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FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of March 26, 2003
Commission File Number: 001-13464
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM 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
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM
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1. Telecom Argentina Announces Consolidated Financial Statements At
December 31, 2002
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT
DECEMBER 31, 2002, 2001 AND 2000
INDEX
SUMMARY INFORMATION ON THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AT DECEMBER 31, 2002
1. General considerations
2. Company activities (a)
3. Summary comparative consolidated balance sheets
4. Summary comparative consolidated statements of operations
5. Fixed telephone service statistical data (in physical units) (a)
6. Consolidated ratios
7. Outlook (a)
(a) Not covered by the auditor's report
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated balance sheets
Consolidated statements of operations
Consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity
Consolidated statements of cash flows
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Exhibits A to I
AUDITOR'S REPORT
CORPORATE INFORMATION
$ : Argentine peso
US$ : U.S. dollar
$3.37 = US$1
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
SUMMARY INFORMATION ON THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AT DECEMBER 31, 2002
(Amounts in million of Argentine constant pesos or as expressly indicated)
1. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Telecom Argentina reached a consolidated net loss of 4,354 for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2002 ("FY 2002"). Comparatively, consolidated net income for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 ("FY 2001"), was 99.
EBITDA, gross profit/(loss), operating profit/(loss), and net income/(loss) for
FY 2002 represented 47%, 28%, (5%) and (109%) of net sales, respectively;
compared to 39%, 49%, 13% and 1%, respectively, for FY 2001.
The main factors that explained the Company's results were: a) the current
macroeconomic environment in Argentina, including the devaluation and subsequent
volatility in the peso plus the inability of the Company to increase regulated
tariffs after the "pesification" of such tariffs at the rate of US$1=$1 enforced
by the Argentine Government, b) the effects of the inflation adjustment
described below and c) the decrease in traffic in the basic telephony business
(mainly in the domestic and international long distance services), and the
declines in both traffic and average revenue per user in the cellular business.
The Company has accounted for the effects of inflation adjustment adopted by
Resolution No. 415/02 of the Comision Nacional de Valores ("CNV") for fiscal
years beginning January 1, 2002. The Resolution stated that the figures
corresponding to previous fiscal years should be considered in constant pesos of
December 31, 2001. Therefore, the Company has restated the figures presented
herein for comparative purposes, using an adjustment factor of 2.1821 which
represents the wholesale rate of inflation of 2002. Accordingly, the figures
corresponding to FY 2002 include the effects of the adoption of inflationary
accounting.
Moreover, the Company is providing additional information for a better
understanding of the business including figures that have not been adjusted by
inflation and which were used as the base for the information presented in
constant pesos. This information, that is not required by the current accounting
professional rules, is disclosed in Note 18 "Relevant Additional Information" of
these consolidated financial statements.
Additionally, the Professional Board of Economic Sciences of Buenos Aires
("CPCECABA") and the CNV issued new rules for valuation and disclosure that will
be of mandatory application for the Telecom Group starting January 1, 2003. The
new rules are aimed at leveling the accounting rules of Argentina with the
International Accounting Standards. However, the Company has decided to begin
applying the new rules as of this fiscal year in accordance with Resolution No.
434 of the CNV (see Note 4.1.c. of the consolidated financial statements).
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
-----------------------
Net sales 3,983 7,004
Cost of services provided (2,872) (3,598)
-----------------------
Gross profit 1,111 3,406
Administrative expenses (279) (537)
Sales expenses (1,034) (1,970)
-----------------------
Operating profit (Loss) (202) 899
I
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Equity losses from related companies (23) (6)
Depreciation of goodwill (10) (18)
Financial and holding results (5,263) (503)
Other expenses, net (175) (129)
Unusual losses - (33)
-----------------------
Net income (loss) before income tax and
minority interest (5,673) 210
Income tax 1,294 (111)
Minority interest 25 -
-----------------------
Net income (loss) (4,354) 99
=======================
Earnings per share (in pesos) (4.42) 0.10
=======================
II
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
2. COMPANY ACTIVITIES
.. CONSOLIDATED NET REVENUES
Consolidated net revenues for FY 2002 totaled 3,983, a decrease of 3,021 or 43%,
compared to 7,004 for FY 2001 as a result of the inflation adjustment of the
figures as of December 31, 2001 and the rates that were frozen after the
"pesification" enforced by the Government. Non-adjusted by inflation revenues
for FY 2002 would have reached 3,228, an increase of 18 or 1% compared to FY
2001 (3,210) mainly as a consequence of the increases in non-regulated services,
as explained below.
In the basic telephony business, the main component of revenues, measured
service, decreased by 769 or 43% to 1,012 during FY 2002 as compared to FY 2001
(1,781). Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decreased of 7 or 1% reaching
809. The decrease was evidenced both in revenues from local and domestic long
distance as the rates were frozen after the "pesification" enforced by the
Government and the deterioration of the macroeconomic conditions in the country
that has had a negative impact on the number of customer lines.
Total traffic volume (Local and DLD) measured in minute decreased by 6% for FY
2002 when compared to FY 2001. Additionally, the outgoing international long
distance traffic, measured in minutes, decreased by 10%, compared to FY 2001.
Monthly basic charges decreased by 572 or 47%, to 635 for FY 2002 when compared
to FY 2001. Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decrease of 59 or 11%
reaching 494 mainly due to the fact that rates were frozen after the
"pesification" enforced by the Government and to a lower average number of lines
in service of approximately 377,000 lines.
Revenues from supplementary services decreased by 123 or 50% to 121 for FY 2002
when compared to FY 2001. Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decrease of 17
or 15% reaching 95 mainly due to the fact that rates were frozen after the
"pesification" enforced by the Government and to a lower number of subscribers
to these services.
Revenues from installation fees paid by new customers decreased by 32 or 62% to
20 for FY 2002 as compared to FY 2001. Non-adjusted figures would have shown a
decrease of 7 or 29% reaching 17 largely due to a lower number of lines
connected (approximately 134,000 lines connected in FY 2002 as compared to
322,000 lines connected during FY 2001) partially compensated by a higher
average installation price (P$120 to P$67 per line, denominated in current
pesos).
Revenues from public telephony decreased by 184 or 49% to 191 for FY 2002 when
compared to FY 2001. Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decrease of 20 or
12% reaching 152. The decrease was a consequence of the rates frozen after the
"pesification" enforced by the Government, the lower traffic generated by public
telephony telecommunication centers ("Telecentros") and the lower revenues
received from public payphones and telephone cards.
Revenues generated by fixed interconnection services during FY 2002 decreased by
46 or 26% to 131. Non-adjusted figures would have shown an increase of 23 or 28%
reaching 104. Meanwhile, revenues generated by interconnection services provided
to cellular operators decreased by 1 or 2% to 40. Non-adjusted figures would
have shown an increase of 13 or 68% reaching 32.
Regarding the international telephony business, during FY 2002 revenues
decreased by 81 or 24% to 258 when compared to FY 2001. Non-adjusted
III
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
figures would have shown an increase of 55 or 35% reaching 211 mainly due to the
revenues generated by the subsidiary Telecom USA partially offset by the frozen
rates and lower outgoing traffic above mentioned.
Revenues generated by the data transmission business totaled 365, representing a
decrease of 207 or 36%. Non-adjusted figures would have shown an increase of 37
or 14% reaching 299, as a consequence of higher revenues generated by the ground
networks and international connectivity. Additionally, Internet dial-up measured
services increased as a consequence of the higher number of Internet subscribers
of other ISPs that use the special prefix 0610 and local numbers with 4004
numbering or similar to access Telecom's network. As of December 31, 2002
Internet minutes represented 31% of total traffic measured in minutes
transported over the fixed-line network.
IV
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Internet revenues decreased by 11 or 16% to 57 during FY 2002. Non-adjusted
figures would have shown an increase of 15 or 48% reaching 46 mainly due to the
increase in ADSL high-speed access fees. As of December 31, 2002, the number of
ADSL subscribers reached approximately 30,000. Furthermore, Internet dial-up
customers reached approximately 147,000.
The revenues generated by the cellular business during FY 2002, decreased by 781
or 43% to 1,028 when compared to FY 2001. Non-adjusted figures would have shown
an increase of 34 or 4% reaching 863.
Non-adjusted revenues of Telecom Personal in Argentina would have decreased by
81 or 11% to 687 when compared to FY 2001. The decrease was due to the lower
average number of subscribers during the year, lower levels of traffic and lower
sales of handsets. Furthermore, the average revenue per user decreased by 11%
(to P$25 per customer per month for FY 2002, denominated in current pesos). The
customer base reached as of December 31, 2002, approximately 850,000, 1,279,000
and 62,000 subscribers for the Multiple Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA), Northern
and Southern regions, respectively. Total cellular subscribers of Telecom
Personal in Argentina reached approximately 2,191,000, an increase of
approximately 55,000 customers, or 3%, as compared to December 31, 2001.
Nucleo, the subsidiary that provides cellular and PCS services in Paraguay,
generated 176 in revenues during FY 2002 which are consolidated into the
revenues of Telecom Personal. This represented an increase of 43 or 32%, as
compared to FY 2001. Non-adjusted figures would have shown an increase of 115 or
189% reaching 176. The increase can be mainly attributed to exchange differences
and the slight increase in the customer base. As of December 31, 2002, Nucleo
had approximately 519,000 cellular and PCS customers, an increase of
approximately 18,000 customers, or 3%, as compared to December 31, 2001.
In the directories edition business, revenues from our affiliated company
Publicom decreased by 79. Non-adjusted figures would have decreased by 24 or 51%
reaching 23 due to the sharp deterioration in the advertising market.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
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NATIONAL BASIC TELEPHONE SERVICE
Local measured service 553 957
DLD measured service 459 824
Monthly basic charges 635 1,207
Supplementary services (monthly charges) 121 244
Installation fees 20 52
Public telephones 191 375
Interconnection fixed 131 177
Interconnection cellular 40 41
Lease of lines and circuits fixed 20 48
Lease of lines and circuits cellular 22 37
Others 60 152
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Total National basic telephone service 2,252 4,114
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INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE SERVICE
Outgoing revenues 164 267
Settlement revenues (net) 94 72
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Total International telephone service 258 339
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DATA TRANSMISSION
Terrestrial network 101 148
Lease of data circuits 31 76
Internet traffic 132 207
International connectivity 82 87
Others 19 54
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Total Data transmission 365 572
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INTERNET
Internet monthly fee 57 68
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Total Internet 57 68
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V
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
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CELLULAR TELEPHONY
. PERSONAL
Monthly fee and measured service 298 661
Pre-paid card 147 231
Calling Party Pays 281 535
Others 126 249
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852 1,676
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. NUCLEO
Monthly fee and measured service 50 37
Pre-paid card 28 17
Calling Party Pays 82 70
Others 16 9
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176 133
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Total cellular telephony 1,028 1,809
=========================
Total directories edition 23 102
=========================
Total net sales in constant pesos 3,983 7,004
=========================
.. OPERATING COSTS
The cost of services provided, administrative expenses, and selling expenses for
FY 2002 decreased by 1,920 or 31% to 4,185 when compared to FY 2001 mainly as a
result of the adjustment by inflation of figures as of December 31, 2001 and to
cost reduction plans implemented by the Company.
Salaries and social security contributions decreased by 558 or 49% to 583 for FY
2002. Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decrease of 62 or 12% to 461
primarily due to the reduction in labor costs of unionized and non-unionized
employees, which was part of the cost reduction plan launched during the
previous fiscal year. Additionally, a reduction in headcount at Telecom Personal
and Publicom was registered. The increase in headcount in the basic telephony
activity reflects the migration of call centers and 110 information system
workers from Publicom to Telecom Argentina. As of December 31, 2002, the
headcount totaled 13,515 as compared to 14,453 as of December 31, 2001.
Expenses related to taxes decreased by 147 or 35% to 274 for FY 2002.
Non-adjusted figures would have increased taxes by 28 or 15% reaching 221,
mainly as a result of re-classification of the tax on Bank Debits and Credits
and the increase of turnover taxes and terrestrial taxes in certain
jurisdictions.
Materials and supplies charges decreased by 161 or 46% to 186 for FY 2002.
Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decrease of 16 or 10% reaching 143
mainly due to lower expenses associated with fewer lines installed and to lower
maintenance of the basic telephony network. These effects were partially offset
by higher costs for the maintenance of the submarine cable and hardware due to
the high component of imported materials in these items. Additionally higher
provisions for scrap materials were registered.
The allowance for doubtful accounts decreased by 375 or 67% to 188 for FY 2002.
Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decrease of 131 or 51% reaching 127. The
decrease was evident in the residential segments mainly due to the decrease in
customer lines.
Interconnection costs decreased by 72 or 34% to 140 for FY 2002. Non-adjusted
figures would have shown an increase of 15 or 15% reaching 112 mostly as a
result of higher charges paid for local and long distance accesses, circuits
rentals and termination charges for traffic related to 4004 services in the
Internet business.
Service fees decreased by 99 or 46%, to 115 for FY 2002. Non-adjusted figures
would have shown a decrease of 2 or 2% reaching 96 principally due to lower fees
related to commercial, technical and other services
VI
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
as part of the cost control measures adopted by the Telecom Group since the
beginning of last year. Additionally, fees paid to the data base manager related
to the pre-subscription process also decreased.
VII
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Management fees decreased by 206 or 90%, to 23 for FY 2002. Non-adjusted figures
would have shown a decrease of 92 or 88% reaching 13 as a result of a decrease
in the management fee from 3% of net revenues to 1.25% for the period comprised
between October 1(0), 2001 and March 31, 2002. Additionally, the Company and the
Operators agreed to suspend certain provisions of both parties of the management
contract, starting April 1(0), 2002, the accrual and the payment of the
management fee has been suspended from such day and until the termination of the
contract provided in its point 7.2. (October 2004).
Costs related to advertising decreased by 151 or 84% to 28 for FY 2002.
Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decrease of 60 or 73% reaching 22. This
is mainly due to lower media advertising and promotional and institutional
campaigns expenses resulting from the cost control initiatives taken by the
Company in line with the lower market requirements.
Cost of cellular handsets decreased by 101 or 89% to 12 for FY 2002.
Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decrease of 42 or 81% reaching 10 mainly
due to the lower number of cellular handsets sold.
Commissions paid to vendors and card sales decreased by 67 or 59% to 46 for FY
2002. Non-adjusted figures would have shown a decrease of 11 or 21% reaching 41
as consequence of the lower average commission paid per new cellular customer.
Other expenses decreased by 253 or 40% for FY 2002. Non-adjusted figures would
have shown an increase of 18 or 6% reaching 304 mainly due to higher expenses
related to satellite capacity rentals and higher costs related to insurance
policies as a consequence of the impact that the increase of the foreign
exchange rate had in these cost.
Depreciation of fixed asset increased by 288 or 17%, to 1,965 during FY 2002.
The increase is related to the application of the wholesale adjustment factor to
the level of fixed assets, the effects of capitalized foreign currency exchange
differences originated by financial debt and to the amortization of the new
assets incorporated into cellular and data transmission activities during FY
2001.
Finally, amortization of intangible assets decreased by 23 or 17% to 110 for FY
2002, due to lower charges related to the amortization of PCS licenses and
exclusivity rights.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wages and social benefits 583 1,141
Taxes 97 188
Turnover tax 131 233
Taxes on bank debits and credits 46 -
Materials and supplies 186 347
Transport and freight 39 96
Bad debts expense 188 563
Interconnection costs 140 212
Settlement outgoing expenses 102 70
Lease of circuits 41 68
Fees for debt restructuring process 18 -
Fees and counsel services 16 37
Repayment for services 81 177
Management fees 23 229
Advertising 28 179
Cost of cellular handsets 12 113
Agent commissions and card sales 46 113
Other 333 529
-------------------------
Subtotal 2,110 4,295
Depreciation of fixed assets 1,965 1,677
Amortization of intangibles assets 110 133
-------------------------
Operating costs 4,185 6,105
=========================
VIII
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
.. FINANCIAL AND HOLDING RESULTS
The loss resulting from financial and holding results increased by 4,760 to
5,263 for FY 2002 as compared to the loss of 503 in FY 2001. This increase can
be largely attributed to a loss of 3,777 from currency exchange differences from
the Peso devaluation which affected the company's net foreign currency monetary
position which was only partially offset by the higher capitalized foreign
currency exchange differences by debt for fixed assets acquisitions of 854.
Furthermore, the interest on foreign currency liabilities increased by 249 due
to the continuing deterioration of the value of the peso. Lastly, a loss of
1,138 was registered for the inflation effect on monetary assets and
liabilities.
.. OTHER EXPENSES, NET
Increased by 46 or 36% to 175 FY 2002 compared to FY 2001. The increase was
mainly due to higher reserves for lawsuits and contingencies and the write-off
of cellular handsets given in lease without charge ("comodato"). Additionally
higher severance and termination charges were registered.
.. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW (NON-ADJUSTED FIGURES)
Cash flow from operating activities for FY 2002 increased by 490, mainly due to
lower outflows as a result of costs reductions taken by the Company.
Meanwhile, cash flow applied to investing activities for FY 2002 decreased by
465 as compared to 2001 as a result of lower incorporation of fixed and
intangibles assets.
Funds allocated to financing activities decreased by 260 for the period as a
result of lower debt proceeds, payments and dividends. For the FY 2001 the
Annual Shareholders Meeting approved the non-distribution of dividends.
.. NET, FINANCIAL DEBT
Net, financial debt increased by 6,746 or 225% to 9,744 for FY 2002 compared to
FY 2001 (2,998 non-adjusted figures), mainly as a result of the impact that the
increase of the foreign exchange rate had in the financial debt, partially
offset by the increase in financial assets as a consequence of the higher cash
generated and the suspension of the principal and interest payments of the
financial debt.
.. INVESTMENT PLAN
Telecom has invested 20,644 in fixed assets, since the start of operations on
November 8, 1990, of which 236 (175 million in current pesos) corresponds to FY
2002 and derived mainly from commitments undertaken during the previous year.
Of the total amount invested for the period, 172 or 73% corresponds to basic
telephony, data transmission and Internet (outside plant 16%, switching 13%,
transmission 32%, information systems 30%, infrastructure 3% and others 6%) and
27% or 64 to cellular telephony and directories edition.
.. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHAIRMAN AND CHANGES IN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
On November 18, 2002, the Company announced that the resignation of Mr. Juan
Carlos Masjoan to the position of Chairman of the Company, submitted on
September 20, 2002, became effective.
IX
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
On the same day, the Board of Directors of Telecom Argentina, Telecom Personal
and Publicom accepted the resignation submitted by the Company's Vice-Chairman,
Mr. Franco Bertone and the resignations submitted on November 15, 2002 by the
Alternate Directors, Messrs. Antonio Porro and Luca Minzolini. In all cases, the
resignations were based on reasons of professional nature.
The Supervisory Committee appointed as Directors, in replacement for Mr. Masjoan
and Mr. Bertone, Mr. Amadeo Vazquez and Mr. Alberto Messano and as Alternate
Directors, in replacement of Mr. Porro and Mr. Minzolini, Mr. Carlos Eduardo
Monte Alegre Toro and Mr. Marco Girardi.
X
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
The Board of Directors in addition and in anticipation to the incorporation of
the new directors has appointed Mr. Amadeo Vazquez to act as non-executive
Chairman and "independent director" and Mr. Alberto Messano to act as
Vice-Chairman.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING PROCESS
On February 12, 2003, Telecom Argentina and its subsidiary Telecom Personal
announced their intention to launch cash tender offers for a portion of their
financial debt obligations (including banks and bondholders) and to make partial
interest payments on their financial debt obligations. Telecom Argentina and
Telecom Personal intend to launch modified reverse Dutch auction tender offers
for a portion of their financial debt obligations using cash of up to the
equivalent of US$260 million and US$45 million, respectively. The price range
for such modified reverse Dutch auctions is expected to be 43.5% to 50% of the
principal amount of the companies' debt obligations as of June 24, 2002.
The companies have also announced that they will each make interest payments on
their financial debt obligations at the contractual rates, without giving effect
to penalties or default rates, for the period through and including June 24,
2002 and will also each make partial interest payments equivalent to 30% of the
contractual rates, without giving effect to penalties or default rates, on their
financial debt obligations for the period from June 25, 2002 through December
31, 2002.
The timing and launch of the tender offers are subject to obtaining the
necessary approvals or authorizations from both the tender offers and the
partial interest payments.
The tender offers and the partial interest payments are the first steps of the
companies' plans to restructure their outstanding financial indebtedness and
their ongoing debt service obligations.
CALLING PARTY PAYS (CPP)
On January 24, 2003 the Secretariat of Communications through Resolution No.
48/03 established the reference prices for termination of calls in the
fixed-to-cellular CPP modality. The prices were set at P$0.335 per minute for
peak hours and P$0.22 per minute in non-peak hours (representing an increase of
8% and 10%, respectively).
CALL BY CALL SELECTION FOR LONG DISTANCE SERVICES
On February 6, 2003 the Ministry of Economy through Resolution No. 75/03
established a deadline of 120 days for the implementation of the call by call
selection for long distance services. Some claims and contests to the previous
Rules for the call by call selection service (enforced through Resolution No.
613/01 dated December 28, 2001) that were presented by certain providers were
taken into account.
The system allows customers to dial in each call the access code 17 (for
Domestic Long Distance calls) or 18 (for International Long Distance calls)
together with the three digits for identification (PQR) where by the selected
carrier is chosen.
TRANSFER OF THE TAX ON DEBITS AND CREDITS ON BANK ACCOUNTS AND OTHER
TRANSACTIONS
On February 6, 2003 the Ministry of Economy issued Resolution No. 72/03 that
approves the method for calculation for the above mentioned tax that will be
applicable to the amounts paid to the Government as of the publication of the
resolution.
XI
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
The incidence of the tax should be shown in the customer's bills under the
identification "Tax on debits and credits on bank accounts and other
transactions"- Law No. 25413. The CNC will apply the methodology established in
the resolution to verify its application.
INTERNET ACCESS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE NUMBER "0611"
On February 7, 2003, the Secretariat of Communications through Resolution No.
75/03 approved Telecom Argentina's proposal to give Internet access to cities in
the interior of the country through the prefix number "0611".
This number allows customers located at a distance of 30 to 35 kilometers from
the cities where the number "0610" is available, to access Internet paying only
for a local call.
XII
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Within 30 days since the publication of the resolution the fixed telephony
providers interested in implementing the system should present to the CNC a list
of the cities where the number "0610" is available today. These cities will be
named heads for the number "0611" service. The providers should also present a
list of the towns were they will offer the service and a schedule stating when
the "0611" service will be available in each town.
3. SUMMARY COMPARATIVE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
-----------------------------------------------------------
Current assets 2,092 2,631 3,103 3,033 2,566
Non current assets 10,755 11,821 12,511 12,335 10,915
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total assets 12,847 14,452 15,614 15,368 13,481
===========================================================
Current liabilities 11,656 3,982 3,792 4,480 2,488
Non current liabilities 343 5,279 6,266 5,397 5,516
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 11,999 9,261 10,058 9,877 8,004
-----------------------------------------------------------
Minority interest 1 26 26 28 35
Temporary differences from translation 36 - - - -
Shareholders' equity 811 5,165 5,530 5,463 5,442
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities, minority interest, temporary differences
from translation and shareholders' equity 12,847 14,452 15,614 15,368 13,481
===========================================================
4. SUMMARY COMPARATIVE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2001 2000 (*) 1999 (*) 1998 (*)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales 3,983 7,004 7,349 7,282 7,394
Operating costs (4,185) (6,105) (6,151) (5,709) (5,600)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit (loss) (202) 899 1,198 1,573 1,794
Equity losses from related companies (23) (6) (2) - -
Depreciation of goodwill (10) (18) (15) (17) (15)
Financial and holding results (5,263) (503) (479) (391) (323)
Other expenses, net (175) (129) (105) (142) (175)
Unusual losses - (33) - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) before income tax and minority interest (5,673) 210 597 1,023 1,281
Income tax 1,294 (111) (240) (380) (474)
Minority interest 25 - 2 7 7
--------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) (4,354) 99 359 650 814
==============================================================
Earnings per share (in pesos) (4.42) 0.10 0.36 0.66 0.83
==============================================================
(*) The comparative figures for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2000
are the result of the addition of the figures corresponding to the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2000 to the irregular fiscal year ended December 31, 2000
and the deduction of the amounts corresponding to the three month period ended
December 31, 1999.
The comparative figures for the twelve month period ended December 31, 1999 are
the result of the addition of the figures corresponding to the three month
period ended December 31, 1999 to the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999 and
the deduction of the amounts corresponding to the three month period ended
December 31, 1998.
The comparative figures for the twelve month period ended December 31, 1998 are
the result of the addition of the figures corresponding to the three month
period ended December 31, 1998 to the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 and
the deduction of the amounts corresponding to the three month period ended
December 31, 1997.
The auditors that reviewed the financial statements used for the calculation of
those comparative figures (December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, September 30, 2000,
1999 and 1998 and December 31, 1997) issued the reports in all cases without
observations.
XIII
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
5. FIXED TELEPHONE SERVICE STATISTICAL DATA (IN PHYSICAL UNITS)
DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCUMULATED QUARTER ACCUMULATED QUARTER ACCUMULATED QUARTER ACCUMULATED QUARTER ACCUMULATED QUARTER
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installed lines 3,802,464 64 3,800,058 3,598 3,723,936 43,447 3,578,890 1,083 3,483,555 128,689
Lines replaced (a) 1,851,232 - 1,851,232 - 1,836,144 19,060 1,817,052 117 1,787,354 19,739
Lines in service
(b) 3,590,284 (19,846) 3,891,800 (429) 3,839,831 95,211 3,424,000 1,404 3,387,126 37,819
Customers lines 3,293,952 (16,390) 3,583,622 (3,057) 3,575,389 86,912 3,186,732 (14,944) 3,190,111 31,814
Public phones
installed 79,812 - 82,176 (398) 80,036 1,298 75,507 4,100 59,487 1,555
Percentage of
lines connected
to digital
exchanges 100.0 - 100.0 - 100.0 - 100.0 - 100.0 -
Lines in service
per 100
inhabitants (c) 19 - 21 - 21 1 19 - 19 -
Lines in service
per employee 323 - 360 (19) 364 (18) 365 (4) 348 17
Investment in
Fixed assets in
million of pesos
(a) 20,644 20 20,408 271 19,382 404 17,398 474 15,214 410
a) As from 11.8.90.
b) Includes Direct Inward Dialing numbers that do not occupy lines installed
capacity.
c) Corresponding to the northern region of Argentina.
6. CONSOLIDATED RATIOS
12.31.02 12.31.01 12.31.00 12.31.99 12.31.98
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Liquidity (1) 0.18 0.66 0.82 0.68 1.03
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Solvency (2) 0.07 0.56 0.55 0.56 0.68
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Locked up capital (3) 0.84 0.82 0.80 0.80 0.81
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Pretax return on capital (4) (1.46) 0.02 0.07 0.12 0.16
============= ============= =========== =========== ==========
(1) Current assets/Current liabilities.
(2) Shareholders' equity plus minority interest and temporary differences from
translation/Total liabilities.
(3) Non current assets/Total assets
(4) Net income (loss)/Shareholders' equity average.
7. OUTLOOK
The FY2002 was developed in a social, political and economical adverse context,
characterized by a high level of uncertainty, where the recession was
transformed into a serious depression. Additionally, the economic changes
imposed by the National Government put the telecommunications industry in
general and the Company in particular into a critical situation, affected by the
"pesification" of the tariffs at the rate of US$1 =$1, among other matters.
As a consequence of the current macroeconomic environment in Argentina, the
devaluation and volatility of the peso, the above mentioned "pesification" of
the tariffs and the timeframe defined by the Argentine Government for the
discussions related to the adjustment of the regulated tariffs, on April 2,
2002, the Company announced the suspension of principal payments on all Telecom
Group's financial debt obligations. Afterwards, on June 24, 2002 the Board of
Directors also announced the suspension of interest payments on all Telecom
Group's financial debt obligations.
