Transportadora de Gas del Sur - 20-F annual report 2019

In this annual report on Form 20-F (“Annual Report”), unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise: (i) references to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” mean Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A. (“TGS”) and its consolidated subsidiaries, Telcosur S.A. (“Telcosur”) and CTG Energía S.A.U. (“CTG”), (ii) references to “Argentina” are to the Republic of Argentina, (iii) references to the “United States” or “U.S.” are to the United States of America, (iv) references to “pesos” or “Ps.” are to Argentine pesos, the legal currency of Argentina, (v) references to “U.S. dollars,” “dollars” or “U.S.$” are to United States dollars, the legal currency of the United States, (vi) a “billion” is a thousand million, (vii) references to “cf” are to cubic feet, (viii) references to “MMcf” are to millions of cubic feet, (ix) references to “Bcf” are to billions of cubic feet, (x) references to “m3” are to cubic meters, (xi) references to “d” are to days, and (xii) references to “HP” are to horsepower.

We maintain our financial books and records and publish our consolidated Financial Statements (as defined below) in pesos, which is our functional currency. This Annual Report includes our audited consolidated statements of financial position as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and our audited consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows, and the related explanatory notes for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (our “Financial Statements”). Our Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and as in effect on the date of preparation of the Financial Statements. IFRS have been adopted by the Federación Argentina de Consejos Profesionales de Ciencias Económicas (“FACPCE”) as its professional accounting standards and are required to be adopted by certain public companies in Argentina (entidades incluidas en el régimen de oferta pública de la Ley de Mercado de Capitales) pursuant to the rules of the Comisión Nacional de Valores (“CNV”), compiled under General Resolution No. 622/2013 (as amended by General Resolution No. 668/2016 and as further amended, the “CNV Rules”).

At our shareholders’ meeting held on April 26, 2017, as a result of a proposal made by Compañía de Inversiones de Energía S.A. (“CIESA,” our controlling shareholder), our shareholders voted in favor of having a joint audit on our consolidated financial statements commencing with fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, even though there is currently no legal requirement in Argentina for a joint audit. As a result, our Financial Statements were jointly audited by Price Waterhouse & Co. S.R.L., Buenos Aires, Argentina (“PwC”) member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, and Pistrelli, Henry Martin y Asociados S.R.L., member firm of Ernst & Young Global Ltd. (“EY”). The joint report of PwC and EY, dated April 29, 2020, is included in this Annual Report. Each of PwC and EY is an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports appearing herein.

International Accounting Standard 29 (“IAS 29”) “Financial reporting in hyperinflationary economies” requires that the financial statements of an entity whose functional currency is one of a hyperinflationary economy be expressed in terms of the current unit of measurement at the closing date of the reporting period, regardless of whether such financial statements are based on the historical cost method or the current cost method. This requirement also comprises the restatement of comparative information of the financial statements to be presented in the current currency as of December 31, 2019, without modifying the statutory decisions made based on the financial information corresponding to those fiscal years.

IAS 29 describes characteristics that may indicate that an economy is hyperinflationary. However, it states that it is a matter of judgement when restatement of financial statements becomes necessary. Among other factors, an economy is “hyperinflationary” in accordance with IAS 29 when it has a cumulative inflation rate over three years that approaches, or exceeds, 100%, also taking into consideration other qualitative factors related to the macroeconomic environment.

The IASB does not identify specific economies that satisfy the requirements to be deemed hyperinflationary. The International Practices Task Force (“IPTF”) of the Centre for Audit Quality monitors the status of “highly inflationary” countries. The criteria of IPTF for identifying such countries are similar to those for identifying “hyperinflationary economies” under IAS 29. From time to time, the IPTF issues reports of its discussions with the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on the IPTF’s recommendations of which countries should be considered highly inflationary, and which countries are on the IPTF’s inflation “watch list.” The IPTF’s discussion document for its November 19, 2019 meeting states that in the view of the IPTF, Argentina had three-year cumulative inflation rates exceeding 100%.

The downward trend in inflation in Argentina observed in 2017 reversed and inflation in Argentina significantly increased during 2018 and 2019, which resulted in an accumulated inflation rate for each of the three-year periods ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, in excess of 100%. In addition, the rest of the indicators do not contradict the conclusion that Argentina should be considered a hyperinflationary economy for accounting purposes. As a result, our management considers that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that Argentina is a hyperinflationary economy in terms of IAS 29, effective as from July 1, 2018.

The Financial Statements and the other financial information included in this Annual Report for all the periods reported are presented on the basis of constant pesos as of December 31, 2019 (“Current Currency”). Thus, our audited consolidated statements of financial position as of December 31, 2018, and our audited consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows, and the related explanatory notes for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, included elsewhere in this Annual Report have been restated in accordance with IAS 29 for comparative purposes from the original figures reported and supersede any previously disclosed consolidated financial statements relating to such periods.

In analyzing the provisions of IAS 29, our management used the inflation rates stated in the official statistics published by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (“INDEC”), similar to the criteria adopted by the accounting profession and corporate regulatory bodies in Argentina. In order to restate the Financial Statements, the CNV has established that the series of indexes to be used for the application of IAS 29 is determined by the FACPCE. This series of indexes combines the National Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) as of January 2018 (base month December 2017) with the Domestic Wholesale Price Index (“WPI”), both published by INDEC until that date. For the months of November and December 2015, for which there is no information from the INDEC on the evolution of the WPI, the variation in the CPI of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires was applied. According to FACPCE, inflation was 53.8%, 47.6%, and 24.8% in the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

For more information, see note 4(d) to the Financial Statements and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—A. Operating Results. - Factors Affecting our Consolidated Results of Operations—Effects of inflation and restatement of Financial Statements.” Also, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Argentina—Adoption of hyperinflation accounting in Argentina” and “—High levels of inflation and the lack of credibility regarding Argentina’s official inflation statistics, could negatively affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations.”

Solely for the convenience of the reader, certain amounts presented in pesos in this Annual Report as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, have been converted into U.S. dollars at specified exchange rates. Unless otherwise specified, all exchange rate information contained in this Annual Report has been derived from information published by Banco de la Nación Argentina (“Banco Nación”), without any independent verification by us. See “Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected Financial Data—Exchange Rate Information.” As a result of fluctuations in the peso/U.S. dollar exchange rate, the exchange rate at such date may not be indicative of current or future exchange rates. Consequently, these translations should not be construed as a representation that the peso amounts represent, or have been or could be converted into, U.S. dollars at that or any other rate.

The SEC maintains an internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our telephone number is (54-11) 4865-9050, and our principal executive offices are located at Don Bosco 3672, 5th Floor, C1206ABF City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our internet address is www.tgs.com.ar. The contents of our website and other websites referred to herein are not part of this Annual Report.

Some of the information in this Annual Report, including information incorporated by reference herein, may constitute estimates and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These estimates and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan” “potential,” “predict,” “projection,” “should,” “will,” “will likely result,” “would” or other similar words. These estimates and statements appear in a number of places in this Annual Report and include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations, and those of our officers, with respect to (among other things) our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our estimates and forward-looking statements are based mainly on current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect, or may affect, our business, financial condition and results of operations. Although we believe that these estimates and forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are based on information available to us as of the date of this Annual Report.

When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the factors described in “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” and other cautionary statements appearing in “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.” These factors and statements, as well as other statements contained herein, describe circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statement.

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from any results projected, forecasted, estimated or budgeted by us in our forward-looking statements:

These estimates and forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement or other information contained in this Annual Report to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Annual Report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Additional factors affecting our business emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all of those factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such factors on our business, operations or financial condition, or the extent to which any factors, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Estimates and forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and do not guarantee future performance, as actual results or developments may be substantially different from the expectations described in the forward-looking statements. In light of the risks and uncertainties described above, the events referred to in the estimates and forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report may or may not occur, and our business performance, financial condition and results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in our estimates and forward-looking statements, due to factors that include but are not limited to those mentioned above. Investors are warned not to place undue reliance on any estimates or forward-looking statements in making any investment decision.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The following selected consolidated financial data is derived from our Financial Statements. Our Financial Statements have been prepared in terms of the Current Currency in accordance with IFRS. Our management analyzed the conditions established by IAS 29 and considers that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that Argentina is a hyperinflationary economy in terms of IAS 29, effective from July 1, 2018.

This information should be read in conjunction with and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our Financial Statements and the notes related thereto, and the discussion in “Presentation of Financial and Other Information” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

A summary of the dividends declared and paid during the five most recent fiscal years is set forth below:

According to Argentina’s General Companies Act, dividends may be lawfully declared and paid only out of retained earnings reflected in the financial statements that have been approved by shareholders, if losses for prior fiscal years have been absorbed, if the applicable payment has been expressly approved by our shareholders and applicable legal reserves have been created, as described below.

For additional information regarding dividend payment restrictions see “Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Our Shares and ADSs - Shareholders outside Argentina may face additional investment risk from currency exchange rate fluctuations in connection with their holding of our shares or ADSs represented by ADRs. Exchange controls imposed by the Government may limit our ability to make payments to the Depositary in U.S. dollars, and thereby limit ADR holders’ ability to receive cash dividends in U.S. dollars.”

To that effect, every year our Board of Directors must submit our financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal year, together with reports thereon by our statutory committee (“Statutory Committee”), for the consideration and approval of the shareholders at the General Annual Shareholders’ Meeting which must approve our annual financial statements and determine the allocation of net income for such year, within four months of the close of the fiscal year, that is, for TGS before April 30 of each year. Pursuant to the General Companies Act and the CNV Rules, we are required to allocate a legal reserve (“Legal Reserve”) equal to at least 5% of each year’s net income (as long as there are no losses for prior fiscal years pending to be absorbed) until the aggregate amount of such Legal Reserve equals 20% of the sum of (i) “common stock nominal value” plus (ii) “inflation adjustment to common stock,” as shown in our consolidated statement of changes in equity. If there are any losses pending to be absorbed from prior fiscal years, such 5% should be calculated on any excess of the net income over such losses, if any. Dividends may not be paid if the Legal Reserve has been impaired, nor until it has been fully replenished. The Legal Reserve is not available for distribution as a dividend.

Pursuant to our by-laws (“By-laws”), after the allocation to the Legal Reserve has been made, an amount will be allocated to pay dividends on preferred stock, if any, and an amount equal to 0.25% of the net income for the year will be allocated to pay the statutory employee profit-sharing. The balance of the retained earnings for the year may be distributed as dividends on common stock or retained as a voluntary reserve, as determined at the General Annual Shareholders’ Meeting. For information on dividend taxation, see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Argentine Taxes.”

In addition, under the General Companies Act, our shareholders may establish additional voluntary reserves from time to time and for different purposes. Once established, the terms and conditions of any voluntary reserve cannot be changed without the prior approval of the shareholders.

Further, our ability to make dividend payments may be limited by covenants in our existing debt instruments or in debt instruments we enter into in the future, and by our subsidiaries’ ability to generate income and cash flows to pay dividends to us. In particular, under the indenture dated May 2, 2018 (the “2018 Notes Indenture”), entered into with Delaware Trust Company as trustee, co-registrar, paying agent and transfer agent, and Banco Santander Rio S.A., as registrar, Argentine paying agent, Argentine transfer agent and representative of the trustee in Argentina, relating to the issuance of our class 2, 6.750% senior notes due 2025 (the “2018 Notes”), we may pay dividends as long as immediately after giving effect to such dividend payment we are able to incur at least U.S.$ 1.00 (other than “Permitted Indebtedness” as defined in the 2018 Notes Indenture) under the limitation of debt covenant of the 2018 Notes Indenture. To incur debt (other than Permitted Indebtedness), the 2018 Notes Indenture requires that (i) no default exists under the 2018 Notes Indenture at the time of such incurrence and (ii) (a) the Consolidated Coverage Ratio (as defined in the 2018 Notes Indenture, which is the ratio of our consolidated adjusted EBITDA to our consolidated interest expense) would be greater than or equal to 2.0:1.0; and (b) the Consolidated Debt Ratio (as defined in the 2018 Notes Indenture, which is the ratio of our consolidated total indebtedness to our consolidated adjusted EBITDA) would be less than or equal to 3.50:1.0. See “Item 10. Additional Information—C. Material Contracts—Debt Obligations.”

Moreover, per CNV Rules the amounts subject to distribution are restricted up to the acquisition cost of treasury shares and the additional paid-up capital accounts balance as discussed elsewhere herein.

The General Annual Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 26, 2017 (the “2017 Shareholders’ Meeting”), approved the creation of a voluntary reserve for future dividend payments in an aggregate amount of Ps. 2,364.1 million, which was subsequently increased by Ps. 5,789.6 million pursuant to a resolution passed by our shareholders at the General and Special Annual Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 10, 2018 (the “2018 Shareholders’ Meeting”). The 2018 Shareholders’ Meeting did not allocate any portion of our net income to the Legal Reserve because as of the date of such meeting it was fully funded. During the year 2018, our Board of Directors resolved to distribute (and we paid) a total amount of Ps. 6,659.7 million in cash dividends.

During the year 2019, our Board of Directors resolved to distribute (and we paid) a total amount of Ps. 575.1 million (Ps. 11.77 per share) in cash dividends. In addition, the General and Special Shareholders’ Meeting held on October 31, 2019 resolved to distribute (and we paid) a dividend in kind (of Ps. 3,228.0 million) in the form of 29,444,795 shares then held in treasury at a price per share of Ps. 102.25, calculated by reference to the closing price of our shares in BYMA as of November 12, 2019, the day immediately preceding the date of distribution of such shares to our shareholders,

All the figures mentioned before, according to the CNV Resolution No. 777/2018, were restated by inflation by using the price index corresponding to the month prior to the meeting.

Under the General Companies Act, during a given fiscal year, interim dividends may be declared by the Board of Directors, in which case the members of the Board of Directors and the members of our Statutory Committee (“Syndics”) are jointly and severally liable for such distribution, if such declaration is not in accordance with the General Companies Act and the By-laws.

Fluctuations in the exchange rate between pesos and U.S. dollars would affect the U.S. dollar equivalent of the peso price of our Class “B” shares, par value Ps. 1 each (the “Class B Shares”), on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange (Bolsas y Mercados Argentinos (“BYMA”)) and, as a result, would likely affect the market price of our American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) as well. In addition, such fluctuations will affect the U.S. dollar equivalent of peso amounts included in this Annual Report.

Historically, Argentina has been subject to several restrictions imposed on the foreign exchange market. On September 1, 2019, the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina (Banco Central de la República Argentina or the “BCRA”) issued Communication “A” 6770, which introduced several changes to the then existing foreign exchange control regime. For additional information, see “Item 10. Additional Information—D. Exchange Controls.”

Our results of operations and financial condition are highly sensitive to changes in the peso-U.S. dollar exchange rate because a significant portion of our revenues (46.6% of our total consolidated revenues from sales for the year ended December 31, 2019), most of our capital expenditures, almost all of our debt obligations and the cost of natural gas used in our Liquids business are denominated in U.S. dollars, but substantially all of our assets are located in Argentina and our functional currency is the peso.

Currency fluctuations would also affect the U.S. dollar amounts received by holders of our ADSs upon conversion (by us or by Citibank N.A. (the “Depositary”), pursuant to the deposit agreement for the issuance of the ADSs entered into between the Depositary and us (the “Deposit Agreement”)) of the cash dividends paid in pesos on the underlying Class “B” Shares. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the peso and the U.S. dollar will also affect the U.S. dollar equivalent of the peso price of our Class “B” Shares on the BYMA and, as a result, the market price of the ADSs.

In 2018 and 2019, the peso experienced a rapid devaluation against major foreign currencies, particularly against the U.S. dollar. See “D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Argentina—Economic volatility in Argentina has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations” and “—Fluctuations in the value of the peso may also adversely affect the Argentine economy, our financial condition and results of operations.”

The information in this Risk Factors section includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including those described in “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” above.

We are a stock corporation with limited liability (sociedad anónima) incorporated and organized under the laws of Argentina. Our financial condition and results of operations depend to a significant extent on economic, regulatory and political conditions prevailing in Argentina, the exchange rate between the peso and the U.S. dollar and the reference international prices of Liquids because a significant portion of our revenues (46.6% of our total consolidated revenues from sales for the year ended December 31, 2019), most of our capital expenditures, almost all of our debt obligations and the cost of natural gas used in our Liquids business are denominated in U.S. dollars, but substantially all of our assets are located in Argentina, and our functional currency is the peso.

