Form 6-K

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

Report of Foreign Issuer

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

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of August 2010

Commission File Number: 001-13464

 

 

Telecom Argentina S.A.

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

Alicia Moreau de Justo, No. 50, 1107

Buenos Aires, Argentina

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

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

Form 20-F  x             Form 40-F  ¨

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

Yes  ¨             No  x

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

Yes  ¨             No  x

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

Yes  ¨             No  x

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

 

 

 


Telecom Argentina S.A.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Item

    
1.    Press Release entitled “Telecom Argentina S.A. announces consolidated six-month period (‘1H10’) and second quarter results for fiscal year 2010 (‘2Q10’)*”


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  
  

Market Cap P$14.3 billion

August 3, 2010

Contacts:

Pedro Insussarry

Solange Barthe Dennin

(54-11) 4968-3743/3752

Telecom Argentina S.A. announces consolidated six-month period (‘1H10’) and

second quarter results for fiscal year 2010 (‘2Q10’)*

 

   

Consolidated Net Revenues amounted to P$ 6,717 million (+17% vs. 1H09); Mobile business in Argentina +20% vs. 1H09; Internet +33% vs. 1H09.

 

   

Mobile subscribers: 17.2 million (+12% vs. 1H09); Broadband subscribers: 1.3 million (+15% vs. 1H09); Fixed lines in service: 4.1 million (+1% vs. 1H09).

 

   

Operating Profit Before Depreciation and Amortization (“OPBDA”) reached P$2,164 million (+18% vs. 1H09), 32% of Net Revenues. Growth was mainly fueled by broadband and mobile services in Argentina.

 

   

Operating Profit amounted to P$1,539 million (+17% vs. 1H09), 23% of Net Revenues.

 

   

Net Income reached P$865 million (+23 % vs. 1H09).

 

   

Investments (excluding materials) totaled P$666 million.

 

   

Net Cash Position: P$326 million, an increase of P$899 million vs. 1H09 due to strong cash flow generation.

 

   

On May 5, 2010, the first installment of the cash dividend payment was distributed, amounting to P$689 million.

 

(in million P$, except where noted)

   As of June, 30             
   2010     2009    D $     D %  

Consolidated Net Revenues

   6,717      5,754    963      17

Voice, Data & Internet

   2,222      1,990    232      12

Mobile

   4,495      3,764    731      19

Operating Profit before D&A

   2,164      1,841    323      18

Operating Profit

   1,539      1,311    228      17

Net Income

   865      703    162      23

Shareholder’s equity

   5,247      4,712    535      11

Net Financial Position – (cash) / Debt

   (326   573    (899   -157

CAPEX (excluding materials)

   666      529    137      26

Fixed lines in service (in thousand lines)

   4,066      4,026    40      1

Mobile customers (in thousand)

   17,169      15,354    1,815      12

Personal (Argentina)

   15,334      13,586    1,748      13

Núcleo (Paraguay) -Wimax customers are included-

   1,835      1,768    67      4

Broadband acceses (in thousand)

   1,274      1,110    164      15

Fixed line traffic (in MM minutes, Internet & Public Telephony not incl.)

   7,480      7,582    (102   -1

Incoming/Outgoing mobile voice traffic in Arg. (in MM minutes)

   8,912      7,662    1,250      16

Average Billing per user (ARBU) Fixed Telephony/voice (in P$)

   42      40    1.8      4

Average Revenue per user (ARPU) Cellular Telephony Arg. (in P$)

   42      40    1.9      5

 

 

 

* Unaudited non financial data


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Buenos Aires, August 3, 2010 – Telecom Argentina (NYSE: TEO; BASE: TECO2), one of Argentina’s leading telecommunications companies, announced today Net Income of P$865 million for the first half ended June 30, 2010, or +23% when compared to the same period last year.

 

     1H10     1H09     $    %  

Net Revenues (MMP$)

   6,717      5,754      963    17

Net Income (MMP$)

   865      703      162    23

Earnings per Share (P$)

   0.88      0.71      0.16   

Earnings per ADR (P$)

   4.39      3.57      0.82   

OPBDA*

   32   32     

Operating Profit*

   23   23     

Net Income*

   13   12     

 

* As a percentage of Net Revenues

During 1H10, Consolidated Net Revenues increased by 17% (+P$963 million vs. 1H09) to P$6,717 million, mainly fueled by the Mobile and Broadband businesses. Moreover, Operating Profit increased by 17% (+P$228 million vs. 1H09) to P$1,539 million.

Consolidated Operating Revenues

 

Fixed Services (Voice, Data Transmission & Internet)

 

During 1H10, revenues generated by these services amounted to P$2,222 million, +12% vs. 1H09; with internet revenues, in relative terms, generating the most growth (+33% vs. 1H09).

