) Included in Bad debt expenses as of June 30, 2014.   

 

             June 30,             December 31,     
e) Inventories    2014     2013    

Mobile handsets

     1,136        849   

Fixed telephones and equipment

     11        8   
  

 

 

 

Subtotal                      1,147

  

    857   

Allowance for obsolescence of inventories

     (115)        (85)   
  

 

 

 
     1,032        772   
  

 

 

 

Movements in the allowance for obsolescence of inventories are as follows:

 

             June 30,                  December 31,     
     2014      2013    
     (6 months)      (12 months)  

At the beginning of the year

     (85)         (8)   

Additions – Fees for services, maintenance and materials

     (62)         (109)   

Uses

     33         32   

Currency translation adjustments

     (1)         -   
  

 

 

 

At the end of the period/year

     (115)         (85)   
  

 

 

 

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

Sale and cost of equipment and handsets by business segment is as follows:

 

           Three-month periods      
ended June 30,       
        Six-month periods      
ended June 30,      
 
     2014             2013             2014           2013    
     Profit (loss)  

Sales of equipment and handsets - Fixed Services

     18        16            31        30     

Cost of equipment and handsets – Fixed Services

     (20)        (19)            (35)        (34)     
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total equipment loss – Fixed Services

     (2)        (3)            (4)        (4)     
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

Sales of equipment and handsets – Personal Mobile Services

     1,236        717            2,115        1.235     

Cost of equipment and handsets – Personal Mobile Services

     (1,087)        (737)            (1,850)        (1.361)     

Deferred Costs SAC – Personal Mobile Services

     13        54            36        149     
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total equipment income – Personal Mobile Services

     162        34            301        23     
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

Sales of equipment and handsets – Núcleo Mobile Services

     21        24            36        37     

Cost of equipment and handsets – Núcleo Mobile Services

     (37)        (35)            (65)        (57)     

Deferred Costs SAC – Núcleo Mobile Services

     13        7            21        15     
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total equipment loss – Núcleo Mobile Services

     (3)        (4)            (8)        (5)     
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total equipment and handsets sale

     1,275        757            2,182        1.302     

Total cost of equipment and handsets (net of SAC capitalization)

     (1,118)        (730)            (1,893)        (1.288)     
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total income for sale of equipment and handsets

     157        27            289        14     
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

            June 30,             December 31,     
    2014     2013    

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

   

f) Trade receivables

   

Fixed Services

    10        19    

Núcleo Mobile Services

    1          
 

 

 

 
    11        21    
 

 

 

 

g)  Other receivables

   

Prepaid expenses

    121        100    

Credit on SC Resolution No. 41/07 and IDC

    85        85    

Tax credits

    27        20    

Prepaid expenses related parties (Note 5 c)

    62        88    

Investment reimbursement

    25          

Restricted funds

    23        37    

Other

    15        14    
 

 

 

 

Subtotal                          358

  

    344    

Allowance for regulatory matters

    (85)        (85)    

Allowance for doubtful accounts (tax on personal property)

    (18)        (17)    
 

 

 

 
    255        242    
 

 

 

 

Movements in the allowance for regulatory matters are as follows:

 

            June 30,             December 31,     
    2014     2013    
    (6 months)     (12 months)    

At the beginning of the year

    (85)        (85)    

Additions

    -          
 

 

 

 

At the end of the period/year

    (85)        (85)    
 

 

 

 

Movements in the allowance for doubtful accounts (tax on personal property) are as follows:

 

            June 30,             December 31,     
    2014     2013    
    (6 months)     (12 months)    

At the beginning of the year

    (17)        (17)    

Additions

    (1)          
 

 

 

 

At the end of the period/year

    (18)        (17)    
 

 

 

 

 

            June 30,             December 31,     
    2014     2013    

h) Investments

   

Government bonds

    862        219    

Provincial and municipal government bonds

    37        13    

2003 Telecommunications Fund

    1          

Argentine companies notes

    -        10    
 

 

 

 
    900        243    
 

 

 

 

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

             June 30,             December 31,     

i) PP&E

   2014     2013    

Land, buildings and installations

     968        963    

Computer equipment and software

     1,340        1,476    

Switching and transmission equipment (i)

     2,879        2,558    

Mobile network access and external wiring

     3,478        3,091    

Construction in progress

     2,859        2,436    

Other tangible assets

     385        377    
  

 

 

 

Subtotal PP&E                    11,909

  

    10,901   

Materials

     631        502    
  

 

 

 

Subtotal PP&E and materials                    12,540

  

    11,403    

Valuation allowance for materials

     (24)        (21)    

Impairment of PP&E

     (155)        (156)    
  

 

 

 

Total PP&E                     12,361

  

    11,226    
  

 

 

 

 

(i)   Includes tower and pole, transmission equipment, switching equipment, power equipment, equipment lent to customers at no cost and handsets lent to customers at no cost.

Movements in PP&E (without allowance for materials and impairment of PP&E) are as follows:

 

             June 30,             December 31,     
     2014     2013    
     (6 months)     (12 months)    

At the beginning of the year

     11,403        9,049    

CAPEX

     1,806        3,964    

Materials

     229        363    
  

 

 

 

Total PP&E additions                       2,035

  

    4,327    

Currency translation adjustments

     319        194    

Consumption of materials

     (108)        (147)    

Decrease

     (3)        (22)    

Depreciation of the period/year

     (1,106)        (1,998)    
  

 

 

 

At the end of the period/year

     12,540        11,403    
  

 

 

 

Movements in the valuation allowance for materials are as follows:

 

             June 30,             December 31,     
     2014     2013    
     (6 months)     (12 months)    

At the beginning of the year

     (21)        (14)    

Additions - fees for services, maintenance, and materials

     (3)        (7)    
  

 

 

 

At the end of the period/year

     (24)        (21)    
  

 

 

 

Movements in the impairment of PP&E are as follows:

 

             June 30,             December 31,     
     2014     2013    
     (6 months)     (12 months)    

At the beginning of the year

     (156)          

Additions (i)

     -        (172)    

Uses (ii)

     1        16    
  

 

 

 

At the end of the period/year

     (155)        (156)    
  

 

 

 

 

(i)   Included in Gain on disposal and impairment of PP&E as of December 31, 2013.
(ii)   As of June 30, 2014, 1 was included in Depreciation of PP&E. As of December 31, 2013, 1 was included in Gain on disposal and impairment of PP&E and 15 in Depreciation of PP&E.

 

             June 30,             December 31,     
j) Intangible assets    2014     2013    

Licenses

     590        589    

SAC – mobile services

     608        541    

SAC – fixed services

     71        64    

Rights of use and exclusivity

     219        227    

Service connection or habilitation charges

     97        96    

Other intangible assets

     2          
  

 

 

 
     1,587        1,519    
  

 

 

 

 

 

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Movements in Intangible assets are as follows:

 

            June 30,           December 31,     
            2014           2013     
            (6 months)           (12 months)     

At the beginning of the year

    1,519        1,514    

CAPEX

    459        887    

Currency translation adjustments

    14          

Amortization of the period/year

    (405)        (890)    
 

 

 

 

At the end of the period/year

    1,587        1,519    
 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

            June 30,                   December 31,       

k) Trade payables

            2014                   2013       

For the acquisition of other assets and services

    1,997        2,236    

For the acquisition of inventory

    1,576        1,399    

For the acquisition of PP&E

    1,481        2,271    
 

 

 

 

Subtotal suppliers

    5,054        5,906    

Agent commissions

    251        224    
 

 

 

 
    5,305        6,130    
 

 

 

 

l) Deferred revenues

   

On prepaid calling cards

    332        293    

On customer loyalty programs

    56        51    

On international capacity rental

    44        42    

On connection fees – Fixed Services

    34        34    

From CONATEL – Núcleo Mobile Services

    4          
 

 

 

 
    470        423    
 

 

 

 

m) Financial debt - Núcleo

   

Bank loans

    20        10    

Accrued interest

    6          
 

 

 

 
    26        15    
 

 

 

 

n) Salaries and social security payables

   

Vacation and bonuses

    435        483    

Social security payables

    224        191    

Termination benefits

    73        67    
 

 

 

 
    732        741    
 

 

 

 

o) Income tax payables

   

Income tax payables

    1,195        1,987    

Income tax retentions and payments in advance

    (539)        (1,189)    

Law No. 26,476 Tax Regularization Regime

    3          
 

 

 

 
    659        801    
 

 

 

 

p) Other taxes payables

   

VAT, net

    227        143    

Tax withholdings

    117        130    

Tax on SU

    93        91    

Internal taxes

    69        73    

Turnover tax

    60        81    

Regulatory fees

    58        56    

Municipal taxes

    27        24    

Tax on personal property – on behalf of shareholders

    5        13    

Perception Decree No.583/10 ENARD

    12        12    

Tax withholdings on Telecom Argentina’s dividends (Note 3)

    -        44    
 

 

 

 
    668        667    
 

 

 

 

q) Dividends payables

   

Related parties – Nortel (Note 5.c)

    334          

Public offering

    267          

Related parties – ABC Telecomunicaciones S.A. (Note 5.c)

    26          
 

 

 

 
    627          
 

 

 

 

r) Other liabilities

   

Compensation for directors and members of the Supervisory Committee

    23        20    

Legal fees

    12        12    

Guarantees received

    7        13    

Other

    1          
 

 

 

 
    43        49    
 

 

 

 

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES           June 30,             December 31,     
s) Trade payables           2014             2013     

For the acquisition of PP&E

    -          
 

 

 

 
    -          
 

 

 

 

t) Deferred revenues

   

On international capacity rental

    286        301    

On customer loyalty programs

    83        75    

On connection fees – Fixed Services

    67        66    

From CONATEL– Núcleo Mobile Services

    12        11    
 

 

 

 
    448        453    
 

 

 

 

u) Financial debt - Núcleo

   

Bank loans

    274        220    
 

 

 

 
    274        220    
 

 

 

 

v) Salaries and social security payables

   

Termination benefits

    110        111    

Bonuses

    16          
 

 

 

 
    126        118    
 

 

 

 

w) Income tax payables

   

Law No. 26,476 Tax Regularization Regime

    9        10    
 

 

 

 
    9        10    
 

 

 

 

x) Other liabilities

   

Pension benefits

    79        64    

Suppliers guarantees on third parties claims

    2          
 

 

 

 
    81        68    
 

 

 

 

y) Deferred income tax asset and liability

Telecom Group’s deferred income tax asset and liability consist of the following:

 

    As of June 30, 2014         As of December 31, 2013      
     Telecom  
 Argentina  
    Personal       Núcleo       Telecom  
USA  
    Total        Argentina         Abroad        
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Tax loss carryforwards

    -        -        -        -               -        (1)    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

    (49)        (71)        (7)        (1)        (128)         (98)        (4)    

Provisions

    (309)        (144)        -        -        (453)         (433)          

PP&E

    -        -        (15)        -        (15)         -        (12)    

Inventory

    -        (116)        -        -        (116)         (48)          

Termination benefits

    (58)        -        -        -        (58)         (58)          

Government bonds valuation differences

    -        (90)        -        -        (90)         (29)          

Other deferred tax assets, net

    (137)        -        -        -        (137)         (133)          

Allowance for deferred tax assets

    -        -        -        -               27          
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

    (553)        (421)        (22)        (1)        (997)         (772)        (16)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

PP&E and intangible assets

    377        323        -        1        701         716          

Cash dividends from foreign companies

    -        89        5        -        94         66          

Other deferred tax liabilities, net

    -        7        -        -               -          
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

    377        419        5        1        802         782          
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liabilities / (assets)

    (176)        (2)        (17)        -        (195)         10        (12)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liabilities / (assets) as of December 31, 2013

    (116)        126        (12)        -        (2)        
 

 

 

     

 

z) Aging of assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2014

 

Date due             Cash and cash      
    equivalents       
       Investments              Trade receivables         

    Deferred income      

    tax      

    assets      

      Other receivables

Total due

             (c)  1,164       -

Not due

                         

Third quarter 2014

     2,582     489     2,200       426

Fourth quarter 2014

        94     27       102

First quarter 2015

        43     16       77

Second quarter 2015

           10       84

July 2015 thru June 2016

        412          155

July 2016 thru June 2017

        450          62

July 2017 and thereafter

        37          38

Not date due established

              195    -

Total not due

       2,582     1,526     2,264     195    944

Total

       2,582     1,526     3,428     195    944
               

Balances bearing interest

       2,420     1,525     1,190       -

Balances not bearing interest

     162        2,238     195    944

Total

       2,582     1,526     3,428     195    944
               

Average annual interest rate (%)

       (a)     (b)     (d)       -

(a)    971 are assets in argentine pesos and bear between 1.76% and 28.55% (average 5.11%) and 1,449 are assets in foreign currency and bear between 0.21% and 2.33% (average 1.23%).