After the primary elections results of August 2019, the international markets casted doubt on Argentina’s debt sustainability. In view of this, the country risk indicator raised to 2,200 basis points, topping-off a depreciation of bond prices. Also, on August 29, 2019 by Decree No. 596/2019 the Government announced a debt profiling consisting of (i) an extension on the payment term for short-term local bonds, only for institutional investors that will receive the full payment over terms of three and six months (15% on the original maturity date, 25% and 60% at 3rd and 6th month of the original maturity date, respectively), but not for natural persons who acquired the bonds before July 31, 2019, who will receive full payment on the maturity date; (ii) a proposal to the Argentine Congress of a bill to extend maturity dates of other local bonds, without reduction on the capital or interest; (iii) a proposal to extend the maturity dates of foreign bonds; and (iv) after achieving fiscal goals, the start of talks with the International Monetary Fund (the “IMF”) in order to reprofile the deadlines to reduce the default risk in 2020 and 2023.

As a result of the foregoing, Argentina’s credit rating was downgraded in August 2019 and further downgraded in December 2019 to near-default status by both Fitch and S&P after the Government publicly stated that it would delay payments on its short-term dollar-denominated local debt.

Fitch cut Argentina’s long-term issuer rating two notches to “restricted default” from CC, after the Government announced by decree that it would extend payments on U.S.$ 9.1 billion in dollar-denominated Treasury bills until August 31, 2020. According to Fitch’s criteria, Argentina has defaulted on its sovereign obligations, and this development constitutes a “distressed debt exchange.” S&P also downgraded Argentina’s credit rating to “selective default” from CCC-, while Moody’s foreign issuer rating for Argentina is Caa2.

The government’s decision to extend payments on its short-term notes constitutes the second such delay of payments in five months. In February 2020, the IMF has also publicly stated its concerns about the sustainability of Argentina’s public debt and suggested that a definitive debt operation—yielding a meaningful contribution from private creditors—is required to help restore debt sustainability with high probability. As of the date of this Annual Report, Argentina’s public debt load stands at U.S.$ 323 billion, including loans from the IMF. Outstanding debt with private bondholders is approximately U.S.$ 121 billion.

Without access to the international financial markets the Government may not have the financial resources to implement reforms and boost growth, which could have a significant adverse effect on the country’s economy and, consequently, on our activities. Failure of Argentina to restructure its debt could cause Argentina to default in the payment of its public debt, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation, and our ability to meet our financial obligations, as it could have a direct impact on our customers’ ability to pay for our products and services, the demand for energy and our ability to access local and international markets to finance our operations and our growth. In addition, we cannot predict the outcome of any future restructuring of Argentine sovereign debt.

During recent years, the Government has substantially increased public spending. In 2015, government spending increased by 34.4% as compared to 2014, resulting in a primary fiscal deficit of 3.8% of GDP for 2015. In 2016, government spending increased by 42.8% as compared to 2015, resulting in a primary fiscal deficit of 4.2% of GDP for 2015. In 2017, government spending increased by 25.9% as compared to 2016, resulting in a primary fiscal deficit of 3.8% of GDP for 2017. In 2018, government spending increased by 13.1% as compared to 2017 resulting in a primary fiscal deficit of 2.4% of GDP for 2018, but while the primary fiscal deficit decreased compared to 2017, the financial deficit (interest rates of the international debt with IMF) increased to 2.8%, resulting in a total deficit of 5.2% for the year 2018. In 2019, government spending increased by 36.2% as compared to 2018 resulting in a primary fiscal deficit. If government spending continues to outpace fiscal revenues, the fiscal deficit is likely to increase, and the utilization of past sources of funding to address such deficit may be required.

The Government’s ability to access the long-term financial markets to finance such deficit is limited given the high levels of public sector indebtedness. The inability to access the capital markets to fund its deficit or the use of other sources of financing may have a negative impact on the economy and could limit the access to such capital markets for Argentine companies, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Argentina has confronted and continues to confront inflationary pressures. According to inflation data published by the INDEC, in 2019 the CPI and the WPI increased by 53.8% and 58.5%, respectively, and the three-year cumulative inflation rate has exceeded 100%, causing Argentina to be considered a hyperinflationary economy.

IAS 29 requires financial statements of an entity whose functional currency is the currency of a hyperinflationary country to be restated into their current purchasing power at the end of the reporting period. Therefore, transactions in 2019 and non-monetary balances at the end of the period should be restated to reflect a price index that is current at the balance sheet date. The comparatives and the opening statement of financial position at the beginning of the earliest period presented should also be restated to reflect a price index that is current at the balance sheet date. Consequently, in this Annual Report we are presenting our financial information applying hyperinflation accounting.

Adjustments to reflect inflation, such as those required by IAS 29, were initially prohibited by the Argentine Convertibility Act. Decree No. 664/03, issued by the Government (the “664/03 Decree”), instructed regulatory authorities, such as public registries of commerce, the Superintendency of Corporations of the City of Buenos Aires and the CNV, to accept only financial statements that comply with the prohibition set forth by the Convertibility Act. However, on December 4, 2018, Act 27,468 abrogated the 664/03 Decree and amended the Convertibility Act to that effect. Certain authorities, such as the CNV, have required that financial statements for periods ended on and after December 31, 2018, be restated for inflation, following the guidelines set forth in IAS 29.

In order to restate financial statements, the CNV has established that the series of indexes to be used for the application of IAS 29 is determined by the FACPCE. This series of indexes combines the CPI as of January 2018 (base month: December 2017) with the WPI, both published by INDEC until that date. For the months of November and December 2015, for which there is no information from the INDEC on the evolution of the WPI, the variation in the CPI of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires was applied. In the past, official inflation statistics in Argentina have been challenged by supranational organizations and deemed not to be reliable. Also, there are no consistent statistics on inflation for periods prior to 2016. As a result, inflation adjustments may affect the comparability of our historical financial information. See “—High levels of inflation and the lack of credibility regarding Argentina’s official inflation statistics, could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations.”

In addition, inflation may negatively affect income tax payable. For example, under hyperinflationary contexts, the existence of higher monetary liabilities over monetary assets will mean an increase in income tax payable. Act 27,468 substituted the WPI for the CPI for the calculation of the indexation adjustments for tax purposes, and modified the standards for triggering the tax indexation procedure. During the three periods commencing on January 1, 2018, tax indexation will apply if the variation of the CPI exceeds 55% in 2018, 30% in 2019 and 15% in 2020.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the CPI exceeded the 30% threshold mentioned above, so we measured the tax charge to earnings for the year ended December 31, 2019, considering the application of the tax inflation adjustment. On December 23, 2019, the National Congress enacted Law No. 27,541 - Social Solidarity and Productive Reactivation Law (the “Solidarity Law”), which, among other things, amends the years during which the tax indexation should be allocated. According to the Solidarity Law, one sixth of the positive or negative result generated by the application of the inflation adjustment corresponding to the first and second fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2019, will be charged in such fiscal period and the remaining five-sixths will be charged equally in the following five fiscal periods.

In 2019, we recorded a loss of Ps. 1,998,487 in income tax as a result of the application of this inflation adjustment.

We cannot predict the full future impact that changes in the application of the tax indexation procedure and related adjustments will have on our financial statements, or the effects on our effective tax rate or on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Argentina is an emerging market economy, and investing in emerging markets generally carries risks. These risks include political, social and economic instability that may affect Argentina’s economic results, which can stem from many factors. In general, Argentine economic conditions are dependent on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) domestic production, international demand and prices for Argentina’s principal export commodities, (ii) the competitiveness and efficiency of domestic industries and services, (iii) the stability and competitiveness of the peso against foreign currencies and exchange controls, (iv) high interest and inflation rates, (v) Argentina’s fiscal and trade deficits, (vi) Argentina’s public debt level, (vii) foreign and domestic investment and financing, (viii) governmental policies and the legal and regulatory environment, including import and export contracts and tax provisions, (ix) levels of consumer consumption, (x) wage and price controls and (xi) political uncertainty and social unrest.

Any of these factors, as well as volatility in the capital markets, may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

Our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations depend to a significant degree on macroeconomic, political, regulatory and social conditions in Argentina. The Argentine economy has experienced significant volatility in recent decades, characterized by periods of low or negative growth, high and variable levels of inflation and interest rates and currency devaluation. As a consequence, our business and operations have been, and could in the future be, affected from time to time, to varying degrees, by the high volatility in Argentina, which primarily results from economic and political developments and other material events affecting the Argentine economy, such as: inflation, price controls, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates; currency devaluation; governmental policies regarding tariffs, spending and investment, and other regulatory initiatives increasing government involvement with economic activity and international conflicts, social unrest and insecurity concerns.

The ability of the Government to stabilize the foreign exchange market and restore economic growth is subject to uncertainty. The continued depreciation of the peso and the failure to meet its obligations with IMF could have a material adverse effect on Argentina’s economy and, consequently, our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, this rapid devaluation has confronted inflationary pressures, evidenced by significantly higher fuel and food prices, among other indicators. Inflation in Argentina has contributed to a material increase in our operating costs, in particular labor costs, and negatively affected our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations. There can be no assurance that inflation rates will not escalate in the future, and the effects of measures adopted or that may be adopted in the future by the Government to control inflation are uncertain. See “—Government intervention in the Argentine economy could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations” and “-High levels of inflation and the lack of credibility regarding Argentina’s official inflation statistics, could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations.”

The Argentine economy remains vulnerable, as reflected by the following economic conditions:

After assuming office in December 2019, President Alberto Fernández announced that his administration would continue with the BCRA’s zero currency issuance policy and increased taxes to finance the fiscal deficit. However, after COVID and the emergency measures taken by Fernandez’s administration, it is, as yet, uncertain if these policies can be sustained and the effects that these measures will have on the fiscal deficit and on the economy in general.

As of the date of this Annual Report, the impact of the policies and measures adopted by the Government on the Argentine economy as a whole cannot be predicted. The factors described above, among other factors, may materially and adversely affect the development of the Argentine economy, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition and results of operations.

Argentina’s political and social environment has historically influenced, and continues to influence, the performance of the country’s economy. Political and social crises have affected and continue to affect the confidence of investors and the general public, which has historically resulted in economic deceleration and heightened volatility in securities with underlying Argentine risk. The recent political instability in Argentina has contributed to a decline in market confidence in the Argentine economy. Weak macroeconomic conditions in Argentina may continue in the upcoming years.

In March 2020, as a consequence of the COVID, the Government has taken several measures in order to reduce its impact on public health. These measures intensified the slowdown in the Argentine economy. In the current context of recession and considering the weak financial situation of the country that is renegotiating the terms of its financial indebtedness with creditors, these measures could mean a further deterioration in Argentina’s public accounts and its macroeconomic and financial situation.

We cannot provide any assurance that future economic, social and political developments in Argentina, over which we have no control, will not impair our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

Similar to the primary elections held in August 2019, following the announcement of the result of the elections held in October 2019, in which the coalition of the Frente para Todos party was elected over the coalition in which Mauricio Macri was a part, the peso suffered a significant depreciation against the U.S. dollar, and Argentine companies’ shares listed on the BYMA fell on the order of 38%. There was also an abrupt escalation of the country default risk above 2000 basis points. All the above-mentioned events set off a critical, negative shockwave in Argentine financial markets and generated economic instability which resulted in the adoption of several measures, taken not only by the former administration but also by the ruling party:

The current administration also took several other measures to reduce the impact of public service tariffs on the economy. These measures included: the freezing of tariffs, the pesification of electricity generation rates, and defferal of the payment of natural gas bills for certain consumers, among others. For additional information see “Item 4. Our information. B. Business overview. Natural gas transportation.”

As of the date of this Annual Report, the impact that the aforementioned measures have had or will have on the Argentine economy and on our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations as a whole cannot be fully assessed or predicted. In addition, we cannot predict how the current administration will address certain political and economic issues that were central during the Macri administration, or the impact that any measures taken or to be taken by the Fernández administration in connection with these issues will have on the Argentine economy as a whole. Also, we cannot assure that the Government or any of its political divisions will not adopt additional changes and reforms in tax matters, or that these reforms and those that may be adopted in the future will not adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Solidarity Law declares, among other issues, the tariff and energy emergency, delegates to the Executive Branch broad legislative powers to ensure the sustainability of the public debt, regulates the tariff restructuring of the energy system through a renegotiation of the current Integral Tariff Renegotiation (“RTI”) and reorders the regulators of the energy system, among others. Likewise, the rates of public utilities for natural gas will remain unchanged for a maximum period of 180 days (since December 23, 2019).

This law also modified certain tax aspects previously modified by the administration of Mauricio Macri. As a result, the tax rate on personal property has been increased, a new 30% currency purchase tax has been created, and the previous changes in the income tax rates have been reversed, suspending the 25% reduction for the next years and providing that the result of the tax inflation adjustment must be paid in six installments, instead of three installments, as previously established. Additionally, and in order to meet the fiscal deficit, the pension adjustment system has been suspended for 180 days.

It is not possible to foresee the impact of this law or the measures that could be taken by the new administration at the national or provincial level, and the effect that such measures could have on the Argentine economy and on Argentina’s ability to meet its financial obligations, which could negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we cannot assure you that economic, regulatory, social and political events in Argentina will not affect business, financial condition or the results of our operations.

In June 2018, the Government agreed with the IMF to implement a stand-by program for U.S.$50,000 million for a period of 36 months.

The economic plan presented by the former administration to access this program sought to strengthen the country’s economy by restoring market confidence through a coherent macroeconomic program that would reduce financing needs, place Argentina’s public debt on a firm downward trajectory and strengthen the plan of inflation reduction through more realistic inflation targets and the strengthening of the BCRA’s independence. The main parts of the economic plan were: (i) the restoration of market confidence, (ii) protection of the most vulnerable segments of society by adjusting the national budget for social protection, (iii) a strengthening of the credibility of the BCRA inflation targeting framework, and (iv) a progressive reduction of the impossibility of payment.

In February 2020, the IMF held a round of meetings with the Government to discuss the recent macroeconomic developments and learn more about the economic plans and policies of the Fernandez Administration. The Argentine authorities are moving to address the difficult economic and social situation facing the country and have implemented a set of policies to address the rise in poverty, while also taking steps to stabilize the economy and secure a sustainable and orderly resolution of Argentina’s debt situation.

The staff of the IMF have stated that Argentina’s debt and debt service capacity have deteriorated decidedly compared to the IMF’s last debt sustainability analysis published in July 2019, in the context of the fourth review of Argentina’s economic performance under the 36 month stand-by arrangement with the IMF. Since July 2019, the peso has depreciated by over 40.0% against the U.S. dollar, sovereign spreads have suffered a significant increase, international reserves have declined by about U.S.$20 billion, and real GDP has contracted more than previously projected. As a result, gross public debt rose to nearly 90.0% of GDP by the end of 2019, which is 13 percentage points higher than the projection at the time of such fourth review.

In light of these developments, the IMF staff has assessed Argentina’s debt as unsustainable. Accordingly, a definitive debt operation—yielding a meaningful contribution from private creditors—is required to help restore debt sustainability with high probability.

The outcome of negotiations with the IMF and Argentina’s private creditors is uncertain and could have a material adverse effect in our business, results of operation and financial condition. The IMF and the authorities have stated that they will continue to engage closely, and further discussions are planned as the authorities continue defining their economic plans and policies.

As of the date of this Annual Report, we cannot predict exactly the outcome of such negotiations, what measures will be adopted to comply with the directives of the IMF or the consequences of these measures on the Argentine economy in general, or on our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations. Furthermore, we cannot predict that the measures that will be adopted in the future will enable Argentina to have sufficient funds to comply with its commitments to the IMF.

Argentina could be adversely affected by the effects of a widespread outbreak of contagious diseases, including the recent outbreak of respiratory illness caused by the COVID. The COVID is currently impacting countries, communities, supply chains and markets. As the outbreak is still evolving, much of its impact remains unknown. The extent to which the COVID may impact Argentina, or our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and prospects, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information concerning the severity of the COVID, its continued spread, fear of its continued spread, and the actions taken to contain it or mitigate its impact, among others. As of the date of this Annual Report, COVID has caused significant volatility in global markets, including the market prices of securities issued by Argentina and of our securities. As a result, access to capital markets has been adversely affected by COVID. Measures implemented by the Government to control the spread of the COVID include quarantines or closures of office spaces, travel and transportation restrictions and/or import and export restrictions, all of which has contributed to a general slowdown in the Argentine economy, and may adversely impact our ability to operate our business and the businesses of our customers and counterparties. The global and local recession scenario due to the effect of COVID has caused a rapid drop in the price of the main commodities exported by Argentina, which has considerably affected the country’s tax collection and economic activity, generating a high degree of uncertainty regarding its economic development and the possibility of renegotiating its financial indebtedness.