In this context, the Company has initiated conversations with its main financial
creditors in order to find a definitive solution to its debt
XIV
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
restructuring process. In this process, the Company announced its intention to
launch cash tender offers for a portion of its financial debt obligations and to
make partial interest payments on its financial debt obligations, subject to the
obtainment of the necessary approvals or authorizations from both the tender
offers and the partial interest payments. The tender offers and the partial
interest payments are the first steps of the Company' plans to restructure their
outstanding financial indebtedness and their ongoing debt service obligations.
XV
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
In this uncertain and critical context, Telecom works hard on reducing its cost
structure and adapt it to the new environment. Likewise, the Company has
significantly reduced its investment plan and has increased its efforts to
generate a substantial reduction of its expenditures and more cash inflows. In
addition, an early resolution of the tariff's structure renegotiation will be
essential in order to revert the lower profitability shown in the present fiscal
year.
However, the Company maintains and reinforces its mission of being the leading
company in providing telecommunications solutions. In this way, Telecom works on
the construction of the solid position as integrator, by unifying offer
channels, converging operation of the clients and services and organizing
synergy.
Telecom is still committed to the country and it is capable of facing
successfully the challenge to continue growing in this highly complex
environment.
Amadeo R. Vazquez
President
XVI
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Alicia Moreau de Justo 50 - Buenos Aires
FISCAL YEAR No. 14 beginning January 1, 2002 with comparative information
for the year ended December 31, 2001 and for the twelve month
period ended December 31, 2000 (see Note 4.1.e)
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
Principal Company activity: Telecommunication services and the marketing of
equipment, infrastructure and goods of any type related or complimentary to
telecommunication, and the performance of works and the provision of all types
of services, including consultancy and security, related to telecommunications
and telecomputing.
Dates of registration with the Public Commerce Registry:
By-laws: July 13, 1990
Last amendment to by-laws: May 29, 2002
Expiration of Company charter: July 13, 2089
Information about Company control is in Note 7 a.
CAPITAL COMPOSITION
AT DECEMBER 31, 2002
REGISTERED,
CAPITAL STOCK AUTHORIZED,
ISSUED AND
OUTSTANDING
Capital stock, $ 1 nominal value and one vote per share (NOTE 9)
--------------
Class "A" 502,034,299
Class "B" 436,323,992
Class "C" 46,022,687
--------------
Total 984,380,978
==============
1
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (see Note 4.1.c)
In million of
Argentine constant
pesos (see Note 4.1.d)
AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and banks (Note 5.a) 89 128
Investments (Note 5.b) 1,316 330
Trade accounts receivable (Note 5.c) 596 1,479
Other receivables (Note 5.d) 76 633
Inventories (Note 5.e) 12 48
Other assets (Note 5.f) 3 13
-------------------
Total current assets 2,092 2,631
-------------------
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Trade accounts receivable (Note 5.g) 1 8
Other receivables (Note 5.h) 138 117
Investments (Exhibit C) 59 118
Fixed assets (Exhibit A) 9,618 10,535
Intangible assets (Exhibit B) 937 1,033
Goodwill (Note 5.i) 2 10
-------------------
Total non-current assets 10,755 11,821
-------------------
TOTAL ASSETS 12,847 14,452
===================
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable (Note 5.j) 391 1,071
Debt (Note 8) 11,053 2,533
Compensation and social benefits payable (Note 5.k) 61 133
Taxes payable (Note 5.l) 117 186
Other liabilities (Note 5.m) 25 45
Reserves (Exhibit E) 9 14
-------------------
Total current liabilities 11,656 3,982
-------------------
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable (Note 5.n) - 24
Debt (Note 8) 144 4,559
Compensation and social benefits payable (Note 5.o) 29 83
Taxes payable (Note 10) - 454
Other liabilities (Note 5.p) 29 28
Reserves (Exhibit E) 141 131
-------------------
Total non-current liabilities 343 5,279
-------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES 11,999 9,261
Minority interest 1 26
Temporary differences from translation 36 -
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (according to Statement of changes) 811 5,165
-------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST, TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES
FROM TRANSLATION AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 12,847 14,452
===================
The accompanying notes and Exhibits are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
Valerio Cavallo Carlos Felices Amadeo R.Vazquez
Chief Financial Officer Chief Executive Officer President
2
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (see Note 4.1.c and 4.1.e)
In million of Argentine constant pesos,
except
per share amounts (see Note 4.1.d)
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales (Notes 5.q and 18) 3,983 7,004 7,349
Cost of services provided (Exhibit F) (2,872) (3,598) (3,655)
---------------------------------------------
Gross profit 1,111 3,406 3,694
Administrative expenses (Exhibit H) (279) (537) (556)
Sales expenses (Exhibit H) (1,034) (1,970) (1,940)
---------------------------------------------
Operating profit (loss) (202) 899 1,198
Equity losses from related companies (Note 5.r) (23) (6) (2)
Depreciation of goodwill (Note 5.s) (10) (18) (15)
Financial and holding results (Note 5.t and 18) (5,263) (503) (479)
Other expenses, net (Note 5.u) (175) (129) (105)
Unusual losses (Note 5.v) - (33) -
---------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) before income tax and minority interest (5,673) 210 597
Income tax (Note 10) 1,294 (111) (240)
Minority interest 25 - 2
---------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) (4,354) 99 359
=============================================
Net income (loss) per share (Note 4.1.j) (4.42) 0.10 0.36
=============================================
The accompanying notes and Exhibits are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
Valerio Cavallo Carlos Felices Amadeo R.Vazquez
Chief Financial Officer Chief Executive Officer President
3
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and for the twelve
month period ended December 31, 2000 (see Note 4.1.c and 4.1.e)
(In million of Argentine constant pesos, except per share
amounts - see Note 4.1.d)
SHAREHOLDERS'
CONTRIBUTIONS EARNINGS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESERVE
ADJUSTMENT FOR UNAPPROPRIATED TOTAL
CAPITAL TO CAPITAL LEGAL FUTURE RETAINED SHAREHOLDER'S
CONCEPT STOCK STOCK TOTAL RESERVE DIVIDENDS EARNINGS TOTAL EQUITY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at January 1, 2000 984 3,014 3,998 266 292 907 1,465 5,463
Adjustment to the results of previous
years (see Note 4.1.c) - - - - - - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted balance at January 1, 2000 984 3,014 3,998 266 292 907 1,465 5,463
Board of Directors' Resolution
of February 9, 2000:
- Cash dividends (0.30 per share) - - - - (292) - (292) (292)
As approved by the Shareholders'
Ordinary Meeting held on
December 19, 2000:
- Reserve for future dividends - - - - 388 (388) - -
- Legal reserve - - - 31 - (31) - -
Net income (see Note 4.1.c) - - - - - 359 359 359
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 2000 984 3,014 3,998 297 388 847 1,532 5,530
Board of Directors' Resolution
of January 17, 2001:
- Cash dividends (0.39 per share) - - - - (388) - (388) (388)
As approved by the Shareholders'
Ordinary Meeting held on April 24, 2001:
- Legal reserve - - - (26) - 26 - -
- Cash dividends (0.08 per share) - - - - - (76) (76) (76)
Net income (see Note 4.1.c) - - - - - 99 99 99
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 2001 984 3,014 3,998 271 - 896 1,167 5,165
As approved by the Shareholders'
Ordinary Meeting held on April 24, 2002:
- Legal reserve - - - 4 - (4) - -
Net loss (see Note 4.1.c) - - - - - (4,354) (4,354) (4,354)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 2002 984 3,014 3,998 275 - (3,462) (3,187) 811
======================================================================================
The accompanying notes and Exhibits are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
Valerio Cavallo Carlos Felices Amadeo R.Vazquez
Chief Financial Officer Chief Executive Officer President
4
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (see Note 4.1.c and 4.1.e)
In million of Argentine
constant
pesos (see Note 4.1.d)
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (4,354) 99 359
ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE NET INCOME TO NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Bad debts expense and allowances for other receivable 195 563 334
Depreciation of fixed assets 1,965 1,677 1,584
Amortization of intangible assets 110 133 116
Equity losses from related companies 23 6 2
Depreciation of goodwill 10 18 15
Temporary differences from translation on cash and banks 4 - -
Materials usage 47 65 81
Fixed and intangible assets disposals 54 7 24
Reserves 100 39 46
Interest and other financial expenses 4,534 560 508
Termination benefits 3 (13) (17)
Minority interest (25) - (2)
Income tax (1,294) (122) (37)
Net decrease (increase) in assets 978 (214) (441)
Net decrease in liabilities (695) (403) (38)
----------------------------
Total cash flows provided by operating activities 1,655 2,415 2,534
----------------------------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of investments and related intangible assets - - (15)
Fixed asset acquisitions (387) (1,148) (1,501)
Intangible asset acquisitions (24) (253) (298)
Other investments not considered as cash or cash equivalents 101 (7) 436
----------------------------
Total cash flows used for investing activities (310) (1,408) (1,378)
----------------------------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Debt proceeds 18 1,582 2,519
Repayment of debt (42) (1,431) (2,411)
Payment of interest and related expenses (443) (957) (710)
Dividends paid - (464) (292)
----------------------------
Total cash flows used for financing activities (467) (1,270) (894)
----------------------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 878 (263) 262
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF YEAR/PERIOD 426 689 427
----------------------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT YEAR/PERIOD END 1,304 426 689
============================
The accompanying notes and Exhibits are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
Notes 6 and 18 provides additional information regarding the Consolidated
statements of cash flows.
Valerio Cavallo Carlos Felices Amadeo R.Vazquez
Chief Financial Officer Chief Executive Officer President
5
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (*)
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and for
the twelve month period ended December 31, 2000 (see Note 4.1.e)
(Amounts in million of Argentine constant pesos, except per share
amounts or as otherwise indicated - see Note 4.1.d)
INDEX
NOTE CONCEPT PAGE
---- ------- ----
Glossary of terms 7
1 Telecom Group operations 8
2 Regulatory framework 8
3 Devaluation of the peso and the conversion into pesos of the tariffs of public services:
its impact on the economic and financial situation of Telecom Group 12
4 Bases of presentation and summary of significant accounting policies 21
5 Details of principal consolidated financial statements captions 29
6 Supplementary consolidated cash flow information 31
7 Transactions and balances with related companies and parties and controlling company as
defined under Law No. 19550 Section 33 33
8 Debt 35
9 Capital stock 39
10 Income tax: adoption of the deferral method 40
11 Capital leases 42
12 Commitments and contingencies 42
13 Renegotiation of contracts with the public administration 43
14 Suspension of payments of financial debt of the Telecom Group 44
15 Causes of mandatory reduction of capital stock 46
16 Consolidated information by business segment 46
17 Consolidated quarterly information (unaudited) 50
18 Relevant additional information 50
19 Unconsolidated information 52
20 Differences between Argentine and U.S.GAAP 53
21 Restrictions on unappropriated retained earnings 57
22 Events subsequent to December 31, 2002 58
6
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
(*) Conventionally, the definitions used in these consolidated financial
statements are included in the Glossary of terms.
7
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following definitions are not intended as technical definitions, but to
assist the reader to understand certain terms as used in the Company's financial
statements.
The Company/Telecom Argentina/Telecom Telecom Argentina Stet-France Telecom S.A.
Telecom Group/Group Economic group formed by the Company and its controlled
companies.
ENTel Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, which had
provided public telecommunication services in Argentina
until its privatization.
SC The Argentine Secretary of Communications.
SBT Basic Telephone Services.
CNV The National Securities Commission.
Personal/Nucleo/Cable Insignia/Micro Correspond to the corporations controlled by Telecom or
Sistemas/ that were controlled or jointly controlled by Telecom as
Telecom Internet/Publicom/Latin American defined under the Argentine Corporation Law or that are
Nautilus/Multibrand/Nahuelsat/Internacional/ related parties.
Telintar/Soluciones
Telecom Argentina USA/Agroconnection Corresponds to Telecom Argentina USA Inc. and to
Agroconnection Inc., a controlled and related companies
of Telecom, respectively, as defined under the Argentine
Corporation Law.
CNC The Argentine National Communications Commission.
The Pliego List of Conditions approved by Decree No. 62/90, related to the
privatization of ENTel.
STM Mobile Telephone Service.
SRMC Mobile Cellular Radiocommunication Service.
AMBA Metropolitan Area Buenos Aires, the area of the Federal District
and greater Buenos Aires.
PCS Personal Communications Service. A wireless communications service
with systems that operate in a manner similar to cellular systems.
Nortel Nortel Inversora S.A. The controlling company of Telecom.
Telecom Italia/FCR/Operators Telecom Italia S.p.A. and France Cables et Radio S.A. (a
controlled company by France Telecom S.A.), jointly referred to as
the Operators.
Telefonica Telefonica de Argentina S.A.
SU Universal Service: the availability of SBT at an affordable price
to all persons within a country or specified area.
IPC Consumer Price Index.
Price Cap The application of annual reductions to the general level
of the Company's rates.
BCRA The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic.
SEC Securities and Exchange Commission of the USA.
CPCECABA Professional Board of Economic Sciences of Ciudad
Autonoma de Buenos Aires.
Constant pesos Currency unit of the financial statements, that is,
constant Argentine pesos as of period-end, according to
FACPCE RT 6.
RT/FACPCE/Argentine GAAP Technical Resolutions issued by the Argentine Federation
of Professional Boards of Economic Sciences that is
generally accepted accounting principles of Argentina.
VPP Equity method.
IAS/IASC International Accounting Standards issued by the International
Accounting Standard Committee.
DGI The Argentine Tax Authority.
U.S.GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in USA.
BCBA/NYSE Buenos Aires and New York Stock Exchanges, respectively.
PPP Share Ownership Program.
EBITDA Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization.
8
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
OCI Other Comprehensive Income
9
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
NOTE 1 - TELECOM GROUP OPERATIONS
Telecom Argentina was formed as a result of the privatization of ENTel, which
had provided public telecommunication services in Argentina.
The Company obtained a license to operate in a designated Northern Zone,
beginning operations on November 8, 1990, and provided public telecommunication
services on an exclusive basis for seven years subsequent to this date, having
the right to a three-year extension of this exclusivity period.
The Company filed the appropriate petition with the SC to extend the license
exclusivity period. Acknowledging the Company's filing, the Argentine government
established the standards for an orderly transition towards an openly
competitive telecommunications market by October 10, 1999, the date at which the
exclusivity period ended and the Company remained qualified to provide SBT
nationally.
Likewise, the Company merged various companies under its ownership to provide
the following services: international long distance in the Northern Zone,
national telex, value added services, data transmission and internet. In order
to adapt to the new market demands, the Company expanded its corporate purpose.
This expansion was opportunely approved by the SC and the CNV.
The Company achieves its business objective of providing services through
integration with its subsidiaries. Activities carried out by these entities at
December 31, 2002 are as follows:
OWNERSHIP
BY TELECOM
IN CAPITAL CONTROL IS
STOCK AND THROUGH THE DATE OF
ACTIVITY SUBSIDIARY VOTES FOLLOWING INCORPORATION
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cellular telephone Personal 99.99% 07.06.94
service Nucleo 67.50% Personal 02.03.98
Cable Insignia (a) 75.00% Personal 03.18.98
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Data transmission Micro Sistemas (a) 99.99% 12.01.97
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International
telephone service Telecom Argentina USA 100.00% 09.12.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directories edition Publicom 99.99% 06.11.92
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Companies not operative at December 31, 2002.
NOTE 2 - REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
a) REGULATORY BODIES AND PRACTICES
The Company and its telecommunication subsidiaries are regulated by the
CNC, decentralized organism dependent on the SC, which is supervised by the
Ministry of Economy. The SC is responsible for developing of sector
policies, approving and administrating fundamental technical plans,
assisting the Ministry of Economy in rate matters affecting the Company and
the development of telecommunication regulations.
Some of the more pertinent regulations are:
. The Privatization Regulations, which regulate the process of
privatization, including the Pliego,
. The Transfer Agreement,
10
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
. Telecommunication licenses granted to the Company and to subsidiaries
that provide telecommunication services,
. Rate agreements and related decrees and regulations approved in Decree
No. 764/2000.
11
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
b) LICENSES HELD AT DECEMBER 31, 2002
. COMPANY LICENSES
The Company holds licenses to provide the following services in Argentina
for an indefinite period:
. Fixed local telephone service,
. Public telephone service,
. Long distance, both national and international,
. Point to point connections, both national and international,
. Telex, both national and international,
. Value added services, data transmission, video conferencing,
broadcast signal transmission and community repeater.
. Internet access.
. LICENSES OF SUBSIDIARIES
Personal is licensed for an indefinite period, on a competitive market
basis, to provide STM in the northern region of Argentina, and data
transmission and value added services nationally. Additionally, Personal
holds a license to provide SRMC in the AMBA, a license without expiration
date to provide PCS service in Argentina and the register for the rendering
of national and international long distance telephone service.
Nucleo, controlled by Personal, is licensed to provide STM service over
Band B nationwide in Paraguay and PCS service in some areas of Paraguay.
c) CAUSES OF REVOCATION OF LICENSES
. SBT LICENSE
Some of the causes that could revoke the Company's license are:
(i) the interruption of all or a substantial part of licensed service;
(ii) a change in corporate business purpose (without a previous
authorization of the appropriate regulatory bodies) or a change of
corporate domicile outside of Argentina;
(iii) any sale, encumbrance or transfer of assets that has the effect of
reducing services provided, without the prior approval of the
appropriate regulatory bodies.
(iv) reduction of Nortel (see Note 7) ownership of the Company's capital
stock to less than 51%, or the reduction to less than 51% of the
collective ownership by Nortel shareholders who existed at the date
of possession, without the prior approval of the appropriate
regulatory bodies.
(v) the assignment or delegation of the commitments of the Operators
without the prior approval of the appropriate regulatory bodies.
If the Company's license is revoked, Nortel must transfer its shares in the
Company to the regulatory bodies, in trust, for subsequent sale at public
auction. Upon the sale of these shares, the regulatory bodies may renew the
Company's license under conditions to be determined.
. STM LICENSE
According to the STM Pliego, the following causes could revoke Personal's
license:
12
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
(i) repeated interruptions of the services described in the STM Pliego;
(ii) a transference of the license and/or the rights and obligations
related to that license, without previous authorization of the CNC;
(iii) taxes constituted over the license;
(iv) creditors meeting or bankruptcy of Personal;
(v) the liquidation or dissolution of Personal, without previous
authorization of the CNC.
13
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
d) DECREE TO DEREGULATE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES
Decree No. 764/2000 approved, among other items, three new regulations
whose basic provisions are as follows:
. GENERAL LICENSING REGULATION
Establishes a single license valid throughout Argentina for the provision
of all telecommunication service, fixed or mobile, wired or wireless,
national or international, with or without proprietary infrastructure.
Service providers need not be exclusively devoted to the telecommunications
business. There are no requirements for minimum investment or coverage.
Radio broadcasting entities may apply for telecommunication licenses. The
resale of services is authorized, subject to a license being received.
Foreign companies are not restricted from entry.
. NATIONAL INTERCONNECTION REGULATION
Establishes a decrease in interconnection index prices of approximately
50%. Increases the number of network components and functions on behalf of
the dominant provider (the Company in the northern zone and Telefonica in
the southern zone), and also details the interconnection obligation down to
the local level, the rate setting process and the separation of the local
loop. Introduces the interconnection method for numeric translation
services known as NTS for the internet, audiotext and collect calls and the
transfer of telephone numbers.
. SU REGULATION
Fixes the rate of contribution to the SU Fund at 1% of telecommunication
services income. Establishes an Administrative Counsel to manage the SU
Fund and oversee the specific programs of the SU. Adopts a "play or pay"
mechanism to ensure compliance with SU Fund contributions, but establishes
a contribution exemption mechanism for SBT licensees, which considers both
net losses and the percentage market participation of other local telephone
service providers. The Regulatory Authority has neither implemented the
formation of the Fund nor the official programs to be subsidized.
The SC repeated during this period the procedure of consulting over the
Administration of the SU Fund and over the regulation of the contribution
to the Fund. The Company replied once more that, beyond the specific
intention of the procedure of consulting, it is highly necessary to
compensate the social benefits programs that are currently being rendered,
retroactively from the end of the exclusivity period.
Later, the SC determined a work group which main purpose is the analysis of
the "Hybrid Cost Proxy Model", in order to specify the SU costs. This group
should expose its conclusions by the end of 1Q'03.
e) REGULATION FOR THE CALL BY CALL SELECTION OF THE PROVIDERS FOR LONG
DISTANCE SERVICES
On December 28, 2001, the former Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing
issued Resolution No. 613/01 which approved the rules for the call by call
selection ("SPM") of the providers for long distance services.
14
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
The call by call selection is a system that, applied to long distance
services, allows users to dial in each call the access code 17 (for
national long distance calls) or 18 (for international long distance calls)
and the three digits PQR for the provider's identification, in order to
select the long distance provider which he prefers.
Subsequently, and considering the claims submitted against Resolution No.
613/01 by several carriers, the Ministry of Economy issued Resolution No.
75/03, introducing several changes to the Regulations. The main changes
were as follows: long distance carriers' freedom to provide SPM, changes in
blockage modality due to delinquency, changes in the service connection
modality and greater flexibility of obligations connected with service
promotion and advertising.
15
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
As regards implementation terms, Resolution No. 75/03 sets forth that
origin providers, both fixed and mobile, must have their equipment and
networks available to provide the SPM service within 120 running days since
February 6, 2003.
f) CPP FOR INTERNATIONAL CALLS
In September 2002 the SC determined that overseas calls terminated in
cellular telephones would pay for Calling Party Pays ("CPP") charges. In
order to identify such calls, customers dialing from outside must add a
prefix to the cellular number.
g) RATE STRUCTURE
On November 28, 1991, the Company and Telefonica signed a rate agreement
with the Argentine government, which was ratified by Decree No. 2585/91 and
became effective on December 18, 1991. The principal features of the
agreement, which modified the Transfer Agreement, are as follows:
1) Rates, measured in basic units or "pulsos", are denominated in United
States dollars and will be adjusted twice annually (April and October)
to reflect changes in the overall IPC of the United States of America.
Rate adjustments do not require prior regulatory body approval. Since
year 2000, adjustments were not made as required by the SC.
2) Invoicing to customers will be in local currency, at exchange rates
existing at the close of the billing period.
Law No. 25561, of "Public Emergency law and reform of the exchange rate",
effective January 6, 2002, in Section 8 nullifies contract clauses
providing for adjustments to the value of payments with reference to United
States Dollars or other foreign currencies as well as any indexation
clauses based on price indexes or similar mechanism. As a consequence, from
that date on, the Company's tariffs were set in pesos at a US$1 to $1
exchange rate. Likewise, Decree No. 293/2002 started a process of
renegotiation of contracts with the public Administration in which the rate
structure is involved. Additional information on the process of
renegotiation of tariffs and the SBT contract is given in Note 13.
. RATE REBALANCING
On December 1, 1999, SC Resolution No. 4269/99 ratified the application of
methodology outlined by SC Resolution No. 1801/97. This verified the
revenue differences of SBT licensees at the end of a two year period, which
resulted from rate rebalancing in February 1997. Additionally, the impact
of the rate rebalancing was determined to be an increase in revenues of
approximately $9.5 million. The future refunding of this amount has not so
far been ruled upon by the Regulatory Bodies.
. PRICE CAP
On December 15, 1999, the "Rate Reduction Agreement between the Argentine
government and Telecommunications Companies" was signed, establishing as of
March 1, 2000, the following:
. the reduction of monthly basic charges to commercial and government
clients by 19.5%;
. the application of discount plans for local measured service and for
Internet service for residential domestic customers;
. the computation of non collected income from the 110 service as
payment in advance of future Price Caps.
16
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
The Price Cap is an annually rate regulation system that includes
increasing elements (such as the rate increments twice a year - April and
October -) and reducing elements (such as the annually adjustments on the
efficiency factor - November -).
17
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
On April 6, 2000, the Argentine government, Telefonica and the Company
signed an agreement which established, for the application of the 2000 cap,
a 6.75% reduction of revenues of licensees covered by the rate regulation
(6% as set by the SC and 0.75% as determined by licensees) in the period
November 2000/October 2001. The 6% reduction should be applied through the
following:
1. the application of discounts for monthly basic charges to commercial
and government clients and discount plans for local measured service
and for Internet service to residential domestic customers, in force
since March 2000;
2. the non application of the 110 service approved rate since January
2000 up to November 8, 2001;
3. the non application of the restatement of the pulse rate considering
the variation of the IPC of the United States of America as it should
be applied in April and October 2000.
The economic impact generated by 1. and 2. since January 2000 through
November 2000 was discounted (considering a 12% annual rate) in three
installments that would be each added to the 2000, 2001 and 2002 caps,
respectively.
If in November 2000 the 6% reduction would not be reached, the regulatory
body would determine in which items of the Rate structure should be applied
the discounts in order to reach the agreed reduction.
At this date, the regulatory body has requested the Company all the
information needed to audit the 2000 cap but the final opinion is still
pending.
In April 2001, the Argentine government, Telefonica and the Company signed
an agreement which established, for the application of the 2001 cap, a 5.6%
efficiency factor for the period November 2001/October 2002, with the
following additional discounts:
1. the non application of the 2001 pulse rate adjustments related to the
variation of the IPC of the United States of America;
2. the second installment of the 2000 cap agreement mentioned above.
The surplus should be applied as from November 8, 2001 but it is still
pending because it was affected by a preliminary injunction stating not to
carry out any tariff adjustments. The Company appealed this injunction
arguing that if one part of the formula cannot be applied, the price cap
system should be null. Finally, Law No. 25561 of Public Emergency
prohibited the tariff adjustments explicitly.
NOTE 3 - DEVALUATION OF THE PESO AND THE CONVERSION INTO PESOS OF THE TARIFFS
OF PUBLIC SERVICES: ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SITUATION
OF TELECOM GROUP
By the end of December 2001, the seriousness of the social and economical
argentine crisis produced a change in the government and, on January 1, 2002,
the National Congress appointed to Dr. Eduardo Duhalde as the president in order
to complete the period which was left incomplete by Dr. Fernando de la Rua.
With the purpose of overcoming the crisis, on January 6, 2002, the National
Congress issued Law No. 25561 of "Public Emergency and Foreign Exchange System
Reform Act" which produced a profound change in the economic model and a
modification of the Convertibility Law applicable until that moment. Later on,
Decrees Nos. 214/02, 905/02 and 992/02 of "Rearrangement of the financial
system" and Decree No.
18
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
260/02 of "Foreign Exchange System Reform Act" were issued, which substantially
modified some of the measures adopted by Law No. 25561.
The following are some of the measures adopted by the National Government, which
are applicable at the date of issuance of these consolidated financial
statements:
19
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
1. TRANSACTIONS DUE IN FOREIGN CURRENCY
On January 6, 2002 a new exchange regime was enforced by the creation of an
official and a free exchange market. The existence of both exchange markets
was provisory, as the government subsequently decided for the free and
single exchange market. In general terms, in the official market all assets
for export and import transactions and certain financial activities should
be carried out, subject to a previous restructuring that postpones their
original maturity dates. The rest of the transactions related to the
payment and transfer of foreign currency abroad should be carried out in
the free market. The initial exchange rate in the official market was $1.40
to US$1.
The deposits in US dollars and other foreign currencies in financial
entities were converted into pesos at an exchange rate of $1.40 to US$1 or
its equivalent in other foreign currencies. The debts in US dollars or
other foreign currency within the Argentine financial system in existence
at January 6, 2002 were converted into pesos at an exchange rate of $1 to
US$1 or its equivalent in other foreign currency. These deposits and debts
will be adjusted as from February 3, 2002 by a Stabilization Reference
Coefficient ("CER") and interest rate with a cap stated by the BCRA.
The payable obligations denominated in US dollars or other foreign currency
that existed up to January 6, 2002 in Argentina, non related to the
financial system, of any origin or nature, were converted into pesos at an
exchange rate of $1 to US$1 or its equivalent in other foreign currency.