(b)    161 are assets in argentine pesos and bear between 1.95% and 27.13% (average 5.46%) and 1,364 are assets in foreign currency and bear between 0.3% and 7%.

(c)    From due trade receivables 93 bear 50% over the Banco de la Nación Argentina 30-day interest rate paid by banks, 263 bear 50% over the Banco de la Nación Argentina notes payable discount rate and 3 bear 8.30%.

(d)    From not due trade receivables 19 bear 28%, 28 bear 8.3%, 761 bear 37.5%, and 23 bear 36%.

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

Date due

        Trade 
 payables 
     Deferred 
 revenues 
     Financial 
 debt 
     Salaries and 
 social 
 security 
 payables 
     Income tax 
 payables 
     Other taxes 
 payables 
     Dividends 
 payables 
     Other
 liabilities

Total due

        (a)  226        -        -        -        -        -        -      -

Not due

                           

Third quarter 2014

      5,079        369        10        381        1        663        601      6

Fourth quarter 2014

      -        35        3        107        1        -        26      1

First quarter 2015

      -        33        9        163        1        -        -      1

Second quarter 2015

      -        33        4        81        656        5        -      35

July 2015 thru June 2016

      -        136        47        57        3        -        -      3

July 2016 thru June 2017

      -        57        90        32        2        -        -      1

July 2017 and thereafter

      -        255          137        37        4        -        -      77

Not date due established

      -        -        -        -        -        -        -      -

Total not due

        5,079        918        300        858        668        668        627      124

Total

        5,305        918        300        858        668        668        627      124
   

Balances bearing interest

        37        -          300        -        17        -        -      1

Balances not bearing interest

        5,268        918        -        858        651        668        627      123

Total

        5,305        918          300        858        668        668        627      124
   

Average annual interest rate (%)

            (b)         -        9,3%         -         9%         -         -      6%

(a)    As of the date of these consolidated financial statements, 30 were cancelled.

(b)    From not due trade payables, 35 bear 9% and 2 bear 6%.

aa) Foreign currency assets and liabilities

The following table shows a breakdown of Telecom Group’s net assessed financial position exposure to currency risk as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

 

06.30.14     
Amount of foreign currency (i)   Exchange rate      Amount in local currency (ii)    

Assets

            

US$

  391      8.033      3,142    

G

  124,550      0.002      227    

EURO

      10.991      12    
    Total assets        3,381    

Liabilities

            

US$

  (369)      8.133      (3,012)    

G

  (280,555)      0.002      (511)    

EURO

  (14)      11.148      (162)    
    Total liabilities        (3,685)    
    Net liabilities (iii)            (304)    

(i)     US$ = United States dollar; G= Guaraníes.

(ii)     As foreign currency figures and their amount in argentine pesos are in millions, the calculation of the amount of the foreign currency by its exchange rate could not be exact.

(iii)    Comprised of net financial asset in US$ equivalent to 130, a net financial liability in EURO equivalent to (150) and a net financial liability in G equivalent to (284).

In order to partially reduce this net liability position in foreign currency, the Telecom Group, as of June 30, 2014, entered into several NDF contracts to purchase a total amount of US$ 5 million and holds investments adjustable to the variation of the US$/$ exchange rate (dollar linked) by $152 and mutual funds whose main underlying asset are financial assets dollar linked for a total amount of $344 as of June 30, 2014. These instruments cover completely the net liability position in foreign currency of the Telecom Group as of June 30, 2014.

 

12.31.13     
Amount of foreign currency (i)   Exchange rate      Amount in local currency (ii)    

Assets

            

US$

  315      6.481      2,038    

G

  114,349      0.002      160    

EURO

      8.939      13    
    Total assets        2,211    

Liabilities

            

US$

  (500)      6.521      (3,262)    

G

  (281,392)      0.002      (396)    

EURO

  (17)      9.011      (153)    
    Total liabilities        (3,811)    
    Net liabilities (iii)            (1,600)    

(i)     US$ = United States dollar; G= Guaraníes.

(ii)     As foreign currency figures and their amount in argentine pesos are in millions, the calculation of the amount of the foreign currency by its exchange rate could not be exact.

(iii)    Comprised of net financial liabilities in US$ equivalent to (1,224), in EURO equivalent to (140) and in G equivalent to (236).

In order to partially reduce this net liability position in foreign currency, the Telecom Group, as of December 31, 2013, entered into several NDF contracts to purchase a total amount of US$138 million and holds investments adjustable to the variation of the US$/$ exchange rate (dollar linked) by $78 and mutual funds whose main underlying asset are financial assets dollar linked for a total amount of $300. The portion of the net liability position in foreign currency not covered by these instruments amounted to $328 as of December 31, 2013.

 

 

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ab) Information on the fair value of investments in Government bonds and argentine companies notes valued at amortized cost

Below are shown the investments in Government bonds and argentine companies’ notes valued at amortized cost and their respective fair value as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

     As of June 30, 2014     As of December 31, 2013      
Investments    Book value    

Fair value    

(*)  

    Book value     Fair value    
(*)  
     

Government bonds

     876          1,153              221          313         

Provincial government bonds in pesos

     -          -              35          35         

Provincial and municipal government bonds (dollar linked)

     54          50              13          15         

Argentine companies notes in pesos

     10          11              31          31         

Argentine companies notes (dollar linked)

     98          115              65          71         

Total

     1,038          1,329              365          465         

(*) According to IFRS selling costs are not deducted.

ac) Offsetting of financial assets and financial liabilities

The information required by the amendment to IFRS 7 as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:

 

         As of June 30, 2014      
         Trade 
receivables 
    

Other
receivables

(1)

     Trade 
payables 
     Other 
liabilities 
(1) 
     Salaries
and social
security
payables
     

Current and non-current assets (liabilities) - Gross value

       5,616         206         (7,495)         (47)         (859)     

Compensation

       (2,188)         (5)         2,190         2         1     

Current and non-current assets (liabilities) – Book value

       3,428         201         (5,305)         (45)         (858)     
        
              
        
        
        
        
        
              
         As of December 31, 2013    
         Trade 
receivables 
    

Other
receivables

(1)

     Trade 
payables 
     Other 
liabilities 
(1) 
     Salaries
and social
security
payables
   

Current and non-current assets (liabilities) - Gross value

       4,697         281         (7,850)         (60)         (860)     

Compensation

       (1,690)         (37)         1,719         7         1     

Current and non-current assets (liabilities) – Book value

       3,007         244         (6,131)         (53)         (859)     
        
              

(1) Only includes financial assets and financial liabilities according to IFRS 7.

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS  

Three-month periods ended  

 June 30,    

   

Six-month periods ended

    June 30,      

 
     2014        2013                2014             2013        
ad) Total revenues and other income    Profit (loss)      

Services

       

Voice – Retail

    704        668        1,386        1,297    

Voice – Wholesale

    228        191        453        376    

Internet

    777        616        1,503        1,191    

Data

    364        228        683        441    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal Fixed Services

    2,073        1,703        4,025        3,305    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Voice – Retail (*)

    1,250        1,127        2,595        2,338    

Voice – Wholesale

    488        518        976        966    

Internet (*)

    781        503        1,425        915    

Data (*)

    1,890        1,767        3,677        3,364    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal Personal Mobile Services

    4,409        3,915        8,673        7,583    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Voice – Retail

    148        90        280        177    

Voice – Wholesale

    28        43        54        65    

Internet

    107        62        207        124    

Data

    79        79        164        157    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal Núcleo Mobile Services

    362        274        705        523    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total service revenues (a)

    6,844        5,892        13,403        11,411    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equipment

       

Fixed Services – excluding networks construction contracts

    17        16        26        30    

Fixed Services – networks construction contracts

    1        -        5          

Personal Mobile Services

    1,236        717        2,115        1,235    

Núcleo Mobile Services

    21        24        36        37    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equipment revenues (b)

    1,275        757        2,182        1,302    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues (a) + (b)

    8,119        6,649        15,585        12,713    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

(*) 1H13 comparative figures include certain reclassifications originated in a revenues allocation criteria improvement of mobile postpaid plans. According to this, in 1H13 mobile Voice Retail and Data revenues were adjusted downwards by $7 and $36, respectively, while mobile Internet revenues were adjusted upwards by $43. The same effects have been applied in the 2Q13 comparative figures, showing a decrease of $4 and $18 in mobile Voice Retail and Data revenues, respectively, offset by an increase of $22 in mobile Internet revenues.

 

 

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Three-month periods ended

June 30,

     

Six-month periods ended    

June 30,    

        2014   2013       2014   2013    
Other income       Profit (loss)

Fixed Services

    8       17   12    

Personal Mobile Services

    12       13   1    

Total other income (c)

    20       30   13    
             
                     
           

Total revenues and other income (a)+(b)+(c)

      8,139   6,653      15,615   12,726

Telecom Group’s service revenues by type of service (regardless of the segment originates) are as follows:

 

    

Six-month periods ended

June 30,

     
             2014          %                2013          %          

Voice Retail

     4,261         32         3,812         34      

Voice Wholesale

     1,483         11         1,407         12      
  

 

 

   

Total Voice

     5,744         43         5,219         46      
  

 

 

   

Internet

     3,135         23         2,230         19      

Data

     4,524         34         3,962         35      
  

 

 

   

Total service revenues

     13,403         100         11,411         100      
  

 

 

   

ae) Operating costs

Operating expenses disclosed by nature of expense amounted to $12,997 and $10,666 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The main components of the operating expenses are the following:

 

        

Three-month periods ended

June 30,

      

Six-month periods ended

June 30,

         2014    2013        2014    2013
         Profit (loss)

Employee benefit expenses and severance payments

               

Salaries

     (976)    (735)       (1,805)    (1,377) 

Social security expenses

     (306)    (220)       (566)    (415) 

Severance indemnities and termination benefits

     (46)    (32)       (122)    (43) 

Other employee benefits

     (26)    (18)       (44)    (38) 
     (1,354)    (1,005)       (2,537)    (1,873) 
                 
                         

Interconnection costs and other telecommunication charges

               

Fixed telephony interconnection costs

     (72)    (59)       (137)    (114) 

Cost of international outbound calls

     (46)    (32)       (100)    (69) 

Lease of circuits and use of public network

     (69)    (56)       (135)    (98) 

Mobile services - charges for roaming

     (104)    (177)       (237)    (312) 

Mobile services - charges for TLRD

     (214)    (198)       (411)    (413) 
     (505)    (522)       (1,020)    (1,006) 
                 
                         

Fees for services, maintenance, materials and supplies

               

Maintenance of hardware and software

     (105)    (81)       (208)    (161) 

Technical maintenance

     (184)    (117)       (354)    (229) 

Service connection fees for fixed lines and Internet lines

     (55)    (50)       (103)    (87) 

Service connection fees capitalized as SAC

     1         2   

Service connection fees capitalized as Intangible assets

     8         15    14 

Other maintenance costs

     (70)    (59)       (137)    (112) 

Obsolescence of inventories – Personal Mobile Services

     (30)    (39)       (62)    (57) 

Call center fees

     (280)    (184)       (499)    (341) 

Other fees for services

     (122)    (123)       (239)    (227) 

Compensation for Directors and Supervisory Committee members

     (7)    (14)       (14)    (17) 
     (844)    (658)       (1,599)    (1,214) 
                 
                         

Taxes and fees with the Regulatory Authority

    

Turnover tax

     (437)    (356)       (844)    (680) 

Taxes with the Regulatory Authority

     (176)    (155)       (346)    (300) 

Tax on deposits to and withdrawals from bank accounts

     (91)    (49)       (171)    (110) 

Municipal taxes

     (52)    (43)       (105)    (83) 

Other taxes

     (53)    (43)       (98)    (75) 
     (809)    (646)       (1,564)    (1,248) 
                 
                         

 

 

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Three-month periods ended

June 30,

    

Six-month periods ended

June 30,

     2014      2013      2014    2013  
Commissions    Profit (loss)

Agent commissions

     (477)         (363)       (854)    (721) 

Agent commissions capitalized as SAC

     229         115       362    218 

Distribution of prepaid cards commissions

     (139)         (150)       (281)    (289) 

Collection commissions

     (164)         (101)       (295)    (193) 

Other commissions

     (26)         (23)       (50)    (39) 
  

 

 

    

 

     (577)         (522)       (1,118)    (1,024) 
  

 

 

    

 

Cost of equipments and handsets

           

Inventory balance at the beginning of the period/year

     (1,154)         (564)       (857)    (641) 

Plus:

           

Purchases

     (1,158)         (1,069)       (2,293)    (1,657) 

Deferred costs from SAC

     26         61       57    164 

Decreases from allowance for obsolescence

     11         3       33   

Mobile handsets lent to customers at no cost

     10         2       17   

Decreases not charged to material cost

     -         2       3   

Less:

           

Inventory balance at period end

     1,147         835       1,147    835 
  

 

 

    

 

Cost of equipments and handsets (i)

     (1,118)         (730)       (1,893)    (1,288) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

(i) Include 4 related to equipment constructions costs as of June 30, 2014. No costs were recorded for this concept as of June 30, 2013.