In addition, governmental authorities may recommend or impose additional measures that could cause further significant disruptions to business activity in general. We have also modified certain of our business activities by changing our cleaning procedures, implementing remote work capabilities and suspending certain business activities. The impact of the COVID on the financial markets has also adversely affected the cost of borrowing, hedging activities, liquidity and access to capital in general, which could limit our ability to obtain financing to fund our operations in a timely manner, on acceptable terms or at all. For additional information regarding the impact of COVID on our results and financial situation see “Item 5. –Operating and Financial Results Review and Prospects - A. Operating Results.”

In addition, the slowdown in economic activity caused by the COVID and other internal factors and permanent changes in customer habits may result in a decrease in the demand for energy even after any governmental measures have been lifted.

While the impact on our business from the recent outbreak of the COVID is unknown at this time and difficult to predict, any of the foregoing events or other unforeseen consequences of public health problems could materially adversely affect Argentina and various aspects of our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our current policies and practices as more information and guidance become available.

Pursuant to Argentine law, the INDEC is the only institution in Argentina entitled to publish official nationwide statistics. In addition, inflation has undermined the Argentine economy and the Government’s ability to stimulate economic growth. In the past, there have been concerns regarding the accuracy of the INDEC statistics. In 2007, the INDEC changed the way it calculated inflation statistics such as CPI and WPI. Several economists, as well as the international and Argentine press, have suggested that this change in methodology was related to the policy of the Government intended to curb the increase of inflation. In addition, the IMF has requested several times that Argentina clarify the information on inflation rates published by the INDEC.

Despite consultations between the Government and the IMF regarding the reliability of the INDEC’s statistics, in February 2013, the IMF Executive Board issued a declaration of censure against on Argentina in connection with Argentina’s breach of its obligations to provide information to the IMF under the Articles of Agreement and called on Argentina to adopt remedial measures to address the inaccuracy of inflation and GDP data without further delay.

On February 13, 2014, the INDEC released a new inflation index (the “IPCNu”) that measured prices on goods across the country, replacing the previous index that only measured inflation in the urban sprawl of the City of Buenos Aires. The IPCNu, together with the GDP calculation, was reviewed by the IMF. During 2015, the IMF ruled that these indicators did not comply with its statutes, so it maintained an ongoing review process. Concerns regarding statistics in Argentina remained until January 8, 2016, when Decree No. 55/2016 and the declaration of a state of administrative emergency in the national statistical system and in the INDEC until December 31, 2016, was issued. Following this declaration, the INDEC ceased publishing statistical data until a rearrangement of its technical and administrative structure was finalized on December 31, 2016.

On June 29, 2016, the INDEC published recalculated historical GDP data, modifying the previously released data and substituting the IPCNu. Following the publication of revised data, on November 9, 2016, the Executive Board of the IMF concluded consultation with, and lifted its censure of, Argentina.

According to inflation data published by the INDEC, in 2013 and 2014, the CPI increased 10.9% and 23.9%, respectively. In 2013 and 2014, the WPI increased 14.7% and 28.3%, respectively, and further increased 10.6% in the ten-month period ended October 31, 2015. The INDEC discontinued the publication of data from November 2015 through May 2016 following the declaration of a state of administrative emergency in the national statistical system. During that period, the INDEC released alternative CPI figures based on data published by the Province of San Luis and the City of Buenos Aires. These indexes reflected an increase in CPI of 31.6% and 26.9%, respectively, for 2015. For the first four months of 2016, these same alternative indexes showed an increase in CPI of 13.9% and 19.2%, respectively.

In June 2016, the INDEC resumed publication of monthly data. The reported increase in CPI for the period from May through December 2016 was 16.9%. In 2018 and 2017, CPI registered an increase of 47.6% and 24.8%, respectively. In 2018, 2017 and 2016, the WPI increased by 73.5%, 34.5% and 18.8%, respectively, according to information published by the INDEC.

Certain private economists have estimated significantly higher inflation rates than those published by the INDEC for the period from 2007 to 2015. The uncertainty relating to the inaccuracy of the economic indexes and rates may lead to a lack of confidence in the Argentine economy and may, in turn, limit our ability to access credit and capital markets, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

The INDEC in 2019 reported that the CPI increased 53.8% compared to 2018, while the WPI increased 58.5% compared to 2018. Additionally, in 2019, the CPI increased, 2.8%, 3.8%, 4.8%, 3.2%, 3.0%, 2.6%, 2.1%, 3.9%, 5.8%, 3.2%, 4.1% and 3.8% in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, respectively, and the WPI increased 0.6%, 3.4%, 4.1%, 4.6%, 4.9%, 1.7%, 0.1%, 11.2%, 4.2%, 3.6%, 5.4% and 3.7% during the same months. During January, February and March 2020, inflation remained at high levels, where the CPI increased by 1.9%, 1.8% and 3.3%, respectively, on a month-to-month basis.

High inflation rates affect Argentina’s foreign competitiveness and social and economic inequality; negatively impact employment, consumption and the level of economic activity; and undermine confidence in Argentina’s banking system, which could further limit the availability of and access by local companies to domestic and international credit. Inflation rates could escalate in the future, and there is uncertainty regarding the effects that the Government´s measures to control inflation may have. Increased inflation could adversely affect the Argentine economy, which in turn may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Inflation has, in the past, materially undermined the Argentine economy and the government’s ability to foster conditions that would permit stable growth. Currently, Argentina faces inflationary pressures, evidenced by significantly higher fuel, energy and food prices, among other factors. Increases in inflation rates could accelerate in the future, and there is uncertainty regarding the effects that the measures adopted, or that may be adopted in the future, by Argentina to control inflation may have.

As discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report, given that the Argentine economy has been considered as hyperinflationary, since July 1, 2018, we have applied IAS 29 in our Financial Statements, which requires that the financial statements of an entity whose functional currency is that of a hyperinflationary economy, regardless of whether they are based on the historical cost method or the current cost method, be expressed in terms of the current unit of measurement at the reporting date of the reporting period. See “—Presentation of Financial and Other Information Financial—Statements and Basis of Preparation.”

Because Natural Gas Transportation business segment sales represented 46.6% of our total revenues during the year 2019, and are denominated in pesos, any further increase in the rate of inflation not accompanied by a parallel increase in our tariffs would decrease our revenues in real terms and adversely affect our results of operations. Further, as a consequence of the application of IAS 29, maintaining monetary assets generates loss of purchasing power; provided that such items are not subject to an adjustment mechanism that compensates to some extent such loss. This loss is booked in the statement of comprehensive income.

From 2011 until the Macri administration assumed office in December 2015, Argentina increased controls on the sale of foreign currency, limiting transfers of funds abroad. Together with regulations established in 2012 that subjected certain foreign exchange transactions to prior approval by Argentine tax authorities or the BCRA, the measures taken by the previous administration significantly curtailed access to the foreign exchange market by individuals and private sector entities. These measures included informal restrictions, which consisted of de facto measures restricting local residents and companies from purchasing foreign currency through the foreign exchange market to make payment abroad, such as dividends and payment for the importation of goods and services. Since assuming office, the Macri administration has gradually implemented a series of reforms related to these foreign exchange restrictions in order to provide greater flexibility and access to the foreign exchange market.

In September 2018, the BCRA established a new monetary policy with the aim of reducing the inflation rate. The BCRA committed not to increase the monetary base until June 2019 and defined the ranges for an intervention zone and a non-intervention zone applicable to the exchange rate through the end of 2018. On December 5, 2018, BCRA announced that the limits of the non-intervention zone would be updated daily at a monthly rate of 2% between January 1 and March 31, 2019. On April 29, 2019, the BCRA’s Monetary Policy Committee (Comité de Política Monetaria del Banco Central) introduced changes in monetary policy, aiming to reduce the volatility of the foreign exchange market.

In the context of the economic and social emergency declared by the Solidarity Law, and of a critical situation regarding access to voluntary foreign debt, the BCRA considers it necessary to exceptionally assist the Treasury, in regard to both foreign debt payments and financing in domestic currency. Considering that the Government is focused on reestablishing public debt sustainability, the Executive Branch delayed the presentation of the National Budget for the 2019 fiscal year, until progress can be made on those issues. Thus, according to the BCRA, it is not possible to devise a monetary policy strategy with specific objectives about the expansion of monetary aggregates or inflation.

Additionally, due to the sudden devaluation of the peso since August 15, 2019, and in order to preserve the foreign exchange market in Argentina, the Executive Branch issued Decree 609 which provides that exporting companies must sell their proceeds in the local market. Decree 609 states that the BCRA shall issue all necessary rules to organize the foreign exchange market. These exchange control restrictions remain in place, because of Emergency Decree No. 91/2019.

Through communications “A” 6770, 6765, 6768, 6776, 6780, 6844, 6869 and 6915, the BCRA established new exchange controls for companies and individuals, which limit their ability to access the foreign exchange market, requiring BCRA’s consent for all purchases of foreign currency. These measures restrict the movement of capital, in response to capital flight and a significant depreciation of the peso.

Such measures could undermine Argentina’s public finances, which could limit access to the international capital markets. This could adversely affect Argentina’s economy, which, in turn, could adversely affect our business. Any restrictions on transferring funds abroad imposed by the Government could undermine our ability to pay dividends on our ADSs or make payments (of principal or interest) under our outstanding indebtedness in U.S. dollars, as well as to comply with any other obligations denominated in foreign currency. As of the date of this Annual Report, it is uncertain whether these measures will be temporary, or if the Government will take further measures to restrict the foreign exchange market, which could adversely affect Argentina’s economy.

Since January 2002, the peso has fluctuated significantly in value and generally depreciated against the U.S. dollar, with adverse consequences to our business. A substantial increase in the value of the peso against the U.S. dollar could also present risks for the Argentine economy since it may lead to a deterioration of the country’s current account balance and the balance of payments. Between 2011 and December 2015, the Government strengthened exchange controls in response to an increase of capital outflows as compared to inflows and to a drop in the commercial surplus. However, these controls were not able to prevent the decrease of the international reserves of the BCRA between 2012 and 2015. In the past, a decrease in the BCRA’s reserves resulted in Argentina being vulnerable to inflation and external shocks, affecting the country’s capacity to overcome the effects of an external crisis.

After several years of moderate fluctuations in the exchange rate, on December 17, 2015, Macri’s administration implemented certain measures including the lifting of most of the foreign exchange controls. As a result, the official exchange rate published by Banco Nación increased from Ps. 9.83 per U.S. dollar on December 16, 2015, to Ps. 13.95 per U.S. dollar on December 17, 2015. After these measures were taken, the value of the peso could freely fluctuate against the U.S. dollar. The period-end exchange rate published by Banco Nación for the years 2016 and 2017 was Ps. 15.8900 and Ps. 18.6490 per U.S.$ 1.00, respectively.

Subsequently, in May 2018, the peso experienced a rapid devaluation against the main foreign currencies, particularly the U.S. dollar. As a result of the greater volatility of the peso, the Government announced several measures to restore market confidence and stabilize the value of the peso. In this regard, on December 31, 2018, the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar increased by 102.1%, from Ps. 18.649 to Ps. 37.7.

After the primary elections (elecciones primarias, abiertas, simultáneas y obligatorias) held in August 2019, the peso experienced again a rapid devaluation against the main foreign currencies, particularly the U.S. dollar. Between August 9, 2019 and August 16, 2019, the exchange rate increased by 21.5%. Since the Government imposed several restrictions on the foreign exchange market on September 1, 2019, the official exchange rate depreciated only 1.7% between such date and December 31, 2019. Since then, an unofficial U.S. dollar trading market has developed in which the peso/U.S. dollar exchange rate is significantly higher than the rate in the foreign exchange market.

As of December 31, 2019, the total amount of principal and accrued but unpaid interest under our consolidated U.S. dollar-denominated indebtedness was U.S.$ 560.7 million.

We cannot predict the future exchange rate between peso and the U.S. dollar, or how any fluctuation may affect our operational costs denominated in U.S. dollars.

Further depreciation of the peso against the U.S. dollar would likely result in a material adverse effect on our business because of our exposure to financial debt in U.S. dollars. In addition, future devaluations could result in higher inflation, reduce real wages and adversely affect the Government’s ability to honor its foreign debt obligations. Conversely, a significant appreciation of the peso could harm the competitiveness of companies domiciled in Argentina and lead to reduced exports.

Argentina is ranked 85 out of 180 in Transparency International’s 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index and 117 of 190 in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2018 report. As of the date of this Annual Report, there are various ongoing investigations into allegations of money laundering and corruption being conducted by the Office of the Argentine Federal Prosecutor, including one of the largest investigations known as the Notebooks Investigation (Los Cuadernos de las Coimas) (the “Notebooks Investigation”). Numerous former members of different agencies of Argentina as well as senior officers and owners of companies holding government contracts or concessions have confessed to committing allegedly prohibited acts or have faced or are currently facing allegations of corruption and money laundering as a result of the Notebooks Investigation. Certain former government officials have confessed or are alleged to have accepted bribes by means of kickbacks on contracts granted by the government to several infrastructures, energy and construction companies. The proceeds from these kickbacks allegedly financed the political campaigns of political parties forming the previous government led by former Presidents Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. In addition, these funds were unaccounted for or not publicly disclosed and were allegedly used to personally enrich certain individuals. Several senior politicians, including former members of the Argentine Congress, the former Vice President of Argentina and high-ranking executives and officers and owners of major companies in Argentina have been arrested on account of various charges relating to corruption, have entered into agreements with prosecutors (Acuerdos de Colaboración) to confess and/or provide sensitive information in exchange for a possible reduction of sentences upon conviction, and have resigned or been removed from their positions. The potential outcome of the Notebooks Investigation as well as other ongoing corruption and money laundering investigations is uncertain, but the Notebooks Investigation has already had an adverse impact on the image and reputation of those companies whose owners or officers have been implicated, and more generally on international investors’ perception of the Argentine economy, political environment, capital markets and the infrastructure sector in Argentina.

Recognizing that the failure to address these issues could increase the risk of political instability, distort decision making processes and adversely affect Argentina’s international reputation and ability to attract foreign investment, the Macri administration announced several measures aimed at strengthening Argentina’s institutions, enhancing the integrity of public officials and reducing corruption. These measures include the reduction of criminal sentences in exchange for cooperation with the government in corruption investigations, increased access to public information, the seizing of assets from corrupt officials, increasing the powers of the Anticorruption Office (Oficina Anticorrupción) and the passing of a new public ethics law, among others. The government’s ability to implement these initiatives is uncertain as they would be subject to legislative support or resistance from certain parties, as well as independent review by the judicial branch.

There can no be any assurance that the implementation of these measures by Argentina will be successful or even sufficient in strengthening Argentina’s institutions, enhancing the integrity of public officials, stopping institutional deterioration and preventing corruption. We cannot control or predict whether such investigations or allegations will lead to further political or economic instability or whether new allegations against government officials, members of the Argentine Congress, judges or owners or officers of other companies will arise, nor can we predict the outcome of any such allegations and their effect on the Argentine economy, which may be adverse.

In addition to the economic factors described above, our business and operations have been, are and could in the future be affected by actions taken by the Government through the implementation of new or amended laws and regulations, such as nationalizations, expropriations, forced divestiture of assets, amendments to or renegotiation or revocation of a license, restrictions on production, imports and exports, exchange and/or transfer restrictions, including those relating to dividend payments, direct and indirect price controls, tax increases, changes in the interpretation or application of tax laws and other retroactive tax claims or challenges, cancellation of contractual rights and delays or denials of governmental approvals.

There have been examples of government intervention in the economy, including through the implementation of expropriation and nationalization measures, price controls and exchange controls.

In 2008, the Government absorbed and replaced the former private pension system with a public “pay as you go” pension system. As a result, all resources administered by the private pension funds, including significant equity interests in a wide range of listed companies, were transferred to a separate fund (Fondo de Garantía de Sustentabilidad or “FGS”) to be managed by the Administración Nacional de la Seguridad Social (“ANSES”). ANSES is entitled to designate government representatives to the boards of directors of these companies. ANSES currently holds 24.0% of our outstanding capital stock and has two representatives on our Board of Directors. On July 25, 2012, the Executive Branch issued Decree No. 1,278/12, which governed FGS representatives’ role in companies in which FGS had participation. For additional information regarding rules and regulations that govern our relationship with FGS see “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”

In the past the Government has also adopted numerous measures to directly or indirectly control the access by private companies and individuals to foreign trade and foreign exchange markets, such as restricting free access to these markets and imposing the obligation to repatriate and sell within the local foreign exchange market all foreign currency revenues obtained from exports. These regulations have been recently reinstated preventing or limiting us from offsetting the risk derived from our exposure to the U.S. dollar and the access to foreign exchange market.