 

Voice

 

Total Revenues for this service reached P$1,420 million in 1H10 (+3% vs. 1H09). The results of this line of business continue to be affected by frozen tariffs of regulated services and lower interconnection revenues.

 

Monthly Charges and Supplementary Services increased by P$18 million, or 4% vs. 1H09, to P$435 million, as a consequence of a higher number of lines in service (+1%), that surpassed 4 million and a 17% of increase in supplementary services. Fixed lines have been readjusted according to international standards. Figures corresponding to prior periods were readjusted following these standards.

 

Revenues generated by Local, Domestic Long Distance Measured Services and International Services totaled P$648 million, an increase of 4% vs. 1H09. In relative terms, revenues from local calls increased the most with 8% vs. 1H09 mainly due to the incorporation of flat rate packs and secondly by domestic long distance traffic (+4% vs. 1H09). Meanwhile, revenues from international traffic slightly decreased 3% vs. 1H09, influenced by a lower demand in the Wholesale client segment.

 

Interconnection revenues decreased to P$207 million (-3% vs. 1H09), mainly due to the incorporation of new interconnection points with mobile operators which entailed lower prices that, in turn, negatively affected these revenues.

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Meanwhile, public telephony reached P$32 million (-P$4 million vs. 1H09). Finally, other revenues reached P$98 million (+13% vs.1H09).

 

Telecom continued promoting wireless handset sales, which offer additional services such as SMS from fixed lines. During the last few months, SMS traffic has shown a significant increase.

 

 

Data Transmission and Internet

 

Data transmission revenues amounted to P$158 million (+24% vs. 1H09), where the focus was to strengthen Telecom’s position as an integrated ICT provider for wholesale and government segments. During the first half of the year, Telecom continued enhancing virtualization solutions such as Virtual Hosting and Virtual Desktop.

 

Some of the advantages of virtualization solutions are the efficiencies in technology resources, the safety of information and a significant increase in the level of service availability.

 

During the first half, a new service was launched: “Virtual Host”, which complements housing and hosting solutions with a portfolio of Datacenter virtual solutions. This service allows clients to develop and make public their web site, to run software applications and to process data-bases without infrastructure investments, since the servers are in Telecom datacenters.

 

In the business segment, Telecom continues to position itself as an integrated partner, supplier of technological solutions for SMEs and maintains a broad portfolio of services that adapt to all needs of this segment. Services with major increases during this period were “Integra” (high quality and symmetrical internet access and with personal customer care) and the service of virtual private networks (oriented to clients with several branches that want to use integrated voice, data or video services).

 

Revenues related to Internet reached P$644 million (+P$158 million or 33% vs. 1H09), mainly due to the constant expansion of broadband services.

 

As of June 30, 2010, Telecom reached 1.27 million ADSL accesses (+15% vs. 1H09). These connections represent 31% of Telecom’s fixed lines in service. In addition, ADSL ARPU reached P$74 in 1H10, +16% when compared to 1H09.

 

During 1H2010, Telecom continued enhancing broadband domestic use, under the slogan “Internet en Todo” (Internet everywhere), with promotions focused to sell different internet products.

 

Furthermore, during May Telecom launched a new IP service named “Mi numero Arnet” (My Arnet number), a value added service that allows one number to be associated with a fixed line and also for users to make and receive calls simultaneously. Using this service requires broadband, given that it uses IP technology and has the same quality and geographic numeration as the associated main line.

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Data Transmission and Internet both have significantly increased their contribution to net consolidated revenues, reaching 12% and 36% respectively of participation of fixed telephony segment revenues.

 

Mobile Services

 

Clients have significantly increased in the quarter, reaching 17.17 million as of the end of June 2010, representing an increase of 0.89 million since December, 31, 2009 and 1.82 million since June 30, 2009.

 

The activities developed to stimulate the usage of the VAS and to retain high value segments allowed Personal to increase consolidated net revenues to P$4,495 million (+19% vs. 1H09), while improving its profitability.

 

Telecom Personal in Argentina

 

As of the end of June 2010, Personal reached 15.33 million subscribers in Argentina (+13% or 1.7 million vs. 1H09), enhancing its market position. The mix of overall subscriber base continued at 70% of prepaid and 30% of postpaid (including “Cuentas claras” plans and 3G modems).

 

Net Revenues reached P$4,279 million (+P$705 million or 20% vs. 1H09). Increases in overall voice traffic minutes (+16% vs. 1H09) and in VAS revenues (+38% vs. 1H09) were registered.

 

Service revenues (excluding handset sales) reached P$3,856 million (+19% vs. 1H09) with 38% corresponding to VAS revenues. Also noteworthy is SMS traffic performance, which climbed from a monthly average of 2,290 million messages in 1H09 to 4,246 million in 1H10 (+85% vs. 1H09). Average Monthly Revenue per User (ARPU) increased to approximately P$42 during 1H10 (+5% vs. 1H09).