 

Advertising

           

Media advertising

     (109)         (75)       (190)    (160) 

Fairs and exhibitions

     (34)         (20)       (82)    (56) 

Other advertising costs

     (34)         (37)       (69)    (70) 
  

 

 

    

 

     (177)         (132)       (341)    (286) 
  

 

 

    

 

Cost of VAS

  

Cost of mobile VAS

     (213)         (168)       (400)    (297) 

Cost of fixed VAS

     (2)         (2)       (6)    (4) 
  

 

 

    

 

     (215)         (170)       (406)    (301) 
  

 

 

    

 

Recovery of restructuring costs

           

Dismissals indemnities (ii)

     -         8       -   
  

 

 

    

 

     -         8       -   
  

 

 

    

 

 

(ii) Corresponds to the recovery of the provision related to the Restructuring Plan finished in June 2013.

 

Other operating costs

           

Transportation, freight and travel expenses

     (139)         (114)       (263)    (207) 

Delivery costs capitalized as SAC

     13         10       23    17 

Rent of buildings and cell sites

     (102)         (90)       (193)    (155) 

Energy, water and others

     (90)         (92)       (183)    (196) 

International and satellite connectivity

     (35)         (36)       (67)    (67) 
  

 

 

    

 

     (353)         (322)       (683)    (608) 
  

 

 

    

 

D&A

           

Depreciation of PP&E

     (568)         (488)       (1,106)    (955) 

Amortization of SAC and service connection charges

     (198)         (213)       (393)    (432) 

Amortization of other intangible assets

     (6)         (7)       (12)    (12) 
  

 

 

    

 

     (772)         (708)       (1,511)    (1,399) 
  

 

 

    

 

Gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E

           

Gain on disposal of PP&E

     6         -       10   

Impairment of PP&E (iii)

     -         (172)       -    (172) 
  

 

 

    

 

     6         (172)       10    (165) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

(iii) Includes 50 corresponding to the impairment of a commercial system of Personal, 109 corresponding to the impairment of construction in progress and materials of Telecom Argentina and 13 corresponding to prepaid expenses related to the write-down assets of Telecom Argentina as of June 30, 2013.

 

The operating expenses disclosed by function are as follows:

 

Operating costs

     (4,351)         (3,397)       (8,095)    (6,386) 

Administration costs

     (351)         (299)       (648)    (500) 

Commercialization costs

     (2,137)         (1,783)       (4,162)    (3,518) 

Other expenses – provisions (Note 6.b)

     (65)         (57)       (102)    (97) 

Gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E

     6         (172)       10    (165) 
  

 

 

     (6,898)         (5,708)       (12,997)    (10,666) 
  

 

 

 

 

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Three-month periods ended

June 30,

       

Six-month periods ended

June 30,

     2014      2013         2014      2013
af) Financial results    Profit (loss)

Finance income

              

Interest on time deposits

     103       150          260       255 

Gains on investments (Argentine companies notes and governments bonds)

     30               73      

Gains on Mutual Funds

     38               74       17 

Interest on related parties (Note 5.d)

     -               -      

Interest on receivables

     44       31          80       56 

Foreign currency exchange gains

     52       64          534       124 

Gain on NDF (Note 10.14)

     (3)               42      

Other

     -               -      

Total finance income 

     264       260          1,063       465 

Finance expenses

              

Interest on loans - Núcleo

     (6)       (4)          (12)       (8) 

Interest on salaries and social security payable, other taxes payables and accounts payable

     (11)       (4)          (20)       (8) 

Interest on provisions

     (39)       (32)          (70)       (43) 

Present value effect of salaries and social security payable, other taxes payables and other liabilities

     (2)       (2)          (3)       (5) 

Foreign currency exchange losses (*)

     6       (139)          (756)       (186) 

Losses on NDF (Note 10.14)

     (26)               (48)      

Other

     -               -       (1) 

Total finance expenses 

     (78)       (181)          (909)       (251) 
     186       79          154       214 
          
                  

(*) Include 202 and 42 of foreign currency exchange losses generated by the acquisition of US$ 85 million and US$ 15 million of Government bonds in the six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

ag) Income taxes

Income tax expense for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 consists of the following:

 

           Profit (loss)  
         The 
    Company 
     Telecom    
USA    
     Personal          Núcleo          Total       

Current tax expense

     (266)         (3)         (874)         (14)         (1.157)    

Estimated income tax payable on cash dividends from foreign companies

     -         -         (15)         -         (15)    

Fiscal year 2013 return adjustment

     5         -         -         -           

Deferred tax benefit

     60         -         170         1         231    
  

 

 

 

Income tax expense as of June 30, 2014

     (201)         (3)         (719)         (13)         (936)    
  

 

 

 

Current tax expense

     (222)         (2)         (733)         (13)         (970)    

Estimated income tax payable on cash dividends from foreign companies

     -         -         (10)         -         (10)    

Fiscal year 2012 return adjustment

     -         -         (3)         -         (3)    

Deferred tax benefit

     73         -         111         2         186    

Valuation allowance

     -         -         (2)         -         (2)    
  

 

 

 

Income tax expense as of June 30, 2013

     (149)         (2)         (637)         (11)         (799)    
  

 

 

 

Income tax expense for the periods differed from the amounts computed by applying the Company’s statutory income tax rate to pre-tax income as a result of the following:

 

     In Argentina        Abroad            Total          
     Profit (loss) 

Pre-tax income on a separate return basis

     4,140         116       4,256

Non taxable items – Income from investments

     (1,484)         -       (1,484)

Non taxable items – Other

     20         (23)       (3)

Subtotal 

     2,676         93       2,769

Weighted statutory income tax rate

     35%         (**)        

Income tax expense at weighted statutory tax rate

     (937)         (16)       (953)

Income tax on dividends from foreign companies

     (15)         -       (15)

Fiscal year 2013 return adjustment

     5         -       5

Recovery of valuation allowance

     27         -       27

Income tax expense as of June 30, 2014

     (920)         (16)       (936)

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

     In Argentina        Abroad               Total         
     Profit (loss)      

Pre-tax income on a separate return basis

   3,403        79           3,482   

Non taxable items – Income from investments

   (1,209)        -           (1,209)   

Non taxable items – Other

   2        (6)           (4)   

Subtotal 

   2,196        73           2,269   

Weighted statutory income tax rate

   35%        (*)          

Income tax expense at weighted statutory tax rate

   (768)        (13)           (781)   

Income tax on dividends from foreign companies

   (10)        -           (10)   

Other changes in tax assets and liabilities

   (3)        -           (3)   

Fiscal year 2012 return adjustment

   (3)        -           (3)   

Changes in valuation allowance

   (2)        -           (2)   

Income tax expense as of June 30, 2013

   (786)        (13)           (799)   

(*) Effective income tax rate based on weighted statutory income tax rate in the different countries where the Telecom Group has operations. The statutory tax rate in Argentina was 35% for all the periods presented, in Paraguay was 10% plus an additional rate of 5% in case of payment of dividends for all the periods presented, in Uruguay the statutory tax rate was 25% for 2013 and in the USA the effective tax rate was 39.5%, for all the periods presented, respectively.

NOTE 3 – SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

    Changes in assets/liabilities components:

 

    

  Six-month periods ended

June 30,

 
      2014     2013      

Net (increase) decrease in assets

    

Trade receivables

     (620)        (444)     

Other receivables

     (86)        8     

Other receivables related parties (Note 5.c)

     31        (216)     

Inventories

     (326)        (199)     

Investments not considered cash and cash equivalents

     51        (48)     
  

 

 

 
     (950)        (899)     
  

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in liabilities

    

Trade payables

     (211)        807     

Deferred revenues

     26        54     

Salaries and social security payables

     (49)        (126)     

Other taxes payables

     55        49     

Other liabilities

     6        18     

Provisions

     (52)        (28)     
  

 

 

 
             (225)        774     
  

 

 

 

Income tax paid consists of the following:

    

   Tax returns and payments in advance

     (1,198     (774)    

   Other payments

     (99     (68)    
  

 

 

 
     (1,297     (842)    
  

 

 

 

•   Main non-cash operating transactions:

    

VAT credit balances offset with income taxes payments

     -        8     

SAC acquisitions offset with trade receivables

     187        88     

•   Most significant investing activities:

    

PP&E acquisitions include:

    

PP&E additions (Note 2.i)

     (2,035)        (1,289)     

Plus:

    

Payments of trade payables originated in prior periods acquisitions

     (1,419)        (743)     

Less:

    

Acquisition of PP&E through incurrence of trade payables

     779        603     

Mobile handsets lent to customers at no cost (i)

     17        4     
  

 

 

 
     (2,658)        (1,425)     
  

 

 

 

 

(i) Under certain circumstances, Personal and Núcleo lend handsets to customers at no cost pursuant to term agreements.
     Handsets remain the property of the companies and customers are generally obligated to return them at the end of the respective agreements.

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

Intangible assets acquisitions include:

 

   

Six-month periods ended

June 30,

    2014     2013

 Intangible assets additions (Note 2.j)

  (459)    (417)  

 Plus:

   

 Payments of trade payables originated in prior periods acquisitions

  (101)    (80)  

 SAC acquisitions offset with trade receivables

  (187)    (88)  

 Less:

   

 Acquisition of intangible assets through incurrence of trade payables

   269     201  
 

 

  (478)    (384)  
 

 

The following table presents the cash flows from purchases, sales and maturities of securities which were not considered cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows:

 

Investments over 90 days maturity

  (483)   (329) 

Argentine companies notes acquisition

  (16)  

Government bonds acquisition

  (804)   (34) 

Argentine companies notes collection

  25  

Government bonds collection

  67   11 

Loan to Nortel

  -   (6) 
 

 

            (1,211)               (403) 
 

 

 

    Financing activities components:

The following table presents the financing activities components of the consolidated statements of cash flows:

 

 Debt proceeds - Núcleo

    43  
 

 

 Total financial debt proceeds

    43  
 

 

 Payment of bank loans – Núcleo

  (6)    (18)  
 

 

 Total payment of financial debt

  (6)    (18)  
 

 

 Payment of interest on bank loans – Núcleo

  (13)    (8)  
 

 

 Total payment of interest

                 (13)    (8)  
 

 

 Acquisition of treasury shares- Telecom Argentina

                (83)  
 

 

Cash dividends from Telecom Argentina

The Company’s Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 29, 2014, approved, in its second tranche of deliberations held on May 21, 2014, the payment of cash dividends in two equal installments of $601. The first installment was made available to shareholders on June 10, 2014. The amount paid includes: (i) income tax withholdings on dividends paid to shareholders in the amount of $11 and (ii) tax on personal property – on behalf of shareholders withholdings in the amount of $10. The second installment will be paid in September 2014 on the date the Board of Directors provides.

During 1Q14 the Company paid $44 related to tax withholdings on dividends paid to its shareholders by the end of 2013 in order to comply with its tax obligations. The amounts paid finally corresponded to: (i) income tax withholdings on dividends paid to its shareholders during December 2013 in the amount of $17 and (ii) dividends paid to its shareholders in the amount of $27.

Cash dividends from Núcleo

Núcleo’s shareholders, at their meeting held on March 28, 2014, approved the distribution of cash dividends for an amount equivalent to $160. The shareholders also decided to delegate in Nucleo’s Board of Directors of the authority to determine the amount and time for the payments of these cash dividends.

On May 5, 2014 Nucleo’s Board of Directors determined the following schedule of payments for the cash dividends:

 

    

Month of dividends

payment

  

    

Dividends

corresponding to

Personal

  

Dividends

corresponding to non-

controlling

shareholders – ABC

Telecomunicaciones

   Total

May 2014

   54    26    80  

October 2014

   54    26    80  
  

 

Total (*)

   108    52    160  
  

 

 

(*) Correspond to 90,000 millions of Guaraníes approved by the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of Núcleo, translated to argentine pesos at the exchange rate of the date of its approval.

