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FINANCIAL DEBT
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
FINANCIAL DEBT  
FINANCIAL DEBT

NOTE 13 – FINANCIAL DEBT

As of December 31, 

Current

    

2022

    

2021

Bank overdrafts - principal

7,610

23,734

Bank and other financial entities loans – principal

 

40,072

 

63,457

Notes – principal

47,404

DFI (Note 22)

19

360

Loans for purchase of equipment

5,269

7,003

Accrued interest and related expenses

33,987

31,806

 

134,361

 

126,360

Non-current

 

  

 

  

Notes – principal

 

181,071

 

216,929

Bank and other financial entities loans – principal

102,588

112,483

Loans for purchase of equipment

4,455

7,629

Accrued interest and related expenses

46,714

56,542

 

334,828

 

393,583

Total financial debt

 

469,189

 

519,943

Movements in Financial debt are as follows:

Exchange 

differences, 

currency 

Balances at the 

translation 

Balances as of 

beginning of the 

Accrued 

adjustments and

December 31,

    

period

    

Cash Flows

    

interest

    

 others

    

 2022

Bank overdrafts

 

23,734

 

(1,171)

 

 

(14,953)

 

7,610

Bank and other financial entities loans – principal

 

175,940

 

324

 

 

(33,604)

 

142,660

Notes – principal

 

216,929

 

22,414

 

 

(10,868)

 

228,475

DFI

 

360

 

(5,656)

 

 

5,315

 

19

Loans for purchase of equipment

 

14,632

 

(4,665)

 

 

(243)

 

9,724

Accrued interest and related expenses

 

88,348

 

(44,370)

 

13,070

 

23,653

 

80,701

Total as of December 31, 2022

519,943

(33,124)

13,070

(*)    (30,700)

469,189

Total as of December 31, 2021

 

588,636

 

(26,321)

 

30,316

(**)    (72,688)

 

519,943

(*)

Includes $10,736 that do not represent cash movement.

(**)

Includes $15,852 that do not represent cash movement.

Most of the bank and other financing entities loans subscribed by the Company contain compliance ratios which are usual for this kind of agreements. As of December 31, 2022, Telecom has complied with them.

The main bank and other financing entities loans agreements, which are effective as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, are detailed below:

a)Notes

Telecom Argentina

Global Programs for the issuance of Notes

In connection with the Notes Global Program for a maximum outstanding amount of US$3,000 million or its equivalent in other currencies, the Company issued several series of Notes, which amounts and main characteristics as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 are described below:

Amount

Unpaid portion

Series

Currency

involved

Issuance

Maturity

Amortization

Interest rate

Interest payment

As of December

  

  

  

  

(in millions)

  

  

date

  

  

date

  

  

  

  

  

  

date

  

  

31,

2022

  

  

2021

1

US$

    

400

    

07/2019

    

07/2026

    

In one installment at maturity date

    

Annual fixed rate of 8.00%

Semiannually

    

72,494

    

81,620

5

US$

389

08/2020

08/2025

In four installment of: 3% at 02/2023 30% at 08/2023 33% at 08/2024 34% at 08/2025

Annual fixed rate of 8.50%

Semiannually

72,144

82,142

7

$

125

12/2020

12/2023

In one installment at maturity date

UVA Annual fixed rate of 3.00%

Semiannually

23,243

23,780

8

$

 

134

 

01/2021

 

01/2025

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

UVA Annual fixed rate of 4.00%

Semiannually

 

24,933

 

25,506

9

 

US$linked

 

92

 

06/2021

 

06/2024

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Annual fixed rate of 2.75%

Quarterly basis

 

16,271

 

18,334

10

$

 

127

 

12/2021

 

06/2025

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

UVA

 

N/A

 

23,407

 

23,907

11

$

 

2,000

 

12/2021

 

06/2023

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Variable annual rate: Badlar plus spread of 3.25%

Quarterly basis

 

2,075

 

3,955

12 (1)

 

US$linked

 

23

 

03/2022

 

03/2027

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Annual fixed rate of 1.00%

Quarterly basis

 

19,077

 

 

US$linked

 

75

 

08/2022

 

03/2027

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Annual fixed rate of 1.00%

Quarterly basis

13

$

 

2,348

 

03/2022

 

09/2023

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Variable annual rate: Badlar plus spread of 1.50%

Quarterly basis

 

2,435

 

(1)

For the Additional Series 12 Notes issued on August 16, 2022, the subscription price was above par, so that on the date of issuance, the Company received funds for US$86.3 million (equivalent to $11,621) net of issuance expenses for $0.05.

