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TELECOM ARGENTINA SA Interim / Quarterly Report 2004

Nov 12, 2004

31224_ffr_2004-11-12_820e575e-4120-4b1c-bbe2-0649bd6742b6.zip

Interim / Quarterly Report

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6-K 1 d6k.htm REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER Report of Foreign Issuer

Table of Contents

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 November, 2004

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

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Telecom Argentina S.A.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item
1. Press Release, dated November 10, 2004, entitled, “Telecom Argentina S.A. Announces Consolidated Nine-Month Period (“9M04”) and Third Quarter (“3Q04”) Results for Fiscal Year 2004”.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Market Cap: P$5,9 billion

(November 10, 2004)

Contacts:
Pedro Insussarry Marlene Wechselblatt
Pablo Caride Golin/Harris International
Telecom Argentina (212) 373-6037
(54-11) 4968-3627/3626

TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A. ANNOUNCES

CONSOLIDATED NINE-MONTH PERIOD (“9M04”)

AND THIRD QUARTER (“3Q04”) RESULTS

**FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004 ***

MAJOR EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS

• During 9M04 the following results were recorded:

Ø Net Revenues amounted to P$3,211MM (+ P$500 MM or +18% vs. 9M03) mainly due to the expansion of the mobile business.

Ø Operating Profit amounted to P$208 MM (+P$184 MM vs. 9M03).

Ø Net loss of P$491 MM (P$ -1,270 MM vs 9M03) as a consequence of negative financial and holding results mainly due to higher interest and currency exchange losses.

• Shareholders Equity amounted to P$677 MM (-P$919 MM or -58% vs. 9M03).

• Net Financial Debt as of September 30, 2004 reached P$7,127 MM (-P$427 MM or -6%vs. 9M03).

Ø The Ratio Net Financial Debt / Operating Profit before Depreciation and Amortization decreased to 4.8x (from 5.2x as of September 30, 2003).

• The operations of the Company are still being influenced by the pesification and freeze of regulated tariffs. Additionally, the results of the Company continue to be highly impacted by the fluctuation of the exchange rate of the Peso vs the Dollar and the Euro.

As of September 30 — 2004 2003 D $ D %
Consolidated net revenues (in MM P$) 3.211 2.711 500 18 %
Fixed Telephony 1.998 1.890 108 6 %
Cellular 1.205 817 388 47 %
Directories edition 8 4 4 100 %
Operating Profit before D&A (in MM P$) 1.482 1.447 35 2 %
Operating Profit (in MM P$) 208 24 184 767 %
Net income/(Loss) (in MM P$) (491 ) 779 (1.270 ) -163 %
Shareholder’s equity (in MM P$) 677 1.596 (919 ) -58 %
Net financial debt (in MM P$) 7.127 7.554 (427 ) -6 %
CAPEX (in MM P$) 250 54 196 363 %
Lines in service (Fixed lines -In thousands) 3.750 3.623 127 4 %
Cellular customers (in thousands) 3.833 2.944 889 30 %
Telecom Personal 3.375 2.425 950 39 %
Núcleo (Paraguay) 458 519 (61 ) -12 %
ADSL Total lines (in thousands) 111 62 49 79 %
Arnet subscribers (in thousands) 226 194 32 16 %
Dial-up 156 154 2 1 %
ADSL 70 40 30 75 %
Fixed traffic (in MM minutes) 12.250 11.801 449 4 %
Incoming/Outgoing cellular traffic (in MM minutes) 2.573 1.809 764 42 %
Average Revenue per user (ARPU ) Fixed Telephony (in P$) 39 40 (1 ) -3 %
Average Revenue per user (ARPU ) Cellular Telephony (in P$) 35 30 4 14 %
  • Non-financial data unaudited.

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Buenos Aires, November 10, 2004 – Telecom Argentina (BASE: TECO2, NYSE: TEO), one of Argentina’s largest telecommunications companies, announced today a consolidated net loss of P$491 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004 (“9M04”). Comparatively, consolidated net income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003 (“9M03”) was P$779 million. Consolidated net loss for third quarter of fiscal year 2004 (“3Q04”) was P$261 million . Comparatively, consolidated net income for 3Q03 was P$509 million.

Earnings/loss per share and ADR for 9M04 amounted to P$(0.50) and P$(2.49) , respectively. Earnings per share/loss and ADR for 9M03, were P$0.79 and P$3.96 , respectively. Earnings/loss per share and ADR for 3Q04 amounted to P$(0.27) and P$(1.33) , respectively. In comparison, earnings/loss per share and ADR for 3Q03, were P$(0.52) and P$(2.59) , respectively.

Operating profit before depreciation and amortization, operating profit/(loss) and net income/(loss) for 9M04 represented, 46%, 6% and (15%) of net sales, respectively; compared with 53%, 1% and 29%, respectively, for 9M03. Operating profit before depreciation and amortization, operating profit/(loss) and net income/(loss) for 3Q04 represented, 44%, 7% and (23%) of net sales, respectively; compared with 52%, 3% and (53%), respectively, for 3Q03.