 

Initiatives

 

During 2Q10, Personal continued deepening its strategy of innovation, by introducing the first research and development experience in Fourth Generation (4G) mobile services in Argentina.

 

These tests became a new step in the mobile service industry in the country. During these tests download speeds of up to 50 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 15 Mbps were reached.

 

Moreover, in relation with the FIFA Football World Cup, Personal organized different actions meant to associate its brand with the previously mentioned sporting event. In this sense, FIFA selected Personal as Argentina’s exclusive mobile contents supplier for the 2010 World Cup. Personal’s clients had free access to mobile contents through the Internet and in their handsets. This action also contributed to continuing to educate clients in the use of VAS. More than one million clients visited the mobile portal for FIFA World Cup official contents.

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Additionally, through an agreement with one of the main worldwide suppliers, Personal offered Wi-Fi Global service and international roaming packages to their clients.

 

After the Argentine Government defined the standard for digital TV, Personal launched two new TV handsets that can be used to watch TV through the Open Digital Television signal. For the first time it was possible to watch Digital TV – including all World Cup soccer games- on a mobile handset and free of cost.

 

During this quarter Personal introduced different promotions designed to sustain VAS revenues and in commemoration of Father’s Day launched Personal E-Mail to retail segment. Another promotion was the download of unlimited music free for one year in bundle with two handset models.

 

Furthermore, Personal continued its campaign to promote Pack 2.0, which allows social network access through mobile phones. Since its launch, more than one million clients have used this pack on their cell phones.

 

Telecom Personal in Paraguay

 

By the end of June 2010, Nucleo’s subscriber base maintained nearly 1.84 million clients (including Wimax clients). Prepaid and Postpaid customers represented 87% and 13%, respectively.

 

Personal’s controlled subsidiary in Paraguay generated revenues equivalent to P$216 million during 1H10 (+14% vs. 1H09).

 

Consolidated Operating Costs

 

The Cost of Services Provided, Administrative Expenses and Selling Expenses totaled P$5,178 million in 1H10, an increase of P$735 million, or +17%, vs. 1H09. The increase in costs is a consequence of a higher volume of revenues, inflationary effects on the cost structure, and greater expenses related to competition in mobile and internet businesses.

 

The cost breakdown is as follows:

 

- Salaries and Social Security Contributions totaled P$844 million (+23% vs. 1H09), mainly affected by increases in salaries. Regarding personnel, the decrease in headcount in fixed line segment (-125 employees vs. 1H09) was partially compensated by the incorporation of 194 employees in the same period in the mobile business. The total headcount remained stable achieving efficiencies in lines in service per employee.

 

- Taxes reached P$572 million (+20% vs. 1H09), influenced mainly by a higher volume of revenues but also impacted by higher rates in turnover taxes and rates and fees paid to the regulatory entity. It was also affected by debit and credit tax related to the dividend payment and also income tax.

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- Network access costs (includes TLRD, Roaming, Interconnection, international settlement charges and lease of circuits) amounted to P$680 million, -P$2 million vs. 1H09. This proportional reduction in TLRD cost was due to savings from stimulating on-net traffic between clients and more investment in the network that allowed a reduction in the expense of domestic roaming, gaining cost efficiency.

 

- Agents, prepaid card commissions and other commissions were P$573 million (+14% vs. 1H09), mainly due to the increase in commissions paid to commercial agents associated with higher revenues of more sophisticated handsets; also because of a higher volume of greater acquisitions and retention of customers, higher cards sales and prepaid recharges.

 

- Advertising amounted to P$179 million (+13% vs. 1H09) oriented towards supporting the commercial activity in mobile services and Internet and to strengthening the brand position of the Telecom Group.

 

- Cost of handsets sold totaled P$662 million (+27% vs. 1H09) due to a change in the handsets mix sold, increasing high-end handsets sales and the average costs of them, this later affected by the increase in Internal Tax, better known as the Technological Tax. There were also a higher number of upgrades of handsets oriented towards the boosting of VAS usage.

 

- Fees for services amounted to $274 million (+22% vs. 1H09) due principally to higher costs from the Call Centers and more service requirements.

 

- Depreciation of Fixed and Intangible Assets reached P$625 million (+18% vs. 1H09). Fixed-line telephony totaled P$345 million (+6% vs. 1H09) and mobile services totaled P$280 million (+36% vs. 1H09) due to higher investment in fixed assets.

 

- Others Costs totaled P$769 million (+16% vs. 1H09). This increase was mainly due to general increases in services such as maintenance, materials and supplies and rental expense. The decrease in bad debt expenses by 13% vs. 1H09 is notable. There was also an increase in cost related to VAS such as content offers, due to increase demand of these services, evidenced in recent periods.