In 2012 and again in 2013, the Argentine Congress established new regulations providing for increased intervention in the capital markets by the Government. On May 9, 2018, the Macri administration approved an amendment to the Law of Productive Financing, including amendments to the Capital Markets Law of Argentina No. 26,831 (the “Capital Markets Law”), which would, among other things, limit the scope of intervention by the CNV in public companies.

More recently, due to the economic and political instability in Argentina, the Government took certain measures, for example, it issued Decree No. 566/2019, which affects fuel prices for a period of 90 days. As of the date of this Annual Report, we cannot predict the results of such measures or the impact of these measures on the hydrocarbons development in Argentina. We are also unable to predict whether the Government will take any additional measures that may negatively affect Argentina’s hydrocarbons market.

A low-growth and high-inflation rates scenario continues and is likely going forward, as a result of the accumulation of macroeconomic imbalances over recent years, the actions of the Government in regulatory matters and challenging conditions in the international economy. We can offer no assurance that policies implemented by the Government will not adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

Argentina is an emerging market economy that is highly sensitive to local political developments that have had an adverse impact on the level of investment in Argentina and the access of Argentine companies to the international capital markets. Future developments may adversely affect Argentina’s economy and, in turn, our business, results of operations, financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to access foreign exchange markets or that these measures will not cause fluctuations in the value of the peso. The setting of certain exchange controls and other future economic, social and political developments in Argentina, over which we have no control, may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations. For additional information on developments relating to exchange controls, see “Item 10 –Additional Information— D. Exchange Controls.”

Argentina’s economy is vulnerable to external shocks that could be caused by adverse developments affecting its principal trading partners and emerging markets. A significant decline in the economic growth of any of Argentina’s major trading partners could have a material adverse impact on Argentina’s balance of trade and adversely affect Argentina’s economic growth. For example, economic slowdowns, especially in Argentina’s major trading partners, have led to declines in Argentine exports in the last few years. Specifically, fluctuations in the price of the commodities sold by Argentina and a significant revaluation of the peso against the U.S. dollar could harm Argentina’s competitiveness and affect its exports.

The economy in Brazil, one of the main import and export markets for Argentina, has experienced rising negative pressure because of political uncertainty. After two years of retreat, in 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Brazilian economy grew by 1.1%, 1.3% and 1.1%, respectively. Since January 1, 2020, the Brazilian real depreciated against the U.S. dollar by approximately 17.5%, putting pressure on the products that Argentina exports to that country and its competitiveness. Argentine foreign trade is highly dependent on the Brazilian economy; thus, a poor performance of Brazil’s economy could lead to the deterioration of Argentina’s trade balance. Additional Brazilian political and economic crises could negatively affect the Argentine economy.

Financial and securities markets in Argentina are also influenced by economic and market conditions in other markets worldwide. U.S. monetary policy has significant effects on capital inflows and asset price movements in emerging market economies. Increases in U.S. interest rates result in the appreciation of the U.S. dollar and decreases in prices for raw materials, which can adversely affect commodity-dependent emerging economies.

Additionally, a slowing of China’s GDP growth has led to a reduction in exports to this Asian country, which in turn has caused oversupply and price declines in certain commodities. Decreases in exports have a material adverse effect on Argentina’s public finances due to the loss of taxes on exports, causing an imbalance in the country’s exchange market.

On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom voted in favor of exiting the European Union. On March 29, 2017, UK Prime Minister Theresa May triggered the Brexit process. The United Kingdom left the European Union on January 31, 2020, on the terms of the withdrawal agreement concluded between the United Kingdom and the EU Council. The withdrawal agreement allows for a transition period during which the United Kingdom’s trading relationship with the European Union will remain largely unchanged. This transition period is due to end on December 31, 2020. As of the date of this Annual Report, uncertainty remains over the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the European Union after 2020. The continued uncertainty over the Brexit process has caused, and is anticipated to continue to cause, volatility in the financial markets, which may in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

At the end of 2015, the U.S. Federal Reserve began increasing its reference interest rate following more than five years of an interest rate close to zero, moving away from its post-2008 crisis stimulus campaign. In September 2018, the U.S. Federal Reserve increased the federal funds interest rate by a quarter point (it set the repo rate at 2.0% and the interest on excess reserves at 2.25%, the highest range in more than a decade) and indicated that this is part of a broader plan to increase rates in order to control inflation in the United States. This substantially increased the cost of financing in international markets, while motivating the migration of investors from risk and emerging economies to central economies (fly to quality). Although the U.S. Federal Reserve reduced the reference rate three times in 2019 lowering the benchmark rate to 1.5% to 1.75%, if the U.S. Federal Reserve reverses its policy and resolves to continue with its policy of increasing the reference rate, this could have a profound impact on the sovereign and corporate financing of Argentina.

In addition, the current United States presidential administration has created uncertainty regarding United States policies related to trade, tariffs, immigration and foreign affairs. This uncertainty has generated instability and adversely affected Argentina’s economy. Any changes in United States trade policy could trigger retaliatory actions by affected countries and trading blocs, including China and the European Union, resulting in “trade wars,” increased costs for goods exported to the United States and additional volatility and instability globally.

Commercial disputes between the U.S. and China have negatively affected international trade, commodities prices and financial markets, generating uncertainty and volatility, which mainly affect emerging countries. China is the main importer of Argentine commodities, and the slowdown of the Chinese economy, the adoption and expansion of trade restrictions, changes in the state of China‑U.S. relations, including the current trade tensions, or other governmental actions related to tariffs or trade agreements or policies are difficult to predict, and could adversely affect our business, our costs, our customers, our suppliers, and the Chinese and U.S. economies, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, competitive position, financial condition or results of operations.

Since October 18, 2019, protests and unrest have unfolded in Chile, sparked by a metro fare hike, and fueled by anger over rising living costs and inequality. The military and police quelled protesters who took to the streets, and a curfew was imposed in major cities in Chile. As of the date of this Annual Report, the curfew had been suspended but the unrest and protests remain latent and we cannot anticipate what the consequences and results of these protests will be.

On January 3, 2020, a United States drone strike near Baghdad International Airport targeted and killed Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani. This decision represented a grave escalation in hostilities between the United States and Iran. While both sides have signaled a desire to pull back since these strikes, there is no assurance that future hostilities will not have an adverse effect on the global economy.

Besides, in March 2020, after a failure to reach an agreement between the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and Russia to stabilize the oil market, Saudi Arabia decided to increase its oil production. This decision, at a time when oil demand is falling due to the impact of COVID in the global trading and economy, has triggered the most important decline in the oil price since 1991, of around 30%. This fall in the international prices of oil and its derivatives has added to the fragile macroeconomic situation in Argentina, generating uncertainty regarding the production and development of natural gas in the country, especially in the Vaca Muerta area. On April 12, 2020 Saudi Arabia, Russia and the members of the OPEC agreed to decrease oil production production by 9.7 million barrels a day in May and June 2020, the deepest cut ever agreed to by the world’s oil producers. After that, the group will steadily ramp up production until the agreement expires in April 2022. There can be no assurances about the impact of this agreement or about measures that the Government may take in response to key macroeconomic variables and particularly on the energy sector.

Although economic conditions vary from country to country, investors’ perceptions of events occurring in other countries have in the past substantially affected, and may continue to substantially affect, capital flows into and investments in securities from issuers in other countries, including Argentina. International investors’ reactions to events occurring in one market sometimes demonstrate a “contagion” effect in which an entire region or class of investment is disfavored by international investors. Argentina could be adversely affected by negative economic or financial developments in other countries, which in turn may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Certain economic policies of the former government administration in Argentina, including foreign exchange restrictions, led in the past to a reduction in exports and foreign direct investments, to a decline in national tax revenues and to an inability to access international capital markets. There can be no assurance that the Argentine financial system and securities markets will not be adversely affected by policies that may be adopted by the government in the future or by events in the economies of developed countries or in other emerging markets. A slowdown in economic activity in Argentina would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

Argentina’s history of defaults on its external debt and the protracted litigation with holdout creditors, summarized below, may reoccur in the future and prevent Argentine companies such as us from accessing the international capital markets readily or may result in higher costs and more onerous terms for such financing, and may therefore negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

Following the default on its external debt in 2001, Argentina sought to restructure its outstanding debt by offering holders of the defaulted bonds two opportunities to exchange them for newly issued debt securities, in 2005 and again in 2010. Holders of approximately 93% of Argentina’s defaulted debt participated in the exchanges. Nonetheless, a number of bondholders held out from the exchange offers and pursued legal actions against Argentina in the courts of the United States and several other countries.

After almost 15 years of litigation, and following the beginning of Mr. Macri’s administration, in February 2016, Argentina negotiated and reached settlement agreements with almost all of its holdout creditors.  As required by the settlement, on March 31, 2016, the Argentine Congress voted to repeal Law No. 26,017 (known as Ley Cerrojo) and Law No. 26,984 (known as Ley de Pago Soberano), which prohibited Argentina from offering to the holdouts better conditions than those offered in the debt swaps of 2005 and 2010. On April 13, 2016, Argentina announced that it would proceed with a new bond offering of up to U.S.$12.5 billion to repay the holdouts. After issuing U.S.$16.5 billion of new bonds to international investors, on April 22, 2016, Argentina notified the competent U.S. court that it had made full payment under the settlement agreements with the holdout creditors. Although the size of the claims involved has decreased significantly, litigation initiated by bondholders that have not accepted Argentina’s settlement offer continues in several jurisdictions.

However, even though Argentina has successfully accessed the international capital markets since the settlement, there continues to be a risk that the country will not attract the foreign direct investment and financing needed to restart the investment cycle and achieve sustainable rates of economic growth. If that occurs, Argentina’s fiscal condition could be adversely affected, which could lead to more inflation and undermine the government’s ability to implement economic policies designed to promote growth. The difficulty of sustaining economic growth over time with reasonable price stability could result in a renewed episode of economic instability.

In addition, the foreign shareholders of several Argentine companies (including us), together with public utilities and certain bondholders that did not participate in the exchange offers described above, filed claims with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”), alleging that the emergency measures adopted by the Government in 2002 did not meet the just and equal treatment requirements of several bilateral investment treaties to which Argentina is a party. Several of these claims have been resolved against Argentina. Claimants have also filed claims before arbitral tribunals under the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce. Several awards have been issued against Argentina and several cases are still ongoing.

As of December 31, 2019, Argentina’s public debt amounted to U.S.$ 323 billion. The Solidarity Law, among other things, delegates to the Executive Branch legislative powers to create conditions to ensure the sustainability of public debt. On February 12, 2020, the Argentine Congress enacted the Law No. 27,544 for the Restoration of the Sustainability of the Public Debt issued under Foreign Law, which granted the Ministry of Economy the power to restructure the Government external public debt.

If the Government does not restructure its sovereign bonds with the required majority of holders (at least 75% in principal amount) Argentina may default on its sovereign debt again.  Also, ongoing situations, such as the lawsuits with creditors that did not accept the debt exchange, the claims before the ICSID, and the economic policy measures adopted by the Government, or any future default of Argentina regarding its financial obligations may harm Argentine companies’ ability to obtain financing. Financial conditions of such access could be disadvantageous to Argentine companies and, therefore, may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

High commodity prices have contributed significantly to an increase in Argentine exports, which has in turn led to an increase in government revenues received from export taxes. However, the reliance on the export of certain commodities, such as soybeans, has made the Argentine economy vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices, and, consequently, the Argentine economy could be adversely affected if trading conditions decline.

In addition, adverse weather conditions, such as floods or droughts, could affect the production of the main agricultural commodities produced by Argentina, which account for a significant portion of its export revenues. Moreover, higher oil prices could lead to an increase in government expenditures. The drought experienced during the summer months of 2018 dramatically reduced the yield from Argentina’s soybean crop. Most recently, after the outbreak of the COVID and the slowdown in the demand for and supply of products around the globe, stock markets and the prices of the main commodities have declined dramatically.

On March 7, 2020, Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter drastically reduced the price of its crude. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has decided to increase its production, reaching a record of 12 million barrels per day. These decisions were taken after the talks between the OPEC participants and Russia had failed. On March 9, 2020, oil markets opened showing significant reductions, for example, the reference oil for the local market (Brent) had lost 35% so far this year and collapsed U.S.$11 more per barrel. On April 12, 2020 Saudi Arabia, Russia and the members of OPEC reached an agreement on oil production.

Decisions relating to international oil prices could have a negative impact on Argentina’s economy as, to achieve a fiscal surplus, the country should develop new production projects, such as Vaca Muerta formation, increase its revenues and maintain its ability to service its sovereign debt. Either of these results would adversely impact Argentina’s economic growth and, therefore, our financial condition and results of operations.

In recent years, Argentina has substantially increased public expenditure. The Government’s primary fiscal balance could be negatively affected in the future if public expenditure continues to increase at a rate higher than revenues due to, for example, social security benefits, financial assistance to provinces with financial problems and increased spending on public works and subsidies, including subsidies to the energy and transportation sectors. Further deterioration in fiscal accounts could negatively affect the government’s ability to access the long-term financial markets.

In connection with the agreement entered into with the IMF in 2018, the Macri administration committed to address fiscal solvency and, thus, undertook steps to curb the fiscal deficit by reducing gas and transport subsidies and other expenses. However, these policies have led to higher prices and thus had a negative impact on consumer purchasing power. After assuming office, the new government authorities, within the framework of the Solidarity Law, taking care of the most vulnerable sectors, have taken a series of measures that have halted the reduction in public spending.

The implementation of new measures in the future could also have negative effects. Furthermore, the federal government’s primary fiscal balance could be negatively affected if public expenditure increases faster than revenues in the future. Moreover, weaker fiscal results in Argentina than those envisaged could have a material adverse effect on Argentina’s economy.

In August 2018, Moody’s revised its outlook of Argentina’s long-term and short-term sovereign credit rating to Caa2, primarily as a result of the sharply weaker economic activity and uncertain prospects for multiyear fiscal consolidation and market financing availability as IMF funds are used up, posing risks to sovereign debt sustainability. In addition, on August 29, 2019, S&P downgraded Argentina’s long-term and short-term sovereign credit ratings from “B” to “SD,” primarily as a result of an erosion of the Argentine debt profile, the economic growth trajectory and the dynamics of inflation against the backdrop of the implementation of a challenging economic adjustment program. There can be no assurance that Argentina’s credit rating or rating outlook will not be downgraded in the future, which could have an adverse effect on the rating of our securities or adversely affect the market price of our securities.

All of our net revenues from the Natural Gas Transportation public service (which represented 46.6% of total net revenues during 2019) are attributable to contracts, which are subject to Government regulation. Prior to the enactment of the Public Emergency and Foreign Exchange System Reform Law No. 25,561 (the “Public Emergency Law”), our tariffs were stated in U.S. dollars, adjusted on a semiannual basis by reference to the U.S. Producer Price Index (“PPI”), and further adjusted every five years, based on the efficiency of, and investments in, our gas transportation business. The Public Emergency Law, however, eliminated tariff indexation, and public service tariffs were converted into pesos and fixed at an exchange rate of Ps. 1.00 per U.S.$1.00, even though the peso was devaluating significantly against the U.S. dollar.

Sustained inflation in Argentina since 2002, without any corresponding increase in our natural gas transportation tariffs until recently, has adversely affected, and continued inflation would continue to adversely affect, our Natural Gas Transportation revenues, net revenues and financial condition.

In addition, since 2002, the peso has fluctuated in value and generally depreciated against the U.S. dollar, adversely affecting our results and financial position. In particular, because all of our debt is denominated in U.S. dollars, significant devaluations of the peso may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

On March 30, 2017, ENARGAS issued Resolution No. 4362/2017 (“Resolution 4362”), which approved a staged tariff increase which contemplates an aggregate transportation tariff increase of 214.2% and an aggregate access and use charge (“CAU”) increase of 37%. This staged increase is structured to provide the same economic benefits to us as if the increases had been fully effective on April 1, 2017. Pursuant to this resolution, we must also execute a capital expenditures program for a five-year period (from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2022), which contemplates investments of Ps. 6,786.5 million (in nominal value at December 31, 2016, adjustable by the WPI) to improve the operation and maintenance of the pipeline system (the “Five-Year Plan”). If we do not execute the Five-Year Plan in accordance with ENARGAS’s regulations, we will be subject to fines to be calculated on the value of the work pending execution.