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

The Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of Núcleo held on March 22, 2013 approved the following cash dividend payment:

 

    

Month of dividends

payment

 

    

Dividends

corresponding to

Personal

 

Dividends

corresponding to non-

controlling

shareholders – ABC
Telecomunicaciones

  Total

May 2013

  34   16   50

October 2013

  34   17   51
 

 

Total (*)

  68   33   101
 

 

 

(*) Correspond to 80,000 millions of Guaraníes approved by the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of Núcleo, translated to argentine pesos at the exchange rate of the date of its approval.

NOTE 4 – SEGMENT INFORMATION

Until fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the Telecom Group carried out its activities through six companies, each identified as an operating segment. On February 19, 2014 Personal sold its equity interest in Springville; which results, assets and liabilities were included in the “Personal Mobile Services” segment and which figures were immaterial, as disclosed in Note 10.15 to the consolidated financial statements. Therefore, as from June 30, 2014, the Telecom Group carries out its activities through the five remaining companies which were consolidated by the end of fiscal year 2013 (Note 1.a).

The Telecom Group has combined the operating segments into three reportable segments: “Fixed Services”, “Personal Mobile Services” and “Núcleo Mobile Services” based on the nature of products provided by the entities and taking into account the regulatory and economic framework in which each entity operates.

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

Segment financial information for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:

 

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014

 

  q     Income statement

 

     Fixed     Mobile Services     Elimi-       
    Services         Personal         Núcleo         Subtotal         nations           Total    

Total revenues and other income (1)

    4,834        10,856        746        11,602        (821)      15,615

Employee benefit expenses and severance payments

    (1,826)        (654)        (57)        (711)        -      (2,537)

Interconnection costs and other telecommunication charges

    (323)        (1,223)        (92)        (1,315)        618      (1,020)

Fees for services, maintenance, materials and supplies

    (681)        (966)        (65)        (1,031)        113      (1,599)

Taxes and fees with the Regulatory Authority

    (348)        (1,193)        (23)        (1,216)        -      (1,564)

Commissions

    (101)        (974)        (70)        (1,044)        27      (1,118)

Cost of equipments and handsets

    (35)        (1,814)        (44)        (1,858)        -      (1,893)

Advertising

    (77)        (227)        (37)        (264)        -      (341)

Cost of VAS

    (6)        (374)        (26)        (400)        -      (406)

Provisions

    (80)        (22)        -        (22)        -      (102)

Bad debt expenses

    (52)        (171)        (10)        (181)        -      (233)

Other operating expenses

    (348)        (358)        (40)        (398)        63      (683)

Operating income before D&A

    957        2,880        282        3,162        -      4,119

Depreciation of PP&E

    (510)        (454)        (142)        (596)        -      (1,106)

Amortization of intangible assets

    (68)        (309)        (28)        (337)        -      (405)

Gain on disposal of PP&E

    9        1        -        1        -      10

Operating income

    388        2,118        112        2,230        -      2,618

Financial results, net

    191        (34)        (3)        (37)        -      154

Income before income tax expense

    579        2,084        109        2,193        -      2,772

Income tax expense, net

    (204)        (719)        (13)        (732)        -      (936)

Net income

    375        1,365        96        1,461        -      1,836
                                           

Net income attributable to Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

  

  1,805  

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

  

  31  
            1,836  
             
(1)                                  

Service revenues

              4,025                  8,673                      705              9,378        -      13,403

Equipment revenues

    31        2,115        36        2,151        -      2,182

Other income

    17        13        -        13        -      30

Subtotal third party revenues 

    4,073        10,801        741        11,542        -      15,615

Intersegment revenues

    761        55        5        60        (821)      -

Total revenues and other income 

    4,834        10,856        746        11,602              (821)        15,615
                                           

 

q    Statement of financial position information

 

PP&E

    7,011        4,005        1,345        5,350        -      12,361

Intangible assets, net

    373        1,154        61        1,215        (1)      1,587

Capital expenditures on PP&E (a)

    834        876        96        972        -      1,806

Capital expenditures on intangible assets (b)

    65        365        29        394        -      459

Total capital expenditures (a)+(b)

    899        1,241        125        1,366        -      2,265

Total additions on PP&E and intangible assets

    1,131        1,229        134        1,363        -      2,494

Net financial asset (debt)

    1,650        2,411        (254)        2,157        -      3,807

 

  q     Geographic information

 

     Total revenues and other income         Total non-current assets    
         Breakdown by location    
of operations
        Breakdown by location of    
the Group´s customers
    Breakdown by
location of operations

Argentina 

    14,823        14,678      13,864

Abroad 

    792        937      1,445

Total 

    15,615        15,615      15,309
                   

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013

 

  q     Income statement

 

      Fixed      Mobile Services      Elimi-        
        Services          Personal        Núcleo          Subtotal            nations              Total    

Total revenues and other income (1)

     3,955       8,874       565         9,439         (668)       12,726

Employee benefit expenses and severance payments

     (1,336)       (496)       (41)         (537)         -       (1,873)

Interconnection costs and other telecommunication charges

     (259)       (1,144)       (93)         (1,237)         490       (1,006)

Fees for services, maintenance, materials and supplies

     (525)       (749)       (49)         (798)         109       (1,214)

Taxes and fees with the Regulatory Authority

     (271)       (960)       (17)         (977)         -       (1,248)

Commissions

     (85)       (912)       (53)         (965)         26       (1,024)

Cost of equipments and handsets

     (34)       (1,212)       (42)         (1,254)         -       (1,288)

Advertising

     (60)       (193)       (33)         (226)         -       (286)

Cost of VAS

     (4)       (282)       (15)         (297)         -       (301)

Provisions

     (50)       (47)       -         (47)         -       (97)

Bad debt expenses

     (40)       (120)       (5)         (125)         -       (165)

Recovery of restructuring costs

     8            -         -         -       8

Other operating expenses

     (328)       (297)       (26)         (323)         43       (608)

Operating income before D&A

     971       2,462       191         2,653         -       3,624

Depreciation of PP&E

     (444)       (422)       (89)         (511)         -       (955)

Amortization of intangible assets

     (51)       (376)       (17)         (393)         -       (444)

Gain on disposal of PP&E and impairment of PP&E

     (116)       (50)       1         (49)         -       (165)

Operating income

     360       1,614       86         1,700         -       2,060

Financial results, net

     72       152       (10)         142         -       214

Income before income tax expense

     432       1,766       76         1,842         -       2,274

Income tax expense, net

     (151)       (637)       (11)         (648)         -       (799)

Net income

     281       1,129       65         1,194         -       1,475
                                               
 

 

Net income attributable to Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

  

  

 

1,454  

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

  

   21  
     1,475  
                     
  (1)
 

Service revenues

     3,305       7,583       523         8,106         -       11,411
 

Equipment revenues

     30       1,235       37         1,272         -       1,302
 

Other income

     12            -         1         -       13
 

Subtotal third party revenues 

     3,347       8,819       560         9,379         -       12,726
 

Intersegment revenues

     608       55       5         60         (668)       -
 

Total revenues and other income 

     3,955       8,874       565         9,439         (668)       12,726
                                               
 

 

q   Statement of financial position information

 

           
 

PP&E

     5,508       2,801       852         3,653         -       9,161
 

Intangible assets, net

     372       1,084       33         1,117         (1)       1,488
 

Capital expenditures on PP&E (a)

     620       420       97         517         -       1,137
 

Capital expenditures on intangible assets (b)

     51       345       21         366         -       417
 

Total capital expenditures (a)+(b)

     671       765       118         883         -       1,554
 

Total additions on PP&E and intangible assets

     789       768       149         917         -       1,706
 

Net financial asset (debt)

     1,074       4,164       (144)         4,020         -       5,094

 

  q     Geographic information

 

      Total revenues and other income      Total non-current assets
          Breakdown by location    
of operations
         Breakdown by location of    
the Group´s customers
    

Breakdown by

     location of operations     

Argentina 

     12,136           12,041         10,177  

Abroad 

     590           685         912  

Total 

     12,726           12,726         11,089  
                      

 

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

 

 

 

NOTE 5 – RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS

 

a) Controlling group

Nortel, residing in A. Moreau de Justo 50 - 11th floor –Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, holds 54.74% stake in the Company, meaning that exercises control of the Company in the terms of Art. 33 of Law No. 19,550. As of June 30, 2014, Nortel owns all of the Class “A” Preferred shares (51% of total shares of the Company) and 7.64% of the Class “B” Preferred shares (3.74% of total shares of the Company).

As a result of the Company’s Treasury Shares Acquisition Process as of June 30, 2014, Nortel’s equity interest in Telecom Argentina amounts to 55.60% of the outstanding shares. Pursuant to Section 221 of the LSC, the rights of treasury shares shall be suspended until such shares are sold, and shall not be taken into account to determine the quorum or the majority of votes at the Shareholders’ Meetings.

All of the common shares of Nortel belong to Sofora. As of June 30, 2014 these shares represent 78.38% of the capital stock of Nortel.

Sofora’s shares belong to Telecom Italia S.p.A, (32.5%), to Telecom Italia International N.V. (35.5%), (Telecom Italia S.p.A. y Telecom Italia International N.V., jointly, the “Telecom Italia Group”) and to W de Argentina - Inversiones S.L. (32%).

During 2011, Telecom Italia International N.V. acquired 8% of all Nortel Preferred Class “B” Shares and Telecom Argentina Class “B” shares, representing 1.58 % of Telecom Argentina’s capital stock, through Tierra Argentea S.A. (Tierra Argentea), its controlled company incorporated in Argentina.

On November 14, 2013, Telecom Italia S.p.A y Telecom Italia International N.V. (jointly, the “Sellers”) and Tierra Argentea (a company controlled by the Sellers) announced the acceptance of an offer by the Fintech Group to acquire the controlling stake held by the Telecom Italia Group in Telecom Argentina, owned by the Sellers, through its subsidiaries Sofora, Nortel and Tierra Argentea.

On December 10, 2013, Tierra Argentea transferred to the Fintech Group Telecom Argentina’s Class B shares representing 1.58% of its capital stock and Nortel’s ADRs representing 8% of the total Nortel’s Preferred Class “B” Shares.

The closing of the sale of the shares held by the Telecom Italia Group in Sofora is conditional upon obtaining certain required regulatory approvals.

The economic rights of Telecom Italia Group in Telecom Argentina amounted to 19.30% as of June 30, 2014.

More information is available in “Relevant Facts” section of the CNV at www.cnv.gob.ar, and in “Company filings search” section (Telecom Italia S.p.A) of the SEC in www.sec.gov.

 

b) Related parties

For the purposes of these financial statements, related parties are those individuals or legal entities which are related (in terms of IAS 24) to the Telecom Italia Group or W de Argentina - Inversiones SL, except Nortel and companies under sect. 33 of Law No. 19,550 (subsidiaries or affiliates).

Under IAS 24, Telefónica, S.A. (of Spain) and its controlled companies, including Telefónica de Argentina S.A. and Telefónica Móviles de Argentina S.A. are not considered related parties. As of the date of these consolidated financial statements, such situation has been confirmed by the commitments assumed before the CNDC to ensure the separation and independence between the Telecom Italia Group and the Telecom Group, on one hand, and Telefónica S.A. (of Spain) and its controlled companies, on the other, with respect to their activities in the Argentine telecommunications market, such as it has been corroborated by the applicable authorities.

The Telecom Group has transactions in the normal course of business with certain related parties. For the periods presented, the Telecom Group has not conducted any transactions with executive officers and/or persons related to them.

 

 

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c) Balances with related parties

 

  Direct parent company

 

                June 30,           December 31,    
CURRENT LIABILITIES               2014           2013  

Dividends payables

        

Nortel

    334        
   

 

 
    334        
   

 

 

 

    Related parties

                  
CURRENT ASSETS  

          Type of related party           

 

          June 30,           December 31,    
Trade receivables               2014           2013  

Telecom Italia Sparkle S.p.A. (a)

  Other related party         

TIM Participacoes S.A. (a)

  Other related party         

Latin American Nautilus Argentina S.A. (a)

  Other related party         

Telecom Italia S.p.A. (a)

  Indirect parent company         

Caja de Seguros (a) (b)

  Other related party         
   

 

 
    12        
   

 

 

Other receivables

     

Latin American Nautilus Ltd. (a) (c)

  Other related party   64      76    

Caja de Seguros S.A. (a) (b)

  Other related party   34      27    
   

 

 
    98      103    
   

 

 

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

     

Other receivables

     

Latin American Nautilus Ltd. (a) (c)

  Other related party   62      88    
   

 

 
    62      88    
   

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

     

Trade payables

     

Italtel Group (a)

  Other related party   63      176    

Latin American Nautilus Ltd. (a)

  Other related party         

Telecom Italia S.p.A. (a)

  Indirect parent company       12    

Telecom Italia Sparkle S.p.A. (a)

  Other related party         

Latin American Nautilus USA Inc. (a)

  Other related party         

Latin American Nautilus Argentina S.A. (a)

  Other related party         

TIM Participacoes S.A. (a)

  Other related party         

Caja de Seguros S.A. (a) (b)

  Other related party       38    

La Caja Aseguradora de Riesgos del Trabajo ART S.A. (a) (b)

  Other related party         
   

 

 
    101      247    
   

 

 

Dividends payables

     

ABC Telecomunicaciones S.A.

