EDN Empresa Distribuidora Y Comercializadora Norte SA

Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (hereinafter “edenor” or “the Company”) is a corporation (sociedad anónima) organized under the laws of Argentina, with legal address at 6363 Av. Del Libertador Ave - City of Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic, whose shares are traded on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

The corporate purpose of edenor is to engage in the distribution and sale of electricity within the concession area. Furthermore, among other activities, the Company may subscribe or acquire shares of other electricity distribution companies, subject to the approval of the regulatory agency, assign the use of the network to provide electricity transmission or other voice, data and image transmission services, and render advisory, training, maintenance, consulting, and management services and know-how related to the distribution of electricity both in Argentina and abroad. These activities may be conducted directly by edenor or through subsidiaries or related companies. In addition, the Company may act as trustee of trusts created under Argentine laws.

The Company’s economic and financial situation

In the last few fiscal years, the Company recorded negative working capital and operating losses. This situation is due mainly to the suspension of the electricity rate adjustment since February 2019, in spite of the constant increase of the operating costs and the investments necessary, both for the operation of the network and for maintaining the quality of the service, in an inflationary context in which the Argentine economy has been since mid-2018.

Additionally, this situation was exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years, which had a severe social, economic and financial impact. Most of the world’s countries implemented exceptional actions, which had an immediate effect on their economies, as rapidly evidenced by the falls recorded in production and activity indicators. The governments’ immediate response to these consequences was the implementation of tax aids to sustain their citizens’ income and thereby reduce the risk of a breakdown in the chain of payments, with the aim of avoiding an economic and financial crisis.

With regard to the Company, in 2021 and the first months of 2022, the values of the electricity rate schedules suffered changes that, except for the provisions of ENRE Resolutions Nos. 107/2021 and 76/2022 dated April 30, 2021 and February 25, 2022, respectively, implied only the passing through of the seasonal prices not an improvement of revenues from the Company’s CPD, which are still insufficient to cover the economic and financial needs of the Distribution Company in a context of growing inflation, with the annual rate surpassing 50%. Nevertheless, and in spite of the aforementioned context with constant increases in operating costs, the investments necessary, both for the operation of the network and for maintaining and even improving the quality of the service, have been made.

Although in the current year the economic activity has shown some recovery after the effect caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s macroeconomic situation with the increase in the rate of inflation, the widening of the gap between the official dollar exchange rate and the dollar exchange rate quoted in the informal market, and the consequences of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund make it difficult to envisage a clear-cut trend of the economy in the short term.

This complex and vulnerable economic context is aggravated by the currency restrictions imposed by the BCRA pursuant to which the BCRA’s prior authorization is required for certain transactions, such as the Company’s transactions associated with the payment of imports of goods that are necessary for the provision of the service, and the payments to service the financial debt. These currency restrictions, or those to be implemented in the future, could affect the Company’s ability to access the MULC in order to acquire the foreign currency necessary to face its operating and financial obligations.

As a consequence of the described context, the Company witnessed an even greater deterioration of the economic and financial equation due to the rate freeze, the impossibility of taking legal action to enforce payment of debts for electricity consumed but not paid, and the increase in costs on the Company’s operating structure and supplies. Therefore, it became necessary to partially postpone payments to CAMMESA for energy purchased in the MEM as from the maturities taking place in March 2020; payment obligations which have been partially regularized, but as of March 31, 2022 accumulate a past due principal balance of $ 32,184, plus interest and charges for $ 31,002.

Despite the previously detailed situation, it is worth pointing out that, in general terms, the quality of the electricity distribution service has been significantly improved, both in duration and frequency of power cuts. In view of the continuous increase of the costs associated with the provision of the service, as well as the need for additional investments to meet the demand, the Company is analyzing different measures aimed at mitigating the negative effects of this situation on its financial structure, minimizing the impact on the sources of employment, the execution of the investment plan, and the carrying out of the essential operation, maintenance and improvement-related works that are necessary to maintain the provision of the public service, object of the concession, in a satisfactory manner in terms of quality and reliability.

Due to that which has been previously described, the Board of Directors believes there is material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt upon edenor’s ability to continue as a going concern, which may result in the Company’s being obliged to defer certain payment obligations or unable to meet expectations for salary increases or the increases recorded in third-party costs.