Company Activities

Evolution of Consolidated Net Revenues

(9M04 vs. 9M03 comparison)

Consolidated net revenues for 9M04 totaled P$3,211 million, an increase of P$500 million, or 18%, compared with P$2,711 million for 9M03. The increase can be largely attributed to the increase in demand, particularly in the cellular business in Argentina and in the Internet.

Fixed Telephony

In fixed telephony operations, local measured service revenues increased by P$19 million, or 5%, to P$377 million during 9M04. Domestic long distance revenues increased by P$7 million, or 2%, reaching P$322 million. Revenues from both local and domestic long distance telephony increased due to higher traffic.

Total traffic volume (Local and DLD), measured in minutes, increased by 4%.

Monthly charges increased by P$23 million, or 5%, to P$471 million for 9M04, mainly due to the increase in customer lines. Customer lines as of September 30, 2004 increased to approximately

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3,453,000, due to the recovery in demand, compared to approximately 3,328,000 as of September 30, 2003. However, the current level of lines in service is still 4% lower than before the economic crisis (December 2001). Moreover, monthly charges remained stable after the “pesification” and freeze enforced by the Argentine Government in January 6, 2002.

Revenues generated by interconnection services increased by P$31 million, or 26%, to P$150 million, mainly due to the increase of traffic transported by the fixed and cellular networks.

Regarding the international telephony activities during 9M04, revenues reached P$158 million increasing by P$2 million or 1%, mainly due to higher traffic.

Internet and Data Transmission

Revenues generated by the data transmission business totaled P$251 million, representing an increase of P$4 million, or 2%, mainly due to higher Internet traffic and to the increase in monthly fees charged to other operators of wholesale services for ADSL and dial-up connections, partially off-set by lower prices for data transmission services. As of September 30, 2004 total lines in service with ADSL connections amounted to 111,000, an increase of 49,000, or 79%, compared to approximately 62,000 as of September 30, 2003. Internet minutes represented 33% of total traffic measured in minutes transported over the fixed-line network.

Internet revenues from the Arnet unit increased by P$13 million, or 30%, to P$57 million, mainly due to a higher number of subscribers in ADSL high-speed accesses. As of September 30, 2004, the number of Arnet’s ADSL subscribers reached approximately 70,000, while Internet dial-up customers reached approximately 156,000, increasing by 75% and 1%, respectively.

Cellular Telephony

The revenues generated by the cellular business during 9M04 increased by P$388 million, or 47%, to P$1,205 million.

Revenues of Telecom Personal in Argentina increased by P$378 million, or 54%, to P$1,084 million, mainly due to the higher number of subscribers, to the increase in outgoing and incoming traffic, and to the increase in sales of

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handsets as a consequence of the increase in the demand for cellular services and the development of the GSM network.

Furthermore, the average revenue per user increased by 14% (to P$35 per customer, including revenues for TLRD or termination of calls coming from other cellular operators). Likewise, total cellular traffic increased by 42%.

Total cellular subscribers of Telecom Personal in Argentina reached approximately 3,375,000 at September 30, 2004, representing an increase of approximately 950,000 customers, or 39%.

Since the beginning of this fiscal year, the level of competition in the cellular market has increased significantly after the launch of GSM services. Accordingly, Telecom Personal continued to increase the coverage and capacity of its GSM network and has continued its marketing campaigns and promotions aimed to reposition its brand and strengthen its market leadership.

The customer base as of September 30, 2004 amounted to approximately 2,568,000 prepaid subscribers, representing 76% of the total customer base, and approximately 807,000 postpaid subscribers, representing the remaining 24%. These percentages were 82% and 18% respectively as of September 30, 2003.

Núcleo, Telecom Personal’s subsidiary that provides cellular services in Paraguay, generated P$121 million in revenues during 9M04, which are consolidated into the mobile telephony business together with the revenues of Telecom Personal. Nucleo’s 9M04 revenues represented an increase of P$10 million, or 9%.

As of September 30, 2004, Núcleo had approximately 458,000 customers, a decrease of approximately 12% due to the loss of dormant prepaid customers whose elimination from Nucleo’s customer base was ordered by the Paraguayan regulatory authority.

Directories

In the telephone directories’ publishing business, revenues from the affiliated company Publicom increased by P$4 million to P$8 million during 9M04 due to higher sales of advertising space in Paginas Amarillas’ directories and the launch of several new special directories.

Evolution of Operating Costs

The cost of services provided, administrative expenses and selling expenses for 9M04 increased by P$316 million, or 12%, to P$3,003 million, mainly due to the increase in commissions for handset sales, cost of handsets, TLRD costs, in labor, materials and supplies, and advertising

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expenses. The evolution of costs is mainly related to the increase in sales and increasing competition in the mobile telephony business.