Telecom Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ meeting

The General Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of Telecom Argentina held on April 27, 2022, resolved, among others: (i) to extend for five years the term of the Notes Global Program for a maximum outstanding amount of US$3,000 million or its equivalent in other currencies (the “Program”); and (ii) to extend from December 28, 2022 and for an additional five years the delegation to the Board of Directors of the powers to determine and modify the terms and conditions of the Program and of the Notes to be issued under it within the maximum amount in circulation authorized, with powers to sub-delegate powers to some of its members and/or officials of the first line of management.

Núcleo

Global Programs for the issuance of Notes

In connection with the Notes Global Program for a maximum outstanding amount of up to 500,000,000,000 of Guaraníes (approximately $3,200 as of the date of issue), Núcleo issued several series of Notes, which amounts and main characteristics as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 are described below:

Amount

Interest

Unpaid portion

involved

Issuance

Maturity

payment 

As of December  31,

Series

Currency

date

date

Amortization

Interest rate

date

(in millions)

2022

2021

1

 

Gs.

 

120,000

 

03/2019

 

03/2024

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Annual fixed rate of 9.00

%  

Quarterly basis

 

2,875

 

3,488

2

 

Gs.

 

30,000

 

03/2019

 

03/2024

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Annual fixed rate of 9.00

%  

Quarterly basis

 

716

 

869

3

 

Gs.

 

100,000

 

03/2020

 

03/2025

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Annual fixed rate of 8.75

%  

Quarterly basis

 

2,399

 

2,912

4

 

Gs.

 

130,000

 

03/2021

 

01/2028

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Annual fixed rate of 7.10

%  

Quarterly basis

 

3,158

 

3,832

5

 

Gs.

 

130,000

 

03/2021

 

01/2031

 

In one installment at maturity date

 

Annual fixed rate of 8.00

%  

Quarterly basis

 

2,918

 

3,541

b)

Bank and other financing entities loans

As of December 31, 2022, the Company maintains US LIBOR-based loans as detailed below in this note, that are set to mature after June 30, 2023, the proposed LIBOR cessation date. Therefore, as of the date of issued of these consolidated financial statements, we have initiated negotiations for the replacement of LIBOR by the SOF rate, starting in June 2023 with the IFC, IDB, Finnvera and EDC. The Company estimates that these changes do not generate a significant effect on the Company’s cash flows.

The main loans agreements, which are effective as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, are detailed below:

Principal

Interest

    

Entities

Currency

residual

Maturity

Amortization

Interest rate

Spread

payment 

Unpaid portion

nominal value

date

date

As of December 31,

  

  

  

  

(in millions)

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

2022

  

  

2021

US$

114

03/2027 (1)

Semiannually

Variable annual rate:
LIBO 6 months

between 4.00% and 6.75%

Semiannually

21,484

29,217

International
Finance
Corporation
(IFC)

US$

208

Between 08/2024 and 08/2025 (1)

Semiannually

Variable annual rate: LIBO 6 months

between 4.60% and 5.85%

Semiannually

37,986

60,285

US$

185

08/2029 (2)

Semiannually from 08/2024

Variable annual rate: SOF 6 months

6.50%

Semiannually

33,320

Inter-American
Investment
Corporation
(IIC)

US$

35

12/2024 (1)

Semiannually

Variable annual rate: LIBO 6 months

5.85%

Semiannually

6,231

7,112

Inter-American
Development
Bank
(IDB)

US$

182

06/2027 (1)

Semiannually

Variable annual rate: LIBO 6 months

between 6.75% and 8.75%

Semiannually

33,278

37,950

China
Development
Bank Shenzhen
Branch (CDB)

RMB

957

12/2027

Semiannually

Annual fixed
rate of 4.95%

N/A

Semiannually

23,482

14,485

(3)

Tearm Loan (4)

US$

10/2022

16% 07/2022

Variable annual rate:

5.25%

Quarterly basis

28,257

84% 10/2022

LIBO 3 months

$

4,000

08/2022 (5)

