Second Quarter 2013 Earnings Release Conference e Call Presentation
Disclaimer This presentation is based on audited financial statements and may include 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 impact of the 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, uncertainties concerning the impact of the emergency laws enacted by the Argentine government which have resulted in the repeal of Argentina s convertibility law, the devaluation of the peso, restrictions on the ability to exchange pesos into foreign currencies, the adoption of a restrictive currency transfer policy, 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 and rapid 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 reduction 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 undertakesnoobligationtoreleasepubliclytheresults of any revisions to forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events and circumstances after the date of this presentation, including, without limitation, changes in the Company s business or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Information included in this presentation is unaudited and may not coincide with that included in the financial statements of the Company, due to rounding, reclassification matters, and other reasons. Readers are encouraged to consult the Company s Annual Report and 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 and the Argentine Comisión Nacional de Valores. 1
Agenda Market Overview Business Highlights Financials Q&A Session 2
Market Overview: Improved consumption trends in 2Q13 Real GDP* Billion USD, at current prices Last 12 months YoY - constant prices Consumption & Wages Billion USD, at current prices Last 12 months National Wages - %YoY Trade & Fiscal Balance Trade Balance (Billion USD) Last 12 months Fiscal Balance as % of GDP Last 12 months* Harvest season began showing increased agricultural production, and together with nominal wage increases contributed to better economic conditions in 2Q13. Industrial production grew slightly mainly by carmakers, while most of the other industrial sectors remain in negative terrain. Some improvement is seen in the construction sector, meanwhile basic sectors like food and beverage, textiles, among others, continue to show decreasing rates. Source: MECON, INDEC and Company Estimates Official GDP YoY variation, constant prices. Fiscal Balance represents primarily fiscal surplus Private consumption improved slightly in 2Q13 thanks to wage increases, expansion in public social expenditures (social plans and pensions), and persistent low real interest rates that fostered consumer lending. In 1H13, annual agreements between unions and companies were reached with salary increases that were in the range of 23% to 27%. Despite increases in agricultural exports, rising energy imports continued to affect the trade balance. Official FX rate accelerated its depreciation pace and a new plan to repatriate savings is being implemented. Public expenditure growth decelerated, although continues to grow above public revenues. The assistance from the Central Bank to service debt and from the public pension funds system continued. 3
Agenda Market Overview Business Highlights Financials Q&A Session 4
Business Highlights MOBILE Leading in revenue share and growth while optimizing commercial costs Focus in service quality improvement thru strengthening access capacity to mitigate limited resources (spectrum and sites) 3G penetration exceeds 1/3 of subscriber base, with strong share in smartphone sellout FIXED Speeding FTTx deployment enhances value proposition Fixed broadband ARPU rose +28% YoY in 2Q13 Positive quarterly fixed lines and BB net adds FINANCIALS Strict cost control to mitigate labor related costs; inflation and tax impact Share buyback program was launched in May 2013 5
Mobile: Focus on high quality segment acquisitions Mobile Customer Evolution Million of lines YoY var Postpaid segment continues delivering stable growth. Prepaid segment regains strength with 18.9 19.0 19.1 19.3 +3% 18.7 ~145k net adds. Postpaid 1 +6% Prepaid +2% ARPU up +21% in 2Q13 thanks to increasing VAS penetration and usage. 3G clients reaches 6.8MM and represents +1/3 of subscriber base, expanding by 73% YoY. Smartphone sell out more than 60%. +0.6 MM subs. ARPU & Churn Evolution +21% Market share 33.7% 33.3% 33.5% 33.2% 32.9% Note: Argentinean operation only. Figures might not sum up due to rounding Source: Market estimates of the top 3 providers in the industry - Does not include trunking services. 1 Includes Cuentas Claras subscribers 6
Mobile: Sustaining #1 in revenue share while optimizing costs Internet Services Data (SMS&content) Retail & Wholesale Voice Service Revenue Breakdown SAC & SRC Million ARS Argentine Market as % of Argentine Service Revenues - Before capitalization of SAC & SRC 10,983 +21% 13,312 +61% +29% +10% 6,222 +22% +53% +28% +10% 7,583 SAC & SRC Agent Commissions Handset subsidies Advertising 17.3% 9,0% 16.2% 9,4% 14.2% 14.5% 8,9% 8,8% 10.9% 8,1% 5,2% 3,9% 2,0% 2,9% 0,5% 31% 3,1% 29% 2,9% 3,3% 28% 2,8% 23% 2,3% VAS as % of Service Revenues 48% 53% 52% 56% SMS-Content and Internet services revenues up by +34% and +64% YoY respectively in 2Q13. 2Q12 3Q12 4Q12 1Q13 2Q13 56% VAS participation is the highest in the region. Subsidies elimination in certain segments contributed to the overall subsidy reduction. 7
Paraguay: Postpaid segment leads customer growth Thousand of lines Customers YoY var IFRS Million of ARS Financials 2,242 2,270 2,301 2,335 2,381 +6% +21% Post paid 1 21% REVENUES +39% +25% Pre paid 3% OIBDA +28% Margin 37% 38% 37% 34% Addresses broadband demand acquiring 4G-LTE clients thru USB wireless modems. Continuous mobile network expansion to increase coverage and capacity. VAS revenues represents 54% of Services revenues in 1H13. Booming internet services explains close to half of services revenue expansion. 1 Postpaid includes Cuentas Claras, 3G modems and WIMAX. Figures might not sum up due to rounding. Paraguayan local currency is the Guaraní. 8
Mobile Revenues: Sustained growth thanks to VAS Evolution of revenues 1H12 1H13 IFRS, Million of ARS, Percentage +1,875 (+25%) YoY Variation +10% +12% +28% +53% +41% +39% % of total Mobile Revenues 25% 10% 36% 9% 13% 6% Note: Wholesale voice shows Interconnection revenues (CPP, TRLD, Roaming and others) Paraguayan (Nucleo S.A.)revenues expressed in ARS and includes handsets. Figures might not sum up due to rounding 9
Fixed Broadband: Speeding up bandwidth upgrades Evolution of Accesses Thousand of broadband accesses +5% +3% Speeding up FTTx deployment (+60% YoY growth in cabinet installation) to increase fixed broadband bandwidth and thus improve user value perception. ARPU rose by 28% YoY in 2Q13 with stable churn. Back to positive net adds in 2Q13. ARPU & Churn Evolution + 28% Market 35% 34% 35% 33% share 1 1 Source: Market estimates of the top 3 providers in the industry. 10
Fixed Voice & Data: Return to positive net adds in 2Q13 Evolution of Lines in Service Thousand of lines in service -0,3% -0,7% (excluding broadband and data) ARS ARBU evolution +11% Market share 1 47% 46% 48% 46% IFRS Million of ARS +26% Data Revenues Positive net adds in 2Q13. More than 3/4 of customers subscribed to flat pricing schemes. +30% ARBU per user reached P$53 per month, up +11% YoY. 1 Source: Company reports of the main providers in the industry. ARBU: Includes only concepts billed to clients 11
Fixed Services: BB + Data services continue to be key drivers Evolution of revenues 1H12 1H13 IFRS, Million of ARS, Percentage +458 (+16%) 33% Regulated Regulated 38% YoY Variation +6% +5% +30% +29% -23% Non Regulated 62% 67% Non Regulated % of total Fixed Revenues 39% 11% 13% 36% 1% Note: Does not include intercompany revenues. Graph not in scale 12
Evolution of CAPEX Million of ARS 3,192 +2% 3,257 Capex Evolution PP&E Capex Breakdown Others PP&E +4% 1,345 +16% 1,554 IT 17% 5% 21% Mobile access +24% 33% 24% Fixed access Intangible Assets -4% SAC/SRC -3% Core & Infraestructure 1 % Revenues 17% 15% 13% 12% Reinforced quality improvement commitment, aiming to double the 3G network capacity by year-end. Accelerating FTTx rollout deployment speed to be able to launch ultra broadband commercial offer by YE2013. Significant increase in international IP bandwidth to improve customer experience. Note: 1 Core & infrastructure refers to network related capex, including quality and innovation capex. 13
Agenda Market Overview Business Highlights Financials Q&A Session 14
TEO Group: Consolidated Results Revenues IFRS, Million of ARS, Percentage IFRS, Million of ARS, OIBDA* +20% 22,117 18,498 +10% 10,380 +22% 12,713 +27% 2Q +15% +22% 2Q +18% 1Q +9% 1Q Regulated Revenues 12% 10% 10% 9% OIBDA Margin 32% 30% 30% 29% *Operating Income Before Depreciation & Amortization. 15
TEO Group: Consolidated Costs and OIBDA evolution Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization 1H12 1H13 IFRS, Million of ARS +485 (+15%) OPEX 1 +26% 7,250 9,102 YoY Y Variation OIBDA Margin 30.2% -0.1% -0.3% -0.8% +0.5% +0.2% -1.2% 0.0% 28.5% 1 Consolidated cost excluding Depreciation & Amortizations Note: Others includes bad debt expenses, maintenance, materials, supplies and others % of Revenues 16
TEO Group: Consolidated Costs Consolidated Costs 1 as % of Revenues Operating Costs 1 1H13 VAS Costs 70% 72% 7.8% ITX Costs 79% 7.9% Marketing & 20.9% 20.4% Sales 1.2% VAS costs 2.4% 9.1% Taxes 9.8% 14.4% Labor costs 14.7% Others 2 16.6% 16.3% 1H12 1H13 1. Excluding Depreciation & Amortizations 2. Others includes: Fees for services, maintenance and materials; fees for Call Center outsourcing; bad debt expenses and others 3% Others 2 21% 23% Marketing & Sales 29% 11% 14% Labor Costs Taxes ITX costs Agreements with unions reached ~25% in two installments, starting in July with a 15.5% increase. Significant impact coming from provincial turnover tax rate growth. Increase in VAS costs related to growth in penetration and usage of services with high marginal contribution. Bad debt expenses continues at low levels (1.3% of revenues). 17
TEO Group: Consolidated Results IFRS, Million of ARS, Percentage Operating Income Net Income attributable to Telecom IFRS, Million of ARS, Percentage +3% 2,513 +7% 1,882 2,060 1 1,275 1,454 +11% 2Q +13% 2Q +8% 1Q +15% 1Q O. Income Margin 21% 18% 18% 16% 14% 12% 12% 11% 1 Includes $172 Million charge related to disposal of PP&E. 18
TEO Group: FCF and Net Financial Position IFRS, Million of ARS - Last 6 months Operating Free Cash Flow Net Financial Position Telecom Argentina 1,074 (1) Telecom Personal 4,164 (2) Nucleo (Paraguay) (144) Net Financial Position FY12 (Net Cash) Operating Free Cash Flow 3 Taxes Free Cash Flow = 1,227 Net Interest FX Variations Dividend Payments 4 Repurchase of own shares Net Financial Position 1H13 (Net Cash) Note: (1) (2) Includes Telecom USA Includes Springville (3) OFCF: Operating Free Cash Flow before Taxes. (4) $27 Millions represents Nucleo dividends payments to third parties 19
Agenda Market Overview Business Highlights Financials Q&A Session 20