 

Consolidated Financial and Holding Results

 

Financial and Holding Results resulted in a loss of P$46 million, a decrease of P$105 million vs. 1H09. This was mainly due to lower losses for FX results by P$66 million in 1H10 (-P$91 million vs. 1H09); a gain in net financial interest of P$30 million in 1H10 (+P$38 million vs. 1H09), partially compensated by higher losses in holding on inventories by P$5 million in 1H10 (+P$16 million vs. 1H09).

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Consolidated Net Financial Debt

 

As of June 30, 2010, Net Financial Position (Loans minus Cash, Cash Equivalents and current Investments) totaled in P$326 million in cash, an improvement of P$899 million vs. Net Financial Debt as of June 2009. This was due to the strong cash flow generation evidenced in the period.

 

During 1H10, Personal purchased a nominal amount of US$ 5.85 million Series 3 Notes due 2010. These operations were made through open market purchases and with liquid funds from the Company. The Notes acquired were cancelled according to the terms and conditions of the Indenture.

 

Consolidated Capital Expenditures

 

During 1H10, the Company invested P$666 million (excluding materials). This amount was allocated to Voice, Data and Internet businesses (P$281 million) and mobile services (P$385 million). In relative terms, capex reached 10% of revenues.

 

Main Capex projects are related to the expansion of broadband services to improve transmission and speed available to the clients; deployment of 3G services to support the growth of mobile broadband together with the launch of innovative VAS and the expansion of transmission and transport networks to meet the growing demand of our fixed and mobile clients.

 

Relevant Matters

 

During this semester, Telecom Argentina shareholders approved a cash dividend distribution to be paid in two installments on the following dates and amounts: as of May 5, 2010 it paid the amount of P$689 million (equivalent to P$0.70 per share) and December 20, 2010, for the balance of P$364 million (or P$0.37 per share).

 

Meanwhile, the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of Telecom Personal approved, a cash dividend payment of P$575 million to its Shareholders (mainly, Telecom Argentina) paid on May, 5, 2010.

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Telecom is the parent company of a leading telecommunications group in Argentina, where it offers directly or through its controlled subsidiaries local and long distance fixed-line telephony, cellular, data transmission and Internet services, among other services. Additionally, through a controlled subsidiary, the Telecom Group offers cellular services in Paraguay. The Company commenced operations on November 8, 1990, upon the Argentine government’s transfer of the telecommunications system in the northern region of Argentina.

 

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Nortel Inversora S.A. (“Nortel”), which acquired the majority of the Company from the Argentine government, holds 54.74% of Telecom’s common stock. Nortel is a holding company whose common stock (approximately 68% of capital stock) is owned by Sofora Telecomunicaciones S.A. Additionally, Nortel capital stock comprised of preferred shares that are held by minority shareholders.

 

As of June 30, 2010, Telecom had 984,380,978 shares outstanding.

 

(*) Employee Stock Ownership Program

 

For more information, please contact the Investor Relations Department:

 

Pedro Insussarry

(5411) 4968 3743

    

Solange Barthe Dennin

(5411) 4968 3752

    

Evangelina Sánchez

(5411) 4968 3718

    

Ruth Fuhrmann

(5411) 4968 4448

    

Horacio Nicolás del Campo

(5411) 4968 6236

Voice Mail: (5411) 4968 3628

Fax: (5411) 4968 3616

E-mail: relinver@ta.telecom.com.ar

For information about Telecom Group services, visit:

www.telecom.com.ar

www.personal.com.ar

www.personal.com.py

www.arnet.com.ar

Disclaimer

This document may contain statements that could constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s expectations for its future performance, revenues, income, earnings per share, capital expenditures, dividends, liquidity and capital structure; the effects of its debt restructuring process; the impact of emergency laws enacted by the Argentine Government; and the impact of rate changes and competition on the Company’s future financial performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “future” or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect the Company’s expected results. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of emergency laws enacted by the Argentine government that have resulted in the repeal of Argentina’s Convertibility law, devaluation of the peso, various changes in restrictions on the ability to exchange pesos into foreign currencies, and currency transfer policy generally, the “pesification” of tariffs charged for public services, the elimination of indexes to adjust rates charged for public services and the Executive branch announcement to renegotiate the terms of the concessions granted to public service providers, including Telecom. Due to extensive changes in laws and economic and business conditions in Argentina, it is difficult to predict the impact of these changes on the Company’s financial condition. Other factors may include, but are not limited to, the evolution of the economy in Argentina, growing inflationary pressure and evolution in consumer spending and the outcome of certain legal proceedings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as the date of this document. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events and circumstances after the date of this press release, including, without limitation, changes in the Company’s business or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are encouraged to consult the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, as well as periodic filings made on Form 6-K, which are filed with or furnished to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for further information concerning risks and uncertainties faced by Telecom.