  Other related party   26        
   

 

 
    26        
   

 

 

d) Transactions with related parties

 

  Direct parent company

 

    

           Transaction           

description

 

     

Six-month periods ended

June 30,

Financial results            2014     2013

Nortel

   Interest         -      1  
      

 

 

      Total financial results       -      1  
      

 

 

 

    Related parties

 

        
    

           Transaction           

description

 

      Type of related party       Six-month periods ended June 30,
             2014     2013
Services rendered            Profit (loss)

TIM Participacoes S.A. (a)

   Voice – Wholesale       Other related party       8      10 

Telecom Italia Sparkle S.p.A. (a)

   Voice – Wholesale       Other related party       15     

Telecom Italia S.p.A. (a)

   Voice – Wholesale       Indirect parent company       2     

Latin American Nautilus Argentina S.A. (a)

   Voice – Wholesale       Other related party       4     

Caja de Seguros S.A. (a) (b)

   Equipment       Other related party       177      106 

Caja de Seguros S.A. (a) (b)

   Voice – Retail       Other related party       43      29 
      

 

 

    

Total services rendered

      249      154 
      

 

 

 

 

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Transaction

description

 

  Type of related party       

  Six-month periods ended

June 30,

 
 

 

     
             2014      2013  
Services received            Profit (loss)  

 

Latin American Nautilus Ltd. (a)

   International outbound calls and data     Other related party              (67)               (52)    

Grupo Italtel (a)

   Maintenance, materials and supplies     Other related party              (22)               (20)    

Telecom Italia Sparkle S.p.A. (a)

   International outbound calls and other     Other related party              (25)               (14)    

Telecom Italia S.p.A. (a)

   Fees for services and roaming     Indirect parent company              (4)               (11)    

TIM Participacoes S.A. (a)

   Roaming     Other related party              (18)               (7)    

Latin American Nautilus Argentina S.A. (a)

   International outbound calls     Other related party              (5)               (4)    

Latin American Nautilus USA Inc. (a)

   International outbound calls     Other related party              (3)               (3)    

La Caja Aseguradora de Riesgos del

       Trabajo ART S.A. (a) (b)

   Salaries and social security     Other related party              (28)               (23)    

Caja de Seguros S.A. (a) (b)

   Insurance     Other related party          (11)               (9)    

La Estrella Seguros de Retiro S.A. (a) (b)

   Insurance     Other related party              (4)               (4)    
      

 

 

 

Total services received

             (187)               (147)    
      

 

 

 

Purchases of PP&E

      

Grupo Italtel (a)

      Other related party              62               40    
      

 

 

 

Total purchases of PP&E

             62               40    
      

 

 

 

 

(a)

Such companies relate to Telecom Italia Group.

(b)

Such companies relate to W de Argentina - Inversiones S.L.

(c)

Corresponds to an agreement of lease-mode IP international capacity until December 2016. The Company paid approximately $267.6 on February 2013 for this agreement.

The transactions discussed above were made on terms no less favorable to the Telecom Group than would have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties. The Board of Directors approved transactions representing more than 1% of the total shareholders’ equity of the Company, after being approved by the Audit Committee in compliance with Law No. 26,831.

e) Key Managers

Compensation for the Key Managers, including social security contribution, amounted to $40 and $30 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and was recorded as expenses under the item line “Employee benefits expenses and severance payments”. The total expense remuneration is comprised as follows:

 

    

Three-month periods ended

June 30,

    

Six-month periods ended

June 30,

 
     2014      2013      2014      2013  

Salaries (*)

             7             7                    17               14    

Variable compensation (*)

             4             4                    9               8    

Social security contributions

             3             3                    7               5    

Termination benefits

             -             3                    7               3    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
             14             17                    40               30    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(*) Gross compensation. Social security and income tax retentions are in charge of the employee.

As of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, an amount of $11 and $25 remained unpaid, respectively.

As of June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Telecom Group has recorded $8 liabilities, respectively, for the fees of its Board of Directors members. The members and alternate members of the Board of Directors do not hold executive positions in the Company or Company’s subsidiaries.

NOTE 6 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES OF THE TELECOM GROUP

 

a) Purchase commitments

The Telecom Group has entered into various purchase orders amounting in the aggregate to approximately $4,918 as of June 30, 2014 (of which $1,891 corresponds to PP&E commitments), primarily related to the supply of switching equipment, external wiring, infrastructure agreements, inventory and other service agreements.

 

 

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b) Contingencies

The Telecom Group is a party to several civil, tax, commercial, labor and regulatory proceedings and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. In order to determine the proper level of provisions, Management of the Company, based on the opinion of its internal and external legal counsel, assesses the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes related to these matters as well as the range of probable losses that may result from the potential outcomes. A determination of the amount of provisions required, if any, is determined after an analysis of each individual case.

The determination of the required provisions may change in the future due to new developments or unknown facts at the time of the evaluation of the claims or changes as a matter of law or legal interpretation. Consequently, as of June 30, 2014, the Telecom Group has recorded provisions in an aggregate amount of $1,406 to cover potential losses under these claims ($85 for regulatory contingencies deducted from assets and $1,321 included under provisions) and certain amounts deposited in the Company’s bank accounts have been restricted as to their use due to some judicial proceedings. As of June 30, 2014, these restricted funds totaled $44 (included under “Other receivables” item line in the consolidated statement of financial position).

Provisions consist of the following:

 

    Balances    Additions  

Reclassi-
 fications

  Decreases   Balances
    as of 
December 31, 
2013 
 

Capital

    

 

Interest

(ii)

    Classified 
to liability 
 

Payments 

    

  as of
June 30,
2014

Current

                           

Provision for civil and commercial proceedings

  133        (17)    (47)    (7)    62

Provision for labor claims

  44        34      (36)    42

Provision for regulatory, tax and other matters claims

  47        23      (9)    61

Total current provisions  

  224        40    (47)    (52)    165

Non-current

                           

Provision for civil and commercial proceedings

  139    24    17    17        197

Provision for labor claims

  263    10    25    (34)        264

Provision for regulatory, tax and other matters claims

  525    57    24    (23)        583

Asset retirement obligations

  106              112

Total non-current provisions  

  1,033    (i)   93    70    (40)        1,156
             

Total provisions  

  1,257    93    70      (47)    (52)    1,321
                           
             
         
    Balances    Additions (reversals)   

Reclassi-
 fications

  Decreases   Balances
    as of 
December 31, 
2012 
 

Capital

    

 

Interest

(ii)

    Classified 
to liability 
 

Payments 

    

  as of
June 30,
2013

Current

                           

Provision for civil and commercial proceedings

  33        49      (3)    79

Provision for labor claims

  32        14      (15)    31

Restructuring

  54    (iv) (8)        (46)      -

Provision for regulatory, tax and other matters claims

  15        42      (10)    47

Total current provisions  

  134    (8)      105    (46)    (28)    157

Non-current

                           

Provision for civil and commercial proceedings

  145    33      (49)        134

Provision for labor claims

  255    16    10    (14)        267

Provision for regulatory, tax and other matters claims

  432    48    24    (42)        462

Asset retirement obligations

  75              79

Total non-current provisions  

  907    (iii) 97    43    (105)        942
             

Total provisions  

  1,041    89    43      (46)    (28)    1,099
                           

 

(i) 102 included in Provisions, 2 included in currency translation adjustment and a recovery of (11) for Personal’s obligations prescriptions included in Other income.
(ii) Included in Finance costs, in the line Interest on provisions
(iii) Included in Provisions.
(iv) The restructuring plan was implemented during 4Q12 and concluded in 2Q13.

 

 

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NOTE 7 – EQUITY

Equity includes:

 

    

June 30, 

2014 

   December 31,      
2013      
   

Equity attributable to Telecom Argentina (Controlling Company)

   12,538       11,783   

Equity attributable to non-controlling interest

   328       268   
  

 

 

Total equity (*)

                           12,866       12,051   
  

 

 

(*) Additional information is given in the consolidated statements of changes in equity.

(a) Capital information

The capital stock of Telecom Argentina amounted to $984,380,978, represented by an equal number of ordinary shares, of $1 argentine peso of nominal value and entitled to one vote per share. The capital stock is fully integrated and registered with the Public Registry of Commerce.

The Company’s shares are authorized by the CNV, the BCBA and the NYSE for public trading. Only Class “B” shares are traded since Nortel owns all of the outstanding Class “A” shares; and Class “C” shares are dedicated to the employee stock ownership program, as described below.

Telecom Argentina’s breakdown of capital stock as of June 30, 2014 is as following:

 

   

 Registered, subscribed and authorized for public offering         

 

 
 

 

 

 
Shares      Outstanding shares       Treasury shares        Total capital stock           
 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares, $1 argentine peso of nominal value each

     

Class “A”

    502,034,299        -        502,034,299    

Class “B”

    466,858,524        15,221,373        482,079,897    

Class “C”

    266,782        -        266,782    
 

 

 

 

Total

    969,159,605        15,221,373        984,380,978    
 

 

 

 

Each ADS represents 5 Class B shares and are traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol TEO.

(b) Acquisition of Treasury Shares

The Company’s Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 23, 2013, which was adjourned until May 21, 2013, approved at its second session of deliberations, the creation of a “Voluntary Reserve for Capital Investments” of $1,200, granting powers to the Company’s Board of Directors to decide its total or partial application, and to approve the methodology, terms and conditions of such investments.

In connection with the above mentioned, on May 22, 2013, the Board of Directors approved a Company’s Treasury Shares Acquisition Program in the market in Argentine pesos (the “Treasury Shares Acquisition Program”) so as to avoid any possible damages to the Company and its shareholders derived from fluctuations and unbalances between the shares’ price and the Company’s solvency, for the following maximum amount and deadline:

 

    Maximum amount to be invested: $1,200.
    Deadline for the acquisitions: until April 30, 2014.

According to the offer made on November 7, 2013 by the Fintech Group for the acquisition of the controlling interest of the Telecom Italia Group in Telecom Argentina (see Note 5.a to these consolidated financial statements), Telecom Argentina suspended the acquisition of treasury shares and its Board of Directors considered appropriate to request the opinion of the CNV on the applicability of the new provisions contained in the rules issued by that entity (Title II, Chapter I, Art.13 and concurring) with respect to the continuation of the Treasury Shares Acquisition Program.

The CNV did not answer the Company’s request and the Telecom Argentina’s Board of Directors, at its meeting held on May 8, 2014, decided to conclude the request considering that the Treasury Shares Acquisition Program finished on April 30, 201, which had been approved by Telecom Argentina’s Board of Directors Meeting held on May 22, 2013.

Telecom Argentina’s Board of Directors, at its meeting held on June 27, 2014, decided to request a new opinion from the CNV to confirm whether Telecom Argentina is obliged to refrain from acquiring treasury shares in the market under Section 13, Chapter I, Title II of the CNV rules (NT 2013).

Pursuant to Section 67 of Law No. 26,831, the Company must sell its treasury shares within three years of the date of acquisition. Pursuant to Section 221 of the LSC, the rights of treasury shares shall be suspended until such shares are sold, and shall not be taken into account to determine the quorum or the majority of votes at the Shareholders’ Meetings. No restrictions apply to Retained Earnings as a result of the creation of a specific reserve for such purposes named “Voluntary Reserve for Capital Investments”.

 

 

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As of June 30, 2014 the Company owns 15,221,373 treasury shares, representing 1.55% of its total capital. The acquisition cost of these shares in the market amounted to $461.

NOTE 8 – RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS

The Company is subject to certain restrictions on the distribution of profits. Under the LSC, the by-laws of the Company and rules and regulations of the CNV, a minimum of 5% of net income for the year in accordance with the statutory books, plus/less previous years adjustments and accumulated losses, if any, must be appropriated by resolution of the shareholders to a legal reserve until such reserve reaches 20% of the outstanding capital (common stock plus inflation adjustment of common stock). Telecom Argentina has already reached the maximum amount of its Legal Reserve according to LSC provisions.