In one installment at maturity date

Previous annual fixed rate 40.50

%  

N/A

Monthly

4,001

7,838

07/2023 (5)

In one installment at maturity date

Modified annual fixed rate 55.00

%  

N/A

Monthly

$

1,500

10/2022 (6)

In one installment at maturity date

Previous annual fixed rate: 37.75

%  

N/A

Monthly

1,527

2,947

Banco
Santander
Argentina S.A.
(Santander)

10/2023 (6)

In one installment at maturity date

Modified annual fixed rate 79.00

%  

N/A

Monthly

$

1,000

12/2022

In one installment at maturity date

Annual fixed rate of 37.75

%  

N/A

Monthly

1,981

$

3,500

03/2023

In one installment at maturity date

Annual fixed rate of 44.50

%  

N/A

Monthly

3,574

$

1,000

06/2023

In one installment at maturity date

Annual fixed rate of 47.00

%  

N/A

Monthly

1,007

$

08/2022

In one installment at maturity date

Annual fixed rate of 40.75

%  

N/A

Monthly

1,981

Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. (BBVA)

 

$

1,000

 

03/2023

 

In one installment at maturity date

Annual fixed rate of 43.90

%  

N/A

 

Monthly

 

1,021

 

 

$

1,500

 

05/2023

 

In one installment at maturity date

Annual fixed rate of 44.85

%  

N/A

 

Monthly

 

1,507

 

Banco Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Argentina) S.A.U.(ICBC)

 

US$

 

01/2022

 

Semiannually

 

Annual fixed rate of 6.00

%  

N/A

 

Semiannually

 

 

132

Finnvera (7)

 

US$

61

 

Between 11/2025 and 11/2026

 

Semiannually

 

Variable annual rate: LIBO 6 months

 

between 1.04% and 1.20

%  

Semiannually

 

11,113

 

14,109

Export Development Canadá (EDC) (8)

 

US$

19

 

12/2026

 

Semiannually

 

Variable annual rate: LIBO 6 months

 

1.2

%  

Semiannually

 

2,808

 

BBVA (9)

$

211

 

07/2025

 

Monthly

 

Annual fixed rate of 47.90

%  

N/A

 

Monthly

 

200

 

PSA Finance Argentina (9)

$

750

 

07/2025

 

Monthly

 

Annual fixed rate of 42.90

%  

N/A

 

Monthly

 

455

 

ICBC (10)

$

82

 

08/2023

 

Monthly

 

Annual fixed rate of 4.90

%  

N/A

 

Monthly

 

82

 

Cisco Systems Capital Corporation (Cisco) y otros (11)

US$

59

 

between 10/2022 and 11/2026

 

Quarterly basis

 

Annual fixed rate of 4.00

%  

N/A

 

Quarterly basis

 

9,978

 

15,469

(1)

On December 15, 2021 the Company refinanced part of its loans and agreed to change, mainly, the amortization schedule of loans: a) IFCTranche B, by deferring the 75% of all principal maturities that would take place during 2022 and 2023 for a term ranging between 24 and 60 months, and pre-paying the remaining 25% jointly with accrued interest and other related expenses; b) IDB / IIC, by deferring 75% of them in a new amortization schedule ending in December 2024 and June 2027, and pre-paying the remaining 25% jointly with accrued interest and other related expenses. As a result of this renegotiation, during 2021, the Company recognized a loss of $4,192 that is included in “Financial debt renegotiation results” item, within financial results, net.

(2)

On June 28, 2022 the Company executed a proposal for a credit line to finance the expansion of fixed and mobile network coverage with IFC for a total amount of up to US$184.5 million, as requested in a timely manner by the Company (the “Loan”). On July 15, 2022, the Company received a disbursement for a total amount of US$184.5 million (US$181.5 million were received, because US$3 million corresponding to debt issuance expenses were deducted from the initial disbursement).

(3)

During 2022 and 2021, the Company has subscribed new tranches for a total of RMB488 million (equivalent to $9,535) and RMB449 million (equivalent to $6,814), respectively. In February 2023, the Company has suscribed new tranches for a total of RMB49 million (equivalent to $1,348).