Salaries and social security contributions increased by P$71 million, or 20%, to P$434 million primarily due to the increase in headcount in Telecom Argentina as a consequence of the addition since October 1, 2003 of employees previously employed by third parties and whose costs were previously accounted for under Services Fees. Additionally, labor cost rose as a consequence of the increase in salaries granted during the second semester of last year. As of September 30, 2004, the headcount totaled 14,263, compared to 12,882 as of September 30, 2003.

The allowance for doubtful accounts decreased by P$18 million, or 95%, to P$1 million. This positive evolution was related to the improvement in the levels of collection and the recovery of past due accounts mainly in the fixed telephony business.

Sales commissions increased by P$54 million, or 79%, to P$122 million for 9M04, as a consequence of higher commissions paid for new customers and higher sales of cellular prepaid cards.

Costs related to advertising increased by P$48 million, or 300%, to P$64 million for 9M04. This increase was mainly due to higher media advertising expenses for the Internet and cellular businesses.

In the cellular telephony business, TLRD costs, which have been accounted since mid-2003, reached P$90 million. Additionally, in 9M04 the cost of cellular handsets increased by P$145 million reaching P$150, million mainly due to the increase in handsets sales as a consequence of the cellular business growth after the launch of GSM service.

Depreciation of fixed and intangible assets decreased by P$149 million, or 10%, to P$1,274 million during 9M04 as a consequence of the end of the amortization period of certain assets.

Financial and Holding Results

The loss resulting from financial and holding results reached P$622 million for 9M04 as compared to a gain of P$529 million in 9M03. The difference can be largely attributed to a decrease of P$935 million relating to net currency exchange differences. The gap was a consequence of the effect that the appreciation of the Argentine Peso against the Dollar and the EURO had on the financial debt of the Company during the 9M03 that was reversed in 9M04. Moreover, the depreciation of the Argentine Peso against the Dollar and the EURO during 9M04 prompted additional currency exchange losses.

Other Expenses

Other expenses (net) decreased by P$69 million, or 50%, to P$69 million for the 9M04 mainly as a result of lower severance payments and lower provisions for lawsuits.

Cash flow and Net Financial Debt

Net Debt (Loans minus Cash and Banks plus Investments) decreased by P$427 million, or 6%, to P$7,127 million for 9M04 compared with 9M03 (P$7,554 million), as a consequence of the cash flow generation of the company partially offset by accrued interest and exchange rate differences.

Investments

Of the total amount of P$250 million invested during 9M04, P$73 million, or 29%, corresponds to fixed-line telephony, data transmission and Internet, and P$177 million or 71% to the cellular business as Telecom Personal continues with the deployment of its GSM network.

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Note : Materials and supplies not included

Other Matters

Debt Restructuring

On August 23, 2004 Telecom Argentina announced that it had achieved 94.47% participation in its Acuerdo Preventivo Extrajudicial , (“ APE ”) solicitation process launched on June 22, 2004.

The APE was filed with the courts in Argentina on October 21 st , 2004.

Telecom Argentina cannot predict the timing of the court approval for its APE but expects to complete its APE process and issue the new notes and pay the cash consideration contemplated in the APE in the first half of 2005.

Additionally, Telecom Personal announced on October 6, 2004 that it had achieved 100% participation in its Acuerdo Preventivo Extrajudicial (“ APE ”) solicitation process. Given this strong participation and support from its creditor base, Telecom Personal is pursuing an out-of-court restructuring without seeking court approval of the APE . Telecom Personal expects to end its restructuring before the end of this fiscal year.


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, PCS, 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.

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 where the common stock (approximately 68% of capital stock) is owned by Sofora Telecomunicaciones S.A.. Additionally, the capital stock of Nortel is comprised of preferred shares that are held by minority shareholders.

On September 30, 2004, Telecom had 984,380,978 shares outstanding.

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For more information, please contact Financial

Planning & Investor Relations Department:

Pedro Insussarry

54-11-4968-3743

[email protected]

Moira Colombo

54-11-4968-3628

[email protected]

Gastón Urbina

54-11-4968-3627

[email protected]

Mensajes: 54-11-4968-3627

Fax: 54-11-4313-5842

For information about Telecom Group services visit:

www.telecom.com.ar

www.telecompersonal.com.ar

www.arnet.com.ar

epymes.com.ar

www.highway.arnet.com.ar

www.paginasamarillas.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 outcome 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, uncertainties concerning the outcome of the court proceedings relating to the debt restructuring, the impact of emergency laws enacted by the Argentine Government which have resulted in the repeal of Argentina’s Convertibility law, the 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 current and on-going recession 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 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

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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 for further information concerning risks and uncertainties faced by Telecom.


(Financial tables follow)


Alberto Messano

Director


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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

Consolidated information

NINE MONTH PERIOD AND THIRD QUARTER- FISCAL YEAR 2004 .