Nevertheless, these condensed interim financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern and do not include the adjustments or reclassifications that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties, inasmuch as this Distribution Company has historically been provided with transitional solutions that have made it possible to partially restore the economic and financial equation and ensure the operation of the distribution networks.

At the date of issuance of these condensed interim financial statements, there exist the following changes with respect to the situation reported by the Company in the Financial Statements as of December 31, 2021:

On April 18, 2022, by means of SE Resolutions Nos. 235 and 236/2022, the PEN called a Public Hearing to be held on May 11 and 12, 2022, respectively, to consider the following issues:

Neither of the above-mentioned items represent an improvement in the Company’s revenues from the CPD; they will only imply the transfer of prices to and/or elimination of subsidies on the amounts to be billed to Consumers.

Moreover, on May 10, 2022, by means of Resolution No. 146/2022, the ENRE approves the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedule, effective from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on May 1, 2022.

By virtue of the Agreement described in Note 2.e) to the Financial Statements as of December 31, 2021, the Company received a first disbursement for $ 1,500, which was specifically used for complying with the Preventive and Corrective Maintenance Work Plan for the Electricity Distribution Network. The Company used the funds only after the ENRE certified compliance with both the degree of completion of the works included in the referred to plan and the related financial milestones.

As of March 31, 2022, negotiations are underway between the Company and the ENRE concerning the other disbursements stipulated in the agreement, which total an additional $1,000 relating to the second and third disbursements, plus a fourth disbursement in accordance with that which the ENRE will validate and inform about the vulnerable neighborhoods’ total consumption between August and December 2020.

At the date of issuance of these condensed interim financial statements, the Company has used a total of $ 2,218, of which $ 718 is pending crediting, relating to the reports on progress of the works performed. The income recognized in fiscal year 2022, which relates to reports on progress of the works performed with the Company’s own funds, amounts to $ 423.8 (which at the purchasing power of the currency at March 31, 2022 amounts to $ 459).

These condensed interim financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022:

Comparative information

The balances as of December 31 and March 31, 2021, as the case may be, disclosed in these condensed interim financial statements for comparative purposes, arise as a result of restating the annual Financial Statements and the Condensed Interim Financial Statements as of those dates, respectively, to the purchasing power of the currency at March 31, 2022, as a consequence of the restatement of financial information described hereunder. Furthermore, certain amounts of the financial statements presented in comparative form have been reclassified in order to maintain consistency of presentation with the amounts of the current periods.

Restatement of financial information

The condensed interim financial statements, including the figures relating to the previous year/period, have been stated in terms of the measuring unit current at March 31, 2022, in accordance with IAS 29 “Financial reporting in hyperinflationary economies”, using the indexes published by the FACPCE. The inflation rate applied for the January 1, 2022 - March 31, 2022 period was 16.1%.

The accounting policies adopted for these condensed interim financial statements are consistent with those used in the Financial Statements for the last financial year, which ended on December 31, 2021.

Accounting standards, amendments and interpretations issued by the IASB in the last few years that are effective as of March 31, 2022 and have been adopted by the Company:

- IAS 16 “Property, plant and equipment”, amended in May 2020: It incorporates amendments to the recognition of inventories, sales and costs of items produced while bringing an item of property, plant and equipment to the location and condition necessary for its intended use.

- Annual improvements to IFRS – 2018-2020 Cycle: Amendments to IFRS 1 (translation differences in subsidiaries); IFRS 9 (derecognition of financial liabilities); IFRS 16 (illustrative example of leasehold improvements); and IAS 41 (cash flows in the fair value of biological assets).

- IFRS 3 “Business combinations”, amended in May 2020: It incorporates references to the definitions of assets and liabilities in the new Conceptual Framework and clarifications on contingent assets and liabilities that are incurred separately from those assumed in a business combination.

- IAS 37 “Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets”, amended in May 2020: It clarifies the scope of the concept of cost of fulfilling an onerous contract.

There are no new IFRS or IFRIC applicable as from this period that have a material impact on the Company’s condensed interim financial statements.

The Company’s activities and the market in which it operates expose the Company to a number of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk, cash flows interest rate risk, fair value interest rate risk and price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk.