(Financial tables follow)

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Esteban G. Macek

Authorized Director


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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

Consolidated information

Six Month period and Second Quarter results – Fiscal Year 2010

(In millions of Argentine pesos)

1- Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

     06/30/2010     12/31/2009     D$     D%  

Cash, equivalents and investments

   1,193      1,289      (96   -7

Trade receivables

   1,139      1,163      (24   -2

Other current assets

   632      491      141      29

Total Current Assets

   2,964      2,943      21      1

Fixed & Intangible assets

   7,681      7,612      69      1

Other non-current assets

   76      78      (2   -3

Total Non Current Assets

   7,757      7,690      67      1

Total Assets

   10,721      10,633      88      1

Accounts payable

   2,106      2,212      (106   -5

Loans

   794      763      31      4

Taxes payable

   734      769      (35   -5

Dividends payable

   364      —        364      —     

Reserves

   74      73      1      1

Other current liabilities

   343      352      (9   -3

Total Current Liabilities

   4,415      4,169      246      6

Accounts payable

   20      24      (4   -17

Loans

   74      58      16      28

Taxes payable

   177      212      (35   -17

Reserves

   443      374      69      18

Other non-current liabilities

   250      268      (18   -7

Total Non Current Liabilities

   964      936      28      3

Total Liabilities

   5,379      5,105      274      5

Minority Interest

   95      92      3      3

Shareholders’ equity

   5,247      5,436      (189   -3

Total Liabilities, Minority Interest and Equity

   10,721      10,633      88      1
                        

2- Consolidated Loans

        
     06/30/2010     12/31/2009     D$     D%  

Corporate Bonds

   685      685      —        0

Banks and other financial institutions

   63      72      (9   -13

Bank overdraft

   15      —        15      —     

Accrued interest

   4      3      1      33

Derivatives

   27      3      24      —     

Total Current Loans

   794      763      31      4

Banks and other financial institutions

   74      58      16      28

Total Non Current Loans

   74      58      16      28

Total Loans

   868      821      47      6
                        

Derivatives valuation effect for notes (Other Current Credits)

   —        1      (1   -100

Cash and cash equivalents (include non current Government bonds)

   1,194      1,289      (95   -7

NET FINANCIAL POSITION (Cash)

   (326   (469   143      -30
                        

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

Consolidated information

Six Month period and Second Quarter results – Fiscal Year 2010

(In millions of Argentine pesos)

3- Consolidated Income Statement

    Six Months Comparison

 

     06/30/2010     06/30/2009     D$     D%  

Net revenues

   6,717      5,754      963      17

Cost of services

   (3,363   (2,887   (476   16

Gross Profit

   3,354      2,867      487      17

Administrative expenses

   (244   (200   (44   22

Selling expenses

   (1,571   (1,356   (215   16

Operating Profit

   1,539      1,311      228      17

Equity income from related companies

   —        13      (13   -100

Financial and holding results

   (46   (151   105      -70

Other expenses, net

   (123   (72   (51   71

Results from ordinary operations

   1,370      1,101      269      24

Taxes on income

   (502   (394   (108   27

Minority interest

   (3   (4   1      -25

Net Income

   865      703      162      23
                        

Operating Profit before D & A

   2,164      1,841      323      18

As a % of Net Revenues

   32   32    

Financial and Holding results

     06/30/2010     06/30/2009     D$     D%  

Financial results generated by assets

        

Interest

   74      61      13      21

Foreign currency exchange results

   21      91      (70   -77

Holding results generated by inventories

   (5   11      (16   -145

Other financial results

   —        2      (2   -100

Total Financial results generated by assets

   90      165      (75   -45

Financial results generated by liabilities

        

Interest

   (44   (69   25      -36

Foreign currency exchange results

   (87   (248   161      -65

Other financial results

   (5   1      (6   —     

Total Financial results generated by liabilities

   (136   (316   180      -57

Total Financial and holding results

   (46   (151   105      -70
                        

4- Consolidated Income Statement

    Three Months Comparison

 

     30/06/2010     30/06/2009     D$     D%  

Net revenues

   3,468      2,925      543      19

Cost of services

   (1,745   (1,466   (279   19

Gross Profit

   1,723      1,459      264      18

Administrative expenses

   (123   (108   (15   14

Selling expenses

   (824   (699   (125   18

Operating Profit

   776      652      124      19

Equity income from related companies

   —        13      (13   -100

Financial and holding results

   11      (57   68      -119

Other expenses, net

   (72   (72   —        0

Results from ordinary operations

   715      536      179      33

Taxes on income

   (260   (181   (79   44

Minority interest

   (1   (3   2      -67

Net Income

   454      352      102      29
                        

Operating Profit before D & A

   1,100      924      176      19

As a % of Net Revenues

   32   32    

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

Consolidated information

Six Month period and Second Quarter results – Fiscal Year 2010

(In millions of Argentine pesos)