(In millions of Argentine pesos, except statistical data )

1- Consolidated Balance Sheet

Sep-30 2004 Dec-31 2003 D $ D %
Cash, equivalents and investments 3.624 2.467 1.157 47 %
Trade receivables 599 581 18 3 %
Other current assets 193 136 57 42 %
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 4.416 3.184 1.232 39 %
Fixed & Intangible assets 7.841 8.846 (1.005 ) -11 %
Other non-current assets 259 240 19 8 %
TOTAL NON - CURRENT ASSETS 8.100 9.086 (986 ) -11 %
TOTAL ASSETS 12.516 12.270 246 2 %
Accounts payable 507 451 56 12 %
Loans 10.726 9.996 730 7 %
Reserves 25 15 10 67 %
Other current liabilities 207 222 (15 ) -7 %
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 11.465 10.684 781 7 %
Loans 25 86 (61 ) -71 %
Reserves 226 210 16 8 %
Other non-current liabilities 70 69 1 1 %
TOTAL NON - CURRENT LIABILITIES 321 365 (44 ) -12 %
TOTAL LIABILITIES 11.786 11.049 737 7 %
Minority Interest 30 32 (2 ) -6 %
Temporary differences from transaltion 23 21 2 10 %
Shareholders’ equity 677 1.168 (491 ) -42 %
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 12.516 12.270 246 2 %

2- Consolidated Loans

Sep-30 2004 Dec-31 2003 D $ D %
Corporate Bonds 4.943 4.912 31 1 %
Banks 1.737 1.638 99 6 %
On purchase of fixed assets and inventories 2.642 2.595 47 2 %
Accrued interest 1.194 747 447 60 %
Penalties or default interest 210 104 106 102 %
TOTAL CURRENT LOANS 10.726 9.996 730 7 %
Banks 25 86 (61 ) -71 %
TOTAL NON - CURRENT LOANS 25 86 (61 ) -71 %
TOTAL LOANS 10.751 10.082 669 7 %

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3- Consolidated Income Statement

Nine - Month Comparison

Sep-30 — 2004 2003 D $ D %
Net revenues 3.211 2.711 500 18 %
Cost of services provided (2.153 ) (1.929 ) (224 ) 12 %
GROSS PROFIT 1.058 782 276 35 %
Administrative expenses (184 ) (182 ) (2 ) 1 %
Selling expenses (666 ) (576 ) (90 ) 16 %
OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT 208 24 184 767 %
Net financial & holding results (622 ) 529 (1.151 ) -218 %
Debt Restructuring Results — 375 (375 ) -100 %
Other incomes & expenses (69 ) (138 ) 69 -50 %
RESULTS FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS (484 ) 792 (1.276 ) -161 %
Taxes on income (9 ) — (9 ) —
Minority interest 2 (13 ) 15 -115 %
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (491 ) 779 (1.270 ) -163 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 1.482 1.447 35 2 %
As a % of Net Revenues 46 % 53 %
Consolidated Income Statement
Three - Month Comparison
Sep-30
2004 2003 D $ D %
Net revenues 1.141 961 180 19 %
Cost of services provided (770 ) (685 ) (85 ) 12 %
GROSS PROFIT 371 276 95 35 %
Administrative expenses (59 ) (45 ) (14 ) 31 %
Selling expenses (236 ) (200 ) (36 ) 18 %
OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT 76 31 45 147 %
Net financial & holding results (324 ) (490 ) 166 -34 %
Debt Restructuring Results — 1 (1 ) -100 %
Other incomes & expenses (14 ) (52 ) 38 -73 %
RESULTS FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS (263 ) (508 ) 245 -48 %
Taxes on income (1 ) — (1 ) —
Minority interest 3 (1 ) 4 -400 %
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (261 ) (509 ) 248 -49 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 499 504 (5 ) -1 %
As a % of Net Revenues 44 % 52 %

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4- Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow

Nine - Month Comparison

Sep-30 — 2004 2003 D $ D %
Net income (491 ) 779 (1.270 ) -163 %
Depreciation and Amortization 1.274 1.423 (149 ) -10 %
Increase in provisions 59 21 38 181 %
(Increase)/decrease in assets (163 ) (297 ) 134 45 %
(Decrease)/increase in liabilities 19 233 (214 ) -92 %
Others, net 774 (781 ) 1.555 199 %
Total Funds generated by Operating Activities 1.472 1.378 94 7 %
Total Funds applied to Investing Activities (112 ) (285 ) 173 61 %
Increase in financial debt, net (6 ) (8 ) 2 25 %
Debt Restructuring Results (421 ) 421 -100 %
Interests and financial expenses (12 ) (332 ) 320 96 %
Total Funds applied to Financing Activities (18 ) (761 ) 743 98 %
Increase/(decrease) of Funds 1.342 332 1.010 304 %
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow
Three - Month Comparison
Sep-30
2004 2003 D $ D %
Net income (261 ) (509 ) 248 49 %
Depreciation and Amortization 423 473 (50 ) -11 %
Increase in provisions (3 ) 5 (8 ) -160 %
(Increase)/decrease in assets (69 ) (67 ) (2 ) -3 %
(Decrease)/increase in liabilities 25 75 (50 ) -67 %
Others, net 418 617 (199 ) -32 %
Total Funds generated by Operating Activities 533 594 (61 ) -10 %
Total Funds applied to Investing Activities (51 ) (258 ) 207 80 %
Increase in financial debt, net (4 ) (3 ) (1 ) -25 %
Debt Restructuring Results — — (2 ) -29 %
Interests and financial expenses (5 ) (4 ) (1 ) -33 %
Total Funds applied to Financing Activities (9 ) (7 ) (2 ) -29 %
Increase/(decrease) of Funds 473 329 144 44 %