Additionally, the difficulty in obtaining financing in international or national markets could affect some of the Company’s business variables, such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and the access to sources of financing.

With regard to the Company’s risk management policies, there have been no significant changes since the last fiscal year end.

As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company’s balances in foreign currency are as follow:

The Company classifies the measurements of financial instruments at fair value using a fair value hierarchy that reflects the relevance of the variables used for carrying out such measurements. The fair value hierarchy has the following levels:

· Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

· Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from the prices).

· Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (i.e. unobservable inputs).

The table below shows the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

Interest rate risk is the risk of fluctuation in the fair value or cash flows of an instrument due to changes in market interest rates. The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk is mainly related to its long-term debt obligations.

Indebtedness at floating rates exposes the Company to interest rate risk on its cash flows. Indebtedness at fixed rates exposes the Company to interest rate risk on the fair value of its liabilities. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 all the loans were obtained at fixed interest rates. The Company’s policy is to keep the largest percentage of its indebtedness in instruments that accrue interest at fixed rates.

The preparation of the condensed interim financial statements requires the Company’s Management to make estimates and assessments concerning the future, exercise critical judgment and make assumptions that affect the application of the accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses. 

These estimates and judgments are permanently evaluated and are based upon past experience and other factors that are reasonable under the existing circumstances. Future actual results may differ from the estimates and assessments made at the date of preparation of these condensed interim financial statements.

In the preparation of these condensed interim financial statements, there were no changes in either the critical judgments made by the Company when applying its accounting policies or the sources of estimation uncertainty used with respect to those applied in the Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2021.

As of March 31, 2022, the provision for contingencies has been recorded to face situations existing at the end of each period that may result in a loss for the Company if one or more future events occurred or failed to occur.

At the date of issuance of these condensed interim financial statements, there are no significant changes with respect to the situation reported by the Company in the Financial Statements as of December 31, 2021, except for the following:

On February 18, 2022, the Company was served notice of the initiation of a new verification process in respect of the same suppliers in question, with a request for additional information on transactions performed from January 2019 to the present. It was answered within the legal timeframe and in proper form on March 8, 2022.

In the Company’s opinion, strong and sufficient arguments exist to make its position prevail at the judicial stage. Therefore, no liabilities whatsoever have been recorded for this concept as of March 31, 2022.

Nevertheless, the Company is currently assessing different scenarios with the aim of defending itself against the tax claims, among them, adhering to easy payment term or debt regularization plans existing at the time the decision is made by Management.

We provide below a brief description of the main services provided by the Company:

Sales of electricity

Other services

The expenses included in the chart above are net of the Company’s own expenses capitalized in property, plant and equipment as of March 31, 2022 for $ 605.4.

The expenses included in the chart above are net of the Company’s own expenses capitalized in property, plant and equipment as of March 31, 2021 for $ 610.2.

(*) As of March 31, 2022, relates to EDELCOS S.A. technical assistance.

Basic

The basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to the holders of the Company’s equity instruments by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and 2021, excluding common shares purchased by the Company and held as treasury shares.

The basic loss per share coincides with the diluted loss per share, inasmuch as there exist neither preferred shares nor Corporate Notes convertible into common shares.

The leases recognized as right-of-use assets in accordance with IFRS 16 are disclosed below:

The development of right-of-use assets is as follows:

(*) Relates to 2030 Global Bonds of the Argentine Republic (GD30) for 9,130,000 NV assigned to Global Valores S.A. according to the offer of assignment of securities dated February 7, 2022. The Company retains the risks and rewards of the aforementioned bonds and may make use of them, at its own request, in a term of 15 days.

The value of the Company’s other financial receivables approximates their fair value.

The other non-current receivables are measured at amortized cost, which does not differ significantly from their fair value.

The roll forward of the allowance for the impairment of other receivables is as follows:

The value of the Company’s trade receivables approximates their fair value.

The roll forward of the allowance for the impairment of trade receivables is as follows:

As of March 31, 2022, the Company’s share capital amounts to 906,455,100 shares, divided into 462,292,111 common, book-entry Class A shares with a par value of one peso each and the right to one vote per share; 442,210,385 common, book-entry Class B shares with a par value of one peso each and the right to one vote per share; and 1,952,604 common, book-entry Class C shares with a par value of one peso each and the right to one vote per share.