5- Consolidated Revenues Breakdown

    Six Months Comparison

 

     06/30/2010    06/30/2009    D$     D%  

Fixed Telephony

   1,276    1,228    48      4

Measured service Local

   252    233    19      8

Measured service DLD

   252    243    9      4

Monthly charges

   435    417    18      4

Public telephones

   32    36    (4   -11

Interconnection

   207    213    (6   -3

Others

   98    86    12      14

International Telephony

   144    149    (5   -3

Data transmission & Internet

   802    613    189      31

Data

   158    127    31      24

Internet

   644    486    158      33

Measured service

   34    28    6      21

Monthly charges

   607    456    151      33

Modems

   3    2    1      50

MobileTelephony

   4,495    3,764    731      19

Telecom Personal

   4,279    3,574    705      20

Monthly fee and measured service

   884    819    65      8

Pre-paid

   622    515    107      21

Calling Party Pays

   291    275    16      6

TLRD*

   366    382    (16   -4

VAS

   1,449    1,048    401      38

Handset sales

   423    345    78      23

Others (Includes Roaming)

   244    190    54      28

Núcleo

   216    190    26      14

Monthly fee and measured service

   35    36    (1   -3

Pre-paid

   57    52    5      10

Calling Party Pays

   5    4    1      25

TLRD*

   16    19    (3   -16

VAS

   79    57    22      39

Internet – Wimax

   8    9    (1   -11

Handset sales

   2    3    (1   -33

Others (Includes Roaming)

   14    10    4      40

Total net revenues

   6,717    5,754    963      17
                      

 

* Charges for the temination of calls of the cellular operators.

6- Consolidated Revenues Breakdown

 

     Three Months Comparison             
     30/06/2010    30/06/2009    D$     D%  

Fixed Telephony

   654    619    35      6

Measured service Local

   130    121    9      7

Measured service DLD

   128    123    5      4

Monthly charges

   219    210    9      4

Public telephones

   15    17    (2   -12

Interconnection

   108    104    4      4

Others

   54    44    10      23

International Telephony

   74    74    0      0

Data transmission & Internet

   412    318    94      30

Data

   84    67    17      25

Internet

   328    251    77      31

Measured service

   17    15    2      13

Monthly charges

   309    235    74      31

Modems

   2    1    1      100

MobileTelephony

   2,328    1,914    414      22

Telecom Personal

   2,218    1,817    401      22

Monthly fee and measured service

   438    420    18      4

Pre-paid card

   291    256    35      14

Calling Party Pays

   147    139    8      6

TLRD*

   185    189    (4   -2

VAS

   803    544    259      48

Handset sales

   237    181    56      31

Others (Includes Roaming)

   117    88    29      33

Núcleo

   110    97    13      13

Monthly fee and measured service

   18    25    (7   -28

Pre-paid card

   25    25    —        0

Calling Party Pays

   3    1    2      200

TLRD*

   6    12    (6   -50

VAS

   45    25    20      80

Internet – Wimax

   4    4    —        0

Handset sales

   1    1    —        0

Others (Includes Roaming)

   8    4    4      100

Total net Revenues

   3,468    2,925    543      19
                      

 

* Charges for the temination of calls of the cellular operators.

 

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7- Consolidated Income Statement by segments

    Six Month period – Fiscal Year 2010

    (In million of Argentine pesos)

 

     Segments     Variation vs 1H09  
     Voice, Data
and Internet
    Mobile
Telephony
    Consolidated     D$     D%  

Net Revenues

   2,222      4,495      6,717      963      17

Salaries and social security contributions

   (634   (210   (844   (156   23

Taxes

   (142   (430   (572   (96   20

Materials and supplies

   (213   (106   (319   (33   12

Bad debt expenses

   (14   (49   (63   9      -13

Interconnection cost

   (95   —        (95   (8   9

Settlement charges

   (70   —        (70   15      -18

Lease of lines and circuits

   (45   (26   (71   (4   6

Service fees

   (107   (167   (274   (49   22

Advertising

   (53   (126   (179   (21   13

Agent, Prepaid card commissions and other commissions

   (58   (515   (573   (71   14

Cost of voice, data and cellular handsets

   (20   (642   (662   (142   27

Roaming and TLRD

   —        (444   (444   (1   0

Others

   (182   (205   (387   (83   27

Total Costs before D&A

   (1,633   (2,920   (4,553   (640   16

Operating Profit before D&A

   589      1,575      2,164      323      18

Depreciation of fixed assets

   (336   (279   (615   (93   18

Amortization of intangible assets

   (9   (1   (10   (2   25

Operating Profit

   244      1,295      1,539      228      17

Equity income from related companies

   —        —        —        (13   —     

Financial and Holding Income

   31      (77   (46   105      -70

Other expenses, net

   (82   (41   (123   (51   71

Income from ordinary operations

   193      1,177      1,370      269      24

Taxes on income

   (195   (307   (502   (108   27

Minority interest

   —        (3   (3   1      -25

Net Income / (Loss)