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5- Consolidated Revenues Breakdown

Nine - Month Comparison

Sep-30 — 2004 2003 D $ D %
Fixed Telephony 1.532 1.443 89 6 %
Measured service
Local 377 358 19 5 %
DLD 322 315 7 2 %
Monthly charges 471 448 23 5 %
Public telephones 128 126 2 2 %
Interconnection 150 119 31 26 %
Others 84 77 7 9 %
International Telephony 158 156 2 1 %
Data transmission 251 247 4 2 %
Data transmission Services 116 145 (29 ) -20 %
Monthly charges & Internet Traffic 119 95 24 25 %
Others 16 7 9 129 %
Internet 57 44 13 30 %
Cellular Telephony 1.205 817 388 47 %
Telecom Personal 1.084 706 378 54 %
Monthly fee and measured service 230 185 45 24 %
Pre-paid card 248 177 71 40 %
Calling Party Pays 270 227 43 19 %
TLRD * 98 34 64 188 %
Others 238 83 155 187 %
Núcleo 121 111 10 9 %
Monthly fee and measured service 26 26 — 0 %
Pre-paid card 43 26 17 65 %
Calling Party Pays 31 37 (6 ) -16 %
TLRD * 12 11 1 9 %
Others 9 11 (2 ) -18 %
Telephone Directories (Publicom) 8 4 4 100 %
TOTAL NET REVENUES 3.211 2.711 500 18 %
Consolidated Revenues Breakdown
Three - Month Comparison
Sep-30
2004 2003 D $ D %
Fixed Telephony 524 503 21 4 %
Measured service
Local 131 128 3 2 %
DLD 110 111 (1 ) -1 %
Monthly charges 160 151 9 6 %
Public telephones 44 42 2 5 %
Interconnection 52 49 3 6 %
Others 27 22 5 23 %
International Telephony 53 54 (1 ) -2 %
Data transmission 89 81 8 10 %
Data transmission Services 39 45 (6 ) -13 %
Monthly charges & Internet Traffic 46 33 13 39 %
Others 4 3 1 33 %
Internet 21 16 5 31 %
Cellular Telephony 452 305 147 48 %
Telecom Personal 414 264 150 57 %
Monthly fee and measured service 88 68 20 29 %
Pre-paid card 92 63 29 46 %
Calling Party Pays 96 85 11 13 %
TLRD * 40 18 22 122 %
Others 98 30 68 227 %
Núcleo 38 41 (3 ) -7 %
Monthly fee and measured service 9 9 — 0 %
Pre-paid card 15 11 4 36 %
Calling Party Pays 8 7 1 14 %
TLRD * 4 11 (7 ) -64 %
Others 2 3 (1 ) -33 %
Telephone Directories (Publicom) 2 2 — 0 %
TOTAL NET REVENUES 1.141 961 180 19 %
  • Charges for the temination of calls of the cellular operators.

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6- Consolidated Income Statement by Activities

Nine-month period - FY 2004 (01/01/04 - 09/30/04)

(In million of Argentine pesos )