These balances will be adjusted as from February 3, 2002 by the CER. If as
a consequence of this provision, the resulting value of the assets or the
services is superior or inferior at the payment time, any of the parties
may request an equitable readjustment of the price. If an agreement is not
reached, the courts shall issue a decision over the case. In order to keep
a fair adjustment of the price, it must be considered the market value of
goods or services with imported components.
The payable obligations denominated in US dollars or other foreign currency
that existed up to January 6, 2002 in foreign countries must be paid at the
free market exchange rate.
Since February 3, 2002, many payable obligations denominated in US dollars
or other foreign currency were converted into pesos at an exchange rate of
$1 to US$1, including futures contracts and options in foreign currency,
agreed under the Argentine law applicable before January 5, 2002, in which
one of the parties was a financial entity.
On March 5, 2003, the Argentine Supreme Court of Justice rendered judgement
in the case "Provincia de San Luis vs. Banco de la Nacion Argentina on
summary proceedings to protect a constitutional rights" providing for the
unconstitutionality of sections 2 and 12 of Decree No. 214/02 and,
therefore, leaving without effect -for this case- U.S. dollars deposits
pesification. It should be noted that this decision does not affect in any
manner whatsoever the pesification of those debts in U.S. dollars not
related to the financial system and, as at the date of issuance of these
consolidated financial statements, the potential consequences to the
financial entities' debtors are impossible to foretell.
2. CONTRACTS WITH THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
US dollars or foreign currency adjustments clauses and indexation clauses
based on foreign price indexes, as well as any other
20
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
indexing mechanism adopted under public contracts executed by the National
Government, including works and public services, have been suspended. The
applicable prices and tariffs to that date have been converted into pesos
at the exchange rate of $1 to US$1. Additional information is given in
Note 13.
3. DEFERRED DEDUCTION OF THE EXCHANGE RATE DIFFERENCE IN INCOME TAX
Net losses originated in the devaluation of the peso over the assets and
liabilities in foreign currency in existence up to January 6, 2002
(considering the exchange rate of US$1=$1.40 as established by Decree No.
2568/02), will be deductible for income tax purpose only at a rate of 20%
per year starting in fiscal year 2002. The difference between the $1.40
rate and the exchange rate at year end will be entirely deducted for income
tax purpose in fiscal year 2002.
21
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
4. RESTRICTION OF TRANSFERS OF FUNDS ABROAD
According to Communication "A" 3471 of the BCRA (amended by Communication
"A" 3878), the transfers to foreign countries for financial loans executed
until August 8, 2003, inclusive, require a previous consent of the BCRA
regardless of the manner of payment, save for some exceptions specially
disclosed in the Communication. In this way, Communication "A" 3859 has
removed, as from January 7, 2003, the existing limitations to the transfers
abroad related to the payment of dividends or earnings, if these dividends
or earnings are originated in financial statements authenticated by
independent accountants.
Likewise, Communication "A" 3709 of the BCRA excluded payment of principal
and interest services of financial obligations abroad from the previous
consent requirement, provided that:
. financial debt has been restructured and judicially approved according
to the provisions of the Law of Bankruptcy and Reorganization
Proceedings;
. the agreement attained with creditors pursuant to the majorities
provided by said law implies refinancing of matured and outstanding
debt at average terms pursuant to the agreement that shall not be
shorter than four years, providing a grace period not shorter than two
years for the payment of principal services;
. interest services are paid quarterly or at longer terms and the annual
interest rate agreed for the refinanced debt is not superior -
effectively on an annual basis - to the equivalent of six month LIBOR
plus 3%;
. the above mentioned agreement provides for releases, discharges,
capitalization or other similar measures that consider a reduction of
the outstanding principal at the agreement execution date of, at
least, 40% of its nominal value or 60% of said value in the case of
capitalization;
. the Foreign and Exchange Office has issued an acknowledgement of
receipt of the information on the refinanced obligations.
On the other hand, by virtue of Communication "A" 3843 (as amended by
Communications "A" 3866 and "A" 3880) the following payments of principal
and interest services abroad have been excluded from the BCRA's prior
approval requirement :
1. Principal payments of matured and not matured loans received from the
non financial private sector when all the following requirements are
complied with:
1.1. Payments of principal installments are part of a refinancing
agreed with the creditor as of December 26, 2002.
1.2. Refinancing includes cash payments that do not exceed 10%, 5% six
months after the agreement execution date and another 5% twelve months
after such date.
1.3. Refinancing of the outstanding principal payable in cash has an
average life of at least five years more than the average life of the
outstanding debt refinanced as of the agreement execution date,
discounting payment in cash. When the operation includes matured
installments, the increase of the renewed obligations average life
shall be calculated considering the prior maturity-dates schedule,
allocating the matured operations with maturity dates on the agreement
execution date.
1.4. Financial principal debts are:
1.4.1. Corporate bonds, commercial paper and bonds.
1.4.2. Syndicated loans with foreign banks.
22
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
1.4.3. Financial loans with foreign banks that do not have collateral
backed by debtor's assets abroad, or collateral of individuals or
corporations with domicile in Argentina.
1.4.4. Financial loans contracted with foreign parent companies and
subsidiaries.
23
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
The refinancing requirements set forth in items 1.1 and 1.3 will be
considered fulfilled for the principal payments upon payment through
the single and free foreign exchange market as of December 26, 2002
and prior to the principal service payment, of the new financial
financing, in terms not inferior to five year average life for an
amount not inferior to the amount of the debt being cancelled.
2. Principal services of matured and not matured loans received from the
non financial private sector not refinanced under the terms of the
above item 1, in the case any of the following conditions applies:
2.1. The amount paid by the original debtor of the financial debt
partially or totally cancelled does not exceed an equivalent of
US$300,000 on a monthly basis. 2.2. The principal payments being
cancelled have already matured by December 31, 2002 and are financial
debt that as of December 31, 2001, did not exceed the equivalent of
US$1,000,000, computing all the matured and not yet matured
installments payable as principal, provided that cancellation occurs
prior to March 31, 2003.
3. Financial interest payments to foreign creditors up to fifteen running
days in advance before maturity date of each interest installment.
Last, by way of Communication "A" 3872 (as amended by Communication
"A"3880), the BCRA has provided that individuals and corporations of the
private non financial sector may operate in the single and free exchange
market for a period of sixty running days as of January 27, 2003, for an
amount equivalent to up to 5% of the matured and outstanding principal debt
as foreign securities and financial loans, with original maturity dates or
refinancing not later than December 31, 2002 in relation to original debt
prior to February 10, 2002 and outstanding or not refinanced to date, if
the following conditions apply:
a) The computable financial debt must be reported pursuant to the
reporting regime provided by Communication A3602.
b) Foreign currency purchased in the single and free exchange market will
be allocated to the creation of a trust to be managed by a local
banking entity acting as trustee. This requirement will be considered
fulfilled as regards those purchases made not later than February 21,
if funds are made available to the trust fund before February 28,
2003. Otherwise, the access and settlement of the funds through the
single and free exchange market should be reported within the
following ten working days.
c) The beneficiary of the trust fund is the individual or corporation
that creates it.
d) Each beneficiary may constitute only one trust fund.
e) Trust funds may only be invested at market values in foreign assets
that should be securities issued by foreign governments, foreign
corporations stock listed internationally and not related with the
beneficiary, parent company or comptroller, and/or in certificates
deposited in foreign banks that shall not be internationally rated
below "A" by any of the risk rating agencies registered with the BCRA.
Foreign currency deposits in custody accounts with local banks will
also be accepted. The beneficiary shall carry out investment options
pursuant to the terms of the trust agreement.
24
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
f) Profits and capital gains coming from these investments will form part
of the trust.
g) Trust funds will only be released for the following purposes:
a) for their admission and settlement in the local foreign
exchange market with the BCRA's prior approval, and/or
b) to be applied abroad in the cancellation of the beneficiary's
external debt with respect to foreign securities and financial
loans taken before February 10, 2002 restructured under the
general guidelines issued by the BCRA or that have been
specifically approved by it.
In compliance of this communication, on February 27, 2003, Telecom executed
a collateral trust agreement with Banco Societe Generale S.A., with a
US$32,350,000 initial transfer.
25
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
.. PRINCIPAL EFFECTS OF THE MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OVER
THE BUSINESS OF THE TELECOM GROUP
1. RENEGOTIATION OF THE COMPANY'S TARIFFS
Section 8 of Law No. 25561, which converted into pesos at an exchange relation
of $1 to US$1 the tariffs of public services, shall have a significant impact
over the economic-financial equation of the Company and the Telecom Group.
The magnitude of the devaluation of the Argentine peso with respect to the US
dollar has affected the "natural hedge" mentioned in Note 4.1.f. This is so
because the currency of the most significant revenues of the Company will be the
peso, while the currencies in which the Company was financed from the enactment
of the Convertibility Law were basically the US dollar and the Euro.
This alteration between the revenue currency and the sources of financing
currency has produced a double impact, that is:
a) an initial impact, represented by the net debts in foreign currency at
December 31, 2001 in foreign countries, which represented US$2,661 million
approximately, for the Telecom Group; and
b) an impact over the transactions during the renegotiation period of the
tariffs, in which the economic equation of the business of the Company is
being affected by the increase of the costs of certain imports of materials
necessary for operations.
The management of the Company, based on the framework stated in section 9 of Law
No. 25561 for the renegotiation of the SBT tariffs, has considered in its cash
flows projections, the modification of its tariffs in order to recompose the
economic-financial equation of Telecom Argentina. This should decrease the
impact above mentioned and allow the Company to continue with its ordinary
course of business, in a competitive and non-regulated market, with reasonable
profitability levels to remunerate its shareholders and the financial creditors.
2. DEVALUATION OF THE PESO
The devaluation of the Argentine peso had serious consequences on the economic
and financial situation of Telecom Group, as follows:
.. a reduction of 84% of the Shareholders' equity of Telecom existing at the
beginning of the fiscal year during the year ended December 31, 2002,
considering the exchange relation at December 31, 2002 of US$1 = $3.37 and
the basis for accounting described in point 4 below;
.. a financial impact that derived in the declaration of the Board of
Directors of the suspension of principal and interest payments of the
financial debt of the Company and its subsidiaries in Argentina (Note 14).
The market value of the Company's corporate bonds is approximately 41% over
their book value at December 31, 2002, while this ratio was approximately
68% and 95% at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively;
.. a decrease in Telecom's market capitalization of approximately 66% (US$437
and US$1,292 at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively) when compared to
the ADR evolution at December 31, 2002 and at December 31, 2001 (US$2.22
and US$6.56, respectively).
From the beginning of the operations - November 8, 1990 - until December 31,
2001, the Company had accumulated net income of $5,495 million (in constant
pesos as of December 31, 2002). The net loss for fiscal year 2002 reached the
amount of $4,354 million and includes a
26
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
net loss for devaluation of $3,618 million, absorbing 79% of the accumulated net
income.
A summary of the effects of the peso devaluation in the consolidated statement
of operations of the Telecom Group is given as follows:
27
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
STATEMENT
ESTIMATED OF STATEMENT
RESULTS OPERATIONS OF
WITHOUT ESTIMATED AT OPERATIONS VARIATION
DEVALUATION EFFECT OF 12.31.02 AT 2002
EFFECTS DEVALUATION (3) = (1) 12.31.01 VS.2001
(1) (*) (2) (**) + (2) (4) (1) - (4)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales 3,907 76 3,983 7,004 (3,097)
Operating costs (2,027) (83) (2,110) (4,295) 2,268
--------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA 1,880 (7) 1,873 2,709 (829)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Amortization without capitalization (1,941) - (1,941) (1,810) (131)
Amortization of capitalized foreign currency
exchange differences - (134) (134) - -
--------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit (loss) (61) (141) (202) 899 (960)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Equity losses from related companies (23) - (23) (6) (17)
Depreciation of goodwill (10) - (10) (18) 8
Financial and holding results generated by assets (967) (574) (1,541) 119 (1,086)
Financial and holding results generated by
liabilities 517 (5,196) (4,679) (725) 1,242
Interests/Capitalized foreign currency exchange 66 891 957 103 (37)
differences
Other expenses, net (175) - (175) (129) (46)
Unusual losses - - - (33) 33
--------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) before income tax and minority
interest (653) (5,020) (5,673) 210 (863)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Income tax (108) 1,402 1,294 (111) 3
Minority interest 25 - 25 - 25
--------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) (736) (3,618) (4,354) 99 (835)
--------------------------------------------------------------
(*) Corresponds to the operations realized by the Company in local and foreign
currency (converted into pesos at the exchange rate of $1 = U$S1), restated in
constant pesos of December 31, 2002.
(**) Corresponds to the higher estimated sales and costs in foreign currency, to
the investments in foreign companies and to the foreign currency exchange
differences and other financial results generated by foreign currency assets and
liabilities, net of the effect of inflation and the tax effect, as a consequence
of the devaluation of the Argentine peso.
3. IMPACT OF THE CRISIS ON THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE GROUP
The macro-economic scenario where Telecom operated during this fiscal year was
characterized by instability in the foreign exchange market and in inflation
indexes as well as a strong contraction of activity levels (GDP fell by
approximately 13.3%) especially during the first half of the year.
The financial system activities were deeply affected by "pesification" and
deposits rescheduling measures implemented to solve the system's lack of
liquidity. In addition, temporary restrictions were applied to transactions in
foreign currencies with the purpose of controlling the exchange rate's
evolution.
Actual devaluation enabled a record commercial surplus that, together with the
reduction of the public and private sectors' financial payments abroad,
contributed to redress the balance in the foreign exchange market.
As of the second semester of 2002, little by little the Argentine economy
started to recover certain extremely basic macro-economic balances. The exchange
rate gradually stabilized and, consequently, inflation rates dropped (Consumer
prices index reached 30.5% in the first half of the year and 8% in the second;
wholesale inflation reached 95.6% in the first half and 11.6% in the second).
The described crisis has negatively impacted in the Group's business during
fiscal year 2002, notwithstanding the efforts made by the management to reduce
the operative costs, the investments and the level of financial indebtedness.
The principal consequences for the Group were:
.. reduction of 43% of the consolidated sales compared to fiscal year 2001,
generated by a lower number of clients in fixed telephone service, the
prohibition of adjustment of the fixed telephone service rates, the fall of
the average consumption of the post and
28
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
pre payment cellular clients and the significant reduction of the
advertisement in the directories edition business.
.. in October 2001 the Company started to receive from its clients provincial
bonds and LECOP. The collection in public bonds represented approximately
18% of the total collection of the Company for the fiscal year 2002.
.. the costs of the Group were affected by the creation of new taxes (levied
on bank debits and credits) by $37 million and the increase of the
employer's social security contributions by approximately $11 million (both
non-adjusted figures).
.. as a summary of all the foregoing, the operating profit was reduced by
$1,101 million compared to the fiscal year 2001, becoming a loss of $202
million or a 5.1% margin.
29
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
4. EFFECTS ON THE SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATIONS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002
The above mentioned facts have been taken into account by the management of the
Company in order to perform the significant accounting estimations included in
the present consolidated financial statements. The future actual results may
differ from those estimations.
The management of the Company has considered the following accounting criteria
for the valuation of the assets and liabilities at December 31, 2002 and the
quantification of certain significant estimations:
.. Criteria for the recognition of the devaluation effects of the peso:
Argentine GAAP states that the financial results must be recognized in the
period in which they are generated, except for the case in which they
integrate the costs of the assets that, by virtue of their nature, require
an extensive period of undisposable capital. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the magnitude of the devaluation and the general impact in all sectors of
the economy caused the issuance of CPCECABA Resolution No. 3/02, adopted by
CNV Resolution No. 398/02, that requires the capitalization of foreign
currency exchange differences in some circumstances. The Company has
applied the methodology stated in this resolution to calculate the
capitalization (Note 4.2.a).
.. Accounting for inflation of the financial statements: Decree No. 1269/02 of
the National Government and CNV Resolution No. 415/02 reestablished the
mechanism of accounting for inflation. The Company has applied the
methodology stated in RT 6 and in CPCECABA Resolution No. 3/02 to calculate
the restatement for inflation in the consolidated financial statements.
.. Valuation of the provincial public bonds: as part of the credit collection
from the public sector, the Company has received bonds to cancel the
credits for services rendered to the different provincial governments. The
Company's intention has been to hold them until their maturity date for
which, following Argentine GAAP and having the financial capacity to retain
them, the Company has valued them at their cost plus amortized discount
earned using the market rate of return. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
because of the economic crisis affecting the national and provincial public
sector, the fall of the price of such bonds has been very significant and
it is not expected to suffer any changes in the short term. Consequently,
despite the intention to hold the provincial bonds until their maturity
date, the management of the Company decided to value since December 31,
2001, the holding of these bonds at their estimated sales price.
Likewise, those public bonds received as part of the collection of the
particular clients, have been valued as follows:
a) at its nominal value -without accruing any interests-: for the holding
of bonds that the Company applies for their value and in the short
term in order to cancel its tax and commercial liabilities. At
December 31, 2002 the Group holds $5 million of bonds with these
characteristics, which were included in Cash and Banks.
b) at its estimated sale price: for the holding of bonds that cannot be
applied in the short term in order to cancel tax and commercial
liabilities. At December 31, 2002 the Group holds $31 million of bonds
with these characteristics, which were included
30
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
in Cash and Banks. The results from holding these kind of bonds were a
loss of $72 million, that are included in Financial and holding
results in the Consolidated statement of operations.
.. Recoverability of trade accounts receivable with the public sector: the
Company has considered that the default of the public sector will only
produce a delay in the collection. In order to reduce the effect of this
delay, the Company has optimized the compensation actions of the
obligations -specially in tax matters- with the public sector. The
financial loss that this delay produces has been considered in the
Company's estimations.
31
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
.. Recoverability of trade accounts receivable with the private sector: the
serious economic situation existent in our country during the last year,
added to the restrictive banking measures over the access and circulation
of cash set forth by the National Government at the beginning of this
fiscal year, have produced a significant increase in the payment delay.
Consequently, the Company has increased the charges for doubtful accounts
receivable, originating deviations with respect to the average payment
delays and uncollectable amounts of the last years. However, this trend has
been reduced as from 2Q'02 as a consequence of a purge of customer database
performed in 1Q'02.
.. Obligations originated in private contracts, non related to the Argentine
financial system: although Decree No. 214 stated the conversion into pesos
at an exchange rate of $1 to US$1, the involved parties are entitled to
request for a readjustment of the price based on equity principles and in
case an agreement is not reached, the courts shall issue a decision over
the case. The adequate valuation of this type of credits and debts in our
country shall depend on the renegotiation of each of these contracts. The
management of the Company fit its estimations according to the advances of
the negotiation process and the possible results.
.. Recoverability of fixed and intangible assets value: at December 31, 2002
the Telecom Group owns fixed and intangible assets (together "fixed
assets") for a total of $10,555 million, equivalent to 82% of the total
consolidated assets. As indicated in Note 4.2.h and 4.2.i, these assets
have been depreciated based on their useful lives, estimated for each class
of fixed assets and the reasonability of the applicable rates must be
considered in the context of the de-regulation and the increase of the
competition which has characterized the Argentine telecommunication market
from October 1999 until the end of 2001.
Considering the changes in the economic rules during the year 2002 and in
particular the perspective of business in the telecommunications industry,
Telecom's plans, as from fiscal year 2003, consider the reduction of the
future investments without substantially affecting the quality of the
services rendered. This decision might change the replacement policy of
fixed assets, and consequently in the present depreciation rates. In order
to obtain a conclusion about this matter, Telecom and Personal have
initiated an integral study of the remaining useful lives of the fixed
assets which results will be known during fiscal year 2003.
The recoverable value of the fixed assets depends on the capacity to
generate net cash flows sufficient to absorb the net book value during the
periods it is estimated these assets will be useful for the Group.
The management of the Company periodically evaluates the recoverable value
of such fixed assets by the preparation of economic-financial projections
considering alternative scenarios based on macroeconomic, financial and
telecommunications market hypothesis, which are considered probable or
conservative.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the devaluation of the Argentine peso and
the "pesificacion" of the public services tariffs and the contracts between
private parties executed before January 6, 2002, set forth a significant
change in the rules for all of the economic factors of the country. At the
date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements the economic
and political
32
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
situation has not stabilized, which generates different and probable
scenarios. In particular, the results of the renegotiations of the
Company's tariffs under the terms foreseen by Law No. 25561 and Decree No.
293/02 shall have a significant impact on the economic-financial equation
of Telecom.
33
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Despite the already mentioned difficulties and considering section 9 of
mentioned law which states that the National Government shall consider the
profitability of the public services companies in order to assess the
recoverable value of the fixed assets, the management of the Company have
adopted for their projection of incoming cash flows the modification of its
tariffs which allows it to recompose the economic-financial equation of the
Company in a non-regulated and competitive market, with reasonable levels
of profitability to pay its shareholders and financial creditors.
Additionally, the economic-financial projections include the satisfactory
results of the Group's financial debt restructuring described in Note 14.
Based upon the described methodology regarding the recoverable value of the
assets and the satisfactory processes of renegotiations of the Company's
tariffs and the financial debt of the Group, the management of Telecom
considers that fixed asset and intangible assets, taken as a whole, are not
valued in excess of recoverable value.
.. Recoverability of tax credits generated by the devaluation of the peso: in
accordance with Argentine GAAP related to income taxes accounted for by the
deferral method, the recoverability of tax credit carryforwards against
future income must be evaluated and requires a careful analysis of their
recoverability. The amount of the tax credit carryforwards at December 31,
2002 generated fundamentally by the devaluation of the Peso is
approximately $2,241 million and its recoverability shall depend
essentially on the results of the processes of renegotiation of the
Company's tariffs and restructuring of the financial debt of the Telecom
Group (Notes 13 and 14, respectively). Likewise, the management of the
Company has considered the capitalized foreign currency exchange
differences and the effect of the accounting for inflation of the fixed
assets as temporary differences and has recorded a deferred tax liability
of $1,541 million. Additionally, the Group has recorded other temporary
differences, that summed up to the amounts mentioned above, which result in
a deferred tax credit at December 31, 2002 of approximately $573 million.
The National Government, through Decree No. 2568/02 dated December 11,
2002, stated that net losses from exchange differences of assets and
liabilities in foreign currency in existence up to January 6, 2002 must be
determined considering the exchange rate of US$1=$1.40 and will be
deductible for income tax purpose only at a rate of 20% per year starting
in fiscal year 2002. Consequently, the difference between the $1.40 rate
and the exchange rate at year end ($3.37) must be entirely deducted for
income tax purpose in fiscal year 2002.
This Decree nullified the interpretation of the Company and its fiscal
counsel, which considered that the whole exchange difference would be
deferred in the period 2002 - 2006. As a consequence of this and
considering the five year prescription period for tax loss carryforward,
the probabilities to obtain enough taxable profits in the period 2002 -
2006 in order to use the tax credit carryforwards existing at December 31,
2002 and the deductible exchange differences for the next four fiscal
years, have diminished. So, the management of the Company has decided to
record a reserve at December 31, 2002, in addition to the existing reserve
of Nucleo of $18 million, for the total net deferred tax credits of Telecom
and Personal of $350 million and $192 million, respectively.
34
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Regarding the recoverability of tax credit on minimum presumed tax of $84
million, as the prescription period is ten years, the Board of Directors of
Telecom estimates that its recoverability is probable based on the
economic-financial projections.
.. Classification of debt: as some creditors have exercised their rights to
accelerate the maturity of their debts as expressed in Note 14, the
management of the Company has decided to disclose all its debt as current
liabilities, except for the debt with the Titan financial trust, which has
been refinanced as indicated in Note 8.
35
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
NOTE 4 - BASES OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
4.1. BASES OF PRESENTATION
The CPCECABA and the CNV approved RT 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of the FACPCE which
establish new accounting and disclosure principles. These new RT fit in the
project of harmonization of Argentine GAAP with IAS issued by the IASC and they
would take effect as from the Telecom Group's fiscal year beginning January 1,
2003.
As the Company's objective was always the adoption of accounting principles
consistent with IAS and that conform closely to the U.S.GAAP, the management of
the Company decided the early adoption of the new RT, in accordance with CNV
Resolution No. 434. Additional information on the impact of these new standards
on the Company's financial condition and the results of operations is given in
Note 4.1.c.
So, the Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with Argentine GAAP (RT 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19
established by the FACPCE, modified by the CPCECABA and subsequently adopted by
the CNV. The consolidated financial statements include certain reclassifications
and disclosures to conform more closely to the form and content required by the
SEC.
Where investments in subsidiaries are accounted for by the equity method,
Argentine GAAP requires companies with a controlling financial interest in other
companies to present both parent company and consolidated financial statements
as primary and supplementary information, respectively. Because of the special
purpose of these consolidated financial statements, the parent company's
summarized financial information is included in Note 19. This approach has been
adopted for the convenience of the reader of the financial statements.
In accordance with procedures defined in FACPCE RT 4, financial statements at
December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 have been consolidated on a line by line basis
for majority-owned subsidiaries, as follows:
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2001 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Publicom Publicom Publicom
Personal Personal Personal
Micro Sistemas Micro Sistemas Micro Sistemas
Telecom Argentina USA Telecom Argentina USA Telecom Internet (*)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) Merged into the Company on November 30, 2001.
The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could
differ from those estimates. Additionally, certain reclassifications to the
comparative figures were included in order to reach a better comparison between
those figures and the ones for December 31, 2002.
a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS USED FOR CONSOLIDATION
Financial statements at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 and for the fiscal
years/twelve month period ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 have been used
for the consolidation (see e below). Consequently, these periods coincide with
those of the Company.
b) FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
The Group follows FACPCE RT 18 with the amendments introduced by the CPCECABA to
translate the foreign corporations financial statements (Nucleo, Telecom
Argentina USA, Latin American Nautilus and Intelsat
36
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Ltd.) into Argentine pesos for purposes of consolidation, total or in a line,
considering that companies as companies non integrated.
37
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
According to this RT, the investments in these companies have been valued at
exchange rate at year-end.
Exchange rates differences resulting from the translation of those financial
statements are included in the Company's consolidated balance sheet in Temporary
differences from translation.
c) EFFECT OF THE NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS IN THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
The early adoption of the new accounting standards in accordance with CNV
Resolution No. 434, resulted in changes of valuation and disclosure criteria
that have been recorded by the Group as per the following detail:
.. CHANGES IN THE VALUATION CRITERIA OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
1. ACCOUNTING MEASUREMENT OF CERTAIN ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT THEIR CURRENT
VALUE. RT 16, which establishes the notions of professional accounting
standards, includes as one of the measurement criteria, the use of the
discounted amount of the net cash flow to be received and disbursed for
assets and liabilities, respectively, (current value). As a result, RT 17
provides as general criteria the accounting measurement of certain assets
and liabilities in currency based on the calculation of its current value,
using the internal rate of return determined at the time of measurement,
except the company intends and finds it feasible to dispose of its assets
or advance payment of its liabilities.
2. LOANS ARISING FROM REFINANCING. RT 17 establishes that when an arms' length
debt is replaced with another one, the terms of which are substantially
different from the original ones, the pre-existing account will be written
off and a new debt will be acknowledged, the accounting measurement of
which shall be made based on the best possible estimate of the sum payable,
discounted using a rate evidencing the market assessments on the time value
of money and the specific risks of the debt. In addition, the standard
provides, without admitting any evidence to the contrary, that the terms
are substantially different if the discounted value of the new debt differs
at least by ten percent from the discounted value of the refinanced debt.
In such regard, as stated in Note 8, the agreements entered into during FY
2002 by the TITAN Financial Trust are a refinancing subject to the new
accounting standards, so that Personal wrote off its existing debt and
acknowledged a new debt, pursuant to the new agreement entered into, at its
current value, by using a discount rate of 12% p.a. in US dollars.
3. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS. RT 20 establishes the particular
valuation and exposure criteria for derivative instruments and hedging
transactions. As per this standard, hedging derivative instruments must be
acknowledged in financial statements as assets or liabilities at their
current values as of the measurement date. In the case of a derivative
instrument to protect cash flow risks, the change in its current value is
charged, as per the CPCECABA's amendment, to a specific account called
"Temporary measurement differences of derivative instruments determined as
an effective hedge" included in the balance sheet and which shall be
reclassified as period income when assets or liabilities subject matter of
the hedge have an impact on such period's income. Instead, in the case of a
derivative instrument to protect the risks of changes in the current value,
changes in the current value are directly charged to period income. In both
cases, the non-cash
38
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
portion of derivative financial instruments is directly charged to period
income when such event is known. As of December 31, 2002, the application
of this standard to Telecom did not give rise to any accounting effect for
there were no current derivative instrument existing as of such date and
comparative figures were not adequate since the transition standard
establishes the non-correction of accounting balances of years prior to the
first year of application.
39
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
4. TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES FROM TRANSLATION. RT 18 amended by CPCECABA
establishes that the exchange differences arising from translation of
financial statements in foreign currency shall be exposed as an additional
chapter between liabilities and the stockholders' equity called "Temporary
differences from translation" instead of their being acknowledged as period
income.
5. PCS LICENSE. RT 17 amended by CPCECABA in item 5.13.3 establishes that if
the useful life of an intangible asset is undefined, its depreciation may
not be necessary, subject to comparisons of the accounting residuary value
and its recoverable values. Therefore, the management of the Company
decided to suspend the systematic depreciation of the PCS license as from
year 2002 considering that the accounting residuary value of such license
does not exceed its recoverable value at the closing of the accounting
period.
.. CHANGES IN DISCLOSURE CRITERIA
1. RECLASSIFICATION OF COSTS INCLUDED IN NET SALES. RT 19 establishes that
only reimbursements and allowances may be deducted from sales and not
direct taxes. Therefore, turnover taxes and other costs directly associated
with sales were reclassified at operating costs.
2. GOODWILL. RT 19 provides for the breakdown of the goodwill in a specific
caption within the balance sheet separating it from the Intangible Assets
caption. Depreciation of the caption shall be set forth in the consolidated
statement of operations as Depreciation of goodwill. In previous
years/twelve month periods, the Company included it within Equity losses
from related companies.
The adoption of these new valuation and disclosure criteria resulted in the
following impact for the year ended December 31, 2002 and in a retroactive
adjustment for the comparative figures, as follows:
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIODS ENDED
-------------------------------------------------------
12.31.02 12.31.01 12.31.00 12.31.99
-------------------------------------------------------
.. CHANGES IN VALUATION CRITERIA OF ASSETS AND (LOSS) PROFIT
LIABILITIES
1. OTHER RECEIVABLES
The Company (3) - - -
Subsidiaries 3 (3) (3) -
-------------------------------------------------------
- (3) (3) -
-------------------------------------------------------
2. LOANS ARISING FROM REFINANCING
Subsidiaries 43 - - -
-------------------------------------------------------
43 - - -
-------------------------------------------------------
3. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company - - - -
Subsidiaries - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------
- - - -
-------------------------------------------------------
4. TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES FROM TRANSLATION
The Company (10) - - -
Subsidiaries (26) - - -
Minority interest 8 - - -
-------------------------------------------------------
(28) - - -
-------------------------------------------------------
5. PCS LICENSE
Subsidiaries 44 - - -
-------------------------------------------------------
44 - - -
-------------------------------------------------------
Total valuation adjustments FY 2002 59 - - -
Total adjustments in Unappropriated retained earnings at
years/periods end (6) (3) (3) -
-------------------------------------------------------
.. CHANGES IN DISCLOSURE CRITERIA
1. NET SALES
The Company
- Turnover tax 90 159 153 137
- Settlement outgoing expenses 102 70 94 127
- Other direct costs of sales 34 48 19 -
Subsidiaries
- Turnover tax 41 74 70 81
-------------------------------------------------------
Higher net sales 267 351 336 345
-------------------------------------------------------
2. COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED
The Company
- Turnover tax (90) (159) (153) (137)
- Settlement outgoing expenses (102) (70) (94) (127)
- Other direct costs of sales (34) (48) (19) -
Subsidiaries
40
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
- Turnover tax (41) (74) (70) (81)
-------------------------------------------------------
Higher operating costs (267) (351) (336) (345)
-------------------------------------------------------
Net effect of reclassifications in the Consolidated
statements of operations - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------
41
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
d) ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in million of Argentine
pesos of constant currency, recognizing the inflation effects. In order to
prepare the accounting for inflation, the mechanism established by RT 6 was
used.
From September 1995, in accordance with the Argentine GAAP and CNV Resolution
No. 272/95 with provisions of National Government Decree No. 316/95, inflation
adjustments of financial statements had been discontinued.
However, the end of the stability context, which characterized the period in
which the Convertibility Law was applicable and had justified the
discontinuation of the accounting for inflation, forced the CPCECABA to issue
Resolution No. 3/02 which reestablished the mechanism of restatement of the
financial statement according to RT 6, amended by RT 19, using the Wholesale
Internal Prices Index, from January 1, 2002.
In July 2002, National Government Decree No. 1269/02 repealed Decree No. 316/95,
reestablishing the accounting for inflation of the financial statements. The
CNV, through Resolution No. 415/02, adopted this procedure. Consequently,
present financial statements are restated in constant pesos since January 1,
2002, fulfilling the accounting and legal standards.
Changes in price indices for the fiscal years/twelve month period ended December
31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 have been as follows:
WHOLESALE INTERNAL PRICES
PERIODS INDEX CONSUMER PRICES INDEX
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
January'00 - December'00 1.08% (1.81%)
January'01 - December'01 2.71% (0.80%)
January'02 - December'02 118.21% 40.95%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Implicit financing costs have been segregated in the disclosure of assets and
liabilities, where significant.
e) CHANGE OF FISCAL YEAR-END AND COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2002 include as comparative
information the fiscal year and the twelve month period ended December 31, 2001
and 2000, respectively, adapted to the new fiscal tear-end approved in September
30, 2000 and included in the Company's Consolidated financial statements at
December 31, 2001 as comparative information.
The comparative figures corresponding to the statements of operations, of
changes in shareholders' equity and of cash flow for the twelve month period
ended December 31, 2000 are the result of the addition of the figures
corresponding to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000 to the irregular
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and the deduction of the amounts
corresponding to the three month period ended December 31, 1999. The auditors
that reviewed the financial statements used for the calculation of those
comparative figures (December 31, 2000, September 30, 2000, and December 31,
1999) issued the reports in all cases without observations.
f) FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS TO HEDGE FINANCIAL RISK OR REDUCE FINANCING COSTS
During the period in which the Convertibility Law that fixed the exchange rate
between Argentine peso and the dollar at $ 1 = US$ 1 was in force, as part of
its risk management strategy, Telecom Group had decided to convert a significant
portion of its debt obligations denominated in foreign currencies other than the
U.S. dollar to the
42
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
U.S. dollar in order to reach a "natural hedge" with its
income fixed in dollars as described in Note 2.g. Occasionally, the Group had
also swapped the interest on debt in order to balance its financial payments
between fixed and floating interest on debt.
However, due to the change in current macroeconomic conditions described in Note
3, Telecom Group terminated all of its foreign currency and interest rate swap
agreements during the second quarter of the year 2002 (see Note 8).
The Company and its subsidiaries do not invest in speculative derivative
financial instruments.
43
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
g) CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
The Company and some of its subsidiaries provide telecommunication services to
residential, commercial and governmental clients, granting credit in accordance
with regulations governing such services, generally without security. The fixed
customer lines (pre-paid lines were not included) were 3,293,952, 3,583,622 and
3,575,389 at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, and the cellular
customer lines (pre-paid lines were not included) were 462,730, 722,906 and
897,310 at these dates, respectively, and represents a diverse customer base.
The risk of collectibility varies among customers largely due to the individual
financial situation of the customer. The Group evaluates the risk of
uncollectable accounts and provides an allowance for doubtful accounts
receivable.
h) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
In the Consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company includes as cash and
cash equivalents all highly liquid investments purchased with an original
maturity of three months or less.
i) REVENUE RECOGNITION
Revenue is recognized as services are provided to customers. Revenue recognized
may result in receivables not yet billed to customers.
However, in the case of revenues for installation fees, the Company recognizes
them in the period in which the installation service is completed, jointly with
the related costs. Considering that the installation costs are higher than the
related revenues, it is considered that this criterion corresponds with U.S.GAAP
(see Note 20), because U.S.GAAP requires the deferral of the installation fees
and the related costs considering the estimated average useful life of
customers. However costs in excess of the related revenues cannot be deferred.
For services paid for by the customers but not yet provided to them, the Company
records a liability.
Both services provided for but not billed and services paid for but not
rendered, are estimated using technical measurement information systems.
j) NET INCOME (LOSSES) AND DIVIDENDS PER SHARE
The Company calculates net income (losses) and dividends per share on the basis
of 984,380,978 common shares outstanding with a $1 nominal value and one vote
per share.
4.2. PRINCIPAL VALUATION CRITERIA
a) BALANCES IN FOREIGN CURRENCY: at exchange rates existing at each
year/period-end. Exhibit G shows details of foreign currency balances.
Foreign exchange gains or losses expressed in constant pesos, net of the
effect of the inflation, were credited to or charged against net income of
each year/period, as appropriate.
As the devaluation of the peso has been significant, the CPCECABA issued
Resolution No. 3/02, subsequently adopted by CNV Resolution No. 398, that
requires for the capitalization of foreign currency exchange differences by
debt, originated in the devaluation of the Argentine peso as from January
6, 2002.
These resolutions establish that capitalized foreign currency exchange
differences are in advance for the accounting for inflation and are
included in the future restatement of the
44
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
financial statements in constant pesos. Meanwhile, the excess over these
constant figures will be recorded in the financial statements. The Company
calculated the capitalization following the methodology described in these
resolutions. The financial results capitalized are detailed in Note 5.t and
Exhibit A.
Considering that in the second quarter of fiscal year 2002, the restatement
in constant pesos was reestablished and, considering the volatility of the
economical and operating variables that affect the Group's business, the
management of Telecom considers reasonable not to capitalize foreign
currency exchange differences on fixed assets from April 1, 2002.
45
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
b) Cash and banks in pesos: at nominal value plus accrued interest at each
year/period-end, where applicable.
c) Trade accounts and other receivables in currency and liabilities originated
in the sale or purchase of goods and services and in financial
transactions: at its accounting measurement, as a result of the discounted
value of the cash flows that will be generated by assets and liabilities by
using the internal rate of return at the moment of the initial measurement.
This measurement does not significantly differs from the nominal value plus
accrued interest at each year/period-end.
Premiums or discounts are amortized on a straight-line basis over the debt
period. Legal fees, commissions and other bond issuance costs corresponding
to debt issuance are capitalized as Intangible assets and amortized over
the term of the corresponding debt. Amortization is classified within
Financial and holding results in the Consolidated statement of operations.
The costs of foreign currency and interest rate swap contracts were
amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the corresponding debt
and classified within Interest on debt and Foreign currency exchange losses
within Financial and holding results in the Consolidated statement of
operations. Results from swaps cancellation described in Note 8 are
included within Financial and holding results in the Consolidated statement
of operations.
d) Other receivables and liabilities in currency not included in c) above
(except for deferred tax assets and liabilities and retirement benefits):
at its accounting measurement, as a result of the discounted value of the
cash flows that will be generated by assets and liabilities by using the
internal rate of return at the moment of the measurement. This measurement
does not significantly differs from the nominal value plus accrued interest
at each year/period-end.
e) INVESTMENTS:
. Public bonds to be held to maturity: at cost plus amortized discount
earned using the internal rate of return at date of purchase (see the
additional information in Note 3).
. Other public bonds: at market value less estimated sales costs.
. Equity investments:
. subsidiaries in the unconsolidated financial statements: at VPP
based upon subsidiaries financial statements and using comparable
accounting criteria as are used for the Company's consolidated
financial statements.
. related companies: at VPP based upon related companies financial
statements and using comparable accounting criteria as are used for
the Company's consolidated financial statements. In those companies
where their financial statements closing date is different than that
of the Company, financial statements with a closing date of no more
than three months are used for consolidation purposes.
The management of the Company is not aware of any event that modifies
its financial position or the results of its operations or
significantly affects the valuation of its investments in subsidiaries
or related companies and the corresponding results at December 31,
2002, since the approval date of their financial statements.
46
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
. Investment in Intelsat Ltd.: at acquisition cost or VPP, the
least.
. Capital contributions: at nominal value restated as detailed in
Note 4.1.d.
Investments in foreign companies were valued at exchange rates existing at
each year/period-end. Foreign exchange gains or losses are accounted for in
the Temporary differences from translation caption of the Consolidated
balance sheets. Investments are detailed in Exhibit C and D.
f) Inventories: at each year/period-end replacement cost. Inventories have
been recorded at amounts, which do not exceed their net realizable value.
47
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
The sales prices of cellular handsets are influenced by a marketing
strategy to achieve higher market penetration by reducing customer access
costs, without losing sight of the overall cellular business profitability.
As a result, on occasion, the management of the Company decides to sell
handsets at prices lower than replacement cost. As these sales price
policies are the result of decisions of the management of the Company,
promotional prices are not used to calculate the net realizable value of
such inventories.
g) OTHER ASSETS:
. Deferred printing costs: at cost restated as detailed in Note 4.1.d,
which is expensed as directories are issued.
. Raw materials: at replacement cost.
h) FIXED ASSETS:
. Transferred from ENTel: at the transfer price, restated as detailed in
Note 4.1.d less accumulated depreciation at year/period-end. At
December 31, 2002, title transfer of 4.73% of these assets remains to
be completed; the Company is in full possession of these assets and
they are integrated into the economic activity of the Company.
. Acquired subsequent to November 8, 1990: at acquisition cost, restated
as detailed in Note 4.1.d less accumulated depreciation.
The cost of fixed assets whose construction over a prolonged period of time
is financed includes capitalized interest on associated third party
financing. These costs are detailed in Note 5.t and Exhibit A.
Fixed asset acquisitions financed by leases are recorded at the estimated
price which would have been paid on a cash basis, with the unpaid amount
discounted using the internal rate of return at the moment of the initial
measurement (including the purchase price option), recorded as a liability.
Fixed assets, whose operating condition warrants replacement earlier than
the end of the useful life, are depreciated based on the remaining useful
life assigned in accordance with the Company's investment plan.
Fixed assets are depreciated using the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of each asset class.
Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation, taken as a whole, are not
valued in excess of recoverable value (see the additional information in
Note 3). Fixed assets activity is detailed in Exhibit A.
i) Intangible assets: at acquisition cost, restated as detailed in Note 4.1.d
less accumulated amortization at year/period-end.
The cost of intangible assets developed over a prolonged period of time
includes capitalized interest on associated third party financing. These
costs are detailed in Note 5.t.
Intangible assets are depreciated using the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of each asset class, except for PCS license, as
follows:
System development costs 60 months
Debt issue costs Initial debt term
Usage rights 180 months
Exclusivity rights Contract term
Websites 24 months
Trademarks and patents 180 months
The Company has suspended the amortization of the PCS license as from FY
2002 in accordance with the new accounting standards,
48
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
because it is an intangible with non-defined useful life, whose accounting
value does not exceed its recoverable value.
Intangible assets activity is detailed in Exhibit B.
49
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
j) Goodwill: at acquisition cost, restated as detailed in Note 4.1.d less
accumulated amortization at year/period-end. Goodwill is depreciated using
the straight-line method over a sixty month period.
k) Dismissal indemnities and termination payments are charged to Other
expenses when a termination decision is made.
l) TAXES PAYABLE:
. Income Tax: income tax is calculated on estimated taxable income at
the statutory tax rate in effect at year/period end (35%). The
resulting amount was charged to Income tax in the Consolidated
statement of operations. It also includes the effects of the adoption
of the deferral method (see Note 10). Deferred tax assets and
liabilities have been valued at nominal value in accordance with CNV
Resolution No. 434.
. Tax on minimum presumed income: the Telecom Group has estimated tax
loss carryforward by the end of fiscal year 2002. Consequently a
credit for tax on minimum presumed income was recorded and has been
included in Other receivables, because it was estimated that the
payments for this tax will be recoverable within the legal term of
prescription.
. Turnover Tax: for the fiscal years/twelve months periods ended
December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, turnover taxes as an overall percent
of applicable revenues were 3.41%, 3.38% and 3.08%, respectively.
m) OTHER LIABILITIES:
. Retirement benefits: represent obligations for accrued and unpaid
benefits stipulated in collective bargaining agreements. Accruals are
actuarially determined based upon existing information at each
year/period-end.
n) RESERVES:
. Asset reserves: have been provided for doubtful accounts receivable,
other receivables for the recoverability of the deferred net assets
and for inventories whose realization is not assured based upon
year/period-end analyses. Additional information is given in Note 3.
. Liability reserves: have been provided for contingencies based upon
management estimates and the opinion of legal counsel.
Activity in these reserves is detailed in Exhibit E.
o) Shareholders' equity accounts: they are restated as described in Note
4.1.d, except Capital stock, at nominal value. The restatement is included
in Adjustment to capital stock.
p) Statement of operations accounts: they are restated as follows:
. charges by consumption and non monetary assets depreciation (fixed and
intangible assets) were recorded considering the restated amounts;
. financial results in constant pesos are disclosed net of the effect of
the inflation generated by the corresponding assets and liabilities;
. other results at cost restated as described in Note 4.1.d.
q) Unusual losses: represent losses that perform only one of the necessary
requirements to be classified as extraordinary (atypical and exceptional
issue) and that must be shown as a separate caption in the ordinary
results.
50
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
They corresponded to a part of the "Tax on credits and debits in bank
accounts and other operations" that impacts directly in the costs of the
Group, because, until February 18, 2002, only one portion of this tax could
be deducted from the determinative income tax and VAT. The new tax is in
force since April 3, 2001 to December 31, 2002. Its collection would be
affected to the creation of a Fund of Public Emergency and the Government
had expressed its intention to consider the total tax as payment in advance
of VAT and income tax at the moment that it would cease the economic
emergency.
51
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
As a consequence of the serious economic crisis and the importance of this
tax measured in terms of tax collection, the National Government extended
its force until December 31, 2004. The management of the Company had
estimated that this extension would be probable; so that, as from the
second quarter of fiscal year 2002, $46 million of unusual losses have been
reclassified to Operating costs.
NOTE 5 - DETAILS OF PRINCIPAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CAPTIONS
The composition of principal financial statement captions is as follows:
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT ASSETS
a) CASH AND BANKS
Cash 3 9
Banks 50 87
National and provincial Public bonds (*) 36 32
-----------------------
(*) With settlement power in their respective jurisdictions and used by the
Company to pay taxes there 89 128
=======================
b) INVESTMENTS
Short term investments (Exhibit D) 1,131 330
Public bonds (Exhibit C) 185 -
-----------------------
1,316 330
=======================
c) TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Basic national and international telephone service, data
transmission and Internet 516 1,239
Cellular telephone service in the Argentine Republic 282 591
Cellular telephone service abroad 69 59
Directories edition 25 103
-----------------------
Subtotal of trade accounts receivable 892 1,992
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable (Exhibit E) (296) (513)
-----------------------
596 1,479
=======================
d) OTHER RECEIVABLES
Deferred tax assets (Note 10) 4 152
Tax credits 17 59
Prepaid expenses 16 35
Accounts receivable from employees 8 24
Accounts receivable from unions 1 2
Swap agreements collateral - 292
Various 30 69
-----------------------
76 633
=======================
e) INVENTORIES
Cellular handsets and equipment (Exhibit F) 17 52
Allowance for obsolescence of inventories (Exhibit E) (5) (4)
-----------------------
12 48
=======================
f) OTHER ASSETS
Deferred printing costs 2 9
Raw materials 1 4
-----------------------
3 13
=======================
NON CURRENT ASSETS
g) TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Basic national telephone service - 8
Directories edition 1 -
-----------------------
1 8
=======================
h) OTHER RECEIVABLES
Deferred tax assets (Note 10) 569 13
Credit on tax on minimum presumed income 84 45
Other tax credits 1 4
Certificates of tax credit 31 41
Prepaid expenses 6 15
Receivables from sale of Sky Argentina S.C.A 5 11
Various 7 1
-----------------------
Subtotal 703 130
Allowance for other receivables (565) (13)
-----------------------
138 117
=======================
52
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i) GOODWILL
AMORTIZATION
ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ------------------------------
VALUE VALUE ACCUMULATED
AT AT AT FOR ACCUMULATED NET NET
BEGINNING YEAR BEGINNING THE AT YEAR BALANCE BALANCE
OF YEAR ADDITIONS END OF YEAR YEAR END 2002 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
On the acquisition of Cable
Insignia 1 2 3 (1) - (1) 2 -
On the acquisition of
Soluciones 71 - 71 (61) (10) (71) - 10
On the acquisition of Micro
Sistemas 5 - 5 (5) - (5) - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------
Total 2002 77 2 79 (67) (10) (77) 2
========================================================================================================
Total 2001 77 - 77 (49) (18) (67) 10
======================================================================================================== =========
CURRENT LIABILITIES
j) ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Vendors 357 881
Advances from customers (Note 4.1.i) 21 22
Capital leases (Note 11) 2 63
Companies Law No. 19550 Sect. 33 and related parties (Note 7.d) 11 105
-----------------------
391 1,071
=======================
k) COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL BENEFITS PAYABLE
Vacation, awards and social benefits 41 94
Termination benefits 15 28
Compensation fund 5 11
-----------------------
61 133
=======================
l) TAXES PAYABLE
Tax on minimum presumed income 50 -
Income tax (net of payments) - 31
VAT (net of payments) 27 65
Turnover tax 24 44
Other taxes 16 46
-----------------------
117 186
=======================
m) OTHER LIABILITIES
Contributions to social programs for Internet access and others 13 28
Repair funds 4 13
Various 8 4
-----------------------
25 45
=======================
NON CURRENT LIABILITIES
n) ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Vendors - 4
Capital leases (Note 11) - 20
-----------------------
- 24
=======================
o) COMPENSATION AND SOCIAL BENEFITS PAYABLE
Termination benefits 18 52
Compensation fund 11 31
-----------------------
29 83
=======================
p) OTHER LIABILITIES
Retirement benefits 6 15
Lease of international capacity 14 9
Various 9 4
-----------------------
29 28
=======================
53
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
INCOME (EXPENSE)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS --------------------------------
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
q) NET SALES
National and international telephone service 2,510 4,453 4,768
Cellular telephone service 1,028 1,809 1,907
Data transmission and Internet 422 640 558
Directories edition 23 102 116
--------------------------------
3,983 7,004 7,349
================================
r) EQUITY LOSSES FROM RELATED COMPANIES
Latin American Nautilus (15) (5) -
Intelsat Ltd. - 2 -
Agroconnection - (2) -
Multibrand - - (2)
Nahuelsat (8) (1) -
--------------------------------
(23) (6) (2)
================================
s) DEPRECIATION OF GOODWILL
Soluciones, (10) (15) (15)
Micro Sistemas - (2) -
Cable Insignia - (1) -
--------------------------------
(10) (18) (15)
================================
t) FINANCIAL AND HOLDING RESULTS GENERATED BY ASSETS
Interest earned on short term investments (3) 48 65
Interest earned on trade accounts receivable 78 89 79
Foreign currency exchange gains 613 (2) -
Results from measurement of assets at present value - (3) (3)
Results on holding of national and provincial public bonds by
collection (72) - -
Losses on exposure to inflation (2,073) - -
Other financial results (84) (13) 22
--------------------------------
Total generated by assets (1,541) 119 163
--------------------------------
GENERATED BY LIABILITIES
Interest on debt (*) (912) (663) (644)
Capitalized interest and foreign currency exchange differences by
debt on work in progress and intangible assets 66 103 129
Capitalized foreign currency exchange differences by debt 891 - -
Results from swaps cancellation (279) - -
Tax on corporate indebtedness (4) (15) (48)
Foreign currency exchange losses (4,405) (13) 4
Gains on exposure to inflation 935 - -
Results from measurement of liabilities at present value 43 - -
Other financial results (57) (34) (83)
--------------------------------
Total generated by liabilities (3,722) (622) (642)
--------------------------------
Total financial and holding results (5,263) (503) (479)
================================
(*) Includes (9), (11) and (7), respectively, corresponding to the
amortization of debt issue costs.
u) OTHER EXPENSES, NET
Dismissal indemnities and termination benefits (48) (83) (48)
Reserves for contingencies (100) (39) (46)
Disposal of inventories leased without charge (22) - -
Net income from sale of fixed assets and other income (expense), net (5) (7) (11)
--------------------------------
(175) (129) (105)
================================
v) UNUSUAL LOSSES
Tax on bank debits and credits - (33) -
================================
NOTE 6 - SUPPLEMENTARY CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW INFORMATION
The Group uses the indirect method of reconciling net income to cash flows
provided by operating activities.
Funds in excess of daily cash needs are invested in short term investments with
maturities of less than three months and, as a result, such investments are not
presented in the Consolidated statements of cash flows.
The composition of cash and cash equivalents is as follows:
AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000 1999
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and banks 53 96 52 39
Short term investments 1,251 330 637 388
-----------------------------------------------
Total of cash and cash equivalents 1,304 426 689 427
===============================================
54
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Income tax payments are as follows:
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income tax paid - 233 277
================================
Changes in assets and liabilities by financial statements caption
are as follows:
DECREASE (INCREASE) IN ASSETS
Investments not considered as cash or cash equivalents 55 - -
Trade accounts receivable (98) (223) (354)
Other receivables 1,027 (137) 65
Inventories (16) 142 (152)
Other assets 10 4 -
--------------------------------
978 (214) (441)
================================
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN LIABILITIES
Accounts payable (385) (440) 131
Compensation and social benefits payable (129) 11 (48)
Taxes payable (61) 87 (20)
Other liabilities (25) (20) (44)
Reserves (95) (41) (57)
--------------------------------
(695) (403) (38)
================================
.. PRINCIPAL NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS
The principal non-cash transactions, which are not reflected in the
Consolidated statements of cash flows, are as follows:
Fixed asset acquisitions financed by debt and accounts payable 11 342 770
Fixed asset acquisitions financed by capital leases 1 9 7
Intangible asset acquisitions financed by accounts payable - 4 11
Inventories acquisitions financed by accounts payable - 33 103
Capitalized interest on work in progress and intangible assets 67 103 129
Inventories leased without charge 11 33 161
Transactions with national and provincial public bonds
Trade accounts receivable collections 847 32 -
Income tax payments from 2001 annual filing and minimum
presumed income (46) - -
Other taxes payments (402) - -
Accounts payable payments (222) - -
--------------------------------
267 556 1,181
================================
.. PRINCIPAL INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of investments and related intangible assets include
the following:
Intelsat Ltd. - - 2
Capital contributions to Latin American Nautilus - - (13)
Capital contributions to Agroconnection - - (2)
Advances for the acquisition of shares of Latin American Nautilus - - (2)
--------------------------------
- - (15)
================================
Fixed asset acquisitions include the following:
Debt repayment on fixed assets acquired in prior periods (237) (598) (585)
================================
Intangible asset acquisitions include the following:
System development costs (18) (59) (76)
PCS license (1) (183) (185)
Exclusivity rights (3) (11) (28)
Usage rights (1) - (7)
B Band of Paraguay license (1) - -
Websites - - (2)
--------------------------------
(24) (253) (298)
================================
Funds used and generated by Investments not considered as cash or cash
equivalents are as follows:
Public bonds 99 (9) 196
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets 2 2 11
Investments denominated in foreign currency - - 229
--------------------------------
101 (7) 436
================================
55
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
.. PRINCIPAL FINANCING ACTIVITIES
The principal components of financing activities are:
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD 2002 2001 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate bonds - 356 522
Bank loans and others 18 1,226 1,997
--------------------------------
Debt proceeds 18 1,582 2,519
================================
Corporate bonds - (218) (1,466)
Bank loans and others (42) (1,213) (895)
Fixed asset and inventory acquisitions - - (50)
--------------------------------
Repayment of debt (42) (1,431) (2,411)
================================
Corporate bonds (190) (312) (412)
Swap contracts collateral (67) (292) -
Bank loans and others (86) (142) (116)
Fixed asset and inventory acquisitions (98) (185) (116)
Tax on corporate indebtedness (2) (22) (55)
Debt issue cost (intangible assets) - (4) (11)
--------------------------------
Payment of interest and related expenses (443) (957) (710)
================================
NOTE 7 - TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES WITH RELATED COMPANIES AND PARTIES
AND CONTROLLING COMPANY AS DEFINED UNDER LAW No. 19550 SECTION 33
a) CONTROLLING COMPANY
Nortel, headquartered at Alicia Moreau de Justo 50, 11th floor, Ciudad Autonoma
de Buenos Aires, holds 51% of the Company's Class "A" shares and 8.47% of the
Company's Class "B" shares (representing 3.74168% of the Company's shares),
which places it in control of the Company under Law No. 19550, Section 33.