   (2   867      865      162      23
                              

8- Consolidated Income Statement by segments

    Six Month period – Fiscal Year 2009

    (In million of Argentine pesos)

 

     Segments  
     Voice, Data
and Internet
    Mobile
Telephony
    Consolidated  

Net Revenues

   1,990      3,764      5,754   

Salaries and social security contributions

   (529   (159   (688

Taxes

   (128   (348   (476

Materials and supplies

   (196   (90   (286

Bad debt expenses

   (21   (51   (72

Interconnection cost

   (87   —        (87

Settlement charges

   (85   —        (85

Lease of lines and circuits

   (39   (28   (67

Service fees

   (97   (128   (225

Advertising

   (49   (109   (158

Agent, Prepaid card commissions and other commissions

   (47   (455   (502

Cost of voice, data and cellular handsets

   (19   (501   (520

Roaming and TLRD

   —        (443   (443

Others

   (148   (156   (304

Total Costs before D&A

   (1,445   (2,468   (3,913

Operating Profit before D&A

   545      1,296      1,841   

Depreciation of fixed assets

   (316   (206   (522

Amortization of intangible assets

   (8   —        (8

Operating Profit

   221      1,090      1,311   

Equity income from related companies

   —        13      13   

Financial and Holding Income

   (87   (64   (151

Other expenses, net

   (34   (38   (72

Income from ordinary operations

   100      1,001      1,101   

Taxes on income

   (158   (236   (394

Minority interest

   —        (4   (4

Net Income / (Loss)

   (58   761      703   
                  

This exposition of the financial statements is not coincident with the individual financial statements for each company due to the eliminations of intercompany operations.

 

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9- Consolidated Income Statement by segments

    Second Quarter – FY 2010

    (In million of Argentine pesos)

 

     Segments     Variation vs 2Q09  
     Voice, Data
and Internet
    Mobile
Telephony
    Consolidated     D$     D%  

Net Revenues

   1,140      2,328      3,468      543      19

Salaries and social security contributions

   (328   (112   (440   (69   19

Taxes

   (75   (224   (299   (54   22

Materials and supplies

   (108   (55   (163   (13   9

Bad debt expenses

   (7   (27   (34   (1   3

Interconnection cost

   (48   —        (48   (4   9

Settlement charges

   (31   —        (31   7      -18

Lease of lines and circuits

   (23   (12   (35   (2   6

Service fees

   (53   (87   (140   (21   18

Advertising

   (36   (64   (100   (20   25

Agent, Prepaid card commissions and other commissions

   (30   (268   (298   (36   14

Cost of voice, data and cellular handsets

   (10   (354   (364   (107   42

Roaming and TLRD

   —        (215   (215   (4   2

Others

   (95   (106   (201   (43   27

Total Costs before D&A

   (844   (1,524   (2,368   (367   18

Operating Profit before D&A

   296      804      1,100      176      19

Depreciation of fixed assets

   (172   (146   (318   (49   18

Amortization of intangible assets

   (5   (1   (6   (3   100

Operating Profit

   119      657      776      124      19

Equity income from related companies

   —        —        —        (13   —     

Financial and Holding Income

   18      (7   11      68      -119

Other expenses, net

   (48   (24   (72   —        0

Income from ordinary operations

   89      626      716      179      33

Taxes on income

   (94   (166   (260   (79   44

Minority interest

   —        (1   (1   2      —     

Net Income / (Loss)

   (5   459      454      102      29
                              

10- Consolidated Income Statement by Segments

      Second Quarter – FY 2009

      (In million of Argentine pesos)

 

     Segments  
     Voice, Data
and Internet
    Mobile
Telephony
    Consolidated  

Net Revenues

   1,011      1,914      2,925   

Salaries and social security contributions

   (283   (88   (371

Taxes

   (66   (179   (245

Materials and supplies

   (102   (48   (150

Bad debt expenses

   (8   (25   (33

Interconnection cost

   (44   —        (44

Settlement charges

   (38   —        (38

Lease of lines and circuits

   (19   (14   (33

Service fees

   (50   (69   (119

Advertising

   (21   (59   (80

Agent, Prepaid card commissions and other commissions

   (26   (236   (262

Cost of cellular handsets

   (10   (247   (257

Roaming and TLRD

   —        (211   (211

Others

   (77   (81   (158

Total Costs before D&A

   (744   (1,257   (2,001

Operating Profit before D&A

   267      657      924   

Depreciation of fixed assets

   (161   (108   (269

Amortization of intangible assets

   (4   1      (3

Operating Profit

   102      550      652   

Equity income from related companies

   —        13      13   

Financial and Holding Income

   (37   (20   (57

Other expenses, net

   (54   (18   (72

Income (loss) from ordinary operations

   11      525      536   

Taxes on income

   (56   (125   (181

Minority interest

   —        (3   (3

Net Income / (Loss)