(4)

On July 18, 2022, the Company pre-paid the remaining balance under the contract Term Loan executed on October 8, 2018 for US$142.2 million (US$140 million of principal and US$2.2 million of interest). The pre-payments made by the Company during the term of the contract did not generate penalties. During 2022, as a result of the pre-payment made, the Company recognized a loss of $38 that is included in “Financial debt renegotiation results” item, within financial results, net.

(5)

On July 27, 2022, the Company executed an addendum to Santander loan signed on August 18, 2021 for a total amount of $4,000, and agreed to change the principal maturity amortization schedule that would take place on August 18, 2022, by deferring it to July 27, 2023. Additionally, a new fixed interest rate from 40.5% to 55% annual nominal was renegotiated from July 27, 2022. This transaction was recognized as a debt extinguishment, recognizing a loss of $2 that is included in “Financial debt renegotiation results” item, within financial results, net.

(6)

On October 17, 2022, the Company executed an addendum to Santander loan signed on October 15, 2021 for a total amount of $1,500, and agreed to change the amortization schedule of principal maturity that would take place on October 17, 2022, by deferring it to October 17, 2023. Additionally, a new fixed interest rate from 37.75% to 79% annual nominal was renegotiated from October 17, 2022.

On October 17, 2022, interest owed to date for $49.6 was paid.

(7)

On May 14, 2021, the Company submitted a proposal for an export credit line for a total amount of up to US$30 million to the following entities: (i) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch, as initial lender, lead coordinator and guarantee of residual risk, (ii) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch, as a financing agent, and (iii) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, Buenos Aires branch, as a local custody agent, which was accepted on the same date.

The credit line is guaranteed by Finnvera plc, the official export credit agency of Finland, which granted a bond in favor of the lenders subject to certain terms and conditions.

The proceeds from the loans under this credit line will be used to finance up to 85% of the value of certain imported goods and services, the value of certain national goods and services and the total payment of the Finnvera premium equivalent to 14.41% of the total amount committed by the lenders under the credit line.

During 2021, the Company received a disbursement for a total amount of US$18.6 million (US$16 million were received, because US$2.6 million corresponding to the premium were deducted from the initial disbursement).

During 2022, the Company received a disbursement for a total amount of US$11.4 million (US$9.7 million were received, because US$1.7 million corresponding to the premium equivalent to 14.41% of the total amount committed by the lenders under the credit line were deducted from the initial disbursement). With this disbursement, the total amount committed for this line of credit is completed.

(8)

On January 3, 2022, the Company submitted a proposal for an export credit line for a total amount of up to US$23.4 million to the following entities: (i) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as initial lender, residual risk guarantor and agent of the facility, (ii) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Buenos Aires branch as an onshore custody agent, and (iii) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and EDC as lead co-organizers, which was accepted on the same date.

The line of credit is guaranteed by EDC, the official export credit agency of Canada. The funds received will be used to finance up to 85% of the value of certain imported goods and services, up to 50% of the value of certain national goods and services and the total payment of the EDC surplus equivalent to 14.41% of the total amount committed by the lenders under the line of credit.

During June and October 2022, the Company received a disbursement for a total amount of US$17 million, of which the Company received US$14.1 million net of debt issuance expenses deducted, equivalent to $1,733.1 and a total amount of US$6.3 million, of which the Company received US$5.4 million net of debt issuance expenses deducted, equivalent to $809, the total amount committed for this line of credit is completed.

(9)

On June 10, 2022, the Company executed a proposal for a credit line to finance the acquisition of 350 utility vehicles for a total amount of $1,042.7 plus VAT. For each acquisition, the Company will pay an advance of 40% of the value, financing the remaining 60% in 36 consecutive monthly installments at the rate agreed at the time of each acquisition through PSA Finance Argentina and/or BBVA.

(10)

On August 30, 2022, the Company executed a proposal for a credit line to finance the acquisition of 43 utility vehicles for a total amount of $222 plus VAT. For the acquisition, the Company was paid an advance of 50% of the value, financing the remaining 50% of $122.6 in 12 consecutive monthly installments at a fixed rate of 4.9% through ICBC.

(11)

During 2022 and 2021, the Company received a disbursement for a total of US$17 million (equivalent to $1,911) and US$25.2 million (equivalent to $1,782), respectively. In February 2023, the Company received a disbursement for a total of US$0.8 million (equivalent to $154).