The Holding Company is the result of the merger of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. (“TND”), then the controlling shareholder of TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações, with and into Tele Celular Sul Participações S.A. (“TSU”), then the controlling shareholder of TIM Sul, on August 30, 2004 (the “TND/TSU Merger”).
On March 16, 2006, we acquired all of the share capital of TIM Celular, a wholly-owned subsidiary of our controlling shareholder, TIM Brasil Serviços e Participações S.A. (“TIM Brasil”), to integrate the two companies’ operations, seeking to optimize the group’s financial structure and management, creating one of the largest Brazilian wireless companies in terms of market capitalization presenting an attractive investment for shareholders. As a result, TIM Celular and its operating subsidiary TIM Maxitel became our subsidiaries. On March 16, 2006, the acquisition (“TIM Celular Acquisition”) was approved by Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meetings of our shareholders and the shareholders of TIM Celular and became effective on such date.For accounting purposes, the acquisition was treated as if it had occurred on January 1, 2006. Except where specifically noted, information in this annual report does not account for the effects of such acquisition.
On June 30, 2006, at their respective Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meetings, TIM Celular, TIM Maxitel , TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Sul approved the merger of TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações into TIM Maxitel and of TIM Sul into TIM Celular. On the same date, Maxitel’s name changed to TIM Nordeste S.A. (“TIM Nordeste”).
References in this annual report to the “preferred shares” and the “common shares” are, respectively, to the preferred shares, which have no voting rights, other than in the limited circumstances described in “Item 10B. Additional Information—Memorandum and Articles of Association—Rights Relating to our Shares—Voting Rights”, and common shares, of TIM. References to the “American Depositary Shares” or “ADSs” are to TIM’s American Depositary Shares, each representing 10 preferred shares. The ADSs are evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs, which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “TSU”. The common shares and preferred shares are listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange under the symbols “TCSL3” and “TCSL4”, respectively.
Therefore, the consolidated financial statements included in this annual report reflect the merger as follows:
Certain figures included in this annual report have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
The “Technical Glossary” at the end of this annual report provides definitions of certain technical terms used in this annual report and in the documents incorporated in this annual report by reference.
This annual report contains statements in relation to our plans, forecasts, expectations regarding future events, strategies and projections, which are forward-looking statements and involve risks and uncertainties and are therefore, not guarantees of future results. Forward looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements after we file this annual report because of new information, future events and other factors. We, and our representatives, may also make forward-looking statements in press releases and oral statements. Statements that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about the beliefs and expectations of our management, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “project” and “target” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and performance could differ substantially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this annual report, principally in “Item 4. Information on the Company” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations with respect to:
Because forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, our actual results and performance could differ significantly from those anticipated in such statements and the anticipated events or circumstances might not occur. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable.
Item 3. Key Information
The selected financial data presented below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto. Our consolidated financial statements have been audited by Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S. The report of Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S. on the consolidated financial statements appears elsewhere in this annual report.
The following table represents a summary of our selected financial data for the five years ended December 31, 2007. The data are derived from our consolidated financial statements, audited by Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S, and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, related notes, and other financial information included herein. For a discussion of the 2005 pro forma and 2004 data included herein, see the section captioned “Presentation of Information—Presentation of Financial Information.”
| | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2007 U.S.$ | | | | 2007 R$ | | | | | | | | | 2005 (1) (2) pro forma as adjusted R$ | | | | | | 2004 (1) (2) pro forma as adjusted R$ | | | | 2003 R$ | |
| | (millions of reais or U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated) | |
Statement of Operations Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brazilian GAAP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net operating revenue | | | 7,024.0 | | | | 12,441.6 | | | | 10,138.2 | | | | 2,918.2 | | | | 8,368.1 | | | | 2,564.6 | | | | 6,253.8 | | | | 1,088.3 | |
Cost of goods and services | | | (3,800.5 | ) | | | (6,731.8 | ) | | | (5,530.0 | ) | | | (1,383.1 | ) | | | (4,650.8 | ) | | | (1,302.5 | ) | | | (3,971.9 | ) | | | (578.0 | ) |
Gross profit | | | 3,223.5 | | | | 5,709.8 | | | | 4,608.2 | | | | 1,535.1 | | | | 3,717.3 | | | | 1,262.1 | | | | 2,281.9 | | | | 510.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Selling expenses | | | (2,196.6 | ) | | | (3,890.9 | ) | | | (3,250.9 | ) | | | (798.1 | ) | | | (3,067.7 | ) | | | (647.3 | ) | | | (2,191.5 | ) | | | (230.5 | ) |
General and administrative expenses | | | (583.1 | ) | | | (1,032.8 | ) | | | (954.9 | ) | | | (185.9 | ) | | | (795.2 | ) | | | (182.4 | ) | | | (613.8 | ) | | | (94.9 | ) |
Other net operating expense | | | (135.4 | ) | | | (239.9 | ) | | | (200.3 | ) | | | (25.3 | ) | | | (255.5 | ) | | | 1.6 | | | | (322.8 | ) | | | (27.3 | ) |
Equity investment | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (3.3 | ) |
Operating income (loss) before financial income (expenses) | | | 308.4 | | | | 546.2 | | | | 202.1 | | | | 525.8 | | | | (401.1 | ) | | | 434.0 | | | | (846.2 | ) | | | 154.3 | |
Net financial income (expense) | | | (157.5 | ) | | | (278.9 | ) | | | (287.0 | ) | | | 63.3 | | | | (350.1 | ) | | | 51.1 | | | | (201.5 | ) | | | 25.8 | |
Operating income (loss) | | | 150.9 | | | | 267.3 | | | | (84.9 | ) | | | 589.1 | | | | (751.2 | ) | | | 485.1 | | | | (1,047.7 | ) | | | 180.1 | |
Net non-operating income (expense) | | | (13.8 | ) | | | (24.4 | ) | | | 2.5 | | | | (2.2 | ) | | | (5.5 | ) | | | (4.6 | ) | | | (12.1 | ) | | | 12.9 | |
Income (loss) before taxes and minority interests | | | 137.1 | | | | 242.9 | | | | (82.4 | ) | | | 586.9 | | | | (756.7 | ) | | | 480.5 | | | | (1,059.8 | ) | | | 193.0 | |
Income and social contribution taxes | | | (94.2 | ) | | | (166.8 | ) | | | (203.1 | ) | | | (140.5 | ) | | | (176.1 | ) | | | (153.8 | ) | | | (157.1 | ) | | | (42.4 | ) |
Minority interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (21.5 | ) | | | (21.5 | ) | | | (70.1 | ) | | | (70.1 | ) | | | (29.8 | ) |
Net income (loss) | | | 42.9 | | | | 76.1 | | | | (285.5 | ) | | | 424.9 | | | | (954.3 | ) | | | 256.6 | | | | (1,287.0 | ) | | | 120.8 | |
Net income (loss) per share in 2007 and per 1,000 shares outstanding in 2006 to 2003 (reais) | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.03 | | | | (0.12 | ) | | | 0.48 | | | | n/a | | | | 0.38 | | | | n/a | | | | 0.34 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of shares outstanding: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common shares (in millions) | | | n/a | | | | 795 | | | | 793,544 | | | | 299,611 | | | | n/a | | | | 264,793 | | | | n/a | | | | 134,453 | |
Preferred shares (in millions) | | | n/a | | | | 1,539 | | | | 1,536,171 | | | | 579,965 | | | | n/a | | | | 437,712 | | | | n/a | | | | 222,025 | |
Dividends per share in 2007 and per 1,000 shares in 2006 to 2003 – reais(3) | | | n/a | | | | 0.14 | | | | 0.19 | | | | 0.14 | | | | n/a | | | | 0.10 | | | | n/a | | | | 0.10 | |
Dividends per share in 2007 and per 1,000 shares in 2006 to 2003 – in U.S. dollars (4) | | | n/a | | | | 0.08 | | | | 0.09 | | | | 0.06 | | | | n/a | | | | 0.04 | | | | n/a | | | | 0.03 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. GAAP(5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net operating revenues | | | 7,053.6 | | | | 12,494.0 | | | | 10,165.4 | | | | 8,329.9 | | | | - | | | | 6,114.8 | | | | - | | | | 2,110.3 | |
Operating income (expense) | | | 265.1 | | | | 469.6 | | | | 127.6 | | | | (510.4 | ) | | | - | | | | (983.0 | ) | | | - | | | | 420.0 | |
Net income (loss) | | | 51.9 | | | | 92.0 | | | | (217.9 | ) | | | (950.7 | ) | | | - | | | | (1,303.1 | ) | | | - | | | | 318.6 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brazilian GAAP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | | | 3,964.2 | | | | 7,021.8 | | | | 7,185.9 | | | | 1,872.7 | | | | 7,815.9 | | | | 1,663.5 | | | | 6,807.4 | | | | 696.0 | |
Total assets | | | 8,212.2 | | | | 14,546.3 | | | | 14,200.1 | | | | 4,457.4 | | | | 15,233.9 | | | | 3,665.5 | | | | 13,083.3 | | | | 1,636.7 | |
Loans, financing and debentures | | | 1,194.9 | | | | 2,116.6 | | | | 2,173.7 | | | | 129.0 | | | | 1,819.6 | | | | 104.1 | | | | 593.5 | | | | 82.2 | |
Shareholders’ equity | | | 4,375.6 | | | | 7,750.5 | | | | 7,886.4 | | | | 2,714.8 | | | | 8,622.7 | | | | 1,999.0 | | | | 7,575.8 | | | | 927.0 | |
Capital stock | | | 4,262.7 | | | | 7,550.5 | | | | 7,512.7 | | | | 1,472.1 | | | | 7,455.9 | | | | 884.5 | | | | 6,503.7 | | | | 369.2 | |
U.S. GAAP(5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | | | 3,904.9 | | | | 6,916.9 | | | | 7,028.8 | | | | 7,714.0 | | | | - | | | | 6,766.2 | | | | - | | | | 1,449.6 | |
Total assets | | | 8,267.8 | | | | 14,644.8 | | | | 14,271.9 | | | | 15,417.2 | | | | - | | | | 13,060.7 | | | | - | | | | 3,436.9 | |
Loans and financing | | | 1,180.0 | | | | 2,090.1 | | | | 2,140.9 | | | | 1,808.8 | | | | - | | | | 592.0 | | | | - | | | | 178.6 | |
Shareholders’ equity | | | 4,452.4 | | | | 7,886.6 | | | | 8,154.9 | | | | 8,665.5 | | | | - | | | | 7,420.1 | | | | - | | | | 1,964.6 | |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 and 2004 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2004 for Statement of Operations information, and on December 31, 2004 for balance sheet information. For an explanation on how pro forma amounts have been calculated, including the adjustments made, see “Presentation of Information—Presentation of Financial Information.” |
(2) | The 2006, 2005, 2005 pro forma, 2004 and 2004 pro forma as adjusted, recorded when applicable: reclassification of the amortization of the tax benefit related to the goodwill paid in the privatization from other net operating expense to income and social contribution taxes, reclassification of PIS/COFINS tax credit, previously recorded as other net operating expenses, to credit in deductions from revenues and credit net financial income, reclassification of income tax on remittance from net financial expense to cost of services and adjustment of income tax incentive (Adene) to the net income (loss), resulting from the change in accounting principles, see note 3-b and d to our consolidated financial statements. |
(3) | Dividends per share have been computed as the sum of dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity (“juros sobre capital próprio,” according to Brazilian law), an alternative under Brazilian Corporations Law to the distribution of dividends to shareholders. The distribution of dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity, in each year, proceeded according to the terms set forth by our common shareholders, at the relevant annual general meeting. Dividends per share have been determined as the sum of declared dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity, divided by the total number of common shares and preferred shares outstanding as of the common shareholders’ meeting date. See “Item 10.E. Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations―Distribution of Interest on Capital.” |
(4) | Amounts expressed in U.S. dollars, according to the exchange rate applicable at the date of the relevant shareholders’ general meeting that approved the distribution of dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity. |
(5) | The U.S. GAAP amounts of TIM Participações S.A. reflect the TIM Celular Acquisition considered a business combination under common control similar to a pooling-of-interest. Accordingly, such exchange of shares was accounted for at historical carrying values. |
Brazilian Economic Environment
Our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations are dependent on general economic conditions in Brazil.
The Brazilian economy has shown greater stability since the current federal administration took office in January 2003. Overall, the Federal Government continues the macroeconomic policy of the previous administration by giving priority to fiscal responsibility.
Between December 31, 2004 and 2005, the real appreciated 11.8% against the U.S. dollar. Despite this appreciation, the country had a positive current account balance of US$44.8 billion for 2005, its highest surplus ever. The average unemployment rate decreased from 9.6% as of December 31, 2004 to 8.3% as of December 31, 2005 in the country’s main metropolitan regions, in accordance with estimates disclosed by the IBGE. In 2005, the average inflation rate, as measured by the IPCA, was 5.7%, and the average TJLP interest rate was 9.8%. In the same year, the GDP grew 3.2%.
In 2006, this trend was maintained and the real appreciated 8.7% against the U.S. dollar between December 31, 2005 and 2006. Despite this appreciation, the country had a positive current account balance of US$6.3 billion. For the fourth consecutive year, the Current Transactions/PIB ratio, an indicator of vulnerability to international financial crises, was positive, showing the country’s lower exposure to risk. The average unemployment rate increased to 10.0% as of December 31, 2006 in the country’s main metropolitan regions, in accordance with estimates disclosed by the IBGE. In 2006, the inflation rate, as measured by the IPCA, was 3.1%, and the average TJLP interest rate was 6.8%. International reserves also reached record levels and the highest quality thus far, reducing the presence of short-term capital.
Macroeconomic results for 2007 indicate accelerated economic growth and monetary stability. An exchange rate depreciation of 17.2% over the year contributed to an even higher reduction in the inflation rate, as measured by the IPCA. The inflation rate for 2007 reached 4.6%, being within the target range established by the Comitê de Política Monetária (Brazilian Monetary Policy Committee), or COPOM. Externally, the accumulated trade surplus as of December 31, 2007, having reached US$40 billion, was relatively lower than that recorded for both 2005 and 2006; however, the country’s international reserves continued to increase. The average unemployment rate decreased to 7.4% as of December 31, 2007 in the country’s main metropolitan regions, in accordance with estimates disclosed by the IBGE. Accelerated economic growth towards the end of 2006 continued throughout 2007. Among the factors contributing for a stronger economic growth in 2007 are the continuing reduction in the basic interest rate, which stabilized at 11.25% in September, and the evolution of the credit supply.
The table below sets forth data regarding GDP growth, inflation, interest and real/U.S. dollar exchange rates in the periods indicated:
| | For the Year Ended December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | |
GDP growth (1) | | | 3.2% | | | | 3.8% | | | | 5.4% | |
Inflation (IGP-M) (2) | | | 1.2% | | | | 3.9% | | | | 7.8% | |
Inflation (IPCA) (3) | | | 5.7% | | | | 3.1% | | | | 4.6% | |
DI Rate (4) | | | 18.2% | | | | 13.1% | | | | 11.8% | |
TJLP (5) | | | 9.8% | | | | 6.8% | | | | 6.2% | |
Appreciation (devaluation) of the Real against the U.S. dollar | | | 11.8% | | | | 8.7% | | | | 17.2% | |
Exchange rate (closing)—R$ per US$1.00 | | | R$2.341 | | | | R$2.138 | | | | R$1.771 | |
Average exchange rate—R$ per US$1.00 (6) | | | R$2.435 | | | | R$2.177 | | | | R$1.948 | |
(1) | The Brazilian GDP for 2005, 2006 and 2007 was calculated using the new procedures adopted by the IBGE |
(2) | Inflation (IGP-M) is the general market price index as measured by FGV, and represents data accumulated over the 12 months in each year ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007. |
(3) | Inflation (IPCA) is a consumer price index measured by IBGE, and represents data accumulated over the 12 months in each year ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007. |
(4) | The DI rate is the average inter-bank deposit rate performed during the day in Brazil (accrued as of the last month of the period, annualized). |
(5) | Represents the interest rate applied by BNDES in long-term financings (end of the period). |
(6) | Average exchange rate on the last day of each year. |
Sources: BNDES, Central Bank, FGV and IBGE.
Exchange Rates
We pay any cash dividends, interest on shareholders’ equity and any other cash distributions with respect to our preferred shares in reais. Accordingly, exchange rate fluctuations will affect the U.S. dollar amounts received by the holders of ADSs on conversion by the Depositary of dividends and other distributions in Brazilian currency on our preferred shares represented by ADSs. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between Brazilian currency and the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar equivalent price of our preferred shares on the Brazilian stock exchanges. In addition, exchange rate fluctuations may also affect our dollar equivalent results of operations. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”
Prior to March 14, 2005, there were two principal legal foreign exchange markets in Brazil:
| · | the commercial rate exchange market; and |
| · | the floating rate exchange market. |
Most trade and financial foreign-exchange transactions were carried out on the commercial rate exchange market. These transactions included the purchase or sale of shares or payment of dividends or interest with respect to shares. Foreign currencies could only be purchased in the commercial exchange market through a Brazilian bank authorized to operate in these markets. In both markets, rates were freely negotiated and could be influenced by Central Bank intervention.
Resolution No. 3.265 by the National Monetary Council, dated March 4, 2005, consolidated the foreign exchange markets into one single foreign exchange market, effective as of March 14, 2005. All foreign exchange transactions are now carried out through institutions authorized to operate in the consolidated market and are subject to registration with the Central Bank’s electronic registration system. Foreign exchange rates continue to be freely negotiated, but may be influenced by Central Bank intervention.
Since 1999, the Central Bank has allowed the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate to float freely, and during that period, the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate has fluctuated considerably. In the past, the Central Bank has intervened occasionally to control unstable movements in foreign exchange rates. We cannot predict whether the Central Bank or the Brazilian government will continue to let the real float freely or will intervene in the exchange rate market through a currency band system or otherwise. The real may depreciate or appreciate against the U.S. dollar substantially in the future. For more information on these risks, see “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Brazil.”
The following table shows the selling rate for U.S. dollars for the periods and dates indicated. The information in the “Average” column represents the annual average of the exchange rates during the periods presented.
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
2003 | | | 3.5637 | | | | 2.8219 | | | | 3.0711 | | | | 2.8892 | |
2004 | | | 3.2051 | | | | 2.6544 | | | | 2.9257 | | | | 2.6544 | |
2005 | | | 2.7621 | | | | 2.1633 | | | | 2.4341 | | | | 2.3407 | |
2006 | | | 2.3711 | | | | 2.0586 | | | | 2.1771 | | | | 2.1380 | |
2007 | | | 2.1520 | | | | 1.7325 | | | | 1.9483 | | | | 1.7713 | |
| | | |
| | | | | | |
November 2007 | | | 1.8501 | | | | 1.7325 | |
December 2007 | | | 1.8233 | | | | 1.7616 | |
January 2008 | | | 1.8301 | | | | 1.7414 | |
February 2008 | | | 1.7674 | | | | 1.6660 | |
March 2008 | | | 1.7597 | | | | 1.6625 | |
April 2008 | | | 1.7399 | | | | 1.6548 | |
May 2008(through May 27, 2008) | | | 1.6968 | | | | 1.6410 | |
Source: Central Bank/Bloomberg
Brazilian law provides that, whenever there is a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or serious reasons to foresee such imbalance, temporary restrictions may be imposed on remittances of foreign capital abroad. For approximately six months in 1989, and early 1990, for example, the Federal Government froze all dividend and capital repatriations that were owed to foreign equity investors. These amounts were subsequently released in accordance with Federal Government directives. There can be no assurance that similar measures will not be taken by the Federal Government in the future.
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable
D. Risk Factors
This section is intended to be a summary of more detailed discussions contained elsewhere in this annual report. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Our business, results of operations or financial condition could be harmed if any of these risks materializes and, as a result, the trading price of our shares and our ADSs could decline.
Risks Relating to our Business
We face increasing competition, which may adversely affect our results of operations.
The opening of the Brazilian market to competition for telecommunications services has adversely affected the industry’s historical margins. Due to additional Personal Communication Services (“PCS”) providers that have commenced operations in recent years, we are facing increased competition throughout Brazil. We compete not only with companies that provide wireless services and trunking, but also with companies that provide fixed-line telecommunications and Internet access services, because of the trend toward the convergence and substitution of mobile services for these and other services and a trend of bundling PCS services with Internet and other services. As a result, the cost of maintaining our market share has increased and in the future we may incur higher advertising and other costs as we attempt to maintain or expand our presence in the market. Claro and Vivo received authorization to provide PCS in the same regions as TIM, completing their national coverage. Also Oi received authorization to provide PCS service in São Paulo State.
We also expect to face increased competition from other wireless telecommunications services, such as digital trunking, because these services are generally less expensive than cellular telecommunications services. In addition, technological changes in the telecommunications field, such as the development of 3G and VOIP, are expected to introduce additional sources of competition.
This increasing competition may increase the rate of customer turnover and could continue to adversely affect our market share and margins. Our ability to compete successfully will depend on the effectiveness of our marketing and our ability to anticipate and respond to developments in the industry, including new services that may be introduced, changes in consumer preferences, demographic trends, economic conditions and discount pricing strategies by competitors. Additionally, we may face competitors with greater access to financial resources and capital markets than ours. We cannot predict which of many possible factors will be important in maintaining our competitive position or what expenditures will be required to develop and provide new technologies, products or services. If we are unable to compete successfully, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely affected.
There is a perspective of changing the current rules for service exploration may cause an unbalanced competition between fixed incumbent and other players. Example the merger project between the two concessionaires Oi and Brasil Telecom would represent a step back from the liberalization architecture and would hamper competition if not counterbalanced by appropriate regulatory measures (like Local Loop Unbundling obligations).
Anatel is expected to auction bandwidths in the 3.5 and 10.5 GHZ (WI-MAX) spectrum to provide broadband wireless and fixed telephony services. Anatel cancelled the auction scheduled to take place in 2006. New bidding terms have not yet been made public and according to information currently available from Anatel, the new auction will take place probably in the second half of 2008. Purchasers of these bandwidths may offer services that could compete with our services. TIM intends to bid for this band.
We may be unable to respond to the recent trend towards consolidation in the Brazilian wireless telecommunications market.
The Brazilian telecommunication market has been consolidating and we believe such trend is likely to continue. Additional joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions among telecommunications service providers are possible in the future. If such consolidation occurs, it may result in increased competition within our market. We may be unable to adequately respond to pricing pressures resulting from consolidation in our market, adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may not receive as much interconnection revenue as we receive today.
Beginning in July 2004, interconnection charges became freely negotiated by cellular telecommunications service providers in Brazil, pursuant to rules issued by Anatel. As a result, the interconnection fees we are able to charge in the past have decreased, after adjustment for inflation. The interconnection fees we charge may continue to decrease and as a result, we may receive less interconnection revenue than we presently do, which may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may face difficulties responding to new telecommunications technologies.
The Brazilian wireless telecommunications market is experiencing significant technological changes, as evidenced by, among other factors:
| · | the changing regulatory environment, such as the introduction of numbering portability; |
| · | shorter time periods between the introduction of new telecommunication products and their required enhancements or replacements; |
| · | ongoing improvements in the capacity and quality of digital technology available in Brazil; |
| · | the introduction of Third Generation (“3G”) mobile telephony services; and |
| · | the anticipated auction of licenses for the operation of 3.5 GHz and 10.5 GHz with limited mobility. |
Our business is dependent on our ability to expand our services and to maintain the quality of the services provided.
Our business, as a cellular telecommunications services provider, depends on our ability to maintain and expand our cellular telecommunications services network. We believe that our expected growth will require, among other things:
| · | continuous development of our operational and administrative systems; |
| · | increasing marketing activities; and |
| · | attracting, training and retaining qualified management, technical and sales personnel. |
These activities are expected to place significant demand on our managerial, operational and financial resources. Failure to manage successfully our expected growth could reduce the quality of our services, with adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations are dependent upon our ability to maintain and protect our network. Damage to our network and backup systems could result in service delays or interruptions and limit our ability to provide customers with reliable service over our network. The occurrence of any such events may adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results.
Our operations depend on our ability to maintain, upgrade and efficiently operate accounting, billing, customer service, information technology and management information systems.
Sophisticated information and processing systems are vital to our growth and our ability to monitor costs, render monthly invoices for services, process customer orders, provide customer service and achieve operating efficiencies. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully operate and upgrade our accounting, information and processing systems or that they will continue to perform as expected. Any failure in our accounting, information and processing systems could impair our ability to collect payments from customers and respond satisfactorily to customer needs, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We may experience a high rate of customer turnover which could increase our costs of operations and reduce our revenue.
Churn reflects the number of customers who have their service terminated during a period, expressed as a percentage of the simple average of customers at the beginning and end of the period. Our high churn rates are primarily a result of our competitors’ aggressive subsidization of handset sales, adverse macroeconomic conditions in Brazil and our strict policy of terminating customers who do not continue to use our services or do not pay their bills. As indicated by our past rates of customer churn, we may experience a high rate of customer turnover which could increase our cost of operations and reduce our revenue.
Our controlling shareholder may exercise its control in a manner that differs from the interests of other shareholders.
Telecom Italia, through its indirect full ownership of TIM Brasil, our controlling shareholder, and TIM Brasil, each have the ability to determine actions that require shareholder approval, including the election of a majority of our directors and, subject to Brazilian law, the payment of dividends and other distributions. Telecom Italia or TIM Brasil may exercise this control in a manner that differs from the best interests of other shareholders.
Certain debt agreements of our subsidiaries contain financial covenants, and any default under such debt agreements may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and cash flows.
Certain of our subsidiaries’ existing debt agreements contain restrictions and covenants and require the maintenance or satisfaction of specified financial ratios and tests. The ability of our subsidiaries to meet these financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our and their control, and we cannot assure that they will meet those tests. Failure to meet or satisfy any of these covenants, financial ratios or financial tests could result in an event of default under these agreements. As of December 31, 2007, our subsidiaries, had approximately R$2.1 billion in consolidated outstanding indebtedness. If we are unable to meet these debt service obligations, or comply with the debt covenants, we could be forced to restructure or refinance this indebtedness, seek additional equity capital or sell assets.
In addition, because of our net debt position in 2007 of R$973.2 million (change from 2006 to 2007 in loans plus accrued interests less cash and cash equivalents and short term investments), we may need additional funding to meet our obligations and to conduct our activities and in the event public or private financial is unavailable, our financial condition and results and, consequently, the market price for our shares may be adversely affected.
We face risks associated with litigation.
We and our subsidiaries are party to a number of lawsuits and other proceedings. An adverse outcome in, or any settlement of, these or other lawsuits could result in significant costs to us. In addition, our senior management may be required to devote substantial time to these lawsuits, which they could otherwise devote to our business. See “Item 8.A. Financial Information—Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.”
Any modification or termination of our ability to use the “TIM” tradename may adversely affect our business and operating results.
Telecom Italia owns the property rights to the “TIM” tradename. Telecom Italia may stop us from using the TIM trade name any time. The loss of the use of the “TIM” trade name could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.
The shareholding structure of our parent company, Telecom Italia S.p.A, has undergone relevant changes.
On April 28, 2007, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A, Intesa San Paolo S.p.A, Mediobanca S.p.A., Sintonia S.p.A and Telefónica S.A. entered into an agreement to acquire the entire share capital of Olimpia S.p.A., a company which, at the time, held approximately 18% of the voting capital of Telecom Itália S.p.A., our indirect parent company. This acquisition was made through Telco S.p.A. (“Telco”). With the conclusion of the transaction and the subsequent merger of Olimpia S.p.A. with and into Telco (December 2007), Telco came to hold 23.6% and it presently holds 24.5% of the voting capital of Telecom Italia S.p.A., the indirect parent company of TIM Participações.
The Brazilian telecommunications regulator, Anatel, approved the acquisition of Olimpia by Telco, but imposed certain restrictions to guarantee the total segregation of the business and operations of the two groups, Telefónica and TIM, in Brazil. We cannot guarantee that Anatel will approve the measures we have either taken or proposed to comply with its ruling.
Telco's acquisition of Olimpia is also being analyzed by the Brazilian antitrust authority (CADE) in a proceeding to which TIM is not a party filed by Telco's shareholders, and is subject to CADE's approval.
The consequences in case (i) Anatel understands that the measures being taken or proposed to segregate the businesses of TIM and Vivo in Brazil are not sufficient; or (2) the Brazilian antitrust authority does not approve the transaction, are currently unpredictable and may have adverse effects on TIM's business and results. See "Item 4.A. Information on the Company — A History and Development of the Company — Recent Developments — Acquisition of Olimpia S.p.A."
Risks Relating to the Brazilian Telecommunications Industry
We may be classified by Anatel as an economic group with significant market power, which will subject us to increased regulation.
In 2005, Anatel issued specific regulations regarding telecommunications service providers with significant market power. Anatel has indicated that it will establish more stringent regulation for economic groups with significant market power in order to ensure competition. We cannot give assurance that we will not be deemed to have significant market power, and thus be subject to increased regulatory requirements.
In July 2006, Anatel issued regulation regarding the remuneration of mobile operators network and brought to the mobile industry the concept of significant market power. Under such regulation, the VU-M value is freely negotiated between operators, but in case of no successful negotiation from a future date to be established by Anatel, as an arbitration procedure, the Agency will determine, based on a fully allocated cost model, a reference value for a network usage fee (VU-M) of companies that are deemed to hold significant market power. Such value will be reassessed every 3 years. In order to determine the companies that have a significant market power in the mobile interconnection market, Anatel will consider: market share in the mobile interconnection market and in the mobile services market, economies of scope and scale, dominance of infrastructure that is not economically viable to duplicate, existence of negotiation power to acquire equipments and services, existence of vertical integration, existence of barriers to entry, access to financing sources. For purposes of the mobile network remuneration rules until Anatel defines which groups have significant market power, all groups that include a SMP provider will be considered as having a significant market power in the offer of mobile interconnection in their respective services areas.
We are subject to various obligations in the performance of our activities with which we may be unable to comply.
In the performance of our telecommunications services, we are subject to compliance with various legal and regulatory obligations including, but not limited to, the obligations arising from the following:
| · | the rules set forth by Anatel, the primary telecommunications industry regulator in Brazil; |
| · | the PCS authorizations under which we operate our cellular telecommunications business; |
| · | the fixed authorizations (local, national long distance and international long distance under and multimedia service which we operate our telecommunications business; |
| · | the Consumer Defense Code; and |
| · | the General Telecommunications Law (Lei No. 9,472/97, as amended). |
We believe that we are currently in material compliance with our obligations arising out of each of the above referenced laws, regulations and authorizations. However, in light of the administrative proceedings for breach of quality standards brought since December 2004 by Anatel against TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste we cannot provide any assurance that we are in full compliance with our quality of service obligations under the PCS authorizations. In fact, there are some administrative proceedings regarding non compliance with quality goals and regulatory obligations that resulted in fees applied by Anatel on TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste. For more information, see “Item 8.A. Financial Information—Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings”. In addition, we cannot assure that we will be able to fully comply with each of the above referenced laws, regulations and authorizations or that we will be able to comply with future changes in the laws and regulations to which we are subject. These regulatory developments or our failure to comply with them could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Extensive government regulation of the telecommunications industry may limit our flexibility in responding to market conditions, competition and changes in our cost structure.
Our business is subject to extensive government regulation, including any changes that may occur during the period of our concession to provide telecommunication services. Anatel, which is the main telecommunications industry regulator in Brazil, regulates, among others:
| · | industry policies and regulations; |
| · | rates and tariffs for telecommunications services; |
| · | telecommunications resource allocation; |
| · | interconnection and settlement arrangements; and |
| · | universal service obligations. |
This extensive regulation and the conditions imposed by our authorization to provide telecommunication services may limit our flexibility in responding to market conditions, competition and changes in our cost structure.
Our authorizations may be terminated by the Brazilian government under certain circumstances or we may not receive renewals of our authorizations.
We operate our business under authorizations granted by the Brazilian government. As a result, we are obligated to maintain minimum quality and service standards, including targets for call completion rates, geographic coverage and voice channel traffic rates, user complaint rates and customer care call completion rates. Our ability to satisfy these standards, as well as others, may be affected by factors beyond our control. We cannot assure you that, going forward, we will be able to comply with all of the requirements imposed on us by Anatel or the Brazilian government. Our failure to comply with these requirements may result in the imposition of fines or other government actions, including, in an extreme situation, the termination of our authorizations in the event of material non-compliance.
Our radio frequency authorizations for the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands that we use to provide PCS services started to expire in September 2007 (under the Term of Authorization for the State of Paraná except the Londrina and Tamarana municipalities) and are renewable for one additional 15-year period, requiring payment at every two-year period of the equivalent to 2% (two percent) of the prior year’s revenue net of taxes, by way of investment under the Basic and Alternative Service Plans.
The TIM Celular’s authorization to operate in the State of Paraná, except in Londrina and Tamarana municipalities, was extended to September 3, 2022, in accordance with Act 57.551 of April 13, 2006. The first payment under this authorization is due on April 30, 2009.
The radiofrequencies authorizations for the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz that will expire in 2008 are the following:
September 03, 2008 - TIM Celular (Santa Catarina)
November 28, 2008 - TIM Nordeste (Ceará)
December 15, 2008 - TIM Nordeste (Alagoas)
December 31, 2008 - TIM Nordeste (Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte)
We have already requested Anatel the renewal of such authorizations whose approvals should occur closely to the dates mentioned above.
Any partial or total revocation of our authorizations or failure to receive renewal of such authorizations when they expire would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The telecommunications industry is subject to rapid technological changes and these changes could have a material adverse effect on our ability to provide competitive services.
The telecommunications industry is subject to rapid and significant technological changes. For example, the telecommunications industry is preparing the introduction of Third Generation (“3G”) mobile telephone services which may be accomplished through the offer of additional radiofrequencies or new licenses by Anatel or a combination of both. Our future success depends, in part, on our ability to anticipate and adapt in a timely manner to technological changes. We expect that new products and technologies will emerge and that existing products and technologies will be further developed.
The advent of new products and technologies could have a variety of consequences for us. New products and technologies may reduce the price of our services by providing lower-cost alternatives, or they may also be superior to, and render obsolete, the products and services we offer and the technologies we use, thus requiring investment in new technology. If such changes do transpire, our most significant competitors in the future may be new participants in the market without the burden of any installed base of older equipment. The cost of upgrading our products and technology to continue to compete effectively could be significant.
Due to the nature of our business we are exposed to numerous consumer claims and tax-related proceedings.
Our business exposes us to a variety of lawsuits brought by or on behalf of consumers that are inherent in the mobile telecommunications industry in Brazil. Currently, we are subject to a number of public civil actions and class actions that have been brought against mobile telecommunications providers in Brazil relating principally to the expiration of prepaid usage credits, minimum term clauses, subscription fees and the use of land to install our network sites. These suits include claims contesting certain aspects of the fee structure of our prepaid and postpaid plans which are commonplace in the Brazilian telecommunications industry.
In addition, federal and state tax authorities in Brazil have brought actions challenging the tax treatment of certain components of the service revenues earned by mobile telecommunications providers, such as the application of ICMS to activation fees and monthly subscription charges. As of December 2007, we are subject to approximately 801 tax-related lawsuits and administrative proceedings with an aggregate value of approximately R$1,211.1 billion. See “Item 8.A. Financial Information—Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings”.
Although many of these consumer and tax claims relate to general business practices in the Brazilian mobile telecommunications industry, adverse determinations could have an adverse affect on our business practices and results of operations.
The mobile industry, including us, may be harmed by reports suggesting that radio frequency emissions cause health problems and interfere with medical devices.
Media and other reports have suggested that radio frequency emissions from wireless handsets and base stations may cause health problems. If consumers harbor health-related concerns, they may be discouraged from using wireless handsets. These concerns could have an adverse effect on the wireless communications industry and, possibly, expose wireless providers, including us, to litigation. We cannot assure you that further medical research and studies will refute a link between the radio frequency emissions of wireless handsets and base stations and these health concerns.
Government authorities could increase regulation of wireless handsets and base stations as a result of these health concerns or wireless companies, including us, could be held liable for costs or damages associated with these concerns, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation. The expansion of our network may be affected by these perceived risks if we experience problems in finding new sites, which in turn may delay the expansion and may affect the quality of our services. On July 2, 2002, Anatel published Resolution No. 303 that limits emission and exposure for fields with frequencies between 9 kHz and 300 GHz. In addition, the Brazilian government is developing specific legislation for the deployment of radio frequency transmission stations that will supersede the existing state and municipal laws. The new laws may create additional transmission regulations which, in turn, could have an adverse effect on our business.
The new index applied for the remuneration for the use of SMP’s network may not be adequate.
As of 2006, Anatel uses IST index (Índice de Serviços de Telecomunicações) to adjust STFC Concessionaries’ rates, Industrial Exploration of Dedicated Lines (“Exploração Industrial de Linha Dedicada” or “EILD”) and remuneration for the use of Personal Communication Service (“Serviço Móvel Pessoal” or “SMP”), which substitutes the General Price Index, or the IGP-DI (the Índice Geral de Preços Disponibilidade Interna), an inflation index developed by the Fundação Getulio Vargas, a private Brazilian foundation. Thus, the prices we may charge for our services may be indirectly impacted by such new index. Anatel begins to regulate the telecommunications industry based on a model that analyzes companies costs based on a hypothetical company’s costs and other factors. If this new adjustment mechanism, or any other mechanism chosen by the Anatel in the future, does not adequately reflect the true effect of inflation on our prices, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Anatel’s proposal regarding the consolidation of prices could have an adverse effect on our results.
Anatel issued new regulations on interconnection rules, some of which could have an adverse effect on our results. The rules that may adversely affect our results are (1) Anatel had defined clearly that same SMP provider with different authorization areas receive only one instead of two interconnection charges (VU-M) for long distance calls originated and terminated in their networks, and (2) if the free-market negotiation of prices for VU-M does not reach success, Anatel can, as from April 2010, apply the Full Allocated Cost model. These regulations can have an adverse effect on our results of operations because (1) our interconnection charges would drop significantly, thereby reducing our revenues, and (2) Anatel may allow more favorable prices for economic groups without significant market power.
Anatel´s new regulation on number portability could have an adverse effect on our results.
Anatel issued in March 2007 regulation regarding the implementation of number portability in Brazil for fixed telephony and mobile services providers (SMP). Portability is limited to migration between providers of the same telecommunications services. For SMP providers, portability can take place when customer changes services provider within the same Registration Area as well as when customer changes the service plan of the same service provider. We expect number portability to increase competition between services providers and we are confident that due to our quality levels the implementation of such regulation will help us increase our customer base. If we are unable to maintain our quality levels, number portability could have an adverse effect on our client´s base and our results.
Risks Relating to Brazil
The Brazilian government has exerted significant influence over the Brazilian economy and continues to do so. This involvement, like local political and economic conditions, may have an adverse effect on our activities, our business, or the market prices of our shares and ADSs.
The Brazilian government has frequently intervened in the Brazilian economy and occasionally made drastic changes in economic policy. To influence the course of Brazil’s economy, control inflation and implement other policies, the Brazilian government has taken various measures, including the use of wage and price controls, currency devaluations, capital controls and limits on imports and freezing bank accounts. We have no control over, and cannot predict what measures or policies the Brazilian government may take or adopt in the future. Our business, financial condition, revenues, results of operations, prospects and the trading price of our units may be adversely affected by changes in government policies and regulations, as well as other factors, such as:
| · | fluctuating exchange rates; |
| · | liquidity in domestic capital and credit markets; |
| · | reductions in salaries or income levels; |
| · | rising unemployment rates; |
| · | exchange controls and restrictions on remittances abroad; and |
| · | other political, diplomatic, social or economic developments in or affecting Brazil. |
In the past, the performance of the Brazilian economy was affected by its political situation. Historically, political crises and scandals have affected the confidence of investors and the public in general, and have adversely affected the development of the economy and the market price of securities issued by Brazilian companies. We cannot predict what policies will be adopted by the Brazilian government and whether these policies will negatively affect the economy or our business or financial performance. We cannot predict whether the Brazilian government will intervene in the Brazilian economy in the future. Governmental actions may adversely affect our business by reducing demand for our services, increasing our costs, or limiting our ability to provide services. In addition, political uncertainties and scandals, social instability and other political or economic developments may have an adverse effect on us.
Tax reforms may affect our prices.
The Brazilian government has proposed tax reforms that are currently being considered by the Brazilian Congress. If we experience a higher tax burden as a result of the tax reform, we may have to pass the cost of that tax increase to our customers. This increase may have a material negative impact on the dividends paid by our subsidiaries to us and on our revenues and operating results.
Inflation, and government measures to curb inflation, may adversely affect the Brazilian economy, the Brazilian securities market, our business and operations and the market prices of our shares or the ADSs.
Historically, Brazil has experienced high rates of inflation. Inflation and some of the Brazilian government’s measures taken in an attempt to curb inflation have had significant negative effects on the Brazilian economy generally. Inflation, policies adopted to contain inflationary pressures and uncertainties regarding possible future governmental intervention have contributed to economic uncertainty and heightened volatility in the Brazilian securities market.
Since the introduction of the real in 1994, Brazil’s inflation rate has been substantially lower than in previous periods. According to the General Market Price Index (Índice Geral de Preços do Mercado, or IGP-M), a general price inflation index developed by Fundação Getulio Vargas, a private Brazilian foundation, the inflation rates in Brazil were 8.7% in 2003, 12.4% in 2004, 1.2% in 2005, 3.8% in 2006 and 7.7% in 2007. In addition, according to the National Extended Consumer Price Index (Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo, or IPCA), published by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, or IBGE), the Brazilian price inflation rates were 12.5% in 2002, 9.3% in 2003, 7.6% in 2004, 5.7% in 2005, 3.1% in 2006 and 4.6% in 2007. The Brazilian government’s measures to control inflation have often included maintaining a tight monetary policy with high interest rates, thereby restricting availability of credit and reducing economic growth. Inflation, actions to combat inflation and public speculation about possible additional actions have also contributed materially to economic uncertainty in Brazil and to heightened volatility in the Brazilian securities markets.
Brazil may experience high levels of inflation in future periods. Periods of higher inflation may slow the rate of growth of the Brazilian economy, which could lead to reduced demand for our products in Brazil and decreased net sales. Inflation also is likely to increase some of our costs and expenses, which we may not be able to pass on to our customers and, as a result, may reduce our profit margins and net income. In addition, high inflation generally leads to higher domestic interest rates, and, as a result, the costs of servicing our debt may increase, resulting in lower net income. Inflation and its effect on domestic interest rates can, in addition, lead to reduced liquidity in the domestic capital and lending markets, which could affect our ability to refinance our indebtedness in those markets. Any decline in our net sales or net income and any deterioration in our financial condition would also likely lead to a decline in the market price of our shares and the ADSs.
Exchange rate movements may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The Brazilian currency has been devalued frequently over the past four decades. Throughout this period, the Brazilian government has implemented various economic plans and exchange rate policies, including sudden devaluations, periodic mini-devaluations (during which the frequency of adjustments has ranged from daily to monthly), exchange controls, dual exchange rate markets and a floating exchange rate system. From time to time, there have been significant fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Brazilian currency and the U.S. dollar and other currencies. For example, the real depreciated against the U.S. dollar by 15.7% in 2001 and 34.3% in 2002. Notwithstanding the fact that the real has appreciated 8.1%, 11.5%, 8.7% and 17.2%, in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively, there can be no guarantees as to whether the real will depreciate or appreciate against the U.S. dollar in the future.
Continuing appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar may lead to a deterioration of the country’s current account and the balance of payments, as well as to a dampening of export-driven growth. Any such appreciation could reduce the competitiveness of our exports and adversely affect our net sales and our cash flows from exports. Devaluation of the real relative to the U.S. dollar could create additional inflationary pressures in Brazil by increasing the price of imported products which may result in the adoption of deflationary government policies. The sharp depreciation of the real in relation to the U.S. dollar may generate inflation and governmental measures to fight possible inflationary outbreaks, including the increase in interest rates. Devaluations of the real would reduce the U.S. dollar value of distributions and dividends on our preferred shares and ADSs and may also reduce the market value of such securities. Any such macroeconomic effects could adversely affect our net operating revenues and our overall financial performance.
We acquire our equipment and handsets from global suppliers, the prices of which are denominated in U.S. dollars. Depreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar may result in a relative increase in the price of our equipment and handsets. Thus, we are exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from our need to make substantial dollar-denominated expenditures, particularly for imported components, equipment and handsets, that we have limited capacity to hedge.
Fluctuations in interest rates may have an adverse effect on our business and the market prices of our shares or the ADSs.
The Central Bank establishes the basic interest rate target for the Brazilian financial system by reference to the level of economic growth of the Brazilian economy, the level of inflation and other economic indicators. From February to July 17, 2002, the Central Bank reduced the basic interest rate from 19% to 18%. From October 2002 to February 2003, the Central Bank increased the basic interest rate by 8.5 percentage points, to 26.5% on February 19, 2003. The basic interest rate continued to increase until June 2003 when the Central Bank started to decrease it. Subsequently, the basic interest rate suffered further fluctuations, and, in December 2007, the basic interest rate was 11.25%.
On December 31, 2007, all of our indebtedness was either denominated in reais and subject to Brazilian floating interest rates or subject to currency swaps that are tied to Brazilian floating interest rates, such as the Long-Term Interest Rate (Taxa de Juros de Longo Prazo, or TJLP), the interest rate used in our financing agreements with Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social – BNDES, or BNDES), and the Interbank Deposit Certificate Rate (Certificado de Depositário Interbancário, or CDI rate), an interbank certificate of deposit rate that applies to our foreign currency swaps and some of our other real-denominated indebtedness. On December 31, 2007, R$2,145.9 million of our total consolidated indebtedness was subject to floating interest rates. Any increase in the CDI rate or the TJLP rate may have an adverse impact on our financial expenses and our results of operations.
Brazilian government exchange control policies could adversely affect our ability to make payments on foreign currency-denominated debt.
The purchase and sale of foreign currency in Brazil is subject to governmental control. In the past, the Central Bank has centralized certain payments of principal on external obligations. Many factors could cause the Brazilian government to institute a more restrictive exchange control policy, including, without limitation, the extent of Brazilian foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange, the size of Brazil’s debt service burden relative to the economy as a whole, Brazil’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, and political constraints to which Brazil may be subject. A more restrictive policy could affect the ability of Brazilian debtors (including us) to make payments outside of Brazil to meet foreign currency-denominated obligations.
Adverse changes in Brazilian economic conditions could cause an increase in customer defaults on their outstanding obligations to us, which could materially reduce our earnings.
Our operations are significantly dependent on our customers’ ability to make payments on their accounts. If the Brazilian economy worsens because of, among other factors, the level of economic activity, devaluation of the real, inflation or an increase in domestic interest rates, a greater portion of our customers may not be able to make timely payments for services, which would increase our past due accounts and could materially reduce our net earnings. In addition, the growth of our postpaid base makes us more vulnerable to any increases in customer defaults.
Events in other countries may have a negative impact on the Brazilian economy and the market value of our units.
Economic conditions and markets in other countries, including United States, Latin American and other emerging market countries, may affect the Brazilian economy and the market for securities issued by Brazilian companies. Although economic conditions in these countries may differ significantly from those in Brazil, investors’ reactions to developments in these other countries may have an adverse effect on the market value of securities of Brazilian issuers. Crises in other emerging market countries could dampen investor enthusiasm for securities of Brazilian issuers, including ours, which could adversely affect the market price of our shares and ADSs.
In addition, the Brazilian economy is affected by international economic and market conditions generally, especially economic conditions in the United States. Share prices on Bovespa, for example, have historically been sensitive to fluctuations in U.S. interest rates and the behavior of the major U.S. stock indexes. An increase in the interest rates in other countries, especially the United States, may reduce global liquidity and investors’ interest in the Brazilian capital markets, adversely impacting the price of our shares and ADSs.
Risks Relating to Our ADSs
Holders of our preferred shares, including preferred shares in the form of ADSs, have no voting rights except under limited circumstances.
Of our two classes of capital stock outstanding, only our common shares have full voting rights. Except in certain limited circumstances, our preferred shares will be entitled to vote only in the event that we fail to pay minimum dividends for a period of three consecutive years. As a result, holders of our preferred shares generally will not be able to influence any corporate decision requiring a shareholder vote, including the declaration of dividends.
Holders of our preferred shares or ADSs may not receive any dividends.
According to Brazilian Corporations Law and our bylaws, we must generally pay dividends to all shareholders of at least 25% of our annual net income, as determined and adjusted under the Brazilian Corporations Law. These adjustments to net income for purposes of calculating the basis for dividends include allocations to various reserves that effectively reduce the amount available for the payment of dividends. However, we are not required and may be unable to pay minimum dividends if we have losses.
Since we are a holding company, our income consists of distributions from our subsidiaries in the form of dividends or other advances and payments. We do not generate our own operating revenues, and we are dependent on dividends and other advances and payments for our cash flow, including to make any dividend payments or to make payments on our indebtedness.
Holders of our ADSs are not entitled to attend shareholders' meetings and may only vote through the Depositary.
Under Brazilian law, only shareholders registered as such in our corporate books may attend shareholders' meetings. All preferred shares underlying our ADSs are registered in the name of the Depositary. A holder of ADSs, accordingly, is not entitled to attend shareholders' meetings. Holders of our ADSs may exercise their limited voting rights with respect to our preferred shares represented by the ADSs only in accordance with the deposit agreement relating to the ADSs. There are practical limitations upon the ability of ADS holders to exercise their voting rights due to the additional steps involved in communicating with ADS holders. For example, we are required to publish a notice of our shareholders’ general meetings in certain newspapers in Brazil. Holders of our shares can exercise their right to vote at a shareholders’ general meeting by attending the meeting in person or voting by proxy. By contrast, holders of our ADSs will receive notice of a shareholders’ general meeting by mail from the ADR depositary following our notice to the ADR depositary requesting the ADR depositary to do so. To exercise their voting rights, ADS holders must instruct the ADR depositary on a timely basis. This noticed voting process will take longer for ADS holders than for direct holders of our shares. If it fails to receive timely voting instructions from a holder for the related ADSs, the ADR depositary will assume that such holder is instructing it to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote your ADSs, except in limited circumstances.
We cannot assure you that holders will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that such holders can instruct the depositary to vote the shares underlying their respective ADSs. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out holder’s voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out your voting instructions. This means that holders may not be able to exercise their right to vote and may have no recourse if our shares held by such holders are not voted as requested.
The value of our ADSs or shares may depreciate if our control is changed.
In the event there is a change of our control, our minority common shareholders are entitled to tag-along rights whereby they may choose to also sell their shares to the new controlling shareholder for at least 80% of the price paid by the new controlling shareholders for the shares of our former controlling shareholder. Accordingly, if such change of control happens, the market value of our common shares may appreciate while the market value of our preferred shares may depreciate.
Holders of our ADSs or preferred shares in the United States may not be entitled to participate in future preemptive rights offerings.
Under Brazilian law, if we issue new shares for cash as part of a capital increase, we generally must grant our shareholders the right to purchase a sufficient number of shares to maintain their existing ownership percentage. Rights to purchase shares in these circumstances are known as preemptive rights. We may not legally allow holders of our ADSs or preferred shares in the United States to exercise any preemptive rights in any future capital increase unless we file a registration statement with the SEC with respect to that future issuance of shares or the offering qualifies for an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. At the time of any future capital increase, we will evaluate the costs and potential liabilities associated with filing a registration statement with the SEC and any other factors that we consider important to determine whether to file such a registration statement. We cannot assure holders of our ADSs or preferred shares in the United States that we will file a registration statement with the SEC to allow them to participate in a preemptive rights offering. As a result, the equity interest of those holders in us may be diluted proportionately.
Enforcement of rights in Brazil may be difficult.
We and our directors and officers reside in outside the United States, and a substantial portion of the assets of these persons and our assets are located in Brazil. As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of process upon these persons within the United States or other jurisdictions outside of Brazil. Brazilian law provides that a final decision obtained against us in a foreign jurisdiction may be enforceable in Brazil without reconsideration of the merits upon confirmation of that judgment by the Superior Court of Justice, upon the fulfillment of some conditions. However, there can be no assurance that these conditions will be met and, consequently, that it will be possible to enforce judgments of non-Brazilian courts in Brazil, including judgments predicated on civil liability under the U.S. securities laws against us or our directors and officers.
Restrictions on the movement of capital out of Brazil may adversely affect your ability to receive dividends and distributions on, or the proceeds of any sale of, our shares and the ADSs.
Brazilian law permits the Brazilian government to impose temporary restrictions on conversions of Brazilian currency into foreign currencies and on remittances to foreign investors of proceeds from their investments in Brazil, whenever there is a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or there are reasons to expect a pending serious imbalance. The Brazilian government last imposed remittance restrictions for approximately six months in 1989 and early 1990. In the event that the Brazilian government determines that the Brazilian foreign currency reserves need to be maintained, it may impose temporary charges on any overseas remittance of up to 50% of the value of the remittance. We cannot assure you that the Brazilian government will not take any such measures in the future.
Any imposition of restrictions on conversions and remittances could hinder or prevent holders of our shares or the ADSs from converting into U.S. dollars or other foreign currencies and remitting abroad dividends, distributions or the proceeds from any sale in Brazil of our shares. Exchange controls could also prevent us from making payments on our U.S. dollar-denominated debt obligations and hinder our ability to access the international capital markets. As a result, exchange controls restrictions could reduce the market prices of our shares and the ADSs.
Holders of ADSs may face difficulties in protecting their interests because we are subject to different corporate rules and regulations as a Brazilian company and our shareholders may have less extensive rights.
Holders of ADSs will not be direct shareholders of our company and will be unable to enforce the rights of shareholders under our by-laws and the Brazilian Corporation Law.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our by-laws and the Brazilian Corporation Law, which differ from the legal principles that would apply if we were incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States, such as the state of Delaware or New York, or elsewhere outside Brazil. Even if a holder of ADSs surrenders its ADSs and becomes a direct shareholder, its rights as a holder of our shares under the Brazilian Corporation Law to protect its interests relative to actions by our Board of Directors or executive officers may be fewer and less well-defined than under the laws of those other jurisdictions.
Judgments seeking to enforce our obligations in respect of our shares or ADSs in Brazil will be payable only in reais.
If proceedings are brought in the courts of Brazil seeking to enforce our obligations in respect of our shares or ADSs, we will not be required to discharge our obligations in a currency other than reais. Under Brazilian exchange control limitations, an obligation in Brazil to pay amounts denominated in a currency other than reais may only be satisfied in Brazilian currency at the exchange rate, as determined by the Central Bank, in effect on the date the judgment is obtained, and such amounts are then adjusted to reflect exchange rate variations through the effective payment date. The then prevailing exchange may not afford non-Brazilian investors with full compensation for any claim arising out of or related to our obligations under our shares or the ADSs.
Volatility and lack of liquidity in the Brazilian stock market may substantially limit investors’ ability to sell shares at the price and time desired.
Investment in securities traded in emerging markets such as Brazil often involves more risk than other world markets, and such investments are in general considered more speculative. The Brazilian stock market is substantially smaller, less liquid and more concentrated, and may be more volatile than the world’s major stock markets, such as those in the United States. On December 31, 2007, Bovespa’s market capitalization was approximately R$2.5 trillion (US$1.4 trillion), and the average daily trading volume for the year ended December 31, 2007 was R$4.9 billion (US$2.5 billion). For comparative purposes, the market capitalization of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on December 31, 2007 was US$27.1 trillion. The Brazilian capital market shows significant concentration. The top ten shares in terms of trading volume accounted for approximately 45.4% of all shares traded on the Bovespa in the year ended December 31, 2007. These characteristics of the Brazilian capital market may substantially limit the ability of investors to sell shares at the desired price and time, which may materially and adversely affect share prices.
Shares eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market value of our shares and ADSs.
Certain of our shareholders have the ability, subject to applicable Brazilian laws and regulations and applicable securities laws in the relevant jurisdictions, to sell our shares and ADSs. We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our shares or ADSs may have on the market price of our shares or ADSs. Future sales of substantial amounts of such shares or ADSs, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market prices of our shares or ADSs.
Holders of ADSs or preferred shares could be subject to Brazilian income tax on capital gains from sales of ADSs or preferred shares.
According to Article 26 of Law No. 10,833 of December 29, 2003, which came into force on February 1, 2004, capital gains realized on the disposition of assets located in Brazil by non-Brazilian residents, whether or not to other non-residents and whether made outside or within Brazil, are subject to taxation in Brazil at a rate of 15%, or 25% if realized by investors resident in a “tax haven” jurisdiction (i.e., a country that does not impose any income tax or that imposes tax at a maximum rate of less than 20%). Although we believe that the ADSs will not fall within the definition of assets located in Brazil for the purposes of Law No. 10,833, considering the general and unclear scope of Law 10,833 and the absence of any judicial guidance in respect thereof, we are unable to predict whether such interpretation will ultimately prevail in the Brazilian courts.
Gains realized by non-Brazilian holders on dispositions of preferred shares in Brazil or in transactions with Brazilian residents may be exempt from Brazilian income tax, taxed at a rate of 15% or 25%, depending on the circumstances. Gains realized through transactions on Brazilian stock exchanges, if carried out in accordance with Resolution 2,689, of January 26, 2000 (“Resolution CMN 2,689”) of the National Monetary Council, or Conselho Monetário Nacional (“CMN”), as described below in “Item 10.E. Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations—Taxation of Gains,” are exempt from the Brazilian income tax. Gains realized through transactions on Brazilian stock exchanges are subject to tax at a rate of 15% and also to withholding income tax at a rate of 0.005% (to offset the tax due on eventual capital gain). Gains realized through transactions with Brazilian residents or through transactions in Brazil not on the Brazilian stock exchanges are subject to tax at a rate of 15%, or 25% if realized by investors resident in a tax haven jurisdiction.
An exchange of ADSs for preferred shares risks loss of certain foreign currency remittance and Brazilian tax advantages.
The ADSs benefit from the certificate of foreign capital registration, which permits JP Morgan Chase Bank, as depositary, to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to preferred shares into foreign currency, and to remit the proceeds abroad. Holders of ADSs who exchange their ADSs for preferred shares will then be entitled to rely on the depositary’s certificate of foreign capital registration for five business days from the date of exchange. Thereafter, they will not be able to remit non-Brazilian currency abroad unless they obtain their own certificate of foreign capital registration, or unless they qualify under Resolution CMN 2,689, which entitles certain investors to buy and sell shares on Brazilian stock exchanges without obtaining separate certificates of registration.
If holders of ADSs do not qualify under Resolution CMN 2,689, they will generally be subject to less favorable tax treatment on distributions with respect to our preferred shares. There can be no assurance that the depositary’s certificate of registration or any certificate of foreign capital registration obtained by holders of ADSs will not be affected by future legislative or regulatory changes, or that additional Brazilian law restrictions applicable to their investment in the ADSs may not be imposed in the future.
If we raise additional capital through an offering of shares, investors’ holdings may be diluted.
We may need to raise additional funds through a capital increase, public or private debt financings, or a new share issuance in connection with our business. Any additional capital raised through the issuance of shares or securities convertible into shares conducted on stock exchanges or through public offerings may be made, according to Brazilian law, without preemptive rights for the holders of our shares, which may result in the dilution of your holdings in our share capital.
The market price of our shares or ADSs may be adversely affected if we, our controlling shareholders, directors or officers decide to issue or sell a substantial number of our shares, or if there is a perception of the possibility of such events.
Item 4. Information on the Company
A. History and Development of the Company
Basic Information
TIM Participações S.A. is a corporation (sociedade anônima) organized under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil and following the acquisition of TIM Celular, is the only nationwide wireless provider in Brazil.
Our headquarters are located at Avenida das Américas, 3434-7th floor, 22640-102 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and our telephone number is +55 (21) 4009-3742 and our fax number is +55 (21) 4009-3314.
Our agent for service of process in the United States is CT Corporation located at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10011.
Historical Background
Telecom Italia began operating in Brazil in 1998 and is today one of the leading wireless operators in the country. Telecom Italia considers its operations in Brazil extremely important. In the 2001 auctions held by Anatel for Bands D and E, Telecom Italia was the only company to be awarded licenses covering the entirety of the Brazilian territory, becoming as a result the sole operator to offer services on a nationwide level under the same brand. In 2002, Telecom Italia (then Telecom Italia Mobile) formed TIM Brasil, the holding company of Telecom Italia’s operating companies in Brazil.
Prior to the incorporation of Telebrás in 1972, there were more than 900 telecommunications companies operating throughout Brazil. Between 1972 and 1975, Telebrás, as a regulated monopoly, acquired almost all the telephone companies operating in Brazil. Beginning in 1995, the Brazilian federal government undertook a comprehensive reform of Brazil’s telecommunications regulatory system. In 1996 and 1997, the Brazilian government passed bills allowing for the privatization of Telebrás by auctioning of authorizations and concessions to privately-owned telecommunications service providers, while establishing Anatel as an independent regulatory agency.
The new regulatory framework established the structure of the Brazilian mobile telecommunications industry in place today. Anatel established ten wireless areas and the cellular operations of Telebrás and another state -owned company were spun off into new holding companies. When these holding companies were privatized their operating subsidiaries became the legacy monopoly providers in each of the ten wireless areas, servicing essentially all the mobile customers then in the area. To introduce competition, additional bandwidths were auctioned off. As a result, seven of such ten areas now have four mobile service providers, and the remaining areas have three such providers.
In May 1998, following the breakup of Telebrás, 12 new holding companies (the “New Holding Companies”) were formed. The restructuring was conducted by means of a procedure under Brazilian Corporations Law called cisão or split up. Virtually all of the assets and liabilities of Telebrás, including the shares held by Telebrás in the operating companies of the Telebrás System, were allocated to the New Holding Companies. The split-up of the Telebrás System into the New Holding Companies is referred to in this respect as the “Breakup” or the “Breakup of Telebrás.”
The New Holding Companies, together with their respective subsidiaries, consisted of:
| · | eight cellular telecommunications service providers, each operating in one of ten regions (each a “Cellular Region”); |
| · | three fixed-line telecommunications service providers, each providing local service and intraregional long distance service in one of three regions (each a “Fixed-Line Region”); and |
| · | Embratel Participações S.A. — Embratel (“Embratel”), which provides domestic long distance telecommunications service (including intraregional and interregional), as well as international telecommunications service throughout Brazil. |
Upon the Breakup of the Telebrás System, the Brazilian territory was initially divided by Anatel into ten separate cellular service regions (“Band A Regions”), each serviced by one of the New Holding Companies operating in the cellular telecommunications business. In addition, under the General Telecommunications Law, the Federal Government granted authorizations to new companies to provide cellular telecommunications service within a 25 MHz sub-band within the band of 800 to 850 MHz, which is referred to as Band B (“Band B”). Companies operating under the Band B are distributed throughout ten different regions, which generally overlap with the Band A Regions.
The rules set forth by Anatel prevented the controlling shareholders of Band A and Band B cellular service providers from holding more than one license, either in the form of an authorization or a concession, in a single PCS region. Accordingly, a company controlling a Band A or Band B cellular service provider that acquired control of a PCS authorization resulting in a geographical overlap of its licenses had two alternatives:
| · | it could have sold its controlling shares in either the Band A or the Band B cellular service provider within six months of purchasing the PCS authorization; or |
| · | it could have waived the right to operate under the PCS authorization in the areas where overlapping Band A and Band B services existed. |
As a result, some companies controlled by Telecom Italia waived their rights to provide PCS services in certain areas. Specifically, in 2001, TIM Brasil’s subsidiaries Portale Rio Norte and TIM Centro Sul waived their rights to operate under PCS authorizations in areas currently served by TIM Maxitel, TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações, because of geographical overlaps in the PCS authorizations awarded to Portale Rio Norte and TIM Centro Sul and the concessions held at that time by Maxitel and us.
On December 31, 2002, TIM Celular Centro Sul and Portale Rio Norte merged into Portale São Paulo S.A. On January 22, 2003, Portale São Paulo S.A. changed its name to TIM Celular.
TSU and TND, the two companies that merged to form TIM in 2004, were each one of the New Holding Companies. In the Breakup of Telebrás, TSU and TND were each allocated all of the share capital held by Telebrás in the operating subsidiaries of the Telebrás System that provided cellular telecommunications services in their respective regions. The New Holding Company providing fixed-line telecommunications service in the Southern Region, in which TIM Sul operates, is Brasil Telecom, S/A (“Brasil Telecom”) and the New Holding Company providing fixed-line telecommunications service in the Northeastern Region, in which TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações operates, is Tele Norte Leste Participações S.A. (together with its subsidiaries, “Telemar”).
In July 1998, the Federal Government sold substantially all its shares of the New Holding Companies, including its shares of TSU and TND, to private investors. Shares of TSU and TND previously owned by the Federal Government were sold to a consortium comprised of UGB Participações Ltda. (“UGB”) and Bitel, both companies organized according to the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil. In March 1999, UGB sold its ownership interest in TSU and TND to Bitel, effective on upon approval by Anatel and the Brazilian antitrust agency (“CADE”). In September 2003, TIM Brasil merged into Bitel, and its corporate name was changed to TIM Brasil. TIM Brasil is wholly owned, indirectly, by Telecom Italia, a corporation organized under the laws of Italy.
In December 2002, TIM Sul, TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Maxitel converted their respective concessions to operate under Cellular Mobile Service (“SMC”) regulations into authorizations to operate under PCS regulations. Each of SMC and PCS are subject to specific regulations that differ from each other. As part of this conversion process, in July 2003, TIM Sul, TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Maxitel also received from Anatel a national long distance and an international authorization, which were returned to Anatel in January 2005.
In July 2003, TSU subsidiaries Telesc Celular and CTMR Celular merged into Telepar Celular, which had its name changed to TIM Sul. In January 2004, TND’s subsidiaries Telpa Celular , Telern Celular, Teleceará Telular, Telepisa Celular and Telasa Celular merged into Telpe Celular, which had its name changed to TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações.
In August 2004, TND merged with and into TSU and the latter was renamed TIM Participações (“TIM”), in order to integrate the two companies’ operations, reduce administrative costs, improve access to capital and achieve greater market liquidity. TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações, formerly an operating subsidiary of TND, became an operating subsidiary of TIM, along with TIM Sul. For accounting purposes, the merger was treated as if it had occurred on January 1, 2004.
On May 30, 2005, we acquired all outstanding minority interests in our subsidiaries TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações.
On March 16, 2006, we acquired all of the share capital of TIM Celular, a wholly-owned subsidiary of our controlling shareholder, TIM Brasil, in order to integrate the two companies’ operations, seeking to optimize the group’s financial structure and management, creating one of the largest Brazilian wireless companies in terms of market capitalization presenting an attractive investment for shareholders. As a result, TIM Celular and its operating subsidiary TIM Maxitel became our subsidiaries. The acquisition became effective following approval in the respective Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meetings of our shareholders and the shareholders of TIM Celular, respectively, on March 16, 2006.
On June 30, 2006, TIM Celular, Maxitel, TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Sul approved the merger of TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações into Maxitel and of TIM Sul into TIM Celular. On the same date, Maxitel’s name changed to TIM Nordeste.
Our controlling shareholder, TIM Brasil, is a wholly-owned Brazilian subsidiary of TIM International N.V., which in turn is a wholly-owned Dutch subsidiary of Telecom Italia. Telecom Italia operates in Europe, South American and the Mediterranean Basin. On December 31, 2007, the Telecom Italia Group was one of the world’s largest wireline operators, with approximately 22.1 million fixed network connections and 36.3 million domestic mobile telephone lines in Italy. The Group has significantly expanded into broadband in recent years and for the year ended on December 31, 2007, it recorded 11.1 million broadband accesses, of which 7.6 million in Italy and 3.5 million elsewhere in Europe (France, Germany and The Netherlands).
On December 31, 2007, Telecom Italia Group operated 31.3 million mobile telephone lines in Brazil.
Recent Developments
Acquisition of Olimpia S.p.A.
On April 28, 2007, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A, Intesa San Paolo S.p.A, Mediobanca S.p.A., Sintonia S.p.A and Telefónica S.A. entered into an agreement to acquire the entire share capital of Olimpia S.p.A., a company which, at the time, held approximately 18% of the voting capital of Telecom Itália S.p.A., our indirect parent company. This acquisition was made through Telco S.p.A. (“Telco”). With the conclusion of the transaction, and the subsequent merger of Olimpia S.p.A. with and into Telco (December 2007), Telco came to hold 23.6% of the voting capital of Telecom Italia S.p.A., the indirect parent company of TIM Participações. Finally, on March 20, 2008, Telco brought its investment in Telecom Italia S.p.A. to 24.5% of its voting capital.
Interests in Telco are held by the Generali group (28.1%), Intesa San Paolo S.p.A. (10.6%), Mediobanca S.p.A. (10.6%), Sintonia S.A. (8.4%) and Telefónica S.A. (42.3%).
In accordance with Telco Shareholders’ Agreement, the Investors have agreed that Telecom Italia group and Telefónica group will be managed autonomously and independently. In particular, the directors designated by Telefónica in Telco and Telecom Italia shall be directed by Telefónica to neither participate nor vote at the Board of Directors’ meetings at which resolutions will be discussed and proposed relating to the policies, management and operations of companies directly or indirectly controlled by Telecom Italia providing services in Brazil and other countries where regulatory and legal restrictions or limitations for the exercise of voting rights by Telefónica are in force.
Agreements between the TIM operators controlled by TIM Participações and the Telefónica´s operators in Brazil, in force as of December 31, 2007, refer solely to services related to co-carrier relationships, covering such subjects as interconnection, roaming, site sharing, co-billing procedures, and CSP (carrier access codes) arrangements, and were entered into at arm’s length prices and terms, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. See “3.D. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks relating to our Business — The shareholding structure of our parent company, Telecom Italia S.p.A, has undergone relevant changes.”
Anatel, approved the acquisition of Olimpia by Telco, but imposed certain restrictions to guarantee the total segregation of the business and operations of the two groups, Telefónica and TIM, in Brazil (Act number 68.276/2007, published in the Brazilian Federal Gazette (DOU) on November 5, 2007). In compliance with the requirements of that Act, on November 22, 2007, TIM Brasil, TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste submitted to Anatel the corporate instruments, including those received from Telco, required to implement the measures and procedures imposed by the Anatel Act and that assure the segregation of Telecom Italia’s activities in Brazil from any potential influence of Telefónica. Therefore, TIM continues to operate in the Brazilian market independently and autonomously just as before Telco’s acquisition of Olimpia.
Additionally, also as required by the Anatel Act, on May 2, 2008, TIM Brasil, TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste submitted to Anatel a list of additional measures aimed to assure continued total segregation between TIM´s Brazilian mobile operators and Vivo, a Brazilian mobile operator in which Telefónica holds a large equity stake. These measures must be approved by Anatel and, following such approval, will need to be implemented within an additonal six-month period.
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditure priorities in 2007 related primarily to the expansion of the capacity and quality of our GSM network, as well as the development of information technology systems. Capital expenditures, including accounts payable, during 2005 pro forma, 2006 and 2007 were R$2,555.5 million, R$1,587.8 million and R$1,932.9 million, respectively.
The following table shows our capital expenditures in each individual category for each of the three years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and 2005 pro forma:
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Network | | R$ | 1,106.9 | | | R$ | 819.0 | | | R$ | 452.9 | | | R$ | 1,579.7 | |
Information technology | | | 506.2 | | | | 412.2 | | | | 148.0 | | | | 526.4 | |
Handsets provided to corporate customers (comodato) | | | 234.6 | | | | 314.2 | | | | 67.1 | | | | 309.3 | |
Others | | | 85.2 | | | | 42.4 | | | | 16.5 | | | | 140.1 | |
Total capital expenditures | | R$ | 1,932.9 | | | R$ | 1,587.8 | | | R$ | 684.5 | | | R$ | 2,555.5 | |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2005. |
Our Board of Directors has approved our budget for capital expenditures from 2008 to 2010 in the total amount of R$7.2 billion for expenditures relating to our subsidiaries TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste. Most of the capital expenditures we budgeted for 2008 to 2010 relate to the expansion of the capacity and quality of our 3G technology and development of technology infrastructure.
Our capital expenditures are based on commercial, technical and economic factors such as service rates, service demand, price and availability of equipment. There is no assurance that our estimates of such commercial, technical and economic factors will prove to be correct, or that we will actually spend our planned capital expenditures in the period from 2008 to 2010.
B. Business Overview
Market Characteristics
The Brazilian mobile telecommunications market has in recent years been characterized by the expansion of the number of subscribers, investment in network infrastructure and subsidies to attract and retain customers. These expenditures have resulted in a significant increase in mobile penetration, revenue generation and competition for customers. As of December 31, 2007, there were approximately 121 million mobile lines, representing 64% of the population. Although the industry has benefited from the increased purchasing power of Brazil’s less affluent population, its focus remains on the more affluent cities clustered in the south and southeast of the country.
As is the case throughout most of Latin America, the Brazilian mobile telecommunications market is characterized by a large number of prepaid customers. According to Anatel, at the end of 2006 and 2007, in Brazil approximately 80% and 81%, respectively, of mobile lines were prepaid and 20% and 19%, respectively, were postpaid notwithstanding a 21,1 million increase in the number of subscribers during 2007. The average monthly revenue per mobile customer in Brazil for 2007 was approximately R$29.6.
Our Business
We primarily use the global system for mobile communications technology, or GSM, to provide mobile telecommunications services throughout Brazil. In four of our areas we still offer time-division multiple access technology, or TDMA, in addition to GSM. Since the introduction of GSM technology in the fourth quarter of 2002, the percentage of our customers using GSM technology has rapidly increased, reaching approximately 96.9% as of December 31, 2007. In those areas where we still offer TDMA technology, we will continue to try to migrate our remaining TDMA customers to GSM. We offer value-added services, including short message services or text messaging, multimedia messaging services, push-mail, Blackberry service (the first provider in Brazil to do so), video call, turbo mail, WAP downloads, web browsing, business data solutions, songs, games, TV access, voice mail, conference calling, chats and other content and services. We provide interconnection services to fixed line and mobile service providers as well.
Regional Overview
We cover an area containing over 162 million of Brazil’s 190 million inhabitants. Our mobile operating subsidiaries have approximately 31.3 million customers located in each of the Brazilian states and in the Federal District. On December 31, 2007, our combined penetration reached approximately 64% and our combined market share totaled approximately 25.8%. The map below shows an overview of the Brazilian mobile telecommunications market based on the wireless areas established by Anatel.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/20-F/0000950103-08-001506/p30.jpg)
Through our subsidiaries, we provide mobile telecommunications services using digital technologies to the ten wireless areas of Brazil shown in the above map, as set forth below.
Operating Subsidiary | Customers (As of December 31, 2007) (in thousands) | Areas Covered | Technology |
TIM Nordeste | 11,021.7 | Areas 4, 9 and 10 shown above. Includes the states of Alagoas, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Bahia, Minas Gerais and Sergipe. | GSM and TDMA |
TIM Celular | 20,232.0 | Areas 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 shown above. Includes the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Espirito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, Federal District, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. | GSM and TDMA |
The following table shows combined information regarding the Brazilian mobile telecommunications market and our customer base, coverage and related matters, at the dates indicated. Except as otherwise indicated, the amounts presented in the following table are our estimates.
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | (in millions, except percentages) | |
Brazilian population (2) | | | 190 | | | | 188 | | | | 185 | |
Total penetration(3)(4) | | | 64 | % | | | 53 | % | | | 47 | % |
Brazilian subscribers | | | 121.0 | | | | 99.9 | | | | 86.2 | |
National percentage subscriber growth | | | 21.1 | % | | | 15.9 | % | | | 31.4 | % |
Population we cover(2) | | | 162 | | | | 141 | | | | 135 | |
Percentage of urban population we cover(5) | | | 93 | % | | | 92 | % | | | 91 | % |
Total number of our subscribers | | | 31.3 | | | | 25.4 | | | | 20.2 | |
Our percentage growth in subscribers | | | 23.0 | % | | | 26.0 | % | | | 48.5 | % |
Our percentage of postpaid customers | | | 21.7 | % | | | 21.3 | % | | | 20.1 | % |
Our ARPU(6) | | | R$34.35 | | | | R$33.08 | | | | R$34.16 | |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred in 2005. |
(2) | Information from IBGE, based upon Censo Demográfico 2000. The large increase as of December 31, 2006 represents an adjustment made by IBGE. |
(3) | Percentage of the total population of Brazil using mobile services, equating one mobile line to one subscriber. |
(4) | Based on information published by Anatel and IBGE. |
(5) | Number of people able to access our mobile network, based on Anatel’s coverage criteria. |
(6) | Average monthly revenue earned per TIM subscriber. |
Mobile Service Rates and Plans
In Brazil, as in most of Latin America, mobile telecommunications service is offered on a “calling party pays” basis, under which the customer generally pays only for outgoing calls. Additional charges apply when a customer receives or places calls while outside of the customer’s “registration area”, which are the areas into which we divide our coverage areas.
Under our current authorizations, we are allowed to set prices for our service plans, provided that such amounts do not exceed a specified inflation adjusted cap. Anatel must ratify our basic and other service plans, but its focus is on compliance with the relevant regulatory rules rather than the prices charged. See “—Regulation of the Brazilian Telecommunications Industry—Rate Regulation.” We charge different rates for our services, which vary according to the customer’s service plan. Per minute prices decrease as customer commit to purchasing more minutes per month. Prices can also vary depending on the time of the day, the type of call (for fixed lines, for other operators or on net calls – inside TIM network) or the location of the parties on a call.
Anatel regulations require mobile telecommunications providers to offer service to all individuals regardless of income level. We recommend service plans that are suitable to each potential customer’s needs and credit history, such as our prepaid service plans described below. If a customer fails to make timely payment, services can be interrupted. See “—Billing and Collection.”
We offer mobile services under a variety of rate plans to meet the needs of different customer segments, including our corporate customers. The rate plans are either “postpaid,” where the customer is billed monthly for the previous month, or prepaid, where the customer pays in advance for a specified volume of use over a specified period.
Our postpaid plans include the following charges:
| • | monthly subscription charges, which usually include a number of minutes of use that are included in the monthly service charge; |
| • | usage charges, for usage in excess of the specified number of minutes included in the monthly subscription charge; and |
| • | additional charges, including charges for value-added services and information. |
Certain plans include the cost of national roaming and long distance in the price per minute so that all calls within Brazil cost the same amount per minute. Some postpaid plans are designed for high and moderate usage subscribers, who are typically willing to pay higher monthly fees in exchange for minutes included in the monthly service charge and lower per minute usage charges under a single contract while other plans are designed to satisfy the more limited needs of low-usage postpaid subscribers. We also offer customized services to our corporate clients which may include local call rates between employees wherever located in Brazil.
We also offer several prepaid plans, none of which include monthly charges. Prepaid customers can purchase a prepaid credits that provides a specific amount of usage time and may receive additional services such as voicemail and caller identification. During 2007, the Company carried out promotions focused on services, offering reward plans based on usage and SIM card offer. In 2007 we expanded our prepaid recharge stations by 3%. There are already over 262,000 recharges stations nationwide, offering two recharge options: physical (cards) and electronic (online and PIN System). We have agreements with large national retail stores chains, in addition to partnerships with regional retail stores chains, to offer online recharge. Customers with debit cards that use Banco 24Horas (ATMs), as well as customers using Visa, MasterCard or Diners credit cards are already able to recharge their prepaid phones straight from their mobile handsets.
In 2006 we launched the service TIM Casa, based on the “home zone” concept. The service initially valid for calls made from the Registration Area, will enable customers to register one area as their “home” and make local calls to any fixed line number for a monthly fee that is lower than the subscription of a fixed-line telephone. As a result, customers can always use a single number – their mobile number for example – paying a lower rate. TIM Casa is an important state of the art convergent product launched by us and we expect it to give us an important competitive advantage in the market, once fully approved by the regulator and implemented. Another example of an exclusive plan offered by us is TIM Família, launched in the last quarter of the year of 2006. It is the only service that is free of charge (“Tarifa Zero”) for calls between people who always need to be in touch, either they are prepaid or postpaid customers. In addition, it represents an evolution of TIM Brasil’s plans, which are available across the entire country and are the first ones to include value-added services (VAS).
Despite the highly competitive environment, TIM has maintained its focus on the mobile market’s value segment, developing communication solutions that encourage clients to use our data and voice services more often. “TIM Web” and “TIM Mais Completo”, were an example of the evolution in our marketing activities, but were launched in early July. “TIM Web” is a postpaid plan for internet access from laptops or desktops without the need of a provider, while “TIM Mais Completo” combines mobile and residential telephony with internet access. The two products are part of TIM’s strategy of offering increasingly convergent services and thus, in addition to competitive prices, mobility and internet portability, without the need for an access provider.
In October 2007, we launched “TIM Casa Flex”, a step ahead of “TIM Casa” (launched in 2006), a convergent voice solution that combines convenience and competitive prices for fixed local calls using the mobile within the Home Zone. Additionally, “TIM Casa Flex” foregoes the need for a mobile voice plan reducing the entry-barrier: R$9.90 for 50 minutes of fixed to fixed local calls for prepaid and R$29.90 for 200 minutes of fixed local calls for postpaid.
In order to address an under penetrated market and explore new revenue opportunities, the Company developed “Plano 1” - a new business model based on micro-recharge offers (cards of R$1, R$3 or R$5) with an appealing tariff for calls for three specific TIM or fixed numbers (R$0.20 per minute versus average R$1.5 per minute to other numbers). “Plano 1”´s main goal is to increase mobile penetration in low-income users while preserving the profitability of the business.
Sources of Revenue
Our total gross revenue by category of activity for each of the last three years are set forth below.
| | Year ended December 31, |
Category of Activity | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 as adjusted | | | 2005 (1) pro forma as adjusted |
| (in million of reais) |
Gross mobile telephone services | | | 15,376.6 | | | | 11,820.3 | | | | 3,169.8 | | | 8,962.6 |
Gross sales of handsets and accessories | | | 1,838.1 | | | | 2,057.3 | | | | 733.5 | | | 2,270.1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 17,214.7 | | | | 13,877.6 | | | | 3,903.3 | | | 11,232.7 |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2005. |
Revenue from mobile telephone services includes revenue from:
| · | monthly subscription charges; |
| · | network usage charges for local mobile calls; |
| · | interconnection charges; |
| · | national and international long distance calls; and |
| · | value-added services, including charges for short message services or text messaging, multimedia messaging services, push-mail, Blackberry service, video call, turbo mail, WAP downloads, web browsing, business data solutions, songs, games, TV access, voicemail, conference calling, chats and other content and services. |
We also earn revenues from sales of mobile handsets and accessories.
Monthly Subscription Charges
We receive a monthly subscription fee under our postpaid mobile plans which varies based on the usage limits under the plan.
Network Usage Charges
We divide our coverage areas into certain areas defined as “home registration areas”. Calls within the same home registration area are considered local calls. Each of our customers is registered as a user of one of our home registration areas.
As determined by Anatel, our usage rate categories for local mobile services on a prepaid or postpaid basis are as follows:
| · | VC1. The VC1 rate is our base rate per minute and applies to mobile / fixed calls made by a customer located in the customer’s home registration area to a person registered in the same home registration area. |
| · | VC. The VC rate is our base rate per minute and applies to mobile / mobile calls made by a customer located in the customer’s home registration area to a person registered in the same home registration area. |
| · | AD. AD is a per-call surcharge applicable to all outgoing calls or incoming calls made or received by a customer while outside such customer’s home registration area. |
| · | VUM-M. VU-M is the fee another telecommunications service provider pays us for the use of our network by such provider’s customers, in this case for local calls. (See “—Interconnection Charges.”). |
As described above under “—Mobile Service Rates and Plans”, we are allowed to set the rates we charge within these rate categories. Usage charges are for minutes in excess of those included as part of the monthly subscription charge under the relevant postpaid plan.
Roaming Fees
We receive revenue pursuant to roaming agreements we have entered into with other mobile telecommunications service providers. When a call is made from within our coverage area by a client of another mobile service provider, that service provider is charged a roaming fee for the service utilized, be it voice, text messaging or GPRS, at our applicable rates. Similarly, when one of our clients makes a mobile call when that customer is outside of our coverage area using the network of another service provider, we must pay the charges associated with that call to the mobile service provider in whose coverage area the call originates at the applicable rate of such mobile service provider.