NOTE 9 – SELECTED CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY INFORMATION

 

Quarter   Revenues       Operating
income before  
D&A
    Operating
income
    Financial
    results, net    
    Net  
income  
    Net income
attributable
to Telecom
Argentina
 

Fiscal year 2014:

                   

March 31,

    7,466        2,112        1,377        (32)        906        889   

June 30,

    8,119        2,007        1,241        186        930        916   
      15,585        4,119        2,618        154        1,836        1,805   

Fiscal year 2013:

                   

March 31,

    6,064        1,799        1,115        135        813        802   

June 30,

    6,649        1,825        945        79        662        652   

September 30,

    7,114        1,930        1,203        163        886        870   

December 31,

    7,460        2,010        1,255        151        893        878   
      27,287        7,564        4,518        528        3,254        3,202   

NOTE 10 – RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CORRESPONDING TO THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2014 FOR THE TELECOM GROUP

1. Resolution SC No. 5/13

On July 2, 2013, SC Resolution No. 5/13 was published approving the “Telecommunication service quality regulation”, which establishes, among others, exigent quality parameters required for telecommunication services provided through mobile and fixed public networks, for all the operators in Argentina and the obligation to provide periodic information to the CNC.

CNC Resolution No. 3,797/13 was published on November 13, 2013, supplementing SC Resolution No. 5/13 and approving the Audit Procedures and Technical Verification of Service Quality Regulation of Telecommunications Services Manual.

As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, Telecom Argentina and Personal continue analyzing the operational aspects required by the new regulations as well as its regulatory and economic impact and applicable actions to be taken. However, pursuant to the provisions of CNC Resolution No. 3,797/13, the Company and Personal have complied with the presentation of the “Technical Reports” (detailed technical specifications of the measurement process) and have also made their presentations providing the required information pursuant to the provisions of SC Resolution No. 5/13. Notwithstanding this, and as the enforcement of this Resolution is subject to compliance with specific items for implementation with prior approval of the CNC, Telecom Argentina and Personal have made the relevant legal reserves in each of their presentations.

2. Changes in the pricing method of mobile services and the information requirements on the commercial conditions of mobile services plans

SC Resolution No. 26/13 issued on December 17, 2013 changed the pricing method of calls originating on mobile services and the mechanism for informing the CNC of the commercial conditions of existing plans. The new resolution establishes that calls originated by users of mobile communications will be charged per second and the pricing of each call will comprise a fixed value corresponding to the Initial Communication Block (including up to the first 30 seconds), plus additional charges per second after the 30th second of communication has elapsed.

 

 

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As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, Personal has made the necessary implementations to comply with the new provisions. Also, the CNC has initiated audits designed to verify the compliance of Personal with the implementation of the new pricing method, according to which has initiated some sanctioning processes in which Personal have already filed its defense, which are in progress.

3. Information Disclosure of Mobile Communication Services

On June 11, 2014, Joint Resolution No. 29 of the SC and No. 81 of the Secretary of Commerce was published in the Official Bulletin, establishing new rules concerning the information that mobile communication services providers must disclose to consumers, regularly and free of charge. The Resolution became effective at the end of July, 2014.

As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, Personal was making certain necessary developments in its systems, in order to allow for the implementation of the new rules. However, Personal has also made a filing before the Regulatory Authorities (SC and Secretary of Commerce) expressing that certain aspects contained in the Resolution require further clarification before its implementation. In addition, Personal has attended meetings with the applicable Regulatory Authorities, as a result of which on July 22, 2014 it submitted its timetable for the implementation of the above mentioned rules before the CNC.

4. Spectrum

 

  Decree No. 671/14

Decree No. 671, published in the Official Bulletin on May 14, 2014, superseded Sections 2nd and 3rd of Decree No. 2,426 issued on December 13, 2012, which provided that the remaining spectrum in 850 MHz and in 1,900 MHz be assigned to the state-owned operator ARSAT. Such remaining spectrum had been subject to a public auction called by Resolution SC No. 57/11, which later became ineffective for reasons of opportunity, merit and convenience.

The above mentioned Decree also readjusts the previous assignments of the new spectrum bands, instructing the SC to implement the applicable measures to assign both 108 MHz of the bands contained between 698-806 MHz, and 120 MHz between the 1,710-1,770 and 2,110-2,170 MHz bands “exclusively to the Land Mobile Service”.

In addition, the above mentioned Decree instructs the SC to call a public auction for this new spectrum, in addition to the remaining spectrum in the 850 and 1,900 MHz bands mentioned above (band 1,900: 30 MHz in the North Area and AMBA; 35 MHz in the South Area, and band 850: 7.5 MHz in AMBA).

 

  Resolution SC No. 17/14

Resolution SC No. 17, published in the Official Bulletin on May 16, 2014, assigns 120 MHz of the 1,710-1,770 MHz and 2,110-2,170 MHz bands to the Land Mobile Service, leaving previous assignments without effect.

In addition, Resolution SC No. 17 ratifies the suspension, in effect since 2001, to make new assignments of frequencies in the band segments next to those, from 1,770-850 MHz and from 2,170-2,200 MHz.

The above mentioned Resolution also provides that systems which are currently operating by other operators in the newly assigned bands must migrate within a two year period, for which purpose they must contact the applicable Regulatory Authority, within 60 days of the publication of such Resolution, to coordinate their systems’ migration.

 

  Resolution SC No. 18/14

Resolution SC No. 18, published in the Official Bulletin on May 19, 2014, assigns 108 MHz of the 698 to 806 band to the Land Mobile Service, leaving previous assignments (broadcasting and fixed systems) without effect.

In addition, this Resolution, as well as Resolution No. 17/14 referred to above, provides that systems which are currently operated by other operators in the above mentioned band must migrate within a two year period, for which purpose they must contact the applicable Regulatory Authority, within 60 days of the publication of this Resolution, to coordinate their systems’ migration.

 

 

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  Resolution SC No. 37/14

Resolution SC No. 37, published in the Official Bulletin on July 7, 2014, approved the General Regulations for the Advanced Mobile Communications Service (SCMA), which defines such service as: “telecommunications wireless service which, by the use of digital access technology, supports low and high user’s mobility, high rates of data transfer, interoperability with other fixed and mobile networks, with capacity for international roaming and oriented to the switch of packages that allow the use of a broad range of applications, including those based on multimedia content”.

The SCMA shall be provided by using the 698 to 806 MHz band (108 MHz) and the 1,710 to 1,770 MHz and 2,110 to 2,170 MHz bands (120 MHz). A 60 MHz limit of maximum spectrum for each provider is set forth and all the national territory is considered as a sole Area of Use of this service.

The network technology and architecture shall be freely chosen by each provider. However, certain minimum parameters are set forth, such us supporting bandwidth channels of 10, 15 and 20 MHz, and reaching theoretical high peak speeds of 100 and 50 Mbps, for the descending and ascending connections respectively, for a 20 MHz channel (equivalent, in this condition, to spectral efficiencies of 5 and 2.5 bps/MHz, respectively, for each direction of transmission). It also sets forth minimum speeds of 14Mbps for the descending connections and 6Mbps for the ascending connections.

The SCMA shall be subject to the rules set forth in these Regulations, the List of Conditions issued for the frequency bands auctions to be used for the provision of this service and the regulations to be approved to such effect.

 

  Resolution SC No. 38/14

Resolution SC No. 38, published on the Official Bulletin on July 7, 2014, provided that: (i) call a public auction for the assignment of the remaining frequencies of the Personal Communications Service (PCS) and of the Mobile Cellular Radiocommunications Service (SRMC), as well as the new spectrum for the Advanced Mobile Communications Service (SCMA) recently created and (ii) approve the List of Conditions to auction simultaneously all of the remaining spectrum of the 850 and 1,900 MHz bands, and the 698 to 806 MHz bands, plus 90 MHz of the 1,710/1,770 – 2,110/2,170 MHz bands for the SCMA service (leaving outside of the auction and available for future use, 30 MHz corresponding to the 1,755-1,770 and 2,155-2,170 sub-band), complying with the applicable spectrum maximums (50 MHz for SRCM + PCS and 60 MHz for SCMA).

The above mentioned List of Conditions set forth the general principles and conditions of the auction, the applicable rules, the auction timetable, the List of Conditions purchase price ($200,000 pesos), the economic capacity ( Equity of $1,500) and conditions of the offerors (they shall be telecommunications licensees), the economic-financial and technical documentation to be submitted for the prequalification, the coverage compliance obligations of the successful bidders, the base values of the frequency bands to be auctioned, and the procedures and formalities of the public auction.

The List of Conditions organizes the aggregate of the spectrum to be auctioned in 10 Lots:

 

  -   The first one, to be auctioned exclusively among entering operators who qualify for the public auction, shall be comprised of 20 MHz in the 1,900 MHz band for each of the three Regions, plus 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band and other 20 MHz in the 1,700/2,100 MHz band.

 

  -   Another six lots shall be comprised by spectrum segments in the 850 and 1,900 MHz bands, which would allow two of the current mobile operators (Claro and Personal), if they become successful bidders, to complete their respective spectrum limits –taking into account that Movistar has already reached its limit- in each of the Regions of operation of the SRMC and PCS services: Personal could acquire up to 5 MHz in the North Area, up to 7.5 MHz in the AMBA and up to 10 MHz in the South Area, while Claro could acquire up to 5 MHz in the North Area, up to 10 MHz in AMBA and up to 5 MHz in the South Area.

 

  -   And three final lots, comprised, each one, by combinations of segments of 20 or 30 MHz of new spectrum in the 700 and 1,700/2,100 MHz. bands (creating two lots of 50 MHz and the last one of 40 MHz., respectively).

The MHz base price for the bandwidth to be auctioned shall be fixed in U.S dollars, as detailed below:

 

BAND   MHZ   BASE      PRICE
     (in U$S millions)               
                 

SCMA (700 MHz)

        9.87       

SCMA (1.7/2.1 GHz)

        9.44       

SRMC

        6.00       

PCS Area I

      1.00       

PCS Area II

        4.40       

PCS Area III

        0.60       

 

 

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The selection procedure for the best economic offer shall consist of an auction of each of the lots.

The authorizations for the use of the frequencies subject to the public auction shall be granted for a fifteen (15) year period starting on the date on which the administrative act of choosing a bidder is notified. Once such period ends, the SC may extend it if expressly required by the successful bidder (which extension shall be subject to the price and conditions to be determined by the SC).

The List of Conditions provide for certain coverage obligations to be reached within a five year period (places of up to 500 habitants throughout the country and almost all the corridors of relevant federal and provincial roads, setting forth various intermediate stages for complying with such unfolding). It also imposes certain obligations of domestic roaming (which are not taken into account for the calculation of the coverage obligations) and of sharing of passive infrastructure with the Entering Operators (in up to 50% of the sites that the latter must unfold). In addition, as consideration for the acquisition of even only one of the six lots corresponding to the SCRM or PCS services, the current mobile operators must guarantee that all their sites provide broad band of at least 1Mbps (descending), at the end of the fifth year.

5. Universal Service

Telecom Argentina

On March 19, 2014 the CNC notified Telecom Argentina of an accusation in connection with an alleged breach of Resolution No. 2,516/13 (and its amendment Resolution No. 3,998/13) stating that Telecom Argentina had omitted to submit the SU calculations corresponding to the period January 2001 - June 2007 and ordering Telecom Argentina to submit such calculations and, if applicable, to make the corresponding payments.

As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, Telecom Argentina has filed its complaint against this imputation disclosing the defense arguments supporting its right and for which corresponds to the CNC rescind the accusation extended to Telecom Argentina in relation to the mentioned regulation.

Personal

On April 9, 2014 Personal filed, pursuant to the SC’s request, a new adaptation of the Project filed in connection with Resolution No. 9/11. This new filing consists only of additional detailed information about the Project’s scope.

6. Increase in the Regulator’s Penalty Activities

Telecom Argentina is subject to various penalty procedures, in most cases promoted by the Regulatory Authority, for delays in the reparation and installation of service to fix-line customers. Although generally a penalty considered on an individual basis does not have a material effect on Telecom Argentina’s equity, there is a significant disproportion between the amounts of the penalty imposed by the Regulatory Authority and the revenue that the affected customer generates to Telecom Argentina.

Since fiscal year 2013, the CNC significantly increased its penalty activities, increasing the amount of accusations and penalties, as well as the individual amount of each of the latter. In several cases the penalties imposed during 2013 had twice the economic value of the penalties imposed to Telecom Argentina in previous periods for the same alleged offences and such tendency continues during the first semester of 2014.