On March 27, 2018, through Decree No. 250/2018 (the “Decree 250”), the Executive Branch ratified the tariff structure under Resolution 4362, following the approval of several governmental authorities, including the Argentine Congress. Decree 250 concludes the renegotiation process of our License with the Government which lasted more than 17 years.

In addition, Resolution 4362 contemplates a non-automatic semiannual adjustment mechanism for the natural gas transportation tariff to reflect changes in WPI, which must be approved by ENARGAS evaluating the evolution of the economic circumstances. On April 1, 2019, ENARGAS analyzed the evolution of the WPI adjustment index for the period August 2018–February 2019 in order to establish the biannual adjustments applicable to our tariffs.

As a consequence of Argentina’s economic condition, and together with other measures taken by the Government, on September 3, 2019, the Secretary of Hydrocarbon Resources (“SHR”) (formerly the Federal Energy Bureau) issued Resolution No. 521/2019 (“Resolution 521”), which defers the semiannual adjustment corresponding to October 1, 2019, to January 1, 2020. During 2019, and according to the RTI, we were entitled to receive two tariff increases in order to compensate us for inflation, which affects our operating costs.

In addition, the Solidarity Law froze our natural gas transportation tariffs and authorized the Executive Branch to initiate a renegotiation process of the current RTI or to initiate an extraordinary review, under the terms of the current regulatory framework, for a maximum period of up to 180 days.

Also, on June 21, 2019, the Energy Secretariat (”SGE”) issued Resolution No. 336/2019 (“Resolution 336”), which ordered the deferral of payment of 22% on invoices issued between July 1, 2019, and October 31, 2019, for services provided to residential users of natural gas. The deferrals described are recovered from the invoices issued since December 1, 2019, in five equal and consecutive monthly installments.

See “Item 4. Our Information—B. Business Overview—Natural Gas Transportation—Regulatory Framework” below for more information.

Moreover, as of the date of this Annual Report, we are unable to predict which measures will be taken by the Fernández administration in connection with the tariff system, or if such system will be amended, adversely affecting our financial situation and our results of operations.

In the past, we have suffered from our inability to receive tariff increases, which meant the deterioration of our financial and economic condition. Also, we have received insufficient tariff increases to compensate for the increases in our operating costs due to inflation. Our inability to bill these increases, as stipulated in our License, in a timely manner, and to obtain future tariff adjustments in line with the increase in our costs could adversely affect our economic and financial condition. Moreover, we cannot assure you that the current negotiations with the Government under the framework of the Solidarity Law will provide us with a tariff schedule that permits us to compensate the increases in our operating costs. Failure by the Government to timely comply with agreements resulting from the RTI process could negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Further, we cannot predict whether additional operating restrictions or mandatory investments could be imposed on us in the future nor the outcome from the renegotiation process of the current RTI stated by the Solidarity Law. If such outcome is adverse to us, our results of operations and financial condition could be negatively affected.

The Argentine oil and gas industry is subject to extensive government regulation and control. As a result, our business is to a large extent dependent upon regulatory and political conditions prevailing in Argentina and our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations may be adversely affected by regulatory and political changes in Argentina. Therefore, we face risks and challenges relating to government regulation and control of the energy sector, including those set forth below and elsewhere in these risk factors:

In recent years, the Government has made certain changes in regulations and policies governing the energy sector to give absolute priority to domestic supply at stable prices in order to sustain economic recovery. As a result of the above-mentioned changes, for example, on days during which a gas shortage occurs, exports of natural gas (which are also affected by other government curtailment orders) and the provision of gas supplies to industries, electricity generation plants and service stations selling compressed natural gas are interrupted for priority to be given to residential consumers at lower prices. The Expropriation Law of Argentina has declared the achievement of self-sufficiency in the supply of hydrocarbons as well as in the exploitation, industrialization, transportation and sale of hydrocarbons, a national public interest and a priority for Argentina. In addition, its stated goal is to guarantee socially equitable economic development, the creation of jobs, the increase of the competitiveness of various economic sectors and the equitable and sustainable growth of the Argentine provinces and regions. Moreover, we cannot assure you that changes in applicable laws and regulations, or adverse judicial or administrative interpretations of such laws and regulations, will not adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

A significant portion of our workforce is represented by labor unions and the majority of our non-unionized employees have the same employment benefits as unionized employees. While we believe we have enjoyed satisfactory relationships with all of the labor organizations that represent our associates and we believe our relationships with labor organizations will continue to be satisfactory, labor-related disputes may still arise. In particular, labor lawsuits are common in the energy sector in Argentina, and industry-wide organized actions by unionized employees in the industry, such as blockages in the access to facilities and route cuts have occurred in the past. We have suffered interruptions as a result of our employees joining such organized activities. We cannot assure you that future business interruptions resulting from strikes and other organized activities by our employees would not have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

The collective bargaining agreements with our unions are valid for one year. Currently, we have a collective bargaining agreement in effect for the period from April 2020 to October 2020.

However, we cannot assure you that we will not suffer business interruptions or strikes in the future as a result of collective actions by our employees. We have insurance that covers terrorism and organized actions against our assets, among other items, for a total insured amount of U.S.$. 50,000,000 with a deductible per event of U.S.$. 500,000, but we cannot assure you that our insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover damages and losses caused by the organized actions of our employees.

In addition, in the past, the Government has enacted laws and regulations forcing private companies to maintain certain wage levels and to provide additional benefits to their employees. We cannot assure you that in the future the Government will not increase wages or require additional benefits for workers or employees or that unions will not pressure the Government to demand such measures. All wage increases, as well as any additional benefits, could result in increased costs and adversely affect our results of operations.

We conduct our Natural Gas Transportation business pursuant to the License, which authorizes us to provide natural gas transportation services through the exclusive use of the southern natural gas transportation system in Argentina. Our License may be revoked in certain circumstances based on the recommendation of ENARGAS. Revocation of our license would require an administrative proceeding, which would be subject to judicial review. Reasons for which our License may be revoked include:

If our License were revoked, we would be required to cease providing natural gas transportation services. The impact of a loss of our License on our business, financial condition and results of operations would be material and adverse. Additionally, certain changes to the License could result in a default under our outstanding debt instruments.

We are a stock corporation with limited liability (sociedad anónima), incorporated and organized under the laws of Argentina. Substantially all of our assets are located in Argentina.

Under Argentine law, foreign judgments may be enforced by Argentine courts; provided that the requirements of Articles 517 through 519 of the Federal Code of Civil and Commercial Procedure are met. Foreign judgments cannot violate principles of public policy (orden público) of Argentine law, as determined by Argentine courts. It is possible that an Argentine court would deem the enforcement of foreign judgments ordering us to make a payment in a foreign currency outside of Argentina to be contrary to Argentine public policy if at that time there are legal restrictions prohibiting Argentine debtors from transferring foreign currency outside of Argentina. Although currently there are no legal restrictions prohibiting Argentine debtors from transferring foreign currency outside of Argentina to satisfy principal or interest payments on outstanding debt that has been previously reported to the BCRA, we cannot assure you that the Government or an Argentine court will not impose such restrictions in the future.

In addition, under Argentine law, attachment prior to execution and attachment in aid of execution will not be ordered by an Argentine court with respect to property located in Argentina and determined by such courts to be utilized for the provision of essential public services. A significant portion of our assets may be considered by Argentine courts to be dedicated to the provision of an essential public service. If an Argentine court were to make such a determination with respect to any of our assets, unless the Government ordered the release of such assets, such assets would not be subject to attachment, execution or other legal process as long as such determination stands, and the ability of any of our creditors to realize a judgment against such assets may be adversely affected.

Since 1992 and after the privatization of several state companies until the economic crisis in 2002, the Government reduced its control over the natural gas transportation industry. After the economic crisis in 2002 and until the Macri administration took office, the Government increased its role in the energy sector implementing strict regulations and increasing its intervention. Intervention included the expansion of our pipeline through the creation of trust funds and the interruption and redirection of natural gas firm transportation services (including the diversification of natural gas supply from our liquids processing plant located at General Cerri Complex, in the Province of Buenos Aires (“Cerri Complex”)).

In the past, natural gas distribution companies, including the Company, were prohibited from passing through price increases to consumers. Producers of natural gas, therefore, had difficulty implementing wellhead natural gas price adjustments that would increase the costs of distribution companies, which caused such producers to suffer a sharp decline in their rate of return on investment activities. As a result, natural gas production was not sufficient to meet the increasing demand. Likewise, until 2016, the lack of tariff adjustments for natural gas transportation companies caused a decrease in the profitability of such companies.

In light of these events, the Government implemented a number of strategies, measures and programs aimed at mitigating the energy crisis and supporting the recovery of the Argentine economy generally. With respect to the natural gas industry, these strategies, measures and programs included, among others, the expansion of our pipeline through the creation of financial trust funds used as vehicles to facilitate financing of those investments (“Gas Trusts”). For more information on the pipeline expansions, please see “Item 4. Our Information—B. Business Overview—Natural Gas Transportation—Pipeline Operations—Pipeline Expansions.” Although the expansion projects described above have not adversely affected our results of operations or financial condition, we cannot assure you that future, or even present, expansion projects will not have such adverse effects.

In 2004, the Executive Branch issued Presidential Decree No. 181/04, directing the Federal Energy Bureau to have a system of priority pursuant to the demand of natural gas customers, regardless of whether those customers have contracted under a firm transportation contract or a firm natural gas supply contract. Pursuant to ENARGAS Resolution No. 1,410/2010, due to the lack of sufficient natural gas provision, natural gas transportation service (including to those with firm transportation contracts) may be interrupted and/or relocated in order to service priority demand customers.

On June 1, 2016, the former Ministry of Energy issued Resolution No. 89/2016, which required ENARGAS to develop a procedure to amend and supplement ENARGAS Resolution No. 1,410/2010 and establish daily operating conditions for the transportation and distribution systems. It also established a methodology to satisfy the demand for natural gas of those customers classified as “high-priority.”

On June 5, 2016, ENARGAS issued Resolution No. I/3833/2016, creating the “Supplementary Procedure for Gas Requests, Confirmations and Control.” According to this resolution, if any gas transportation and distribution company finds that the transportation capacity is not sufficient to supply priority demand customers, such company shall summon an emergency committee composed of company and ENARGAS representatives. This emergency committee shall determine adjustments to be made to the daily natural gas deliveries in order to address such shortage, considering the availability of natural gas and the demands of residential consumers and power plants.

On June 26, 2018, ENARGAS issued Resolution No. 124/2018, which replaced Resolution No. 716/1998 and incorporated content from the repealed Resolution No. 1,410/2010 and Resolution No. 3,833/2016. Additionally, this resolution established the Internal Rules of Dispatch Centers (Reglamento Interno de los Centros de Despacho).

Although neither our results of operations nor our financial condition have been materially adversely affected by transportation service interruptions in recent years, we cannot assure you that similar interruptions will not materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations. As of the date of this Annual Report there are some unresolved disputes with one of our clients (Profertil S.A.), in respect of service interruptions between 2007 and 2013. In that action, through Resolution No. 306/2009, ENARGAS ruled in our favor, finding that there was a shortage in the supply of natural gas. However, we cannot assure you that future interruptions of supply to our firm natural gas transportation clients will not lead to further legal action, which could have a significant adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

Additionally, we cannot predict whether new measures requiring the interruption or relocation of the natural gas transportation service will be taken. If such measures are implemented, we could be subject to legal actions initiated by those affected by such measures.

In 2019, 79% of our average daily natural gas deliveries were made under long-term firm transportation contracts. As of December 31, 2019, our long-term firm natural gas transportation contracts had a remaining weighted average life of approximately 11 years; our long-term firm natural gas transportation contracts with our top five costumers had a remaining weighted average life of approximately eight years. We cannot assure you that we will be able to extend or replace these contracts when they expire or that the terms of any renegotiated contracts will be as favorable as the existing contracts. In particular, our ability to extend and/or replace contracts could be adversely affected by factors we cannot control, including:

Additionally, most of our transportation contracts include a clause allowing for the termination of the relevant contract before the expiration of its term by any of the parties, in case of (i) breach of the other party, or (ii) an extended event of force majeure.

We commercialize ethane through a long-term agreement recently concluded with PBB Polisur S.A. (”PBB”) for a ten-year period. We have short-term contracts with international traders for LPG and natural gasoline sales.

If we are unable to renew, extend and/or replace these contracts, if we renew them on less favorable terms or if any such contract is terminated before the expiration of its term, our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations may be negatively affected.

Resolution 4362 states that we must execute the Five-Year Plan involving capital expenditures of Ps. 6,786.5 million (in nominal value at December 31, 2016, adjustable by WPI) for the period from April 2017 to March 2022.

According to Resolution 521, which postpones until February 1, 2020 the tariff increase that we should have received since October 1, 2019 to compensate us for the deferral of the adjustment, established the revision and adjustment of the mandatory investments included in the Five-Year plan. For this reason, we should file to the ENARGAS the proposals for adaptation of the investment plan to be evaluated by the ENARGAS. At the time of this Annual Report, we have presented the relevant documentation that supports the adjustments to the mandatory investment plan.

In addition, as part of the measures adopted to reduce the impact of COVID and in order to adapt our business plan to the economic expectations of Argentina, we have implemented a reduction in the current investment plans, without affecting those security measures, which allows us to guarantee continuity in the development of our activities.

The natural gas transportation service is an activity involving significant amounts of capital expenditures in order to improve the operation and maintenance of the pipeline system. Incremental capital expenditures may be required to fund maintenance of our pipeline system. Furthermore, capital expenditures will be required to finance current and future expansions of our transportation capacity. If we are unable to finance any such capital expenditures in terms satisfactory to us or at all, our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations may be adversely affected. In addition, our financing ability may be limited by market restrictions on financing availability for Argentine companies. See “—Argentina’s past default and litigation with holdout bondholders may limit our ability to access international markets.”

In the past, expansion projects by the Government have not had adverse effects over our results of operations and financial condition. However, we cannot assure you that future expansion projects will not adversely affect our business.

Argentina relies heavily on natural gas. However, its natural gas reserves are declining. Despite the decline in 2015 and 2016, the volume of natural gas that has been produced from the Neuquina basin has increased. Although production volume increased in recent years, it had previously decreased between 2009 and 2013 and it is possible that natural gas production will again decrease in the future, which would adversely affect our Liquids business segment by reducing the amount of natural gas flowing to the Cerri Complex and, therefore, the amount of Liquids we produce.  In addition, the reduction in the production of natural gas could affect the flow of natural gas provided for our midstream services.

In 2019, 51.8% of the natural gas transported by our system originated in the Neuquina basin with the remainder primarily from the Austral basin. Since 2009, the quality and volume of natural gas injected from the Neuquina basin has been lower (as a consequence of the reduction of natural gas production in this basin) and not appropriate for processing in the Cerri Complex, negatively impacting our level of output from this facility. As a consequence of this lower output of natural gas from the Neuquina basin, we have had to buy natural gas at higher prices causing an increase in the cost of Liquids production and commercialization activities for our own account reducing our profit from these activities. In addition, competition might affect the volume and quality (i.e., gas with lower liquids content) of natural gas arriving at the Cerri Complex.

In 2009, nonconventional natural gas was discovered in the Vaca Muerta field of the Neuquina basin by YPF. Exploration and exploitation of this natural gas reserve involved high extraction costs. Argentina’s national natural gas production has steadily increased over the past three years, largely due to the increased production of shale from the Vaca Muerta formation. Because of the measures taken by the Government to ensure production levels throughout the country, during 2016 and 2015, natural gas production increased approximately 4.9% and 3.4%, respectively. However, in 2017 natural gas production slightly declined by 0.9% primarily as a result of the termination of certain incentive programs implemented. In 2018 natural gas production increased by 5.3% with respect to 2017, and on December 31, 2019 it reached its peak production compared to the last 10 years.

However, after the freezing of fuel prices and the current economic situation that Argentina is experiencing, there is uncertainty regarding the investments that natural gas producers can make in that area. In the same way, the recent fall in the price of oil to below U.S.$30 per barrel raises certain doubts regarding the possibility of recovery of the investments that they can make.

We cannot assure you, however, that this new natural gas resource at the Neuquina basin, or any other measures taken by the Government to increase natural gas production and supply, will be successful in increasing Argentine natural gas reserves or production and if unsuccessful our midstream or Liquids Production and Commercialization businesses could be adversely affected.

