Nextel Communications Inc., the No. 5 U.S. wireless operator, took a charge of roughly $1.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2001 to restructure NII Holdings Inc., its troubled international unit. ... NII Holdings, which has about $2.67 billion in debt, may be forced to sell off assets, or file for bankruptcy protection if it cannot adequately restructure its financial obligations. ... The unit failed to make principal payments on its $108 million Argentine credit facilities and failed to make an interest payment on its $650 million aggregate principal amount of 12.75 percent senior notes. Looks like BellSouth isn't the only one struggling to pay its bills on Latin American telecoms. |