   (45   397      352   
                  

This exposition of the financial statements is not coincident with the individual financial statements for each company due to the eliminations of intercompany operations.

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

Unconsolidated Information

Six Month period and Second Quarter results – Fiscal Year 2010

(In million of Argentine pesos)

11- Balance Sheet

 

     06/30/2010     12/31/2009     D$     D%  

Cash, equivalents and investments

   785      578      207      36

Trade receivables

   597      724      (127   -18

Other current assets

   82      85      (3   -4

Total Current Assets

   1,464      1,387      77      6

Other Trade receivables

   35      46      (11   -24

Fixed & Intangible assets

   4,290      4,346      (56   -1

Investments

   1,878      1,915      (37   -2

Other non-current assets

   4      3      1      33

Total Non current Assets

   6,207      6,310      (103   -2

Total Assets

   7,671      7,697      (26   0

Accounts payable

   809      931      (122   -13

Compensation and social benefits payable

   223      244      (21   -9

Taxes Payable

   212      263      (51   -19

Dividends payable

   364      —        364      —     

Other liabilities

   55      39      16      41

Reserves

   64      57      7      12

Total Current Liabilities

   1,727      1,534      193      13

Accounts payable

   20      24      (4   -17

Compensation and social benefits payable

   75      81      (6   -7

Taxes Payable

   156      202      (46   -23

Other liabilities

   138      153      (15   -10

Reserves

   308      267      41      15

Total Non Current Liabilities

   697      727      (30   -4

Total Liabilities

   2,424      2,261      163      7

Shareholders’ equity

   5,247      5,436      (189   -3

Total Liabilities and Equity

   7,671      7,697      (26   0
                        
12- Income Statement         
      Six Months Comparison         
     06/30/2010     06/30/2009     D$     D%  

Net revenues

   2,562      2,313      249      11

Cost of services

   (1,320   (1,199   (121   10

Gross Profit

   1,242      1,114      128      11

Administrative expenses

   (155   (130   (25   19

Selling expenses

   (517   (449   (68   15

Operating Profit

   570      535      35      7

Equity income from related companies

   537      445      92      21

Financial & holding results

   32      (87   119      -137

Other incomes & expenses net

   (79   (33   (46   139

Results from ordinary operations

   1,060      860      200      23

Taxes on income

   (195   (157   (38   24

Net Income

   865      703      162      23
                        

Operating Profit before D&A

   913      894      19      2

As a % of Net Revenues

   36   39    
Financial and Holding results         
     06/30/2010     06/30/2009     D$     D%  

Financial results generated by assets

        

Interest

   40      35      5      14

Foreign currency exchange results

   11      59      (48   -81

Other financial results

   —        1      (1   -100

Total Financial results generated by assets

   51      95      (44   -46

Financial results generated by liabilities

        

Interest

   (6   (25   19      -76

Foreign currency exchange results

   (13   (158   145      -92

Other financial results

   —        1      (1   -100

Total Financial results generated by liabilities

   (19   (182   163      -90

Total Financial and holding results

   32      (87   119      -137
                        

 

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

Unconsolidated Information

Six Month period and Second Quarter results – Fiscal Year 2010

(In million of Argentine pesos)

13- Income Statement

      Three Months Comparison

 

     06/30/2010     06/30/2009     D$     D%  

Net revenues

   1,311      1,171      140      12

Cost of services

   (672   (618   (54   9

Gross Profit

   639      553      86      16

Administrative expenses

   (81   (67   (14   21

Selling expenses

   (275   (229   (46   20

Operating Profit

   283      257      26      10

Equity income from related companies

   293      241      52      22

Financial & holding results

   18      (37   55      -149

Other incomes & expenses net

   (46   (53   7      -13

Results from ordinary operations

   548      408      140      34

Taxes on income

   (94   (56   (38   68

Net Income

   454      352      102      29
                        

Operating Profit before D&A

   459      421      38      9

As a % of Net Revenues

   35   36    

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    Telecom Argentina S.A.
Date: August 6, 2010     By:   /S/    FRANCO BERTONE        
    Name:  

Franco Bertone

Chief Executive Officer

    Title: