RELEVANT INFORMATION
TARJETAS REGIONALES
At an Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of GFG held on November 10, 2020, the shareholders of GFG approved a preliminary spin off-merger agreement between Grupo Financiero Galicia and certain companies that collectively own 17% of the shares of Tarjetas Regionales.
NOTES
On November 20, 2020, Banco Galicia issued its Class VIII Notes for Ps.1,589 million, having a term of 9 months, at a Badlar rate + 2.5%.
COVID-19
During the Quarter, Grupo Financiero Galicia and its subsidiaries have continued and adapted their operations under the challenging circumstances resulting from the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). This pandemic has generated various consequences impacting businesses and economic activities globally. As of mid-March, when the virus began to spread in Argentina, the Argentine National Government implemented a series of measures designed to reduce contagion and provide for preventive and mandatory social isolation or distancing (with variations of such restrictions dependent on the region of the country). As of the date of this report, commercial activities are gradually being normalized in compliance with applicable protocols established by the Argentine government.
Additionally, the Argentine Central Bank and other regulatory agencies have established certain additional regulations with objectives linked to providing assistance to sectors whose activity was affected by the pandemic and to the health care of the community in general.
The final scope of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global and Argentine economy are still unknown. Although, as of the date of this report, Grupo Financiero Galicia and its subsidiaries have suffered limited impacts on their results due to the pandemic, the impact of a lower level of activity and a higher unemployment could be significant in the future.
The Board of Directors of GFG continues to analyze the situation as it evolves and is prepared to take all measures within its power to guarantee business continuity and to preserve the health and safety of GFG’s employees, customers and other stakeholders.
REGULATORY CHANGES
In connection with the foregoing, the Argentine Central Bank has established certain regulations and protocols, of which the following stand out: (i) attention to customers by prior request of an appointment; (ii) the suspension of the collection of ATM fees; (iii ) the suspension, until December 31, 2020, of dividend distributions; (iv) the extension of credit card maturities; (v) financing of unpaid credit card balances at certain maximum interest rates; (vi) postponement of maturities of unpaid loan balances; (vii) the granting of zero-rate financing to self-employed people; (viii) a credit line for SMEs’ productive investment; (ix) the granting of financing to companies for the payment of salaries; (x) a minimum interest rate on time deposits; (xi) the flexibilization of the parameters in respect of classification of debtors; and (xii) controls on the foreign exchange market.