As a result of the above, and notwithstanding the defense arguments submitted by Telecom Argentina at the administrative level, sanctions and penalties received in 1H14 vs. 1H13 (measured in terms of alleged violations) increased 203% and 259%, respectively. Likewise, losses recorded during the six-month period ended on June 30, 2014 for contingencies of regulatory nature in Telecom Argentina have significantly increased, reaching an amount of $50 (vs. $27 in 1H13 or +85%), which is included in item “Provisions” in the Income Statement. In determining the provisions for regulatory sanctions, the Telecom Argentina’s Management, with the assistance of its legal counsel, has determined the likelihood of such sanctions being imposed, the amount thereof based on historical information and contemplating various probable scenarios of prescription of sanctions and penalties received and the results of legal actions that Telecom Argentina has undertaken to demonstrate the disproportionate penalties imposed by the Regulatory Authority.

7. Profit Sharing Bonds

Different legal actions were brought, mainly by former employees of Telecom Argentina, against the Argentine government and Telecom Argentina, requesting that Decree No. 395/92 – which expressly exempted Telefónica de Argentina S.A. and Telecom Argentina from issuing the profit sharing bonds provided in Law No. 23,696 – be struck down as unconstitutional and, therefore, claiming compensation for the damages they had suffered because such bonds had not been issued.

 

 

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Legal action’s statute of limitations criteria: Supreme Court Verdict “Dominguez c/ Telefónica de Argentina S.A.”

In December 2013, the Argentine Supreme Court ruled on a similar case to the above referred legal actions, “Domínguez c/ Telefónica de Argentina S.A”, overturning a lower court ruling that had barred the claim as having exceeded the applicable statute of limitations since ten years had passed since the issuance of Decree No. 395/92.

The Argentine Supreme Court ruling states that the Civil and Commercial Proceedings Court must hear the case again to consider statute of limitations arguments raised by the appellants that, in the opinion of the Argentine Supreme Court, were not considered by the lower court and are relevant to the resolution of the case.

After the Argentine Supreme Court’s verdict in the case “Domínguez c/ Telefónica de Argentina S.A.” and until the date of issuance of these financial statements, only two chambers of the Civil and Commercial Federal Proceedings Court have issued opinions interpreting the doctrine developed by the Argentine Supreme Court in its verdict. On March 7, 2014, Chamber I, in the case “Cufre, Pedro c/ Telecom”, following the doctrine that derives from the Argentine Supreme Court’s verdict, acknowledged that the statute of limitations must be applied periodically –as of the time of each balance sheet-. However, it has limited the statute of limitations period to five years, applying statute of limitations rules specifically applicable to periodic obligations.

On April 15, 2014, Chamber III in the case “Luna, Tadeo c/ Telecom” ruled, by a majority of votes, that the statute of limitations must not be applied periodically, but that instead, was exceeded ten years after the issuance of Decree No. 395/92, therefore upholding the interpretation Chamber III had prior to the Argentine Supreme Court’s verdict.

As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, the chambers of the Civil and Commercial Proceeding Court do not seem to hold a uniform interpretation of the Argentine Supreme Court’s verdict in the case “Dominguez c/ Telefónica”, therefore not allowing to accurately assess the effect that the Argentine Supreme Court’s verdict would eventually have over the financial condition and results of operations of Telecom Argentina.

Criteria for determining the relevant profit for compensation calculation: ruling of the Civil and Commercial Federal Proceedings Court in Plenary Session “Parota c/ Estado Nacional y Telefónica de Argentina S.A.”

On February 27, 2014, the Civil and Commercial Federal Proceedings Court issued a verdict in plenary session in the case “Parota, Cesar c/ Estado Nacional”, as a result of a complaint filed against Telefónica de Argentina S.A. In its verdict the court ruled: “that the determination of the credit corresponding to the former employees of Telefónica de Argentina S.A. as a result of the profit sharing bonuses shall be calculated based on the taxable income of Telefónica de Argentina S.A. on which the income tax liability is to be assessed”.

The Court explained that in order to make such determination: “it is necessary to clarify that “taxable income” (pre-tax income) means the amount of income subject to the income tax that the company must pay, which generally means gross income, including all revenue obtained during the fiscal year (including contingent or extraordinary revenue), minus all ordinary and extraordinary expenses accrued during such fiscal year”.

As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, the effect of the above referred ruling on the cases in which Telecom Argentina is a party cannot be determined, since it will depend on the interpretation to be made by each chamber of the Court as to which accounting items must be considered in those cases in which Telecom Argentina is a party.

8. Sales representative claims

During 1Q14, two former sales representatives of Personal brought legal actions for alleged untimely termination of their contracts and have submitted claims for payment of different items such as commission differences, value of customers lists and lost profit. Personal believes, based on the assistance of its legal counsel, that certain items included in the claims would not be sustained while other items, if sustained, would result in significantly lower amounts. As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, the mentioned legal actions are on discovery phase and with expert opinions in preparation. Personal’s Management, based on the assistance of legal counsel, has recorded provisions that it estimates are sufficient to cover the risks associated with these claims, and wouldn’t have a negative impact on Personal results and financial statements.

 

 

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9. Interest Rate at the Labor Courts of the City of Buenos Aires

On May 21, 2014 the National Labor Court of Appeals agreed, as a result of a divided vote, that the interest rate applicable to the cases under its jurisdiction in the City of Buenos Aires shall be the nominal annual rate applicable to free use of funds personal loans of the National Bank of Argentina for a 49 to 60 month term (currently 3% per month). The Court also resolved that in those cases that the Court sentences are still pending, this new rate shall be applied as from the date on which each amount is due.

As from 2002 the above mentioned Court had resolved to apply the interest rate resulting from the monthly average of the interest rate used by the National Bank of Argentina for the granting of loans (currently 2.055% per month). Therefore, this new agreement represents an increase in the interest rate, which the Company has reflected in its assessment of the provisions for pending labor claims. Although this Court’s decision is not compulsory for lower Courts, an additional risk exists since the Courts might intend to apply such rate retroactively to labor credits not yet acknowledged by a Court sentence.

Telecom Group’s Management, with the advice of its legal counsels, considers that there are solid legal arguments to argue against the retroactive application of this new rate. As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, the result deriving from this decision of the Court of Appeals is not clear, until the lower Courts issue future opinions making their positions clear. Nevertheless, should a disadvantageous resolution prevail, we estimate that it shall not have a significant impact on the Group’s financial position and results of operations.

10. Legal Procedures relating to the Definition of the Scope of Fixed and Mobile Telephone Services under Broadcasting Law No. 22,285, repealed by Law No. 26,522 of Audiovisual Communication Services

The Group offers in the market a wide range of telecommunications services, including, among others, those referred to as SVA, which provide additional functionality to the basic services of voice transmission through a telecommunications network.

Certain judicial developments took place during the 2Q14 in connection with the VAS, referred to the provision of streaming services, known as video on demand, and also a Supreme Court of Justice opinion relating to the marketing of a service called Superpack.

 

    Supercanal Case

Within the context of a claim filed by Supercanal S.A. in 2003, an injunction had been ordered against the fixed and mobile telephone companies, by which the Court ordered them to abstain from “providing supplementary broadcasting services or issuing any kind of broadcasting contents and programming”, as well as “making any advertisement relating to future services to be provided, or the provision of television services as VAS or any other kind of technical method through the fixed or mobile telephone and Internet services that they provide”.

In 2012 a lower Court decided to consider the case “abstract” and to terminate the injunction. However, on February 18, 2014, the Court of Appeals overruled such decision, and the judge must now make a decision on the appeals filed against the injunction, which were still pending.

On June 16, 2014 Telecom Argentina filed before the Courts a request to terminate the injunction, arguing among other reasons that new Law No. 26,522 of Audiovisual Communication Services has repealed the former law, under which the injunction had been ordered. Subsidiarily, Telecom Argentina has also requested that the injunction be adjusted between the limits of the new law, thus removing from it the VAS, Internet and/or video on demand services.

Products marketed by the Telecom Group that could be affected by this claim are those called “Arnet Play” and “Personal Video”, which revenues during the six-month period ended on June 30, 2014, amounted to approximately $17 and $86, respectively.

 

    Claim by the Argentine Association of Cable Television

Within the context of a claim filed by the Argentine Association of Cable Television in 2006, an injunction had been ordered against the fixed and mobile telephone companies, by which the Court ordered them to abstain from “transmitting, repeating and/or providing directly or indirectly broadcasting services or their supplementary services”, based on the former Broadcasting Law No. 22,285.

 

 

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Subsequently, such injunction was extended to the marketing of the service called Superpack (joint offer of satellite television services provided by DirecTV and telephone and Internet services provided by Telecom Argentina, where each entity invoiced the services provided by it directly to the final customer), which was suspended by an appeal filed by Telecom Argentina before the Supreme Court of Justice. However, on June 3, 2014, the Supreme Court rejected such appeal because it did not refer yet to a final decision on the substantial issue that must be resolved by such Court. According to this, the Company suspended the marketing of the above referred joint offer with DirecTV from June 4, 2014, as a prudential measure. The suspension of this joint offer only meant to the Group a decrease in commissions revenues for new subscribers that our network marketed in favor of DirecTV, and a decrease in costs from commissions conceded to DirecTV for subscribers that the latter captured for the Telecom Group, which were not relevant during the six-month period ended June 30, 2014.

On June 10, 2014, the Company claimed to the Courts that the substantial issues under the claim have become “abstract” and the injunctions have become ineffective as a result of the new Law No. 26,522 of Audiovisual Communication Services –which repealed the former law under which the injunction had been ordered.

Although the Company’s Management, with the advice of its legal counsels, believes that there are solid legal arguments to continue providing the VAS discussed in these procedures, as of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, we cannot assure the final result of these claims.

11. New Law of Promotion of Registered Labor and Prevention of Labor Fraud

On June 2, 2014, Law No. 26,940 of Promotion of Registered Labor and Prevention of Labor Fraud was published in the Official Bulletin. This new Law, among other issues, creates a Public Registry of Employers with Labor Penalties (the “Registry”) and defines a range of labor and social security offenses pursuant to which an employer is to be included in such Registry.

The employers included in the Registry shall be subject to various kinds of penalties, such as: not being allowed to participate in public programs, benefits or subsidies, not having access to public banks credits, not being allowed to enter into agreements or receive authorizations to use state owned assets, or not being authorized by the Government to provide public services nor granted licenses. In addition, those employers who commit the same offence pursuant to which they were included in the Registry within three years of the penalty will not be allowed to deduct their labor costs from the income tax, as long as they remain included in the Registry.

To become effective, the new Law must be regulated by the Executive Branch of the Argentine Government. As a result, as of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, we cannot estimate the relevance of the economic-financial impact that this new rule will have on the companies located in Argentina.

12. Salary agreements

In June 2014 Telecom Argentina concluded the salary negotiation process with various telecommunications unions for the period July 2014 – June 2015. Pursuant to the agreement reached, the unionized employees will receive in two installments, July 2014 and January 2015, different fixed amounts per category, representing an average annual raise of 30%. The increase corresponding to the first installment will be approximately 18.5% and will affect in approximately $265 million Telecom Argentina’s operating results for the second semester of 2014 (amount which includes the social security expenses related to the agreed salary increase).

13. Information on the demerger of Telco S.p.A

As informed by Telecom Italia S.p.A. –hereinafter “TI”– in its latest Form 20-F, the Italian company Telco S.p.A is one of its main shareholders, with a participation of the 22.4% of the voting shares of TI –company that indirectly controls Telecom Argentina S.A. –.

On June 26, 2014 Telco S.p.A issued a press release calling a General Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting, to be held on July 9, 2014, in order to consider its own demerger, pursuant to the right of its shareholders, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A., Mediobanca S.p.A. and Intesa SanPaolo S.p.A., to require such demerger, which closing is subject to obtaining the corresponding authorizations from the applicable authorities.

 

 

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The relevant portion of the press release issued by Telco S.p.A is follows:

“(…).The Board also acknowledged receipt of the notices received from shareholders Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (also in the name and on behalf of the Telco S.p.A shareholders which are also Generali group companies), Mediobanca S.p.A. and Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. on June 16, 2014, stating their intention to exercise their right to request the demerger of Telco S.p.A under the terms of the shareholders’ agreement. The Board also unanimously approved the proposed partial demerger of the company (the “Demerger”) as a result of which four newly-incorporated beneficiary companies, 100%-owned by each shareholder, will be allocated the respective shareholder’s stake in Telecom Italia currently held by Telco S.p.A (equal to 22.4% of Telecom Italia’s ordinary share capital), as follows: 14.77% to the newco owned by Telefónica, 4.32% to the newco owned by the Generali Group, and 1.64% to each of the newcos owned respectively by Intesa Sanpaolo and Mediobanca.

As part of the Demerger, Telco will also repay all its bank debt outstanding (€660 million as of April 30, 2014) and the bond issue subscribed to by its shareholders (€1,750 million nominal value, plus €70 million in interest accrued to April 30, 2014), plus the interest that will accrue until the repayment date, via funds to derive from a shareholders’ loan to Telco S.p.A, which will be disbursed pro rata to the shareholders’ investment in the company immediately prior to the execution of the Demerger. With the Demerger, then, each newco will be allocated the respective share of the shareholders’ loan as well as the relevant Telecom Italia stake.