Activities — Fixed Telephony Cellular Telephony Publishing Directories Consolidated Activities Variation vs 1H03 — D $ D %
NET REVENUES 1.998 1.205 8 3.211 500 18 %
Salaries and social security contributions (363 ) (64 ) (7 ) (434 ) (71 ) 20 %
Taxes (106 ) (109 ) (1 ) (216 ) (27 ) 14 %
Materials and supplies (131 ) (23 ) (2 ) (156 ) (48 ) 44 %
Allowance for doubtful accounts 8 (9 ) — (1 ) 18 -95
Settlement charges (60 ) — — (60 ) (3 ) 5 %
Interconnection cost (101 ) — — (101 ) (1 ) 1 %
Lease of lines and circuits (25 ) (2 ) — (27 ) 9 -25 %
Service fees (41 ) (13 ) (1 ) (55 ) 20 -27 %
Advertising (19 ) (43 ) (2 ) (64 ) (48 ) 300 %
Sales commissions (14 ) (108 ) — (122 ) (54 ) 79 %
Others (130 ) (363 ) — (493 ) (260 ) 112 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 1.016 471 (5 ) 1.482 35 2 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A Margin 51 % 39 % 63 % 46 % (0 ) -14 %
Depreciation of fixed assets (958 ) (234 ) (2 ) (1.194 ) 148 -11 %
Amortization of intangible assets (46 ) (33 ) (1 ) (80 ) 1 -1 %
OPERATING RESULTS 12 204 (8 ) 208 184 767 %
Interest on assets 37 18 1 56 95 -244 %
Interest on liabilities (522 ) (156 ) — (678 ) (1.246 ) -219 %
FINANCIAL AND HOLDING INCOME (485 ) (138 ) 1 (622 ) (1.151 ) -218 %
DEBT RESTRUCTURING INCOME — — — — (375 ) -100 %
OTHER INCOMES AND EXPENSES (61 ) (11 ) (1 ) (73 ) 65 -47 %
INCOME FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS (530 ) 55 (9 ) (484 ) (1.276 ) -161 %
Taxes on income — (12 ) 3 (9 ) (9 ) —
Minority interest — 2 — 2 15 -115 %
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (530 ) 45 (6 ) (491 ) (1.270 ) -163 %

Consolidated Income Statement by Activities

Nine-month period FY 2003 (01/01/03 - 09/30/03)

(In million of Argentine pesos )

Activities — Fixed Telephony Cellular Telephony Publishing Directories Consolidated Activities
NET REVENUES 1.890 817 4 2.711
Salaries and social security contributions (304 ) (54 ) (5 ) (363 )
Taxes (112 ) (77 ) — (189 )
Materials and supplies (83 ) (23 ) (2 ) (108 )
Allowance for doubtful accounts (4 ) (11 ) (4 ) (19 )
Settlement charges (57 ) — — (57 )
Interconnection cost (100 ) — — (100 )
Lease of lines and circuits (22 ) (14 ) — (36 )
Service fees (65 ) (9 ) (1 ) (75 )
Advertising (9 ) (7 ) — (16 )
Sales commissions (17 ) (51 ) — (68 )
Others (103 ) (129 ) (1 ) (233 )
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 1.014 442 (9 ) 1.447
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A Margin 54 % 54 % -225 % 53 %
Depreciation of fixed assets (1.094 ) (245 ) (3 ) (1.342 )
Amortization of intangible assets (47 ) (34 ) — (81 )
OPERATING RESULTS (127 ) 163 (12 ) 24
Interest on assets (19 ) (30 ) 10 (39 )
Interest on liabilities 342 224 2 568
FINANCIAL AND HOLDING INCOME 323 194 12 529
DEBT RESTRUCTURING INCOME 280 90 5 375
OTHER INCOMES AND EXPENSES (88 ) (40 ) (10 ) (138 )
INCOME FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS 388 407 (3 ) 792
Taxes on income — — — —
Minority interest — (13 ) — (13 )
NET (LOSS)/INCOME 388 394 (3 ) 779

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7- Consolidated Income Statement by Activities

Three-month period FY 2004 (06/30/04 - 09/30/04)

(In million of Argentine pesos )

Activities — Fixed Telephony Cellular Telephony Publishing Directories Consolidated Activities Variación vs 3Q03 — D $ D %
NET REVENUES 687 452 2 1.141 180 19 %
Salaries and social security contributions (123 ) (23 ) (2 ) (148 ) (13 ) 10 %
Taxes (36 ) (39 ) — (75 ) (11 ) 17 %
Materials and supplies (53 ) (6 ) — (59 ) (20 ) 51 %
Allowance for doubtful accounts 2 (2 ) 1 1 7 -117 %
Settlement charges (21 ) — — (21 ) (1 ) 5 %
Interconnection cost (35 ) — — (35 ) 5 -13 %
Lease of lines and circuits (9 ) (1 ) — (10 ) 3 -23 %
Service fees (17 ) (8 ) — (25 ) (2 ) 9 %
Advertising (8 ) (15 ) (2 ) (25 ) (17 ) 213 %
Sales commissions (5 ) (41 ) — (46 ) (19 ) 70 %
Others (46 ) (153 ) — (199 ) (117 ) 143 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 336 164 (1 ) 499 (5 ) -1 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A Margin -1 % -2 % 4 % -1 % (1 ) -103 %
Depreciation of fixed assets (315 ) (80 ) (1 ) (396 ) 51 -11 %
Amortization of intangible assets (15 ) (11 ) (1 ) (27 ) (1 ) 4 %
OPERATING RESULTS 6 73 (3 ) 76 45 145 %
Interest on assets 68 10 — 78 6 8 %
Interest on liabilities (334 ) (68 ) — (402 ) 160 -28 %
FINANCIAL AND HOLDING INCOME (266 ) (58 ) — (324 ) 166 -34 %
DEBT RESTRUCTURING INCOME — — — — (1 ) -100 %
OTHER INCOMES AND EXPENSES (23 ) 5 — (18 ) 34 -65 %
INCOME FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS (279 ) 20 (4 ) (263 ) 245 -48 %
Taxes on income — (3 ) 2 (1 ) (1 ) —
Minority interest — 3 — 3 4 -400 %
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (279 ) 20 (2 ) (261 ) 248 -49 %

Consolidated Income Statement by Activities

Three-month period FY 2003 (06/30/03 - 09/30/03)

(In million of Argentine pesos )

Activities — Fixed Telephony Cellular Telephony Publishing Directories Consolidated Activities
NET REVENUES 654 305 2 961
Salaries and social security contributions (113 ) (20 ) (2 ) (135 )
Taxes (38 ) (26 ) — (64 )
Materials and supplies (29 ) (9 ) (1 ) (39 )
Allowance for doubtful accounts 1 (4 ) (3 ) (6 )
Settlement charges (20 ) — — (20 )
Interconnection cost (40 ) — — (40 )
Lease of lines and circuits (9 ) (4 ) — (13 )
Service fees (20 ) (3 ) — (23 )
Advertising (5 ) (3 ) — (8 )
Sales commissions (5 ) (22 ) — (27 )
Others (35 ) (47 ) — (82 )
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 341 167 (4 ) 504
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A Margin 52 % 55 % -200 % 52 %
Depreciation of fixed assets (363 ) (83 ) (1 ) (447 )
Amortization of intangible assets (15 ) (11 ) — (26 )
OPERATING RESULTS (37 ) 73 (5 ) 31
Interest on assets 64 7 1 72
Interest on liabilities (479 ) (83 ) — (562 )
FINANCIAL AND HOLDING INCOME (415 ) (76 ) 1 (490 )
DEBT RESTRUCTURING INCOME 1 — — 1
OTHER INCOMES AND EXPENSES (43 ) (10 ) 1 (52 )
INCOME FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS (494 ) (13 ) (1 ) (508 )
Taxes on income — — — —
Minority interest — (1 ) — (1 )
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (494 ) (14 ) (1 ) (509 )

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8- Ratios

Liquidity 09/30/2004 — 0,4 12/31/2003 — 0,3
Consolidated Financial Indebtedness (*) 10,5 6,5
Total Consolidated Indebtedness 16,7 9,2
Return on equity (**) (0,4 ) 2,0

(*) Financial indebtedness = (Loans - Cash, equiv. & Investments) / Shareholders’Equity.

(**) Return on equity = Profit from ordinary operations / (Shareholders’ Equity - net income for the period).

9- Statistical Data

FIXED TELEPHONY
30-Sep-04 30-Sep-03
TELECOM Acumul. 9m 3m Acumul. 9m 3m
(1) (1)
Installed lines 3.800.672 587 -738 3.800.604 (1.860 ) 304
Lines in service (1) 3.749.964 94.105 49.342 3.622.749 32.465 44.192
Customer lines 3.453.026 91.685 43.765 3.327.514 33.562 42.444
Public telephony lines 83.286 3.159 1.875 79.446 (366 ) 86
Digitalization (%) 100 0 100 100 0 100
Fixed lines in service per 100 inhabitants (northern region) 19,9 0 0 19,4 0,0 0,2

(1) Includes direct inward dialing numbers connected to digital trunk lines

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TELECOM ARGENTINA S.A.

Unconsolidated Information

NINE MONTH PERIOD AND THIRD QUARTER- FISCAL YEAR 2004 .

(In millions of Argentine pesos)

10- Balance Sheet

Sep-30 2004 Dec-31 2003
D $ D %
Cash, equivalents and investments 3.126 2.028 1.098 54 %
Trade receivables 337 317 20 6 %
Other current assets 48 119 (71 ) -60 %
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 3.511 2.464 1.047 42 %
Fixed & Intangible assets 6.331 6.552 (221 ) -3 %
Other non-current assets 210 980 (770 ) -79 %
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 6.541 7.532 (991 ) -13 %
TOTAL ASSETS 10.052 9.996 56 1 %
Accounts payable 263 243 20 8 %
Loans 8.730 8.206 524 6 %
Reserves 10 10 — 0 %
Other current liabilities 157 166 (9 ) -5 %
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 9.160 8.625 535 6 %
Compensation and social benefits payable 31 30 1 3 %
Others liabilities 34 34 — 0 %
Reserves 150 139 11 8 %
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 215 203 12 6 %
TOTAL LIABILITIES 9.375 8.828 547 6 %
Shareholders’ equity 677 1.168 (491 ) -42 %
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 10.052 9.996 56 1 %

11- Income Statement

Nine -Month Comparison

30-Sep — 2004 2003 D $ D %
Net revenues 2.105 1.975 130 7 %
Cost of services provided (1.445 ) (1.486 ) 41 3 %
GROSS PROFIT 660 489 171 35 %
Administrative expenses (111 ) (101 ) (10 ) -10 %
Selling expenses (429 ) (431 ) 2 0 %
OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT 120 (43 ) 163 379 %
Equity income from related companies (70 ) 298 (368 ) -123 %
Net financial & holding results (483 ) 329 (812 ) -247 %
Debt Restructuring Results — 280 (280 ) -100 %
Other incomes & expenses (58 ) (85 ) 27 32 %
RESULTS FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS (491 ) 779 (1.270 ) -163 %
Taxes on income — — — —
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (491 ) 779 (1.270 ) -163 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 1.124 1.098 26 2 %
As a % of Net Revenues 53 % 56 %
Income Statement
Three -Month Comparison
30-Sep
2004 2003 D $ D %
Net revenues 727 683 44 6 %
Cost of services provided (496 ) (527 ) 31 6 %
GROSS PROFIT 231 156 75 48 %
Administrative expenses (40 ) (18 ) (22 ) -122 %
Selling expenses (145 ) (144 ) (1 ) -1 %
OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT 46 (6 ) 52 867 %
Equity income from related companies (20 ) (49 ) 29 59 %
Net financial & holding results (265 ) (414 ) 149 36 %
Debt Restructuring Results — 1 (1 ) -100 %
Other incomes & expenses (22 ) (41 ) 19 46 %
RESULTS FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS (261 ) (509 ) 248 49 %
Taxes on income — — — —
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (261 ) (509 ) 248 -49 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 376 372 4 1 %
As a % of Net Revenues 52 % 54 %

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TELECOM PERSONAL S.A.

Unconsolidated Information

NINE MONTH PERIOD AND THIRD QUARTER- FISCAL YEAR 2004 .

(In millions of Argentine pesos)

12- Balance Sheet

Sep-30 2004 Dec-31 2003 D $ D %
Cash, equivalents and investments 516 452 64 14 %
Trade receivables 218 173 45 26 %
Other current assets 136 41 95 232 %
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 870 666 204 31 %
Trade receivables 95 77 18 23 %
Fixed & Intangible assets 1.898 1.942 (44 ) -2 %
Other non-current assets 65 68 (3 ) -4 %
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 2.058 2.087 (29 ) -1 %
TOTAL ASSETS 2.928 2.753 175 6 %
Accounts payable 255 212 43 20 %
Loans 1.905 1.681 224 13 %
Reserves 14 3 11 367 %
Other current liabilities 43 49 (6 ) -12 %
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 2.217 1.945 272 14 %
Reserves 69 64 5 8 %
Loans — 59 (59 ) -100 %
Other non-current liabilities 4 4 — 0 %
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 73 127 (54 ) -43 %
TOTAL LIABILITIES 2.290 2.072 218 11 %
Temporary differences from transaltion 23 21 2 10 %
Shareholders’ equity 615 660 (45 ) -7 %
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 2.928 2.753 175 6 %

13- Income Statement

Six - Month Comparison

30-Sep — 2004 2003 D $ D %
Net revenues 1.094 714 380 53 %
Cost of services provided (723 ) (449 ) (274 ) -61 %
GROSS PROFIT 371 265 106 40 %
Administrative expenses (52 ) (61 ) 9 15 %
Selling expenses (218 ) (124 ) (94 ) -76 %
OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT 101 80 21 26 %
Equity income from related companies (5 ) 27 (32 ) -119 %
Financial & holding results (130 ) 162 (292 ) 180 %
Debt Restructuring Results — 90 (90 ) -100 %
Other incomes & expenses (11 ) (40 ) 29 73 %
RESULTS FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS (45 ) 319 (364 ) -114 %
Taxes on income — — — —
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (45 ) 319 (364 ) -114 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 306 301 5 2 %
As a % of Net Revenues 28 % 42 %
Income Statement
Three -Month Comparison
Sep-30
2004 2003 D $ D %
Net revenues 419 266 153 58 %
Cost of services provided (285 ) (156 ) (129 ) -83 %
GROSS PROFIT 134 110 24 22 %
Administrative expenses (13 ) (21 ) 8 38 %
Selling expenses (84 ) (46 ) (38 ) -83 %
OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT 37 43 (6 ) -14 %
Equity income from related companies (6 ) 3 (9 ) -300 %
Financial & holding results (50 ) (77 ) 27 35 %
Other incomes & expenses 5 (11 ) 16 145 %
RESULTS FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS (14 ) (42 ) 28 67 %
Taxes on income — — — —
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (14 ) (42 ) 28 -67 %
Operating (Loss)/Profit before D&A 106 114 (8 ) -7 %
As a % of Net Revenues 25 % 43 %

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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. — By: /s/ Alberto Yamandú Messano
Name: Alberto Yamandú Messano
Title: Director