The restrictions on the distribution of dividends by the Company are those provided for by the Business Organizations Law and the negative covenants established by the Corporate Notes program.

If the Company’s Debt Ratio were higher than 3, the negative covenants included in the Corporate Notes program, which establish, among other issues, the Company’s impossibility to make certain payments, such as dividends, would apply.

Additionally, in accordance with Title IV, Chapter III, section 3.11.c of the CNV, the amounts subject to distribution will be restricted to the amount equivalent to the acquisition cost of the Company’s own shares.

The fair values of non-current customer contributions as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 amount to $ 36 and $ 53.9, respectively. The fair values are determined based on estimated discounted cash flows in accordance with a representative market rate for this type of transactions. The applicable fair value category is Level 3.

The value of the rest of the financial liabilities included in the Company’s trade payables approximates their fair value.

The value of the Company’s other financial payables approximates their fair value.

The fair values of the Company’s borrowings as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 amount approximately to $ 9,993.5 and $ 10,428.4 respectively. Such values were determined on the basis of the estimated market price of the Company’s Corporate Notes at the end of each period. The applicable fair value category is Level 1.

On April 12, 2022, the Company launched an exchange offer of the existing Class No. 9 Corporate Notes issued by the Company maturing on October 25, 2022, for New Class N I Corporate Notes due in 2025, to be issued for a nominal value of up to USD 120,000,000 (Note 33).

The value of the Company’s salaries and social security taxes payable approximates their fair value.

The breakdown of the income tax expense for the period includes two effects: (i) the current tax for the period payable in accordance with the tax legislation applicable to the Company; and (ii) the effect of applying the deferred tax method on the temporary differences arising from the valuation of assets and liabilities in accordance with tax and accounting criteria.

The breakdown of the income tax expense is as follows:

The following transactions were carried out with related parties:

The balances with related parties are as follow:

(*) Balances held and transactions carried out as of March 31, 2022, with the companies that comprised the Company’s former controlling economic group (Pampa Energía S.A.) are disclosed for comparative purposes.

The Company’s Annual General Meeting held on April 6, 2022 resolved, among other issues, the following:

With regard to the real estate asset to be constructed, acquired by the Company in November 2015, the subsequent termination of the agreement due to RDSA’s default in August 2018 and the respective legal actions brought by the Company against the seller and the insurance company, and with respect to the settlement agreement dated March 31, 2019 that the Company entered into with Aseguradora de Cauciones S.A., at the date of issuance of these condensed interim financial statements there are no significant changes with respect to the situation reported by the Company in the Financial Statements as of December 31, 2021, except for the following:

With regard to the USD 1 million receivable resulting from the agreement with Aseguradora de Cauciones S.A., as of to date the Company received a payment of USD 870,000. The remaining balance of USD 130,000 will be collected in July 2022, along with an additional interest amount of USD 9,777 as agreed upon between the Company and the insurance company.

On April 6, 2022, the Annual General Meeting approved the updating of the Global Simple Corporate Notes Issuance Program for a Maximum Amount outstanding at any time of up to USD 750,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency).

In this regard, the Company’s Board of Directors, at its meeting of April 6, 2022, approved the launching of a consent solicitation to restructure the financial debt by exchanging the Company’s Class No. 9 Corporate Notes due October 25, 2022 for New Corporate Notes.

Consequently, on April 12, 2022, the Company launched its offer to exchange the Class No. 9 Corporate Notes issued by the Company maturing on October 25, 2022 at a fixed nominal annual interest rate of 9.75% for a nominal value outstanding of USD 98,057,000 for New Class N I Corporate Notes, denominated and payable in United States dollars, at a fixed nominal annual interest rate of 9.75%, due in 2025, to be issued for a nominal value of up to USD 120,000,000, in the framework of the Global Simple Corporate Notes Issuance Program.

The New Corporate Notes comply with the “Guidelines for the issuance of social, green and sustainable securities in Argentina” included in Appendix III to Chapter I, Title VI of the CNV’s Regulations and in the BYMA’s Guide to Social, Green and Sustainable Bonds for the purpose of having them listed on BYMA’s Social, Green and Sustainable Bonds Panel.