Due to regulatory, economic and government policy factors, our domestic gasoline, diesel, natural gas and other fuel prices and related services have differed substantially from prevailing international and regional market prices for such products and services. Our ability to increase prices in connection with international price or domestic cost increases, including those resulting from the peso devaluation, has been limited from time to time. The prices that we are able to obtain for our products and services affect the viability of investments in expansion capacity and processing facilities and, as a result, the timing and amount of our capital expenditures for such purposes.

Although our Liquids production and commercialization activities are not subject to regulation by ENARGAS, with the aim to give priority to domestic supply, the Government has taken certain regulatory actions in recent years that have affected our Liquids business. For example, in April 2005, the Government enacted Law No. 26,020, which set the framework by which the SHR may establish regulations to cause LPG suppliers to guarantee sufficient supply of LPG in the domestic market at low prices. Law No. 26,020 creates a price regime pursuant to which the SHR periodically publishes reference prices for LPG sold in the local market. It also sets forth LPG volumes to be sold in the local market.

We participate in two programs created by the Government under this framework, which provide for the payment of compensation based on the difference between the price set by the Government and the export parity price. Over recent years, this compensation has been paid to us with significant delays. For further information, see “Item 4. Our Information—B. Business Overview—Liquids Production and Commercialization.”

On March 24, 2020, after COVID outbreak, the Executive Branch issued Decree No. 311/2020, which determines that the maximum reference price for LPG sold in the domestic market will remain at their values in force at such date for a 180-day period.

Also, we cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or increase the domestic prices of our products, and limitations on our ability to do so would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations. Similarly, we cannot assure you that LPG prices in Argentina will track increases or decreases in the international or regional markets.

Our Liquids business is highly dependent on the supply of natural gas to the Cerri Complex at reasonable prices that allow for reasonable profit margins. In past years, the Federal Energy Bureau increased the natural gas price paid by industrial users and increased the price at which we purchase natural gas to be processed in the Cerri Complex. For further information, see, “Item 4. Our Information–B. Business Overview–Liquids Production and Commercialization.”

During 2017, the Government initiated a process to converge natural gas prices with those in the international market, which finally occurred in October 2017 when prices were liberalized. However, during 2018, due to a combination of internal and external factors, the increase in natural gas and fuel prices was significant which meant that the intended liberalization was unsuccessful.

During 2018, the Government introduced several changes to the process by which the natural gas is acquired for the electric energy generators. Among them, modifications were introduced to the regulations through which Compañía Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Eléctrico S.A. (“CAMMESA”), a government-controlled company, had to provide this supply to the power plants. Finally, on November 6, 2018, the Secretary of Energy issued Resolution No. 70/2018, which returned to power generators the ability to purchase their own natural gas supply. Most of the power generators recovered the ability to do so, therefore, the price of natural gas purchased under the bidding processes decreased further because of the competition for demand in the low consumption season and in an environment with oversupply and economic recession.

Since December 2018, the government again decreased the natural gas price reference for power generation based on the supply basin of origin. As a result, during 2019, CAMMESA called for several bidding processes under the same conditions which resulted in even lower natural gas prices for generation.

The prices at which power plants or CAMMESA acquire natural gas can be considered a reference to determine the price of natural gas acquired as shrinkage gas (“RTP”) by us, which is why any additional increase in the costs of our Liquids Production and Commercialization segment may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

As described above, actions taken by the Government during winter periods of recent years resulted in natural gas being redirected away from certain users, including the Cerri Complex, toward priority users, including residential customers. See “—The Government’s strategies, measures and programs with respect to the natural gas transportation industry, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, the value of our securities and our ability to meet our financial obligations.” To a lesser extent, during the winter of 2016 and 2017, processing at the Cerri Complex was interrupted because of continued governmental actions to ensure natural gas supply to the domestic market, but thanks to the development of Vaca Muerta formation, during 2018 and 2019, we did not register any interruption in the supply of natural gas in the Cerri Complex.

In addition, regarding natural gas producers, the Government has recently introduced measures to moderate the impact of fuel prices in the economy. The prices that natural gas producers are able to obtain for oil and natural gas affect the viability of investments in new exploration, development and refining and, as a result, the timing and amount of our projected capital expenditures for such purposes. Any diversion of the supply of natural gas from the Cerri Complex may require us to purchase natural gas from third parties to supply our Liquids business, which may result in increased costs. If we are unable to purchase natural gas from other sources, the volume of our Liquids productions may decrease.

It is uncertain whether in the future measures taken by the Government or other measures that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and ability to meet our financial obligations will be implemented. It is also uncertain the impact of the Solidarity Law, regulations to be issued under its framework or whether our regulatory obligations may be increased, which could result in higher taxes, amendments to the tariff structure, or any other obligations that could increase our costs and adversely affect our financial situation.

We extract LPG and natural gasoline from natural gas delivered to the Cerri Complex and sell LPG and natural gasoline. As a result of the deterioration of our Natural Gas Transportation segment, operations relating to our Liquids production and commercialization have represented more than 50% of our total net revenues between 2004 and 2017. Since 2009, the international market for Liquids generally has been favorable, driven by strong international prices for LPG and natural gasoline. However, in 2015, as a consequence of weaker demand from emerging markets as well as higher production levels and export capacity due to the development of shale gas fields in the United States of America, our average liquids sales prices were lower than the ones recorded previously.

Regarding the price of energy, during 2019, the price of oil (WTI) remained volatile, recovering from the minimum levels of U.S.$45 per barrel in the month of January until reaching the peak of U.S.$65 per barrel in April. From that moment the price decreased by 13% mainly due to record production in the United States and the fall in demand, which managed to mitigate the impact of the shortage of supply linked to the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran, the production cuts from the OPEC and conflicts in Venezuela and Libya.

This meant that the international average price of natural gasoline suffered a fall of approximately 16%. Given the stock of propane and butane registered in the United States, the average international prices (Mont Belvieu) of propane and butane were reduced by approximately 39% and 35%, respectively, compared to the year 2018.

Most recently after the disagreement between OPEC members and Russia and the COVID outbreak, in March 2020 the price of oil suffered a sharp decrease, reaching the WTI U.S.$30 per barrel. As of March 31, 2020, the price of natural gasoline, propane and butane declined 74.2%, 41.6% and 56.2%, from December 2019´s prices, respectively. Although this situation is temporary, it is uncertain to predict how long it will extend and the impact it would have on the results of our operations and financial situation.

In recent years, the Government issued a series of measures, which significantly affected our Liquids Production and Commercialization segment. Since 2002, LPG and natural gasoline exports have been subject to a withholding tax on exports. After several regulatory modifications, in March 2008, the Government introduced a “sliding-scale” regime for LPG and natural gasoline, where the withholding tax rate applicable to exports of LPG and natural gasoline (as a percentage) would vary in the same proportion as the variation in the international reference prices.

At the beginning of 2015, to reduce the impact of the sharp decrease in the international reference prices for LPG and natural gasoline, the Government reduced to 1% the applicable rate of withholding tax for exports, maintaining the “sliding-scale” regime in case international prices were higher than a certain level set by the Federal Energy Bureau. This regime was in effect until January 7, 2017. Finally, on September 3, 2018, the Executive Branch issued Decree No. 793/2018, which set a new tax on exports framework.

For further information, see “Item 4. Our Information—B. Business Overview—Liquids Production and Commercialization.”

In addition, after the issuance of Resolutions Nos. 1,982/11 and 1,991/11 (the “Gas Charge Resolutions”), the natural gas processing charge created by Decree No. 2,067/08 (the “Natural Gas Processing Charge”) increased from Ps. 0.049 to Ps. 0.405 per cubic meter of natural gas effective from December 1, 2011, representing a significant increase in our variable costs of natural gas processing.

In order to avoid an adverse effect on our Liquids business, we initiated legal proceedings against Decree No. 2,067/08 and the Gas Charge Resolutions, including the Government, ENARGAS and the former Ministerio de Producción y de Planificación Federal, Inversión Pública y Servicios (the “MPFIPyS”) as defendants.

On March 28, 2016, the former Ministry of Energy issued Resolution No. 28 (“Resolution 28”), which instructs ENARGAS to take all the necessary measures to reduce to zero the Natural Gas Processing Charge starting April 1, 2016. Since that date, we have not been required to pay for the Natural Gas Processing Charge. However, Resolution 28 did not invalidate the Natural Gas Processing Charge or Gas Charge Resolutions for the period in which they were in force, for which reason the judicial action is still ongoing. On March 26, 2019, we were served notice of the first instance judgment rendered in the proceedings, which upholds the legal action filed by us and declares the unconstitutionality of Executive Decree No. 2,067/08, MPFIPyS Resolution No. 1451/08 and the Gas Charge Resolutions and Section 53 and 54 of Act No. 26,784 (General budget of the National Public Administration for the fiscal year 2013), as well as of any other act aimed at enforcing Executive Decree No. 2,067/08, and therefore declares invalid said regulations. On March 29, 2019 the National Secretariat of Energy appealed the judgment, which appeal was granted on April 3, 2019. On October 29, 2019, the judge resolved to extend the injunction (medida cautelar) for six months, or until the award becomes final. For additional information, see “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal and Regulatory Proceedings—Tax Claims.”

Any new regulations regarding the cost and availability of the natural gas used in the production of Liquids and the effect of the continuing decline or volatility in international prices of LPG or natural gasoline could cause our operating margins to drop significantly and materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations. In addition, the Government could modify the current taxes and export/import regulations in a manner that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

The recent COVID outbreak has introduced uncertainty in a number of areas of our business, including our operational, commercial and financial activities. It has also impacted negatively, and may continue to impact negatively, global economic activity, demand for energy including LNG and funds flows and sentiment in the global financial markets. The long-term effects to the global economy and the Company of the COVID pandemic are difficult to assess or predict, and may include a further decline in the market prices of our Shares and ADSs, risks to employee health and safety, risks for the deployment and logistic of our services and reduced sales mainly in the Liquids business segment. Our share price has recently declined significantly, due in part to the impact of the COVID. The ongoing spread of the COVID may continue to negatively affect our business, our operations, including the development of natural gas in Argentina, and our financial position and prospects which will depend on the severity of the health emergency and the success of the measures taken and those that will be taken in the future.

We also could not assure the duration and consequences of COVID or any other disruptions that may arise in government intervention or other measures, or the possibility of other economic effects on the stock market, foreign exchange rates and otherwise. Any such negative impact could result in a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial conditions, results of operations and trading price of our common shares and ADSs.

Between 2005 and 2015, we sold all our ethane to PBB under a long-term agreement that expired on December 31, 2015, which was subsequently renewed on an annual basis until May 1, 2018, and then on a monthly basis until September 6, 2018, the date on which we entered into a new agreement with PBB. The agreement is retroactive as of May 1, 2018, and will expire on December 27, 2027.

Pursuant to this agreement, the ethane price is calculated in U.S. dollars and is subject to adjustments, including for changes in the U.S. PPI, the natural gas price, the quality of the ethane shipped by us and transportation tariffs and charges, among others. This agreement also includes take or pay (“TOP”) and deliver or pay (“DOP”) commitments for minimum annual quantities. Under these terms, if one party does not comply with the applicable TOP or DOP condition, that party will be required to compensate the other party.

During 2019, PBB suffered several adverse operational conditions that affected its capacity to purchase our ethane production. We cannot assure you that these adverse conditions affecting PBB will not recur in the future or that PBB will be able to satisfy its obligations under the new purchase agreement.

Our main natural gas transportation customers are natural gas distribution companies whose tariff increases are set in accordance with the renegotiation processes of their licenses. Also, in some cases, their collections may depend on governmental regulations requiring them to finance the collections of their customers or even to recover their receivables from the Government.

Through Resolution No. 336, the payment of 22% of the bills issued from July 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019 to residential customers of natural gas was deferred. Also, with the issuance of the Solidarity Law, which suspended for a maximum period of 180 days the increase of rates, natural gas distribution companies could have difficulties complying with the increase in their operational costs, including the natural gas transportation services provided by us.

The failure of our clients to recover their receivables may cause them to incur delays or default in their payment obligations with us under our natural gas firm transportation contracts. In the future, we may be subject to delays in collections and payment obligations. We cannot assure you that our natural gas distribution customers in Argentina will not default on or otherwise breach their obligations to us in the future, and therefore negatively impact our financial situation.

In addition, we participate in the programs created by the Government to guarantee the supply of LPG at reasonable prices in the domestic market. Participation in these programs implies that the Government must compensate us when resources are allocated to the domestic market instead of us. Over recent years, this compensation has been paid with significant delays and there is no certainty about the continuance of such programs under the Fernandez administration.

During the fiscal years 2018 and 2019, we received the amount of Ps. 625.7 million and Ps. 468.5 million, respectively, as subsidies of the programs mentioned above. Pursuant to the programs referred to above, as of December 31, 2019, the Government is required to pay to us Ps. 143.8 million.

If the SHR were (i) not able to pay or redeem such accrued compensation in cash or cash equivalents, or (ii) not able to make such payments or redemptions according to our estimated schedule, our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations would be adversely affected.

More recently, as a consequence of COVID and the measures adopted by the Government to lessen its impact, we have suffered delays in the collection of our credit receivables, either due to the stoppage of activities, or to the measures adopted by the BCRA regarding the making of bank payments and compensations. Although these circumstances may be temporary, as of the date of issuance of this annual report, it is not possible to predict when they will normalize and their real impact on our financial situation and results of operations. If the cash flow generated by operations significantly declines, we may face difficulties in achieving our capital expenditures plans and projects, or may experience delays in the payments to our suppliers or financial debt which could negatively impact our financial condition and result of operations.

We cannot assure you that our natural gas firm transportation contracts will be renewed in whole or in part in our existing routes or by our current customers. We may not be able to renew some natural gas transportation contracts in light of the changes in the supply of natural gas from the Neuquina basin. The terms of our gas firm transportation contracts vary based on different factors. If we are unable to renew our natural gas firm transportation contracts as they mature, our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations would be adversely affected. See “—Our Liquids production depends on the natural gas that arrives at the Cerri Complex through three main pipelines from the Neuquina, Austral and San Jorge natural gas basins. The flow and caloric power of this natural gas are subject to risks that could materially adversely affect our Liquids and midstream business segment.”

The terms of our outstanding indebtedness provide for numerous affirmative and restrictive covenants that limit our ability to, among other things:

These restrictions may limit our ability to operate our businesses and may prohibit or limit our ability to enhance our operations or take advantage of potential business opportunities as they arise. The breach of any of these covenants by us or the failure by us to meet any of these conditions could result in a default under any or all of such indebtedness. Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions and the renegotiation of the public works and licenses process. In addition, if we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations, we may be required to refinance outstanding debt or to obtain additional financing. We cannot assure you that a refinancing would be possible or that any additional financing would be available or obtained on acceptable terms.

As of December 31, 2019, our physical assets are insured for up to U.S.$. 2,162.9 million and for the loss of profit resulting from the material damages by an amount of U.S.$ 528.4 million, these coverages being subject to certain deductibles for both material damages and loss of profit.

We maintain insurance policies intended to mitigate our losses due to customary risks. These policies cover our assets against loss for physical damage and loss of revenue, and also third-party liability. However, we cannot assure you that the scope of damages suffered in the event of a natural disaster or catastrophic event would not exceed the policy limits of our insurance coverage. We maintain all-risk physical damage coverage for losses resulting from, but not limited to, earthquakes, fire, explosions, floods, windstorms, strikes, riots, mechanical breakdowns and business interruption. Our level of insurance may not be sufficient to fully cover all losses that may arise in the course of our business or insurance covering our various risks may not continue to be available in the future. In addition, we may not be able to obtain insurance on comparable terms in the future. We may be materially and adversely affected if we incur losses that are not fully covered by our insurance policies or if we are required to disburse significant amounts from our own funds to cover such losses.

In addition to our employees, we rely on a number of third-party service providers to outsource certain services. We follow very strict policies to control the compliance by such third-party service providers with their labor and social security obligations. However, due to changes in the interpretation by the courts of labor laws that tend to favor employees in Argentina, companies’ labor and social security obligations toward their own employees and employees of third-party service providers have significantly increased. As a result of the foregoing, potential severance payment liabilities have significantly increased, and in the event any third-party service provider fails to duly comply with its labor and social security obligations towards its employees, we may be faced with litigation by employees of such third-party service provider to hold us liable for the payment of any labor and social security obligations defaulted on by any such third-party service provider. Therefore, our labor costs may increase as our indemnification responsibilities and costs expand, adversely affecting the results of our operations.