Ownership of Nortel is equally divided between the Operators.
b) RELATED PARTIES
Related parties are those legal entities or individuals other than the
controlling company or related companies defined under Law No. 19550, Section
33, and which are related to the Operators.
c) MANAGEMENT CONTRACT. SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN SERVICES AND PAYMENT OF THE
MANAGEMENT FEE UNTIL THE CONTRACT MATURITY.
In accordance with point 3.1.3 of the Pliego, the Company entered into a
management agreement with the Operators, approved by Decree No. 2332/90 as
appendix of the Transfer Agreement. The Management Contract would be
automatically renewed as long as the Company continued to provide services
during the exclusivity period.
Under this contract, the Operators committed to provide the Company with their
experience, technology and operating skills in the area of public
telecommunications services including, between other provisions, the selection
and hiring of qualified management personnel.
In August 1999, the parties ratified a new five years management contract ("the
Contract", effective since the expiration date of the previous contract) with
terms and conditions substantially equivalent to the original contract,
renewable for a subsequent five year period (since the maturity of the
exclusivity period of the license, which was on October 9, 1999) upon agreement
by all parties.
In October 2001, considering the Argentine economic recession, the Operators
granted the Company a temporary decrease of the fee set forth in Point 2.7 of
the Contract ("Management Fee"), from 3% to 1.25%, without affecting the
services to be provided by the Operators or the clauses of the Contract. This
decrease was effective during the period extending from October 1, 2001 to March
31, 2002.
56
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Considering the seriousness and extension of the crisis that affected to
Argentina and its impact over Telecom's situation, the Board of Directors agreed
with the Operators to suspend transitorily - except for the provisions of the
section referred to as "Management and Know - how" on highly qualified personnel
to assist in the management - from April 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002 the rights
and obligations of the parties provided for in section II of the Contract, which
included the suspension of the accrual and collection of the Management Fee. The
latter notwithstanding the special services required by Telecom pursuant to what
is specifically provided in the Contract. Likewise, France Cables et Radio S.A.
and Telecom Italia SpA. stated that, as the Operators - pursuant to Decree No
62/90, as amended and supplemented -, confirmed their intention to provide
Telecom with all the reasonable support and cooperation in order to help Telecom
overcome its present difficulties, exclusively recovering travelling and hotel
expenses related to their involvement in these matters.
Considering that there is an extension of the causes that motivated the
agreement before mentioned, Telecom required the Operators to extend all its
terms until the Contract maturity, provided in Point 7.2 of mentioned contract
(October, 2004), which has been accepted by the Operators.
d) BALANCES WITH LAW NO. 19550, SECT. 33 RELATED COMPANIES AND PARTIES:
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NON CURRENT ASSETS
INVESTMENTS
Multibrand (Exhibit C) - 2
--------------------
Total with related companies - 2
====================
CURRENT LIABILITIES
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Multibrand 1 2
Latin American Nautilus 3 1
--------------------
Total with related companies 4 3
--------------------
Telecom Italia S.p.A. Argentina branch - 31
Telesoft S.p.A. Argentina branch - 11
Saritel S.A. - 4
Pirelli Cables S.A.I.C. - 2
Teco Soft Argentina S.A. 1 -
France Cables et Radio Argentina branch 6 39
Tel 3 S.A. - 4
Sofrecom Argentina S.A. - 11
--------------------
Total with related parties 7 102
--------------------
Total 11 105
====================
e) TRANSACTIONS WITH LAW NO. 19550, SECT. 33 RELATED COMPANIES AND PARTIES:
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. SERVICES RECEIVED COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED
--------------------------------
Multibrand (3) (9) (9)
Latin American Nautilus (15) (4) -
Nahuelsat (7) (11) (3)
Intelsat Ltd. (8) (7) (9)
--------------------------------
Subtotal related companies (33) (31) (21)
--------------------------------
Telecom Italia S.p.A. Argentina branch (13) (118) (148)
Telesoft S.p.A. Argentina branch (14) (35) (26)
Teco Soft Argentina S.A. (10) - -
Olivetti Argentina S.A. (2) (7) (2)
France Cables et Radio Argentina branch (14) (122) (159)
Sofrecom Argentina S.A. (9) (22) (9)
Tel 3 S.A. (1) (7) (4)
Italtel S.A. (*) - - (2)
Sirti Argentina S.A. (*) - - (7)
--------------------------------
Subtotal related parties (63) (311) (357)
--------------------------------
Total cost of services provided (96) (342) (378)
================================
FIXED ASSETS AND INTANGIBLE
.. GOODS PURCHASED ASSETS
--------------------------------
Telesoft S.p.A. Argentina branch 6 50 52
Teco Soft Argentina S.A. 4 - -
Pirelli Cables S.A.I.C. 1 2 -
57
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Sofrecom Argentina S.A. 14 33 46
Tel3 S.A. 5 20 28
Olivetti Argentina S.A. - 2 4
Saritel S.A. - 4 4
Sirti Argentina S.A. (*) - - 44
--------------------------------
Total goods purchased to related parties 30 111 178
================================
(*) Sirti Argentina and Italtel were no longer Telecom Group's companies since
August 2000 and September 2000, respectively.
58
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
f) INFORMATION ON COMPANIES OF THE TELECOM GROUP
.. MERGER WITH INTERNACIONAL
Telintar, a company dissolved and then merged with Internacional, that was
then merged into the Company as from October 1, 1999, presented to the DGI
in April 1995 a claim for the refund of income and asset taxes of
approximately $6 million. As the DGI has yet to rule on the company's
claim, the corresponding requested refund has not been recorded.
.. SALE OF SHARES OF AGROCONNECTION
On April 24, 2002, the Board of Directors approved the transfer of its
interest in Agroconnection (21,428 Class "A" preferred shares) to the
remaining shareholders of that company. The transfer price was agreed in
$150,000, of which $1,000 were received in cash and the balance will be
cancelled by way of a credit to advertise in the Agro Connection S.A. site.
This operation was fulfilled on June 28, 2002.
.. SALE OF INTEREST IN INTELSAT LTD.
On June 6, 2002, the Board of Directors approved the transfer of 200,432
ordinary shares of its whole interest in Intelsat Ltd. (260,432 ordinary
shares) in the Initial Public Offering ("IPO") of its ordinary shares that
this company intended to conduct at the NYSE and that would be completed by
no later than December 31, 2002. However, the market's adverse conditions
impelled to the cancellation of the IPO, as noticed in January 2003.
NOTE 8 - DEBT
Debt consists of the following:
12.31.02 12.31.01
----------------------- -----------------------
CURRENT
. Capital
Corporate bonds 5,367 894
Bank loans and others 2,082 783
Fixed asset acquisitions 2,503 643
Inventory acquisitions 507 10,459 100 2,420
----------- ------------
. Accrued interest 560 113
. Compensatory interest 34 -
----------- ----------
11,053 2,533
=========== ==========
NON-CURRENT
. Capital
Corporate bonds - 2,538
Bank loans and others 141 928
Fixed asset acquisitions - 845
Inventory acquisitions - 141 248 4,559
----------- ------------
. Accrued interest 3 -
----------- ----------
144 4,559
----------- ----------
Total debt 11,197 7,092
=========== ==========
CORPORATE BONDS OF THE COMPANY
The Company issued various debt instruments under Corporate Bonds Law No. 23576.
The following is a summary of the major characteristics of each outstanding
issue:
59
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
BOOK VALUE
ANNUAL AT MARKET
TERM, INTEREST DECEMBER VALUE AT
GLOBAL DATE OF NOMINAL VALUE IN MATURITY RATE AS A 31, 2002 DECEMBER
PROGRAM ISSUE (IN MILLION) YEARS DATE % (A) 31, 2002
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Series C 11.15.95 US$ 200 7 11.15.02 12.0000(b) 425 (e) 136
Series E 5.5.97 US$ 100 8 5.5.05 4.6990 337 145
Series F 5.30.97 (d) Euro 207 10 5.30.07 8.8750(c) 731 299
Series H 3.18.98 (d) Euro 207 10 3.18.08 4.8100 731 299
Series I 4.8.99 Euro 200 5 4.8.04 8.3750 706 332
Series K 7.1.99 Euro 250 3 7.1.02 7.2500 883 233
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Series 1 4.7.00 Euro 250 3 4.7.03 7.6250 883 415
Series 2 7.2.01 Euro 190 3 7.2.04 9.5000 671 316
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital plus premiums 5,367 2,175
==========
Accrued payable interest 399
Compensatory interest 7
------------
5,773
============
(a) Tax on corporate indebtedness is not included.
(b) The series was issued at LIBOR plus 3.125%.
(c) 6 month LIBOR for Itl plus 1.5%.
(d) They were originally issued in Italian Lira.
(e) Last available quotation.
.. USE OF FINANCING PROCEEDS
Series C was applied to restructure liabilities and working capital in
Argentina. As a result of the repurchase of obligations in 1997 (US$72 million)
and retirement of obligations on November 15, 1999 (US$1,873,000), the principal
balance outstanding is US$126,127,000.
Series E was applied to restructure liabilities.
Series F, H, I, K, 1 & 2 were used to restructure liabilities and for working
capital in Argentina.
.. GLOBAL DEBT PROGRAMS
.. GLOBAL PROGRAM B
The period for debt instruments permitted to be issued under this program ended
August 10, 1999. At December 31, 2002 the Company has six series of bonds
outstanding under this program.
.. GLOBAL PROGRAMS C AND D
The Company has two programs for the issue and re-issue of corporate bonds not
convertible into shares: one for short-term debt up to US$200 million ("C") and
one for medium term debt up to US$1,500 million ("D"). At December 31, 2002 the
Company has two series of bonds outstanding under program D.
.. CHARACTERISTICS OF CORPORATE BONDS
Shareholders granted the Board of Directors the authority to set the terms of
debt instruments within each program: amount, interest rate, series price and
currency denomination.
Debt instruments corresponding to corporate bonds and indebtedness programs have
been assessed by two businesses which rate risk within Argentina.
Terms and conditions of corporate bonds establish certain commitments by the
Company, in case that:
60
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
a) The Company permits certain liens on assets or revenues in order to offer
security for certain debt obligations without offering equal coverage to
corporate bonds outstanding.
b) The Company and its subsidiaries may merge or consolidate with any outside
party, selling or otherwise disposing of assets which may be considered
integral to the provision of telecommunication services.
61
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
BANKS LOANS
.. SYNDICATED LOANS TO TELECOM
NOMINAL TERM, NET BOOK
LEAD VALUE IN MATURITY ANNUAL INTEREST DEBT VALUE AT
BANK (IN MILLION) YEARS DATE RATE AS A % AMORTIZATION 12.31.02
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banc of America US$ 135 3 9.28.03 LIBOR plus 1.625% At maturity. 455
(year 1) Pre-payment
LIBOR plus 1.875% permitted.
(year 2)
LIBOR plus 2.125%
(year 3)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
455
===========
At December 31, 2002 LIBOR was 1.38%.
.. TITAN FINANCIAL TRUST
Personal issued two promissory notes dated August 23, 2000 for US$30 million
each, with maturity dates on August 23, 2002 and August 25, 2003, respectively,
in favor of Bank of America N.A., Buenos Aires Branch, which were part of the
TITAN Telecom Personal 2000 Class I Financial Trust constituted under the zero
coupon regime by the mentioned entity according to Law No. 24441 of the
Argentine Republic. Simultaneously, Personal and the trustee executed an early
cancellation agreement under which Personal, given certain events, agreed to the
notes' early cancellation at their current value and to bear the early
termination costs arising from the forward purchase agreements that, under the
Trust agreement, trustee should contract as coverage of the dollar revenue
coming from the notes' collection and the disbursements in pesos deriving from
its payment obligation under the debt securities.
Subsequently, Personal notified trustee of the occurrence of a fact that
constituted an event of default under the terms of the early cancellation
agreement. This situation resulted in the submission of a refinancing proposal
modifying the Trust's terms and conditions. Such proposal was accepted by
Trustee.
Pursuant to Decree No. 992/02 in relation to the re-organization of the
financial system, under which liabilities in dollars of forward contracts were
converted into pesos at a rate of US$1= $1.40, Personal notified its intention
of suspending the negotiations and the execution of the documentation provided
for in the proposal. These facts gave rise to controversies between the parties
resulting in the execution of an arbitration agreement.
On November 28, 2002 an arbitration court issued a final and unappealable award
for the parties providing that after the passing of Decree No. 992/02, Personal
was legally bound to carry out the transactions set forth in the proposal, award
which has been duly and timely complied with.
In fulfillment of the award, on December 13, 2002, the parties executed an
agreement providing for the termination of the early cancellation agreement and
the forward contracts with retroactive effect as of June 13, 2002. By virtue of
this, Personal undertook the obligation to bear the forward contracts
termination costs for an approximate amount of US$27 million evidenced in four
promissory notes denominated in US dollars and governed by the law of the State
of New York (the "BofA Promissory Notes"), payable in 18 consecutive quarterly
installments after a grace period running from June 13, 2002 to and including
December 31, 2003, plus interest at LIBOR plus an annual 3% interest rate
payable quarterly as from the expiration of the grace period. Likewise, it was
agreed to replace the original
62
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
promissory notes by a new promissory note for an approximate amount of US$27
million under the terms and conditions set forth by the law of the State of New
York (the "Holders' Promissory Note") payable on June 13, 2008 plus interest at
LIBOR plus an annual 3% interest rate accruing as of June 13, 2002 that will be
quarterly paid as from the expiration of the grace period. The agreement
provides that LIBOR plus 3% shall not exceed a 10% annual interest rate.
It should be noted that this debt is not excluded from the financial debt total
restructuring that the Telecom Group is carrying out together with its
creditors.
63
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
VALUATION AND DISCLOSURE OF DEBT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2002
According to the Argentine new accounting rules early application, mentioned in
Note 4.1.c., Telecom has analyzed the impact of new agreements on the TITAN
Financial Trust valuation.
To that respect, pursuant to these accounting rules said agreements have been
ranked as debt refinancing, given that the new debt discounted value differs
more than 10% from the original debt discounted value. Consequently, and
according to the provisions of RT 17, section 4.5.8. "Currency liabilities
originated in refinancing", Telecom recorded the debt reduction existing at the
time the mentioned agreements were executed and acknowledged a new debt based
upon the best estimate of the sum payable, discounted at a 12% annual rate,
which reflects the time value of money and the risks specific to this operation.
This refinanced debt was reported as non current loans according to the terms of
the new agreement.
This new way of measuring the debt at its present value compared to the original
debt recorded value, generated earnings before tax for approximately $43 million
during the 2002 fiscal year that were recognized in Results from measurement of
liabilities at present value within Financial and holdings results in the
consolidated statements of operations.
.. OTHER BANK LOANS
In addition, the Group is indebted under bank loans for 1,627 (capital and
exchange rate differences), bearing an average annual rate of 5.25%, of which
951 belong to the Company.
FIXED ASSET ACQUISITIONS
Loans received from banks and other financial institutions for varying amounts
and maturity dates bear an average annual interest rate of 4.70%. Some of the
more pertinent are:
.. CEDED BY ENTEL TO TELECOM
L'Instituto Centrale Per Il Credito a Medio Termine ("Mediocredito Centrale")
granted the Argentine government a loan credit of approximately Euro 103 million
to finance a project for the digitalization of the Argentine telephone network.
The Argentine government ceded to the Company rights to this loan credit for
approximately Euro 50 million. Reimbursement of the capital used will be made in
thirty semi-annual, equal installments bearing an annual interest rate of 1.75%.
The Argentine government continues to be the debtor obligated to repay the
Mediocredito Centrale. The Company is obligated to comply with the loan credit's
terms and, should it fail to make defined loan installment payments, has
authorized the Argentine government to settle such debts with amounts owed the
Company for telecommunication services rendered to the government after the date
of non-compliance. At December 31, 2002 the balance owed is 139 (capital plus
accrued interest), which approximates Euro 39 million.
.. JAPAN BANK LOAN TO TELECOM
On June 29, 1998, the Company signed a loan agreement with Japan Bank for
International Cooperation under which it borrowed Yen 11,652 million on
September 9, 1998 with repayment due on June 15, 2010. At December 31, 2002 the
balance owed is 335 (capital plus accrued interest).
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
INVENTORY ACQUISITIONS
Loans received from banks and other financial institutions for varying amounts
and maturity dates bear an average annual interest rate of 4.53%.
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
As described in Note 4.1.f, Telecom Group had entered into foreign currency swap
and interest rate swaps to hedge the different risks exposed in relation to its
debts. However, in connection with its decision to suspend the payments on its
financial debts described in Note 14, Telecom Argentina initiated discussions
with its counterparts to mutually unwind and terminate its interest rate and
currency swap obligations, as payments under such hedges were not consistent
with the decision to suspend the payments on its financial debt obligations. In
addition, as the Argentine peso is no longer pegged to the U.S. dollar, such
hedges no longer served their intended purpose.
As a consequence, during FY 2002, Telecom Group mutually agreed with its swap
counterparts to unwind all interest rate and currency swap agreements. The
unwinding of these swap arrangements was carried out at its fair value and
generated losses of approximately $279 million before income tax which were
recognized in Results from swaps cancellation within Financial and holdings
results in the Consolidated statements of operations and an increase of Telecom
Group's financial debt position by approximately US$75 million. No cash payments
were made to the swap counterparts in connection with the termination of the
swap agreements.
NOTE 9 - CAPITAL STOCK
The Company's shares are publicly quoted and traded on the BCBA and the NYSE.
Only Class "B" shares are effectively traded, as Nortel owns all Class "A"
shares and Class "C" shares are dedicated to the PPP.
Class "B" shares began trading on the BCBA on March 30, 1992 and on the NYSE,
under the symbol TEO, on December 9, 1994 in the form of American Depositary
Receipts ("ADR" or "ADS") upon SEC approval of the Exchange Offer. Under
provisions of the Exchange Offer, holders of the Company's ADRs which are
restricted under Rule 144-A and holders of Global Depositary Receipts issued
under Regulation S were permitted to exchange them for unrestricted ADR,
equivalent to 5 Class "B" shares. As from July 15, 1997 Class "B" shares are
traded through the International Quotation System of the Mexican Stock Exchange.
Month end market quotations on the BCBA have been as follows:
MONTH 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
----- -----------------------------------------------------
PRICE PER SHARE (in Argentine pesos as of each date)
-----------------------------------------------------
January 4.80 7.41 4.48 2.68 2.14
February 5.39 8.37 3.25 2.34 2.48
March 5.44 6.94 3.13 1.79
April 6.85 5.55 3.15 1.15
May 5.69 4.94 3.14 0.74
June 5.50 5.52 3.09 0.60
July 5.39 5.12 1.97 0.68
August 5.63 4.70 1.97 0.74
September 5.42 4.35 1.71 0.70
October 5.50 3.54 1.25 0.99
November 5.85 2.96 1.26 1.59
December 6.88 3.04 1.81 1.69
.. SHARE OWNERSHIP PROGRAM
The PPP, established by the Argentine government, included 10% of the Company's
shares, representing the Class "C" shares transferred to the former employees of
ENTel by the government in December 1992. These shares were pledged to guarantee
the balance of the sales price owed by the Company's shareholders to the
Argentine government. Prepayment of the balance owed was approved by Decree No.
1623/99 and made by the PPP in March 2000, thereby releasing the pledge.
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Shares held by the Guaranty and Repurchase Fund (the "Fund") of the PPP were
restricted from sale until an injunction was released. Once the injunction is
lifted, the Fund may sell an amount of shares necessary to cancel the debt owed
to former employees participating in the PPP. Shares then remaining in the Fund
will be distributed in accordance with the decision of the majority of employees
at a special meeting convened in accordance with Decree No. 584/93 Section 15.
The Shareholders' Meeting of March 14, 2000 approved the conversion of
52,505,360 Class "C" shares affected to the PPP into Class "B" shares to
facilitate their sale. In May 2000 participating PPP shareholders sold
50,663,377 shares nationally and internationally as approved by the CNV and as
registered with the SEC. As of December 31, 2002, 52,415,411 Class "C" shares
have been converted into Class "B" shares.
On September 17, 2002, the Judicial Inspector of the PPP required Telecom to
take the necessary steps to convert 15,000,000 Class "C" shares held by the Fund
into Class "B" shares since the precautionary measures that affected them had
been raised. Telecom replied that a conversion requires a Shareholders' Meeting
and further proposed to obtain judicial authorization so that said Meeting
should consider the conversion of all Class "C" shares into Class "B" shares in
order to avoid holding successive Meetings every time any shares held by the
Fund were released from precautionary measures. The PPP Inspector informed that
he had not gotten the judicial authorization yet. The Company is considering
this matter.
.. TRANSFER OF TELECOM'S LISTED SHARES AND CORPORATE BONDS TO A REDUCED
TRADING PANEL
As long as the negative retained earnings absorb the totality of reserves and
more than fifty per cent of the adjusted capital stock, because of the serious
economic situation described in Note 3, the BCBA resolved to trade Telecom's
listed shares in a reduced trading panel, according to the provisions of Section
38 incise b) of the Rules to List in the BCBA. By the same causes and as a
consequence of the suspension of payments of its financial debt, it has also
been transferred to a reduced trading panel the trading of the Company's
Corporate bonds, according to the provisions of Section 39 incises a) and c) of
the above mentioned Rules.
.. ADRS LISTING IN NYSE
Under NYSE rules, the ADRs average closing price of a security cannot be less
than US$1.00 over a 30-day trading period. Consequently, on July 29, 2002,
Telecom was notified by the NYSE in order to meet the minimum share price
criteria, by bringing its share price and average share price back above $1.00
within six months of receipt of the notification; if not, the ADRs would be
delisted. The Company replied to the NYSE informing that the necessary actions
would be taken in the corresponding terms, in order to meet the NYSE standards.
However, the NYSE requested Telecom to inform if the measures to correct the
minimum average share price would be adopted by the Board of Directors within
six month of receipt of the notification or if the issue would be discussed in
the next Shareholders' Meeting.
After ratifying its intention of adopting the provisions necessary to meet the
minimum price criterion set forth by the NYSE and, thus, maintain Telecom's ADRs
listing in the market, the NYSE was informed that the issue would be submitted
to the Shareholders' consideration including it in the Agenda of the next Annual
Shareholders' Meeting. It should be noted that in the meantime, Telecom's share
price
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
increased and ADRs met once again NYSE's standards on minimum price per ADR.
Therefore, the Board could propose the Shareholders' Meeting that it should
grant the Board the powers to order an increase in the number of shares
evidenced by each Telecom ADR (the "Ratio Change"), if it were necessary to
comply with the ADR minimum price criterion, or if the Board deemed it
convenient.
NOTE 10 - INCOME TAX: ADOPTION OF THE DEFERRAL METHOD
.. INCOME TAX
The composition of the income tax recorded in the consolidated statement of
operations is the following:
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current tax (expense) benefit - (105) (87)
Deferred income tax benefit 1,980 57 (23)
Restatement in constant pesos 1,144 (60) (130)
Deferred income tax (expense) related to the restatement in constant pesos of
fixed and other assets (1,276) - -
-------------------------------
Subtotal 1,848 (108) (240)
Allowances for net deferred tax assets (554) (3) -
-------------------------------
Total 1,294 (111) (240)
===============================
.. DEFERRED INCOME TAX
Telecom group has accounted for income taxes under the deferral method according
to the FACPCE RT 17.
Deferred income tax provision at each year/period-end has been determined based
upon the temporary differences between the financial and tax bases of assets and
liabilities. Deferred tax assets arise largely from asset realization allowances
not deductible for tax purposes, from tax loss carryforwards and from tax basis
of foreign currency exchange differences generated by debts in foreign currency.
Deferred tax liabilities principally arise from differences in fixed and
intangible assets valuation as compared to the tax basis of such assets,
substantially due to differences in depreciation and the tax treatment of
capitalized interest and the accounting for inflation in those captions.
To account for these differences, it is used the liability method of accounting.
Under this method, deferred income taxes are established for all temporary
differences, recognizing their variations in Income tax in the consolidated
statement of operations. In these aspects, RT 17 is substantially consistent
with SFAS 109 and with IAS 12.
Deferred tax credit recoverable value depends on the existence of future profits
subject to income tax sufficient to be used before the legal lapse of the right.
To that respect, the management of the Company considers that, due to Decree No.
2568/02 mentioned in Note 3, Telecom's and Personal's probability of recovering
deferred tax credits was significantly affected generating uncertainty as to its
recovery capacity.
Therefore, in accordance with Argentine GAAP and applying a cautious criterion,
the management of the Company has decided to provision the total of Telecom's
and Personal's deferred tax credits.
The following summarizes the composition of the deferred income taxes:
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET CURRENT DEFERRED TAX ASSETS (LIABILITIES)
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable 95 168
Capital leases (1) 24
Reserves 3 4
Fixed assets (346) (31)
Intangible assets (29) (15)
Capitalized financial results on fixed and intangible assets, net of
depreciation (78) (20)
Income tax loss carryforward 279 2
Foreign currency exchange differences originated in the devaluation
of the peso 64 -
Others 17 20
-------------------------
Total net current deferred tax assets 4 152
=========================
NET NON CURRENT DEFERRED TAX ASSETS (LIABILITIES)
Capital leases - 4
Reserves 49 46
Retirement benefits 2 7
Fixed assets (1,436) (369)
Intangible assets (38) (26)
Capitalized financial results on fixed and intangible assets, net of
depreciation (284) (183)
Income tax loss carryforward 1,980 63
Foreign currency exchange differences originated in the devaluation
of the peso 292 -
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Others 4 17
-------------------------
Total net non current deferred tax assets (liabilities) 569 (441)
-------------------------
Subtotal net deferred tax assets (liabilities) 573 (289)
Allowances for net deferred tax assets (560) (13)
-------------------------
Total net deferred tax assets (liabilities), net of allowances 13 (302)
=========================
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
The reconciliation of pre-tax income at the statutory rate, to the income tax
expense presented in the consolidated financial statements for the years/period
ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 is as follows:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEARS/PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 2000 1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-tax income tax calculated at the statutory rate (35%) 1,986 (74) (209)
PERMANENT DIFFERENCES
Equity losses from related companies and depreciation of
goodwill (12) (8) (6)
PCS license amortization - (15) (9)
Allowances for net deferred tax assets (554) (3) -
Restatement in constant pesos of permanent differences (114) - -
Others, net (12) (11) (16)
-------------------------------------
1,294 (111) (240)
=====================================
The detail and the expiration date of tax credit carryforwards and the
corresponding valuation allowance at December 31, 2002 is as follows:
EXPIRATION DATE THE COMPANY PUBLICOM PERSONAL NUCLEO CONSOLIDATED
--------------- ------------- ---------- ---------- -------- ------------
2003 - - 1 - 1
2004 - - - 6 6
2005 - - 2 12 14
2006 - - 18 - 18
2007 1,804 6 410 - 2,220
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1,804 6 431 18 2,259
=================================================================
NOTE 11 - CAPITAL LEASES
At December 31, 2002 the Company holds capital leases in the amount of 2, which
due dates are within fiscal year 2003. A summary by major class of fixed assets
covered by capital leases at December 31, 2002 is as follows:
BOOK VALUE LEASE TERMS AMORTIZATION PERIOD
-------------- --------------- -------------------
Computer equipment 37 3 to 4 years 2, 3 and 6 years
Accumulated depreciation (27)
--------------
Net value 10
==============
NOTE 12 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
.. PURCHASE COMMITMENTS
At December 31, 2002, the Group had entered into purchase contracts with
domestic and foreign vendors totaling 24 for: switching and PCS network
transmission equipment, construction of network, the repair and/or installation
of public telephones, infrastructure works and other services. In general, the
contracts have been or are expected to be financed, directly or indirectly, by
domestic and foreign vendors.