The principal on the corporate notes will be repaid in a lump sum on May 12, 2025. Furthermore, they will accrue interest at a fixed nominal annual rate of 9.75%, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 12 and November 12 of each year, commencing on November 12, 2022.

The New Corporate Notes are issued in accordance with the New Corporate Notes Indenture, which contains a number of negative covenants that limit edenor’s ability to, among other things:

- create or permit liens on its property or assets;

- incur indebtedness;

- sell its assets;

- carry out transactions with affiliates or shareholders;

- make certain payments (including, but not limited to, dividends, purchases of edenor’s common shares or payments on subordinated debt); and

- enter into merger transactions, unless they meet certain criteria.

Many of the negative covenants set forth in the New Corporate Notes Indenture will be suspended if (i) edenor attains an Investment Grade rating on its long term debt, or; (ii) the leverage ratio is equal to or lower than 3.0. If edenor subsequently loses its investment grade rating or its leverage ratio is greater than 3.0, as applicable, the suspended negative covenants will again be applicable. The suspended negative covenants will not, however, be of any effect with regard to the actions of edenor taken during the suspension of the covenants.

Finally, on May 12, 2022 the Company approved the issuance and placement under the exchange offer, as set forth in the Supplement to the Exchange Offer Memorandum dated April 12, 2022. The Corporate Notes will be subscribed in accordance with the Tender Orders received, based on the following options:

Option A

Option B

Tender Orders of Existing Corporate Notes submitted under Option B will receive a portion of the Cash Consideration, plus the applicable New Corporate Notes Consideration.

The Cash Consideration represents an aggregate amount equivalent to the lesser of: (i) 30% of the principal amount of the Existing Corporate Notes that are validly tendered and accepted for exchange in the Offer; and (ii) the principal amount of the Existing Corporate Notes accepted for exchange under Option B.

The sum of the Pro-rata Cash Consideration that will be payable to Eligible Holders whose Existing Corporate Notes are accepted for exchange under Option B will be equivalent to the Cash Consideration divided by the principal amount of Existing Corporate Notes accepted under Option B multiplied by 1,000.

Payment of Accrued Interest

In addition to the Exchange Consideration, the Eligible Holders whose Existing Corporate Notes have been accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer will also receive Payment of Accrued Interest equal to all accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date to, but not including, the Settlement Date, to be paid in cash on the Settlement Date.

The offer to exchange Class No. 9 Corporate Notes issued by the Company due October 25, 2022 for New Class N I Corporate Notes resulted in 73.25% acceptance, equivalent to US$ 71,816,000; accordingly, a total of USD 52,706,268, relating to: i) Tender Offers submitted under Option A for USD 43,783,950, and ii) Tender Offers submitted under Option B for USD 30,470,118, has been restructured. Furthermore, the Pro-rata Cash Consideration received by each Eligible Holder has amounted to USD 21,547,800.

Additionally, interest paid in cash from the last payment date up to and including the Settlement Date has amounted to a total of USD 329,573.

Based on the Tender Offers received, the Company’s Corporate Note debt structure would be as follows:

(*) In US dollars (US$).

On December 28, 2020, Pampa Energía S.A., the holder of 100% of edenor’s Class A shares, representing 51% of edenor‘s share capital, entered into a share purchase and sale agreement, as the seller, with Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A.

On June 23, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 207/2021, the ENRE authorized Pampa Energía S.A. to transfer all the Class A shares, representing 51% of the Company’s share capital and votes, to Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. in accordance with the share purchase and sale agreement entered into on December 28, 2020.

The transfer of all the Class A shares, representing 51% of the Company’s share capital and votes owned by Pampa Energía S.A., in favor of Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. was completed shortly afterwards on June 30, 2021.

As required by the regulations in effect and within the time periods set forth therein, Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. announced the launching of a mandatory Public Tender Offer addressed to all the holders of Class B and Class C common shares issued by the Company, including the holders of ADS in respect of the underlying Class B common shares, in accordance with the provisions of General Resolution No. 779/2018 of the National Securities Commission.

During the term of the Offer, no shares were tendered by Class B (including ADS) and Class C Shareholders; therefore, the offeror announced the completion of the tender offer.

Consequently, at the date of issuance of these condensed interim financial statements, edenor is a subsidiary company of Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A.