Completion of the Demerger is subject to the requisite clearances from the following authorities: Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica “CADE” (Brazilian antitrust authority); Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações “ANATEL” (Brazilian regulatory authority);Comisión Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia “CNDC” (Argentinean antitrust authority) and, for those matters which fall within its scope of responsibility, Istituto per la Vigilanza sulle Assicurazioni IVASS (Italian insurance regulatory authority).

Telco S.p.A will continue to exist with a minimal share capital and with no Telecom Italia shares held, in order to deal with the remaining assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. The company will then be placed in liquidation once this phase is complete.

The Telco S.p.A demerger will also be submitted to the approval of shareholders in the extraordinary general meeting called to take place on July 9th.

As of the date on which the Demerger becomes effective, every effect of the shareholders’ agreement in force between the shareholders of Telco S.p.A shall cease to be effective.

Milan, June 26, 2014.”

Following up on the above information, on July 9, 2014 Telco S.p.A. issued a new press release, informing that the General Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on such date “approved the proposed partial demerger of Telco S.p.A, as already approved by the Board of Directors and disclosed on June 26, 2014, the completion of which is subject to the requisite clearances from CADE, Anatel, CNDC and, for those matters which fall within its scope of responsibility, Istituto per la Vigilanza sulle Assicurazioni IVASS.”

14. Financial transactions to mitigate foreign exchange risk

Considering the fluctuations of the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Argentine Peso during 1H14 (+25%), and due to the existence of commercial commitments denominated in US Dollars as of June 30, 2014 Personal entered into several NDF agreements during 1H14 to purchase a total amount of US$ 136 million (of which US$ 131 million matured between March and June 2014 and the remaining US$ 5 million will mature between November 2014 and March 2015). The purpose of these NDF is to eliminate the risks associated to the fluctuation of the future exchange rate and to align the payment currency of Personal’s commercial commitments (item covered) to its functional currency.

Personal Management has classified those agreements as effective cash flow hedges and has assessed the documentation requirements, the qualitative and quantitative effectiveness assessment and the possibility to designate partial hedges, as permitted by IFRS 9. As the effect of the fluctuation of the exchange rate over the hedged items is recognized in the Income Statement, changes in the fair value of NDF (net loss of approximately $6) have also been recognized in the Income Statements, within Finance income and expenses - NDF. Personal recognizes the hedging instruments results, distinguishing between gains and losses of such agreements that generate assets and liabilities, as appropriate, without offsetting balances with different counterparties. As of June 30, 2014, Personal has a $0.4 million balance included in current Accounts Payables related to the US$ 5 million NDF remaining to such date.

Also, in order to mitigate the currency risk Personal acquired in 1H14 Government bonds denominated in U.S. dollars (Boden 15 and Bonar 2017), at a cost of $771, with an annual interest rate of 7%, also in U.S. dollars. Foreign exchange differences generated by the purchase of these government bonds were recognized in “Foreign currency exchange losses”.

 

 

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15. Sale of the equity interest in Springville

On February 10, 2014 Personal’s Board of Directors decided to approve the sale of such equity interest (representative of 100% of Springville capital stock) for a total amount of US$ 27,223.

According to the terms and conditions of the offer accepted by Personal, on February 19, 2014 the transfer of the shares was concluded and Personal collected the mentioned amount, equivalent to $0.2, generating a gain of $0.4 for the reversal of the amount included in “Currency translation adjustments”.

Accounting treatment

In accordance with IFRS 5, investment in Springville was classified as “Asset available for sale” as of December 31, 2013. This asset was valued at the lower amount between the booked value and the fair value less costs of sale. The results were presented as results in discontinuation as of June 30, 2013. Assets, liabilities, operating expenses and cash flows considered by Personal accounts related to Springville, are not material, and in any case reach the minimum magnitude to be segregated in the statement of financial position, income statement, statement of comprehensive income or statement of cash flow of Personal. Below are detailed information on the assets, liabilities, net results and cash flows in discontinuation - net of eliminations- related to Springville that were consolidated as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013:

Assets and liabilities - discontinued operations

The Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2013 includes the following Springville’s assets and liabilities consolidated to such date:

 

     As of December 31,
2013
 
     (in thousands of
pesos )
 

ASSETS

  

Current Assets

  

Cash and cash equivalents

       

Other receivables, net

     433    
  

 

 

 

Total current assets

     436    
  

 

 

 

Impairment of assets available for sale

     (250)    
  

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

     186    
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Current Liabilities

  

Trade payables

     143    

Other liabilities

     57    
  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     200    
  

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

     200    
  

 

 

 

Net results - discontinued operations

The Income Statement and the Statement of Comprehensive Income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 include the following Springville results consolidated to such date:

Income statements

 

     Six-month period
ended June 30, 2013
 
     (in thousands of
pesos)
 

Fees for services

     (9)      

Rental and maintenance expenses

     (138)      

Taxes

     (1)      

Energy, water and others

     (11)      
  

 

 

 

Operating losses

     (159)      

Finance income – Exchange differences

     3      

Finance expenses – Exchange differences

     (8)      
  

 

 

 

Losses before income tax expense

     (164)      

Income tax expense

     (2)      
  

 

 

 

Net losses – discontinued operations

     (166)      
  

 

 

 

Currency translation adjustments (non-taxable)

     24      
  

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income – discontinued operations

     (142)      
  

 

 

 

Cash Flows - discontinued operations

The Statement of Cash Flows for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 includes the following Springville’s cash flows consolidated to such date:

 

     Six-month period
ended June 30, 2013
 
     (in thousands of
pesos )
 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

  
  

 

 

 

Total cash flows used in operating activities

     (65)    
  

 

 

 
  
  

 

 

 

NET FOREIGN EXCHANGE DIFFERENCES AND CURRENCY TRANSLATION ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

       
  

 

 

 

DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     (62)    

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

     77    
  

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE PERIOD

     15    
  

 

 

 

 

 

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16. Conversion of Class “C” shares

Pursuant to the authorization approved by the General Ordinary and Extraordinary and Special Class “C” Shares Meetings of Telecom Argentina held on December 15, 2011 and following the request of individual holders, on June 12, 2014, 656 Class “C” shares were converted, in an eight tranche, into an equal number of Class “B” shares. As of the date of issuance of these financial statements, conversion is pending for 266,782 Class “C” shares.

17. Organization of a New Company for the Provision of Mobile Financial Services

Núcleo’s Board of Directors, at its meeting held on May 5, 2014, approved the organization of a new company for the provision of Mobile Financial Services in Paraguay. This company will be supervised by the Central Bank of the Republic of Paraguay. The bylaw of the new company, named “Personal Envíos S.A.”, was granted on July 24, 2014. As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, the registration of the new company in the corresponding Public Registers is still pending. The capital stock of this new company is 3,000 million of Guaraníes (equivalent to approximately $5.5), distributed as follows: Núcleo 97%, whose contribution will be in kind (transaction system), Personal 2% and ABC Telecomunicaciones 1%.

As of the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, there have been no capital contributions. Nucleo’s Management expects to complete the transactions registration in the third quarter of this year, during which the new company would start operating.

 

 

 

 

Adrián Calaza    Enrique Garrido

Chief Financial Officer

   Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

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“Free translation from the original in Spanish for publication in Argentina”

LIMITED REVIEW REPORT ON CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

To the Shareholders, President and Directors of

Telecom Argentina S.A.

Legal address: Alicia Moreau de Justo 50

City of Buenos Aires

Tax Code No.: 30-63945373-8

Introduction

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed interim consolidated financial statements of Telecom Argentina S.A. and its subsidiaries (“Telecom” or the “Company”), which comprise the consolidated statement of financial position as of June 30, 2014, consolidated statements of income and of comprehensive income for the three and six- month periods ended June 30,2014, the consolidated statements of changes in equity and of cash flows for the six- month period ended June 30, 2014 and selected explanatory notes.

The balances and other information for the fiscal year 2013 and interim periods are an integral part of the above-mentioned financial statements and therefore they should be considered in relation with those financial statements.

Management Responsibility

The Board of Directors of the Company is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, adopted by the Argentine Federation of Professional Councils in Economic Sciences (FACPCE) as professional accounting standards and incorporated by the National Securities Commission (CNV) to its regulations, as approved by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and is therefore responsible for the preparation and presentation of the condensed interim consolidated financial statements mentioned in the first paragraph, in accordance with International Accounting Standard No. 34 “Interim Financial Information” (IAS 34). Our responsibility is to express a conclusion based on the review we have performed with the scope detailed in section “Scope of our review”.

Scope of our review

Our review was limited to the application of the procedures established under International Standards on Review Engagements ISRE 2410 “Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity”, adopted as a review standard in Argentina by Technical Pronouncement No. 33 of the FACPCE and approved by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). A review of interim financial information consists of inquiries of Company personnel responsible for preparing the information included in the condensed interim consolidated financial statements and of analytical and other review procedures. This review is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with International Auditing Standards; consequently, a review does not enable us to obtain assurance that we will get to know all significant matters that could be identified in an audit. Therefore, we do not express an opinion on the consolidated financial position, the consolidated comprehensive income and the consolidated cash flow of the Company.

Conclusion

On the basis of our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed interim consolidated financial statements mentioned in the first paragraph of this report are not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard No. 34.


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Report on compliance with current regulations

In compliance with provisions currently in force, we inform, as regards Telecom, that:

 

a) The condensed interim consolidated financial statements of Telecom are transcribed into the “Inventory and Balance Sheet” book and are in compliance, as regards matters within our field of competence, with the provisions of the Commercial Companies Law and pertinent resolutions of the National Securities Commission;

 

b) The separate condensed interim financial statements are derived from accounting records kept in their formal respects in conformity with legal provisions;

 

c) We have read the Operating and financial review and prospects, on which, as regards those matters that are within our competence, we have no observations to make;

 

d) As of June 30, 2014, the debt of Telecom accrued in favor of the Argentine Integrated Social Security System, as shown by the Company’s accounting records, amounted to $ 98,407,098.09 and was not claimable at that date.

City of Buenos Aires, July 29, 2014

 

PRICE WATERHOUSE & CO. S.R.L.

 

                    Dr. Carlos A. Pace (Partner)

                             C.P.C.E.C.A.B.A. Tº 1 Fº 17

                       Dr. Carlos  A. Pace

                              Public Accountant (UBA)

                        C.P.C.E.C.A.B.A. T° 150 F° 106


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CORPORATE INFORMATION

 

    INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Price Waterhouse & Co S.R.L. (member of PricewaterhouseCoopers)

 

    STOCK MARKET INFORMATION (Source: Bloomberg)

 

  BCBA       

 

          
                Market quotation ($/share)             Volume of shares
          Quarter            High     Low        traded (in millions)    
  2Q13    31.00     22.50     12.2
  3Q13    37.00     22.80     14.9
  4Q13    39.50     28.50     10.3
  1Q14    38.40     28.00     4.7
  2Q14    49.00     34.50     5.4

 

  NYSE*       

 

          
              Market quotation (US$/ADR*)          Volume of ADRs
          Quarter            High     Low        traded (in millions)    
  2Q13    16.73     13.40     13.6
  3Q13    20.11     13.93     15.1
  4Q13    21.19     17.10     11.9
  1Q14    19.07     14.78     12.2
  2Q14    23.86     17.77     12.4

* Calculated at 1 ADR = 5 shares

 

    INVESTOR RELATIONS for information about Telecom Argentina S.A., please contact:

 

  In Argentina  
  Telecom Argentina S.A.  
  Investor Relations Division  
  Alicia Moreau de Justo 50, 10th Floor  
  (1107) Autonomous City of Buenos Aires  
  Tel,: 54-11-4968-3628  
  Argentina  

 

  Outside Argentina  
  JP Morgan Chase  
  Latam ADR Sales & Relationship Mgmt.  
  1 Chase Manhattan Plaza Floor 21  
  New York 10005  
  USA  
  Tel.: 1-212-552-3729  

 

    INTERNET http://www.telecom.com.ar/inversores/index.html

 

    DEPOSIT AND TRANSFER AGENT FOR ADRs

 

  J.P. Morgan Depositary Receipts  
  1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Floor 58  
  New York, NY 10005  
 

(866) JPM-ADRS

adr@jpmorgan.comwww.adr.com

 


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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.

 

  Telecom Argentina S.A.
Date:   August 28, 2014     By:  

  /s/ Enrique Garrido

        Name:       Enrique Garrido
        Title:   Chairman