We are part of administrative proceedings and judicial claims, some of which have been pending resolution for several years. Our business may expose us to litigation relating to labor, environmental, health and safety matters, regulatory, tax and administrative proceedings, governmental investigations, tort claims and contract disputes and criminal prosecution, among other matters. In the context of these proceedings, we may be required to pay fines or money damages and we also may be subject to complementary sanctions or injunctions affecting our ability to continue our operations. While we may contest these matters vigorously and make insurance claims when appropriate, litigation and other proceedings are inherently costly and unpredictable, making it difficult to estimate accurately the outcome of actual or potential litigation or proceedings. Although we may establish provisions, as we deem necessary, the amounts that we reserve could vary significantly from any amounts we actually pay due to the inherent uncertainties in the estimation process.

For additional information on the material proceedings in which we are involved, see “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal and Regulatory Proceedings.”

We operate an extensive network of natural gas pipelines, including numerous compressor plants, the Cerri Complex and the logistic and storage facilities of Puerto Galván. All these facilities are located throughout the territory of Argentina and are subject to federal and provincial laws, as well as to the supervision of governmental agencies and regulatory authorities in charge of enforcing environmental laws and policies. We operate in compliance with applicable laws and in accordance with directives issued by ENARGAS. For this reason, it is possible that we could be subject to controls, which could result in penalties imposed on us.

We utilize a certified safety, occupational health, environment and quality management system in accordance with international standards ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001. It includes operational controls that are documented and monitored regularly. However, we cannot assure you that these controls will be effective or that our time of response to incidents will be adequate.

In addition, future regulation may require us to comply with additional safety, occupational health, environmental and quality controls or standards. We cannot assure you that, in the future, additional regulation could be issued requiring us to make new investments in order to comply with such safety, health and environmental laws and regulations.

Historically, the construction and operation of natural gas processing plants located in the Province of Neuquén has increased competition in our Liquids sector as our customers could satisfy their product demand with alternative suppliers. In the past, we have been able to mitigate this competition by entering into agreements with natural gas producers that limited their ability to make investments in natural gas processing plants.  For example, at the end of 2000, Compañía MEGA S.A. (“MEGA”), a sociedad anónima owned by YPF, Petrobras International Braspetro B.V. and Dow Investment Argentina S.A., finished building and began operation of a gas processing plant with a capacity of approximately 1.3 Bcf/d, located in the Province of Neuquén. Although the construction of this gas processing plant initially resulted in lower volumes of gas arriving at the Cerri Complex, we have been able to undertake measures to substantially mitigate any negative impact of the MEGA plant. However, there is a risk that additional gas processing at the MEGA plant could result in lower volumes or lesser quality gas arriving at the Cerri Complex in the future, or that other projects that may be developed upstream of the Cerri Complex could adversely affect our revenues from Liquids production and commercialization services.

Although the construction of gas processing plants upstream of the Cerri Complex requires significant investments, additional gas processing facilities may be constructed that similar to the MEGA plant, could result in lower volumes or inferior natural gas quality of the natural gas arriving at the Cerri Complex in the future. Therefore, the development of these new projects could adversely affect our revenues from Liquids production and commercialization services. In order to guarantee access to natural gas to be processed in the Cerri Complex we have obtained the commitment of natural gas producers to not build natural gas processing plants upstream of the Cerri Complex during the term of such long-term agreements.

Regarding our other services business segment, we operate in a market with strong participants, many of which may have extensive and diversified know-how or operating experience and financial resources similar to or significantly greater than ours. While it is still unclear the future measures to be taken by the current administration regarding its energetic policy, the development of the natural gas industry in Argentina is essential for the country’s economic growth. All future business that our competitors or we can develop will depend on the production of natural gas. The Government (or any other entity on its behalf) might not issue the necessary regulations to encourage natural gas producers to develop new projects involving natural gas output.

As a result of the above, an increased number of competitors could reduce their prices which could make our investments not profitable. In addition, an increase in competition could affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations. This would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Additionally, our principal competitor in the gas transportation business is Transportadora de Gas del Norte S.A. (“TGN”). We compete with TGN on a day-to-day basis for natural gas interruptible transportation services and from time-to-time for new natural gas firm transportation services made available as a result of expansion projects to the natural gas distribution companies to which both we and TGN are either directly or indirectly connected (Camuzzi Gas Pampeana S.A., Metrogas S.A. and Naturgy Argentina S.A.). We compete directly with TGN for the transportation of natural gas from the Neuquina basin to the greater Buenos Aires area.  In addition, in the future other participants may successfully penetrate our market and connect with our main customers which could affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

The Secretary of Energy published, on March 7, 2019, Resolution No. 82/2019 (“Resolution 82”), which sets the terms and conditions for future tenders that aim to increase the transportation capacity of natural gas. Additionally, through Resolution 437, the Federal Energy Bureau started a public tender process to grant a new license for the construction of a pipeline and all necessary facilities to provide natural gas services between the Neuquén Province and Argentina’s coastline. The construction of a new pipeline by a third party could affect our results of operations as the interruptible natural gas transport volumes and the availability of natural gas that arrives at the Cerri Complex for processing could be diminished.

Our credit ratings are assigned to us based on information furnished by us or obtained by the credit rating agencies from independent sources and are also influenced by the credit ratings of Government bonds and general views regarding the Argentine financial system as a whole. The credit ratings are subject to revision, suspension or withdrawal by the credit rating agencies at any time. A downgrade, suspension or withdrawal in our credit ratings could result in, among other things, the following: (i) increased funding costs and other difficulties in raising funds, (ii) the need to provide additional collateral in connection with financial transactions, and (iii) the termination or cancellation of existing agreements.  As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We depend on a variety of internet-based data processing, communication, and information exchange platforms and networks. Although we have extended our security policy to cover industrial systems, reinforcing our defenses in case of denial of service and increasing the monitoring of suspicious activities, our technologies, systems and networks and those of our business associates are exposed to cyberattacks and other cybersecurity incidents in the normal course of business, which could lead to disruptions in critical systems (such as our electronic flow measurement (“SCADA/EFM”) system and distributed control systems), the unauthorized release of confidential or protected information, corruption of data or other disruptions of our business operations.

Additionally, we enter into contracts with several third parties to provide our customers with data processing and communication services. Therefore, if information security is breached, or if one of our employees or external service providers’ breaches compliance procedures, information could be lost or misappropriated, which may affect us, damage others or result in potential litigation.

There has recently been an increased level of attention focused on cyberattacks against large corporations that include, but are not limited to, obtaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating cash, other assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cybersecurity incidents, such as computer break-ins, “phishing,” identity theft and other disruptions, could negatively affect the security of information stored in and transmitted through our computer systems and network infrastructure, which may result in significant liability to us in excess of insurance coverage and may cause existing and potential customers to refrain from doing business with us.

In addition, the methods used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service or sabotage systems are constantly evolving and may be difficult to anticipate or to detect. Thus certain cyber incidents, such as surveillance, may remain undetected for an extended period. To our knowledge, we have not experienced any material losses relating to cyberattacks; however, as cyberattacks continue to evolve, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer any cyberattack in the future that could affect our operations and/or our financial condition.

Our information technology infrastructure is critical to the efficient operation of our business and is essential to our ability to perform day-to-day operations. Breaches in our information technology infrastructure or physical facilities, or unauthorized access or other loss of information or other disruptions, could result in damage to our assets, safety incidents, legal claims, potential liability or the loss of contracts, damage of reputation, and could have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial position and results of operations.

Our natural gas transportation systems and processing facilities are at risk of mechanical or electrical failures and may experience periods of unavailability affecting our ability to comply with our contracts with customers.  Any unplanned unavailability of our natural gas transportation systems and processing facilities may adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations, as we may be subject to fines or penalties under our contracts with customers.

Our transportation systems and processing facilities or the third-party infrastructure that we rely on may be damaged by flooding, fires and other catastrophic disasters arising from natural or accidental or intentional human causes. We could experience severe business disruptions, significant decreases in revenues based on lower demand as a result of catastrophic events, or significant additional costs to us not otherwise covered by business interruption insurance clauses. There may be a significant time lag between a major accident, catastrophic event or terrorist attack and our definitive recovery from our insurance policies, which typically carry nonrecoverable deductible amounts, and in any event are subject to caps per event. In addition, any of these events could adversely affect the demand of natural gas by some of our customers and of consumers generally in the affected market. Some of these considerations, among others, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

We are subject to anti-trust, anti-corruption, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws.  Although we maintain policies and processes intended to comply with these laws, including a review of our internal control over financial reporting, we cannot ensure that these compliance policies and processes will prevent intentional, reckless or negligent acts committed by our officers or employees.  If our officers or employees fail to comply with any applicable anti-trust, anti-corruption, anti-bribery or anti-money laundering laws, they may be subject to criminal, administrative or civil penalties and other remedial measures, which could have material adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, we are subject to economic sanctions regulations that restrict our dealings with certain sanctioned countries, individuals and entities. There can be no assurance that our internal policies and procedures will be sufficient to prevent or detect all inappropriate practices, fraud or violations of law by our affiliates, employees, directors, officers, partners, agents and service providers or that any such persons will not take actions in violation of our policies and procedures. Any violations by us of anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws or sanctions regulations could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Our current and future performance and the operation of our business are dependent upon the contributions of our senior management and our skilled team of engineers and other employees. We depend on our ability to attract, train, motivate and retain key management and specialized personnel with the necessary skills and experience. There is no guarantee that we will be successful in retaining and attracting key personnel and the replacement of any key personnel could be difficult and time-consuming. The loss of the experience and services of key personnel or the inability to recruit suitable replacements and additional staff could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are an Argentine company and any future payments of dividends on our shares will be denominated in pesos. The peso has historically fluctuated significantly against many major world currencies, including the U.S. dollar. A depreciation of the peso would likely adversely affect the U.S. dollar or other currency equivalent amount of any dividends paid on our shares and could result in a decline in the value of our shares and ADRs as measured in U.S. dollars.

From 2011 to December 2015, Argentine companies were required to obtain prior approval from BCRA and Argentine tax authorities in order to engage in certain foreign exchange transactions. In September 2019 the Government reinstalled the above previous measures. Thus, our shareholders’ ability to receive cash dividends in U.S. dollars was limited by the ability of the Depositary for our ADR program to convert cash dividends paid in pesos into U.S. dollars. Under the terms of our Deposit Agreement for the ADRs, to the extent that the Depositary can in its judgment, and in accordance with local exchange regulations, convert pesos (or any other foreign currency) into U.S. dollars on a reasonable basis and transfer the resulting U.S. dollars abroad, the Depositary will as promptly as practicable convert or cause to be converted all cash dividends received by it in pesos on the deposited securities into U.S. dollars. If in the judgment of the Depositary this conversion is not possible on a reasonable basis (or is not permitted by applicable Argentine laws, regulations and approval requirements), the Depositary may distribute the pesos received or in its discretion hold such currency uninvested without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of the owners entitled to receive the same. As a result, if the exchange rate fluctuates significantly during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some of the value of the dividend distribution.

In the event that the BCRA does not grant the requested authorization, we reserve the right to agree with the Depositary to arbitrate the reasonable legal measures that allow effective payment of dividends to ADR holders who reside abroad. As a result, the ADR holder may lose part of the value of the dividend distribution.

As of the date of this Annual Report, our controlling shareholder is CIESA, which holds 51% of our common stock. FGS holds 24.0% of our common stock. Local and foreign investors hold the remaining ownership of our common stock. CIESA is under co-control of: (i) Pampa Energía S.A. (“Pampa Energía”), which holds 10% of CIESA’s common stock, (ii) PHA S.A.U., a wholly-owned company by Pampa Energia, (“PHA”) which holds 40% of the share capital of CIESA, and (iii) Grupo Inversor Petroquímica S.L. (member of GIP Group, headed by the Sielecki family; “GIP”), and PCT L.L.C. (“PCT”), which directly and together with WST S.A. (member of Werthein Group “WST”) indirectly through PEPCA S.A. (“PEPCA”) hold a 50% of the shareholding in CIESA.

We cannot assure you that the interests of our principal shareholders will not diverge from the interests of our other investors. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”

CIESA holds 51% of our Class “A” shares. Pursuant to the Pliego de Bases y Condiciones para la Privatización de Gas del Estado S.E. (the “Pliego”), CIESA may not reduce its shareholding below 51% of our share capital without the competent authorities’ approval. The market prices of our common shares and ADRs could decline as a result of sales by our existing shareholders, such as the ANSES, or of any other significant shareholder of common shares or ADRs in the market, or the perception that these sales could occur.

Our corporate affairs are governed by our By-laws, the General Companies Act and Law No. 26,831, which differ from the legal principles that would apply if we were incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States or in other jurisdictions outside Argentina. In addition, rules governing the Argentine securities markets are different and may be subject to different enforcement in Argentina than in other jurisdictions.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers. Under U.S. securities laws, as a foreign private issuer we are exempt from certain rules that apply to domestic U.S. issuers with equity securities registered under the Exchange Act, including rules regarding proxy statements and short-swing profits.  We are also exempt from many of the corporate governance requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.

Pursuant to Law No. 26,893, the sale, exchange or other transfer of shares and other securities is subject to capital gains tax at a rate of 15% when the purchaser and the seller are not Argentine residents. When both the purchaser and the seller of our Class B Shares or ADRs are non-residents, the purchaser is required to pay the capital gains tax in addition to the purchase price of the Class B Shares or ADSs. In addition, if the purchaser is legally liable for capital gains taxes in Argentina, then the purchaser will likely not be entitled to receive any tax credit in the United States in respect of the payment of any such taxes.

On December 29, 2017, the Macri Administration enacted, through Decree No. 1112/2017, a tax reform (the “Tax Reform”). The Tax Reform provides that only the results from sales, transfers or dispositions of shares, securities representing shares and certificates of deposit of shares that are carried out through stock exchanges or stock markets authorized by the CNV under conditions that guarantee the principle of price/time priority of the offers obtained by individuals and undivided estates resident in Argentina shall be exempted.

The foregoing exemption shall also be applicable to foreign beneficiaries to the extent that said beneficiaries do not reside in and the funds do not come from non-cooperative jurisdictions. Decree No. 279/2018 provides that until the decree of the Income Tax Law of Argentina regulates the definition of non-cooperative jurisdiction, the white list established in Decree No. 589/2013 (dated 05/27/2013) will be applicable to determine if a jurisdiction is non-cooperative jurisdiction.

The Tax Reform also establishes an exemption for such foreign beneficiaries on the sale of share certificates issued abroad that represent shares issued by Argentine companies which have been granted with a public offering authorization by the CNV (i.e., ADRs). The exemptions will only apply if the foreign beneficiaries do not reside in and the funds do not arise from “non-cooperating” jurisdictions.

Pursuant to Decree No. 279/2018, if the foreign beneficiary resides in a non-cooperative jurisdiction or the funds come from a non-cooperative jurisdiction, the capital gains tax rate is 35%.

Whereas, previously, if the sale was carried out between non-Argentine residents the non-Argentine resident purchaser was responsible for paying the tax when the seller was a non-resident, currently it is the seller, through their legal representative domiciled in Argentina, who is responsible for paying the tax, except when the purchaser is a resident individual or legal entity. If the seller does not have a legal representative, the tax should be paid by the seller according to Decree No. 279/2018.

Further rulemaking or interpretation of the amended income tax law by the Argentine tax authority may adversely affect the tax treatment of our Class B Shares or ADSs.

We will treat the Depositary for all purposes as the shareholder with respect to the shares underlying the ADRs. As a holder of ADRs representing the ADRs being held by the Depositary in your name, you will not have direct shareholder rights and may exercise voting rights with respect to our Class B Shares represented by the ADRs only in accordance with the Deposit Agreement. There are no provisions under Argentine law or under our By-laws that limit the exercise by ADR holders of their voting rights through the Depositary with respect to the underlying Class B Shares. However, there are practical limitations on the ability of ADR holders to exercise their voting rights due to the additional procedural steps involved in communicating with these holders. ADR holders may be unable to exercise voting rights with respect to our Class B Shares underlying the ADRs as a result of these practical limitations.

Holders of ADSs may not be able to exercise the preemptive or accretion rights relating to the shares underlying the ADSs unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is effective with respect to those rights or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. We are not obligated to file a registration statement with respect to the shares relating to these preemptive rights, and we cannot assure you that we will file any such registration statement. Unless we file a registration statement or an exemption from registration is available, holders may receive only the net proceeds from the sale of their preemptive rights by the depositary or, if the preemptive rights cannot be sold, they will be allowed to lapse. As a result, U.S. holders of Class B Shares or ADSs may suffer dilution of their interest in our company upon future capital increases.