Automatic national roaming permits our customers to use their mobile telephones on the networks of other mobile service providers while traveling or “roaming” in the limited areas of Brazil that are outside of our network, complementing our current mobile coverage. Similarly, we provide mobile telecommunications service to customers of other mobile service providers when those customers place or receive calls while in our network. Mobile service providers party to roaming agreements must provide service to roaming customers on the same basis that such providers provide service to their own clients. All such providers carry out a monthly reconciliation of roaming charges. Our roaming agreements have a one-year term and automatically renew for additional one-year terms.
Interconnection Charges
Interconnection charges represent a significant part of our revenues. We receive interconnection revenues in connection with any call originating from another service provider’s network, mobile or fixed line, which is received by any mobile customer, of ours or of another provider’s, while using our network.. We charge the service provider from whose network the call originates an interconnection fee for every minute our network is used in connection with the call. The interconnection fees we charge other service providers became freely negotiable in 2005.
We have entered into interconnection agreements with all the telecommunications service providers operating in Brazil, which include provisions specifying the number of interconnection points, the method by which signals must be received and transmitted, and the costs and fees for interconnection services. Nevertheless, even in the absence of approval by Anatel, the parties to these interconnection agreements are obligated to offer interconnection services to each other. See “—Regulation of the Brazilian Telecommunications Industry—Interconnection Regulation”. The interconnection fees we were permitted to charge other mobile telecommunications providers, and which other mobile telecommunications providers charge us, has in the past frequently been adjusted by Anatel, increasing incrementally from R$0.2552 per minute, net of taxes, on October 19, 2000, up to R$0.42850 per minute, net of taxes, as of May 1, 2006.
In July 2006, Anatel issued new regulation regarding mobile interconnection charges. Under such new regulation, the interconnection fee (VU-M) remains being freely negotiated but in April, 2010 would be heavier regulated in the case of operators with significant market power by using the FAC (Full Allocated Costs) model. See “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks relating to the Brazilian Telecommunications Industries”.
In 2006, two agreements relating to interconnection fees were entered into: (i) among the fixed telephony incumbents (with the exception of Embratel) and the mobile service providers, pursuant to which our interconnection fee paid by other operators when their users access our network to communicate with our users was increased by 4.5%, for calls completed by a number registered within that customer’s home registration area (VC-1 calls) and (ii) among the fixed telephony incumbents (with the exception of Embratel) and the mobile service providers relating to the interconnection fees paid by the fixed telephony incumbents to the mobile service operators in the case of long distance calls, that is VC-2 and VC-3 calls, whereby such fees were increased by 7.99%.
On March 27, 2006, Anatel approved an increase of 7.99% in VC-2 and VC-3 (national long distance fixed to mobile calls) to the local incumbent fixed operators.Concurrently, Anatel approved provisory contracts entered into among the incumbents and the mobile operators providing for an increase of 4.5% to the VU-M (interconnection fee due to mobile operators). An arbitration procedure before Anatel more recently confirmed such VU-M increase.
In 2007, an additional agreement relating to interconnection fees entered into among the fixed telephony incumbents (with the exception of Embratel) and the mobile service providers established an average VU-M increase of 2%. The same parties also executed an additional agreement, which was homologated by Anatel, contemplating a 68.5% increase in the VU-M fee over the VC-1 adjustment for 2008. Accordingly, if in 2008 the incumbent fixed operators receive an adjustment of 10% in the VC-1, the mobile will receive 6.85% of readjustment over the VU-M value.
Long Distance
Telecommunications customers in Brazil are able to select long distance carriers on a per-call basis under the Carrier Selection, or the CSP program, introduced in July 2003, by punching in a two-digit code prior to dialing long distance. This regulation also increased the size of home registration areas, calls within which are local calls and, as a result, reduced the number of home registration areas.
We offer long distance services to our customers throughout Brazil through our wholly-owned subsidiary TIM Celular. This service allows our mobile customers the option of continuing to use our service for long distance calls, which we believe strengthens our relationship with and the loyalty of our customers, and enhances the perception of our brand as a comprehensive mobile telecommunications service. Mobile customers of other service providers can also choose to use our long distance service.
Under this structure, a customer is charged the VC1 or VC rates directly by us only for calls made by and completed to a number registered within that customer’s home registration area. Long distance calls, however, are charged to a customer by the chosen long distance carrier. Other long distance carriers, in turn, pay us a VU-M fee for any use of our network for a long distance call.
As determined by Anatel, our long distance usage rate categories are as follows:
| · | VC2. The VC2 rate applies to calls placed by a customer located in one of our home registration areas selecting us as the long distance carrier, on a per-call basis, to place a call to a person registered in another home registration area within the same wireless area recognized by Anatel; |
| · | VC3. The VC3 rate applies to calls placed by a customer located in one of our home registration areas selecting us as the long distance carrier, on a per-call basis, to place a call to a person registered outside the same wireless area recognized by Anatel; and |
| · | VU-M. VU-M is the fee another telecommunications service provider pays us for the use of our network by such provider’s customers, in this case for long distance calls. (See “—Interconnection Charges.”) |
Value-Added Services
We offer, directly or through agreements entered into with third parties, value-added services, including short message services or text messaging, multimedia messaging services, push-mail, video call, turbo mail, WAP downloads, web browsing, business data solutions, songs, games, TV access, voicemail, conference calling, chats and other content to our postpaid and prepaid customers. It’s important to mention that we were the first mobile service provider in Brazil to offer subscriptions for Blackberry service. In 2006, we segmented our value added users by profile, which enabled us to be more accurate when developing and offering products and services. In addition, we also launched our new WAP portal, increasing even more the contents providers. Under various postpaid mobile plans some value-added services are included in the monthly subscription charge at a specified level of usage.
GSM the technology used by a substantial majority of our customers, is recognized as a superior platform for these services compared to other existing mobile technology, which we believe positions us well to benefit from the increased popularity of these services in Brazil. Value-added services represented 7.9% of our service revenues in 2007, and for 2006 represented 7.5% of our service revenues. However, we experienced a significant growth in usage of these services in 2007, as illustrated by revenue growth from value-added services of 37.3% compared to 2006. We work with Telecom Italia, which makes substantial investment in developing new products, new technology and platforms, to evaluate the value-added services most prized by customers and to reduce implementation problems.
Short Message Services (SMS) or Text Messaging. Since December 2001, through agreements with other providers, we have offered two-way short (or text) message services, allowing our subscribers to send and receive short messages to and from users of networks of other carriers. In 2007, SMS represented approximately 69.7% of the revenue we derived from value-added services. Notwithstanding the expectation that other value-added services will begin to generate more revenue, we expect the proportionate contribution of SMS to remain at similar levels, since we believe SMS usage can continue to increase based on the lower usage rates in Brazil compared to Europe and the United States.
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). As an enhanced version of SMS, MMS allows customers the capability to send, in a single message, multiple color images, sounds and different size text to another mobile phone or e-mail account.
Downloads. We offer personalized ring tones, true tones, screen savers, business data solutions, games and video clips for downloading.
Web browsing. Wireless application protocol, or WAP is a global standard designed to make Internet services available to mobile telephone users. WAP allows a micro “browser” in a mobile phone to link into a gateway service in our network enabling users to browse through different pages of information on the Internet. We currently offer e-mail, data and information services and electronic commerce transactions, to our prepaid and postpaid users.
Data transmission. We also offer general packet radio services (GPRS) to our postpaid and prepaid subscribers through our GSM network. GPRS is a non-voice value-added service that allows information to be sent and received across a mobile network. GPRS radio resources are used only when users are actually sending or receiving data. Rather than dedicating a radio channel to a mobile data user for a fixed period of time, the available radio resource can be concurrently shared between several users. As a result, large numbers of GPRS users can share the same bandwidth and be served from a single cell. The number of users supported depends on the application being used and how much data is being transferred. Because of the spectrum efficiency of GPRS, there is less need to build in idle capacity that is only used during peak hours. GPRS therefore allows us to maximize the use of our network resources. Our network allows customers with enabled devices to use EDGE technology, which is an evolution of GPRS allowing higher data transmission and a better using experience.
Sales of Mobile handsets
We offer a diverse portfolio of approximately 120 handset models from several handset manufacturers, including Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony and Ericsson, for sale through our dealer network, which includes our own stores, exclusive franchises, authorized dealers and department stores. We are focused on offering an array of handsets with enhanced functionality for value-added services, including handsets that make GPRS, EDGE, MMS, MP3, tri-band, infra-red, Bluetooth, browsers, internet, e-mail and Java available, while reducing reliance on the subsidies for handsets that have characterized the Brazilian market. Our mobile handsets can be used in conjunction with either our prepaid or postpaid service plans. At present, we believe that supplies of mobile handsets are sufficient to satisfy demand. See “—Our Network.”
Co-Billing Services
Co-billing occurs when we bill our customers on behalf of another long distance service provider for services rendered to our customer by that carrier. Beginning July 2003, we started providing co-billing services to other telecommunication service providers operating in Brazil. The rates of such services are being negotiated under the supervision of Anatel.
Sales and Marketing
We commenced marketing our mobile telecommunications services under the brand “TIM” in March 1999. We divide our market into three main categories: large business customers (businesses with four or more mobile lines), medium business customers (businesses with fewer than four mobile lines), and individual customers. These categories are divided further according to level of usage, distinguishing, for example, high-volume users from other categories of usage. We take these categories into account when developing service plans, sales strategies, customer service strategies and new products, as well as for billing and collection purposes. We also use market research reports and focus group studies to analyze our customer base. We refer to this analytical approach to our customer base as “customer segmentation.” Our strategy has been focused on the acquisition and retention of highly valued clients in all segments and on the pursuit of operating efficiency in supporting the expansion of or client base. We currently intend to reduce our level of promotions and subsidies for handsets and certain prepaid services, and to focus our sales and marketing efforts on postpaid customers, high quality prepaid customers and service plans. In addition, although there can be no assurance, if we can achieve and maintain a clear lead in customer satisfaction we believe we will be well placed to benefit if number portability is introduced in Brazil as expected within the next few years.
As of December 31, 2007, our services were marketed through the largest distribution network in Brazil with over 8,700 points of sale, of which approximately 104 were our own stores. In addition, we had over 262,000 recharging points for prepaid service. We market our services through a network of stores, including general retail stores that sell our mobile telecommunications services and related goods on a non-exclusive basis, and dedicated outlets that sell our services and goods exclusively. We, however, intend to focus on sales through our exclusive stores and franchises as opposed to general retail stores where subsidies often generate losses. Sales of our products and services are offered by our sales personnel and also by authorized dealers, who are not our employees. We select our authorized dealers based on a number of factors including the suitability of the premises in which our services and ancillary merchandise will be offered. Our personnel and authorized dealers receive ongoing training and marketing support.
Our Network
Our wireless networks use only digital technologies, primarily GSM, and cover approximately 93% of the urban Brazilian population based to Anatel’s coverage criteria. In four areas, in addition to GSM we offer TDMA, a technology that divides radio spectrum into assigned time slots to transmit signals. As of December 31, 2007, approximately 96.9% of our subscribers used GSM technology and we expect our remaining TDMA customers to migrate to GSM within the next few years. Because GSM is widely used in Europe and North America, it provides faster availability of new products and services and a wider variety of suppliers than TDMA technology. In addition, we believe GSM is a better gateway to third generation, or more advanced, wireless technologies and a better platform for value-added services.
With our acquisition of TIM Celular, we hold authorizations from Anatel to provide our mobile services in each of the ten wireless areas of Brazil over various frequency spectrums. We are also monitoring the status of the possible auction of new bandwidth authorizations by Anatel. We view the purchase of any frequency made available by Anatel for the provision of mobile services as a priority since having available frequency is at the core of our business.
Our wireless network principally includes transport and computer equipment, as well as exchange and transmission equipment consisting primarily of switches and 9,522 radio base stations in our GSM network and 2,321 radio base stations in our TDMA network as of December 31, 2007. The network is connected primarily by a fiber-optic transmission system leased mainly from Telemar, Embratel, Brasil Telecom and Telefônica. Nokia, Ericsson and Siemens are our main suppliers of GSM network equipment.
In light of the widespread geographic coverage we have already achieved, we are focusing the further expansion and improvement of our GSM network on areas where it is important to increase the quality of our coverage, such as in tunnels, along major roadways, inside buildings in metropolitan areas and in frequented areas, such as tourist destinations, which typically experience high mobile use. We also will continue to ensure our network has the capacity to absorb high call volume where relevant.
Site-Sharing Agreements
With the objective of avoiding unnecessary duplication of networks and infrastructures, Anatel permits telecommunications service providers to use other providers’ networks as secondary support in providing telecommunications services. Therefore, we have allowed other telecommunications service providers to use our infrastructure, and we have used others’ infrastructure, pursuant to site-sharing agreements we have entered into with such providers.
Customer Service
The Company believes that its success basically depends on the importance it gives to its customers. The quest for satisfaction permeates the entire organization and is an integral part of the performance evaluation of its employees. To achieve this goal, the Company uses a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system as its main tool. TIM’s customers can contact the Company through several channels. The most important ones are the Customer Relationship Center (CRC) and the Ombudsman. More than relationship centers, these areas are sources of inspiration for defining priorities in the Company: it is through them that operators receive the feedback necessary to address possible strategic issues or expand services that are well-evaluated. The Company owns four call centers based in São Paulo, Curitiba, Recife and Rio de Janeiro and 5 outsourced call centers, which are responsible for the customer assistance in case of the increase on the volume of incoming calls.
Moreover, the Company has implanted the Test Plant, for testing network innovations to minimize impacts during services rended to customers, and the Pre-Routing, a system that integrates and optimizes all Call Centers – CRC. We believe that achieving and maintaining a clear lead in customer satisfaction is important to maintain our high quality customer base and our position in the Brazilian mobile telecommunication industry and to position us to benefit whenever number portability is introduced in Brazil.
Billing and Collection
Our company-wide, integrated billing and collection systems are provided by a third-party vendor. These systems have four main functions:
| · | customer information management; |
| · | accounts receivable management; and |
These billing systems give us significant flexibility in developing service plans and billing options. Certain aspects of billing mobile customers in Brazil are regulated by Anatel. Currently, if a customer’s payment is more than 15 days overdue, we usually suspend the customer’s ability to make calls, and if the payment is 45 days overdue, we are able to suspend the customer’s ability to receive incoming calls. After 90 days from the customer’s payment due date, we generally discontinue service entirely, although discontinuation of service is sometimes delayed until 120 days after the due date for majority customers.
Pursuant to Anatel regulations, we and other telephone service providers periodically reconcile the interconnection and roaming charges owed among them and settle on a net basis. See “—Sources of Revenue—Interconnection Charges” and “—Sources of Revenue—Roaming Fees.” Currently, the roaming reconciliation process is largely managed by industry sponsored groups, including Verisign Clearing House for domestic roaming TDMA and MACH for domestic and international GSM, while the interconnection reconciliation process is primarily managed directly by us.
Fraud Detection and Prevention
“Subscription fraud,” which consists of using identification documents of another individual to obtain mobile services, and “cloning fraud,” which consists of duplicating the mobile signal of a mobile subscriber and thereby allowing the perpetrator to make calls using the subscriber’s signal, are the two principal types of fraud relating to mobile service. Since a substantial majority of our customers use GSM, an entirely digital technology, we experience a low level of “cloning fraud” which is fairly common in parts of Brazil for users of TDMA, CDMA and other technologies that use analog technology either entirely or in connection with some roaming services.
We have implemented cloning fraud-prevention measures, including restrictions on the level of international calls, and cloning fraud-detection measures, including review of call records to detect abnormal usage patterns, in an effort to detect fraud as quickly as possible and thereby reduce the associated costs. We use a nationwide fraud detection system licensed from Hewlett Packard. This system analyzes various aspects of mobile service usage including simultaneous usage by a single customer, call frequency and unusually high usage patterns.
As part of our commitment to excellent customer service, in the limited instances in which our customers experience cloning fraud, the customer’s number, mobile telephone, or both, are changed free of charge. If subscription fraud has occurred, both the applicable number and the mobile telephone line are terminated. If part of a fraudulent call is carried by the network of another service provider, we are generally obligated to pay that service provider the applicable interconnection fee, regardless of whether we ever collect the receivable associated with the call.
Competition
Mobile Competitors
In addition to TIM, there are two other major participants in the Brazilian mobile market, Vivo and Claro, and three significant but smaller participants, Oi, the Telemig Group and Brasil Telecom Celular.
TIM is the brand name under which we market our mobile telecommunications services. We offer GSM, including EDGE, and TDMA technology. Currently, our subsidiaries, hold mobile licenses for each of the ten wireless areas of Brazil recognized by Anatel, making us the only mobile operator in Brazil offering nationwide coverage. In two of our ten areas we are the Telebrás legacy provider. Our network covers approximately 93% of the country’s population based on Anatel’s coverage criteria.
We have two major competitors in Brazil:
| · | Vivo, which is jointly controlled by Portugal Telecom and Spain’s Telefónica Móviles, until 2007 was operating in eight wireless areas of Brazil recognized by Anatel, using TDMA and CDMA, and in 2007 started to use GSM technology in 800 MHz (Vivo was not operating in areas 4 and 10, but in October 2007 won this two areas in the auction 001/2007- Anatel); and |
| · | Claro, which is controlled by America Móvil, operates in nine wireless areas of Brazil recognized by Anatel, using GSM and TDMA technology (Claro does not operate in area 8, but in October 2007 won this area in the auction 001/2007- Anatel). |
In addition, we also compete with “Oi” (the new Telemar brand), in areas 3 ,4, 8, 9 and 10 (Oi was not operating in areas 1 and 2, but in October 2007 won this two areas in the auction 001/2007- Anatel) ; the Telemig Group in areas 4 and 8 and Brasil Telecom Celular in areas 5, 6 and 7.
The Brazilian mobile telecommunications industry is highly competitive. One or more of our competitors may have greater financial or technical resources than us or more regional experience. Any adverse effects on our results and market share from competitive pressures will depend on a variety of factors that cannot be assessed with precision and that are beyond our control. Among such factors are our competitors’ size, experience, business strategies and capabilities, the prevailing market conditions and the applicable regulations.
Other Competition
We also compete with fixed line telephone service providers. The fixed line incumbent providers in Brazil, Telemar, Brasil Telecom and Telefonica, are offering packages of services including voice (both fixed line and mobile), broadband and other services, an approach called “bundling”. Fixed line providers are, however, required to offer their services to unaffiliated mobile providers on the same basis they are offered to affiliated mobile providers.
On April 27, 2000, Anatel issued Resolution No. 221/00, later superseded by Regulation No. 404 of May 5, 2005, regulating Specialized Mobile Service, or trunking, which is based on push-to-talk technology, with rules similar to the ones applicable to the mobile telecommunications services. Trunking service providers are not permitted to offer their services to individuals, and, therefore, will be competing with us exclusively in the corporate segment of our market. Nextel has provided trunking services in Brazil since 2001.
Seasonality
We have experienced a trend of generating a significantly higher number of new clients and handset sales in the fourth quarter of each year as compared to the other three fiscal quarters. A number of factors contribute to this trend, including the increased use of retail distribution in which sales volume increases significantly during the year-end holiday shopping season, the timing of new product and service announcements and introductions, aggressive marketing and promotions in the fourth quarter of each year.
Our Operational Contractual Obligations
For more information on our material contractual obligations, see “Item 10.C. Additional Information — Material Contracts”.
Interconnection Agreements
We have entered into interconnection agreements with most telecommunications service providers operating in Brazil. The terms of our interconnection agreements include provisions specifying the number of interconnection points, the method by which signals must be received and transmitted, and the costs and fees for interconnection services. Due to our migration to PCS (SMP – “Serviço Móvel Pessoal”), we have adapted our interconnection to conform to the new PCS rules and submitted these revised contracts to Anatel. Nevertheless, even in the absence of approval by Anatel, the parties to these interconnection agreements are obligated to offer interconnection services to each other. See “—Regulation of the Brazilian Telecommunications Industry—Interconnection Regulation.”
Roaming Agreements
We have entered into roaming agreements for automatic roaming with other cellular service providers operating outside our Regions. Automatic roaming permits our clients to use their mobile telephones on the networks of other cellular service providers while traveling or “roaming” in Brazil outside our Regions. Similarly, we provide cellular telecommunications service to customers of other cellular service providers when those customers place or receive calls while visiting our Regions. The cellular service providers party to these agreements must provide service to roaming clients on the same basis that they provide service to their own clients and to carry out a monthly reconciliation of roaming charges.
Through TIM Brasil, we are a member of the Roaming Management Committee (now named ABR – Associação Brasileira de Recursos em Telecomunicações), a group comprised of all cellular and fixed telecommunications service providers operating in Brazil. The Roaming Management Committee was created to independently control the activities related to TDMA & CDMA roaming services in Brazil and some international roaming agreements entered into by Brazilian companies with telecommunications service providers operating in the member countries of Mercosul.
The GSM national and international roaming services is supported by individual agreements with the companies partners.
International Roaming Agreements
We have roaming agreements with other GSM telecommunications service providers operating in 165 countries with 364 contracts.
Site-Sharing Agreement
With the objective of avoiding unnecessary duplication networks and infrastructures, Anatel permits telecommunications service providers to use other providers’ networks as secondary support in providing telecommunications services. Therefore, we have allowed other telecommunications service providers in our region to use our infrastructure, and we have used others’ infrastructure, pursuant to site-sharing agreements we have entered into with them.
Co-billing
Co-billing occurs when we bill one of our customers on behalf of a long distance service provider for services rendered to our customers by that carrier. We provide co-billing services to all long distance operators on terms that are freely negotiated in accordance with Anatel regulations.
Taxes on Telecommunications Goods and Services
The costs of telecommunications goods and services to clients are subject to a variety of federal, state and local taxes (in addition to taxes on income), the most significant of which are ICMS, ISS, COFINS, PIS, FUST Tax, FUNTTEL Tax, FISTEL Tax and Income Tax, which are described below.
| · | ICMS. The principal tax applicable to telecommunications goods and services is a state value-added tax, the Imposto sobre Circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços, or ICMS, which the Brazilian States levy at varying rates on certain revenues arising out of the sale of goods and services, including certain telecommunications services. The ICMS tax rate for domestic telecommunications services is levied at rates between 25% and 35%. The ICMS tax rate levied on the sale of mobile handsets averages 17% throughout the Regions, to the exception of certain handsets whose manufacturers are granted certain local tax benefits, thereby reducing the rate to as much as 7%. In 2005, certain of the states in Brazil started to charge ICMS on the sale of mobile handsets under a “tax replacement” system, under which the taxpayer that manufactures the goods is required to anticipate and pay ICMS amounts that would otherwise only become due in later steps of the distribution chain. In May 2005, the States decided, with the exception of the state of Alagoas and the Federal District, that as from January 2006, the sellers should issue invoices of communications services (Model 22) corresponding to the value of tax due on the sale of calling cards to dealers or final customers. The amount of ICMS tax due in such transactions is passed on to the dealers or final consumers. |
| · | ISS. The Imposto Sobre Serviços, or ISS, taxes on certain services listed in the List of Services prescribed by Complementary Law No. 116/03 (“LC116/03”). This list also includes certain services that have the purpose of providing goods. Municipalities impose this tax at varying rates, but in the majority of large cities, the ISS rate is the highest rate allowed (5%). The tax basis of the ISS is the price of the service, minus certain exceptions (such as construction services). As provided by Constitutional Amendment No. 20, dated June 12, 2002, municipalities must charge a minimum rate of 2% and they must not directly or indirectly grant tax benefits that may result in and effective rate below 2%. In August 2003, the LC 116/03, established a new framework for the ISS, which pressed Municipalities to adapt their respective ISS legislation in order to comply with the rules set forth by LC 116/03. Such new federal rules are effective as from January 1, 2004. |
| · | COFINS. The Contribuição Social para o Financiamento da Seguridade Social, or COFINS, is a social contribution levied on gross revenues (which may include financial revenue, depending on the systematics applicable to each business). On November 27, 1998, the Brazilian government increased the COFINS rate from 2% to 3% but permitted taxpayers to offset up to one-third of the amount of COFINS paid against the amount owed as Contribuição Sobre Lucro Líquido (“CSLL”), a social contribution tax assessed on net income. The ability to offset COFINS against CSLL was subsequently revoked for periods after January 1, 2000. On January 1, 2000, we began to pay the COFINS tax over our bills at a rate of 3%. In December 2003, through the Law n° 10.833, the COFINS legislation was further amended, making this tax to be non-cumulative, raising its rate to 7.6% to certain transactions, except in connection with telecommunications services, which the rate continue to be 3%. |
| · | PIS. The Programa de Integração Social, or PIS is another social contribution, levied, prior to December 2002, at a rate of 0.65%, on gross revenues from certain telecommunications service activities (both operating and financial) and handset sales. In December 2002, Law n° 10.637 was enacted, making such contribution non-cumulative and increasing the rate to1.65% on gross revenues from sales of handsets, except in connection with telecommunications services, which the rate continue to be 0.65%. |
| · | FUST. On August 17, 2000, the Brazilian government created the Fundo de Universalização dos Serviços de Telecomunicações, or FUST, a fund that is supported by a interference with the economic order contribution tax applicable to all telecommunications services, or FUST Tax. The purpose of the FUST is to reimburse a portion of the costs incurred by telecommunications service providers to meet the universal service targets required by Anatel (such as targets for rural and impoverished areas, schools, libraries and hospitals), in case these costs are not entirely recovered through the collection of telecommunications service fees and charges. The FUST Tax is imposed at a rate of 1% on gross operating revenues, net of ICMS, PIS and COFINS, and its cost may not be passed on to clients. Telecommunications companies can draw from the FUST to meet the universal service targets required by Anatel. |
On December 15, 2005, Anatel enacted Precedent No. 7/05 requiring that FUST be paid on revenues arising from interconnection charges since the effectiveness of the FUST. A notice was issued deciding that the company must adjust values on FUST statements to calculate the tax due related to the FUST assessment on interconnection charges, or those values would be enrolled under the federal overdue tax liability and charged with penalties and interests. A writ of mandamus was filed for relief from the FUST assessment under the interconnection charges under the terms of Precedent No. 7/05 and was decided favorably to the company. Although such first level decision may still be challenged in the near future (i.e. is still subject to appeal and does not constitute res judicata), it is now in full force and effect.
| · | FUNTTEL. On November 28, 2000, the Brazilian government created the Fundo para Desenvolvimento Tecnológico das Telecomunicações, or FUNTTEL, a fund that is supported by a social contribution tax applicable to all telecommunications services, or the FUNTTEL Tax. The FUNTTEL is a fund managed by BNDES and FINEP, a government research and development agency. The purpose of the FUNTTEL is to promote the development of telecommunications technology in Brazil and to improve competition in the industry by financing research and development in the area of telecommunications technology. The FUNTTEL Tax is imposed at a rate of 0.5% on gross operating revenues, net of ICMS, PIS and COFINS, and its cost may not be passed on to clients. |
| · | FISTEL. The Fundo de Fiscalização das Telecomunicações, or FISTEL, a fund supported by a tax applicable to telecommunications services, or the FISTEL Tax, was established in 1966 to provide financial resources to the Brazilian government for its regulation and inspection of the sector. The FISTEL Tax consists of two types of fees: an installation inspection fee assessed on telecommunications stations upon the issuance of their authorization certificates, as well as every time we activate a new mobile number, and an annual operations inspection fee that is based on the number of authorized stations in operation as well as the total basis of mobile number at the end of the previous calendar year. The amount of the installation inspection fee is a fixed value, depending upon the kind of equipment installed in the authorized telecommunications station. Effective April 2001, the installation and inspection fee has been assessed based on net activations of mobile numbers (i.e., the number of new cellular activations reduced by the number of cancelled subscriptions), as well as based on the net additions of radio base stations. The operations inspection fee equals 50% of the total amount of installation inspection fees that would have been paid with respect to existing equipment. |
| · | Income tax. Income tax expense is made up of two components, a federal income tax and a social contribution tax on taxable profits, which is known as the “social contribution tax”. The federal income tax also includes two components: a federal income tax and an additional income tax. The federal income tax is payable at the rate of 15%. Additional income tax of 10% will be levied on the share of taxable profits exceeding R$0.02 million accrued monthly. The social contribution tax is currently assessed at a rate of 9.0% of adjusted net income. |
Companies are taxed based on their worldwide income rather than on income produced solely in Brazil. As a result, profits, capital gains and other income obtained abroad by Brazilian entities are added to their net profits for tax purposes. In addition, profits, capital gains and other income obtained by foreign branches or income obtained from subsidiaries or foreign corporations controlled by a Brazilian entity are computed in the calculation of an entity's profits, in proportion to its participation in such foreign companies' capital. In principle the Brazilian entity is allowed to deduct income tax paid abroad, up to the amount of Brazilian income taxes imposed on such income (reciprocity of treatment between Brazil and the country from which the income or gain comes from is required in order for this rule to apply). Effective January 1, 2002 profits (including retained profits from previous years) realized by a Brazilian entity from controlled or affiliated companies are taxed as of the date of the Brazilian entity's year-end balance sheet, unless the Brazilian entity is liquidated before the date of its year-end balance sheet, in which case the profits are taxed at the time of its liquidation.
Prior to January 1, 2002, profits realized by an entity in Brazil from a branch or agency were taxed as of the date of the Brazilian entity's year-end balance sheet, and profits from a controlled or affiliated company were taxed as of the date such amounts were paid or made available to the Brazilian company as dividends or otherwise.
Dividends are not subject to withholding income tax when paid, nor to corporate income tax or individual income tax on the person receiving the dividend. However, as the payment of dividends is not tax deductible for the company distributing them, there is an alternative regime for stockholder compensation called “interest on equity”, which allows companies to deduct any interest paid to stockholders from net profits for tax purposes.
These distributions may be paid in cash. The interest is calculated in accordance with daily pro rata variation of the Brazilian government's long-term interest rate - TJLP, as determined by the Central Bank from time to time, and cannot exceed the greater of: (i) 50% of the net income (before taxes and already considering the deduction of the own interest amount attributable to stockholders) related to the period in respect of which the payment is made; or (ii) 50% of the sum retained profits and profits reserves as of the date of the beginning of the period in respect of which the payment is made.
Any payment of interest to stockholders is subject to withholding income tax at the rate of 15% or 25% in the case of a stockholder who is domiciled in a tax haven. These payments may be qualified, at their net value, as part of any mandatory dividend.
Losses carried forward are available for offset during any year up to 30.0% of annual taxable income. No time limit is currently imposed on the application of net operating losses on a given tax year to offset future taxable income within the same tax year.
Regulation of the Brazilian Telecommunications Industry
General
Our business is subject to comprehensive regulation under the General Telecommunications Law, and a comprehensive regulatory framework for the provision of telecommunications services promulgated by Anatel.
Anatel is the regulatory agency for telecommunications under the General Telecommunications Law and the October 1997 Regulamento da Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (the “Anatel Decree”). Anatel is administratively independent and financially autonomous. Anatel maintains a close relationship with the Ministry of Communications and is required to report its activities to the Ministry of Communications. It has authority to propose and to issue regulations that are legally binding on telecommunications service providers. Any proposed regulation or action by Anatel is subject to a period of public comment, which may include public hearings, and may be challenged in Brazilian courts.
Authorizations and Concessions
With the privatization of the Telebrás system and pursuant to the Lei Mínima (the “Minimum Law”), Band A and Band B service providers were granted concessions under SMC regulations. Each concession was a specific grant of authority to supply cellular telecommunications services in a defined geographical area, subject to certain requirements contained in the applicable list of obligations appended to each concession.
Through resolutions enacted in September 2000 and January 2001, Anatel launched the PCS regime, and began encouraging cellular service providers operating under SMC regulations to convert their concessions into authorizations under PCS regulations. According to the rules issued by Anatel, SMC providers would not be able to renew their concessions to provide SMC services, and were compelled to convert to the PCS regime in order to continue their operations. The permission from Anatel to transfer the control of these companies were also conditioned on rules that obliged SMC providers to migrate its SMC concessions to PCS authorizations, and to operate under the PCS regulations.
In 1997 and 1998, TIM Sul’s, TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações’ and TIM Maxitel’s predecessors were granted SMC concessions and in December 2002, TIM Sul, TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Maxitel’s converted their SMC concessions into PCS authorizations, with an option to renew the authorizations for an additional 15 years following the original expiration dates of the concessions. TIM Celular acquired PCS authorizations in conjunction with auctions of bandwidth by Anatel in 2001, and subsequently acquired additional authorizations and operates under the PCS regulations as well.
The following table shows the expiration date of the initial period of each of TIM Nordeste’s PCS authorizations:
| | Authorization expiration date |
State of Pernambuco | | May 15, 2009 |
State of Ceara | | November 28, 2008 |
State of Paraíba | | December 31, 2008 |
State of Rio Grande do Norte | | December 31, 2008 |
State of Alagoas | | December 15, 2008 |
State of Piaui | | March 27, 2009 |
State of Minas Gerais | | April 7, 2013 |
States of Bahia and Sergipe | | August 6, 2012 |
| | |
The following table shows the expiration date of the initial period of each of TIM Celular’s PCS authorizations:
| | Authorization expiration date |
State of Paraná | | September 3, 2022 |
State of Santa Catarina | | September 30, 2008 |
Cities of Pelotas, Morro Redondo, Capão do Leão and Turuçu (State of Rio Grande do Sul) | | April 14, 2009 |
State of Rio Grande do Sul (except the cities of Pelotas, Morro Redondo, Capão do Leão and Turuçu) | | March 12, 2016 |
City of São Paulo (State of São Paulo) | | March 12, 2016 |
State of São Paulo (except the city of São Paulo) | | March 12, 2016 |
States of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo | | March 29, 2016 |
States of Maranhão, Pará, Amapá, Amazonas and Roraima | | March 29, 2016 |
States of Acre, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Tocantins, Goiás and the Federal District | | March 12, 2016 |
Cities of Londrina and Tamarana (State of Paraná) | | March 12, 2016 |
| | |
According to the General Telecommunications Law and regulations issued by Anatel thereunder, licenses to provide telecommunications services are granted either under the public regime, by means of a concession or a permission, or under the private regime, by means of an authorization. Only certain fixed-line service providers are currently operating under the public regime. All the other telecommunications services providers in Brazil are currently operating under the private regime, including all the PCS services providers.
Telecommunications services providers under the private regime are classified as either providing a service of collective interest or restricted interest. Collective interest private regime services are subject to requirements imposed by Anatel under their authorizations and the General Telecommunications Law. Restricted interest private regime services are subject to fewer requirements than public regime or collective interest private regime services. According to the General Telecommunications Law and the regulation thereunder, all the PCS services providers in Brazil operate under the collective interest private regime.
Obligations of Telecommunications Companies
In November 1999, Anatel and the Brazilian mobile service providers jointly adopted a “Protocol for Mobile Cellular Service Providers” (the “Protocol”). The Protocol established additional quality of service targets and rates, which SMC operators were required to achieve by June 2001. Although the General Telecommunications Law does not specify any penalties for failing to meet the targets required by the Protocol, Anatel was required to examine the performance of the Brazilian telecommunications companies under the Protocol’s standards. Despite migration to PCS in December 2002, from January to June 2003, we reported to Anatel regarding, and had complied with, all quality of service indicators applicable to SMC operators. The Protocol ceased to be applicable to TIM Sul, TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Maxitel after July 2003.
Beginning in September 2003, we became subject to the PCS quality of service indicators. Our quality of service obligations under our PCS authorizations differ substantially from those under the previous SMC concessions. See “—PCS Regulation.” Since December 2003, we have achieved the majority, but not all of the service of quality requirements applicable to the PCS service operators. Some of our PCS quality of service indicators are currently difficult to achieve due to, for example, our dependence on the performance of third parties and the continuing clarification of some of the quality of service measurements under the PCS rules. As a result since 2004 Anatel has been filing administrative proceedings against TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste for non-compliance with certain of our quality of service obgliations. In some of these proceedings, Anatel applied a fee that did not cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We will continue to strive to meet all of our quality of service obligations under the PCS authorizations, but we can provide no assurance that we will be able to do so. For information about administrative proceedings instituted, see “Item 8.A. Financial Information—Consolidated Statements and Others Financial Information —Legal Proceedings.”
PCS Regulation
In September 2000, Anatel promulgated regulations regarding PCS wireless telecommunications services that are significantly different from the ones applicable to cellular companies operating under Band A and Band B. The new rules allow companies to provide wireless telecommunications services under PCS authorizations. The PCS authorizations allow new entrants in the Brazilian telecommunications market to compete with existing telecommunications service providers.
According to rules issued by Anatel, renewal of a concession to provide cellular services, as well as permission from Anatel to transfer control of cellular companies, are conditioned on agreement by such cellular service provider to operate under the PCS rules. TIM Sul, TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Maxitel converted their cellular concessions into PCS authorizations in December 2002, and later transferred them to TIM Sul, TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Maxitel, which are now TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste subject to obligations under the PCS regulations. See “—Authorizations and Concessions.”
In connection with the PCS authorization auctions in 2001 and 2002, Anatel divided the Brazilian territory into three separate regions, each of which is equal to the regions applicable to the public regime fixed-line telephone service providers. PCS services may only be provided under Bands C, D and E licenses which initially 1800 MHz band (after words encompass also the 900 MHz band) and were auctioned by Anatel in 2001 and 2002.
In December 2007, TIM Celular acquired new authorization for 1800 MHz in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro States in order to improve its radio frequency capacity in theses regions.
In the same auction, Claro and Vivo acquired authorization to provide PCS services in regions where they previously did not by using 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands, whereby they are now competing with TIM on those areas. In the same regions as TIM. Also in the same auction Oi received authorization to provide PCS service in the state of São Paulo by using 1800 MHz (band M in the whole state and band E in the state’s countryside).
Anatel has initiated administrative proceedings against TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste for non-compliance with certain of such quality standards and non compliance with the rules and the authorization terms. We have been fined by Anatel in several proceedings and are still discussing the penalty imposed in appeals before the agency. As a result of these proceedings, Anatel applied a fee that did not cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. However, we cannot give assurance that we will be able to fully comply with our obligations under the PCS regime or with future changes in the regulations to which we are subject. See “—Obligations of Telecommunications Companies”, “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to our Business” and “Item 8.A. Financial Information—Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings”
According to the new PCS regulations, we are required to adjust our operating processes and agreements to such new rules, including our interconnection agreements, as well as agreements with our customers. By April 2005, substantially all of our interconnection arrangements were covered by agreements that had been amended to reflect the PCS regulations.
In August 2007, Anatel issued a new resolution nº 477 establishing new obligations regarding PCS, in particular in connection with users’ rights towards their mobile services providers. The new resolution came into effect in February 2008. The main PCS new regulatory obligations include the following:
| · | Creating at least one Customer’s Service for each of a such municipality division ; |
| · | Increasing prepaid cards term (from 90 to 180 days or more); |
| · | Reimbursing Prepaid Credits; |
| · | Supplying a number of protocol for each communication with a customer; |
| · | Sending such protocol number by SMS; |
| · | Cancelling service in every Customer’s Service; |
| · | Cancelling service in 24 hours; |
| · | Sending free Prepaid card detailed report of service use; |
| · | Changing rules for schedule charging of postpaid customers; |
| · | Ceasing to impose fines on customers based on breach of loyalty plans; and |
| · | Taking measures to prevent SMS spamming. |
Interconnection Regulation
Telecommunications service providers are required to provide interconnection according to the “General Interconnection Rules,” adopted by Anatel through Resolução 410/05, which replaced Resolução 40/98. The terms and conditions of interconnection are to be negotiated by the parties, within certain guidelines established by Anatel, which indicate that the Agency will not allow anti-competitive practices, in special exercise of subsidies or artificial decrease in price, the unauthorized use of competitors information, the omission of relevant technical and commercial information, prevent abusive demands to enter into interconnection agreements, intentional delay in negotiation, coercion in order to enter into an interconnection agreement, and imposition of conditions that lead to the inefficient use of the network or equipment. Even though the rule is that interconnection prices will be freely negotiated by the operators, Anatel may set the price for the interconnection (based on Fully Allocated Cost model) if the operators are unable to reach a consensus or if the prices agreed upon are damaging to competition, at Anatel’s discretion. Interconnection agreements must be approved by Anatel before they become effective. Telecommunications service providers must make available public interconnection offers with all information relevant for the establishment of an interconnection (applicable regulation is vague as to the scope of information that must be included in the public interconnection offer), ensuring non-discriminatory treatment of service providers interest in such interconnection.
In March 2005, Anatel issued a Regulation of Account Allocation and Segregation applicable to incumbents and economic groups holding significant market power in the fixed telephony or PCS interconnection networks in the leased lines market. See “—Significant Market Power.”
In July 2006, Anatel, through Rule 438, terminated the partial bill and keep system – by means of which one mobile operator paid another one when the proportion between their outbound and inbound traffic was in excess of the 45% to 55% range. As a result, mobile operators began to pay and receive integrally costs and revenues, respectively, for network use based on total traffic. The same rule established that the interconnection fee (VUM) will continue to be freely negotiated between operators and set forth a discount for off-peak calls – depending on the time of the day when the call is made – for mobile operators in originated and such long distance calls (VC-2 and VC-3). Further, under such new regulation, the interconnection fee (VU-M) remains being freely negotiated but in a future date to be set by Anatel will be heavier regulated in the case of operators with significant market power. See “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Brazilian Telecommunications Industries”.
In 2006, two agreements relating to interconnection fees were entered into: (i) among the fixed telephony incumbents (with the exception of Embratel) and the mobile service providers, pursuant to which our interconnection fee paid by other operators when their users access our network to communicate with our users was increased by 4.5%, for calls completed by a number registered within that customer’s home registration area (VC-1 calls) and (ii) among the fixed telephony incumbents (with the exception of Embratel) and the mobile service providers relating to the interconnection fees paid by the fixed telephony incumbents to the mobile service operators in the case of long distance calls, that is VC-2 and VC-3 calls, whereby such fees were increased by 7.99%.
On March 27, 2006, Anatel approved an increase of 7.99% in VC-2 and VC-3 (national long distance fixed to mobile calls) to the local incumbent fixed operators. Concurrently, Anatel approved provisory contracts entered into among the incumbents and the mobile operators providing for an increase of 4.5% to the VU-M (interconnection fee due to mobile operators). An arbitration procedure before Anatel more recently confirmed such VU-M increase.
In 2007, an additional agreement relating to interconnection fees entered into among the fixed telephony incumbents (with the exception of Embratel) and the mobile service providers established an average VU-M increase of 2%. The same parties also executed an additional agreement, which was homologated by Anatel, contemplating a 68.5% increase in the VU-M fee over the VC-1 adjustment for 2008. Accordingly, if in 2008 the incumbent fixed operators receive an adjustment of 10% in the VC-1, the mobile will receive 6.85 % of readjustment over the VU-M value.
Significant Market Power
In 2005, Anatel issued specific regulations regarding telecommunications service providers with significant market power. Anatel has indicated that it will establish more stringent regulations for economic groups with significant market power in order to ensure market competition. In July 2006, Anatel issued regulation regarding the remuneration of mobile operators network and brought to the mobile industry the concept of significant market power. Under such regulation, as from a future date to be established by Anatel, the Agency would determine, based on a fully allocated cost model, a reference value for a network usage fee (VU-M) of companies that are deemed to hold significant market power. Such value will be reassessed every 3 years. In order to determine the companies that have a significant market power in the mobile interconnection market, Anatel will consider: market share in the mobile interconnection market and in the mobile services market, economies of scope and scale, dominance of infrastructure that is not economically viable to duplicate, existence of negotiation power to acquire equipments and services, existence of vertical integration, existence of barriers to entry, access to financing sources.
For purposes of the mobile network remuneration rules until Anatel defines which groups have significant market power, all groups that include a SMP provider will be considered as having a significant market power in the offer of mobile interconnection in their respective services areas.
Rate Regulation
Under our PCS authorizations, we are allowed to set prices for our service plans, subject to approval by Anatel, provided that such amounts do not exceed a specified inflation adjusted cap. Anatel currently uses the IGP-DI (the Índice Geral de Preços-Disponibilidade Interna), an general price inflation index developed by Fundação Getulio Vargas, a private Brazilian foundation, in evaluating prices and determining the relevant cap for prices charged in the telecommunications industry. Beginning in 2008, we expect Anatel to begin to evaluate prices in the telecommunications industry based on a model that takes into account the costs of a hypothetical company costs, along with other factors. In connection with the introduction of this model, beginning in 2008, Anatel may use a different inflation index, the Índice de Serviços de Telecomunicações, or IST, which takes into account the average fluctuation of a number of prices of goods and services in a given period, as well as existing adjustment rates in our industry. We expect that the adjustment of our prices will follow the trend of the market, and that the adjustment will be below the annual inflation rate based on the IST. If this new inflation adjustment mechanism, or any other mechanism chosen by the Brazilian government in the future, does not adequately reflect the true effect of inflation on our prices, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Number Portability
In March 2007 Anatel issued new regulation regarding on number portability in Brazil for fixed telephony and mobile services providers (SMP). Portability is limited to migration between providers of the same telecommunications services. For SMP providers, portability can take place when customer changes services provider within the same Registration Area as well as when customer changes the service plan of the same service provider.
Portability between different service providers can be charged to the customer upon the one time payment of a fixed fee. The maximum amount of such fee is to be defined by Anatel.
A third party management entity must be contracted by the service operators to manage all procedures regarding portability. To make the implementation of portability feasible, Anatel determined the creation of an portability implementation group which is already in place. This group has a number of actions to take, within established deadlines, before number portability is implemented on a commercial basis in Brazil.
Value-Added Services and Internet Regulation
Value-added services are not considered under Brazilian telecommunications regulations to be telecommunications services, but rather an activity that adds features to a telecommunications service supported by such value-added services. Regulations require all telecommunications service providers to grant network access to any party interested in providing value-added services, on a non-discriminatory basis, unless technically impossible. Telecommunications service providers also are allowed to render value-added services through their own networks. Internet access is considered by Brazilian legislation to be a value-added service, and its providers are not considered to be telecommunications companies. Current regulations allow us or any other interested party to offer Internet connection services through our network.
The new 3G environment
| · | On December 18, 2007, Anatel auctioned 4 bands - J (10MHz+ 10 MHz); F (15MHz +15 MHz); G (10MHz + 10MHz) and I (10MHz+ 10 MHz) - at 2.100 MHz to operate 3G Wireless Services nationwide; |
| · | Anatel split Brazilian territory into 11 sub regions. The city and state of São Paulo have been grouped with the North and Northeast sub-regions, which have the lowest GDP per capita in Brazil and the smallest wireless coverage; |
| · | We have successfully participated in the 3G spectrum auction,winning band F in the city of São Paulo and North region, as well as bands G and I in the other areas, except area VII (Uberlândia and surrounding area in the State of Minas Gerais). We estimate that such exception will cause no material impact on us because we will also develop 3G in the 800 MHz band. UMTS technology works in both 800 MHz and 2100 MHz frequencies. We intend to develop our networks using solely 2100 MHz frequency in some regions whereas for other regions using both the 2100 MHz and 800 MHz frequencies (areas that we originally covered using A and B bands), except for Uberlandia (area VII), where we will use solely the 850 MHz frequency. The licenses are expected to be issued by Anatel in the second quarter of 2008. Anatel had originally scheduled the signature of the contracts (right to use the new 3 G radiofrequencies in 2100 MHz) for April 10, 2008, but TCU (“Tribunal de Contas da União”) requested a new review of the process. We cannot predict the outcome of such review and the term for its completion, therefore we cannot estimate when we will sign the respective agreements. |
| · | For those radiofrequencies we paid a price of R$1,324.7 million, which represented a premium of R$680.3 million, or 95%, over the minimum price; |
| · | In a near future, Anatel will make a new auction for the band H with 10MHz + 10 MHz at 2.100MHz. |
C. | Organizational Structure |
Substantially all assets held by TIM Participações consist of the shares of its wholly-owned subsidiaries TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste. The following chart illustrates our current ownership structure:
*“CS” refers to our common shares.
**“PS” refers to our preferred shares, which are non-voting.
***The total is based on our total share capital being represented by ordinary shares and preferred shares.
D. | Property, Plant and Equipment |
Our principal properties consist of transmission equipment, switching equipment, which connect calls to and from customers, and radio base stations, which comprise certain signal transmission and reception equipment covering a defined area. At our radio base stations we have also installed antennas and certain equipment to connect these antennas with our switching equipment. As of December 31, 2007, we had 82 mobile switches and 11,843 radio base stations. We generally lease or buy the sites where our mobile telecommunications network equipment is installed. On December 31, 2007, we owned approximately 93,282 square meters and leased approximately 857,828 square meters of real property, all of which were available for installation of our equipment. We also lease approximately 147,664 square meters and own approximately 59,052 square meters of office space. There are no encumbrances that may affect our utilization of our property or equipment.
Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this annual report, and in conjunction with the financial information included under “Item 3.A. Key Information—Selected Financial Data.”
Acquisition of TIM Celular by TIM Participações
On March 16, 2006, we acquired all of the share capital of TIM Celular, a wholly-owned subsidiary of our controlling shareholder, TIM Brasil, pursuant to a transaction in which TIM Brasil received shares issued by TIM. As a result, TIM Celular and its operating subsidiary, TIM Maxitel, became our subsidiaries. The acquisition became effective following approval in the respective Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meetings of our shareholders and the shareholders of TIM Celular on March 16, 2006.
We were accounting for the acquisition under Brazilian GAAP as a purchase at book value, generating no goodwill, pursuant to which the results of TIM and TIM Celular was combined with effect from January 1, 2006. For more information regarding the acquisition of TIM Celular by TIM, see “Presentation of Information.”
Due to the TIM Celular Acquisition, our 2007 consolidated financial statements are not comparable with our historical financial statements. In addition, we are unable to distinguish clearly between internal growth in 2007 and growth due to the TIM Celular Acquisition. In order to address this situation and to facilitate an understanding of how our business evolved in 2007, we have provided supplemental 2006 and 2005 pro forma information throughout this annual report. The pro forma information reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2004. For an explanation on how the pro forma amounts were calculated, including what adjustments were made, see note 3.d to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report. The pro forma adjustments are limited to those adjustments directly relating to the transactions contemplated by the merger. The pro forma financial data are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to represent what our actual financial position or results of operations would have been had the merger occurred on the assumed dates.
Merger of TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações into Maxitel and of TIM Sul into TIM Celular
On May 4, 2006, the Board of Directors of TIM Participações authorized the Merger Protocols and Justification report, which proposed the merger of TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações into Maxitel and the merger of TIM Sul into TIM Celular, wholly owned subsidiaries of TIM Participações.
On June 30, 2006, through the Shareholder General Meetings of TIM Celular, Maxitel, TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Sul the mergers of TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações into Maxitel and of TIM Sul into TIM Celular were approved. On the same date, Maxitel was renamed TIM Nordeste S.A.
Ownership Restructuring of the Companies controlled by TIM Participações
On May 30, 2005, we acquired all outstanding minority interests in our subsidiaries TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações. The primary purpose of the transaction was to increase the liquidity of the publicly traded stock of the companies involved.
Minority shareholders of TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações who did not exercise withdrawal rights received shares of TIM Participações. The minority shareholders that exercised the withdrawal right represented 0.001% of the voting capital of TIM Participações and 0.001% of the total capital of TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações (or R$417.03 and R$454.73, respectively). Common shares of TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações were exchanged for common shares of TIM Participações and preferred shares of TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações were exchanged for preferred shares of TIM Participações. As a result of the transaction, TIM Participações owns all of the common and preferred shares of TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações, both of which are now wholly-owned subsidiaries of TIM Participações. The transaction described above has had no impact on the operational activities of TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações or TIM Sul.
On May 30, 2005, the corporate capital of TIM Participações was increased by R$415.1 million with the issuance of 160,311,357,056 shares that were subscribed by the minority shareholders of TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações. The total capital of TIM Participações after the capital increase was R$1,472.1 million.
Merger of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações into Tele Celular Sul Participações
On August 30, 2004, TND merged with and into TSU (the “TSU/TND Merger”), which was subsequently renamed TIM Participações. Under applicable Brazilian accounting principles, the merger was accounted for as a purchase of TND at book value, generating no goodwill. We accounted for the merged companies’ combined operations as if the merger had occurred on January 1, 2004.
Critical Accounting Policies
Critical accounting policies are those that are important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most subjective, complex judgments, often requiring management to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. As the number of variables and assumptions affecting the possible future resolution of the uncertainties increases, those judgments become more complex. We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience, industry trends or other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may vary from what we anticipate, and different assumptions or estimates about the future could change our reported financial results. In order to provide an understanding about how our management has estimated the potential impact of certain uncertainties, including the variables and assumptions underlying the estimates, we have identified the critical accounting policies discussed below. We describe our significant accounting policies, including the ones discussed below, in note 4 to our consolidated financial statements.
Depreciation and Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost of acquisition or construction. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the underlying assets. See notes 4.g and 10 to our consolidated financial statements. We currently depreciate automatic switching, transmission and other equipment based on an estimated useful life of seven years. The assets related to TDMA technology have been subject to accelerated depreciation and will be 100% depreciated by 2008. Free handsets for corporate customers (comodato) are depreciated over two years.
We review our long-lived assets, such as goodwill, for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. However, asset impairment evaluations are, by nature, highly subjective. If our projections are not met, we may have to record impairment charges not previously recognized. In analyzing potential impairments, we use projections based on our view of growth rates for our business, anticipated future economic, regulatory and political conditions and changes in technology. Such projections are subject to change, including as a result of technological developments that may render long-lived assets obsolete sooner than anticipated. See note 4.h and 11 to our consolidated financial statements.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the failure of our customers to make required payments. We revise our estimated percentage of losses on a regular basis, taking into account our most recent experience with non-payments (i.e. average percentage of receivables historically written-off, economic conditions and the length of time the receivables are past due). The provision for doubtful accounts for 2007 was based on the following estimates of percentages of receivables, classified by the number of days such receivables are overdue, that it projected to be uncollectible. These estimates were based on historical experience of write-offs and future expectations of conditions that might impact the collectibility of accounts. See notes 4.d and 5 to our consolidated financial statements. The amount of the loss, if any, that we actually experience with respect to these accounts may differ from the amount of the allowance maintained in connection with them.
| | Percentage estimated to be uncollectible |
Current* | | 3% - 5% |
Receivables overdue 1 to 90 days* | | 5% - 10% |
Receivables overdue 91 to 120 days | | 50% |
Receivables overdue 121 to 150 days | | 75% |
Receivables overdue 151 to 180 days | | 90% |
Receivables overdue more than 180 days | | 100% |
* Percentage varies based on area and customer composition. | | |
Asset Retirement Obligations
Our subsidiaries are contractually obligated to dismantle their cellular towers from various sites they lease. We must record as asset retirement obligations the present value of the estimated costs to be incurred for dismantling and removing cellular towers and equipment from leased sites. The offset to this provision is recorded as property, plant and equipment, and the depreciation is calculated based on the useful lives of the corresponding assets.
Contingent Liabilities
The accrual for a contingency involves considerable judgment on the part of management. As prescribed by SFAS 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” a contingency is “an existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible gain or loss to an enterprise that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur.”
We are subject to various claims, including regulatory, legal and labor proceedings covering a wide range of matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. We adopted a policy of analyzing each such proceeding and making a judgment as to whether a loss is probable, possible or remote. We make accruals for proceedings that we are party to when we determine that losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Our judgment is always based on the opinion of our legal advisors. Accrual balances are adjusted to account for changes in circumstances for ongoing matters and the establishment of additional accruals for new matters. While we believe that the current level of accruals is adequate, changes in the future could impact these determinations.
Revenue Recognition and Customer Incentive Programs
Revenues are recorded when services are rendered. As a result of our billing cycle cut-off times, we are required to make estimates for services revenue earned but not yet billed. These estimates, which are based primarily upon unbilled minutes of use, could differ from our actual experience. See note 4 to our consolidated financial statements.
Changes in Accounting Principles
Subsidies offered on the sale of handsets to postpaid subscribers
Beginning January 1, 2006, the subsidiaries changed their accounting practice for costs associated with subsidies offered on the sale of handsets to postpaid subscribers, who enter into a contract with exit penalties and minimum monthly charges for a period of twelve months. Management believes that the deferral of such costs, which is allowable under certain conditions, most accurately reflects the performance of the postpaid business by matching costs with the related revenue. Previously, the subsidiaries recognized directly through the statement of operations the costs incurred on the sale of handsets to all types of subscribers directly through the statement of operations.
This change was adopted considering the change in the commercial strategy of the subsidiaries that, starting from 2006, is focused on the acquisition of high-value customers. In 2006, we completed the integration of the operating subsidiaries, which are now enforcing the policy of charging the penalties contractually foreseen for those subscribers who cancel their subscription or migrate to the prepaid plans during the contract period. Additionally, in 2006 we put in place systems that allow for the identification of the subsidy costs related to postpaid subscribers. The net balance of prepaid expenses as of December 31, 2007 is R$176,060. For more information, see note 9 to our consolidated financial statements.
In previous years, due to inconsistent enforcement of contractual penalties, and to the lack of managerial information and segregation of accounting data permitting the determination of the related costs, the conditions permitting quantification and deferral of the cost did not exist.
Tax Benefits - Adene
TIM Nordeste, indirectly owned by TIM Participações, through Certificates (“Laudos Constitutivos”) No. 0144/2003 and No. 0232/2003, issued on March 31, 2003 by the Agency for Development of the Northeast Region of Brazil - ADENE, became eligible to the following tax incentives: (i) a 75% reduction in income tax and non-refundable surtaxes, for ten years, from 2002 to 2011, calculated on profit from tax incentive activities (“lucro da exploração”) resulting from implementation of their installed capacity to render digital mobile telephony services; and (ii) reduction by 37.5%, 25% and 12.5% in income tax and refundable surtaxes, for fiscal years 2003, 2004 to 2008 and 2009 to 2013, respectively, calculated on profit from tax incentive activities resulting from the installed capacity for rendering analogical mobile telephony services. The effect of the ADENE is recorded in the year it is granted.
In 2007, we have retroactively changed our accounting policy with respect to the ADENE income tax incentive from recording the benefit directly in capital reserve to recording it in the statement of operations as a reduction of the income tax expense for the year. Brazilian GAAP allows public companies to elect the treatment of ADENE as either a reconciling item in between parent company and consolidated income, or as an adjustment to consolidated income eliminating the difference. The Company considered it to be a preferable change as allowed by Brazilian GAAP.
Brazilian GAAP and U.S. GAAP
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with Brazilian GAAP, which differs in certain material respects from US. GAAP. See note 39 to our consolidated financial statements for a summary of the differences between the Brazilian Corporations Law accounting method and US. GAAP, as well as a reconciliation of our shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and net income for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 to US. GAAP. Net income for 2007 is R$92.0 million under US. GAAP, compared with net income of R$76.1 million under Brazilian GAAP. Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2007 was R$7,886.6 million under US. GAAP, compared to R$7,750.5 million under Brazilian GAAP.
The differences between Brazilian GAAP and US. GAAP that have the most significant effects on net income in 2007 are capitalized interest, handset discounts, financial instruments, and the rules regarding depreciation and amortization of the effect of indexation of property, plant and equipment, the allocation of fair value due to the TND/TSU merger and the acquisition of the minority interests in TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and TIM Sul along with reversal of pre operating expenses capitalized and reversal of amortization of interest and exchange variation. The differences between Brazilian GAAP and US. GAAP that have the most significant effects on shareholders’ equity in 2007 are the differences in the rules regarding depreciation and amortization, handset discounts, allocation of fair value due to the merger with TND, goodwill amortization and the deferred tax effect on the differences between Brazilian GAAP and US. GAAP along with reversal of common share dividends.
The portion of the merger under common control was accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling-of-interest based on the historical carrying values of the assets and liabilities of TND and others. Additionally, the financial statements of the companies under common control are presented on a combined basis for all periods they are under common control.
In March 16, 2006 we acquired TIM Celular and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. For Brazilian GAAP purposes, in the year of acquisition, the results of operations of the TIM Celular were included in our results of operations for the entire year, as required by the merger agreement. For US GAAP purposes, as both the Company and TIM Celular are majority owned by TIM Brasil, a common controlling shareholder, the exchange of shares for the purpose of the merger of TIM Celular with and into the Company is considered a business combination of companies under common control and was accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling-of-interest. Accordingly, such exchange of shares was accounted for at historical carrying values. The merger was reflected from 2000, the year TIM Brasil formed TIM Celular and, consequently, had control of both the Company and TIM Celular. Therefore, for all periods presented, the Company’s and TIM Celular’s financial statements have been combined.
Political, Economic, Regulatory and Competitive Factors
The following discussion also should be read in conjunction with “Item 4. Information on the Company.” As set forth in greater detail below, our financial condition and results of operations are significantly affected by Brazilian telecommunications regulation, including the regulation of rates. See “Item 4.B. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Regulation of the Brazilian Telecommunications Industry—Rate Regulation.” Our financial condition and results of operations also have been, and are expected to continue to be, affected by the political and economic environment in Brazil. See “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Brazil.” In particular, our financial performance will be affected by:
| · | general economic and business conditions, including the price we are able to charge for our services and prevailing foreign exchange rates; |
| · | our ability to generate income as a consolidated entity subsequent to the TIM Celular Acquisition; |
| · | competition, including expected characteristics of competing networks, products and services and from increasing consolidation in our industry; |
| · | increasing competition from Claro and Vivo which received PCS licenses with the same coverage as TIM and from Oi, which received authorization to provide PCS service in the State of São Paulo; |
| · | our ability to secure and maintain telecommunications infrastructure licenses, rights-of-way and other regulatory approvals; |
| · | our ability to anticipate trends in the Brazilian telecommunications industry, including changes in market size, demand and industry price movements, and our ability to respond to the development of new technologies and competitor strategies; |
| · | our ability to expand our services and maintain the quality of the services we provide; |
| · | the rate of customer churn we experience; |
| · | changes in official regulations and the Brazilian government’s telecommunications policy; |
| · | political economic and social events in Brazil; |
| · | access to sources of financing and our level and cost of debt; |
| · | our ability to integrate acquisitions; |
| · | regulatory issues relating to acquisitions; |
| · | the adverse determination of disputes under litigation; and |
| · | inflation, interest rate and exchange rate risks. |
Overview
The Brazilian economy had a 5.4% GDP growth in 2007 compared to a 3.8% GDP growth in 2006. The exchange rate was R$1.7713 to US$1.00 on December 31, 2007 compared to R$2.1380 to US$1.00 on December 29, 2006. Concerns about controlling inflation, intensified by political instability, led the Brazilian federal government to reduce the core interest rate throughout 2007, despite pressure from the business community. As a result, the SELIC interest rate (an official interest rate published by the Central Bank) closed the year at 11.25%. The Bovespa index was up by 43.6% for the year ended December 31, 2007.
In 2007, we added approximately 5.8 million net customers to our base, representing a 11.7% increase over our 5.3 million net customer growth in 2006. On December 31, 2007 we had approximately 31.3 million customers, representing an increase of 23.0% from the end of 2006. Our most significant growth continues to be in the prepaid customer base, which totaled approximately 24.5 million customers on December 31, 2007 and 20.0 million customers on December 31, 2006, representing a 22.4% increase. Our postpaid customer base was approximately 6.8 million subscribers on December 31, 2007, a 25.4% increase over 2006. The increase of our customer base was due primarily to the increase in the Brazilian mobile market as a whole and our increased market share.
In 2007, we adopted a strategy to attract and retain high value customers by means of segmentation, focusing on the quality of services rendered and the supply of new products and services. Our strong brand and our broad distribution network have also contributed to furthering our strategy. The primary driver of our results for the year ended December 31, 2007 was the increase in our customer base. Our gross service revenue for the year ended December 31, 2007 was R$15,376.6 million, representing a 30.1% increase from the 2006. This increase derived mainly from the 23.0% expansion of our customer base and a 39.9% increase in long distance charges revenue for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the year ended December 31, 2006. Our ARPU was R$34.35 in 2007, compared to R$33.08 in 2006, representing a 3.8% increase. This increase is the result of a 22.4% increase in our prepaid customer base which has lower usage level when compared to the postpaid customer, off set in part by the increase in value-added service revenue. Our gross handset revenue for 2007 was R$1,838.1 million, a 10.7% decrease over 2006. Gross revenue for 2007 totaled R$17.2 billion, 24.0% higher than 2006.
Our net income for 2007 was R$76.1 million, an increase of R$361.6 million, as compared to the loss of R$285.5 million in 2006, mainly due to the improved operational results.
We face strong competition throughout Brazil. Nevertheless, we have been able to increase our market share and revenue share, establishing ourselves as a leading wireless provider. We continue to place a high value on seeking customer recognition through our brand by utilizing marketing tools that makes us unique and emphasizing customer service to help ensure customer satisfaction.
The following table shows certain components of our statement of operations for each year in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, as well as the percentage change from year to year.
Statement of Operations:
Brazilian GAAP | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2005 (1) Pro forma as adjusted | | | | 2007-2006 | | | | |
| | (in millions of reais) | | | | | | | | |
Net operating revenue | | | 12,441.6 | | | | 10,138.2 | | | | 2,918.2 | | | | 8,368.1 | | | | 22.7 | % | | | 21.2 | % |
Cost of services and goods | | | (6,731.8 | ) | | | (5,530.0 | ) | | | (1,383.1 | ) | | | (4,650.8 | ) | | | 21.7 | % | | | 18.9 | % |
Gross profit | | | 5,709.8 | | | | 4,608.2 | | | | 1,535.1 | | | | 3,717.3 | | | | 23.9 | % | | | 24.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Selling expenses | | | (3,890.9 | ) | | | (3,250.9 | ) | | | (798.1 | ) | | | (3,067.7 | ) | | | 19.7 | % | | | 6.0 | % |
General and administrative expenses | | | (1,032.8 | ) | | | (954.9 | ) | | | (185.9 | ) | | | (795.2 | ) | | | 8.2 | % | | | 20.1 | % |
Other operating expense | | | (239.9 | ) | | | (200.3 | ) | | | (25.3 | ) | | | (255.5 | ) | | | 19.8 | % | | | -21.6 | % |
Total operating expenses | | | (5,163.6 | ) | | | (4,406.1 | ) | | | (1,009.3 | ) | | | (4,118.4 | ) | | | 17.2 | % | | | 7.0 | % |
Operating income (loss) before interest | | | 546.2 | | | | 202.1 | | | | 525.8 | | | | (401.1 | ) | | | 170.3 | % | | | -150.4 | % |
Net financial income (expense) | | | (278.9 | ) | | | (287.0 | ) | | | 63.3 | | | | (350.1 | ) | | | -2.8 | % | | | -18.0 | % |
Operating income (expense) | | | 267.3 | | | | (84.9 | ) | | | 589.1 | | | | (751.2 | ) | | | -414.8 | % | | | -88.7 | % |
Net non-operating income (expense) | | | (24.4 | ) | | | 2.5 | | | | (2.2 | ) | | | (5.5 | ) | | | -1076.0 | % | | | -145.5 | % |
Income before taxes and minority interests | | | 242.9 | | | | (82.4 | ) | | | 586.9 | | | | (756.7 | ) | | | -394.8 | % | | | -89.1 | % |
Income and social contribution tax benefit (expense) | | | (166.8 | ) | | | (203.1 | ) | | | (140.5 | ) | | | (176.1 | ) | | | -17.9 | % | | | 15.3 | % |
Minority interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | (21.5 | ) | | | (21.5 | ) | | | - | | | | -100.0 | % |
Net income (loss) | | | 76.1 | | | | (285.5 | ) | | | 424.9 | | | | (954.3 | ) | | | -126.7 | % | | | -70.1 | % |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2005. For an explanation of how pro forma amounts were calculated, including the adjustments made, see “Presentation of Information—Presentation of Financial Information.” |
Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2006
Operating revenues
Our operating revenues consisted of:
| · | monthly subscription charges; |
| · | usage charges, which include roaming charges; |
| · | interconnection charges; |
| · | other service revenues; and |
| · | proceeds from the sale of handsets and accessories. |
The composition of our operating revenues by category of service is presented in note 21 to our consolidated financial statements and discussed below. We do not determine net operating revenues or allocate cost by category of service.
The following table shows certain components of our operating revenues, as well as the percentage change of each component from the prior year, for 2007 and 2006:
Statement of Operations Data:
| | Year ended December 31, | | | | Percentage change | |
Brazilian GAAP | | 2007 | | | 2006 as adjusted | | | | 2007-2006 | |
| | (in millions of reais) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Monthly subscription charges | | | 444.2 | | | | 580.3 | | | | -23.5 | % |
Usage charges | | | 7,267.9 | | | | 5,476.1 | | | | 32.7 | % |
Interconnection charges | | | 4,466.6 | | | | 3,439.3 | | | | 29.9 | % |
Long distance charges | | | 1,889.7 | | | | 1,351.1 | | | | 39.9 | % |
Value added services | | | 1,217.1 | | | | 886.2 | | | | 37.3 | % |
Other service revenues | | | 91.1 | | | | 87.3 | | | | 4.4 | % |
Gross operating revenues from services | | | 15,376.6 | | | | 11,820.3 | | | | 30.1 | % |
Value-added and other taxes relating to services | | | (3,206.4 | ) | | | (2,476.0 | ) | | | 29.5 | % |
Discounts on services | | | (749.2 | ) | | | (388.7 | ) | | | 92.7 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net operating revenues from services | | | 11,421.0 | | | | 8,955.6 | | | | 27.5 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sales of cellular handsets and accessories | | | 1,838.1 | | | | 2,057.3 | | | | -10.7 | % |
Value-added and other taxes on handset sales | | | (547.6 | ) | | | (598.1 | ) | | | -8.4 | % |
Discounts on handset sales | | | (269.9 | ) | | | (276.6 | ) | | | -2.4 | % |
Net operating revenues from sales of cellular handsets and accessories | | | 1,020.6 | | | | 1,182.6 | | | | -13.7 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total net operating revenues | | | 12,441.6 | | | | 10,138.2 | | | | 22.7 | % |
Our net operating revenues increased 22.7% to R$12,441.6 million in 2007 from R$10,138.2 million in 2006. This is primarily due to the expansion in the number of customers, which leverages the growth in the use of services as a whole, including value-added services (VAS). Out of the total of R$12.4 billion of net operating revenues in 2007, 91.8% are represented by net service revenues and 8.2% by net sales revenues of handsets, as compared to 88.3% and 11.7%, respectively, in 2006.
In 2007, our average number of customers, calculated as the simple mean of monthly averages, increased 23.1% to 27.7 million, compared to 22.5 million customers in 2006. This increase is a result of strong market campaign and brand quality.
Monthly subscription charges
Revenues from monthly subscription charges decreased to R$444.2 million in 2007 as compared to R$580.3 million in 2006, due to campaigns adopted by the company to encourage the migration of basic plans to usage service plans. The following table shows the total average number of customers during 2007 and 2006.
| | | |
| | | | | | |
Average number of customers using post-paid plans(1) | | | 6,111,606 | | | | 4,630,782 | |
Average number of customers using pre-paid plans(1) | | | 21,594,078 | | | | 17,873,350 | |
Total number of customers(1) | | | 27,705,684 | | | | 22,504,132 | |
(1) | Average numbers are based on the number of customers at the end of each month during the relevant year. |
Usage charges
Revenue from usage charges was R$7,267.9 million in 2007, a 32.7% increase from R$5,476.1 million in 2006, due primarily to the marketing campaigns adopted by the company to stimulate usage, the high quality of the customers acquired in the year, who are characterized by increased service usage along with an increase of 23.1% of our average number of customers.
The total average monthly minutes of billed use per customer (“MOU”) for 2007 and 2006 was as shown in the following table:
| | | |
| | | | | | |
Average incoming MOU during the year | | | 32 | | | | 37 | |
Average outgoing MOU during the year | | | 64 | | | | 52 | |
Average total MOU during the year | | | 96 | | | | 89 | |
Interconnection charges
Interconnection revenues consist of amounts paid to us by other mobile and fixed line providers for completion of calls on our network of calls originating on their networks. Until July 14, 2006, no payments were made to us to the extent that offsetting charges between us and any other mobile service provider falls within a band of 45% to 55% of the aggregate charges for local calls between us and a provider for any given month, as required by the PCS regulations in July 2003. However, as such, Anatel completely eliminated the bill and keep concept, establishing a full interconnection regime, meaning that each mobile operator will be paid for the use of its network, based on total traffic. Our interconnection revenues were R$4,466.6 in 2007, a 29.9% increase from R$3,439.3 in 2006.
Long distance charges
Revenues from long distance charges increased to R$1,889.7 million in 2007 from R$1,351.1 million in 2006, due to an increase in our subscribers base and our efforts to facilitate the use of our long distance service through selection of service providers and service packages.
Value-added services
Value-added services revenues increased 37.3% to R$1,217.1million in 2007 from R$886.2 million in 2006, principally due to a significant increase in our customer base and partially due to GSM and its large variety of innovations with popular content (entertainment, infotainment and institutional/governmental information). These services include short messaging services (which represent the major portion of VAS revenues), ring tones, TV access, photo transmissions, multimedia message services (MMS), voice mail, call waiting, call forwarding, conference calling services and chat, among others.
Other service revenues
Revenues from other services increased 4.4% to R$91.1 million in 2007 from R$87.3 million in 2006. Revenues from other services mainly include revenues from site sharing and co-billing services, which occur when we bill our customers on behalf of another long distance service provider for services rendered to our customer by that carrier.
Sales of mobile handsets and accessories
Sales of mobile handsets decreased 10.7% to R$1,838.1 million in 2007 as compared to R$2,057.3 million in 2006. The Company continued to seek the reduction of the sales of prepaid handsets, while stimulating the sales of individual SIM cards and advanced data enabled handsets.
Value-added and other taxes relating to services
The principal tax on telecommunications services is ICMS tax, which is imposed at rates between 25% and 35%. ICMS is also the principal tax on sales of handsets, which is imposed at a rate between 7% and 17%. See “Item 4.B. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Sources of Revenue—Taxes on Telecommunications Goods and Services.” Two federal social contribution taxes, PIS and COFINS, are imposed at combined rates of 3.65% on gross revenues operating relating to telecommunications services and at combined rates of 9.25% on mobile telephone handset sales.
Our value-added and other taxes relating to services and handset sales increased 22.1% from 2006 to 2007, primarily as a result of an increase in operating revenue from services.
Discounts
Discounts on services and handset sales increased 53.2% to R$1,019.0 million in 2007 as compared to R$665.3 million in 2006. This increase was due primarily to strong competitive pressure to offer discounts during 2007.
Costs of services and goods
Costs of services and goods increased by 21.7% to R$6,731.8 in 2007 from R$5,530.0 in 2006, due primarily to increases in expenses related to expanding the coverage and capacity of our GSM network and other costs relating to servicing a significant increase in our customer base. Additionally, costs of services and goods increased due to a 70.8% increase in interconnection expenses as a result of the termination of the partial bill and keep system in July 14, 2006, a 0.6% increase in depreciation and amortization expenses and a 1.9% increase in cost of handsets and accessories sold. These costs increases were partially offset by a 3.4% decrease in circuit leasing and related expenses, a 19.5% decrease in materials and services, a 52.3% decrease in the Fistel tax and a 6.8% decrease in personnel expenses. Cost of goods and services represented 54.5% of net revenues in 2006 and 54.1% of net revenues in 2007. This decrease is principally due to the benefits of scale primarily attributable to the increase of our customer base. The following table shows the composition of costs of services and sales of mobile handsets, as well as the percentage change from 2006 to 2007:
Statement of Operations Data: | | Year ended December 31, | | | Percentage change | |
Brazilian GAAP | | 2007 | | | 2006 as adjusted | | | | 2007 - 2006 | |
| | (in millions of reais) | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,332.9 | | | | 1,324.8 | | | | 0.6 | % |
Interconnection expenses | | | 3,040.9 | | | | 1,780.4 | | | | 70.8 | % |
Circuit leasing and related expenses | | | 585.8 | | | | 606.3 | | | | -3.4 | % |
Materials and services | | | 229.0 | | | | 284.4 | | | | -19.5 | % |
Personnel | | | 99.5 | | | | 106.8 | | | | -6.8 | % |
FISTEL tax and other | | | 9.3 | | | | 19.5 | | | | -52.3 | % |
Total cost of services | | | 5,297.4 | | | | 4,122.2 | | | | 28.5 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of handsets and accessories sold | | | 1,434.4 | | | | 1,407.8 | | | | 1.9 | % |
Total costs of services and goods | | | 6,731.8 | | | | 5,530.0 | | | | 21.7 | % |
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased 0.6% to R$1,332.9 million in 2007 from R$1,324.8 million in 2006, due to the network and IT infrastructure expansion and improvement.
Interconnection expenses
Interconnection expenses consist of amounts paid to fixed-line and other mobile service providers for completion on their networks of calls originating on our network. Interconnection costs increased 70.8% to R$3,040.9 million in 2007 from R$1,780.4 million in 2006, due to the elimination of the bill and keep system, meaning that the Company now pays the interconnection charge on every local call to other mobile operators, and to the growth in traffic volume (increase of 33.3% in 2007), basically due to the expansion of the client base.
Circuit leasing and related expenses
Circuit leasing and related expenses represent lease payments to Brasil Telecom, Telemar, Embratel and Telefonica for use of circuits interconnecting our radio base stations and switching centers and connecting our network to the networks of Brasil Telecom, Telemar, Embratel and Telefonica. Circuit leasing and related expenses decreased 3.4% in 2007 to R$585.8 million from R$606.3 million in 2006.
Materials and services
Materials and services costs were R$229.0 million in 2007, a 19.5% decrease over R$284.4 million in 2006. The decrease was primarily the optimization of our expenses.
Personnel
Personnel costs decreased 6.8% to R$99.5 million in 2007 from R$106.8 million in 2006. The decrease was due principally to the reduction of the network maintenance workforce.
FISTEL tax and other
FISTEL tax and other costs decreased 52.3% to R$9.3million in 2007 from R$19.5 million in 2006, due in part to a less number of installed base stations in 2007 as compared to 2006.
Costs of handsets and accessories sold
The cost of handsets and accessories sold in 2007 was R$1,434.4 million, representing a 1.9% increase from R$1,407.8 million in 2006. This increase was mainly due the annual growth in handset sales volume (6.0 million in 2007 versus 5.5 million in 2006).
Gross profit margins
The following table shows our gross profits, as well as the percentage change, from 2007 to 2006:
Statement of Operations Data: | | Year ended December 31, | | | Percentage change | |
Brazilian GAAP | | 2007 | | | 2006 as adjusted | | | | 2007 - 2006 | |
| | (in millions of reais) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Net operating revenues from services | | | 11,421.0 | | | | 8,955.6 | | | | 27.5 | % |
Cost of services | | | (5,297.4 | ) | | | (4,122.2 | ) | | | 28.5 | % |
Gross profit from services | | | 6,123.6 | | | | 4,833.4 | | | | 26.7 | % |
Net operating revenues from sales of cellular handsets and accessories | | | 1,020.6 | | | | 1,182.6 | | | | -13.7 | % |
Cost of goods | | | (1,434.4 | ) | | | (1,407.8 | ) | | | 1.9 | % |
Gross loss from sales of cellular handsets and accessories | | | (413.8 | ) | | | (225.2 | ) | | | 83.7 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit | | | 5,709.8 | | | | 4,608.2 | | | | 23.9 | % |
Our gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of net revenues) from services decreased from 54.0% in 2006 to 53.6% in 2007. This decrease resulted from an increase in cost of services, mainly affected by an increase of 70.8% in interconnection expenses.
Our negative gross margin for sales of mobile handsets and accessories increased from 19.0% in 2006 to 40.5% in 2007. We engage in sales of handsets, often with special promotions at particular times of the year, in order to increase the number of customers and generate demand for our services.
Our overall gross profit margin increased, from 45.5% in 2006 to 45.9% in 2007. This resulted primarily from a increase in gross profit margin on services offset by the decrease of our gross margin for handset sales.
Operating expenses
The following table shows our operating expenses, as well as the percentage change from year to year of each component, for 2007 and 2006:
Statement of Operations Data: | | Year ended December 31, | | | Percentage change | |
Brazilian GAAP | | 2007 | | | 2006 as adjusted | | | | 2007 - 2006 | |
| | (in millions of reais) | | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | |
Selling expenses | | | 3,890.9 | | | | 3,250.9 | | | | 19.7 | % |
General and administrative expenses | | | 1,032.8 | | | | 954.9 | | | | 8.2 | % |
Other operating expenses, net | | | 239.9 | | | | 200.3 | | | | 19.8 | % |
Total operating expenses | | | 5,163.6 | | | | 4,406.1 | | | | 17.2 | % |
Our total operating expenses increased 17.2% to R$5,163.6 million in 2007 from R$4,406.1 million in 2006. This increase resulted from increases in selling expenses and general and administrative expenses.
Selling expenses
Selling expenses increased 19.7% to R$3,890.9 million in 2007 from R$3,250.9 million in 2006, mainly reflecting an increase in gross additions, which affected mostly variable expenses related to commissions. Therefore, selling expenses decreased as a percentage of net revenues from services, being 34.1% in 2007 and 36.3% in 2006.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses increased 8.2% to R$1,032.8 million in 2007 from R$954.9 million in 2006. This increase was primarily due to depreciation and amortization.
Other operating expense, net
Other net operating expenses increased 19.8% to R$239.9 million in 2007 from R$200.3 million in 2006. This increased was primarily due to the recovery of a provision for a PIS/COFINS taxes in 2006.
Net financial expense
We had net financial expense of R$278.9 million in 2007, which represented a 2.8% decrease from R$287.0 million in 2006. This decrease reflects the lower gross debt and the decline in interest rates, evidenced by a reduction in the cost of our debt.
Net non-operating income (expense)
Net non-operating income and expenses consist mainly of gains and losses on the sale of fixed assets, and write-offs of fixed assets. We had net non-operating expense of R$24.4 million in 2007 compared to net non-operating income of R$2.5 million in 2006. The net non-operating expense in 2007 was due to the write-off of fixed assets.
Income and social contribution taxes
We recorded income and social contribution tax expense of R$166.8 million in 2007, compared to an expense of R$203.1million in 2006.
Net Income (loss)
Our net income in 2007 was R$76.1 million, representing an increase of R$361.6 million or 126.6% from a loss of R$285.5 million in 2006, primarily reflecting the increase in our operating income.
Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared to the Pro Forma Year Ended December 31, 2005
Operating revenues
Our operating revenues consisted of:
| · | monthly subscription charges; |
| · | usage charges, which include roaming charges; |
| · | interconnection charges; |
| · | other service revenues; and |
| · | proceeds from the sale of handsets and accessories. |
The composition of our operating revenues by category of service is presented in note 22 to our consolidated financial statements and discussed below. We do not determine net operating revenues or allocate cost by category of service.
The following table shows certain components of our operating revenues, as well as the percentage change of each component from the prior year, for 2006 and 2005 pro forma:
Statement of Operations Data: | | Year ended December 31, | | | Percentage change | |
Brazilian GAAP | | 2006 as adjusted | | | 2005 as adjusted | | | 2005 (1) pro forma as adjusted | | | 2006 – 2005 pro forma | |
| | (in millions of reais) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Monthly subscription charges | | | 580.3 | | | | 258.6 | | | | 531.8 | | | | 9.1 | % |
Usage charges | | | 5,476.1 | | | | 1,664.5 | | | | 4,406.1 | | | | 24.3 | % |
Interconnection charges | | | 3,439.3 | | | | 940.3 | | | | 2,484.8 | | | | 38.4 | % |
Long distance charges | | | 1,351.1 | | | | 32.8 | | | | 852.0 | | | | 58.6 | % |
Value added services | | | 886.2 | | | | 219.0 | | | | 584.3 | | | | 51.7 | % |
Other service revenues | | | 87.3 | | | | 54.6 | | | | 103.6 | | | | -15.7 | % |
Gross operating revenues from services | | | 11,820.3 | | | | 3,169.8 | | | | 8,962.6 | | | | 31.9 | % |
Value-added and other taxes relating to services | | | (2,476.0 | ) | | | (668.2 | ) | | | (1,951.4 | ) | | | 26.9 | % |
Discounts on services | | | (388.7 | ) | | | (70.9 | ) | | | (216.1 | ) | | | 79.9 | % |
Net operating revenues from services | | | 8,955.6 | | | | 2,430.7 | | | | 6,795.1 | | | | 31.8 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sales of cellular handsets and accessories | | | 2,057.3 | | | | 733.5 | | | | 2,270.1 | | | | -9.4 | % |
Value-added and other taxes on handset sales | | | (598.1 | ) | | | (166.3 | ) | | | (557.9 | ) | | | 7.2 | % |
Discounts on handset sales | | | (276.6 | ) | | | (79.7 | ) | | | (139.2 | ) | | | 98.7 | % |
Net operating revenues from sales of cellular handsets and accessories | | | 1,182.6 | | | | 487.5 | | | | 1,573.0 | | | | -24.8 | % |
Total net operating revenues | | | 10,138.2 | | | | 2,918.2 | | | | 8,368.1 | | | | 21.2 | % |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2005. For an explanation of how pro forma amounts were calculated, including the adjustments made, see “Presentation of Information—Presentation of Financial Information.” |
Our net operating revenues increased 21.2% to R$10,138.2 million in 2006 from R$8,368.1 million in 2005 pro forma. This is primarily due to the expansion in the number of customers, which leverages the growth in the use of services as a whole, including value-added services (VAS). The elimination of the bill and keep system also had a positive impact. Out of the total of R$10.1 billion of net operating revenues in 2006, 88.3% are represented by net service revenues and 11.7% by net sales revenues of handsets, as compared to 83.3% and 16.7%, respectively, in 2005 pro forma.
In 2006, our average number of customers, calculated as the simple mean of monthly averages, increased 33.1% to 22.5 million, compared to 16.9 million customers in 2005 pro forma. This increase is a result of strong market campaign and brand quality.
Monthly subscription charges
Revenues from monthly subscription charges increased to R$580.3 million in 2006 as compared to R$531.8 million in 2005 pro forma, due to most of our new customers subscribing to post-paid plans, which charge monthly subscription fees. The following table shows the total average number of customers during 2006 and 2005 pro forma.
| | | |
| | | | | | |
Average number of customers using post-paid plans(1) | | | 4,630,782 | | | | 3,462,371 | |
Average number of customers using pre-paid plans(1) | | | 17,873,350 | | | | 13,417,080 | |
Total number of customers(1) | | | 22,504,132 | | | | 16,879,451 | |
(1) | Average numbers are based on the number of customers at the end of each month during the relevant year. |
Usage charges
Revenue from usage charges was R$5,476.1 million in 2006, a 24.3% increase from R$4,406.1 million in 2005 pro forma, due primarily to the campaigns adopted by the company to stimulate usage, the high quality of the customers acquired in the year, who are characterized by increased service usage along with an increase of 33.1% of our average number of customers.
The total average monthly minutes of billed use per customer (“MOU”) for 2006 and 2005 pro forma was as shown in the following table:
| | | |
| | | | | | |
Average incoming MOU during the year | | | 37 | | | | 42 | |
Average outgoing MOU during the year | | | 52 | | | | 50 | |
Average total MOU during the year | | | 89 | | | | 92 | |
We believe the decrease in the average total MOU in 2006 from 2005 pro forma was due to the strong growth in the prepaid segment, which historically presents lower usage.
Interconnection charges
Interconnection revenues consist of amounts paid to us by other mobile and fixed line providers for completion of calls on our network of calls originating on their networks. Until July 14, 2006, no payments were made to us to the extent that offsetting charges between us and any other mobile service provider falls within a band of 45% to 55% of the aggregate charges for local calls between us and a provider for any given month, as required by the PCS regulations in July 2003. However, as such, Anatel completely eliminated the bill and keep concept, establishing a full interconnection regime, meaning that each mobile operator will be paid for the use of its network, based on total traffic. Our interconnection revenues were R$3,439.3 in 2006, a 38.4% increase from R$2,484.8 in 2005 pro forma.
Long distance charges
Revenues from long distance charges increased to R$1,351.1 million in 2006 from R$852.0 million in 2005 pro forma, due to an increase in our subscribers base and our efforts to facilitate the use of our long distance service through selection of service providers and service packages.
Value-added services
Value-added services revenues increased 51.7% to R$886.2 million in 2006 from R$584.3 million in 2005 pro forma, principally due to a significant increase in our customer base and partially due to GSM and its large variety of innovations with popular content (entertainment, infotainment and institutional/governmental information). These services include short messaging services (which represent the major portion of VAS revenues), ring tones, TV access, photo transmissions, multimedia message services (MMS), voice mail, call waiting, call forwarding, conference calling services and chat, among others.
Other service revenues
Revenues from other services was R$87.3 million in 2006, a 15.7% decrease from R$103.6 million in 2005 pro forma. This decrease was mainly caused by a decline in site sharing revenues of R$11.8 million, or 16.9% to R$58.1 million in 2006 from R$69.9 million in 2005 pro forma. Revenues from other services mainly include revenues from site sharing and co-billing services, which occur when we bill our customers on behalf of another long distance service provider for services rendered to our customer by that carrier.
Sales of mobile handsets and accessories
Sales of mobile handsets was R$2,057.3 million in 2006 as compared to R$2,270.1 million in 2005 pro forma, a 9.4% decrease due primarily to the reduction of prepaid handset sales volume, as well as the stimulation of SIM Card selling offers with “TIM Chip Only” promotion in 2006.
Value-added and other taxes relating to services
The principal tax on telecommunications services is ICMS tax, which is imposed at rates between 25% and 35%. ICMS is also the principal tax on sales of handsets, which is imposed at a rate of 17%. See “Item 4.B. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Sources of Revenue—Taxes on Telecommunications Goods and Services.” Two federal social contribution taxes, PIS and COFINS, are imposed at combined rates of 3.65% on gross revenues (operating and financial) relating to telecommunications services and at combined rates of 9.25% on mobile telephone handset sales.
Our value-added and other taxes relating to services and handset sales increased 22.5% from 2005 pro forma to 2006, primarily as a result of an increase in operating revenue from services.
Discounts
Discounts on services and handset sales increased 87.3% to R$665.3 million in 2006 as compared to R$355.3 million in 2005 pro forma. This increase was due primarily to strong competitive pressure to offer discounts during 2006.
Costs of services and goods
Costs of services and goods increased by 18.9% to R$5,530.0 in 2006 from R$4,650.8 in 2005 pro forma, due primarily to increases in expenses related to expanding the coverage and capacity of our GSM network and other costs relating to servicing a significant increase in our customer base. Additionally, costs of services and goods increased due to a 118.3% increase in interconnection expenses as a result of the termination of the partial bill and keep system in July 14, 2006, a 2.3% increase in circuit leasing and related expenses, a 9.5% increase in materials and services a 7.7% increase in the Fistel tax and a 18.2% increase in depreciation and amortization expenses. These costs increases were partially offset by a 13.7% decrease in personnel expenses and a 18.1% decrease in cost of handsets and accessories sold. Cost of goods and services represented 55.6% of net revenues in 2005 pro forma and 54.5% of net revenues in 2006. This decrease is principally due to the benefits of scale primarily attributable to the increase of our customer base. The following table shows the composition of costs of services and sales of mobile handsets, as well as the percentage change from 2005 pro forma to 2006:
Statement of Operations Data: | | Year ended December 31, | | | Percentage change | |
Brazilian GAAP | | 2006 as adjusted | | | 2005 as adjusted | | | 2005 (1) pro forma as adjusted | | | 2006 - 2005 pro forma | |
| | (in millions of reais) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,324.8 | | | | 383.4 | | | | 1,121.2 | | | | 18.2 | % |
Interconnection expenses | | | 1,780.4 | | | | 174.8 | | | | 815.6 | | | | 118.3 | % |
Circuit leasing and related expenses | | | 606.3 | | | | 185.5 | | | | 592.6 | | | | 2.3 | % |
Materials and services | | | 284.4 | | | | 72.6 | | | | 259.8 | | | | 9.5 | % |
Personnel | | | 106.8 | | | | 26.9 | | | | 123.7 | | | | -13.7 | % |
FISTEL tax and other | | | 19.5 | | | | 3.4 | | | | 18.1 | | | | 7.7 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total cost of services | | | 4,122.2 | | | | 846.6 | | | | 2,931.0 | | | | 40.6 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of handsets and accessories sold | | | 1,407.8 | | | | 536.5 | | | | 1,719.8 | | | | -18.1 | % |
Total costs of services and goods | | | 5,530.0 | | | | 1,383.1 | | | | 4,650.8 | | | | 18.9 | % |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2005. For an explanation of how pro forma amounts were calculated, including the adjustments made, see “Presentation of Information—Presentation of Financial Information.” |
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased 18.2% to R$1,324.8 million in 2006 from R$1,121.2 million in 2005 pro forma, due to the network and IT infrastructure expansion and improvement.
Interconnection expenses
Interconnection expenses consist of amounts paid to fixed-line and other mobile service providers for completion on their networks of calls originating on our network. Interconnection costs increased 118.3% to R$1,780.4 million in 2006 from R$815.6 million in 2005 pro forma, due to the elimination of the bill and keep system, meaning that the Company now pays the interconnection charge on every local call to other mobile operators, and to the growth in traffic volume (increase of 31.2% in 2006), basically due to the expansion of the client base.
Circuit leasing and related expenses
Circuit leasing and related expenses represent lease payments to Brasil Telecom, Telemar, Embratel and Telefonica for use of circuits interconnecting our radio base stations and switching centers and connecting our network to the networks of Brasil Telecom, Telemar, Embratel and Telefonica. Circuit leasing and related expenses increased 2.3% in 2006 to R$606.3 million from R$592.6 million in 2005 pro forma.
Materials and services
Materials and services costs were R$284.4 million in 2006, a 9.5% increase over R$259.8 million in 2005 pro forma primarily due to the increase in the number of sites supporting our network, which increased maintenance and third party costs.
Personnel
Personnel costs decreased 13.7% to R$106.8 million in 2006 from R$123.7 million in 2005 pro forma. This decrease was primarily due to the reduction of the network maintenance workforce, which had its activities partially outsourced in 2006.
FISTEL tax and other
FISTEL tax and other costs increased 7.7% to R$19.5 million in 2006 from R$18.1 million in 2005 pro forma, due in part to a higher number of installed base stations in 2006 as compared to 2005 pro forma.
Costs of handsets and accessories sold
The cost of handsets and accessories sold in 2006 was R$1,407.8 million, representing a 18.1% decrease from R$1,719.8 million in 2005 pro forma. This reduction was mainly due to: (i) the change in the consumer segment strategy, represented by the significant reduction of prepaid handset subsidies and the “SIM card” sales driven by the “TIM Chip Only” promotion; (ii) the annual reduction in handset sales volume (5.5 million in 2006 versus 7.3 million in 2005 pro forma), partially compensated by a change on handsets mix, reflecting the strong sales expansion of more sophisticated handsets (medium and high value); and (iii) the deferral of postpaid handsets subsidies, applied to the previous 12 months (R$160 million positive impact in 2006).
Gross profit margins
The following table shows our gross profits, as well as the percentage change, from 2006 to 2005 pro forma:
Statement of Operations Data: | | Year ended December 31, | | | Percentage change | |
Brazilian GAAP | | 2006 as adjusted | | | 2005 as adjusted | | | 2005 (1) pro forma as adjusted | | | 2006 - 2005 pro forma | |
| | (in millions of reais) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net operating revenues from services | | | 8,955.6 | | | | 2,430.7 | | | | 6,795.1 | | | | 31.8 | % |
Cost of services | | | (4,122.2 | ) | | | (846.6 | ) | | | (2,931.0 | ) | | | 40.6 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit from services | | | 4,833.4 | | | | 1,584.1 | | | | 3,864.1 | | | | 25.1 | % |
Net operating revenues from sales of cellular handsets and accessories | | | 1,182.6 | | | | 487.5 | | | | 1,573.0 | | | | -24.8 | % |
Cost of goods | | | (1,407.8 | ) | | | (536.5 | ) | | | (1,719.8 | ) | | | -18.1 | % |
Gross loss from sales of cellular handsets and accessories | | | (225.2 | ) | | | (49.0 | ) | | | (146.8 | ) | | | 53.4 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit | | | 4,608.2 | | | | 1,535.1 | | | | 3,717.3 | | | | 24.0 | % |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2005. For an explanation of how pro forma amounts were calculated, including the adjustments made, see “Presentation of Information—Presentation of Financial Information.” |
Our gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of net revenues) from services decreased from 56.9% in 2005 pro forma to 54.0% in 2006. This decrease resulted from an increase in cost of services, mainly affected by an increase of 118.3% in interconnection expenses.
Our negative gross margin for sales of mobile handsets and accessories increased from 9.3% in 2005 pro forma to 19.0% in 2006. We engage in sales of handsets, often with special promotions at particular times of the year, in order to increase the number of customers and generate demand for our services.
Our overall gross profit margin increased, from 44.4% in 2005 pro forma to 45.5% in 2006. This resulted primarily from a decrease in gross profit margin on services offset by the increase of our gross margin for handset sales.
Operating expenses
The following table shows our operating expenses, as well as the percentage change from year to year of each component, for 2006 and 2005 pro forma:
Statement of Operations Data: | | Year ended December 31, | | | Percentage change | |
Brazilian GAAP | | 2006 as adjusted | | | 2005 as adjusted | | | 2005 (1) pro forma as adjusted | | | 2006 - 2005 pro forma | |
| | (in millions of reais) | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Selling expenses | | | 3,250.9 | | | | 798.1 | | | | 3,067.7 | | | | 6.0 | % |
General and administrative expenses | | | 954.9 | | | | 185.9 | | | | 795.2 | | | | 20.1 | % |
Other operating expenses, net | | | 200.3 | | | | 25.3 | | | | 255.5 | | | | -21.6 | % |
Total operating expenses | | | 4,406.1 | | | | 1,009.3 | | | | 4,118.4 | | | | 7.0 | % |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2005. For an explanation of how pro forma amounts were calculated, including the adjustments made, see “Presentation of Information—Presentation of Financial Information.” |
Our total operating expenses increased 7.0% to R$4,406.1 million in 2006 from R$4,118.4 million in 2005 pro forma. This increase resulted from increases in selling expenses and general and administrative expenses.
Selling expenses
Selling expenses increased 6.0% to R$3,250.9 million in 2006 from R$3,067.7 million in 2005 pro forma, well below the increase in our service revenues, since it decreased as a percentage of net revenues, being 36.3% in 2006 and 45.1% in 2005 pro forma primarily due to a higher efficiency of sales channels and the increase in chip sales in the prepaid segment, thereby reducing commissions, partially offset by more acquisitions in the postpaid segment.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses increased 20.1% to R$954.9 million in 2006 from R$795.2 million in 2005 pro forma. This increase was primarily due to the upturn in IT service costs, combined with expenses from the corporate restructuring, and the cost related to implementation of the internal control procedures to meet the requirements of Sarbanes Oxley Regulation.
Other operating expense, net
Other net operating expenses decreased 21.6% to R$200.3 million in 2006 from R$255.5 million in 2005 pro forma. This decrease was primarily due to the recovery of a provision for a PIS/COFINS offset in part by an aggregate increase in various categories of other operating income.
Net financial expense
We had net financial expense of R$287.0 million in 2006, which represented a 18.0% decrease from R$350.1 million in 2005 pro forma. This expense was primarily due to accrued expenses on loans and financing.
Net non-operating income (expense)
Net non-operating income and expenses consist mainly of gains and losses on the disposition of fixed assets, and write-offs of fixed assets. We had net non-operating income of R$2.5 million in 2006 compared to net non-operating expense of R$5.5 million in 2005 pro forma. The net non-operating income in 2006 was due to the sale of fixed assets.
Income and social contribution taxes
We recorded income and social contribution tax expense of R$203.1 million in 2006, compared to an expense of R$176.1 million in 2005 pro forma. The 2006 balance includes the write-off of the deferred tax assets of R$75 million (nil in 2005).
Loss
Our loss in 2006 was R$285.5 million, representing an decrease of 70.1% from R$954.3 million in 2005 pro forma, primarily reflecting the increase in our operating income.
B. | Liquidity and Capital Resources |
Our principal assets are the shares we hold in our subsidiaries. We rely almost exclusively on dividends from our subsidiaries to meet our needs for cash, including for the payment of dividends to shareholders. We control the payment of dividends by these subsidiaries subject to limitations set forth by Brazilian law. These limitations have not materially restricted the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute dividends of income and reserves to us.
We expect to fund our capital expenditures and distributions to our shareholders in 2007 with cash from operating and investing activities. Our management expects cash from operations to be sufficient to meet our liquidity requirements in 2008 and for the years of 2009 and 2010. In the event that cash from such sources were to fall short of our expectations, we would seek to compensate for such shortfall through a combination of financing and reduction of both capital expenditures and distributions to shareholders. Distributions to our shareholders, however, cannot fall below minimum thresholds required by Brazilian Corporations Law. See “Item 8.A. Financial Information—Consolidated Statements and Others Financial Information—Dividend Policy.”
Sources of Funds
Cash from operations
Our cash flows from operating activities were R$2,528.1 million in 2007, compared to R$1,759.8 million in 2006. At December 31, 2007, we had working capital of R$231.4 million, compared to working capital of R$324.2 million in 2006.
Financial Contracts
We and our subsidiaries are parties to the following material financial contracts:
• | Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2004, among TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, in the principal amount of R$20 million. The amount outstanding as of December 31, 2007, including accrued interest, was R$15.0 million. The agreement, which matures on June 28, 2012, bears interest in the rate of 11.5% per annum. In connection with this agreement, Banco Bradesco S.A. issued a letter of guarantee, subject to the payment of fees corresponding to 1% per annum of the principal amount. The guarantee agreement executed by TIM Nordeste and Banco Bradesco S.A. provides for the issuance of a $30 million promissory note by TIM Nordeste, with Tim Participações as the guarantor of such promissory note. |
• | Credit Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2005, among TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, in the principal amount of approximately R$85.3 million. The amount outstanding as of December 31, 2007, including accrued interest, was R$75.9 million. The agreement, which matures on April 29, 2013, and bears interest at a rate of 11.5% per annum. In connection with this agreement, Banco Bradesco S.A. issued a letter of guarantee, subject to the payment of fees corresponding to 1% per annum of the principal amount. The guarantee agreement executed by TIM Nordeste and Banco Bradesco S.A. provides for the issuance of a $128.0 million promissory note by TIM Nordeste, with Tim Participações as the guarantor of such promissory note. |
• | Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2004, among TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, in the principal amount of R$99.9 million. The amount outstanding as of December 31, 2007, including accrued interest, was R$74.9 million. The agreement, which matures on June 28, 2012, bears interest in the rate of 11.5% per annum. In connection with this agreement, Banco Bradesco S.A. issued a letter of guarantee, subject to the payment of fees corresponding to 1% per annum of the principal amount. The guarantee agreement executed by TIM Nordeste and Banco Bradesco S.A. provides for the issuance of a $149.8 million promissory note by TIM Nordeste, with Tim Brasil as the guarantor of such promissory note. |
• | Credit Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2005, among BNDES, as lender, TIM Celular, as borrower, and Tim Brasil as guarantor, in the principal amount of R$1,064.9 million outstanding as of December 31, 2007. The agreement, which matures on August 15, 2013 bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.2% plus the TJLP, which was 6.25% per annum on December 31, 2007. On December 31, 2007, the outstanding amount under this credit agreement, including accrued interest, was R$1,068.9 million. |
• | Credit Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2005, among BNDES, as lender, TIM Celular, as borrower, and Unibanco, as guarantor, in the principal amount of R$48.3 million outstanding as of December 31, 2007. The agreement, which matures on October 17, 2011, bears interest at a fixed rate of 3% plus the TJLP, which was 6.25% per annum on December 31, 2007. On December 31, 2007, the outstanding amount under this credit agreement, including accrued interest, was R$48.4 million. In connection with this agreement, Unibanco issued a letter of guarantee, subject to the payment of fees corresponding to 0.64% per annum of the principal amount. |
• | Credit Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2005, among HSBC, ABN Amro, Bradesco, Banco do Brasil, Itaú, Santander, BNP Paribas, Unibanco, Banco Votorantim, Societé Generale, as lenders, TIM Celular, as borrower, and Tim Brasil, as guarantor, in the principal amount of R$600.0 million outstanding as of December 31, 2007. The agreement, which matures on August 10, 2009, bears interest at a variable rate of 0.9% above the CDI interest rate. On December 31, 2007, the outstanding amount under this credit agreement, including accrued interest, was R$623.7 million. |
• | Several facility agreements (“Compror”), contracted and disbursed between June, July and December 2007, among TIM Celular, as borrower, and Banco Santander, and ABN AMRO, as lenders, in the total principal amount of R$241.1 million. The total outstanding amount as of December 31, 2007 was R$235.9 million, including accrued interest. The agreements, which the last mature will be on June 2008, are denominated in foreign currencies (USD an JPY) bearing interests of 6.42% p.a. (USD) and 0.93% p.a. (JPY). Otherwise, for each disbursement was contracted a swap (CCIRS), bringing the final average cost to 104.5% of the CDI. No guarantees were offered for these loans. |
See note 13 to our consolidated financial statements for a further description of such financing agreements. See note 32 to our consolidated financial statements and “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” for a discussion regarding our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations and our hedging activities. On December 31, 2007, we had R$2,143 million outstanding in loans and financings, including accrued interest, compared to R$2,198 million on December 31, 2006.
Uses of Funds
Principal uses of funds during the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, were the purchase of fixed assets, the payment of distributions to our shareholders and loan repayments. Funds used for the purchase of fixed assets, including accounts payable, for the years ended December 2007, 2006 and 2005 pro forma totaled R$1,044.2 million, R$937.5 million and R$1,089.2 million, respectively. Dividend payments to our shareholders and subsidiary minority interest during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 pro forma totaled R$440.3 million, R$114.9 million and R$92.8 million, respectively. Funds used for loan payments for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 pro forma totaled, respectively, R$1,466.8, R$1,070.7 million and R$275.7 million. See note 40 to our consolidated financial statements.
Investments in Fixed Assets
Our capital expenditures in 2007, 2006, and 2005, capital expenditures related primarily to:
| · | implementation and maintenance of our GSM and TDMA networks; |
| · | purchases of equipment relating to our migration to PCS operations; |
| · | expanding network capacity, geographic coverage and digitalization; |
| · | developing new operational systems to meet customers’ demands and information technology systems; and |
| · | free handsets provided to corporate customers (comodato). |
The following table contains a breakdown of our investments in fixed assets for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005:
| | | |
Capital Expenditures Categories | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in millions of reais) | |
Network | | R$ | 1,106.9 | | | R$ | 819.0 | | | R$ | 1,579.7 | |
Information technology | | | 506.2 | | | | 412.2 | | | | 526.4 | |
Handsets provided to corporate customers (comodato) | | | 234.6 | | | | 314.2 | | | | 309.3 | |
Other | | | 85.2 | | | | 42.4 | | | | 140.1 | |
Total capital expenditures | | R$ | 1,932.9 | | | R$ | 1,587.8 | | | R$ | 2,555.5 | |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2005. For an explanation of how pro forma amounts were calculated, including the adjustments made, see “Presentation of Information—Presentation of Financial Information.” |
Our management has approved our budget for capital expenditures from 2008 to 2010 in the total amount of R$7.2 billion for expenditures relating to our subsidiaries. Most of the capital expenditures budgeted for 2008 relate to the expansion of the capacity and quality of our GSM network, development of information technology systems, acquisition of 3G license and implementation of its network. See “Item 4.A. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company—Capital Expenditures.”
Dividends
Our Dividends are calculated in accordance with our bylaws and the Brazilian Corporations Law. Pursuant to our bylaws, we must distribute an amount equivalent to 25% of adjusted net income as minimum dividend each year ended December 31, provided that there are funds available for distribution.
For the purposes of the Brazilian Corporation Law and in accordance with our bylaws, “adjusted net income” is the amount equal to the net profit adjusted to reflect allocations to or from: (i) the legal reserve, and (ii) a contingency reserve for probable losses, if applicable.
Preferred shares are nonvoting but take priority on (i) capital reimbursement, at no premium; and (ii) payment of a minimum non-cumulative dividend of 6% p.a. on the total obtained from dividing the capital stock by the total number of shares issued by the us.
Following the latest amendment to Brazilian Corporations Law (Law No. 10,303/01), our bylaws have been amended by including the First Paragraph of Section 10, to give holders of preferred shares, the right to receive dividends corresponding to 3% (three percent) of shareholders equity every year, based on the balance sheet most recently approved, whenever the amount then resulting exceeds the dividend amount as calculated pursuant to the criteria, described in the preceding paragraph.
Our management proposed that the outstanding balance of the adjusted net profits, in the amount of R$72.3 million be fully distributed as dividends to our preferred shareholders. Our management also proposed the realization of the outstanding balance of the Reserve for the Expansion of the Business’ account, in the amount of R$139.7 million to the preferred shareholders.
The following table contains a breakdown of the dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity actually paid (net of income taxes) by us to our shareholders during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:
Dividend Distribution (1) | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | (in millions of reais) | |
Dividends | | R$ | 440.3 | | | R$ | 58.5 | | | R$ | 53.9 | |
Interest on shareholders’ equity | | | - | | | R$ | 56.4 | | | R$ | 38.9 | |
Total distributions | | R$ | 440.3 | | | R$ | 114.9 | | | R$ | 92.8 | |
(1) Amounts already paid to our shareholders
On April 11, 2008 our shareholders approved the distribution of R$212.0 million as dividends to our shareholders with respect to our 2007 results. On April 12, 2007 our shareholders approved the distribution of R$450.7 million as dividends to our shareholders with respect to our 2006 results. On March 7, 2006 our shareholders approved the distribution of R$132.5 million (R$122.0 million net of taxes) as dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity to our shareholders with respect to our 2005 results.
C. | Research and Development |
We do not independently develop new telecommunications hardware and depend upon the manufacturers of telecommunications products for the development of new hardware. Accordingly, we do not expect to incur material research and development expenses in the future.
Customer Base and Market Share
The customer base presented a strong growth, reflecting the excellent position and image of TIM in the markets where it operates. At year-end, TIM had 31.3 million customers, a 23.0% growth year-over-year, equivalent to a 25.8% market share, as compared to 25.4% at the end of 2006. In 2007, TIM reassured the leadership in incremental market share, closing the year with 23.3% of total net additions in the Brazilian market. Postpaid subscriber base increased 25.4% over 2007, outperforming by 20.9% the national average, decreasing the share of these customers in the total base from 48.0% in 2006 to 33.8% in 2007 – the second highest proportion of postpaid customers in the domestic market. It is important to note that, at year-end, 96.9%, or 30.3 million, of TIM’s total customer base was already using the GSM technology.
Although no assurances can be given as to the size of our subscriber base and market share in the future, we intend to focus on maintaining and improving our strong position in the mobile telecommunications market in Brazil in terms of number of subscribers and our high quality customer composition. To do so we intend to utilize sophisticated customer relationship strategies and our customer segmentation approach, which we believe has contributed to an increased subscriber base and market share since the beginning of 2005, to retain our current customers and attract new customers.
Change of Mix Between Postpaid and Prepaid Customers
Clients using postpaid services constituted 21.7% of our customer base on December 31, 2007 compared to 21.3% on December 31, 2006. Until the end of 2007, the proportion of our customers representing postpaid customers increased steadily due in part to the increased purchasing power of the less affluent residents of Brazil that resulted from macroeconomic trends in Brazil and in part to the intensive marketing efforts directed at these customers in 2006 and, to a lesser extent, in 2007, which we believe was necessary to establish the subscriber base scale needed to support our expansion to a nationwide mobile network. We will continue to focus our marketing efforts on the higher revenue postpaid customers to partially offset the effect on our ARPU and profit margins of increases in prepaid customers.
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) Per Month
We face the challenge of maintaining a relatively stable ARPU after experiencing an increase of 3.8% from R$33.08 in 2006, to R$34.35 in 2007. This growth reflected the marketing campaigns we adopted to stimulate usage, as well as the seasonality characterized by increased service usage.
We are seeking to maintain a relatively stable ARPU by focusing on higher revenue customers through our targeted customer segmentation marketing approach and offering high quality services. If we are able to continue to maintain a relatively high ARPU, it would allow us to maintain strong revenue even if growth in the Brazilian mobile market slows.
Our revenues from the use of value-added services represented only 7.9% and 7.5% of our gross service revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. However, revenue from value-added service increased approximately 37.3% for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the year ended December 31, 2006. We anticipate that revenues from value-added services will continue to increase and become a larger component of our total service revenues. As the provision of value-added services has a relatively low marginal cost, we anticipate that value-added services will contribute to the growth of our operating margins.
Competitive Environment
The Brazilian mobile telecommunications industry continues to be highly competitive. We have responded and continue to respond to the competitive environment in the Brazilian telecommunications market in a number of ways, primarily by seeking to establish nationwide network coverage and focusing on customer attraction and retention. We believe our recent expansion of our GSM network, which now covers nearly all metropolitan areas of at least 10,000 inhabitants in Brazil, has furthered these goals. As part of this effort, we have focused on providing a wider range of service packages tailored to different customer segments and expect to make increased investments in retaining our customer base through initiatives such as our customer service approach and strengthening our brand through our marketing efforts. We also seek to make available competitive services, both in terms of premium features such as value-added services and EDGE technology and in terms of our service packages.
In 2007, the Brazilian telecommunications market exhibited a more rational approach to acquiring new customers with a reduced emphasis on subsidies and zero-interest financing for prepaid handsets and an increased emphasis on customer retention. Our gross acquisition cost per new customer added was R$118 for the year ended December 31, 2007, compared to R$145 for the year ended December 31, 2006, reflecting (1) the decrease on advertising expenses; and (2) dilution of expenses amongst a larger client base.
In addition to competition from other traditional mobile telecommunications service providers, the level of competition from fixed-line service providers has increased, and we expect will continue to increase, as fixed-line service providers attempt to attract subscribers away from mobile service based on price and package offers that bundle multiple applications such as voice services (mobile and fixed-line), broadband and other services. Technological changes in the telecommunications field, such as the development of third generation, or 3G, and VOIP, are expected to introduce additional sources of competition. It is also expected that Anatel will auction licenses to provide mobile telecommunications services over additional bandwidth frequencies to accommodate these emerging technologies.
The scope of competition and any adverse effects on our results and market share will depend on a variety of factors that cannot be assessed with precision, some of which are beyond our control. See “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors” and “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Competition.”
Network Investment
We maintain our investments in expanding our GSM network, increasing the number of radio base stations by 5.0%, 5.0% and 9.3% in 2007, 2006 and 2005 pro forma, respectively. With our geographic coverage of the Brazilian urban population at approximately 88.6% as of December 31, 2007 and approximately 96.9% of our customers using GSM technology as of the same date, we expect to invest significantly less in our network over the next several years. We will, however, continue to invest in selectively expanding our coverage of the Brazilian population, focusing on the quality of coverage we provide in major metropolitan areas by increasing our coverage in buildings, tunnels and major roads and on increasing capacity across our network to ensure it remains capable of absorbing high call volume in high usage areas. GSM is viewed as good pathway to more advanced technologies, and we expect relatively limited further investment will be required to make our current network capable of supporting emerging technologies such as 3G, 3.5G and High Speed Downlink Packet Access, or HSDPA.
E. | Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements |
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
F. | Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations |
The following table shows our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2007:
| | Payments due by Period (in millions of reais) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long-term debt | | | 2,116.6 | | | | 774.8 | | | | 768.2 | | | | 443.8 | | | | 129.8 | |
Operating leases(1) | | | 1,074.2 | | | | 198.5 | | | | 420.9 | | | | 454.8 | | | | - | |
Total(2) | | | 3,190.8 | | | | 973.3 | | | | 1,189.1 | | | | 898.6 | | | | 129.8 | |
(1) | The information regarding payments due by period under our operating leases reflects future payments due that are non-cancelable without payment of a penalty. See note 18 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. |
(2) | Other than as set forth herein, we have no capital lease obligations, unconditional purchase obligations, commercial commitments (i.e., lines of credit, standby letters of credit, standby repurchase obligations or other commercial commitments) or other long-term obligations. |
In 2008, we expect to have approximately R$3.8 billion in capital expenditures relating to our subsidiaries. Most of the planned 2008 capital expenditures relate to the expansion of the capacity and quality of our 3G technology and development of information technology systems. See “Item 4.A. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company—Capital Expenditures.”
Contingent Pension Liabilities
Until December 1999, we participated in a multi-employer defined benefit plan (the “Telebrás Pension Plan”) that covered the employees of the Telebrás System who retired before the Breakup as well as those who continued working for the operating companies after the Breakup. We are contingently liable, jointly and severally with the other New Holding Companies, for the unfunded obligations of the Telebrás Pension Plan with respect to all such employees who retired before January 30, 2000. In December 1999, we changed to a defined benefit plan (the “PBS Plan”) that covers only those former employees of Telebrás who continued to be employed by us after December 1999. We are also contingently liable for the unfunded obligations of the PBS Plan with respect to our employees participating in this plan. See note 33 to our consolidated financial statements.
In November 2002, we created a separate defined contribution plan (the “TIMPREV Pension Plan”). Migration to this plan was optional for employees linked to the PBS Plan. Migration to the TIMPREV Pension Plan extinguishes the migrating participant’s rights under the PBS Plan. We are also contingently liable for the unfounded obligations of the TIMPREV Pension Plan with respect to our employees participating in this plan. See note 33 to our consolidated financial statements.
G. | Safe harbor |
| |
| Not applicable. |
| |
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
A. | Directors and Senior Management |
| |
Board of Directors
We are administered by a Board of Directors (Conselho de Administração) and a Board of Executive Officers (Diretoria), which are overseen by a Fiscal Committee (Conselho Fiscal). The Board of Directors is comprised of three to seven members, serving for of a two year term each with the possibility of re-election.
Our directors’ duties and responsibilities are set forth by Brazilian law, our Estatutos Sociais (“by-laws”) and our Política de Divulgação de Informações (Disclosure Policy), as determined by CVM Instruction 358. All decisions taken by our Board of Directors are registered in the books of the Board of Directors’ meetings. The Board of Directors holds regular meetings once every quarter of the fiscal year and also holds special meetings when discretionarily called by the chair, by two directors or by the Chief Executive Officer. The chair of the Board of Directors may also invite to the Board of Directors’ meetings, at his discretion, any of our key employees, in order to discuss any relevant corporate matter. Our Board of Directors does not have an independent directors’ committee or a compensation committee.
Management is required to comply with, and has agreed to comply with, the Manual of Securities Trade and Information Use and Disclosure Policy and the Code of Ethics, issued by the Company.
The following are the members of the Board of Directors and their respective titles:
| | | | |
Giorgio della Seta Ferrari Corbelli Greco | | Chairman | | April 12, 2007 |
Mario Cesar Pereira de Araujo | | Director | | April 12, 2007 |
Francesco Saverio Locati | | Director | | April 12, 2007 |
Stefano Ciurli | | Director | | April 12, 2007 |
Mailson Ferreira da Nóbrega | | Director | | April 12, 2007 |
Josino de Almeida Fonseca | | Director | | April 12, 2007 |
Isaac Selim Sutton | | Director | | April 12, 2007 |
Mr. della Seta, Mr. Araujo, Mr. Locati, Mr. Ciurli, Mr. Nóbrega, Mr. Fonseca and Mr. Sutton were elected to their respective offices at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting held in 2007. Mr. Nóbrega, Mr. Fonseca and Mr. Sutton are the members of the Board of Directors qualified as independent directors according to Brazilian independence standards. They are scheduled to be re-elected or replaced at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting to be held in 2009. Set forth below are brief biographical descriptions of the members of the Board of Directors.
Giorgio della Seta Ferrari Corbelli Greco. Mr. della Seta has been a member of our Board of Directors since March 2006. He was the chairman of the Board of Directors of Telecom Itália Latin America from 2002 to 2004 and a member of the Board of Directors of TIM – Telecom Itália Mobile S.p.A. since 2004. Mr. della Seta has also served as the President of Pirelli S.A. since 1995 and President of Telecom Itália Latin America since 2006. Mr. della Seta holds a PhD in Law from the University of Milan in Italy.
Mario Cesar Pereira de Araujo. Mr. Araujo has been our Chief Executive Officer since May 4, 2006. He has also served as a member and chairman of several boards, including TIM Brasil and TIM Celular, among others. He has also been the Chief Executive Officer and Technology Officer of Tele Nordeste Celular since April 2003. From 1998 to 1999, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Tele Centro Oeste Celular. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ.
Francesco Saverio Locati. Mr. Locati has been a member of our Board of Directors since April 2007. He has also been serving as the Company’s General Officer (COO) since July, 2006. He was hired by Telecom Italia in 2001 as the responsible for the Customer Operations. He worked at Infostrada from 1998 to 2001, as the responsible for the activities of Customer Care and Billing. Mr. Locati holds a degree in Physics from the University “La Sapienza” of Rome.
Stefano Ciurli. Mr. Ciurli has been a member of our Board of Directors since April 2007. He has also served as Mobile Controller of TIM Group. Mr. Ciurli has been responsible for International Support in 2006 concerning Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Turkey. He has been TIM Group’s CFO from 2003 to 2006. Mr. Ciurli has a degree in Economics and Commerce at LUISS University.
Mailson Ferreira da Nóbrega. Mr. Nóbrega has been a member of our Board of Director since April, 2007. He is an economist and, held the position of Brazil´s Minister of Finance from 1988 to 1990 after building an extensive career at Banco do Brasil and in the public sector, in which the following positions stand out: Technical Consultant and Chief of Project Analysis Department at Banco do Brasil; Coordination Chief of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance. He performed as the Chief Executive Officer of the European Brazilian Bank - EUROBRAZ, in London. Mr. Nóbrega is also member of the Board of Directors of the following companies: Abyara Planejamento Imobiliário, CSU Cardsystem S.A., Grendene S.A., Portobello S.A., Rodobens Negócios Imobiliários S.A. and Veracel Celulose S.A. Mr. Nóbrega was also a member of our Fiscal Committee in 2004 and in 2005.
Josino de Almeida Fonseca. Mr. Fonseca has been a member of our Board of Directors since April 2007. He performed as member of the Board of Directors of other Brazilian companies such as Oxiteno S.A. and TESS S.A. He held the position of General Officer of Sogeral Finance Group and Investibanco Financial Group, as well as Chief Financial Officer of Cia. Internacional de Seguros and Banco Crefisul de Investimento. Mr. Fonseca was also a member of our Fiscal Committee (from May, 2005 through April, 2007) and the Fiscal Committee of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações and Tele Celular Sul Participações (from April, 2004 through May, 2005). In addition to that, he discharged duties in the Brazilian Ministry of Planning and the National Department of Highways. Mr. Fonseca holds a degree on Civil Engineering from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and has an MBA in Finance from IBMEC.
Isaac Selim Sutton. Mr. Sutton is an officer for Grupo Safra since 1994, with presence in the Group Holding. Mr. Sutton served in various privatizations and investing process, as well as the development of Joint Ventures in a large variety of sectors: telecommunication, banks, petrochemical and rail among others. Mr. Sutton was for several years member of Aracruz Celulose’s Board of Directors. Mr. Sutton is currently the alternate of the chairman Board of Directors and is responsible for coordinating the Audit Committee since its creation in 1997. Mr. Sutton has been a member of our Board of Directors. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of other Brazilian companies such as Veracel Celulose S/A, Bardella S.A. Indústrias Mecânicas, BR Properties S.A. and is a member of Fiscal Committee of Seguradora Líder DPVAT S/A. Mr. Sutton was a member of Board of Directors in companies such as Telenorte Celular, Gevisa and Celma. He was a member of Fiscal Committee in TIM Sul, Têxtil Renaux and TIM Nordeste. He was also director of group UNIGEL and Cosmoquímica and marketing manager of Dow Química. He holds a degree in Economics from Universidade de São Paulo (USP).
We do not have contracts with our directors providing benefits upon termination of their appointments.
Board of Executive Officers
As approved by our Board of Directors’ meeting held on May 5, 2008, our Board of Executive Officers is comprised of at least two and no more than six members, who may or may not be shareholders. The title of the members of our Board of Executive Officers shall be as follows: (i) Chief Executive Officer, (ii) General Officer, (iii) Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer, (iv) Supply Officer, (v) Human Resources Officer, (vi) Legal Officer. Each member of our Board of Executive Officers, who serve two-year terms of office (with re-election permitted) may be elected or dismissed by our Board of Directors at any time and with no cause.
The following are the current members of the Board of Executive Officers and their respective titles:
| | | | |
Mario Cesar Pereira de Araujo | | Chief Executive Officer | | May 5, 2008 |
Francesco Saverio Locati | | General Officer | | May 5, 2008 |
Gianandrea Castelli Rivolta | | Chief Financial Officer and Investors Relations Officer | | May 5, 2008 |
Cláudio Roberto de Argollo Bastos | | Supply Officer | | May 5, 2008 |
Orlando Lopes Júnior | | Human Resources Officer | | May 5, 2008 |
Lara Cristina Ribeiro Piau Marques | | Legal Officer | | May 5, 2008 |
Set forth below are brief biographical descriptions of our executive officers.
Mario Cesar Pereira de Araujo. Please find above the brief biographical description of Mr. Araujo.
Francesco Saverio Locati. Please find above the brief biographical description of Mr. Locati.
Gianandrea Castelli Rivolta. Mr. Rivolta has been the Chief Financial Officer of TIM Participações S.A. since December 6th, 2007. From 2003 to 2007, he was responsible for the planning and control of the operations of Telecom Italia Mobile S.p.A. in Italy. He holds a degree in Politics Science from Università Statale de Milano and a Master degree in Business Administration from SDA Bocconi, in Italy.
Cláudio Roberto de Argollo Bastos. Mr. Bastos has been the Supply Officer of TIM Participações S.A. since May 4, 2006. He has also served as the Supply Officer for TIM Brasil S.A. since 2001 and for TIM Peru from June 2004 to February 2005. He gained experience working for Intelig Telecomunicações Ltda, Ethyl/Texaco, A.Araujo S.A. Engenharia and Internacional de Enga S.A. from 1985 to 2001. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Universidade Federal Fluminense and attended the Executive MBA in COPPEAD at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Bastos attended a post-graduate program in Telecommunications Management at the Fundação Getúlio Vargas.
Orlando Lopes Junior. Mr. Lopes has been the Human Resources Officer of TIM Participações S.A. since May 4, 2006. He served as Human Resources Officer of TIM Celular S.A. since November 2005 and as Governance Manager from October 2003 to November 2005. He also gained experience serving as Human Resources Officer at Olivetti do Brasil S.A. and Pirelli Energia Cabos e Sistemas do Brasil S.A. Mr. Lopes has also worked for Renault do Brasil S.A., Pepsico do Brasil Ltda. – Pizza Hut and KFC, Indústrias Gessy Lever Ltda, Ford Brasil S.A., among others. He holds a degree in Law from the Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas and attended a post-graduate program in Labor Law at the Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo (USP).
Lara Cristina Ribeiro Piau Marques. Ms. Marques has been the Legal Counsel of TIM Participações S.A. since May 4, 2006. She also served as the Legal Director for TIM Brasil since July 2004 and Legal Manager for TIM Celular S.A. from February 2003 to July 2004. She was a member of the Fiscal Committee of Tele Celular Sul Participações S.A., Telepar Celular S.A. and CTMR Celular from 2000 to 2003. She gained experience as the Legal Manager for TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações from October 1998 to January 2003. She holds a degree in Law from the Faculdade de Direito do Distrito Federal and attended a post graduate program in Civil Procedure Law at the Instituto Brasileiro de Processo Civil at the Fundação Getúlio Vargas. She has also completed courses in International Law at the Hague Academy in International Law in Holland, in Labor Law at the Universidade de Brasília, in Tort Law at the Fundação Getúlio Vargas, and has an MBA in Telecommunications from the IBMEC.
Fiscal Committee
The Fiscal Committee consists of five members, two of which are elected by the majority common shareholders and one by the minority preferred shareholders.
The following are the current members of our Fiscal Committee:
| | | | |
Miguel Roberto Gherrize | | April 11, 2008 | | 1 year |
José Sampaio de Lacerda Junior | | April 11, 2008 | | 1 year |
Oswaldo Orsolin | | April 11, 2008 | | 1 year |
Alberto Emmanuel Whitaker | | April 11, 2008 | | 1 year |
Alfredo Ferreira Marques Filho | | April 11, 2008 | | 1 year |
Under Brazilian Corporations Law, the Fiscal Committee’s general duties and responsibilities include monitoring the actions of management and verifying its compliance with legal duties and appropriate statutes; providing opinions regarding management’s annual report, business plans and budgets; and performing reviews of, and opinions regarding, our financial statements. All members serve independently from the company in their capacities on the Fiscal Committee.
Since our April 23, 2004 shareholders’ meeting, we have elected members of the Fiscal Committee who are independent from the Company and its affiliates. At a shareholders’ meeting held on May 6, 2004, we adopted internal by-laws of our Fiscal Committee in order for it to serve also as an alternative structure to an Audit Committee in accordance with Rule 10A-3 under Section 301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Sarbanes-Oxley. See “Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.”
Principal Differences Between Brazilian and US. Corporate Governance Practices
The significant differences between our corporate governance practices and NYSE’s corporate governance standards are as follows:
Independence of Directors and Independence Tests
Neither our Board of Directors nor our management test the independence of the directors before such elections are made. However, both Brazilian Corporations Law and the CVM establish rules in relation to certain qualification requirements and restrictions, investiture, compensation, duties and responsibilities of the companies’ executives and directors. Although we believe these rules provide adequate assurances that our directors are independent, we believe such rules would permit us to have directors that would not otherwise pass the independence tests established by the NYSE.
Executive Sessions
According to Brazilian Corporations Law, up to one-third of the members of the Board of Directors can be elected into executive positions. The remaining non management directors are not expressly empowered to serve as a check on management and there is no requirement that those directors meet regularly without management. Currently, we have two members of our Board of Directors also taking executive positions: Mr. Mario Cesar Pereira de Araujo and Mr. Francesco Saverio Locati.
Committees
We are not required under applicable Brazilian Corporations Law to have, and accordingly we do not have, a Nominating Committee, a Corporate Governance Committee or a Compensation Committee. Pursuant to our by-laws our directors are elected by our shareholders at a general shareholders’ meeting. Compensation for our directors and executive officers is established by our shareholders.
Audit Committee and Audit Committee Additional Requirements
Brazilian Corporations Law requires that we have a statutory Board of Auditors (referred to as our Fiscal Committee or Conselho Fiscal). Our Fiscal Committee meets the requirements of the general exemption set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10A-3(c)(3). Our Fiscal Committee is primarily charged with certain advisory, oversight and review functions with respect to the company’s financial statements, management acts and certain proposals to be submitted to shareholders’ meetings, such as proposals made by management regarding investment plans, capital expenditures budget, dividends distribution and corporate restructuring involving the company. However, the Fiscal Committee, as required by Brazilian Corporations Law, has only an advisory role and does not participate in the management of the company. Indeed, decisions of the Fiscal Committee are not binding on the company under Brazilian Corporations Law. Our Board of Directors, under Brazilian Corporations Law, is the only entity with the legal capacity to appoint and terminate any independent registered public accounting firm.
Since Brazilian Corporations Law does not specifically grant our Fiscal Committee the power to establish receipt, retention and complaint procedures regarding accounting, internal control and audit matters, or create policies for the confidential, anonymous treatment of employee concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters, we adopted at a shareholders’ meeting held on May 6, 2004 a committee charter to clarify that the Fiscal Committee has certain powers and duties, which comprise, among others, the powers herein mentioned.
We do not believe that our use of the Fiscal Committee in accordance with Brazilian Corporations Law, as opposed to the provisions set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10A-3(b), materially adversely affects the ability of the Fiscal Committee to act independently, satisfy the other applicable requirements of Exchange Act Rule 10A-3 or fulfill its fiduciary and other obligations under Brazilian law. It is presently contemplated that the Fiscal Committee will continue to be independent. However, because the Fiscal Committee’s members will continue to be elected and its budget will continue to be set at the general shareholders’ meeting, we can make no assurance that the Fiscal Committee or its future members will continue to be independent from our controlling shareholder in the future.
For the year ended December 31, 2007, we approved the aggregate amount of approximately R$9.0 million as compensation to our directors and executive officers. The officers and directors did not receive any benefit not included in the compensation referred to in this Annual Report. Accordingly, we did not set aside or accrue any amounts to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits to our officers and directors during 2006. See “—Stock Option Plan,” for a description of our plan to compensate our employees based on the results of operations. Our executive officers and other managers of the company are eligible to receive an incentive (MBO or “Management by Objectives”) bonus. The general criteria for the MBO bonus are approved by our Board of Directors and provides that eligible executive officers and other managers may receive a multiple of their base salary if they achieve certain pre-established targets.
On the year ended December 31, 2007, each director received R$117,000 and each member of our Fiscal Committee received R$112,500.
We are not required under Brazilian law to disclose, and have not disclosed, the compensation of our officers on an individual basis.
Stock Option Plan
At our extraordinary shareholders’ meeting held on May 2, 2001, our shareholders approved a stock option plan that was effective as of that date. The purposes of the stock option plan are:
| · | to retain the services and advice of our key directors and employees, upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts we depend; |
| · | to make available to our key directors and employees certain compensatory arrangements based on our market value increase; and |
| · | to align generally the interests of our key directors and employees and the interests of our shareholder. |
Our stock option plan had a four-year term and expired in April 2005. Our Board of Directors could authorize future capital increases, within the limit of the authorized capital, with the issuance of preferred shares for the benefit of our key employees. The number of shares that could be issued under the stock option plan was limited to 1.5% of our capital stock. Options vest under the stock option plan only if our earnings before interest and taxes meet certain targets, which are set for each year in the annual budgeting process. The holders of options under the stock option plan could be able to exercise their options at certain prices established under the terms of the plan.
In 2003, 29 of our employees exercised their options under our stock option plan, resulting in the acquisition of 26,798 preferred shares through December 31, 2003. See note 20.e to the consolidated financial statements for further information about the stock option plan. No employees exercised their options under our stock options plan in 2004.
On April 26, 2005, our Board of Directors approved a capital increase within the limits of our authorized capital, in the amount of R$2.0 upon the issuance of 595,198 tranches of 1,000 preferred shares, resulting from the exercise of the share purchase options by 24 officers, managers and employees pursuant to our Share Purchase Option Plan.
Our stock option plan expired in April 2005 and has not been renewed by our shareholders.
See “Item 6.A. Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Directors and Senior Management” and “Item 6.B. Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Compensation.”
On December 31, 2007, we had 10,039 full-time employees. The following tables shows a breakdown of our employees as of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 pro forma.
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total number of employees | | | 10,039 | | | | 9,541 | | | | 9,055 | |
Number of employees by category of activity | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Network | | | 910 | | | | 956 | | | | 935 | |
Sales and marketing | | | 3,380 | | | | 3,297 | | | | 3,185 | |
Information technology | | | 437 | | | | 473 | | | | 366 | |
Customer care | | | 4,313 | | | | 3,726 | | | | 3,480 | |
Support and other | | | 999 | | | | 1,089 | | | | 1,089 | |
(1) | The pro forma information 2005 reflects the TIM Celular Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2004. For an explanation of how pro forma amounts were calculated, including the adjustments made, see “Presentation of Information—Presentation of Financial Information.” |
All employees are represented by state labor unions associated with the Federação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Telecomunicações – Fenattel and the Federação Interestadual dos Trabalhadores em Telecomunicações – Fittel or the Sindicato dos Engenheiros do Estado do Paraná e Nordeste. We negotiate a new collective labor agreement every year with the local unions. The collective agreements currently in force expire in 2008. Management considers our relations with our work force to be satisfactory. We have not experienced a work stoppage that had a material effect on our operations.
Employee Benefit Plans
Our employees at the time of the Breakup of Telebrás had the right to maintain their rights and benefits in the Telebrás Pension Plan, managed by Fundação Telebrás de Seguridade Social – Sistel (“Sistel”), a multi-employer defined benefit plan that supplements government-provided retirement benefits. We make monthly contributions to the Telebrás Pension Plan in amounts equal to 13.5% of the salary of each employee covered by the defined benefit plans administered by Sistel. Each employee member also made a monthly contribution to Sistel based on age and salary. Members of the Telebrás Pension Plan qualified for full pension benefits after reaching age 57 provided they had been members of the Telebrás Pension Plan for at least ten uninterrupted years and have been affiliated with the social security system for at least 35 years. The Telebrás Pension Plan operated independently from us, and their assets and liabilities were fully segregated from ours; however, we were contingently liable for all of the unfunded obligations of the plan. Employees hired after the Privatization did not become members of the Telebrás Pension Plan, and we did not contribute to any defined benefit pension fund on behalf of such employees. See note 33 to our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2000, we and the other companies that formerly belonged to the Telebrás System agreed to divide the existing Telebrás Pension Plan into 15 separate plans, resulting in the creation of private plans for the current employees of each of the former members of the Telebrás System. These new private pension plans have retained the same terms and conditions of the Telebrás Pension Plan. The division served to allocate liability among the companies that formerly belonged to the Telebrás system according to each company’s contributions in respect of its own employees. Joint liability among the Telebrás Pension Plan sponsors will continue with respect to retired employees who will necessarily remain members of the Telebrás Pension Plan. See note 33 to the consolidated financial statements.
During 2002, we created a new defined contribution pension plan (“TIMPREV”) that would bring us in line with current social security practices in the private sector and also allow for the migration of employees participating in our private plan created in 2000 (“the PBS Plan”). TIMPREV was approved by the Secretary of Complementary Pension on November 13, 2002 in Notification 1,917 CGAJ/SPC. TIMPREV sets forth new guidelines for the granting and maintenance of benefits and outlines new rights and obligations for Sistel, the plan administrator; sponsors; participants and their respective beneficiaries.
Migration from the PBS Plan to TIMPREV is optional. In order to encourage migration to TIMPREV, we offered bonuses to those employees migrating before January 29, 2003. As of December 31, 2004, more than 90% of the participants in our private plan had migrated to TIMPREV. Upon electing to migrate to TIMPREV, a participant extinguishes all rights to benefits under the PBS Plan.
As more employees participate in TIMPREV, we anticipate that the sponsor’s risk to eventual actuarial deficit will decrease, consistent with the characteristics of typical defined contribution plans. Under the rules of defined contribution plans, the sponsor normally contributes 100% of the basic contribution of the participant. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the approved rules, the administrator of TIMPREV will ensure the benefits listed below:
| · | a regular retirement pension; |
| · | an anticipated retirement pension; |
| · | a deferred proportional benefit; and |
However, the administrator will not assume responsibility for granting any other benefit, even if social security officially grants it to its beneficiaries.
In accordance with Brazilian law, our employees also receive payments based on our financial performance. The amount of the payment is determined by negotiation between us and the unions representing our employees.
On January 31, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a proposal of migration of pension plans sponsored by the Company, TIM Sul, Tim Participações and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações at SISTEL to a multi-employer plan administered by HSBC Pension Fund. Such migration was approved by Secretary of Complementary Pension during the first quarter of 2007. Pursuant to this authorization, the HSBC began to administrate TIM´s Pension Plan in April 2007.
Defined Contribution Plan
On August 7, 2006, TIM Participações' Board of Directors approved the adoption of a supplementary defined contribution plan managed by Itaú Vida e Previdência S.A. for the Company and its subsidiaries. All employees not yet entitled to pension plans sponsored by the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to this supplementary defined contribution plan.
The directors and members of our administrative, supervisory and management bodies do not hold, in the aggregate, more than 1% of either the common shares or preferred shares outstanding. As of December 31, 2007, our directors and executive officers, owned, in the aggregate, 110 common shares and 23 preferred shares.
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
Of our two classes of capital stock outstanding, only our common shares have full voting rights. The following table sets forth ownership information with respect to all shareholders that, to our knowledge, own 5% of the common shares or more as of December 31, 2007. The common shares held by TIM Brasil have the same voting rights as the other common shares.
| | | | | Percentage of Outstanding Common Shares | |
TIM Brasil Serviços e Participações S.A | | | 645,850,478 | | | | 81.24 | % |
All our officers and directors as a group * | | | 110 | | | | 0.0000001 | % |
Total | | | 794,991,669 | | | | 100.0 | % |
* Represents less than 1%.
TIM Brasil Serviços e Participações S.A. is a Brazilian subsidiary of a group controlled by Telecom Italia. See “Item 4.C. Information on the Company—Organizational Structure.”
As of December 31, 2007, there were 345,808,131 preferred shares represented by ADSs. As of such date, the number of preferred shares represented by ADSs represented 22.5% of the total number of preferred shares outstanding and 14.8% of our total capital.
B. | Related Party Transactions |
As of December 31, 2007, we did not owe to our affiliates any amounts arising out of outstanding inter-company loans. We had inter-company receivables and payables in amounts of R$9.3 million and R$103.3 million, respectively on December 31, 2007. See note 31 to our consolidated financial statements.
Guarantees of Obligations of our Subsidiaries
We are a guarantor of a promissory note issued by TIM Nordeste in the amount of R$30 million. This promissory note was issued pursuant to a guarantee agreement between Banco Bradesco S.A., TIM Nordeste and TND, in which Banco Bradesco S.A. issued a letter of guarantee for the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2004, between TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, in the principal amount of R$20 million . See “Item 10.C. Additional Information—Material Contracts.”
We are also a guarantor of a promissory note issued by TIM Nordeste in the amount of R$128 million. This promissory note was issued pursuant to a guarantee agreement between Banco Bradesco S.A., TIM Nordeste and TIM, in which Banco Bradesco S.A. issued a letter of guarantee for the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2005, between TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, in the principal amount of R$85 million. See “Item 10.C. Additional Information—Material Contracts.”
Agreement between Telecom Italia SpA. and TIM Participações
This agreement, originally signed in May 3, 2007, was extended for 12 months beginning on January 3, 2008 pursuant to the approval by TIM Participações’ shareholders’ in a meeting held on March 03, 2008. The purpose of the agreement is to enable us to benefit from Telecom Italia’s internationally recognized expertise, built throughout years of operation in more mature and developed markets. The cooperation and support activities to be performed by the parties will be focused in adding value to the operations of TIM Participações through:
| - | Benefiting from Telecom Italia’s experience and industrial capacity as one of the major playes in the European market; |
| - | The systems/services/processes/best practices that were largely used in the Italian market and may be easily customized for the Brazilian market through limited investments and mitigated implementation risks; |
| - | An increase in efficacy and efficiency by adopting in-house solutions that have been widely tested and used. |
Under the agreement’s extended term, TIM Participações will pay €8.7 million to Telecom Italia. Under the original agreement we were required to pay the amount of €14.5 million and for the year ending December 31, 2007 we made a provision of €13.6 million (approximately R$35 million) in connection with such agreement. As customary in transactions of this nature, we hired a specialized and independent firm (Accenture do Brasil) to perform an economic appraisal of the agreement. The report prepared by Accenture do Brasil and presented to the our Board of Directors concluded that the amounts provided for in the agreement are more favorable to us than market prices.
C. | Interests of experts and counsel. |
Not applicable.
Item 8. Financial Information
A. | Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information |
See “Item 17. Financial Statements.”
Legal Proceedings
We are subject to various claims, including regulatory, legal and labor proceedings covering a wide range of matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. We adopted a policy of analyzing each such proceeding and making a judgment as to whether a loss is probable, possible or remote. We make accruals for legal proceedings that we are party to when we determine that losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Our judgment is always based on the opinion of our legal advisers. Accrual balances are adjusted to account for changes in circumstances for ongoing matters and the establishment of additional accruals for new matters. While we believe that the current level of accruals is adequate, changes in the future could impact these determinations.
Anatel Administrative Proceedings
Under the terms of the Authorization for Mobile Personal Service (SMP) Exploitation, TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste implemented mobile personal telecommunications cover for the assigned area. Under such Terms of Authorization, TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste are required to operate in accordance with the quality standards established by Anatel. If they fail to meet the minimum quality standards required, TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste are subject to PADO (Obligation Non-Compliance Determination Procedures) and applicable penalties. Anatel has brought administrative proceedings against TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste for (i) noncompliance with certain quality service indicators; and (ii) default of certain other obligations assumed under the Terms of Authorization and pertinent regulations. In their defense before Anatel, TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste attributed the lack of compliance to items beyond their control and not related to their activities and actions. We cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings at this time, but have accrued the amount of R$9.9 million in our balance sheet as a provision for all those cases in which we estimate our loss to be probable.
Civil Litigation
Litigation Related to the Conversion of Our Concessions into Authorizations
In January 2003, a type of class action (“ação popular”) was brought by an individual against Anatel and all the companies controlled by Telecom Italia in Brazil, including us. The claim sought to suspend the effects of Resolução 318, of September 27, 2002, and other acts by Anatel, including Authorizations PVCP/SPV Nos. 001/2002 to 011/2002, published on December 12, 2002, which authorized us to migrate from the SMC regime to the PCS regime.
The action specifically challenged the omission of provisions regulating the return of the assets (“bens reversíveis”) used by us in connection with the provision of telecommunication services by the time of the expiration of the authorizations. By reason of such omission, argues the claimant, the Brazilian Federal Government would suffer irreparable damage and, therefore, Anatel acts allowing the migration from SMC to PCS should be declared null and void.
We have challenged this action vigorously, and after some preliminary decisions by lower courts we have obtained a unanimous decision from the Regional Federal Court of Appeals (“Tribunal Regional Federal”) permitting the migration from SMC to PCS, reserving discussion about the return of the assets to the Brazilian Federal Government for a later date. The judge extinguished the action. The decision was subject to compulsory appeal at a superior court. On October 19, 2007, the court of appeals ordered the return of the case to the lower courts to allow other interested parties to take part in the litigation.
We believe that the migration from the SMC regime to the PCS regime, and the related acts by Anatel, will not be suspended or modified. We expect proceedings relating to the return (“reversão”) to the federal government of our assets used in connection with the provision of telecommunication services to continue. In 2003, Anatel and the federal government informed the Court that Authorizations PVCP/SVP nos. 001/2002 to 011/2002 are valid and should not be voided by the Court.
We entered into amendments to our authorizations to provide for the contingency that in the event of the termination of our authorizations, the assets essential to our provision of services would be returned to the federal government.
Litigation Related to the Use of the Goodwill Arising Out of the Breakup of Telebrás
On April 4, 2002, a Congressman filed a lawsuit in federal court in Brasília, Federal District, against a number of governmental telecommunication entities and the New Holding Companies. The purpose of the lawsuit is to prevent the New Holding Companies from using the amortization of the goodwill paid by the New Holding Companies to the Brazilian government in the Breakup of Telebrás to generate tax benefits.
Even though we are unable to predict the final outcome of this lawsuit, we believe that a ruling favorable to the plaintiff is unlikely. Accordingly, we have not created a reserve in connection with this litigation. If an unfavorable ruling is issued against us, we will lose the tax benefit derived from the premiums paid, and our tax liability will increase. We have already amortized a portion of the goodwill. We believe that an unfavorable decision would not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects.
Litigation Arising Out of Events Prior to the Breakup of Telebrás
Telebrás and its operating subsidiaries, the legal predecessors of the Holding Company and TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações, respectively, are defendants in a number of legal proceedings and subject to certain other claims and contingencies. Liability for any claims arising out of acts committed by Telebrás and its operating subsidiaries prior to the effective date of the spin-off of the cellular assets and liabilities of Telebrás and its operating subsidiaries to the TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações remain with Telebrás and its operating subsidiaries, except for those liabilities for which specific accounting provisions were assigned to TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações. Any claims against Telebrás and its operating subsidiaries that are not satisfied by Telebrás and its operating subsidiaries could result in claims against TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações, to the extent that TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações have received assets that might have been used to settle such claims had such assets not been spin off from Telebrás and its operating subsidiaries.
Under the terms of the Breakup of the Telebrás system, liability for any claims arising out of acts committed by Telebrás prior to the effective date of the Breakup remains with Telebrás, except for labor and tax claims (for which Telebrás and the New Holding Companies are jointly and severally liable by operation of law) and any liability for which specific accounting provisions were assigned to the Holding Company or one of the other New Holding Companies. In June 2007, the judge extinguished the action. This decision was compulsorily appealable at a superior instance and our management believes that the chances of claims of nature materializing and having a material adverse financial effect on us are remote.
Litigation Related to the Application of PIS and COFINS
In 2001, 2002 and 2004, the Federal Government, through the “Ministério Público Federal”, filed lawsuits to prevent TIM Sul and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações from passing along to their respective customers costs regarding PIS and COFINS. See “Item 4.B. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Taxes on Telecommunications Goods and Services.” The Federal Government also claimed that these entities should compensate their customers for these charges by paying each of them an amount equal to double the amount that was individually paid.
In March 2004, a decision favorable to Telpe Celular, now TIM Nordeste, was rendered by the second level Court, denying the claims of the Federal Government. The Federal Government appealed from this decision. Nonetheless, we are unable to predict the final outcome of these lawsuits. We are also unable to predict whether an unfavorable decision would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial conditions or prospects.
Additionally, in 2005 we filed a lawsuit to recover the PIS and COFINS amounts paid in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 3 of Law No. 9718/98, which was deemed unconstitutional by the Federal Supreme Court.
Litigation Related to the Authorization to Operate in the State of São Paulo
Vivo and Claro brought an action seeking an injunction to annul the grant to TIM Celular by Anatel of its authorization to operate in the State of São Paulo, alleging that the granting of such authorization was improper by seeking to establish that Telecom Italia and Brasil Telecom were related parties at the time the authorization was granted, which would contravene applicable regulations. A preliminary injunction was denied by the lower court and this decision was upheld upon appellate review. This holding is subject to further review by the Brazilian Supreme Court. A judicial decision granted the motion in part, not receiving plaintiff’s indemnification claim. An appeal was filed, and now we are waiting for second instance court’s decision. We believe that the likelihood of an adverse ruling in this matter is remote.
Litigation Related to the values charged for VU-M
In August 2007, GVT filed a lawsuit against TIM Celular, and other telecommunications companies, before the 4th Federal Court. The plaintiff claims that a contractual clause establishing the VU-M amount used by the defendants in their interconnection arrangements is illegal and abusive and as such plaintiff requires that (1) the clause be anulled and (2) all amounts allegedly charged in excess since July 2004 be refunded. A preliminary order was granted determining the payment by GVT to TIM and other defendants of VU-M on the basis of R$0.2899 per minute and that GVT shall deposit on court the difference between such amount and the value charged by the defendants. As both in-house and outside counsels find that the risk of loss for the subsidiary is possible, no provision has been recorded.
Tax Litigation
Litigation Related to the Payment of Income Tax and CSLL
In September 2003, TIM Nordeste was assessed by the Ceará Federal Revenue Service (SRF) authorities for R$12.7 referring to: (i) disallowance of R$8.4 expenses included in the IRPJ determination for the period from 1999 through 2001; (ii) R$3.2 of differences in CSLL payments for the years from 1998 through 2001; (iii) differences of R$0.3 and R$0.8, respectively, in the payment of PIS and COFINS for the years from 1998 through 2002. The Company unsuccessfully filed an opposition and a voluntary appeal against this assessment, at the administrative level. As a consequence, based on its internal and external lawyers´ opinion the losses thereon are probable, the Management set up two provisions: one in the amount of R$11.2 for IRPJ and CSLL, under the heading “Provision for Income Tax and Social Contribution”, and one in the amount of R$1.1, for PIS and COFINS, under the heading “Other Operating Expenses”.
In May 2005, the Brazilian tax authority in the state of Minas Gerais issued five tax assessment notices to TIM Nordeste. Two of these notices relate to corporate income tax (IRPJ) assessments, two refer to social contribution on net income tax (CSLL) assessments, and one refers to an income tax, withheld at the source, on principal (IRRF) assessment, for 2002. In the case of the IRPJ and CSLL notices, the asserted infractions are (i) alleged improper adjustments to net income in determining profits relating to inappropriate adjustments due to monetary variations in swap arrangements; (ii) alleged exclusion of exchange rate variations of foreign debt that were improperly eliminated by us and deducted as an expense from our cash flow statement; and (iii) the imposition of a penalty based on the argument that the tax should have been collected based on our estimated income. The notice relating to the IRRF assessment alleges that the tax paid was less than the tax due because we calculated income based on the net value received and excluded amounts for tax collected, fines for late payments and interest.
We are challenging these tax assessments with the appropriate Brazilian tax authorities and a final determination is pending. The total value of the five tax assessment notices is R$126.9 million. We believe that the probable amount that we will be required to pay is R$32.8 million and we have made provisions in this amount.
Litigation Related to the Deduction of Goodwill Paid in the Sistema Telebrás Auction
TIM Nordeste received on October 30, 2006 tax assessment notices at the amount of R$331.2 million which was then reduced to the amount of R$258.1 million related to the set-off of the premium paid (goodwill) in the Sistema Telebrás auction (acquisition of mobile companies) against the company’s income, for tax purposes. Such tax assessment notices belong to the same administrative proceeding and are based on the following facts: (a) non tax-deduction of the expense resulted from the goodwill pay-off; (b) non registration of the goodwill exclusion in the book taxable income (LALUR); (c) improper set-off of the debt disallowance and negative tax calculation basis related to the previous fiscal years; (d) overdeduction of the activity profit tax break; (e) previous tax-deduction of the disallowance of the withholding Social Contribution on Net Income (CSLL); (f) improper deduction of the annual monetary adjustment of the prepaid Corporate Income Tax (IRPJ) and CSLL; (g) fine over the lack of payment of IRPJ and CSLL which are due based on a monthly estimative.
After timely challenging these assessment notices the subsidiary now awaits the taxing authorities’ decision on the matter.
In March 2007, the Brazilian Tax Authorities informed TIM that the amounts of IRPJ, CSLL and a separate fine totaling R$73 million (principal and separate fine) had been excluded from the assessment notice, fact that caused the reduction of the original assessment. As a consequence, this assessment was partially reduced, the discussion on the remainder being transferred to 160 compensation processes, currently totaling R$85.6 million. Based on its internal and external lawyers´ opinion, we have not set up a provision for the above mentioned tax assessments.
Claims Related to the Payment of PIS and COFINS Taxes by TIM Nordeste
In 2004, TIM Nordeste was assessed in connection with PIS and COFINS due on exchange variation arising from revenue generated in 1999. Both assessment notices amounted to R$30.9 million. Because this is a controversial matter involving interpretation of applicable legislation, a provision was set up, in 2004, for the same amount. On March 13, 2006, a decision not subject to further appeal was issued on the action filed by the company against Law 9718 of November 27, 1998. The company alleged that this law was unconstitutional concerning the expansion of the tax basis of calculation, preventing the collection of PIS and COFINS on non-operating revenue. In view of the final decision, the Management of TIM Nordeste requested extinction of the tax assessment against TIM Nordeste, concerning PIS and COFINS on exchange variation, and reversed in 2006, the provision set up in 2004.
In April 2007, the amount of PIS on exchange variation claimed was reduced by R$5.3 million, after the matter was declared unconstitutional and recognized as such in the administrative level. The remainder – R$25.6 million – is now under discussion. TIM Nordeste awaits the recognition, at administrative level, of the impossibility of collecting the remaining related to the COFINS infraction.
Litigation Related to the Application of ICMS
In June 1998, the governments of the individual Brazilian States agreed to construe existing Brazilian tax law in a way to apply ICMS in respect of certain revenues, including cellular activation fees and monthly subscription charges, that had not previously been subject to such taxes. Under Brazilian law, there is a risk that the state governments could seek to apply this interpretation retroactively to activation and subscription fees charged during the five years preceding June 30, 1998. We believe that the attempt by the state governments to extend the scope of ICMS to services that are supplementary (such as monthly subscription charges) to basic telecommunications services is unlawful because:
| · | the state governments acted beyond the scope of their authority; |
| · | their interpretation would subject to taxation certain revenues, particularly activation fees, that are not considered to be payments for telecommunications services; and |
| · | new taxes may not be applied retroactively. |
It should be noted that certain second level Courts have addressed this issue and ruled that the ICMS is not applicable to services that are supplementary to basic telecommunications services, relieving us from the payment of the ICMS tax on activation fees in certain Brazilian States. In other States we are required to make judicial deposits in connection with the activation fee tax until a final decision is granted on the matter. There have been recent decisions favorable to the operators addressing the fact that certain revenues, including cellular activation fees and subscription charges are not subject to ICMS tax to date. We have been granted favorable final decisions relating to the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, Sergipe, Alagoas and Rio Grande do Sul. Additionally, the Company has filed lawsuits in the Brazilian States of Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí, Ceará, and Bahia, and has been granted favorable second level decisions in most of them. We have not made any accruals in connection therewith.
State of Santa Catarina ICMS Tax Charges
The state of Santa Catarina issued 20 infraction notices against TIM Sul regarding the payment of ICMS tax arising from various services rendered, including international telecommunication services rendered by Telesc Celular, TIM SUL, from April 1998 to January 2000 and activation and other fees charged by TIM Sul from April 1998 to August 2003. We paid one of the infraction notice in full in 2005. A final determination was reached for 10 of the infraction notices, requiring us to pay the infraction notices in part. A determination for the remaining 9 infraction notices has not yet been reached. The total amount outstanding for the remaining 19 infraction notices is R$95.4 million. We intend to vigorously litigate the remaining infraction notices. We have created a provision in the amount of R$2.6 million with respect to such charges. We attend material results in 2007 related to tax litigation notices. The tax assessment notices originally amounted to R$95.4 million were reduced to R$46 million.
State of Rio de Janeiro ICMS Tax Charges
In November 2007, TIM Celular was assessed by the State of Rio de Janeiro´s taxing authorities for R$38.3 million, for allegedly having taken undue ICMS credit from acquisition of fixed assets without application to monthly installments of a coefficient calculated ratably to the goods dispatched subjected to tax and the total goods dispatched. This assessment is being impugned by the Company at administrative level. Based on its internal and external lawyers´ opinion, the Company has not set up a provision for losses thereon;
In November 2007, TIM Celular was assessed by the State of Rio de Janeiro´s taxing authorities for R$17.2 million for defaulting on payment of ICMS and Contribution to the “Fundo Estadual de Combate à Pobreza e Desigualdades Sociais” (State Fund for Fighting Poverty and Social Inequalities) allegedly due on international roaming services. This assessment is being impugned by TIM Celular at administrative level. Based on its internal and external lawyers´ opinion, the Company has not set up a provision for losses thereon.
State of São Paulo ICMS Tax Charges
In November 2007 the state of São Paulo issued tax assessment notices against TIM Celular regarding payment of ICMS tax related to: (i) conditional discounts granted to the customers, which have to be considered on the ICMS tax calculation basis; and (ii) fine for infringement of tax obligation. The total amount outstanding for the remaining infraction notices is R$151 million. We are challenging this tax assessment before the appropriate Brazilian tax authorities and a final decision is pending. We believe the risk that we will be required to pay this tax assessment is possible. Accordingly, we have not made a provision for this amount.
Municipality of Rio de Janeiro ISS tax Charges
TIM Celular received a tax assessment notice from the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro related to the supposed lack of collection of ISS in the value of R$66.6 million. The main reason of this tax assessment notice relates to site-sharing agreements. The municipality wants to charge the ISS over this agreements in view of the Complementary Law nr. 116/03, exhibit item 3.04. However, we have strong arguments to fight against this law because the ISS is a tax on services and the site-sharing agreements don't involve service. Moreover, there is a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of item 3.04 of the Complementary Law nr 116/03 (ADIN – Ação Direta de Inconstitucionalidade). We are challenging this tax assessment with the appropriate Brazilian tax authorities and a final decision is pending. We believe the risk that we will be required to pay this tax assessment is possible. Accordingly, we have not made a provision for this amount.
Litigation Related to the Payment of FUST
The FUST tax is levied at a rate of 1% on gross revenues, net of ICMS, PIS and COFINS, and its initial cost may not be passed on to clients. In light of a ruling issued by Anatel in 2005, the TIM Group, together with the other telecommunications providers in Brazil, have filed a lawsuit and obtained a preliminary injunction (now confirmed by a first level decision, still subject to appeal) authorizing us not to collect the FUST tax related to interconnection revenues. We have not collected the FUST assessed on interconnection fees. In October and November, 2006 TIM Group received 180 tax assessment notices referring to the supposed existence of tax debit, as refined in Anatel´s “Report of Inspection”. Such tax assessment notices are based on the supposed inaccuracy of information given by TIM related to the collection of FUST over prescriptions of interconnection during the year of 2001, resulting in a total amount of R$31.3 million. In September and November 2007, TIM Group has received new tax assessment notices based on the supposed inaccuracy of information given by TIM related to the collection of FUST over interconnection revenues during the year of 2002, resulting in a total amount of R$18.6 million. We estimate the likelihood of an adverse ruling in this matter is possible. For this reason, we have not made any accrual in connection therewith. See note 18 to our consolidated financial statements.
Litigation Related to the Payment of FUNTTEL
In December, 2006, November and December, 2007, TIM Group has received tax assessment notices referring to the supposed existence of tax debit, as refined in Anatel´s “Report of Inspection”. Such tax assessment notices are based on the supposed inaccuracy of the information given by TIM related to the collection of FUNTTEL over interconnection revenue during the year of 2001 and 2002, resulting in a total amount of R$10.7 million. TIM Group filed a writ of mandamuns and obtained a preliminary injunction authorizing us not to collect the FUNTTEL tax related to interconnection revenues. We estimate the likelihood of an adverse ruling in this matter is possible. For this reason, we have not made any accrual in connection therewith.
Other Litigation
We are a party to certain legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Most of these legal proceedings may be divided into two main categories: consumer protection claims and labor law claims. The most common issue raised by claimants in the consumer protection cases against us is allegedly incorrect charges imposed by us as well as defects on mobile handsets we sell. Most labor law claims against us have been brought by former employees for alleged infringement of labor laws during the duration of their employment contracts with us. As of December 31, 2007, we were a party to approximately 34,400 consumer protection claims and 2,350 labor law claims. There are also 105 public civil actions and class actions (respectively “ação civil pública” and “ação popular”). We believe that such actions, if decided adversely to us, would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Dividend Policy
Under our by-laws, we are required to distribute 25% of our adjusted net income to our shareholders, either as dividends or as tax-deductible interest on net worth (“General Dividend”). We are also required to pay a non-cumulative preferred dividend on our preferred shares in an amount equal to the greater of (“Preferred Dividend”):
| · | 6% of our capital (“capital social”) divided by the total number of common and preferred shares and |
| · | 3% of our net shareholders’ equity (“patrimônio líquido”), according to the most recent financial statements approved by our shareholders. |
The amount of General Dividend, if any, payable by us to the holders of preferred shares is offset by the amount of Preferred Dividend paid to such preferred shareholders.
As a result of these provisions, holders of our preferred shares are entitled to receive in any year distributions of cash dividends prior to the holders of our Common Shares receiving any distribution of cash dividends in such year. In addition, distributions of cash dividends in any year are made:
| · | first, to the holders of preferred shares, up to the amount of the Preferred Dividend that must be paid to the holders of preferred shares for such year; |
| · | then, to the holders of common shares, until the amount distributed in respect of each Common Share is equal to the amount distributed in respect of each preferred shares; and |
| · | thereafter, to the holders of common shares and preferred shares on a pro rata basis. |
If the dividend to be paid to the holders of preferred shares is not paid for a period of three years, holders of preferred shares will be entitled to full voting rights until the year when that dividend is paid in full for any year.
We may also make additional distributions to the extent of available distributable profits and reserves. TIM Celular and TIM Nordeste are also subject to mandatory distribution requirements and, to the extent of distributable profits and reserves, are accordingly required to pay dividends to us. All of the aforementioned distributions may be made as dividends or as tax-deductible interest on capital.
Brazilian corporations may make payments to shareholders characterized as interest on the corporation’s capital (juros sobre capital próprio) as an alternative form of making dividend distributions to the shareholders. The rate of interest may not be higher than the Federal Government’s long-term interest rate as determined by the Brazilian Development Bank - BNDES from time to time. Dividends are not subject to withholding income tax when paid, nor to corporate income tax or individual income tax with respect to the person receiving the dividend. On the other hand, interest on capital paid to shareholders is deductible from the corporation’s net profits for tax purposes, but the recipient of such distributions is subject to corporate or individual income tax with respect to such payments. See “Item 10.E. Additional Information––Taxation––Brazilian Tax Considerations––Distributions of Interest on Capital.”
For the purposes of Brazilian Corporations Law, and in accordance with our by-laws, adjusted net income is an amount equal to net profit adjusted to reflect allocations to and from:
We are required to maintain a legal reserve, to which we must allocate 5% of net profits for each fiscal year until the amount for such reserve equals 20% of our capital. However, we are not required to make any allocations to our legal reserve in respect of any fiscal year in which our legal reserve, together with our other capital reserves, exceeds 30% of our capital. Losses, if any, may be charged against the legal reserve. On December 31, 2007, the balance of our legal reserve was R$102.5 million, which was equal to 1.3% of our total capital.
Brazilian Corporations Law also provides for two discretionary allocations of net profits that are subject to approval by the shareholders at the annual meeting. First, a percentage of net profits may be allocated to a contingency reserve for anticipated losses that are deemed probable in future years. Any amount so allocated in a prior year must be either reversed in the fiscal year in which the loss was anticipated if such loss does not in fact occur, or written off in the event that the anticipated loss occurs. Second, if the mandatory distributable amount exceeds the sum of realized net profits in a given year, such excess may be allocated to unrealized revenue reserve. Under Brazilian Corporations Law, realized net profits is defined as the amount of net profits that exceeds the net positive result of equity adjustments and profits or revenues from operations with financial results after the end of the next succeeding fiscal year.
Under Brazilian Corporations Law, any company may, as a term in its by-laws, create a discretionary reserve. By-laws which authorize the allocation of a percentage of a company’s net income to the discretionary reserve must also indicate the purpose, criteria for allocation and a maximum amount of the reserve. The Company’s by-laws authorize the allocation of the net income balance not allocated to the payment of the mandatory minimum dividend nor to the preferred shares priority dividend to a supplementary reserve for the expansion of corporate business, not to exceed 80% (eighty percent) of the capital. The loss for the 2007 year was fully absorbed by the reserve for expansion and part of this reserve was used to pay dividends. On December 31, 2007, in accordance with our by-laws, we used our reserve for expansion to distribute dividends.
We may also allocate a portion of our net profits for discretionary appropriations for plant expansion and other capital investment projects, the amount of which would be based on a capital budget previously presented by our management and approved by shareholders. Under Brazilian Corporations Law, capital budgets covering more than one year must be reviewed at each annual shareholders’ meeting. After completion of the relevant capital projects, we may retain the appropriation until the shareholders vote to transfer all or a portion of the reserve to capital realized.
The amounts available for distribution may be further increased by a decrease in the contingency reserve for anticipated losses anticipated in prior years but not realized. The amounts available for distribution are determined on the basis of financial statements prepared in accordance with Brazilian GAAP.
The legal reserve is subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the annual meeting and may be transferred to capital but is not available for the payment of dividends in subsequent years. Our calculation of net profits and allocations to reserves for any fiscal year are determined on the basis of financial statements prepared in accordance with Brazilian Corporations Law.
Remaining amounts to be distributed are allocated first to the payment of a dividend to holders of Common Shares in an amount equal to the dividend paid to the preferred shareholders. The remainder is distributed equally among holders of preferred shares and common shares.
Under Brazilian Corporations Law, a company is permitted to suspend the mandatory dividend in respect of common shares and preferred shares not entitled to a fixed or minimum dividend if:
| · | its management (Board of Directors and Board of Executive Officers) and Fiscal Committee report to the shareholders’ meeting that the distribution would be incompatible with the financial circumstances of that company; and |
| · | the shareholders ratify this conclusion at the shareholders’ meeting. |
In this case,
| · | the management must forward to the Brazilian securities commission within five days of the shareholders’ meeting an explanation justifying the information transmitted at the meeting; and |
| · | the profits which were not distributed are to be recorded as a special reserve and, if not absorbed by losses in subsequent fiscal years, are to be paid as dividends as soon as the financial situation permits. |
Our preferred shares are each entitled to a minimum dividend and thus the mandatory dividend may be suspended only with respect to our common shares. Dividends may be paid by us out of retained earnings or profit reserves in any given fiscal year.
For the purposes of Brazilian Corporations Law, the net income after income tax and social contribution for such fiscal year, net of any accumulated losses from prior fiscal years and any amounts allocated to warrants and employees’ and management’s participation in a company’s profits shall be distributed as dividends.
Payment of Dividends
We are required by law and by our by-laws to hold an annual shareholders’ meeting by April 30 of each year, at which, among other things, an annual dividend may be declared by decision of our shareholders on the recommendation of our executive officers, as approved by our Board of Directors. The payment of annual dividends is based on the financial statements prepared for the fiscal year ending December 31. Under Brazilian Corporations Law, dividends are required to be paid within 60 days following the date the dividend is declared to shareholders of record on such declaration date, unless a shareholders’ resolution sets forth another date of payment, which in any event shall occur prior to the end of the fiscal year in which such dividend was declared.
A shareholder has a three-year period from the dividend payment date to claim dividends in respect of its shares, after which we have no liability for such payment. Because our shares are issued in book-entry form, dividends with respect to any share are credited to the account holding such share. We are not required to adjust the amount of paid-in capital for inflation. Annual dividends may be paid to shareholders on a pro rata basis according to the date when the subscription price is paid to us.
Our preferred shares underlying the ADSs are held in Brazil by a Brazilian custodian, Banco Itaú S.A., as the agent for the Depositary, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., which is the registered owner of our shares. Payments of cash dividends and distributions in respect of the ADRs, if any, will be made in Brazilian currency to the custodian on behalf of the Depositary which will then convert those proceeds into dollars and will cause such dollars to be delivered to the Depositary for distribution to holders of ADRs. In the event that the custodian is unable to immediately convert the Brazilian currency received as dividends into dollars, the amount of dollars payable to holders of ADRs may be adversely affected by devaluations of the Brazilian currency that occur before such dividends are converted and remitted. Dividends in respect of our preferred shares paid to resident and non-resident shareholders, including holders of ADSs, are not currently subject to Brazilian withholding tax.
None.
Item 9. The Offer and Listing
A. | Offer and Listing Details |
The preferred shares trade principally on the Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo (the “Bovespa”) under the symbol “TCSL4”. On December 31, 2007, we had 1,538,972,494 preferred shares and 794,991,669 common shares outstanding. The preferred shares traded in the United States on the NYSE are represented by ADSs, each ADS representing 10 preferred shares. The ADSs are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Depositary” or “JPMorgan”), pursuant to a Deposit Agreement among us, the Depositary and the registered holders and beneficial owners from time to time of ADRs. See “Item 10.C. Additional Information—Material Contracts.” The ADSs trade on the NYSE under the symbol “TSU.”
The table below shows, for the indicated periods, the high and low closing prices of our ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange, in U.S. dollars, and the preferred shares on the São Paulo Stock Exchange, in reais:
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (in U.S.$ per ADS) | | | (in reais per thousand preferred shares) | |
Year ended | | | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2002 | | | 16.81 | | | | 5.90 | | | | 3.85 | | | | 2.28 | |
December 31, 2003 | | | 14.73 | | | | 5.80 | | | | 4.32 | | | | 2.05 | |
December 31, 2004 | | | 16.71 | | | | 11.10 | | | | 4.78 | | | | 3.39 | |
December 31, 2005 | | | 25.76 | | | | 12.11 | | | | 5.90 | | | | 3.19 | |
December 31, 2006 | | | 40.60 | | | | 23.54 | | | | 8.66 | | | | 5.25 | |
December 31, 2007 | | | 46.40 | | | | 29.54 | | | | 8.10 | | | | 5.80 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2006 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First quarter | | | 40.29 | | | | 25.28 | | | | 8.66 | | | | 6.20 | |
Second quarter | | | 40.60 | | | | 23.54 | | | | 8.40 | | | | 5.25 | |
Third quarter | | | 30.70 | | | | 24.20 | | | | 6.61 | | | | 5.26 | |
Fourth quarter | | | 35.60 | | | | 28.12 | | | | 7.59 | | | | 5.96 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2007 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First quarter | | | 35.27 | | | | 30.25 | | | | 7.37 | | | | 6.45 | |
Second quarter | | | 38.24 | | | | 32.58 | | | | 7.77 | | | | 6.51 | |
Third quarter | | | 40.56 | | | | 29.54 | | | | 7.62 | | | | 6.00 | |
Fourth quarter | | | 46.40 | | | | 32.71 | | | | 8.10 | | | | 5.80 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Quarter ended March 31, 2008 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
March 31, 2008 | | | 43.81 | | | | 31.48 | | | | 7.33 | | | | 5.46 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Month ended | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
November 30, 2007 | | | 44.81 | | | | 36.90 | | | | 7.68 | | | | 6.71 | |
December 31, 2007 | | | 39.38 | | | | 32.71 | | | | 7.02 | | | | 5.90 | |
January 31, 2008 | | | 38.50 | | | | 31.48 | | | | 6.73 | | | | 5.47 | |
February 28, 2008 | | | 43.81 | | | | 35.77 | | | | 7.33 | | | | 6.38 | |
March 31, 2008 | | | 43.55 | | | | 31.64 | | | | 7.25 | | | | 5.46 | |
April 30, 2008 | | | 34.54 | | | | 30.65 | | | | 5.95 | | | | 5.16 | |
B. | Plan of Distribution |
| |
| Not applicable. |
| |
C. | Markets |
| |
| Trading on the Brazilian Stock Exchanges |
| |
The Bovespa is the only Brazilian Stock Exchange on which equity and debt securities issued by Brazilian companies are traded.
Trading on the Bovespa is conducted every business day, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during daylight saving time in Brazil, on an electronic trading system called “Megabolsa.” Trading is also conducted between 5:45 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., or between 6:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. during daylight saving time in Brazil. The “after-market” trading is the scheduled after the close of principal trading sessions, when investors may send purchase and sell orders and make trades through the home broker system. This after-market trading is subject to regulatory limits on price volatility of securities traded by investors operating on the Internet.
When shareholders trade shares or units on Bovespa, the trade is settled in three business days after the trade date, without adjustments to the purchase price. The seller is ordinarily required to deliver the shares or units to the exchange on the second business day following the trade date. Delivery of and payment for shares or units are made through the facilities of an independent clearing house, the Companhia Brasileira de Liquidação e Custodia, or CBLC.
In order to maintain control over the fluctuation of Bovespa index, Bovespa has adopted a “circuit breaker” system pursuant to which trading sessions may be suspended for a period of 30 minutes or one hour whenever Bovespa index falls below 10% or 15%, respectively, in relation to the closing index levels of the previous trading session.
Although the Brazilian equity market is Latin America’s largest in terms of market capitalization, it is smaller and less liquid than the major U.S. and European securities markets. Moreover, Bovespa is less liquid than the New York Stock Exchange and other major exchanges in the world. Bovespa had a market capitalization of R$1.54 trillion as of December 31, 2006 and an average daily trading volume of approximately R$2.4 billion in 2006. Although any of the outstanding shares of a listed company may trade on a Brazilian stock exchange, in most cases fewer than half of the listed shares are actually available for trading by the public, the remainder being held by small groups of controlling persons, governmental entities or one principal shareholder. Trading on Brazilian stock exchanges by non-residents of Brazil is subject to registration procedures.
Trading on Brazilian stock exchanges by a holder not deemed to be domiciled in Brazil, for Brazilian tax and regulatory purposes (a “non-Brazilian holder”), is subject to certain limitations under Brazilian foreign investment legislation. With limited exceptions, non-Brazilian holders may only trade on Brazilian stock exchanges in accordance with the requirements of Resolution CMN 2,689. Resolution CMN 2,689 requires that securities held by non-Brazilian holders be maintained in the custody of, or in deposit accounts with, financial institutions and be registered with a clearinghouse duly authorized by the Central Bank and the CVM. In addition, Resolution CMN 2,689 requires non-Brazilian holders to restrict their securities trading to transactions on Brazilian stock exchanges or qualified over-the-counter markets. With limited exceptions, non-Brazilian holders may not transfer the ownership of investments made under Resolution CMN 2,689 to other non-Brazilian holders through a private transaction. See “Item 10.E. Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations” for a description of certain tax benefits extended to non-Brazilian holders who qualify under Resolution CMN 2,689.
Differentiated Levels of Corporate Governance and the New Market
In order to increase the transparency of the Brazilian capital markets and protect minority shareholders’ rights, Bovespa has implemented certain new initiatives, including:
| · | a classification system referred to as “Differentiated Levels of Corporate Governance” applicable to the companies already listed in Bovespa; and |
| · | a new separate listing segment for qualifying issuers referred to as the Novo Mercado, or New Market. |
The Differentiated Levels of Corporate Governance, Level 1 and Level 2, are applicable to listed companies that voluntarily comply with special disclosure and corporate governance practices established by Bovespa. The companies may be classified into two different levels, depending on their degree of adherence to the Bovespa’s practices of disclosure and corporate governance.
To become a Level 1 company, an issuer must voluntarily satisfy, in addition to the obligations imposed by Brazilian law, the following requirements:
| · | ensure that shares amounting to at least 25% of its capital are outstanding and available for trading in the market; |
| · | adopt procedures that favor the dispersion of shares into the market whenever making a public offering; |
| · | comply with minimum quarterly disclosure standards; |
| · | follow stricter disclosure policies with respect to transactions with controlling shareholders, directors and officers involving the issuer’s securities; |
| · | submit any existing shareholders’ agreements and stock option plans to the Bovespa; and |
| · | make a schedule of corporate events available to the shareholders. |
We are currently considering complying with these requirements for Level 1 of Corporate Governance.
To become a Level 2 company, an issuer must, in addition to satisfying the Level 1 criteria and the obligations imposed by Brazilian law, satisfy the following requirements:
| · | require all directors to serve unstaggered one-year terms; |
| · | prepare and publish annual financial statements in English and in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IAS GAAP; |
| · | create tag-along rights for minority shareholders, ensuring holders of common shares of the right to sell on the same terms as a controlling shareholder, and ensuring preferred shareholders a price equal to at least 80% of that received by the selling controlling shareholder; |
| · | grant preferred shareholders the right to vote in certain cases, including, without limitation, the transformation, spin-off or merger of the company, and approval of agreements with related parties; |
| · | make a tender offer for all outstanding shares, for a price equal to fair market value, in the event of delisting from Level 2 qualification; and |
| · | agree to submit any disputes between the company and its investors exclusively to the Bovespa’s Market Arbitration Chamber. |
The New Market is a separate listing segment for the trading of shares issued by companies that voluntarily adopt certain additional corporate governance practices and disclosure requirements which are more demanding than those required by the current law in Brazil. Companies may qualify to have their shares traded in the New Market, if, in addition to complying with the Level 2 corporate governance practices referred to above, their capital stock consists only of voting common shares.
Bovespa Market Administration Panel
Pursuant to Law Nr. 9,307/96, a Market Arbitration Panel (the “Panel”) has been established by the Bovespa. The Panel was established to settle certain types of disputes, including disputes relating to corporate governance, securities issues, financial regulatory issues and other capital market matters, with respect to Bovespa listed companies that have undertaken to voluntarily comply with Level 2 and New Market levels of corporate governance and disclosure. The Panel will provide a forum for dispute resolution involving, among others, the Bovespa, the applicable listed company and the shareholders, directors and management of the applicable listed company.
Regulation of Brazilian Securities Markets
The Brazilian securities markets are principally governed by Law No. 6,385, of December 7, 1976, and Brazilian corporation law, each as amended and supplemented, and by regulations issued by the CVM, which has authority over stock exchanges and the securities markets generally; the National Monetary Council; and the Central Bank, which has, among other powers, licensing authority over brokerage firms and regulates foreign investment and foreign exchange transactions.
These laws and regulations, among others, provide for licensing and oversight of brokerage firms, governance of the Brazilian stock exchanges, disclosure requirements applicable to issuers of traded securities, restrictions on price manipulation and protection of minority shareholders. They also provide for restrictions on insider trading. Accordingly, any trades or transfers of our equity securities by our officers and directors, our controlling shareholders or any of the officers and directors of our controlling shareholders must comply with the regulations issued by the CVM.
Under Brazilian corporation law, a corporation is either publicly held (companhia aberta), as we are, or closely held (companhia fechada). All publicly held companies are registered with the CVM and are subject to reporting requirements. We have the option to ask that trading in securities on Bovespa be suspended in anticipation of a material announcement. Trading may also be suspended on the initiative of Bovespa or the CVM, based on or due to, among other reasons, a belief that a company has provided inadequate information regarding a material event or has provided inadequate responses to inquiries by the CVM or Bovespa.
The Brazilian over-the-counter market consists of direct trades between individuals in which a financial institution registered with the CVM serves as intermediary. No special application, other than registration with the CVM, is necessary for securities of a public company to be traded in this market. The CVM requires that it be given notice of all trades carried out in the Brazilian over-the-counter market by the respective intermediaries.
Trading on Bovespa by non-residents of Brazil is subject to limitations under Brazilian foreign investment and tax legislation. The Brazilian custodian for our preferred shares on behalf of the Depositary for the ADSs, has obtained registration from the Central Bank to remit U.S. dollars abroad for payments of dividends, any other cash distributions, or upon the disposition of the shares and sales proceeds thereto. In the event that a holder of ADSs exchanges preferred shares for ADSs, the holder will be entitled to continue to rely on the custodian’s registration for five business days after the exchange. Thereafter, the holder may not be able to obtain and remit U.S. dollars abroad upon the disposition of our preferred shares or upon distributions relating to our preferred shares, unless the holder obtains a new registration. See “Item 10.B. Additional Information—Memorandum and Articles of Associations.”
Brazilian regulations also require that any person or group of persons representing the same interest that has directly or indirectly acquired an interest corresponding to 5% of a type or class of shares of a publicly traded company must provide such publicly traded company with information on such acquisition and its purpose, and such company must transmit this information to the CVM. If this acquisition causes a change in the corporate control or in the administrative structure of the company, as well as when such acquisition triggers the obligation of making a public offering in accordance with CVM Instruction 358/03, then the acquiring entity shall disclose this information to the applicable stock exchanges and the appropriate Brazilian newspapers. Regulations also require disclosure of any subsequent increase or decrease of five percent or more in ownership of common shares, including warrants and debentures convertible into common shares in the same terms above.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Additional Information
Not applicable.
B. | Memorandum and Articles of Association |
The following summarizes certain material provisions of TIM’s by-laws and the Brazilian Corporations Law, the main bodies of regulation governing us. Copies of TIM’s by-laws have been filed as exhibits to this annual report on Form 20-F. Except as described in this section, TIM’s by-laws do not contain provisions addressing the duties, authority or liabilities of the directors and senior management, which are instead established by Brazilian Corporations Law.
Registration
TIM’s by-laws have been registered with the Public Registry of the state of Rio de Janeiro under company number (NIRE) 33.3.0027696-3.
Corporate Purpose
Article 2 of our by-laws provides that our main corporate purpose is to exercise control over operating companies that provide mobile telephone and other services in their respective authorization and/or concession area. Other corporate purposes include:
| · | promote, through our controlled or affiliated companies, the expansion of mobile telephone services in their respective concession areas; |
| · | procure funding from internal or external sources; |
| · | promote and foster study and research for the development of mobile telephone services; |
| · | perform, through our controlled or affiliated companies, specialized technical services related to the mobile telephone industry; |
| · | promote and coordinate, through our controlled or affiliated companies, the education and training of the staff required by the telephone services; |
| · | effect or order the importation of goods and services for our controlled and affiliated companies; |
| · | perform any other activities linked or related to our corporate purpose; and |
| · | hold interests in other companies. |
Company Management
Following is a description of some of the provisions of our by-laws concerning members of the Board of Directors:
| · | Pursuant to Art. 25, paragraph XVI, the Board of Directors has the power to approve loans, financing and lease agreements, as well as to issue promissory notes, for an amount exceeding 2% of the shareholders’ equity; |
| · | Pursuant to Art. 25, paragraph XXII, the Board of Directors has the power to allocate the total budget for management remuneration approved by the shareholders’ meeting among the directors and the executive officers, observed the allocations already approved by the Shareholders’ meeting; and |
| · | Pursuant to Art. 27, paragraph 3 rd, a member of the Board of Directors is not authorized to access information or to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors regarding subjects or proposals in respect of which such director has or represents an interest conflicting with those of TIM. |
Pursuant to the Brazilian Corporations Law, each member of the Board of Directors must have at least one share of our capital stock in order to qualify to be a Director. There are no provisions in the by-laws with respect to:
| · | a director’s power to vote compensation to him or herself in the absence of an independent quorum; |
| · | borrowing powers exercisable by the directors; |
| · | age limits for retirement of directors; |
| · | required shareholding for director qualification; |
| · | anti-takeover mechanisms or other procedures designed to delay, defer or prevent changes in our control; or |
| · | disclosure of share ownership. |
“The Executive Officers are the Company 's representative and executive body, and each one of them shall act within his/her respective scope of authority. Following is a description of some of the provisions of our by-laws concerning the Board of Executive Officers:
| · | Pursuant to Art. 32, paragraph III, the Board of Executive Officers has the power to authorize the participation of the Company or its companies controlled in any joint venture, partnership, consortium or any similar structure; |
| · | Pursuant to Art. 32, paragraph VI, the Board of Executive Officers has the power to approve the execution by the Company or by its controlled companies, of active or passive agreements for the supply or lease of goods or services, whose annual value is greater than R$15.0 (fifteen million reais); and |
| · | Pursuant to Art. 32, paragraph VII, the Board of Executive Officers has the power to approve the contracting by the Company or by its controlled companies of loans, financing, or any other transactions implying indebtedness to the Company or its controlled companies, whose individual value is greater than R$30.0 (thirty million reais), provided that the provisions of item XVII of section 25 of this By-laws are observed.” |
Rights Relating to our Shares
Dividend Rights
See “Item 8.A. Financial Information ― Consolidated Statements and Others Financial Information — Dividend Policy.”
Voting Rights
Each common share entitles the holder to one vote at meetings of shareholders. Our preferred shares do not entitle the holder to vote except as set forth below. Holders of our preferred shares are each entitled to attend or to address meetings of shareholders.
One of the members of our Fiscal Committee and his or her alternate may be elected by majority vote of the holders of our preferred shares represented at the annual meeting of shareholders at which members of the Fiscal Committee are elected.
Brazilian Corporations Law provides that certain non-voting shares, such as our preferred shares, at a minimum, acquire voting rights in the event we fail for three consecutive fiscal years to pay the dividend to which such shares are entitled until such payment is made.
In addition, our by-laws provide that our preferred shares are entitled to full voting rights with respect to:
| · | the approval of any long-term contract between us or any of our subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any controlling shareholder or affiliates or related parties thereof, on the other hand, except in certain cases involving standard contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and |
| · | resolutions modifying certain provisions of our by-laws. |
Any change in the preference, benefits, conditions of redemption and amortization of our preferred shares, or the creation of a class of shares having priority or preference over our preferred shares, would require the approval of holders of a majority of our outstanding preferred shares at a special meeting of holders of our preferred shares. Such meeting would be called by publication of a notice in three Brazilian official gazettes at least thirty days prior to the meeting but would not generally require any other form of notice. In any circumstances in which holders of our preferred shares are entitled to vote, each of our preferred shares will entitle the holder to one vote.
Meeting of Shareholders
According to Brazilian law, shareholders must be previously notified through a notice published in three Brazilian official gazettes in order for a general or extraordinary shareholders’ meeting to be held. The notification must occur at least 15 days prior to the meeting scheduled date. If the first meeting is not held for any reason on first notice, a second notification must be published at least eight days before the second meeting date.
On the first notice, meetings may be held only if shareholders holding at least one-fourth of voting shares are represented. Extraordinary meetings for the amendment of the by-laws may be held on the first notice only if shareholders holding at least two thirds of the voting capital are represented. On a second call, the meetings are held regardless of quorum.
Preemptive Rights
Each of our shareholders has a general preemptive right to subscribe shares in any capital increase, in proportion to its shareholding. A minimum period of 30 days following the publication of notice of the capital increase is allowed for the exercise of the right, and the right is transferable.
However, a shareholders’ meeting is authorized to eliminate preemptive rights with respect to the issuance of new shares, debentures and warrants convertible into new shares up to the limit of the authorized share capital, provided that the distribution of these securities is effected:
| · | through an exchange of shares in a public offering the purpose of which is to acquire control of another company; or |
| · | through the use of certain tax incentives. |
In the event of a capital increase that would maintain or increase the proportion of capital represented by the preferred shares, holders of the ADSs, or of the preferred shares, would have preemptive rights to subscribe only to newly issued preferred shares. In the event of a capital increase that would reduce the proportion of capital represented by the preferred shares, holders of the ADSs or the preferred shares would have preemptive rights to subscribe to preferred shares in proportion to their shareholdings and to the Common Shares only to the extent necessary to prevent dilution of their interest in the Holding Company.
Preemptive rights to purchase shares may not be offered to U.S. holders of the ADSs unless a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is effective with respect to the shares underlying those rights, or an exemption form the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 is available. Consequently, if you are a holder of our ADSs who is a U.S. person or is located in the United States, you may be restricted in your ability to participate in the exercise of preemptive rights.
Right of Redemption
Subject to certain exceptions, the common shares and the preferred shares are redeemable by shareholders exercising dissenter’s withdrawal rights in the event that shareholders representing over 50% of the voting shares adopt a resolution at a duly convened shareholders meeting to:
| · | change the preference of our preferred shares or to create a class of shares having priority or preference over our preferred shares; |
| · | reduce the mandatory distribution of dividends; |
| · | change our corporate purpose; |
| · | participate in group of companies; |
| · | transfer all of our shares to another company in order to make us a wholly-owned subsidiary of that company; |
| · | split up, subject to the conditions set forth by Brazilian Corporations Law; |
| · | approve the acquisition of another company, the price of which exceeds certain limits set forth in the Brazilian Corporations Law; or |
| · | merge or consolidate ourselves with another company. |
The redemption right expires 30 days after publication of the minutes of the relevant shareholders’ meeting or, whenever the resolution requires the approval of the holders of preferred shares in a special meeting of the holders of preferred shares affected by the resolution, within 30 days following the publication of the minutes of that special meeting. The shareholders would be entitled to reconsider any action giving rise to redemption rights within 10 days following the expiration of those rights if they determine that the redemption of shares of dissenting shareholders would jeopardize our financial stability.
The rights of withdrawal under Brazilian Corporations Law for dissenting shareholders to seek redemption of the shares in the case of a company’s decision to participate in a group of companies or to merge or consolidate itself with another company are not automatically available to holders of our preferred shares. This results from an exception under Brazilian Corporations Law that excludes dissenters’ rights in such cases for holders of shares that have a public float rate higher than 50% and that are “liquid.” Shares are defined as being “liquid” for these purposes if they form part of the Bovespa Index or another stock exchange index (as defined by the CVM). Our preferred shares are currently included on the Bovespa Index. For as long as our shares are part of any qualifying market index, the right of redemption shall not be extended to our shareholders with respect to decisions regarding our merger or consolidation with another company, or the participation in a group of companies as defined by Brazilian Corporations Law. Currently, neither our common nor preferred shares have a public float rate higher than 50%, such that withdrawal rights are applicable.
Unless otherwise provided in the by-laws, which is not the case with us, a shareholder exercising rights to redeem shares is entitled to receive the book value of such shares, determined on the basis of the last annual balance sheet approved by the shareholders. If the shareholders’ meeting giving rise to redemption rights occurs more than 60 days after the date of the last annual balance sheet, a shareholder may demand that its shares be valued on the basis of a new balance sheet that is as of a date within 60 days of such shareholders’ meeting.
Form and Transfer
Our shares are maintained in book-entry form with a transfer agent, Banco ABN AMRO Real S.A., and the transfer of our shares is made in accordance with the applicable provision of the Brazilian Corporations Law, which provides that a transfer of shares is effected by an entry made by the transfer agent on its books, debiting the share account of the seller and crediting the share account of the purchaser, against presentation of a written order of the seller, or judicial authorization or order, in an appropriate document which remains in the possession of the transfer agent. The preferred shares underlying our ADS are registered on the transfer agent’s records in the name of the Brazilian Depositary.
Transfers of shares by a foreign investor are made in the same way and executed by such investor’s local agent on the investor’s behalf except that, if the original investment was registered with the Central Bank under the Brazilian foreign investment in capital markets regulations, the foreign investor should also seek amendment, if necessary, though its local agent, of the certificate of registration to reflect the new ownership.
Bovespa reports transactions carried out in its market to the Companhia Brasileira de Liquidação e Custódia, or CBLC, a central clearing system. A holder of our shares may choose, at its discretion, to participate in this system. All shares elected to be put into the system will be deposited in custody with the relevant stock exchange, through a Brazilian institution duly authorized to operate by the Central Bank and CVM and having a clearing account with the relevant stock exchange. The fact that such shares are subject to custody with the relevant stock exchange will be reflected in our register of shareholders. Each participating shareholder will, in turn, be registered in our register of beneficial shareholders, as the case may be, maintained by the relevant stock exchange and will be treated in the same way as registered shareholders.
Description of American Depositary Receipts in Respect of Preferred Shares
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement dated as of June 24, 2002 among TIM Participações, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary, and holders of our ADRs, pursuant to which the ADSs representing our preferred shares are issued. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the deposit agreement, including the form of ADRs attached thereto. The deposit agreement is an exhibit to this annual report. Copies of the deposit agreement are available for inspection at the ADR Administration Office of the Depositary, currently located at 4 New York Plaza, Floor 13, New York, New York 10004.
American Depositary Receipts
ADRs evidencing ADSs are issuable under the deposit agreement. Each ADR is in registered form and evidences a specified number of ADSs, each ADSs representing 10 preferred shares, deposited with the custodian and registered in the name of the depositary. We refer to those preferred shares, together with any additional preferred shares at any time deposited or deemed deposited under the deposit agreement and any and all other securities, cash and other property received by the depositary or the custodian in respect of those preferred shares and at such time held under the deposit agreement, as the “deposited securities.” Only persons in whose names ADRs are registered on the books of the depositary are treated by the depositary as owners of the ADRs.
Deposit, Transfer and Withdrawal
Our by-laws provide that ownership of capital is evidenced only by a record of ownership maintained in a depositary account with a financial institution, such as a bank, acting as a registrar for the shares. Currently, this function is performed by Banco ABN AMRO Real S.A., as registrar and transfer agent. Accordingly, all references to the deposit, surrender and delivery of the preferred shares refer only to book-entry transfers of the preferred shares in Brazil. All references to the deposit, surrender and delivery of the ADSs or the ADRs refer not only to the physical transfer of any certificates evidencing those ADSs but also to any book-entry transfers.
The preferred shares represented by ADSs were deposited pursuant to the deposit agreement by book-entry transfer to an account of the custodian and registered in the name of the custodian. The depositary is the holder of record on the books of the custodian of all those preferred shares.
The depositary has agreed, upon delivery (including by book-entry credit) to the custodian of the preferred shares (or evidence of rights to receive preferred shares) and pursuant to appropriate instruments of transfer and upon payment of applicable fees, charges and taxes, to execute and deliver at its transfer office to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons named in the notice of the custodian delivered to the depositary or requested by the person depositing those preferred shares with the depositary, an ADR or ADRs registered in the name or names of such person or persons and evidencing the authorized number of ADSs requested by such person or persons.
ADRs may be either in physical certificated form or book-entry form, the ownership of which is recorded on an electronic system maintained by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, without the issuance of a certificate.
The depositary may refuse to accept for deposit any preferred shares identified by us as required to be but not actually registered under the Securities Act.
Upon (1) surrender of a certificated ADR at the transfer office of the depositary, or (2) receipt of proper instructions and documentation in the case of an ADR issued in book-entry form, for the purpose of withdrawal of the deposited securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by that ADR, and upon payment of the fees of the depositary, governmental charges and taxes provided in the deposit agreement, the holder of that ADR will be entitled to delivery at the customer’s office, to the holder or upon the holder’s order, the amount of deposited securities at the time represented by the ADSs evidenced by that ADR. Any forwarding of the deposited securities to the ADR holder will be at the risk and expense of such holder.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the deposit agreement, the depositary may execute and deliver ADRs before receipt of preferred shares or rights to receive preferred shares (which we refer to as a “pre-release”).
Each pre-release must be: (1) accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom the ADRs are to be delivered, stating that such person (a) owns the underlying preferred shares, (b) assigns all beneficial rights, titles and interests in those preferred shares to the depositary, (c) agrees to hold those preferred shares for the account of the depositary, and (d) will deliver those preferred shares to the custodian as soon as practicable and promptly upon demand therefor; and (2) at all times fully collateralized with cash or U.S. government securities.
The collateral referred to in clause (2) above will be held by the depositary for the benefit of all ADR holders, but will not constitute deposited securities for the purpose of the deposit agreement.
The number of ADRs involved in pre-release transactions may not exceed 30% of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to ADSs evidenced by ADRs outstanding as a result of the pre-release), but the depositary reserves the right to change or disregard that limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The depositary may retain for its own account any earnings on collateral for pre-released ADRs.
The depositary and its agents, pursuant to the deposit agreement, may own and deal in any class of securities and in ADRs of TIM Participações and its affiliates.
Distributions on Deposited Securities
The depositary will distribute to each ADR holder by mail at the address shown on the ADR register all cash, additional (or rights to receive) preferred shares or other distributions in proportion to the number of ADSs evidenced by each holder’s ADRs, after payment of all applicable taxes and any (1) stock transfer or other governmental charge, (2) stock transfer or registration fees in effect for the registration of transfers of the preferred shares or other deposited securities, and (3) other applicable charges of the depositary provided for in the deposit agreement. If the depositary determines in its discretion that any such distribution is not practicable with respect to any ADR holder, it may effect the distribution as it deems practicable.
The depositary will distribute any U.S. dollars resulting from a cash dividend or other cash distribution or the net proceeds of sales of any other distribution after deducting any applicable taxes and all expenses in converting reais to U.S. dollars and transferring them to the United States among other expenses.
The depositary will also distribute additional ADRs evidencing ADSs representing any preferred shares available for distribution as a result of a dividend or free distribution on the deposited securities, or the net proceeds resulting from the sale of a portion of those shares that give rise to fractional ADSs.
In addition, the depositary will distribute warrants or other instruments representing rights to acquire additional ADRs in respect of any rights to subscribe for additional preferred shares or rights of any nature made available for distribution. If we do not furnish to the depositary evidence that the rights may lawfully be distributed, which evidence we have no obligation to furnish, the depositary may either sell those rights and distribute the cash net proceeds to ADR holders or let those rights lapse without being distributed if such sell cannot be accomplished.
Finally, the depositary will distribute any securities or property available for distribution other than the ones described above by any means it deems equitable and practicable. If the depositary deems any such distribution not equitable or practicable, it may instead sell any such securities or property and distribute the cash net proceeds to ADR holders.
In connection with any distribution to ADR holders, TIM Participações will remit to the appropriate governmental authority or agency all amounts (if any) required to be withheld and owing to that authority or agency by TIM Participações, and the depositary and the custodian will remit to the appropriate governmental authority or agency all amounts (if any) required to be withheld and owing to such authority or agency by the depositary or custodian. If the depositary determines that any distribution of property other than cash (including preferred shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax that the depositary is obligated to withhold, the depositary may, by public or private sale, dispose of all or a portion of such property in the amounts and in manner as the depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes, and the depositary will distribute the net proceeds of any such sale or the balance of any such property after deduction of such taxes to the ADR holders entitled thereto.
The depositary may, in its discretion, amend ADRs or distribute additional or amended ADRs or cash, securities or property to reflect any change in par value, split-up, consolidation, cancellation or any other reclassification of the deposited securities, any distribution of preferred shares or other distribution not made available to ADR holders, or any cash, securities or other property available to the depositary in respect of deposited securities from any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy or sale of all or substantially all our assets. Whatever cash, securities or other property results from any of the foregoing (even if the depositary does not amend the ADRs or make a distribution to ADR holders to reflect any of the foregoing) will constitute deposited securities and each ADS evidenced by outstanding ADRs will automatically represent its pro rata interest in the newly deposited securities.
Record Dates
The depositary may, after consultation with us if practicable, fix a record date, which shall be as near as practicable to any corresponding record date set by us (1) for the determination of the ADR holders who will be entitled to receive any distribution on or in respect of deposited securities, including dividends, (2) to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at a shareholders’ meeting, (3) to receive any notices, or (4) to act in respect of other matters.
Voting of Deposited Securities
Preferred shares do not entitle their holders to vote on any matter presented to a vote of shareholders of TIM Participações except as set forth under “—Rights Relating to our Shares—Voting Rights.” Under those circumstances and unless, in the future, the terms of the preferred shares are revised or amended to provide for voting rights, or if the preferred shares obtain voting rights pursuant to Brazilian Corporations Law or any change in any other laws, rules or regulations applicable to those shares or through any change in interpretation of those laws, the information set forth below applies.
As soon as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies of holders of preferred shares or other deposited securities, the depositary will mail to all ADR holders a notice, the form of which notice containing:
| · | the information included in the notice of meeting received by the depositary from TIM Participações and any solicitation materials; |
| · | a statement that holders of TIM Participações ADRs on the specified record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the preferred shares represented by their respective ADSs; and |
| · | a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including instructions to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by TIM Participações. |
Upon receipt of instructions of a holder of our ADRs on the record date, in the manner and on or before the date established by the depositary for that purpose, the depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under the provisions of the deposited securities, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of preferred shares or other deposited securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such ADRs in accordance with the instructions received. The depositary will not itself exercise any voting discretion in respect of any preferred shares.
ADR holders are not entitled to attend meetings of our shareholders. An ADR holder wishing to do so must cancel its ADRs and obtain delivery of the underlying preferred shares, registered in the name of that holder, before the record date for attendance at the meeting.
Available Information
Copies of the deposit agreement, the provisions of or governing deposited securities and any written communications sent by us to the depositary are available for inspection by ADR holders at the offices of the depositary and the custodian and at the depositary’s transfer office The depositary will also mail to ADR holders copies of those communications when furnished by us.
Amendment and Termination of Deposit Agreement
The form of the ADRs and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or that otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of ADR holders, will become effective 30 days after notice of such amendment has been given to holders of ADRs.
Every ADR holder at the time that amendment becomes effective will be deemed, by continuing to hold that ADR, to consent and agree to the amendment and to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended thereby. In no event will any amendment impair the right of any ADR holder to surrender ADRs and receive the preferred shares and other property represented thereby, except to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
Upon the resignation or removal of the depositary pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary may, and shall if requested by us, terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to holders of ADRs at least 30 days before the date fixed in the notice for termination.
After the date fixed for termination, the depositary and its agents will perform no further acts under the deposit agreement, except to receive and hold (or sell) distributions on deposited securities, including payment of dividends, and deliver preferred shares being withdrawn (after deducting, in each case, the fees of the depositary for the surrender of an ADR and other expenses set forth in the deposit agreement and any applicable taxes or governmental charges).
As soon as practicable after the expiration of six months from the date of termination, the depositary may sell the deposited securities then held thereunder and hold in a segregated account the net proceeds of the sale, together with any other cash, without liability for interest, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the ADR holders that have not thereunder surrendered their ADRs. After effecting such a sale, the depositary will be discharged from all obligations under the deposit agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the depositary and other expenses set forth in the deposit agreement for the surrender of an ADR and any applicable taxes or other governmental charges) and certain indemnification obligations to us. Upon termination of the deposit agreement, TIM Participações will also be discharged from all obligations thereunder, except for certain indemnification obligations to the depositary and its agents.
Charges of Depositary
The depositary may charge U.S$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) from each person to whom ADRs are issued against deposits of preferred shares, including deposits in respect of distributions of additional preferred shares, rights and other distributions, as well as from each person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal.
In addition, the following fees and charges will be incurred by ADR holders, any party depositing or withdrawing preferred shares or any party surrendering ADRs or to whom ADRs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by TIM Participações or an exchange of stock regarding the ADRs or deposited securities or a distribution of ADRs pursuant to the deposit agreement), whichever is applicable:
| · | a fee of U.S$0.02 or less per ADS (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution effected; |
| · | a fee of U.S$1.50 per ADR or ADSs for transfers made, to the extent not prohibited by the rules of any stock exchange or interdealer quotation system upon which the ADSs are traded; |
| · | a fee of U.S$5.00 per 100 ADSs for all distributions of securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof; |
| · | transfer or registration fees, if any, in connection with the deposit or withdrawal of deposited securities; |
| · | cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery charges incurred at the request of persons depositing or delivering preferred shares, ADRs or any deposited securities; |
| · | expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with the conversion of reais into U.S. dollars; and |
| · | any fees and expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with the delivery of deposited securities or otherwise in connection with the depositary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable laws, rules or regulations. |
Any amendment to the ADRs or the deposit agreement that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses) will become effective 30 days after notice of such amendment has been given to holders of ADRs.
Liability of ADR Holders for Taxes or Other Charges
If any tax or other governmental charge becomes payable by or on behalf of the custodian or the depositary with respect to any ADR or any deposited securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by that ADR, that tax or other governmental charge must be paid by the holder of that ADR.
The depositary may refuse to effect registration or transfer of the ADR or any split-up or combination thereof or any withdrawal of deposited securities underlying such ADR until that payment is made, may withhold any dividends or other distributions or may sell for the account of that holder any part or all of the deposited securities underlying that ADR, and may apply such dividends or distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of any such tax or other governmental charge, and the holder of such ADR remains liable for any deficiency.
Limitation on Execution, Delivery, Transfer and Withdrawal of ADRs
Prior to the issuance, registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of any ADR, the delivery of any distribution thereon or the withdrawal of deposited securities, TIM Participações, the depositary or the custodian may require payment of (1) any applicable stock transfer or other tax or other governmental charge, (2) any stock transfer or registration fees in effect for the registration of transfers of the preferred shares or other deposited securities, and (3) any other applicable charges of the depositary provided for in the deposit agreement.
In addition, the depositary may require satisfactory proof of identity, genuineness of any signature, citizenship, residence, exchange control approval, beneficial ownership, as well as compliance with applicable law, regulations (including applicable rules and regulations of the Central Bank and the CVM), provisions of or governing the deposited securities and the terms of the deposit agreement. The issuance, registration, transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs, acceptance of deposits of preferred shares and withdrawal of deposited securities may, generally or in particular instances, be suspended during any period when the ADR register or any register for the deposited securities is closed or when such action is deemed advisable by the depositary or TIM Participações.
The depositary will keep at its transfer office in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, a register for the registration, transfer, combination and split-up of certificated ADRs, which register includes data from the electronic system maintained by DTC to keep a record of ADRs issued in book-entry form only. This register will be open for inspection by ADR holders at all reasonable times. The depositary will also maintain a facility for the delivery and receipt of ADRs in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York.
The depositary may appoint co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADRs on its behalf at transfer offices other than the transfer office of the depositary.
Exoneration of Liability
Neither the depositary nor TIM Participações nor their respective agents will be liable if they:
| · | are prevented from, delayed or subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act required to be performed under the deposit agreement by reason of any law or regulation, provision of or governing the deposited securities, act of God, war or any other circumstance beyond their control; |
| · | exercise or fail to exercise any discretionary act allowed for under the deposit agreement; |
| · | perform their obligations under the deposit agreement without gross negligence or bad faith; or |
| · | act or fail to act in reliance upon the advice of legal counsel, accountants, any person depositing preferred shares, any holder of ADRs or any person believed by them to be competent to give such advice. |
Governing Law
The deposit agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York.
The following is a summary of the material contracts to which we have been a party in the past two years, other than contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business:
| · | Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2004, among TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, in the principal amount of R$20 million. The amount outstanding as of December 31, 2007, including accrued interest, was R$15.0 million. The agreement, which matures on June 28, 2012, bears interest in the rate of 11.5% per annum. In connection with this agreement, Banco Bradesco S.A. issued a letter of guarantee, subject to the payment of fees corresponding to 1% per annum of the principal amount. The guarantee agreement executed by TIM Nordeste and Banco Bradesco S.A. provides for the issuance of a $30 million promissory note by TIM Nordeste, with Tim Participações as the guarantor of such promissory note. |
| · | Credit Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2005, among TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, in the principal amount of approximately R$85.3 million. The amount outstanding as of December 31, 2007, including accrued interest, was R$75.9 million. The agreement, which matures on April 29, 2013, and bears interest at a rate of 11.5% per annum. In connection with this agreement, Banco Bradesco S.A. issued a letter of guarantee, subject to the payment of fees corresponding to 1% per annum of the principal amount. The guarantee agreement executed by TIM Nordeste and Banco Bradesco S.A. provides for the issuance of a $128.0 million promissory note by TIM Nordeste, with Tim Participações as the guarantor of such promissory note. |
| · | Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2004, among TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, in the principal amount of R$99.9 million. The amount outstanding as of December 31, 2007, including accrued interest, was R$74.9 million. The agreement, which matures on June 28, 2012, bears interest in the rate of 11.5% per annum. In connection with this agreement, Banco Bradesco S.A. issued a letter of guarantee, subject to the payment of fees corresponding to 1% per annum of the principal amount. The guarantee agreement executed by TIM Nordeste and Banco Bradesco S.A. provides for the issuance of a $149.8 million promissory note by TIM Nordeste, with Tim Brasil e Participações as the guarantor of such promissory note. |
| · | Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2000, among BNDES, as lender, TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Tim Brasil Serviços e Part. S.A., as guarantors, which was fully repayed on December 15, 2007. Under this loan, which originally matured on January 1, 2008, 76% of the total amount accrued interest at a fixed rate of 3,50% plus the TJLP, which was 6.25% per annum on December 31, 2007. The remaining 24% was adjusted according to a “BNDES currency basket” consisting mainly of the U.S. dollar plus a 3,50% spread related to the BNDES foreign funding costs (Res. 635/87). |
| · | Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2000, among Bradesco, Unibanco, Banco Alfa, Itaú BBA, as lenders, TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Tim Brasil Serviços e Part. S.A., as guarantor, which was fully repayed on December 15, 2007. Under this loan, which originally had the expiry date of January 1, 2008, 76% of the total principal amount accrued interest at a fixed rate of 4,0% plus the TJLP, which was 6.25% per annum on December 31, 2007. The remaining 24% of principal was adjusted according to a “BNDES currency basket” consisting mainly of the U.S. dollar plus a 4,00% spread related to the BNDES foreign funding costs (Res. 635/87). |
| · | Credit Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2005, among BNDES, as lender, TIM Celular, as borrower, and TIM Brasil e Participações as guarantor, in the principal amount of R$1,064.9 million outstanding as of December 31, 2007. The agreement, which matures on August 15, 2013 bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.2% plus the TJLP, which was 6.25% per annum on December 31, 2007. On December 31, 2007, the outstanding amount under this credit agreement, including accrued interest, was R$1,068.9 million. |
| · | Credit Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2005, among BNDES, as lender, TIM Celular, as borrower, and Unibanco, as guarantor, in the principal amount of R$48.3 million outstanding as of December 31, 2007. The agreement, which matures on October 17, 2011, bears interest at a fixed rate of 3% plus the TJLP, which was 6.25% per annum on December 31, 2007. On December 31, 2007, the outstanding amount under this credit agreement, including accrued interest, was R$48.4 million. In connection with this agreement, Unibanco issued a letter of guarantee, subject to the payment of fees corresponding to 0.64% per annum of the principal amount. |
| · | Credit Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2005, among HSBC, ABN Amro, Bradesco, Banco do Brasil, Itaú, Santander, BNP Paribas, Unibanco, Banco Votorantim, Societé Generale, as lenders, TIM Celular, as borrower, and TIM Brasil, as guarantor, in the principal amount of R$600.0 million outstanding as of December 31, 2007. The agreement, which matures on August 10, 2009, bears interest at a variable rate of 0.9% above the CDI interest rate. On December 31, 2007, the outstanding amount under this credit agreement, including accrued interest, was R$623.7 million. |
| · | Several facility agreements (“Compror”), contracted and disbursed between June, July and December 2007, among TIM Celular, as borrower, and Banco Santander, and ABN AMRO, as lenders, in the total principal amount of R$241.1 million. The total outstanding amount as of December 31, 2007 was R$235.9 million, including accrued interest. The agreements, which the last mature will be on June 2008, are denominated in foreign currencies (USD an JPY) bearing interests of 6.42% p.a. (USD) and 0.93% p.a. (JPY). Otherwise, for each disbursement was contracted a swap (CCIRS), bringing the final average cost to 104.5% of the CDI. No guarantees were offered for these loans. |
There are no restrictions on ownership of our preferred shares or common shares by individuals or legal entities domiciled outside Brazil. However, the right to convert dividend payments and proceeds from the sale of shares into foreign currency and to remit such amounts outside Brazil is subject to restrictions under foreign investment legislation which generally requires, among other things, that the relevant investments have been registered with the Central Bank. Foreign investors may register their investment under Law No. 4,131 of September 3, 1962 (“Law No. 4,131”), or Resolution CMN 2,689. Registration under Law No. 4,131 or under Resolution CMN 2,689 generally enables foreign investors to convert into foreign currency dividends, other distributions and sales proceeds received in connection with registered investments and to remit such amounts abroad. Resolution CMN 2,689 affords favorable tax treatment to foreign investors who are not resident in a tax haven jurisdiction, which is defined under Brazilian tax laws as a country that does not impose taxes or where the maximum income tax rate is lower than 20% or that restricts the disclosure of shareholder composition or ownership of investments. See “—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.” Such restrictions on the remittance of foreign capital abroad may hinder or prevent Banco Itaú S.A., as custodian for our preferred shares represented by ADSs, or holders who have exchanged ADRs for preferred shares, from converting dividends, distributions or the proceeds from any sale of such preferred shares, as the case may be, into U.S. dollars and remitting such U.S. dollars abroad. Holders of ADSs could be adversely affected by delays in, or refusal to grant any, required government approval for conversions of Brazilian currency payments and remittances abroad of our preferred shares underlying the ADSs.
Under Resolution CMN 2,689, foreign investors may invest in almost all financial assets and engage in almost all transactions available in the Brazilian financial and capital markets, provided that certain requirements are fulfilled. In accordance with Resolution CMN 2,689, foreign investors are individuals, corporations, mutual funds and collective investments domiciled or headquartered abroad.
Pursuant to Resolution CMN 2,689, foreign investors must:
| · | appoint at least one representative in Brazil with powers to perform actions relating to the foreign investment; |
| · | complete the appropriate foreign investment registration form; |
| · | obtain registration as a foreign investor with the CVM; and |
| · | register the foreign investment with the Central Bank. |
The securities and other financial assets held by the foreign investor pursuant to Resolution CMN 2,689 must be:
| · | registered or maintained in deposit accounts or under the custody of an entity duly licensed by the Central Bank or by the CVM or |
| · | registered in registration, clearing and custody systems authorized by the Central Bank or by the CVM. |
In addition, securities trading is restricted to transactions carried out on the stock exchanges or organized over-the-counter markets licensed by the CVM.
On January 26, 2000, the Central Bank enacted Circular No. 2,963, providing that beginning on March 31, 2000, all investments by a foreign investor under the Resolution CMN 2,689 are subject to the electronic registration with the Central Bank. Foreign investments registered under the Annex IV regulations were required to conform to the new registration rules by June 30, 2000.
Resolution No. 1,927 of the CMN provides for the issuance of depositary receipts in foreign markets in respect of shares of Brazilian issuers. The ADS program was approved under the Annex V regulations by the Central Bank and the Brazilian securities commission prior to the issuance of the ADSs. Accordingly, the proceeds from the sale of ADSs by ADR holders outside Brazil are free of Brazilian foreign investment controls and holders of the ADSs will be entitled to favorable tax treatment. See “—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.” According to Resolution CMN 2,689, foreign investments registered under Annex V Regulations may be converted into the new investment system and vice-versa, provided the conditions set forth by the Central Bank and the CVM are complied with.
An electronic registration has been generated in the name of the Depositary with respect to the ADSs and is maintained by the custodian on behalf of the Depositary. This electronic registration is carried on through the Central Bank’s information system. Pursuant to the registration, the custodian and the Depositary are able to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to our preferred shares represented by ADSs into foreign currency and remit the proceeds outside Brazil. In the event that a holder of ADSs exchanges such ADSs for preferred shares, such holder will be entitled to continue to rely on the Depositary’s certificate of registration for five business days after such exchange, following which such holder must seek to obtain its own certificate of registration with the Central Bank. Thereafter, any holder of preferred shares may not be able to convert into foreign currency and remit outside Brazil the proceeds from the disposition of, or distributions with respect to, such preferred shares, unless such holder qualifies under the Annex IV or the Resolution 2,689 regulations, or obtains its own certificate of registration. A holder that obtains a certificate of registration will be subject to less favorable Brazilian tax treatment than a holder of ADSs. See “—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.” In addition, if the holder is a qualified investor under Resolution CMN 2,689 but resides in a jurisdiction that does not impose income tax or where the income tax is imposed at a maximum rate of 20%, this holder will be subject to a less favorable tax treatment than a holder of ADSs.
Under current Brazilian legislation, the federal government may impose temporary restrictions on remittances of foreign capital abroad in the event of a serious imbalance or an anticipated serious imbalance of Brazil’s balance of payments. For approximately six months in 1989 and early 1990, the federal government froze all dividend and capital repatriations held by the Central Bank that were owed to foreign equity investors, in order to conserve Brazil’s foreign currency reserves. These amounts were subsequently released in accordance with federal government directives. The imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments increased during 1999, and there can be no assurance that the federal government will not impose similar restrictions on foreign repatriations in the future.
The following summary contains a description of the principal Brazilian and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the preferred shares or ADSs, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to hold preferred shares or ADSs. The summary is based upon the tax laws of Brazil and regulations thereunder and on the tax laws of the United States thereunder as of the date hereof, which are subject to change. Holders of preferred shares or ADSs should consult their own tax advisers as to the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of preferred shares or ADSs in their particular circumstances.
Although there is at present no income tax treaty between Brazil and the United States, the tax authorities of the two countries have had discussions that may culminate in such a treaty. No assurance can be given, however, as to whether or when a treaty will enter into force or how it will affect the U.S. holders of preferred shares or ADSs.
Brazilian Tax Considerations
The following discussion summarizes the principal Brazilian tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of preferred shares or ADSs by a non-Brazilian holder. This discussion does not address all the Brazilian tax considerations that may be applicable to any particular non-Brazilian holder, and each non-Brazilian holder should consult its own tax adviser about the Brazilian tax consequences of investing in preferred shares or ADSs.
Taxation of Dividends
Dividends paid by us in cash or in kind from profits of periods beginning on or after January 1, 1996 (i) to the Depositary in respect of preferred shares underlying ADSs or (ii) to a non-Brazilian holder in respect of preferred shares will generally not be subject to Brazilian income tax withholding. The dividend distribution made in 2007 does not include any dividends relating to periods ending on or before January 1, 1996.
Taxation of Gains
According to Article 26 of Law No. 10,833 of December 29, 2003, which came into force on February 1, 2004, capital gains realized on the disposition of assets located in Brazil by non-Brazilian residents, whether or not to other non-residents and whether made outside or within Brazil, are subject to taxation in Brazil at a rate of 15%, or 25% if made by investors domiciled in a “tax haven” jurisdiction (i.e., a country that does not impose any income tax or that imposes tax at a maximum rate of less than 20%). Although we believe that the ADSs will not fall within the definition of assets located in Brazil for the purposes of Law No. 10,833, considering the general and unclear scope of Law 10,833 and the absence of any judicial guidance in respect thereof, we are unable to predict whether such interpretation will ultimately prevail in the Brazilian courts.
Gains realized by non-Brazilian holders on dispositions of preferred shares in Brazil or in transactions with Brazilian residents may be exempt from Brazilian income tax, taxed at a rate of 15% or 25%, depending on the circumstances. Gains realized through transactions on Brazilian stock exchanges, if carried out in accordance with Resolution CMN 2,689, as described below, are exempt from Brazilian income tax. Gains realized through transactions on Brazilian stock exchanges are subject to Brazilian income tax at a rate of 15% and also to Brazilian withholding tax at a rate of 0.005% (to offset the Brazilian income tax due on eventual capital gain). Gains realized through transactions with Brazilian residents or through transactions in Brazil not on the Brazilian stock exchanges are subject to tax at a rate of 15%, or 25% if made by investors resident in a tax haven jurisdiction.
Non-Brazilian holders of preferred shares registered under Resolution CMN 2,689, which as of March 31, 2000 superseded the Annex IV Regulations, may be subject to favorable tax treatment since the investor has
| · | appointed a representative in Brazil with power to take action relating to the investment in preferred shares; |
| · | registered as a foreign investor with the CVM; and |
| · | registered its investment in preferred shares with the Central Bank. |
Under Resolution CMN 2,689 securities held by foreign investors must be maintained under the custody of, or in deposit accounts with, financial institutions duly authorized by the Central Bank and the CVM. In addition, securities trading is restricted under Resolution CMN 2,689 to transactions on Brazilian stock exchanges or qualified over-the-counter markets. The preferential treatment afforded under Resolution CMN 2,689 and afforded to investors in ADSs is not available to investors resident or domiciled in tax havens.
There can be no assurance that the current preferential treatment for holders of ADSs and non-Brazilian holders of preferred shares under Resolution CMN 2,689 will be maintained.
Gain on the disposition of preferred shares is measured by the difference between the amount in Brazilian currency realized on the sale or exchange and the acquisition cost of the shares sold, measured in Brazilian currency, without any correction for inflation. The acquisition cost of shares registered as an investment with the Central Bank is calculated on the basis of the foreign currency amount registered with the Central Bank. See “—Exchange Controls” above.
There is a possibility that gains realized by a non-Brazilian holder upon the redemption of preferred shares will be treated as gains from the disposition of such preferred shares to a Brazilian resident occurring off of a stock exchange and will accordingly be subject to tax at a rate of 15% or 25%, if realized by investors resident in a tax haven jurisdiction.
Any exercise of preemptive rights relating to preferred shares or ADSs should not be subject to Brazilian taxation. Gains on the sale or assignment of preemptive rights relating to preferred shares should be subject to the same tax treatment applicable to a sale or disposition of our preferred shares.
The deposit of preferred shares in exchange for the ADSs may be subject to Brazilian income tax if the amount previously registered with the Central Bank as a foreign investment in our preferred shares is lower than
| · | the average price per preferred share on the Bovespa on the day of the deposit; or |
| · | if no preferred shares were sold on that day, the average price on the Bovespa during the fifteen preceding trading sessions. |
The difference between the amount previously registered and the average price of the preferred shares, calculated as set forth above, will be considered a capital gain subject to income tax. Unless the preferred shares were held in accordance with Resolution CMN 2,689, in which case the exchange would be tax-free, the capital gain will be subject to income tax at the following rates: (i) 15%, for gains realized through transactions on Brazilian stock exchanges; or (ii) 15%, or 25% if realized by investors resident in a tax haven jurisdiction, for gains realized through transactions in Brazil not on the Brazilian stock exchanges.
The withdrawal of ADSs in exchange for preferred shares is not subject to Brazilian income tax. On receipt of the underlying preferred shares, a non-Brazilian holder entitled to benefits under Resolution CMN 2,689 will be entitled to register the U.S. dollar value of such shares with the Central Bank of Brazil as described above in “—Exchange Controls”. If such non-Brazilian holder does not qualify under Resolution CMN 2,689, it will be subject to the less favorable tax treatment described above in respect of exchanges of preferred shares.
Distributions of Interest on Capital
A Brazilian corporation may make payments to its shareholders characterized as interest on the corporation's capital as an alternative form of making dividend distributions. See “Item 8.A. Financial Information—Consolidated Statements and Others Financial Information—Dividend Policy.” The rate of interest may not be higher than the TJLP, as determined by the Central Bank from time to time. The total amount distributed as interest on capital may not exceed, for tax purposes, the greater of:
| · | 50% of net income for the year in respect of which the payment is made, after the deduction of social contribution or net profits and before (1) making any deduction for corporate income taxes paid and (2) taking such distribution into account; or |
| · | 50% of retained earnings for the year prior to the year in respect of which the payment is made. |
Payments of interest on capital are decided by the shareholders on the basis of recommendations by our Board of Directors.
Up to the limit mentioned above, distributions of interest on capital paid to Brazilian and non-Brazilian holders of preferred shares, including payments to the Depositary in respect of preferred shares underlying ADSs, are deductible by us for Brazilian tax purposes. Such payments are subject to Brazilian income tax withholding at the rate of 15%, except for payments to beneficiaries who are exempt from tax in Brazil, which are free of Brazilian tax, and except for payments to beneficiaries domiciled in tax havens, which payments are subject to withholding at a 25% rate.
No assurance can be given that our Board of Directors will not recommend that future distributions of profits will be made by means of interest on capital instead of by means of dividends.
Amounts paid as interest on capital (net of applicable income tax withholding) may be treated as payments in respect of the dividends that we are obligated to distribute to our shareholders in accordance with our by-laws and Brazilian Corporations Law. Distributions of interest on capital in respect of the preferred shares, including distributions to the Depositary in respect of preferred shares underlying ADSs, may be converted into U.S. dollars and remitted outside of Brazil, subject to applicable exchange controls.
Other Brazilian Taxes
There are no Brazilian inheritance, gift or succession taxes applicable to the ownership, transfer or disposition of the preferred shares or ADSs by a non-Brazilian holder except for gift and inheritance taxes levied by some States in Brazil on gifts made or inheritances bestowed by individuals or entities not resident or domiciled in Brazil or in the relevant state to individuals or entities that are resident or domiciled within such state in Brazil. There are no Brazilian stamp, issue, registration, or similar taxes or duties payable by holders of preferred shares or ADSs.
A financial transaction tax (the “IOF”) may be imposed on a variety of transactions, including the conversion of Brazilian currency into foreign currency (e.g., for purposes of paying dividends and interest) or the conversion of foreign currency into Brazilian currency. The IOF tax rate for most of these transactions is currently 0.38%, but the Minister of Finance has the legal power to increase the rate to a maximum of 25%. Any such increase will be applicable only prospectively. The IOF rate related to remittances of dividends and interest on capital made by companies whose shares are traded on the Brazilian Stock Exchange to non-Brazilian holders is currently zero.
The IOF may also be levied on transactions involving bonds or securities (“IOF/Títulos”) even if the transactions are carried out in Brazilian stock, futures or commodities exchanges. The rate of the IOF/Títulos with respect to preferred shares is currently 0%. The Minister of Finance, however, has the legal power to increase the rate to a maximum of 1.5% per day. Any such increase will be applicable only prospectively.
Until December 31, 2007 the Temporary Contribution on Financial Transactions (“CPMF tax”) was assessed at the rate of 0.38% on certain funds transfers in connection with financial transactions in Brazil. The CPMF tax was imposed upon owners of Brazilian bank accounts. Stock exchange transactions were exempted from the CPMF tax. In addition, debits of reais from deposit bank accoutnts exclusively opened for investments in fixed and variable income financial assets ("conta corrente de depósito para investimento") were not subject to the CPMF assessment. However, by the end of 2007 this tax has been repealed by the Brazilian Congress. Therefore, the assessment of the CPMF tax on financial transactions carried out as from January 1, 2008 has been extinguished.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder described below of owning and disposing of preferred shares or ADSs, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular person’s decision to hold such securities. The discussion applies only to a U.S. Holder that holds preferred shares or ADSs as capital assets for tax purposes and it does not describe all tax consequences that may be relevant to U.S. Holder’s subject to special rules, such as:
| · | certain financial institutions; |
| · | dealers and traders in securities or foreign currencies; |
| · | persons holding preferred shares or ADSs as part of a hedge, “straddle,” integrated transaction or similar transaction; |
| · | persons whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar; |
| · | partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| · | persons liable for the alternative minimum tax; |
| · | tax-exempt organizations; |
| · | persons holding preferred shares or ADSs that own or are deemed to own ten percent or more of our voting stock; or |
| · | persons who acquired our shares or ADSs pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation. |
If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds preferred shares or ADSs, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding preferred shares or ADSs and partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding and disposing of the preferred shares or ADSs.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date hereof. These laws are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. It is also based in part on representations by the Depositary and assumes that each obligation under the Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.
A “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of preferred shares or ADSs that is, for U.S. federal tax purposes:
| · | a citizen or individual resident of the United States; |
| · | a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof; or |
| · | an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source. |
In general, a U.S. Holder that owns ADSs will be treated as the owner of the underlying preferred shares represented by those ADSs for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, no gain or loss will be recognized if a U.S. Holder exchanges ADSs for the underlying preferred shares represented by those ADSs.
The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom American Depositary Receipts are released before delivery of shares to the depositary (“pre-release”) or intermediaries in the chain of ownership between U.S. holders and the issuer of the security underlying the American Depositary Receipts may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by U.S. holders of American Depositary Receipts. Such actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax applicable to dividends received by certain non-corporate holders. Accordingly, the creditability of Brazilian taxes and the availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain non-corporate holders, each described below, could be affected by actions taken by such parties or intermediaries.
U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of owning and disposing of preferred shares or ADSs in their particular circumstances.
This discussion assumes that the Company is not, and will not become, a passive foreign investment company, as described below.
Taxation of Distributions
Distributions paid on preferred shares or ADSs will generally be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Because the Company does not maintain calculations of its earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, it is expected that distributions generally will be reported to U.S. Holders as dividends. Subject to applicable limitations and the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, dividends paid by qualified foreign corporations to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011 are taxable at favorable rates, up to a maximum rate of 15%. A foreign corporation is treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid on stock that is readily tradable on a securities market in the United States, such as the New York Stock Exchange where our ADSs are traded. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers to determine whether a favorable rate will apply to dividends they receive and whether they are subject to any special rules that limit their ability to be taxed at a favorable rate.
Bills have been introduced in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate that would, if enacted, deny the favorable tax rates described in the preceding paragraph for dividends paid in respect of certain securities where the issuer of the securities is allowed a deduction under the tax laws of a foreign country with respect to such dividend. It is unclear how the proposed legislation would apply to securities such as the preferred shares where distributions may be made in the form of interest on capital. The proposed legislation would apply to dividends received after the date of its enactment. It is not possible to predict whether the proposed legislation will be enacted, either in its present form or any other form. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers with respect to the potential enactment of currently proposed legislation and its application in their particular circumstances.
The amount of a dividend will include any amounts withheld by the Company in respect of Brazilian taxes on the distribution. The amount of the dividend will be treated as foreign-source dividend income to U.S. Holders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to U.S. corporations under the Code. Dividends will be included in a U.S. Holder’s income on the date of the U.S. Holder’s or, in the case of ADSs, the Depositary’s receipt of the dividend. The amount of any dividend income paid in reais will be the U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of such receipt regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. A U.S. Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss if the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars after the date of its receipt.
Subject to applicable limitations that may vary depending upon a U.S. Holder’s circumstances and subject to the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, Brazilian income taxes withheld from dividends on preferred shares generally will be creditable against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex and, therefore, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the availability of foreign tax credits in their particular circumstances. Instead of claiming a credit, a U.S. Holder may elect to deduct such Brazilian taxes in computing its taxable income, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. law. An election to deduct foreign taxes instead of claiming foreign tax credits must apply to all taxes paid or accrued in the taxable year to foreign countries and possessions of the United States.
Sale, Redemption or Other Disposition of Preferred Shares or ADSs
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, gain or loss realized on the sale, redemption or other disposition of preferred shares or ADSs will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held the preferred shares or ADSs for more than one year, assuming that, in the case of a redemption, the U.S. Holder does not own, and is not deemed to own, any of our voting stock. The amount of the gain or loss will equal the difference between the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the preferred shares or ADSs disposed of and the amount realized on the disposition, in each case as determined in U.S. dollars. Such gain or loss will generally be U.S. source gain or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. If a Brazilian tax is withheld on the sale or disposition of preferred shares or ADSs, a U.S. Holder’s amount realized will include the gross amount of the proceeds of such sale or disposition before deduction of the Brazilian tax. See “—Brazilian Tax Considerations – Taxation of Gains” for a description of when a disposition may be subject to taxation by Brazil. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors as to whether the Brazilian tax on gains may be creditable against the holder's U.S. federal income tax on foreign source income from other sources.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
The Company believes that it was not a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes for its 2007 taxable year. However, since PFIC status depends upon the composition of a company’s income and assets and the market value of its assets from time to time, there can be no assurance that the Company will not be a PFIC for any taxable year.
If the Company were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder held preferred shares or ADSs, gain recognized by such U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition (including certain pledges) of the preferred shares or ADSs would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the preferred shares or ADSs. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and to any year before the Company became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for such taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed on the amount allocated to such taxable year. Similar rules would apply to any distribution in respect of preferred shares or ADSs to the extent in excess of 125% of the average of the annual distributions on preferred shares or ADSs received by a U.S. Holder during the preceding three years or such holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter. Certain elections (such as a mark-to-market election) may be available that would result in alternative treatment under the PFIC rules. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers to determine whether the Company is a PFIC for any given taxable year and the tax consequences to them of holding shares in a PFIC.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries generally are subject to information reporting and to backup withholding unless (i) the U.S. Holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, the U.S. Holder provides a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding.
The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
F. | Dividends and Paying Agents. |
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| Not applicable. |
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G. | Statement by Experts |
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| Not applicable. |
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H. | Documents on Display |
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Statements contained in this annual report as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and each of these statements is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit hereto. Anyone may read and copy this report, including the exhibits hereto, at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the public reference room is available by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, will file periodic reports and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the regional offices, public reference facilities of the SEC referred to above. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements and periodic reports and from Section 16 of the Exchange Act relating to short swing profits reporting and liability.
We will furnish to JPMorgan Chase N.A., as Depositary, copies of all reports we are required to file with the SEC under the Exchange Act, including our annual reports in English, containing a brief description of our operations and our audited annual consolidated financial statements, which will be prepared in accordance with the Brazilian Corporations Law accounting method and include a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP. In addition, we are required under the Deposit Agreement to furnish the Depositary with copies of English translations to the extent required under the rules of the SEC of all notices of preferred shareholders’ meetings and other reports and communications that are generally made available to holders of preferred shares. Under certain circumstances, the Depositary will arrange for the mailing to all ADR holders, at our expense, of these notices, reports and communications.
I. | Subsidiary information. |
Not applicable.
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to market risk from changes in both foreign currency exchange and interest rates. We are exposed to foreign exchange rate risk mainly because certain costs of ours are denominated in currencies (primarily U.S. dollars) other than those in which we earn revenues (primarily reais). Similarly, we are subject to market risk deriving from changes in interest rates, which may affect the cost of our financing. Prior to 1999, we did not use derivative instruments, such as foreign exchange forward contracts, foreign currency options, interest rate swaps and forward rate agreements, to manage these market risks. In 1999 (April 1999 for TND), we began entering into hedging agreements covering payments of principal on our foreign exchange denominated indebtedness. We also have entered into arrangements to hedge market risk deriving from changes in interest rates for some of our debt obligations. We do not hold or issue derivative or other financial instruments for trading purposes.
Interest Rate Risk
On December 31, 2007, our outstanding debt accrued interest at the CDI or the TJLP and totaled R$2,145.9 million. On the same date, we had cash and cash equivalents, in the amount of R$1,117.4 million and R$55.3 million in short-term instruments accruing interest at the CDI rate.
Over a one year period, before accounting for tax expenses, a hypothetical, instantaneous and unfavorable change of 100 basis points in interest rates applicable to our financial assets and liabilities on December 31, 2007 would have resulted in a variation of R$12.1 million in our interest expenses from financial contracts and a variation of R$2.9 million in our revenues from financial investments (assuming that this hypothetical 100 basis point movement in interest rates uniformly applied to each “homogenous category” of our financial assets and liabilities and that such movement in interest rates was sustained over the full one-year period). For purposes of this interest rate risk sensitivity analysis, financial assets and liabilities denominated in the same currency (e.g., U.S. dollars) are grouped in separate homogenous categories. This interest rate risk sensitivity analysis may therefore overstate the impact of interest rate fluctuations to us, as unfavorable movements of all interest rates are unlikely to occur consistently among different homogenous categories.
Exchange Rate Risk
Devaluation of the real increases the cost, expressed in real, of some of our foreign-currency-denominated capital expenditures. As of December 31, 2007, we did not have any outstanding unhedged indebtedness denominated in foreign currency and were thus not exposed to exchange rate risk based on our indebtedness. We enter in to hedging agreements to hedge our borrowings denominated in foreign currency and thus have limited our exchange rate exposure regarding such borrowings. Our foreign-exchange hedging agreements protect us from devaluations of the real but expose us to potential losses in the event the foreign currencies decline in value against the real. However, any such decline in the value of the foreign currencies would reduce our costs in reais in terms of planned capital expenditures as discussed below.
Our revenues are earned almost entirely in real, and we have no material foreign currency-denominated assets. We acquire our equipment and handsets from global suppliers, the prices of which are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. Thus, we are exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from our need to make substantial dollar-denominated expenditures, particularly for imported components, equipment and handsets, that we have limited capacity to hedge. Furthermore, depreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar could create additional inflationary pressures in Brazil by increasing the price of imported products which may result in the adoption of deflationary government policies.
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
None.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2007. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that all material information required to be filed in this annual report has been made known to them in a timely fashion. Our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and are effective in ensuring that information to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). TIM’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the integrity and reliability of the published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations and can provide only reasonable assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
Management evaluated the internal control over financial reporting under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO as of December 31, 2007. Management evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set out in the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) framework. TIM’s management concluded that as of December 31, 2007, our internal control over financial reporting was adequate and effective, based on those criteria.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst Young Auditores Independentes S.S., has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. The report on the audit of our internal control over financial reporting is included below.
(c) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst Young Auditores Independentes S.S., the independent registered public accounting firm that has audited our consolidated financial statements, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. The attestation report appears as follows:
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
TIM Participações S.A.
We have audited TIM Participações S.A.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). TIM Participações S.A.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, TIM Participações S.A. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of TIM Participações S.A. as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholder’s equity, and changes in financial position for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 and our report dated January 30, 2008, except as to Notes 39 and 40, as to which the date is April 15, 2008, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
ERNST & YOUNG
Auditores Independentes S.S.
Mauro Moreira
Partner
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
January 30, 2008, except for internal control over financial reporting related to Notes 39 and 40 of the 2007 consolidated financial statements as to which the date is April 15, 2008.
(d) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A number of processes and systems are currently being changed in order to unify the operations of the various entities making up TIM Participações. An action plan is being implemented in order to comply with the best practices within the industry. However, these changes will not significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of evaluation and do not constitute corrective action with regard to material weaknesses as a result of the evaluation.
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Our Fiscal Committee, which functions as an audit committee, shall be comprised of three to five permanent members and an equal number of alternates, shareholders or not, elected by the Shareholders’ meeting. This year we have three members only, two elected by the majority common shareholders and one by the minority preferred shareholders. Our Fiscal Committee has determined that all three of its members, independent members of our Fiscal Committee under Brazilian rules, are “audit committee financial experts” as such term is defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 16B. Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Conduct and Transparency that applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and persons performing similar functions, as well as to our other directors, officers, controlling shareholders and members of our Fiscal Committee in accordance with CVM rules satisfying the requirements of Brazilian Law. Our code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this annual report and is available on our website at http://www.timpartri.com.br. The Code of Conduct and Transparency is also available free of charge upon request. Such request may be made by mail, telephone or fax at the address set forth in the second paragraph of “Item 4.A. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company—Basic Information.” During 2005 we adopted no amendments to and granted no waivers from our Code of Conduct and Transparency.
Our Code of Conduct and Transparency does not address all of the principles set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. However, pursuant to company policy and section 156 of Brazilian Corporations Law No. 6.404 an officer is prohibited from taking part in any corporate transaction in which he has an interest that conflicts with the interests of the company. This disqualification must be disclosed to the board. Moreover, an officer may only contract with the company under reasonable and fair conditions, identical to those that prevail in the market or under which the company would contract with third parties. Any contract entered into or performed in violation of this article is voidable and requires the offending officer to disgorge any benefits he received from such violation.
In November 2006, a communication channel was created to address “complaints” related to breaking and/or suspicion of breaking the Control Model of the Company. The Control Model is a document based on the Code of Ethics, General Principles of Internal Control and Principles of Behavior with the Public Administration. This channel is accessible via email or letter addressed to the Internal Audit department.
During the same period, a committee formed by the directors of the Internal Auditing, Human Resources and Security was created to analyze reported complaints and take the necessary actions.
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
The following table sets forth the fees billed to us by our independent auditors, Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S., during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006:
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Audit fees | | | 6,244 | | | | 5,450 | |
Audit-related fees | | | 95 | | | | 138 | |
Total fees | | | 6,339 | | | | 5,588 | |
Audit fees in the above table are the aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S. in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements and limited reviews of our quarterly financial information for statutory purposes and the assessment required under Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act.
Audit-related fees in the above table are the aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S. for a consolidation reporting package related to the company’s ultimate parent company.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The general authority to pre-approve the engagement of our independent auditors to render non-audit services is under the purview of our Fiscal Committee. Accordingly, the Fiscal Committee has established pre-approval procedures to control the provision of all audit and non-audit services by our independent auditors (the “Pre-Approval Policy”). Under the Pre-Approval Policy, the engagement of our independent auditors to provide audit and non-audit services must be pre-approved by the Fiscal Committee, either in the form of a special approval or through the inclusion of the services in question in a list adopted by the Fiscal Committee of pre-approved services. The Pre-Approval Policy is detailed as to the particular services to be provided. Additionally, the Pre-Approval Policy affirms that the Fiscal Committee’s responsibilities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are not delegated to management.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Brazilian Corporations Law requires that we have a statutory Board of Auditors (referred to as our Fiscal Committee or Conselho Fiscal). Our Fiscal Committee meets the requirements of the general exemption set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10A-3(c)(3). See “Item 6.A.. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Directors and Senior Management—Fiscal Committee.” Our Fiscal Committee is primarily charged with certain advisory, oversight and review functions with respect to the company’s financial statements, management acts and certain proposals to be submitted to shareholders’ meetings, such as proposals made by management regarding investment plans, capital expenditures budget, dividends distribution and corporate restructuring involving the company. However, the Fiscal Committee, as required by Brazilian Corporations Law, has only an advisory role and does not participate in the management of the company. Indeed, decisions of the Fiscal Committee are not binding on the company under Brazilian Corporations Law. Our Board of Directors, under Brazilian Corporations Law, is the only entity with the legal capacity to appoint and terminate any independent registered public accounting firm.
Since Brazilian Corporations Law does not specifically grant our Fiscal Committee the power to establish receipt, retention and complaint procedures regarding accounting, internal control and audit matters, or create policies for the confidential, anonymous treatment of employee concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters, we adopted a Fiscal Committee charter at a shareholders’ meeting held on May 6, 2004 and revised the charter at a shareholders’ meeting held on March 16, 2006, to clarify that the Fiscal Committee has certain powers and duties, which comprise among others the powers herein mentioned, and also further specifies heightened qualification requirements for members of the Fiscal Committee. On May 4, 2006, our Board of Directors approved the submission to the Shareholders’ Meeting of a proposal to amend our bylaws. Among other things, the proposal proves for the incorporation of the above-mentioned powers, duties and qualifications relating to the Fiscal Committee into the bylaws. Said proposal was approved by the Shareholders’ meeting held on June 05, 2006.
We do not believe that our use of the Fiscal Committee in accordance with Brazilian Corporations Law, as opposed to the provisions set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10A-3(b), materially adversely affects the ability of the Fiscal Committee to act independently, satisfy the other applicable requirements of Exchange Act Rule 10A-3 or to fulfill its fiduciary and other obligations under Brazilian law. It is presently contemplated that the Fiscal Committee will continue to be independent. However, because the Fiscal Committee’s members will continue to be elected and its budget will continue to be set at the general shareholders’ meeting, we can make no assurance that the Fiscal Committee or its future members will continue to be independent from our controlling shareholder in the future.
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
PART III
Item 17. Financial Statements
We have responded to Item 18 in lieu of responding to this Item.
Item 18. Financial Statements
See our audited consolidated financial statements beginning at page F-1.
Item 19. Exhibits
1.1* | By-laws of TIM Participações S.A., as amended (English and Portuguese). |
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2.1 | Deposit Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2002, among Tele Celular Sul Participações S.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Depositary, and holders of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2005. |
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2.2 | Foreign Onlending Agreement, dated February 24, 2006, between Banco ABN AMRO Real S.A., as lender, and TIM Celular, as borrower, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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2.3 | Credit Facility Agreement, dated February 16, 2006, between Santander Brasil S.A., as lender, and TIM Celular, as borrower, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.1 | Agreement of merger of the shares of TIM Celular S.A. to the assets of TIM Participações S.A., which is incorporated by reference to our report filed on Form 6-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 2006. |
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4.2 | Credit Agreement dated as of September 22, 2000, between TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações (then Telpe Celular), as borrower, and the European Investment Bank, as lender, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2005. |
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4.3 | Guarantee and Indemnity Agreement dated as of September 22, 2000, between European Investment Bank and Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A., which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2005. |
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4.4 | Indemnification Agreement dated as of September 22, 2000, between Banque Sudameris, as Guarantor, and Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A., as Indemnifier, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2005. |
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4.5 | Counter Indemnity Agreement dated as of September 22, 2000, between Banque Sudameris, as Guarantor, and TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações (then Telpe Celular), as Borrower, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2005. |
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4.6 | Credit Agreement dated as of December 22, 2000, among Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social—BNDES, Telepar Celular S.A., as Borrower, and Tele Celular Sul Participações S.A., as Guarantor (Portuguese Version), which is incorporated by reference to our 2000 annual report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.7 | Credit Agreement dated as of December 22, 2000, among Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social—BNDES, Telepar Celular S.A., as Borrower, and Tele Celular Sul Participações S.A., as Guarantor (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to our 2000 annual report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.8 | Credit Agreement dated as of June 28, 2004, by and between Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, and TIM Nordeste, as borrower, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2005. |
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4.9 | Guarantee Agreement dated as of June 24, 2004 among Banco Bradesco S.A., TIM Nordeste Telecomunicações and Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2005. |
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4.10 | Management Assistance Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2000, between Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. and Telecom Italia Mobile S.p.A., which is incorporated by reference to the 2002 annual report of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.11 | Standard Concession Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service (Portuguese Version), which is incorporated by reference to our 1998 registration statement filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.12 | Standard Concession Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to our 1998 registration statement filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.13 | Authorization Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service for Telepar Celular (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to our 2002 annual report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.14 | Authorization Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service for CTMR Celular (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to our 2002 annual report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.15 | Authorization Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service for Telesc Celular (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to our 2002 annual report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.16 | Authorization Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service for Telpe Celular (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to the 2002 annual report of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.17 | Authorization Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service for Teleceara Celular (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference from the 2002 annual report of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. filed on form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.18 | Authorization Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service for Telasa Celular (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to the 2002 annual report of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.19 | Authorization Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service for Telpa Celular (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to the 2002 annual report of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.20 | Authorization Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service for Telern Celular (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to the 2002 annual report of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.21 | Authorization Agreement for Mobile Cellular Service for Telepisa Celular (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to the 2002 annual report of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.22 | Interconnection Network Agreement relating to Local Services dated as of June 1, 2003 between TIM Sul and Brasil Telecom (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to our 2003 annual report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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4.23 | Equipment Supply and Service Agreement relating to the implementation of a GSM Network, dated as of November 2, 2002, by and among Siemens Ltda. Engenharia e Service Ltda., TIM Sul S.A. and TIM Celular S.A. (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to our 2003 annual report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Portions of this agreement have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request made under Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and “*” has been substituted for the omitted text. |
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4.24 | Equipment Supply and Service Agreement relating to the implementation of a GSM Network, dated as of October 2, 2003, among Ericsson Telecommunicações S.A., Ericsson Servicos de Telecommunicações Ltda., Maxitel S.A., TIM Celular S.A., TIM Sul S.A. and certain of the then-subsidiaries of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to our 2003 annual report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Portions of this agreement have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request made under Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and “*” has been substituted for the omitted text. |
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4.25 | Equipment Supply and Service Agreement relating to the implementation of a GSM Network, dated as of October 2, 2003, by and among Nokia do Brasil Ltda., TIM Celular S.A. and certain of the then-subsidiaries of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. (English Translation), which is incorporated by reference to the 2003 annual report of Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Portions of this agreement have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request made under Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and “*” has been substituted for the omitted text. |
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4.26 | Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2004, among TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.27 | Credit Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2005, among TIM Nordeste, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.28 | Credit Agreement, dated as of November 28, 2000, among BNDES, a syndicate of banks, Maxitel, as borrower, and TIM Brasil Participações, as guarantor, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.29 | Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2004, among Maxitel, as borrower, and Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A., as lender, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.30 | Credit Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2005, among BNDES, as lender, TIM Celular, as borrower, and TIM Brasil, as guarantor, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.31 | Credit Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2005, among BNDES, as lender, and TIM Celular, as borrower, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.32 | Credit Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2005, among a syndicate of banks, TIM Celular, as borrower, and TIM Brasil, as guarantor, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.33 | Credit Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2002, among Banco BBA Creditanstalt S.A., as lender, and TIM Celular, as borrower, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.34 | On Lending of Funds from BNDES Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2000, between BNDES, as lender, and Maxitel, as borrower, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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4.35 | Credit Agreement, dated as of November 28, 2000, between BNDES, as lender, and Maxitel, as borrower, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2007. |
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4.36* | Authorization agreement for TIM Celular S.A. dated May 25, 2007 pursuant to which TIM is authorized to provide land line switched telephone services (STFC) in regions I, II and III. |
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4.37* | Credit Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2007, among Banco Santander Banespa S.A., as lender, and TIM Celular S.A., as borrower. |
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4.38* | Credit Agreement, dated as of December 6, 2007, among Banco Santander S.A., as lender, and TIM Celular S.A., as borrower. |
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6.1 | Statement regarding computation of per share earnings, which is incorporated by reference to note 4.t to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report. |
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8.1 | List of Subsidiaries, which is incorporated by reference to our registration statement filed on Form 20-F with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
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11.1 | Code of Ethics (English and Portuguese), which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11.1 of our 2004 annual report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2005. |
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12.1* | Section 302 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer. |
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12.2* | Section 302 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer. |
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13.1* | Section 906 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. |
Technical Glossary
The following explanations are not intended as technical definitions, but to assist the general reader to understand certain terms as used in this annual report.
Analog: A mode of transmission or switching which is not digital, e.g., the representation of voice, video or other modulated electrical audio signals which are not in digital form.
ARPU (Average Revenue Per User): A measure used in the mobile telecommunications industry to evaluate the revenue generated by customers.
Broadband services: Services characterized by a transmission speed of 2Mbit/s or more. According to international standards, these services are interactive services, including video telephone/videoconferencing (both point to point and multipoint).
Channel: One of a number of discrete frequency ranges utilized by a radio base station.
Digital: A mode of representing a physical variable such as speech using digits 0 and 1 only. The digits are transmitted in binary form as a series of pulses. Digital networks allow for higher capacity and higher flexibility through the use of computer-related technology for the transmission and manipulation of telephone calls. Digital systems offer lower noise interference and can incorporate encryption as a protection from external interference.
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution): A technology that provides enhanced functionality and facilitates the use of advanced technology over mobile devices.
GSM (Global System Mobile): A standard of digital mobile telecommunications technology.
Interconnection charge: Amount paid per minute charged by network operators for the use of their network by other network operators. Also known as an “access charge.”
Mobile service: A mobile telecommunications service provided by means of a network of interconnected low powered radio base stations, each of which covers one small geographic cell within the total mobile telecommunications system service area.
Network: An interconnected collection of elements. In a telephone network, these consist of switches connected to each other and to customer equipment. The transmission equipment may be based on fiber optic or metallic cable or point-to-point connections.
Penetration: The measurement of the take-up of services. At any date, the penetration is calculated by dividing the number of customers by the population to which the service is available and multiplying the quotient by 100.
Roaming: A function that enables customers to use their mobile telephone on networks of service providers other than the one with which they signed their initial contract.
Switch: These are used to set up and route telephone calls either to the number called or to the next switch along the path. They may also record information for billing and control purposes.
TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access): A standard of digital mobile telecommunications technology.
Value-Added Services: Value-added services provide additional functionality to the basic transmission services offered by a telecommunications network.
WAP (Wireless Application Protocol): A specification for a set of telecommunications protocols to standardize the way that wireless devices, such as mobile telephones and radio receivers, can be used to access the internet.