.. CONTINGENCIES
In the normal course of operations, the Company is involved in various legal,
fiscal and regulatory proceedings. Such operations are influenced by the
development of the legal and regulatory framework of the Argentine
telecommunications market.
Some of these proceedings relate to claims of former employees of ENTel, who
claim the Company together with ENTel are jointly responsible for various labor
claims arising prior to the Company's assumption of operations. In the Transfer
Agreement, ENTel and the Argentine government have expressly assumed the
obligation to compensate the Company regarding any costs it might experience as
a result of such labor claims. Under the Debt Consolidation Law, ENTel and the
Argentine government may discharge their above-described obligations to the
Company by the issuance of bonds to the Company. At December 31, 2002 pending
amounts claimed in legal proceedings total 14.
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
In November 1995 the Company, Telefonica, Telintar and the Argentine government
were served notice of a complaint by a consumer group, "Consumidores Libres
Cooperativa Limitada de Provision de Servicios Communitarios". The suit, entered
before the National Court of Federal Administrative Disputes No 7, seeks to
declare null and void all regulations and rate agreements since the Transfer
Agreement, in order to reduce SBT rates charged by licensees, so that licensees
realize a rate of return of not more than 16% annually on fixed assets as
described in Point 12.3.2 of the List of Conditions. Additionally, the claim
requested return of amounts earned in excess of this rate of return. The Court
of Appeals rejected some claims and deferred decisions on others until a formal
decision is made, being in an evidentiary phase currently.
Court Room No. 4 of the Court of Appeals, has issued a preliminary injunction
ordering the Government and the joint defendant companies, in which Telecom is
included, not to carry out the tariffs changes established by section 2 of the
agreements approved by Decree No. 2585/91 until a final resolution is issued in
the case. This preliminary injunction affects the current tariff regime in
Argentina because it suspends the abilities of the telecom companies to increase
the tariffs charged based upon the IPC in the USA, one of the terms of the Price
Cap formula included in the section 2 of the above mentioned agreement. On
October 15, 2001, the Company was served notice about this preliminary
injunction and has filed an extraordinary appeal before the Argentine Supreme
Court of Justice.
In addition, the recent enactment of Law No. 25561 has adopted an analogous
decision by suspending US dollars or foreign currency adjustments clauses
adopted under public contracts executed by the National Government, including
works and public services.
On October 30, 2002, the CNC, through Resolution No. 1144/02, required the
Company not to invoice the municipal taxes increase to its customers and to
reimburse them the amounts billed for that concept. The Company has filed an
appeal against this resolution.
Although the outcome of the above mentioned contingencies may not be predicted
with certainty, the management of the Company and its legal counsel believe that
the resolution of such matters will not have a material adverse impact on either
Company operations or financial position.
NOTE 13 - RENEGOTIATION OF CONTRACTS WITH THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
From the enactment of Law No. 25561, US dollars or foreign currency adjustments
clauses and indexation clauses based on foreign price indexes, as well as any
other indexing mechanism adopted under public contracts executed by the National
Government, including works and public services, have been suspended. The
applicable prices and tariffs to that date have been converted into pesos at the
exchange rate of $1 to US$1.
Moreover, the National Government is entitled to renegotiate such contracts
under the following criteria:
.. the impact of the tariffs upon the competitiveness of the economy and the
income distribution;
.. the quality of the services and plans of investments, if they are
contractually foreseen;
.. the client's interests and the possibility to access of the services;
.. the security of the systems;
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
.. the profitability of the business.
Decree No. 293/2002 entitled the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure to
renegotiate all these contracts and created the Contracts Renegotiation
Commission to give the Ministry the proper counsel. The mentioned decree stated
that the public services contracts subject to the renegotiations include the
telecommunication area of basic telephone, which is the service rendered by
Telecom Argentina.
Then, Decree No. 370/2002 set forth the constitution of such Commission ______
and ________ Resolution No. 20/2002 of the Ministry of Economy approved the
Rules for the Renegotiation of Works and Public Services Contracts, including
the list of the contracts affected by these rules. The proposals of
renegotiations should be filed with the National Government within a term of 120
days from March 1, 2002.
In order to comply with said renegotiation procedure, the Company duly filed
with the Contracts Renegotiation Committee information on the impact caused by
the economic emergency on its financial position, more specifically on income
and the pre-existing mechanisms to adjust tariffs, on operating costs, on
indebtedness, on payment commitments with the National Government and on future
and on going investments. In addition, Telecom filed economic-financial
information for the last three fiscal years and projected information for the
years 2002 and 2003.
Resolution No. 38/2002 of the Ministry of Economy establishes that the Public
Administration Bodies should not modify, directly or indirectly, the prices and
tariffs of the public services in the meantime of the renegotiation.
NOTE 14 - SUSPENSION OF PAYMENTS OF FINANCIAL DEBT OF THE TELECOM GROUP
As a consequence of the devaluation and the volatility of the Argentine peso,
the conversion into pesos of the Company's tariffs and the macroeconomic and
regulatory uncertainties explained in Note 3, the Board of Directors, on their
meetings held on March 27, 2002 and June 24, 2002, resolved the suspension of
principal and interest payments of all its financial debt and its controlled
companies' financial debt in Argentina. Notwithstanding this, the Company will
continue meeting its obligations related to commercial activity in the ordinary
course of business.
As a result of these decisions, as of December 31, 2002, the Telecom Group had
principal debt due of US$593 million, Euro 253 million, Yen 5,143 million and
$179 million, and accrued interest due of US$45 million, Euro 42 million, Yen
212 million and $11 million. At the date of issuance of these consolidated
financial statements, the Telecom Group has principal debt due of US$636
million, Euro 253 million, Yen 5,143 million and $179 million and accrued
interest due of US$47 million, Euro 42 million, Yen 248 million and $11 million.
The executed loan agreements and the agreements related to the issuance of
Corporate bonds include clauses providing for various causes of unfulfillment,
among others:
.. Failure to pay principal or interest of the pertinent loan at maturity;
.. Failure to pay principal or interest of any other debt contracted either by
Telecom or any of its material subsidiaries that equals or exceeds an
aggregate of US$20 million ("cross default" clauses);
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
.. Telecom's written admission of its inability to meet the commitments at
maturity;
.. Any final judgement providing for the payment of an aggregate equal or
exceeding US$20 million;
.. Telecom or any of its material subsidiaries filing petition for bankruptcy
relief or reorganization proceedings, or request for approval of an out of
court agreement with creditors.
Under the terms of most loan agreements and the agreements related to the
issuance of Corporate bonds executed, the occurrence of any of the above
mentioned events entitles grantors (whether banks or holders), their agents or
trustees, to consider as due and payable the total principal disbursed and
interest accrued pending at the date of such event. The parties, their agents or
trustees, may elect to exercise this right.
In the case of any event of default, most of the agreements also provide for
economic penalties payable through interest additional to the ordinary loan
interest. The additional interest varies between an annual average of 2 and 5 %.
At the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements, some
creditors of Telecom and Personal with debts exceeding an aggregate of US$20
million have exercised their rights to accelerate their maturity.
The Board of Directors has taken and will continue to take the pertinent
measures to preserve the Company's value and maximize the cash flow. Telecom is
working with its financial advisors to develop a comprehensive restructuring
plan of all its financial debt and the debt of its subsidiaries in Argentina to
propose in due time to its creditors. Likewise, the subsidiary Nucleo is
entering into a renegotiation process of its financial debt with its financial
creditors.
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
In this way, on February 12, 2003 and jointly with Personal, the Company
announced their intention to launch cash tender offers for a portion of their
financial debt obligations and to make partial interest payments on their
financial debt obligations. The timing and launch of the tender offers are
subject to obtaining the approval or authorization from the BCRA (for both the
tender offers and the partial interest payments), the CNV, the BCBA and other
regulatory authorities, as appropriate. Additionally, the closing of the tender
offers will be subject to a number of conditions as described in the documents
relating to the tender offers which will be distributed upon the launch of the
tender offers.
The tender offers will be open to the holders of all financial debt obligations
of Telecom and Personal, including banks and bondholders. Subject to obtaining
all necessary regulatory approvals, the tender offers are expected to be
launched in March 2003.
The Company and Personal intend to launch modified reverse Dutch auction tender
offers for a portion of their financial debt obligations. Under the modified
reverse Dutch auction process, the respective purchase prices will be determined
by Telecom and Personal, as the case may be, based on offers submitted by
holders of the debt obligations within a specified price range. The price range
for such modified reverse Dutch auctions is expected to be 43.5% to 50% of the
principal amount of the companies' debt obligations as of June 24, 2002, without
giving effect to any accrued but unpaid interest, but will not be finally
determined until the launch of the tender offers.
The purchase price will be the lowest price specified by the holders within the
price range that will enable Telecom and Personal to use cash of up to the
equivalent of US$260 million and US$45 million, respectively, to purchase
portions of their financial debt obligations. The purchase price will be paid in
the respective currency of such debt obligations. All holders whose offers are
accepted will receive the same purchase price.
Publicom also expects to conduct a similar tender offer for its financial
indebtedness and to make partial interest payments.
The Company and Personal have also announced that they will each make interest
payments on their financial debt obligations at the contractual rates, without
giving effect to penalties or default rates, for the period through and
including June 24, 2002 and will also each make partial interest payments
equivalent to 30% of the contractual rates, without giving effect to penalties
or default rates, on their financial debt obligations for the period from June
25, 2002 through December 31, 2002. The partial interest payments will be paid
on all financial debt obligations, independent of creditors' participation in
the tender offers. The partial interest payments are subject to obtaining the
necessary regulatory approvals for both the tender offers and the partial
interest payments.
The companies are working on the preparation of all the relevant documentation
to make all necessary filings and obtain all necessary approvals and
authorizations to carry out the tender offers and the partial interest payments
as described above. Any further information relating to these transactions shall
be published in a timely manner and through appropriate channels.
The tender offers and the partial interest payments are the first steps of the
companies' plans to restructure their outstanding financial indebtedness and
their ongoing debt service obligations.
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and MBA Banco de Inversiones are acting as
dealer managers for the tender offers.
VALUATION AND DISCLOSURE OF DEBT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2002
Argentine GAAP does not provide for specific rules on disclosure of current and
non current liabilities for the above described situation.
In valuation matters, the Group has estimated additional costs for economic
penalties of approximately $34 million as of December 31, 2002, which have been
included in Debt in the consolidated balance sheets. At the date of issuance of
these consolidated financial statements, the modality and opportunity of payment
of capital and accrued compensatory interests are the main subjects of the debt
restructuring process. So that, and considering the special circumstances out of
the Company's control that led the Group to the suspension of principal and
interest payments of all its financial debt, the Company's legal counsels
believe that the Company would have a remote probability of accruing any
additional cost at the end of this process.
In disclosure matters, during March 2002, the Company classified its debt
considering the original maturities because it had been announced the above
mentioned debt restructuring process and no creditor had exercised his right of
acceleration of maturities.
As some creditors have exercised these rights at the date of issuance of the
consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2002, the management of the
Company decided, as from that date, to disclose debt with an original non
current maturity as current debt. This was done considering the enforceability
of liabilities by creditors notwithstanding the fact that they have not been
realized. As of December 31, 2002, this reclassification is approximately $4,813
million. In this way, there are no accounting differences between the Company's
accounting policies and U.S.GAAP (SFAS 78).
NOTE 15 - CAUSES OF MANDATORY REDUCTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Due to the economic-financial situation described in Note 3, the Company has
significantly reduced its shareholders' equity at year-end as a consequence of
the losses reported in the present fiscal year, that have absorbed the totality
of reserves and more than fifty per cent of the adjusted capital stock.
The future evolution of the Company's shareholders' equity depends to a great
extent on the development of the economic-financial crisis described in Note 3
and, in particular,: (a) on the fluctuation of the U.S. dollar exchange rate
given its impact in the Group's liabilities valuation (93% of the consolidated
liabilities as of December 31, 2002 is in foreign currency), (b) on the results
of the renegotiation of contracts process described in Note 13 due to the effect
generated by the devaluation and the "pesification" of Telecom's tariffs on the
Group's operating results and Telecom's capacity to generate enough cash flows
to face its financial obligations in the current maturity dates and (c) the
results on the Group's debt restructuring process.
As the condition described in the first paragraph continues at the date of
issuance of these consolidated financial statements, the Company would have to
adopt the provisions of section 206, last paragraph of the Argentine Corporation
Law referring to the mandatory reduction of capital stock.
However, the National Government through Decree No. 1269/02, has suspended the
application of sections 206 and 94, incise 5 of the Argentine Corporation Law
until December 10, 2003. Section 94 incise 5 sets forth as a cause of
dissolution of a company the loss of capital
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TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
stock. This situation arises when the Company reports a negative shareholders'
equity.
NOTE 16 - CONSOLIDATED INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
Telecommunications services are provided through the distribution of operating
activities among various Telecom Group companies. For a better understanding of
the distinct activities performed by Telecom Group companies, the management of
the Company provides consolidated information by business segment.
In presenting segment information, the Company takes into consideration income
and expenses of the individual entities, prior to elimination of intercompany
transactions.
Financial expenses related to the acquisition of shares in subsidiaries and
subsequent capital contributions have been allocated to voice, data and Internet
services.
77
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2002
.. STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
VOICE, DATA CELLULAR DIRECTORIES TOTAL BY
AND INTERNET TELEPHONE EDITION BUSINESS
SERVICES SERVICE SEGMENT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales 2,932 1,028 23 3,983
Wages and social benefits (469) (91) (23) (583)
Turnover tax (90) (40) (1) (131)
Materials and supplies (143) (32) (11) (186)
Bad debts expense (128) (54) (6) (188)
Interconnection costs (140) - - (140)
Settlement outgoing expenses (102) - - (102)
Lease of circuits (24) (17) - (41)
Fees for debt restructuring process (15) (3) - (18)
Fees and counsel services (14) (2) - (16)
Repayment for services (70) (8) (3) (81)
Management fees (23) - - (23)
Advertising (14) (14) - (28)
Cost of cellular handsets - (12) - (12)
Agent commissions and card sales (25) (21) - (46)
Others (297) (214) (4) (515)
-----------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA 1,378 520 (25) 1,873
Depreciation of fixed assets (1,547) (412) (6) (1,965)
Amortization of intangible assets (65) (45) - (110)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit (loss) (234) 63 (31) (202)
Equity losses from related companies (15) - (8) (23)
Depreciation of goodwill (10) - - (10)
Financial and holding results (4,243) (993) (27) (5,263)
Other expenses, net (100) (58) (17) (175)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) before income tax and minority
interest (4,602) (988) (83) (5,673)
Income tax 1,097 184 13 1,294
Minority interest - 25 - 25
-----------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) (3,505) (779) (70) (4,354)
===============================================================================================================
AMOUNTS UNDER U.S.GAAP
EBITDA 1,272 487 (34) 1,725
Operating profit (loss) (252) 76 (40) (216)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROFITABILITY MARGINS (%)
EBITDA 47.0 50.6 (108.7) 47.0
Operating margin (8.0) 6.1 (134.8) (5.1)
Pretax profit (loss)/Net sales (157.0) (96.1) (360.9) (142.4)
Net income (loss)/Net sales (119.5) (75.8) (304.3) (109.3)
EBITDA margin under U.S.GAAP 43.4 47.4 (147.8) 43.3
Operating margin under U.S.GAAP (8.6) 7.4 (173.9) (5.4)
ROA (Operating profit (loss)/total assets at
beginning of fiscal year) (on an annual basis) (2.1) 1.9 (20.0) (1.4)
ROE (Net income (loss)/Shareholders' equity less
net income (loss)) (on an annual basis) - - - (84.3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. EQUITY INFORMATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net balance of fixed assets (Exhibit A) 7,823 1,787 8 9,618
Net balance of intangible assets (Exhibit B) 176 757 4 937
Investment in fixed assets (Exhibit A) 172 63 1 236
Investment in intangible assets (Exhibit B) 1 26 - 27
Fixed assets depreciation (Exhibit A) (1,547) (415) (6) (1,968)
Intangible assets amortization (Exhibit B) (72) (50) - (122)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows provided by operating activities 1,288 367 - 1,655
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Fixed assets and intangible assets acquisitions (258) (153) - (411)
Other investments not considered as cash or cash
equivalents 111 (10) - 101
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash flows used for investing activities (147) (163) - (310)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds and repayments of debt, net (4) (20) - (24)
Payment of interest and related expenses (354) (88) (1) (443)
Cash and cash equivalents transfer between segments (84) 84 - -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash flows provided by (used for) financing
activities (442) (24) (1) (467)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 699 180 (1) 878
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year 354 70 2 426
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at year end 1,053 250 1 1,304
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
78
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2001
.. STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
VOICE, DATA CELLULAR TOTAL BY
AND INTERNET TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES BUSINESS
SERVICES SERVICE EDITION SEGMENT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales 5,093 1,809 102 7,004
Wages and social benefits (875) (177) (89) (1,141)
Turnover tax (161) (68) (4) (233)
Materials and supplies (284) (37) (26) (347)
Bad debts expense (403) (134) (26) (563)
Interconnection costs (212) - - (212)
Settlement outgoing expenses (70) - - (70)
Lease of circuits (37) (31) - (68)
Fees and counsel services (28) (9) - (37)
Repayment for services (138) (15) (24) (177)
Management fees (229) - - (229)
Advertising (131) (46) (2) (179)
Cost of cellular handsets - (113) - (113)
Agent commissions and card sales (48) (65) - (113)
Others (430) (372) (11) (813)
-----------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA 2,047 742 (80) 2,709
Depreciation of fixed assets (1,282) (391) (4) (1,677)
Amortization of intangible assets (70) (63) - (133)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit (loss) 695 288 (84) 899
Equity losses from related companies (6) - - (6)
Depreciation of goodwill (17) (1) - (18)
Financial and holding results (358) (145) - (503)
Other expenses, net (98) (22) (9) (129)
Unusual losses (26) (7) - (33)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) before income tax and minority
interest 190 113 (93) 210
Income tax (85) (59) 33 (111)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) 105 54 (60) 99
===============================================================================================================
AMOUNTS UNDER U.S.GAAP
EBITDA 1,955 721 (89) 2,587
Operating profit (loss) 603 267 (93) 777
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROFITABILITY MARGINS (%)
EBITDA 40.2 41.0 (78.4) 38.7
Operating margin 13.6 15.9 (82.4) 12.8
Pretax profit (loss)/Net sales 3.7 6.2 (91.2) 3.0
Net income (loss)/Net sales 2.1 3.0 (58.8) 1.4
EBITDA margin under U.S.GAAP 38.4 39.9 (87.3) 36.9
Operating margin under U.S.GAAP 11.8 14.8 (91.2) 11.1
ROA (Operating profit (loss)/total assets at
beginning of fiscal year) (on an annual basis) 5.8 8.2 (59.2) 5.8
ROE (Net income (loss)/Shareholders' equity less
net income (loss)) (on an annual basis) - - - 1.8
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. EQUITY INFORMATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net balance of fixed assets (Exhibit A) 8,708 1,814 13 10,535
Net balance of intangible assets (Exhibit B) 249 780 4 1,033
Investment in fixed assets (Exhibit A) 722 297 7 1,026
Investment in intangible assets (Exhibit B) 15 66 - 81
Fixed assets depreciation (Exhibit A) (1,282) (391) (4) (1,677)
Intangible assets amortization (Exhibit B) (77) (67) - (144)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows provided by (used for) operating
activities 1,981 430 4 2,415
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Fixed, intangible asset and investment acquisitions (848) (546) (7) (1,401)
Other investments not considered as cash or cash
equivalents (7) - - (7)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash flows used for investing activities (855) (546) (7) (1,408)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds and repayments of debt, net 40 107 4 151
Payment of interest and related expenses (811) (146) - (957)
Dividends paid (464) - - (464)
Cash and cash equivalents transfer between segments (218) 218 - -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash flows provided by (used for) financing
activities (1,453) 179 4 (1,270)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (327) 63 1 (263)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year 682 7 - 689
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at year end 355 70 1 426
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
79
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CONSOLIDATED INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT FOR THE TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2000
.. STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
VOICE, DATA CELLULAR DIRECTORIES TOTAL BY
AND INTERNET TELEPHONE EDITION BUSINESS
SERVICES SERVICE SEGMENT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales 5,327 1,907 115 7,349
Wages and social benefits (845) (164) (89) (1,098)
Turnover tax (160) (59) (4) (223)
Materials and supplies (323) (28) (31) (382)
Bad debts expense (216) (111) (7) (334)
Interconnection costs (301) - - (301)
Settlement outgoing expenses (94) - - (94)
Lease of circuits (40) (24) - (64)
Fees and counsel services (39) (15) - (54)
Repayment for services (124) (23) (7) (154)
Management fees (286) - - (286)
Advertising (152) (55) (2) (209)
Cost of cellular handsets - (175) - (175)
Agent commissions and card sales (72) (221) - (293)
Others (439) (334) (11) (784)
-----------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA 2,236 698 (36) 2,898
Depreciation of fixed assets (1,294) (286) (4) (1,584)
Amortization of intangible assets (64) (52) - (116)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit (loss) 878 360 (40) 1,198
Equity losses from related companies (2) - - (2)
Depreciation of goodwill (15) - - (15)
Financial and holding results (325) 154) - (479)
Other expenses, net (96) (7) (2) (105)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) before income tax and minority
interest 440 199 (42) 597
Income tax (183) (72) 15 (240)
Minority interest - 2 - 2
-----------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) 257 129 (27) 359
===============================================================================================================
AMOUNTS UNDER U.S.GAAP
EBITDA 2,160 681 (37) 2,804
Operating profit (loss) 802 343 (41) 1,104
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROFITABILITY MARGINS (%)
EBITDA 42.0 36.6 (31.3) 39.4
Operating margin 16.5 18.9 (34.8) 16.3
Pretax profit (loss)/Net sales 8.3 10.4 (36.5) 8.1
Net income (loss)/Net sales 4.8 6.8 (23.5) 4.9
EBITDA margin under U.S.GAAP 40.5 35.7 (32.2) 38.2
Operating margin under U.S.GAAP 15.1 18.0 (35.7) 15.0
ROA (Operating profit (loss)/total assets at
beginning of fiscal year) (on an annual basis) 7.2 12.4 (30.5) 7.8
ROE (Net income (loss)/Shareholders' equity less
net income (loss)) (on an annual basis) - - - 6.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. EQUITY INFORMATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net balance of fixed assets (Exhibit A) 9,336 1,911 10 11,257
Net balance of intangible assets (Exhibit B) 311 778 7 1,096
Investment in fixed assets (Exhibit A) 1,307 672 4 1,983
Investment in intangible assets (Exhibit B) 63 74 - 137
Fixed assets depreciation (Exhibit A) (1,294) (286) (4) (1,584)
Intangible assets amortization (Exhibit B) (71) (52) - (123)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows provided by (used for) operating
activities 2,327 201 6 2,534
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Non current investments and related intangible
asset acquisitions (15) - - (15)
Fixed asset and intangible asset acquisitions (1,188) (607) (4) (1,799)
Other investments not considered as cash or cash
equivalents 436 - - 436
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash flows used for investing activities (767) (607) (4) (1,378)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds and repayments of debt, net (254) 364 (2) 108
Payment of interest and related expenses (581) (129) - (710)
Dividends paid (292) - - (292)
Cash and cash equivalents transfer between segments (137) 137 - -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash flows provided by (used for) financing
activities (1,264) 372 (2) (894)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 296 (34) - 262
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period 388 39 - 427
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at period end 684 5 - 689
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
NOTE 17 - CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY INFORMATION (unaudited)
NET FINANCIAL AND NET
OPERATING HOLDING RESULTS - INCOME
QUARTER ENDED NET SALES EBITDA PROFIT INCOME (LOSS) (LOSS)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR 2002:
March 31, 1,354 621 78 (5,381) (3,715)
June 30, 923 393 (121) (1,489) (904)
September 30, 851 393 (132) 1,051 479
December 31, 855 466 (27) 556 (214)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3,983 1,873 (202) (5,263) (4,354)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR 2001:
March 31, 1,783 690 249 (122) 68
June 30, 1,728 691 236 (121) 21
September 30, 1,805 741 283 (121) 49
December 31, 1,688 587 131 (139) (39)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7,004 2,709 899 (503) 99
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR 2000:
March 31, 1,797 727 321 (113) 98
June 30, 1,858 738 325 (130) 128
September 30, 1,863 727 308 (121) 67
December 31, 1,831 706 244 (115) 66
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7,349 2,898 1,198 (479) 359
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE 18 - RELEVANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The information described in this note is not required by Argentine GAAP, so
that it is additional information.
The management of the Company considers useful this information in order to
facilitate the analysis and understanding of the main business variables and,
particularly, the way in which the restatement in constant pesos process has
impacted in sales, operating costs, EBITDA, financial and holding results and
the different captions of the consolidated statement of cash flows.
So that, the historical amounts, which have been used to determine the figures
in constant pesos at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, are as follows:
.. CONSOLIDATED NET SALES
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL BASIC TELEPHONE SERVICE
Local measured service 439 439 423
DLD measured service 370 377 434
Monthly basic charges 494 553 540
Supplementary services (monthly charges) 95 112 128
Installation fees 17 24 22
Public telephones 152 172 199
Interconnection fixed 104 81 145
Interconnection cellular 32 19 34
Lease of lines and circuits fixed 15 22 14
Lease of lines and circuits cellular 18 17 16
Others 50 69 44
---------------------------------
Total National basic telephone service 1,786 1,885 1,999
---------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE SERVICE
Outgoing revenues 136 123 132
Settlement revenues (net) 75 33 54
---------------------------------
Total International telephone service 211 156 186
---------------------------------
DATA TRANSMISSION
Terrestrial network 84 68 70
Lease of data circuits 25 35 32
Internet traffic 107 95 76
International connectivity 66 40 34
Others 17 24 20
---------------------------------
Total Data transmission 299 262 232
---------------------------------
INTERNET
Internet monthly fee 46 31 24
---------------------------------
Total Internet 46 31 24
---------------------------------
81
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CELLULAR TELEPHONY
. PERSONAL
Monthly fee and measured service 236 303 318
Pre-paid card 124 106 66
Calling Party Pays 225 245 304
Others 102 114 128
---------------------------------
687 768 816
---------------------------------
. NUCLEO
Monthly fee and measured service 50 17 15
Pre-paid card 28 8 11
Calling Party Pays 82 32 29
Others 16 4 3
---------------------------------
176 61 58
---------------------------------
Total cellular telephony 863 829 874
---------------------------------
Total directories edition 23 47 53
---------------------------------
Total historical net sales 3,228 3,210 3,368
Restatement in constant pesos 755 3,794 3,981
---------------------------------
Total net sales in constant pesos 3,983 7,004 7,349
=================================
.. CONSOLIDATED OPERATING COSTS
Wages and social benefits (461) (523) (503)
Taxes (77) (86) (75)
Taxes on bank debits and credits (*) (37) - -
Turnover tax (107) (107) (102)
Materials and supplies (143) (159) (175)
Transport and freight (31) (44) (40)
Bad debt expense (127) (258) (153)
Interconnection costs (112) (97) (138)
Settlement outgoing expenses (83) (32) (43)
Lease of circuits (41) (31) (29)
Fees for debt restructuring process (18) - -
Fees and counsel services (13) (17) (25)
Repayment for services (65) (81) (71)
Management fees (13) (105) (131)
Advertising (22) (82) (96)
Cost of cellular handsets (10) (52) (80)
Agent commissions and card sales (41) (52) (134)
Other (273) (242) (245)
---------------------------------
Total historical operating costs (1,674) (1,968) (2,040)
Restatement in constant pesos (436) (2,327) (2,411)
---------------------------------
Total operating costs in constant pesos (2,110) (4,295) (4,451)
=================================
(*) At December'01 were disclosed in unusual losses.
.. CONSOLIDATED EBITDA
Historical net sales 3,228 3,210 3,368
Historical operating costs (1,674) (1,968) (2,040)
---------------------------------
Historical EBITDA 1,554 1,242 1,328
Restatement in constant pesos 319 1,467 1,570
---------------------------------
EBITDA in constant pesos 1,873 2,709 2,898
=================================
.. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND HOLDING RESULTS
Interest earned on short term investments and trade accounts receivable 119 63 66
Foreign currency exchange gains 768 (1) -
Results on holding of national and provincial public bonds by
collection (32) - -
Other financial results 11 (6) 7
---------------------------------
Historical financial results generated by assets 866 56 73
Restatement in constant pesos (2,407) 63 90
---------------------------------
Financial and holding results in constant pesos generated by assets (1,541) 119 163
---------------------------------
Interest on debt (784) (304) (295)
Foreign currency exchange losses (7,949) (6) 2
Results from swap cancellation (247) - -
Other financial results (16) (22) (60)
---------------------------------
Historical financial results generated by liabilities (8,996) (332) (353)
Restatement in constant pesos 4,317 (393) (418)
---------------------------------
Financial and holding results in constant pesos generated by
liabilities (4,679) (725) (771)
---------------------------------
Capitalized interest and foreign currency exchange differences by debt
on work in progress and intangible assets in constant pesos 66 103 129
Capitalized foreign currency exchange differences by debt for fixed
assets acquisition in constant pesos 891 - -
---------------------------------
Total financial and holding results in constant pesos (5,263) (503) (479)
=================================
82
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
.. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) in constant pesos (4,354) 99 359
Depreciation of fixed assets and amortization of intangible assets 2,160 2,240 1,918
Historical foreign currency exchange differences by assets 200 - -
Other results and a decrease or increase in assets and liabilities 3,606 (1,217) (1,115)
---------------------------------
Total historical cash flows provided by operating activities 1,612 1,122 1,162
Restatement in constant pesos 43 1,293 1,372
---------------------------------
Total cash flows provided by operating activities in constant pesos 1,655 2,415 2,534
---------------------------------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Fixed asset and intangible asset acquisition (294) (642) (825)
Investments not considered as cash or cash equivalents 114 (3) 193
---------------------------------
Total historical cash flows used for investing activities (180) (645) (632)
Restatements in constant pesos (130) (763) (746)
---------------------------------
Total cash flows used for investing activities in constant pesos (310) (1,408) (1,378)
---------------------------------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds and repayments of debt, net (21) 69 49
Payment of interest and related expenses (302) (439) (325)
Dividends paid - (213) (134)
---------------------------------
Total historical cash flows used for financing activities (323) (583) (410)
Restatement in constant pesos (144) (687) (484)
---------------------------------
Total cash flows used for financing activities in constant pesos (467) (1,270) (894)
---------------------------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS in constant pesos 878 (263) 262
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR/PERIOD in
constant pesos 426 689 427
---------------------------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT YEAR/PERIOD END in constant pesos 1,304 426 689
=================================
NOTE 19 - UNCONSOLIDATED INFORMATION
The following is a summary of financial unconsolidated information of the
Company:
.. BALANE SHEETS
AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and banks 34 66
Investments 1,187 316
Trade accounts receivable 382 986
Other receivables 53 561
----------------------------
Total current assets 1,656 1,929
----------------------------
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Trade accounts receivable - 2
Other receivables 79 41
Investments 539 1,402
Fixed assets 7,821 8,707
Intangible assets 176 249
Goodwill - 10
----------------------------
Total non-current assets 8,615 10,411
----------------------------
Total assets 10,271 12,340
============================
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable 275 829
Debt 8,847 1,560
Compensation and social benefits payable 55 109
Taxes payable 84 129
Other liabilities 22 45
Reserves 6 8
----------------------------
Total current liabilities 9,289 2,680
----------------------------
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable - 9
Debt - 3,841
Compensation and social benefits payable 29 83
Taxes payable - 428
Other liabilities 29 28
Reserves 103 106
----------------------------
Total non-current liabilities 161 4,495
----------------------------
83
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Total liabilities 9,450 7,175
TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES FROM TRANSLATION 10 -
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 811 5,165
----------------------------
Total liabilities and Shareholders' equity 10,271 12,340
============================
84
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
.. STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales 3,048 5,267 5,440
Cost of services provided (2,285) (2,743) (2,763)
------------------------------------
Gross profit 763 2,524 2,677
Administrative expenses (152) (308) (271)
Sales expenses (741) (1,386) (1,309)
------------------------------------
Operating profit (130) 830 1,097
Equity losses from related companies (1,009) (104) (125)
Depreciation of goodwill (10) (17) (15)
Financial and holding results (4,201) (351) (308)
Other expense, net (99) (98) (76)
Unusual losses - (26) -
------------------------------------
Net income (loss) before income tax (5,449) 234 573
Income tax 1,095 (135) (214)
------------------------------------
Net income (loss) (4,354) 99 359
====================================
.. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 20001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 1,283 2,000 2,441
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Non current investments and related intangible assets acquisitions - (264) (385)
Fixed asset acquisitions (254) (825) (1,040)
Intangible asset acquisitions (3) (15) (41)
Other investments not considered as cash or cash equivalents 27 2 460
------------------------------------
Total cash flows used for investing activities (230) (1,102) (1,006)
------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Debt proceeds - 635 1,310
Repayment of debt (4) (587) (1,573)
Payment of interest and related expenses (354) (811) (572)
Dividends paid - (464) (292)
------------------------------------
Total cash flows used for financing activities (358) (1,227) (1,127)
------------------------------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 695 (329) 308
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF YEAR/PERIOD 354 683 375
------------------------------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT YEAR/PERIOD END 1,049 354 683
====================================
NOTE 20 - DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ARGENTINE AND U.S.GAAP
To facilitate the use of financial information by both local and foreign
investors, the Company has included in these consolidated financial statements,
as additional information, a summary of the principal differences between
Argentine and U.S.GAAP. In addition, in recent years and to the extent permitted
by GAAP, the Company has attempted to reduce the differences of criteria in
order to facilitate the analysis of its financial results by both local and
foreign investors.
However, the remaining differences between Argentine and U.S.GAAP are grouped as
follows:
1. DIFFERENCES RELATED TO MEASUREMENT UNIT
.. RESTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX CHANGES
As described in Note 4.1.d, the accompanying financial statements have been
prepared in million of Argentine pesos of constant currency, recognizing the
inflation effects. However, in general, U.S.GAAP does not allow for the
restatement of financial statements in units of constant currency.
Under U.S.GAAP, account balances and transactions are stated in units of
currency of the period in which the transactions were originated. This
accounting criterion is known as the historical-cost-based method. U.S.GAAP only
allows for the restatement of financial statements in countries with highly
inflationary economies as defined by U.S.GAAP.
85
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Notwithstanding the above, the SEC does not require for those companies that
prepare its financial statements under local standards, the elimination of the
restatement in constant pesos in the reconciliation of Argentine GAAP to
U.S.GAAP. As a consequence of that, the reconciliation of net income and
shareholders' equity prepared under local standards to U.S.GAAP does not include
a reconciling item for this issue.
86
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
2. DIFFERENCES RELATED TO THE DISCLOSURE CRITERIA
.. OTHER EXPENSES, NET IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Under U.S.GAAP the following items included in the financial statement caption
"Other expenses, net" would have been reclassified as a deduction from Operating
profit:
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
---------------------------------------------------------
INCOME (EXPENSE)
Termination benefits (48) (83) (48)
Reserves for contingencies (100) (39) (46)
---------------------------------------------------------
Total (148) (122) (94)
=====================================================================================================
.. RECLASSIFICATION OF DEFERRED TAX ASSETS AND LIABILITIES IN THE CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
The Company has classified its deferred tax balances as current or non current,
considering the moment that the temporary differences will be realized and the
expected moment that deferred tax assets related to carryforwards will be used.
However, under U.S.GAAP, deferred tax assets and liabilities shall be classified
as current or non current based on the classification of the related asset or
liabilities for financial reporting, while deferred tax assets related to
carryforwards shall be classified according to their expected reversal date.
The effects of classification of deferred tax assets and liabilities as required
under U.S.GAAP, before considering the tax effects originated by the differences
mentioned in point 3, are as follows:
NET DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
(LIABILITIES)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT NON CURRENT TOTAL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts per consolidated balance sheets at december 31, 2002 4 9 13
Reclassification of deferred tax assets and liabilities - - -
----------------------------------------
Revised amounts under per U.S.GAAP at December 31, 2002 (*) 4 9 13
========================================
Revised amounts under per U.S.GAAP at December 31, 2001 (*) 218 (520) (302)
================================================================================================================
(*) Under U.S.GAAP, a valuation allowance for the total amount of this tax
credit has been recorded (see "Recoverability of tax credits" described in 3
below).
3. DIFFERENCES RELATED TO VALUATION CRITERIA
.. VALUATION OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCY AS OF DECEMBER 31,
2001
As a result of the Argentine economic situation mentioned in Note 3, from
December 21, 2001 the Argentine foreign currency exchange market was suspended
until January 10, 2002.
In that respect, Argentine GAAP required that the companies recognized their
assets and liabilities denominated in U.S. dollars using the exchange rate $1 to
US$1 as of December 31, 2001. However, U.S.GAAP required that companies use the
first subsequent exchange rate after the balance sheet date to adjust the
valuation of its assets and liabilities in foreign currency at such date,
according to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants'
International Task Force, based on SFAS 52 and the Emerging Issues Task Force
D-12 (the "Israeli case").
During the year ended December 31, 2002, this foreign currency exchange loss
recognized under U.S.GAAP at the end of fiscal year 2001, was recorded in net
income (loss) for Argentine GAAP purposes; so at December 31, 2002 there is no
difference between Argentine GAAP and U.S.GAAP for the valuation of assets and
liabilities in foreign currency.
87
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
The summary of principal adjustments to U.S.GAAP corresponding to the year ended
December 31, 2002 includes a reconciling item for the difference in the timing
of the recording of such losses.
.. ACCOUNTING FOR CUSTOMER ACQUISITION COSTS
Some of the changes in the Company's policy for accounting in fiscal year 2000,
meant modifications related to the accounting value for customer acquisition
costs under Argentine GAAP and U.S.GAAP.
88
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Argentine GAAP requires a restatement of previously reported net income and
shareholders' equity, meanwhile U.S.GAAP does not permit such a restatement,
requiring the accrued effect recognition in the year in which take place the
application of the new accounting policy. Therefore, net income and
shareholders' equity of prior periods include a reconciling item due to
difference in the timing of recording of the effects of the change in customer
acquisition costs between Argentine and U.S.GAAP.
.. ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
As described in Note 4.1.c, the Group has adopted the new accounting standards
on an early basis as from this fiscal year which include particular standards
related to measurement and exposure of derivative financial instruments.
These new domestic accounting standards and US GAAP provide for a similar
accounting treatment applicable to derivative financial instruments, except for
the following differences included in the reconciling information for US GAAP:
a) the changes in accounting measurement of derivative financial instruments
cash flow hedge are charged to a specific account called "Temporary
measurement differences of derivative instruments determined as an
effective hedge" within the balance sheet as per domestic accounting
standards, while US GAAP provide for their charge to a Stockholders' Equity
Reserve; and
b) although both standards provide for prospective application thereof as from
their initial application, there are differences in their accounting effect
in previous years, as a result of a difference in the effective date of
both standards.
.. CAPITALIZATION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE DIFFERENCES RELATED TO DEBT FOR
FIXED ASSETS ACQUISITIONS
As described in Note 4.2.a, the cost of those assets which acquisition is
carried out with loans existing as of January 6, 2002, includes financial
interest generated by such loans, allowing for the capitalization of the foreign
currency exchange differences originated by the devaluation of the Argentine
peso as of such date. Under U.S.GAAP, this capitalization is not permitted.
.. VALUATION OF INVENTORIES AND RAW MATERIALS
As described in Note 4.2.f and 4.2.g, inventories and raw materials included in
Other assets, have been valued at their replacement cost at each
year/period-end. Under U.S.GAAP, these assets should be valued at the lower of
cost or net realizable value.
.. VALUATION OF DEBT DUE TO TITAN FINANCIAL TRUST
As stated in Note 8, the financial debt due to the new TITAN Financial Trust,
under local accounting standards, was valued at its current value, which arises
from discounting the total amount payable at a 12% rate p.a.. Under U.S.GAAP,
this valuation criterion at its current value is not allowed, since debts must
be valued at their nominal value by adding, when applicable, accrued interest at
each year/period end.
.. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
Under Argentine GAAP and as indicated in Note 4.1.b., the equity investments of
the Company in foreign companies have been translated into Argentine pesos at
the exchange rate at each year/period end, in accordance with FACPCE RT 18.
Likewise, and according to that RT, the
89
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
results generated by the mentioned translation have been recognized in the
caption Temporary differences from translation in the consolidated balance
sheets.
Notwithstanding, SFAS 52 requires the functional currency definition
corresponding to equity investments in foreign companies and, if corresponds,
the measurement of these investments in functional currency, before the
translation of the assets and liabilities of the foreign companies into exchange
rate at year/period end.
90
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
This measurement is required if the functional currency is different from the
currency of the country in which a parent company has the investment and
generates exchange rate differences that are recognized as income/expense.
Likewise, SFAS 52 states that the results from translation from functional
currency to reporting currency, the Argentine peso for the Company, have to be
recognized in a Reserve of shareholders' equity.
.. OTHER MONETARY RECEIVABLES AND LIABILITIES, VALUED AT NET PRESENT VALUE
As indicated in Note 4.1.c, the new accounting standards anticipate the
valuation of other receivables and liabilities, at the net present value, using
a discount rate which reflects the time value of the money and the specific
risks of those receivables and liabilities. Under U.S.GAAP, the criteria for
valuation at net present value is not permitted, because the balances in the
balance sheet and the transactions are expressed at historical cost.
.. REVENUE RECOGNITION
As described in Note 4.1.i, the Company recognizes its revenues as services are
provided to customers. Therefore, revenues for installation fees are recognized
in the period that the installation service is completed, jointly with the
related costs.
Nevertheless, the Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 101, "Revenue recognition" of
the SEC requires the deferring of the installation fees and the related costs
considering the estimated average useful life of customers, except when the cost
is higher than the revenue, in which case the excess cannot be deferred.
Since the Company's installation costs exceed the related revenues, the Company
believes such difference of criterion has no impact on the reconciliation of net
income and shareholders' equity to U.S.GAAP. Additionally, the effect for
U.S.GAAP purposes of recording the related deferred asset and liability is not
significant for the periods presented.
.. RECOVERABILITY OF TAX CREDI7TS
The recoverable value of tax credits depends on the existence of sufficient
taxable income within the carryforward period available under the tax law. In
that respect, as indicated in Note 10, the management of Telecom considers that,
as a consequence of the Decree No. 2568/02, which established the deferral of
the initial exchange rate difference ($1.40 by US$1) for the income tax, the
probable recoverability of deferred tax credits of Telecom and Personal have
been significantly affected, generating an uncertainty about the possibility of
recoverability.
Therefore, as required by Argentine GAAP, and with a prudent criteria, the
management of Telecom has decided to record a valuation allowance, in addition
to the amount in its controlled company Nucleo, the total of net deferred tax
credits corresponding to Telecom and Personal as of December 31, 2002.
However, SFAS 109 states more specific and strict rules to evaluate tax credits.
Under this pronouncement, an enterprise must use judgment in considering the
relative impact of negative and positive evidence to determine if a total or
partial valuation allowance is needed or not. For example, negative evidence
includes: a) unsettled circumstances that, if unfavorably resolved, would
adversely affect future operations and profit levels on a continuing basis in
future
91
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
years; and b) a carryforward period that is so brief that it would limit
realization of tax benefits if a significant deductible temporary difference is
expected to reverse in single year.
Nevertheless, the economic-financial projections as evidence of the probable tax
credits recoverability of Publicom and the tax credits related to the minimum
presumed income tax of the Group, considering the complex macroeconomic context
and the uncertainties that affect the Group business, under U.S.GAAP, they would
not be considered sufficient positive evidence for the recoverability of these
assets. Likewise, if following the provisions of SFAS 109 and adopting a
prudent position, the management of Telecom, in the reconciliation to U.S.GAAP
as of December 31, 2002, has considered a valuation allowance for the total
amount of tax credits before mentioned.
92
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
.. RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY TO U.S.GAAP
The following table summarizes the principal adjustments to net income (loss)
and shareholders' equity had U.S.GAAP been applied rather than Argentine GAAP:
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2001
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ACCUMULATED SHAREHOLDERS NET ACCUMULATED
INCOME OCI EQUITY INCOME OCI SHAREHOLDERS
(LOSS) (LOSS) (DEFICIT) (LOSS) (LOSS) EQUITY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts Per Consolidated
Financial Statements (4,354) - 811 99 - 5,165
U.S.GAAP ADJUSTMENTS
Increase (decrease) as a
result of:
* Valuation of assets and
liabilities in
foreign currency as of
December 31, 2001 3,526 - - (3,526) - (3,526)
* Cumulative-effect on prior
years of customer acquisition
costs, net of tax effect - - - - - -
* Derivative financial
instruments - - - (a) (207) (207)
* Foreign currency exchange
differences
capitalized in fixed assets (757) - (757) - - -
* Valuation of inventories and
raw materials (5) - (5) - - -
* Valuation of TITAN Financial
Trust (43) - (43) - - -
* Foreign currency translation 43 38 81 - - -
* Other receivables and
liabilities in currency
valued at net present value - - 6 3 - 6
* Tax effects on U.S.GAAP
adjustments (953) - 282 1,235 72 1,307
* Valuation allowance for tax
credits 902 - (385) (1,287) - (1,287)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts per consolidated financial
statements per U.S.GAAP (1,641) 38 (10) (3,476) (135) 1,458
===========================================================================
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------
2000
--------------------------------------------
NET ACCUMULATED
INCOME OCI SHAREHOLDERS
(LOSS) (LOSS) EQUITY
--------------------------------------------
Amounts per consolidated
financial statements 359 - 5,530
U.S.GAAP ADJUSTMENTS
Increase (decrease) as a
result of:
* Valuation of assets and
liabilities in
foreign currency as of
December 31, 2001 - - -
* Cumulative-effect on prior
years of customer acquisition
costs, net of tax effect (52) - -
* Derivative financial
instruments - (48) (48)
* Foreign currency exchange
differences
capitalized in fixed assets - - -
* Valuation of inventories and
raw materials - - -
* Valuation of TITAN Financial
Trust - - -
* Foreign currency translation - - -
* Other receivables and
liabilities in currency
valued at net present value 3 - 3
* Tax effects on U.S.GAAP
adjustments - 17 17
* Valuation allowance for tax
credits - - -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts per consolidated financial
statements per U.S.GAAP 310 (31) 5,502
=================================================================================
(a) The derivative financial instruments have been effective during the
year/period ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Therefore,
there are no charges to earnings due to the ineffectiveness of such
contracts during this year/period.
SFAS 130, effective in the United States of America, established standards for
reporting and display of Comprehensive income, which comprises of Net income and
OCI. This statement requires that an enterprise classify items of OCI by their
nature and display the accumulated balance of OCI separately from the other
concepts in the equity section of a statement of financial position.
The change in the accumulated OCI (loss) for the years/twelve month period ended
December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 is presented below, net of income tax effects:
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------------------
2002 2001 2000
-----------------------------------------------------
Balances at the beginning of period (135) (31) -
Cumulative-effect-type adjustment on prior year
of SFAS 133, net of tax effect - - (44)
Derivative financial instruments
Change on derivative financial instruments (138) (303) (275)
Reclassification into earnings 346 144 292
Foreign currency translation 38 - -
Tax effect (73) 55 (4)
-----------------------------------------------------
Balances at period end 38 (135) (31)
==========================================================================================================
Net income (loss) per share amounts in pesos, for the years/twelve month period
ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 are as follows:
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Net income (loss) per share (4.42) 0.10 0.36
Net income (loss) per ADS (22.12) 0.50 1.82
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS UNDER U.S.GAAP
93
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Net income (loss) per share (1.67) (3.53) 0.31
Net income (loss) per ADS (8.34) (17.66) 1.57
========================================================================================================
NOTE 21 - RESTRICTIONS ON UNAPPROPRIATED RETAINED EARNINGS
Under Law No. 19550, the Company's by-laws and CNV regulations, 5% of the
Company's net income for the year, plus or minus any prior year adjustments and
subject to coverage of accumulated losses, if any, must be allocated to a legal
reserve until such reserve reaches 20% of capital stock plus adjustment to
capital stock.
94
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
NOTE 22 - EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO DECEMBER 31, 2002
.. SALE OF SHARES OF MULTIBRAND
In February 2003, Telecom received from Shell Compania Argentina de Petroleo
S.A., an offer to acquire, in the amount of $3,000, the investment that Telecom
has in its related company Multibrand (300 shares of $10 nominal value per
share).
The Board of Directors has accepted the offer, anticipating that the transaction
will be effective in the middle of March 2003.
.. TRANSFER OF THE TAX ON DEBITS AND CREDITS ON BANK ACCOUNTS AND OTHER
TRANSACTIONS
In February, 2003 the Ministry of Economy, through Resolution No. 72/03,
authorized Telecom to increase the SBT tariffs, in accordance with that
resolution, by the effect of the mentioned tax, which should be shown in the
customers' bills in a detail. The amounts before Resolution No. 72/03 will be
included in the tariffs renegotiation process, mentioned in Note 13.
Valerio Cavallo Carlos Felices Amadeo R.vazquez
Chief Financial Officer Chief Executive Officer President
95
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
EXHIBIT A
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001
FIXED ASSETS ACTIVITY
(In million of Argentine constant pesos, see Note 4.1.d)
CAPITALIZED
FOREIGN
CURRENCY
AMOUNTS EXCHANGE
AT ADDITIONS DIFFERENCES RESULTS AMOUNTS
BEGINNING FROM (NOTE FROM TRANSFE- RETIRE- AT YEAR
MAIN ACCOUNT OF YEAR PURCHASES 4.2.a) TRANSLATION RENCES MENTS END
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land 118 - - - 1 - 119
Buildings 1,591 - 44 - 31 (7) 1,659
Transmission equipment 4,590 10 311 5 124 (9) 5,031
Switching equipment 3,509 3 199 3 107 (1) 3,820
Power equipment 495 4 16 2 11 (2) 526
External wiring 5,576 - 174 - 162 (1) 5,911
Telephony equipment, instruments
and systems for improvement in
services 752 7 36 2 53 (2) 848
Cellular handsets leased without
charge 363 10 - 3 5 (59) 322
Vehicles 109 1 - - - - 110
Furniture 104 1 1 - 1 (1) 106
Installations 495 1 1 1 2 (1) 499
Computer equipment 2,072 15 109 3 262 (7) 2,454
Work in progress 703 163 - 4 (752) (3) 115
Materials 88 21 - - (7) (47) 55
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 2002 20,565 236 891 23 - (140) 21,575
====================================================================================================================
Total 2001 20,523 1,026 - - - (984) 20,565
====================================================================================================================
DEPRECIATION
---------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE YEAR
----------------- NET NET
ACCUMULATED ANNUAL BOOK BOOK
AT BEGINNING RATE RETIRE- ACCUMULATED VALUE VALUE
MAIN ACCOUNT OF YEAR (%) AMOUNT MENTS AT YEAR END 2002 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land - - - - - 119 118
Buildings (527) 4 - 9 (77) - (604) 1,055 1,064
Transmission equipment (2,138) 10 - 11 (509) 1 (2,646) 2,385 2,452
Switching equipment (1,884) 10 (414) - (2,298) 1,522 1,625
Power equipment (211) 10 - 20 (55) - (266) 260 284
External wiring (2,901) 7 (328) 1 (3,228) 2,683 2,675
Telephony equipment, instruments
and systems for improvement in
services (540) 13 - 18 (71) - (611) 237 212
Cellular handsets leased without
charge (266) 100 (85) 37 (314) 8 97
Vehicles (77) 20 - 40 (12) - (89) 21 32
Furniture (59) 10 - 20 (9) - (68) 38 45
Installations (257) 9 - 33 (55) - (312) 187 238
Computer equipment (1,170) 18 - 33 (353) 2 (1,521) 933 902
Work in progress - - - - - 115 703
Materials - - - - - 55 88
------------ --------------------------------------------------------
Total 2002 (10,030) (1,968)(a) 41 (11,957) 9,618
=======================================================================================================
Total 2001 (9,266) (1,677) 913 (10,030) 10,535
====================================================================================================================
(a) Includes (134) corresponding to the depreciation of capitalized foreign
currency exchange differences by debt and (3) corresponding to Results from
translation.
96
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
EXHIBIT B
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001
INTANGIBLE ASSETS ACTIVITY
(In million of Argentine constant pesos, see Note 4.1.d)
AMORTIZATION
-------------------------------
ORIGINAL
VALUE ORIGINAL ACCUMULATED
ACCOUNT AT RESULTS VALUE AT FOR ACCUMULATED
BEGINNING FROM AT YEAR BEGINNING THE AT YEAR
OF YEAR ADDITIONS TRANSLATION RETIREMENTS END OF YEAR YEAR END
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
System development costs 396 23 - - 419 (127) (88)(a) (215)
Debt issue costs 78 - - - 78 (56) (9)(b) (65)
PCS license 654 1 - - 655 (70) - (70)
Band B of Paraguay license 98 1 1 - 100 (39) (11)(c) (50)
Usage rights 44 1 - - 45 (14) (3)(d) (17)
Exclusivity rights 99 1 - (2) 98 (36) (10)(e) (46)
Websites 2 - - - 2 (2) - (2)
Trademarks and patents 9 - - - 9 (3) (1)(d) (4)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 2002 1,380 27 1 (2) 1,406 (347) (122) (469)
========================================================================================================================
Total 2001 1,299 81 - - 1,380 (203) (144)(f) (347)
========================================================================================================================
NET NET
BALANCE BALANCE
ACCOUNT 2002 2001
------------------------------------------------
System development costs 204 269
Debt issue costs 13 22
PCS license 585 584
Band B of Paraguay license 50 59
Usage rights 28 30
Exclusivity rights 52 63
Websites - -
Trademarks and patents 5 6
--------------------
Total 2002 937
=====================================
Total 2001 1,033
================================================
a) Included 28 in Cost of services provided, 5 in Administrative expenses, 53
in Sales expenses and 2 in Financial and holding results (Results from
translation).
b) Included in Financial and holding results.
c) Included 10 in Cost of services provided and 1 in Financial and holding
results (Results from translation).
d) Included in Administration expenses.
e) Included in Sales expenses.
f) Included 55 in Cost of services provided, 6 in Administrative expenses, 72
in Sales expenses and 11 in Financial and holding results.
97
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
EXHIBIT C
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001
INVESTMENTS IN OTHER COMPANIES AND PUBLIC SECURITIES
(In million of Argentine constant pesos, except par value - see Note 4.1.d)
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE
SECURITIES 2002 2001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET RESTATED
CLASS OF PAR REALIZABLE COST BOOK BOOK
DENOMINATION AND TYPE SHARES VALUE AMOUNT VALUE VALUE (F) VALUE VALUE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT INVESTMENTS
PUBLIC BONDS
Province of Corrientes Bond (a) $ 1 757,454 - 1 - -
Argentina 2004 Bond (b) US$ 1 18,000,000 n/a 61 64 -
Argentine government bonds US$ 1 17,500,000 n/a 61 59 -
Argentine government bonds $ 1 62,000,000 n/a 62 62 -
---------------------------------------------
Total current investments - 185 185 -
=============================================
NON- CURRENT INVESTMENTS
PUBLIC BONDS
Argentina 2004 Bond (b) US$ 1 12,000,000 n/a 40 40 65
"Dorado" Bond (a) (c) $ 1 12,481,003 n/a 26 6 24
Province of Corrientes Bond (a) $ 1 5,069,115 2 11 2 2
---------------------------------------------
Total public bonds 2 77 48 91
---------------------------------------------
RELATED COMPANIES LAW NO. 19550 SECT.33
Multibrand (d) Ordinary $ 10 300 2 - -
Latin American Nautilus Ordinary US$ 2 3,000,000 20 - 9
Latin American Nautilus- Advances for the 4 - 2
acquisition of shares
Intelsat Ltd. (e) Ordinary US$ 3 260,432 11 11 7
RELATED PARTIES
Nahuelsat Ordinary $ 1,000 5,750 13 (g) 9
-
-----------------------------
Total related companies Law No. 19550 Sect.33
and related parties 50 11 27
-----------------------------
Total non-current investments 127 59 118
==============================================================================================================================
RELATED COMPANIES - LAW NO. 19550 - SECT. 33 RELATED PARTIES
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LATIN AMERICAN
INFORMATION ON THE ISSUER MULTIBRAND NAUTILUS (I) NAHUELSAT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main activity Administration and Telecommunication Obtaining, installing
management of a multibrand services and operating
fidelity program satellite
communications
systems and trading
of its services
Percentage participation in capital stock 25% 10% 5.75%
Financial statements closing date December 31 December 31 December 31
Financial statements used to determine the
equity value:
- Date 12.31.02 9.30.02 12.31.01
- Duration of the year/period 12 months 9 months 12 months
- Board of Directors' approval date 2.12.03 - 5.23.02
- Report on review 2.12.03 - 5.17.02
- Audit scope Full audit - Full audit
- Type of report of the independent With observations - With observations (j)
Accountants
- Capital stock (par value) (h) - 202 100
- Income (loss) for the year/period (6) (65) (2)
- Shareholders' equity (3) 15 57
=========================================================================================================================
(a) The Company received these bonds in order to cancel trade accounts
receivable with some province government.
(b) The Company intends to hold these bonds to their maturity date.
(c) This bond was converted into pesos according to Decree No. 214/02.
(d) Net of a loan granted to Multibrand of 2 at December'01.
(e) The interest in this company is 0.15%.
(f) The restated cost value for investments in foreign companies was
converted into pesos at the exchange rate existing at year/period-end.
(g) As from June 2002, the Company has recorded to zero its participation in
Nahuelsat, because it has been estimated that the impact in the Peso
devaluation, based on the last financial statements issued by Nahuelsat,
would generate a significative decrease in its shareholder's equity, and
remote possibilities in the recoverability of this investment.
98
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
(h) Expressed in million of historical pesos.
(i) The unaudited information originally provided by the company in US$ was
adapted to the Company's accounting policies and converted into pesos at
the exchange rate existing at year/period-end.
(j) Corresponds to the impact of the new economic plans described in Note 3
that would take effect on the results of the company's operations,
considering the high level of indebtedness in foreign currency and the
lack of the consolidated information.
99
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
EXHIBIT D
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001
OTHER INVESTMENTS
(In million of Argentine constant pesos, see Note 4.1.d)
BOOK VALUE AT
COST AT -------------------
DENOMINATION AND TYPE 2002 2002 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT INVESTMENTS
Short-term investments
In foreign currency 599 599 291
In Argentine pesos 519 519 39
Investment trusts
In Argentine pesos 13 13 -
----------------------------------
Total current investments 1,131 1,131 330
================================================================================
100
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
EXHIBIT E
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001
ALLOWANCES AND RESERVES ACTIVITY
(In million of Argentine constant pesos, see Note 4.1.d)
BALANCE AT
THE BALANCE
BEGINNING TRANSFE- AT
ACCOUNTS OF THE YEAR INCREASE RENCES DECREASE 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEDUCTED FROM CURRENT ASSETS
For doubtful accounts receivable 513 188(a) - (405) 296
For obsolete inventories 4 3(b) - (2) 5
DEDUCTED FROM NON-CURRENT ASSETS
For other receivable 13 561(c) - (9) 565
----------------------------------------------------
Total deducted from assets 530 752 - (416)(d) 866
============================================================================================
INCLUDED IN CURRENT LIABILITIES
For contingencies 14 - 10 (15) 9
INCLUDED IN NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
For contingencies 131 100 (10) (80) 141
----------------------------------------------------
Total included in liabilities 145 100(b) - (95)(e) 150
============================================================================================
BALANCE AT
THE BALANCE
BEGINNING TRANSFE- AT
ACCOUNTS OF THE YEAR INCREASE RENCES DECREASE 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEDUCTED FROM CURRENT ASSETS
For doubtful accounts receivable 279 563(a) 2 (331) 513
For obsolete inventories 2 2(b) - - 4
DEDUCTED FROM NON-CURRENT ASSETS
For doubtful accounts receivable 2 - (2) - -
For other receivable 10 3(f) - - 13
----------------------------------------------------
Total deducted from assets 293 568 - (331) 530
============================================================================================
INCLUDED IN CURRENT LIABILITIES
For contingencies 22 - 33 (41) 14
Included in non-current liabilities
For contingencies 125 39 (33) - 131
----------------------------------------------------
Total included in liabilities 147 39(b) - (41) 145
============================================================================================
(a) Charged to Sales expenses.
(b) Charged to Other expenses, net.
(c) Includes 7 in Other expenses, net and 554 in Income tax.
(d) Includes (305) corresponding to results on exposure to inflation.
(e) Includes (81) corresponding to results on exposure to inflation.
(f) Charged to Income tax.
101
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
EXHIBIT F
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001 AND FOR THE TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2000 (See Note 4.1.e)
COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED
(In million of Argentine constant pesos, see Note 4.1.d)
YEARS/TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
-----------------------------------------
Balance of inventories at beginning of year 52 190 87
Plus:
Purchases of cellular handsets 3 37 461
Net financial results (3) - -
Inventories leased without charge (11) (33) (161)
Retirements not included in cost of cellular handsets (1) (12) (29) (22)
Cost of services provided (Exhibit H) 2,860 3,485 3,480
Minus:
Balance of inventories at year/period end (17) (52) (190)
-----------------------------------------
COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED 2,872 3,598 3,655
=============================================================================================================
PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 2001 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Charged to Other receivables (3) (4) -
Charged to Accounts payable - (7) -
Charged to Cost of services provided (5) (9) (13)
Charged to Financial and holding results - - (9)
Charged to Other expenses, net (4) (9) -
-----------------------------------------
(12) (29) (22)
=========================================
102
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
EXHIBIT G
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCY
2002 2001
-----------------------------------------
AMOUNTS IN MILLION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY
UNITS
-----------------------------------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
CASH AND BANKS
Bank deposits US$ 11 18
G 7,278 12
INVESTMENTS
Short-term investments US$ 91 124
EURO 83 10
Public bonds US$ 37 -
TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Ordinary US$ 14 130
SDR - 2
GFD 1 -
G 129,119 121
OTHER RECEIVABLES
Swap contracts collateral US$ - 134
Various US$ 2 5
G 4,814 10
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
OTHER RECEIVABLES
Certificates of tax credit US$ - 19
Selling of Sky US$ - 5
INVESTMENTS
Public bonds US$ 12 41
Latin American Nautilus US$ - 1
Multibrand US$ - 1
FIXED ASSETS
Advanced payments to suppliers US$ - 9
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Vendors US$ 14 96
G 35,200 42
SDR 6 12
EURO 1 -
Advances from customers G 1,838 -
Capital leases US$ - 28
Related companies US$ 1 47
DEBT
Corporate bonds US$ 240 436
EURO 1,403 -
Banks loans and others US$ 529 419
(Y) 6,610 -
Fixed asset acquisitions US$ 620 248
EURO 39 3
(Y) 11,810 -
Inventory acquisitions US$ 157 50
Compensatory interests US$ 8 -
(Y) 39 -
EURO 2 -
OTHER LIABILITIES
Various US$ 1 4
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Capital leases US$ - 9
DEBT
Corporate bonds US$ - 1,163
Banks loans and others US$ 43 308
Fixed asset acquisitions US$ - 466
EURO - 36
Inventory acquisitions US$ - 114
=======================================================================================
US$ = United States Dollars; GFD = Golden Franc; SDR =Special drawing
rights; G = Paraguayan guaranies; (Y) = Yen.
103
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Exhibit H
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001 AND FOR THE TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2000 (See Note 4.1.e)
EXPENSES INCURRED
(In million of Argentine constant pesos, see Note 4.1.d)
COST OF FIXED ASSETS
SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE SALES - WORK IN TOTAL
PROVIDED EXPENSES EXPENSES PROGRESS 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------
Wages and social benefits 277 100 206 5 588
Depreciation of fixed assets 1,602 69 294 - 1,965
Amortization of intangible assets 38 9 63 - 110
Taxes 83 2 12 - 97
Turnover tax 131 - - - 131
Taxes on bank debits and credits 46 - - - 46
Materials and supplies 154 5 27 - 186
Transport and freight 19 6 14 - 39
Energy, water and others 29 6 9 - 44
Bad debts expense - - 188 - 188
Interconnection costs 140 - - - 140
Settlement outgoing expenses 102 - - - 102
Lease of circuits 41 - - - 41
Rents 44 12 26 - 82
Fees for debt restructuring - 18 - - 18
process
Fees and counsel services 2 13 1 - 16
Repayment for services 30 11 40 - 81
Management fees 21 2 - - 23
Advertising - - 28 - 28
Agent commissions and card sales 21 - 25 - 46
Commissions on collecting - - 77 - 77
Various 80 26 24 - 130
--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 2,860 279 1,034 5 4,178
--------------------------------------------------------------
COST OF FIXED ASSETS
SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE SALES - WORK IN TOTAL
PROVIDED EXPENSES EXPENSES PROGRESS 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------
Wages and social benefits 552 218 371 15 1,156
Depreciation of fixed assets 1,267 70 340 - 1,677
Amortization of intangible assets 55 6 72 - 133
Taxes 155 7 26 - 188
Turnover tax 233 - - - 233
Materials and supplies 286 26 35 - 347
Transport and freight 33 26 37 - 96
Energy, water and others 55 9 22 - 86
Bad debts expense - - 563 - 563
Interconnection costs 212 - - - 212
Settlement outgoing expenses 70 - - - 70
Lease of circuits 68 - - - 68
Rents 74 22 22 - 118
Fees and counsel services 9 19 9 - 37
Repayment for services 72 61 44 - 177
Management fees 209 20 - - 229
Advertising - - 179 - 179
Agent commissions and card sales 21 - 92 - 113
Commissions on collecting - - 120 - 120
Various 114 53 38 - 205
--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 3,485 537 1,970 15 6,007
--------------------------------------------------------------
COST OF FIXED ASSETS
SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE SALES - WORK IN TOTAL
PROVIDED EXPENSES EXPENSES PROGRESS 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------
Wages and social benefits 476 201 421 20 1,118
Depreciation of fixed assets 1,222 63 299 - 1,584
Amortization of intangible assets 39 9 68 - 116
Taxes 137 11 15 - 163
Turnover tax 223 - - - 223
Materials and supplies 327 35 20 - 382
Transport and freight 26 24 37 - 87
Energy, water and others 68 13 31 - 112
Bad debts expense - - 334 - 334
Interconnection costs 301 - - - 301
Settlement outgoing expenses 94 - - - 94
Lease of circuits 44 13 7 - 64
Rents 83 17 13 - 113
Fees and counsel services 13 26 15 - 54
Repayment for services 50 76 28 - 154
Management fees 275 7 4 - 286
Advertising - - 209 - 209
--------------------------------------------------------------
104
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Agent commissions and card sales 7 - 286 - 293
Commissions on collecting - 4 118 - 122
Various 95 57 35 - 187
--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 3,480 556 1,940 20 5,996
--------------------------------------------------------------
105
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
EXHIBIT I
Consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2002 and 2001
AGING BREAKDOWN OF CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS CAPTIONS
(In million of Argentine constant pesos, see Note 4.1.d)
COMPENSATION
TRADE AND SOCIAL
ACCOUNTS OTHER ACCOUNTS BENEFITS TAXES OTHER
DUE DATE INVESTMENTS RECEIVABLE RECEIVABLES PAYABLE DEBT PAYABLE PAYABLE LIABILITIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total due - 193 - - 3,662(a) - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOT DUE
Payable - - - - 7,391 - - -
1.2003 to 3.2003 1,316 398 49 388 - 36 70 24
4.2003 to 6.2003 - 4 5 1 - 11 47 1
7.2003 to 9.2003 - 1 8 2 - 7 - -
10.2003 to 12.2003 - - 14 - - 7 - -
1.2004 to 12.2004 40 1 49 - 30 11 - 1
1.2005 to 12.2005 - - 2 - 21 8 - 3
1.2006 to 12.2006 6 - 1 - 18 7 - 3
1.2007 to 12.2007 - - 1 - 15 2 - 2
1.2008 to 12.2008 - - 1 - 60 1 - 2
1.2009 and subsequent 2 - 84 - - - - 18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total not due 1,364 404 214 391 7,535 90 117 54
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 2002 1,364 597 214 391(b) 11,197 90 117 54
============================================================================================================================
Balances with indexation - - 31 17 - - - -
clauses
Balances bearing interest 1,364 207 - 2 11,163 - - -
Balances not bearing interest - 390 183 372 34 90 117 54
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1,364 597 214 391 11,197 90 117 54
============================================================================================================================
Average annual interest rate (%) 6.91 (c) - 9.43 (d) - - -
============================================================================================================================
COMPENSATION
TRADE AND SOCIAL
ACCOUNTS OTHER ACCOUNTS BENEFITS TAXES OTHER
DUE DATE INVESTMENTS RECEIVABLE RECEIVABLES PAYABLE DEBT PAYABLE PAYABLE LIABILITIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total due - 526 - - - - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOT DUE
1.2002 to 3.2002 330 891 467 1,009 623 56 182 41
4.2002 to 6.2002 - 33 20 31 537 31 4 2
7.2002 to 9.2002 - 22 15 22 788 31 - -
10.2002 to 12.2002 - 7 131 9 585 15 - 2
1.2003 to 12.2003 2 8 61 17 1,919 25 55 -
1.2004 to 12.2004 65 - 2 7 1,144 20 96 2
1.2005 to 12.2005 - - 26 - 170 17 70 2
1.2006 to 12.2006 24 - 26 - 109 15 52 2
1.2007 to 12.2007 - - 2 - 591 4 70 2
1.2008 and subsequent 2 - - - 626 2 111 20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total not due 423 961 750 1,095 7,092 216 640 73
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 2001 423 1,487 750 1,095(e) 7,092 216 640 73
============================================================================================================================
Balances bearing interest 423 628 292 83 7,092 - - -
Balances not bearing interest - 859 458 1,012 - 216 640 73
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 423 1,487 750 1,095 7,092 216 640 73
============================================================================================================================
Average annual interest rate (%) 3.18 (f) 1.83 7.20 - - - -
============================================================================================================================
(a) Includes 112 corresponding to Nucleo (See Note 14).
(b) There are payables in kind that amounted to 1
(c) 153 bear 50% over Banco Nacion Argentina notes payable discount rate and 54
bear 9.02%.
(d) See note 8.
(e) There are payables in kind that amounted to 2
(f) 423 bear 50% over Banco Nacion Argentina notes payable discount rate and
205 bear 22.1%.
106
AUDITOR'S REPORT
To the Directors and Shareholders of
Telecom Argentina STET-France Telecom S.A.
1. We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Telecom
Argentina STET-France Telecom S.A. ("Telecom") as of December 31, 2002, and
2001, and the related consolidated statements of income (loss), changes in
shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal years then ended. Such
financial statements are the responsibility of the Board of Directors of
Telecom. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial
statements of Telecom as of December 31, 2002, and 2001, based on our
audits.
2. The consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity and
cash flows of Telecom for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2000,
presented for comparative purposes, have been examined by another external
auditor with the scope mentioned in note 4.1.e) to the accompanying
consolidated financial statements. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's Board of Directors.
3. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards in force in
Argentina. An audit requires that the auditor plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit also includes examining, on a selective
test basis, the evidence supporting the information contained in the
financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
standards used and the significant estimates made by Company's Management,
as well as assessing the presentation of the financial statements taken as
a whole. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
4. The financial statements of the subsidiaries Telecom Personal S.A. and
Publicom S.A. ("the subsidiaries") as of December 31, 2002, and 2001, have
been audited by other external auditors, who issued their auditor's reports
on March 7, 2003, with the qualifications mentioned in paragraph 5. of this
report. The total assets of those subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002, and
2001, represent approximately 25% and 24% of the total consolidated assets
of Telecom as of December 31, 2002, and 2001, respectively, and the total
sales of those subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2002, and
2001, represent approximately 26% and 25% of the total consolidated sales
of Telecom for the years ended December 31, 2002, and 2001, respectively.
5. The auditor's report on the consolidated financial statements of Telecom
Personal S.A. as of December 31, 2002, and 2001, includes qualifications
stating that: (a) the financial statements of Telecom Personal S.A. as of
December 31, 2002 have been prepared considering the continuity of the
normal course of business, therefore excluding the potential adjustments
and/or reclassifications, if any, that might be required if the Company is
not able to restore its economic and financial situation; (b) the
recoverability of fixed assets, intangible assets and the use of tax
credits depends on the materialization of the premises used for the
preparation of the economic-financial projections, developed on the basis
of the available information to date; and (c) as of March 7, 2003, Telecom
Personal S.A. has not complied with the payment of loan principal and
interest for an amount of US$ 271 million, Yens 3.837 billion and $ 201
million, entitling the creditors to require formally the acceleration of
all of the maturity dates. Furthermore, the report of the other auditor
mentions that Telecom is working with its financial advisors to develop a
complete restructuring plan involving all its financial debts, as well as
those of its subsidiaries.
The auditor's report on the financial statements of Publicom S.A. as of
December 31, 2002, and 2001, includes qualifications indicating that: (i)
the recoverability of fixed assets, intangible assets and the use of tax
credits depends on the materialization of the premises used for the
preparation of the economic-financial projections, developed on the basis
of the available information to date; and, (ii) as of March 7, 2003,
Publicom S.A. has not complied with the payment of the loan principal and
interest for an amount of US$ 4 million, entitling the creditors to require
the acceleration of all of the maturity dates established and to request
formally the early repayment of all debts. The special-purpose financial
statements of Publicom S.A. as of December 31, 2002, have been prepared
considering the continuity of the normal course of business, therefore
excluding the potential adjustments and/or reclassifications, if any, that
might be required if the outcome of the uncertainty described above were
known.
6. As explained in Note 3 to the financial statements mentioned in paragraph
1, in late 2001 a deep change was implemented in the economic model of
Argentina as well as in the Convertibility Law, which had been in place
since March 1991. The changes made, which were subsequently supplemented by
new Federal Government regulations, gave rise to a deep economic crisis,
the main consequences of which, detailed in such note, have been: (a) the
devaluation of the Argentine peso and conversion into Argentine pesos of
certain assets and liabilities in foreign currency held in Argentina; (b)
the default on public-debt payments; (c) the implementation of restrictions
on the withdrawal of funds deposited with financial institutions; (d)
restrictions on transfers abroad to service financial loan principal and
interest without the authorization of the BCRA; (e) the increase in
domestic prices; (f) the restriction on the access to credit; and (g) the
fall in domestic market demand. Also, the referred note describes other
measures known to date that significantly affect the economic environment,
some of which are still in the process of being drafted and regulated. Such
note also describes the effects on the Company's situation and the
accompanying financial statements, according to the assessments and
estimates made by the Company's Management, based on the available
information as of the date of preparation of such financial statements. The
overall context and regulations in force are subject to future changes as a
result of the evolution of the economic crisis. The future actual results
may significantly differ from the assessments and estimates made as of the
date of the preparation of the financial statements. Accordingly, the
Company's financial statements must be read considering the circumstances
presented above.
7. As explained in the note mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the Public
Emergency and Exchange System Reform Law voided the adjustment clauses in
dollars or in other foreign currencies or other indexation methods included
in the agreements entered into with the Public Administration, under public
law rules, including, among others, public works and utilities. Thus, the
Company's rates remained in pesos at the exchange rate of US$ 1 = $ 1,
subject to the renegotiation under the regulations issued in this regard.
At the same time, the foreign exchange system established on February 8,
2002, created a free exchange market, where the foreign currency operations
are traded. Consequently, the Company's operating conditions were changed,
adversely affecting its economic-financial equation, which is evidenced by
the losses and reduction in the shareholders' equity of Telecom, recorded
in the year ended December 31, 2002.
8. Additionally, on April 2, 2002, Telecom announced that, as a result of the
then current macroeconomic situation prevailing in Argentina, the peso
devaluation and volatility, the pesification of the Company's rates and the
schedule defined by the Argentine Government for the discussion related to
the adjustment of regulated rates, the Company's Board of Directors
resolved to suspend the principal payments of the entire financial debt
service and that of its Argentine subsidiaries and on June 24, 2002, the
Company's Board of Directors resolved to suspend the interest payments of
such financial debt. As of the date of this report, Telecom and its
subsidiaries did not comply with principal payments in the amount of US$
636 million; Euros 253 million, Yens 5.143 billion and $ 179 million, and
interest payments in the amount of US$ 47 million, Euros 42 million, Yens
248 million and $ 11 million, as mentioned in Note 14 to the accompanying
financial statements. Additionally, as explained in Note 14 to the
accompanying financial statements, certain creditors of Telecom required
the acceleration of their loans. Therefore, Telecom's Board of Directors
classified the bank and financial payables as of December 31, 2002, as
current in the consolidated financial statements as of such date, with the
exception of the amounts refinanced by the creditors mentioned in note 8 to
the accompanying financial statements. As explained in note 14 to the
accompanying financial statements, the Company is developing a
restructuring plan covering all of its financial payables and those of its
subsidiaries.
9. The accompanying financial statements of Telecom as of December 31, 2002,
and 2001, have been prepared considering the continuity of the Company and
its subsidiaries' normal course of business, using valuation and
classification criteria of assets and liabilities applicable to a going
concern and, therefore, do not contemplate the potential adjustments
related to the recoverability and classification of assets and/or the
adequacy and classification of liabilities that may be required if the
uncertainties described above are not favorably resolved.
10. In our opinion, based on our audits and the other auditors' reports,
subject to the effect that might arise from the issues described in
paragraphs 5. through 9. of this report, the financial statements mentioned
in paragraph 1. of this report, present fairly, in all material respects,
the consolidated financial position of Telecom Argentina Stet-France
Telecom S.A. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002, and 2001, and
the related results of operations and cash flows for the years then ended,
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles effective in
the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, applicable to consolidated financial
statements.
11. The information contained in Note 20 to the accompanying financial
statements of Telecom is not required by generally accepted accounting
principles in Argentina. Telecom's Management presents in the referred note
the main differences between generally accepted accounting principles
applied by Telecom in the preparation of its consolidated financial
statements and generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America.
12. The figures presented by the Company in Note 18 to the accompanying
financial statements of Telecom are in addition to the information required
by generally accepted accounting principles in Argentina. Such note
presents: (a) certain figures used for the preparation of the constant
currency information according to the accounting records of Telecom and its
subsidiaries; (b) the amounts, globally stated, of the Domestic Wholesale
Price Index variation from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2002 and; (c)
the total amounts in constant currency, which are in accordance with the
amounts presented in the financial statements of Telecom as of December 31,
2002, mentioned in the first paragraph of this report.
13. In compliance with effective regulations, we further report that:
a) The financial statements mentioned in paragraph 1 are transcribed in
the "Inventory and Balance Sheet" book and have been prepared, in all
materials aspects, in accordance with the applicable regulations of
the Companies Law and of the National Securities Commission.
b) The financial statements of Telecom Argentine Stet-France Telecom S.A.
as of December 31, 2002, are in accordance with the statutory
accounting records kept, in formal respects, as per effective legal
regulations and in accordance with the regulations established by
Resolution No. 3398 of the National Securities Commission dated August
20, 1998.
c) The information included in the "Summary information on the
consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2002 and 2001" that
is included in the accompanying document, except for the data
described as "not covered by the auditor's report" on which we will
issue no opinion, presented by the Company to comply with the
standards of the National Securities Commission has been taken from
the accompanying financial statements as of December 31, 2002, and
2001, (after giving effect of the restatement into constant pesos). We
issued our report on the financial statements of Telecom as of
December 31, 2001, on February 27, 2002, with qualifications related
to the uncertainties described in such report, to which we refer and
which must be read together with this report. The information of the
"Summary information on the consolidated financial statements at
December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998" has been covered by other auditors
who issued their reports with the scope mentioned in such Summary
information.
d) As of December 31, 2002, the accrued liability of Telecom for
retirement and pension contributions owed to the National Social
Security Administration according to the accounting records kept by
the Company, amounted to $ 8,617,355. This amount was not past due as
of that date.
Buenos Aires
March 10, 2003
PISTRELLI, DIAZ Y ASOCIADOS S.R.L.
C.P.C.E.C.F. - T DEG. 1 F DEG. 8
Eduardo C. Coduri
(Partner)
Public Accountant (U.B.A.)
C.P.C.E.C.F T DEG. 163 F DEG. 202
TELECOM ARGENTINA STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
CORPORATE INFORMATION
.. INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Henry Martin, Lisdero y Asociados (member of Ernst &
Young International).
.. STOCK MARKET INFORMATION (Source: Bloomberg)
BCBA
MARKET QUOTATION ($/SHARE)
----------------------------------------- VOLUME OF SHARES
QUARTER HIGH LOW TRADED (IN MILLION)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December '01 1.95 1.19 39.7
March '02 2.10 1.79 30.5
June '02 1.40 0.58 28.4
September '02 0.80 0.56 36.5
December '02 1.73 0.70 51.8
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NYSE
MARKET QUOTATION (US$/ADR*)
------------------------------------------ VOLUME OF ADRS
QUARTER HIGH LOW TRADED (IN MILLION)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December '01 8.34 5.79 27.5
March '02 6.68 2.64 25.3
June '02 2.88 0.60 23.1
September '02 1.13 0.66 8.1
December '02 2.60 0.80 11.9
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Calculated at 1 ADR = 5 shares
.. INVESTOR RELATIONS for information about Telecom Argentina STET-France
Telecom S.A., please contact:
IN ARGENTINA
Telecom Argentina STET France Telecom S.A.
Investor Relations Departments
Alicia Moreau de Justo 50, 10th Floor
(1107) Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires
Tel.: 54-11-4968-4000
Argentina
OUTSIDE ARGENTINA
Golin Harris International
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Ave., 16th floor
New York, New York 10017
USA
Tel.: 1-212-697-9191
Morgan Guaranty Trust Co.
ADR Department
60 Wall Street
New York, New York 10260-0060
USA
Tel.: 1-212-648-9935
.. INTERNET http: //www.telecom.com.ar
.. DEPOSIT AND TRANSFER AGENT FOR ADRs
Morgan Guaranty Trust Co.
60 Wall Street
New York, New York 10260-0060
USA
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 STET-FRANCE TELECOM S.A.
Date: March 24, 2003 By: /s/ Christian Chauvin
---------------------------------------
Name: Christian Chauvin
Title: Vice-President