In addition, under the General Companies Act, foreign companies that own shares in an Argentine corporation are required to register with the Superintendency of Corporations (Inspección General de Justicia or the “IGJ”) in order to exercise certain shareholder rights. Voting rights in a Shareholder meeting can be exercised through duly instituted agents, as is regulated by Law No. 26,831. If you own our Class B Shares directly (rather than in the form of ADSs) and you are a non-Argentine company and you fail to register with the IGJ, your ability to exercise your rights as a holder of our Class B Shares may be limited.

The NYSE and/or the BYMA may suspend and/or cancel the listing of our ADSs and common shares, respectively, in certain circumstances, including upon the occurrence of certain events relating to our financial situation.

The NYSE may in its sole discretion determine on an individual basis the suitability for continued listing of an issue in the light of all pertinent facts. Some of the factors mentioned in the NYSE Listed Company Manual, which may subject a company to suspension and delisting procedures, include: “unsatisfactory financial conditions and/or operating results,” “inability to meet current debt obligations or to adequately finance operations,” and “any other event or condition which may exist or occur that makes further dealings or listing of the securities on the NYSE inadvisable or unwarranted in the opinion of NYSE.”

We cannot assure you that the NYSE and/or BYMA will not commence any suspension or delisting procedures. A delisting or suspension of trading of our ADSs or common shares by the NYSE and/or BYMA, respectively, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial conditions and cause the market value of our ADSs and common shares to decline.

The trading price of our Class B Shares is likely to be highly volatile and may be subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors, many of which are beyond our control. Such factors include:

The stock markets in general have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the companies involved. We cannot assure you that trading prices and valuations will be sustained. These broad market and industry factors may materially adversely affect the market price of our Class B Shares and the ADSs, regardless of our operating performance. Market fluctuations, as well as general political and economic conditions in Argentina, such as recession or currency exchange rate fluctuations, may also adversely affect the market price of our Class B Shares and the ADSs. In particular, currency fluctuations could impact the value of an investment in Argentina. Although our ADSs listed on the NYSE are U.S. dollar-denominated securities, they do not eliminate the currency risk associated with an investment in an Argentine company.

For example, due to various factors (including, but not limited to, the abrupt variation in the exchange rate in Argentina) prices of equity securities in Argentina decreased substantially in 2018, which prompted investors to dispose of their investments in Argentina resulting on further downward pressure on the price of equity securities. Future sales of substantial amounts of our Class B Shares and ADSs, or the perception that such future sales may occur, may result in additional pressure to the price of our Class B Shares and ADSs. Also, future sales of treasury shares, may also have a negative impact on the price of our Class B Shares and ADSs.

Following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, that company may often be subject to securities class-action litigation. This kind of litigation may result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Investing in securities that trade in emerging markets, such as Argentina, often involves greater risk than investing in securities of issuers in the United States, and such investments are generally considered to be more speculative in nature. The Argentine securities market is substantially smaller, less liquid and more concentrated and can be more volatile than major securities markets in the United States, and is not as highly regulated or supervised as some of these other markets. There is also significantly greater concentration in the Argentine securities market than in major securities markets in the United States. The ten largest companies in terms of market capitalization represented approximately 92.1% of the aggregate market capitalization of the BYMA as of December 31, 2019. Accordingly, although shareholders are entitled to withdraw the Class B Shares underlying the ADSs from the depositary at any time, the ability to sell such shares on the BYMA at a price and time shareholders might want may be substantially limited.

We commenced commercial operations on December 29, 1992, as the largest company created in connection with the privatization of Gas del Estado S.E. (“GdE”), the Argentine state-owned natural gas company, the integrated operations of which included natural gas transportation and distribution. GdE was divided into ten companies: two transportation companies and eight distribution companies.

Our legal name is Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A. We are a limited liability company (sociedad anónima), incorporated under the laws of Argentina on December 1, 1992. Our registered offices are located at Don Bosco 3672, 5th Floor, Buenos Aires (C1206ABF), Argentina, our telephone number is (54 11) 4865-9050 and our web address is www.tgs.com.ar.

We are currently the largest transporter of natural gas in Argentina and operate the most extensive pipeline system in Latin America in terms of length, delivering approximately, as of December 31, 2019, 60% of the total natural gas transported in Argentina, through 5,736 miles of pipeline, of which we operate 4,775 miles on an exclusive basis pursuant to the License (the “Natural Gas Transportation”). We operate the remaining 961 miles, which are owned by the Gas Trusts, and receive compensation based on a regulated tariff. Our transportation system connects the Neuquén, San Jorge and Austral basins, the major natural gas fields located in the south and west of Argentina, to the greater Buenos Aires area and the major consumption centers of southern Argentina. Substantially all of our transportation capacity, approximately 79% of our aggregate transportation capacity as of December 31, 2019, is subscribed for under firm long-term natural gas transportation contracts. Natural gas transportation customers with firm contracts pay for the contracted pipeline capacity regardless of actual usage. Our Natural Gas Transportation business is regulated by ENARGAS, and revenues from this business represented 46.6%, 45.4% and 37.4% of our total net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

We conduct our Natural Gas Transportation business pursuant to the License, which is currently scheduled to expire in 2027 and which is extendable for an additional ten-year period at our option if certain technical conditions described in the License are met. ENARGAS is required at that time to evaluate our performance and make a recommendation to the Executive Branch for the extension of our License. If ENARGAS determines that we are in substantial compliance with all our obligations arising under the Natural Gas Law No. 24,076 (the “Natural Gas Law”), related regulations and our License, the extension should be granted by the Executive Branch. ENARGAS would bear the burden of proving that we had not met the technical conditions referred to above and, therefore, that the extension of the License should not be granted. To the extent that we were found not to have satisfied the conditions described above or chose not to seek the extension of our License, we would be entitled to certain specified compensation. See “—B. Business Overview—Natural Gas Transportation—Regulatory Framework Certain Restrictions with Respect to Essential Assets” below.

The License gives us the exclusive right to operate the existing southern Argentine natural gas transportation pipeline system. Our natural gas transportation system connects major natural gas fields in southern and western Argentina with both distributors and large consumers of natural gas in those regions as well as in the greater Buenos Aires area, the principal population center of Argentina.

The map below illustrates the natural gas pipeline system in Argentina as of December 31, 2019:

For additional information regarding our property, plant and equipment, see “—D. Property, Plant and Equipment” below.

We are also one of the largest processors of natural gas and one of the largest marketers of Liquids in Argentina. We operate the Cerri Complex and the associated logistics and storage facilities of Puerto Galván located in Bahía Blanca in the Province of Buenos Aires where Liquids are separated from the natural gas transported through our pipeline system and stored for delivery. Due to its strategic location within the Argentine natural gas transportation system, our Cerri Complex can process gas proceeding from the Neuquén, San Jorge and Austral basins. This provides the plant with great versatility in terms of natural gas availability, and the possibility to select the gas that is processed according to its quality (liquid contents). Revenues from our Liquids Production and Commercialization business represented 47.6%, 48.8% and 56.0% of our total net revenues during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

We also provide midstream integral solutions related to natural gas production, from the wellhead up to the transportation systems. In addition, through our subsidiary Telcosur, we provide telecommunications services. Aggregate net revenues from our midstream and telecommunications business segment represented 5.8%, 5.8% and 6.6% of our total net revenues during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Within the framework of the agreements signed with the former Ministry of Energy, Mining and Hydrocarbons of the Province of Neuquén and Gas y Petróleo de Neuquén S.A. in April and November 2018, we timely completed the construction of a catchment and gathering pipeline and a natural gas conditioning plant in the Vaca Muerta field that will allow the gathering of non-conventional gas from the Neuquina basin and its subsequent injection into the main gas pipeline systems, ensuring its supply to all of Argentina’s regions.

The Vaca Muerta system has two gathering pipes: the first has a length of 71 miles, a 36” diameter and a 1.2Bcf/d transportation capacity (the “Northern Section”) and the second has a 20 mile extension, a 30” diameter and a 882.3 MMcf/d transportation capacity (the “Southern Section”). The gas transported through this pipeline system will be treated at a new conditioning plant that we built at Tratayén, Province of Neuquén with an initial capacity of 176.6 MMcf/d, which is foreseen to be expanded as the volumes of gas transported in the Vaca Muerta system increase. This project consolidates our position as the first midstream services provider in the Vaca Muerta field and required an investment of approximately U.S.$260 million in the aggregate. On April 29, 2019, the assembly and pressurization works on the connection of the Vaca Muerta pipeline to Neuba II were completed, which led to revenues from the month of May 2019 derived from firm natural gas transportation contracts of 28.2 MMcf/d in the aggregate. On August 22, 2019, the SHR issued Resolution No. 491/2019, which declared this project as “critical” on the terms of Law No. 26,360. This will allow us to obtain certain tax benefits from the investments in this project.

As of the date of issuance of this Annual Report, our controlling shareholder is CIESA, which holds 51% of our common stock. Other local and foreign investors hold the remaining shares of our common stock, including FGS, which holds 24% of our common stock. CIESA is under co-control of Pampa Energía, which directly and indirectly through PHA hold 50% of the share capital of CIESA, and GIP and PCT, which directly and together with WST and indirectly through PEPCA hold 50% of the share capital of CIESA.

For additional information regarding CIESA’s current organizational structure, see “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—A. Major Shareholders.”

From January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2019, our aggregate capital expenditures, in Current Currency, amounted to Ps. 32,995.6 million. Such capital expenditures include Ps. 15,447.7 million related to improvements to our gas transportation system, Ps. 2,147.2 million related to liquids production and commercialization activities and Ps. 15,400.7 million related to other services activities.

For the years 2019, 2018 and 2017, capital expenditures mostly include works performed for the execution of the Five-Year Plan and the construction and ramping-up of the Northern Section and Southern Section of the Vaca Muerta pipeline. Information relating to the size and financing of future investments is included in “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”

As a transporter of natural gas, we receive natural gas owned by a shipper, usually a natural gas distributor, at one or more intake points on our pipeline system for transportation and delivery to the shipper at specified delivery points along the pipeline system. Under applicable law and our License, we are not permitted to buy or sell natural gas except for our own consumption and to operate the pipeline system. See “—Regulatory Framework” below for more information.

Our pipeline system connects major natural gas fields in southern and western Argentina with distributors and other users of gas in those areas and the greater Buenos Aires area.  TGN, the only other natural gas transportation operating company that supplies the Argentine market, holds a similar license with respect to the northern pipeline system, which also provides natural gas transportation services to the greater Buenos Aires area.

Natural gas transportation services accounted for 46.6%, 45.4% and 37.4% of our total net revenues in the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In 2019, 79% of our average daily natural gas deliveries were made under long-term firm transportation contracts. See “—Customers and Marketing” below. Natural gas firm transportation contracts are those under which capacity is reserved and paid for regardless of actual usage by the customer. Almost all of our natural gas firm contracted capacity is currently subscribed for at the maximum tariffs allowed by ENARGAS. During 2019, the amount of net revenues derived from natural gas firm transportation contracts was Ps. 18,521.2 million, representing 81.9% of the total net revenues for the Natural Gas Transportation segment. Substantially all of our remaining natural gas deliveries were made under natural gas interruptible transportation contracts entered into predominantly with four natural gas distribution companies, power plants and industrial customers. Interruptible contracts provide for the transportation of natural gas subject to available pipeline capacity. The Government has at times directed us to interrupt supply to certain customers and make deliveries to others without regard as to whether they have natural gas firm or interruptible contracts. See “Regulatory Framework—Industry Structure” below for more information.

Expansions of the system. In February 2017, the Ministry of Mines and Energy called for a national public tender for the purchase of pipelines to extend the natural gas network in some areas of the Province of Santa Fe, the Patagonian Andes and the coast of the Province of Buenos Aires. This tender consists of four projects that will benefit 140,500 households. One of these projects is the extension of the Cordillerano gas pipeline, which will be connected to our natural gas pipeline system. The capacity expansion will be carried out from the two points that feed our system from the area called El Zorro and we will assume the role to audit the works executed. This project also includes the installation of the Río Senguer compressor plant in Neuquén. Due to the current macroeconomic environment, as of the date of issuance of this Annual Report the execution of these works is uncertain.

Within this framework, we entered into a Transitional Union Agreement (“UT”) with SACDE Sociedad Argentina de Construcción y Desarrollo Estratégico S.A. (“SACDE”), a related company, for the purpose of participating jointly in the National Public Bid No. 452-0004-LPU17: Assembly of Pipes for the Construction of the Project “Expansion of the Natural Gas Transportation and Distribution System.” In this regard, the Ministry of Mines and Energy awarded to the aforementioned UT the construction of the Regional II-Recreo/Rafaela/Sunchales Regional Gas Pipeline. As of the date of issuance of this Annual Report, the construction work is almost completed, and the project will finally be put into service after the UT and the Government agree the final terms of the project.

On September 5, 2018, through Resolution No. 125/2018 of the former Ministry of Energy, such Ministry resolved to discontinue the execution of works under the “Northern Work Trust 2006-2008” and the “Southern Work Trust 2006-2008,” formed on December 6, 2006, under the regime of Decree No. 180/2004 of February 13, 2004 and Resolution No. 185/2004 of April 19, 2004, of the former MPFIPyS. Likewise, such resolution instructed Nación Fideicomiso (“NAFISA”) and TGN, as trustees, respectively, of the “Northern Work Trust 2006-2008” and of the “Ampliación Norte 2004-2005 Trust” to consolidate the assets of both, in the “Northern Work Trust 2006-2008,” to continue with the repayment of the contributions and pending investments, without prejudice to the rights of third parties. Also, such resolution instructed NAFISA and us, as trustees, respectively of the “Trust of South Work 2006-2008” and the “Trust Expansion South 2004-2005” to consolidate the assets of both in the “South Work Trust 2006-2008,” which will continue with the repayment of contributions and pending investments, without prejudice to the rights of third parties. Furthermore, the resolution entrusts NAFISA to carry out the residual projects of the “Northern Work Trust 2006-2008” and of the “Southern Work Trust 2006-2008” and to carry out the timely liquidation of the “Ampliación Norte 2004-2005 Trust” and the “Fideicomiso Ampliación Sur 2004-2005,” giving the former Ministry of Energy the appropriate authority in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 180/2004 and Resolution No. 185/2004.

Additionally, since April 2019, the Government has been developing a regulatory framework to replace the current LNG and liquid fuels imports with nonconventional natural gas from the Vaca Muerta area, which requires to be transported to urban areas. For this purpose, on July 30, 2019, the SHR issued Resolution 437, which includes the rules for a public tender process to grant a new license, including the design and construction of a pipeline, for the operation of a new natural gas transport system, which will be completed in two stages: (i) first, by connecting the area of Tratayén in the Neuquén Province with the area of Salliqueló in the Buenos Aires Province, and (ii) second, by connecting the area of Salliqueló with the city of San Nicolás de los Arroyos in the Buenos Aires Province. The first stage of the project is expected to be working in part within 18 months from the date the license is granted, and should be fully operational within 24 months from the date of the license. The second phase of the project shall be operative within 60 months from the date the license is granted.

The license will be granted for a period of 35 years, renewable for ten years according to the Natural Gas Law. Additionally, during the first 17 years of license a special temporary registry (Régimen Especial Temporario or “Special Temporary Registry”) will be created, which will allow the holder of such license to negotiate the compensation payable to the carriers without restrictions. Such compensation cannot be transferred to the final tariffs of residential clients. The regime of the Natural Gas Law will become effective after such 17-year period.

Before granting the license, the winning bidder should incorporate a special purpose company (sociedad anónima) pursuant to the General Companies Act, under the name “Transportadora de Gas del Centro S.A.”.

The open bidding for this new natural gas transportation license was issued by the SGE on July 30, 2019. On April 2, 2020, the Secretary of Energy postponed the opening until December 30, 2020. As of the date of the issuance of this Annual Report we are currently analyzing our participation in it.

Our principal service area is the greater Buenos Aires region in central-eastern Argentina. We also serve the more rural provinces of western and southern Argentina. As of December 31, 2019, our service area contains 6.2 million end users, including 4.1 million customers in the greater Buenos Aires area. Direct service to residential, commercial, industrial and electric power generation end users is mostly provided by four gas distribution companies in the area, all of which are connected to our pipeline system: Metrogas S.A., Naturgy Argentina S.A., Camuzzi Gas Pampeana S.A. and Camuzzi Gas del Sur S.A. These natural gas distribution companies serve, in the aggregate, 68.0% of the natural gas distribution market in Argentina. The other five Argentine distribution companies are located in and serve northern Argentina and are not connected directly to our pipeline system.

The table below contains certain information for 2019, as it relates to the distribution companies that are connected to our pipeline system: