BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Aug. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nortel Inversora S.A. (NYSE: NTL)

Nortel Inversora S.A. ("Nortel" or the "Company") announces consolidated income of AR$ 1,728 million for the six- month period ending June 30 of fiscal year 2016, of which AR$ 950 million correspond to Nortel as parent company of Telecom Argentina S.A. ("Telecom").

The sole material activity of Nortel is holding 54.74% of the capital stock of Telecom, representing a holding of 55.60% of the voting and economic rights of Telecom as a result of Telecom's holding of 15,221,373 shares of treasury stock. The holding of such shares of treasury stock has been extended for up to three additional years pursuant to the resolution of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Stockholders Meeting of Telecom held on April 29, 2016.

Relevant Matters

Summary of the Resolutions approved by the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Stockholders Meeting held on April 29, 2016

The Ordinary and Extraordinary General Stockholders Meeting held on April 29, 2016 resolved, among other issues:


    1. to approve the Annual Report and Financial Statements as of December 31,
       2015;
    2. to allocate the non-appropriated profit amount as of December 31, 2015,
       of AR$ 1,891 million, to the already existing Voluntary Reserve for the
       Future Distribution of Dividends, authorizing the Board of Directors to
       approve the timing and amounts to be deducted from the Voluntary Reserve
       for the Future Distribution of Dividends, taking into account the
       Company's future economic and financial conditions, and liquidity, and
       the subsequent distribution of such amounts as cash dividends;
    3. the appointment of the members of the Supervisory Committee for fiscal
       year 2016.

Dividends Payment

At its meeting held on April 29, 2016, pursuant to the authorization granted by the Stockholders Meeting, the Board resolved to deduct an amount of Argentine Pesos three hundred eighty million (AR$ 380,000,000) from the "Voluntary Reserve for the Future Distribution of Dividends" and to distribute such amount as cash dividends. That was made available to Nortel shareholders as from May 17, 2016.

Other Relevant Matters

Law N° 26,893 and Decree N° 2,334/13 arranged that dividends and profits, in cash or in any kind - except in shares or installments- distributed by companies and other entities established in the country made available as from September 23, 2013, were subject to a withholding tax of 10% excluding dividends perceived by corporations and other local entities, which were still not computable for the purposes of the tax.

N° 27,260 Law derogated the disposition above mentioned so that as from July 23, 2016 all dividends and profits, in cash or in any kind, distributed by companies and other entities established in the country (as in the case of Nortel), whatever their subject beneficiary are not reached by the aforementioned retention.

(Financial Tables below)



                                              Six Month Period of Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2016
                                                          (in millions of Argentine Pesos)
                                                          -------------------------------


    Consolidated Income Statement                                                  June 2016                    June 2015
    -----------------------------                                                  ---------                    ---------


    Total sales and other income                                                                         25,426              18,507

    Operating costs                                                                                    (21,721)           (15,374)
                                                                                                        -------             -------

    Operating income                                                                                      3,705               3,133

    Financial results, net                                                                              (1,035)               (97)
                                                                                                         ------                 ---

    Net income before income tax expenses                                                                 2,670               3,036

    Income tax                                                                                            (942)            (1,058)
                                                                                                           ----              ------

    Net income                                                                                            1,728               1,978

    Other comprehensive income, net of taxes                                                                240                (49)
                                                                                                            ---                 ---

    Total comprehensive income for the period                                                             1,968               1,929
                                                                                                          =====               =====


    Consolidated Balance Sheet    June 2016        December 2015
    --------------------------    ---------        -------------


    Current assets                          12,619               11,569

    Non-current assets                      29,118               26,973
                                            ------               ------

    Total assets                            41,737               38,542
                                            ======               ======

    Current liabilities                     20,392               16,945

    Non-current liabilities                  2,992                3,944
                                             -----                -----

    Total liabilities                       23,384               20,889
                                            ======               ======

    Equity attributable to Nortel           10,260                9,605

    Equity attributable to non-
     controlling shareholders                8,093                8,048
                                             -----                -----

    Total equity                            18,353               17,653
                                            ------               ------

    Total liabilities and equity            41,737               38,542
                                            ======               ======


    Ratios
    ------


    Liquidity (a)                                0.62      0.68

    Indebtedness (b)                             1.27      1.18


    (a) Current assets to current liabilities

    (b) Total liabilities to shareholders' equity

María de los Angeles Blanco Salgado
Officer in Charge of Market Relations

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SOURCE Nortel Inversora S.A.