-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, CgYYYayWS5Cbi4bxFOZ0xwSGgF16Vrk15we2a8fLHVe7U/lxRO5twkB0A5v0u3C6 +ssJulgK+vQ2Xu6HwtLdCQ== 0000821130-06-000010.txt : 20060605 0000821130-06-000010.hdr.sgml : 20060605 20060605135415 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000821130-06-000010 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20060531 ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20060605 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060605 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000821130 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RADIO TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS [4812] IRS NUMBER: 621147325 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-09712 FILM NUMBER: 06885665 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8410 W BRYN MAWR AVE STREET 2: STE 700 CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60631 BUSINESS PHONE: 7733998900 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8410 W BRYN MAWR AVE STREET 2: STE 700 CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60631 8-K 1 usm8k060206.htm

FORM 8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 31, 2006

UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


  Delaware
(State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation)
1-9712
(Commission
File Number)
62-1147325
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

        8410 West Bryn Mawr, Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois      
         (Address of principal executive offices)
   60631   
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (773) 399-8900


  Not Applicable  
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 8.01. Other Matters.

On May 31, 2006, United States Cellular Corporation ("U.S. Cellular") issued a joint press release, together with its parent company, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., disclosing that it does not expect to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K") for the year ended December 31, 2005 by May 31, 2006. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

As previously disclosed, U.S. Cellular determined to restate its financial results for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, including quarterly information for 2004 and 2003 and certain selected financial data for 2001 and 2000. U.S. Cellular also determined to restate its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q ("Form 10-Q") for the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and June 30, 2005. As a result, U.S. Cellular delayed the filing of its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. Such restatements and the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 were filed on April 26, 2006.

It was necessary for U.S. Cellular to complete and file the restatements and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 before it could complete and file its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. Such Form 10-K was due on March 16, 2006. Although a Form 12b-25 was timely filed by U.S. Cellular prior to March 17, 2006, U.S. Cellular indicated in such filing that it did not expect to file the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 by the extended due date of March 31, 2006 and did not do so. U.S. Cellular now plans to file the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 as soon as possible.

It was also necessary for U.S. Cellular to complete and file the restatements, its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 and its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 before it could complete and file its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. Such Form 10-Q was due on May 10, 2006. Although a Form 12b-25 was timely filed with the SEC on May 11, 2006, U.S. Cellular indicated in such filing that it did not expect to file the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 by the extended due date of May 15, 2006 and it did not do so. U.S. Cellular plans to file the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 as soon as possible after its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 is filed.

The restatements and the late filing of the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 resulted in defaults under the revolving credit agreement between U.S. Cellular and certain lenders and under certain forward contracts between a subsidiary of U.S. Cellular and a counterparty. Waivers of such defaults obtained previously were extended on May 31, 2006, provided that U.S. Cellular files its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 by June 30, 2006. U.S. Cellular has not failed to make and does not expect to fail to make any scheduled payment of principal or interest under the revolving credit agreement or forward contracts.

The failure to file the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 by May 31, 2006 continues the existing non-compliance under a debt indenture. In addition, the late filing of the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 resulted in non-compliance under such debt indenture. Nevertheless, this non-compliance will not result in events of default unless and until written notice thereof is delivered to U.S. Cellular by the trustee or sufficient holders of debt and, in any event, such events of default would be cured if U.S. Cellular files its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and/or its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, as applicable, within 90 days of any such notice. U.S. Cellular believes that it will be able to make all filings in sufficient time to avoid any event of default maturing into a default under any indenture. U.S. Cellular has not failed to make and does not expect to fail to make any scheduled payment of principal or interest under such indentures.

As previously disclosed, U.S. Cellular received a notice from the staff of the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX") indicating that U.S. Cellular was not in compliance with AMEX listing standards, due to the failure to file its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 on a timely basis. The failure by U.S. Cellular to file its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 on a timely basis also resulted in non-compliance with the AMEX listing standards. However, as previously disclosed, the AMEX granted U.S. Cellular an extension until June 30, 2006 to regain compliance with AMEX listing standards. U.S. Cellular will regain compliance with the AMEX listing standards when it has filed with the SEC its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 on or prior to June 30, 2006.

2


In addition, as previously disclosed, U.S. Cellular is not in compliance with AMEX listing standards because U.S. Cellular has not distributed its annual report to shareholders by April 30, 2006. Accordingly, U.S. Cellular requested and obtained from the AMEX an extension until July 31, 2006 in order to provide additional time to complete and distribute its annual report to shareholders. U.S. Cellular will regain compliance with such AMEX listing standards when it has distributed its annual report to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2005 on or prior to July 31, 2006.

Also as previously disclosed, U.S. Cellular received a notice from the staff of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") indicating that U.S. Cellular was not in compliance with listing standards relating to its debt listed on the NYSE, due to the failure to file its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 on a timely basis. Further, the failure by U.S. Cellular to file its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 on a timely basis also resulted in non-compliance with the NYSE listing standards. U.S. Cellular will regain compliance with the NYSE listing standards when it has filed with the SEC its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)      Exhibits:

        In accordance with the provisions of Item 601 of Regulation S-K, any Exhibits filed or furnished herewith are set forth on the Exhibit Index attached hereto.

3


SIGNATURES


        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.


United States Cellular Corporation
(Registrant)

Date: June 5, 2006

By:   /s/ Kenneth R. Meyers  
   
 
    Kenneth R. Meyers  
    Executive Vice President - Finance,
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 


EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed or furnished herewith as noted below.



Exhibit Number

  Description of Exhibit

99.1 Press Release dated May 31, 2006.

99.2 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Safe Harbor
Cautionary Statement






GRAPHIC 2 ballot.jpg GRAPHIC begin 644 ballot.jpg M_]C_X``02D9)1@`!`0$!+`$L``#_VP!#``@&!@<&!0@'!P<)"0@*#!0-#`L+ M#!D2$P\4'1H?'AT:'!P@)"XG("(L(QP<*#7J#A(6&AXB)BI*3E)66EYB9FJ*CI*6FIZBIJK*SM+6VM[BYNL+#Q,7& MQ\C)RM+3U-76U]C9VN'BX^3EYN?HZ>KQ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_\0`'P$``P$!`0$! M`0$!`0````````$"`P0%!@<("0H+_\0`M1$``@$"!`0#!`<%!`0``0)W``$" M`Q$$!2$Q!A)!40=A<1,B,H$(%$*1H;'!"2,S4O`58G+1"A8D-.$E\1<8&1HF M)R@I*C4V-S@Y.D-$149'2$E*4U155E=865IC9&5F9VAI:G-T=79W>'EZ@H.$ MA8:'B(F*DI.4E9:7F)F:HJ.DI::GJ*FJLK.TM;:WN+FZPL/$Q<;'R,G*TM/4 MU=;7V-G:XN/DY>;GZ.GJ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_]H`#`,!``(1`Q$`/P#U."#5-9UW M7U'B/4K&"SO4MX8+6*V*A3;0R$DR0LQ):1N_I6KX5OKC4_!^B7]W()+FZL() MI7``W.T:EC@<#DGI3+GPKI=S>W5V6U"&:Z=9)C;:G EX-99 3 usmexh991.htm

Exhibit 99.1


Contact: Mark A. Steinkrauss, Vice President, Corporate Relations
(312) 592-5384 mark.steinkrauss@teldta.com
 
Julie D. Mathews, Manager, Investor Relations
(312) 592-5341 julie.mathews@teldta.com

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

TDS AND U.S. CELLULAR FURTHER DELAY FILING 2005 FORMS 10-K

CHICAGO - May 31, 2006 - Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [AMEX:TDS, TDS.S] and United States Cellular Corporation [AMEX:USM] will delay the filing of their SEC Forms 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005. The companies require additional time to review financial information regarding leases. The companies had expected to file their Forms 10-K on or prior to May 31, 2006.

On Nov. 10, 2005, the companies announced that they would restate financial results for several prior periods. The companies completed and filed their restatements on April 26, 2006.

Due to the restatement, TDS and U.S. Cellular have not filed their Forms 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005, or their Forms 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, on a timely basis. As a result, TDS and U.S. Cellular are not in compliance with American Stock Exchange (AMEX) listing standards. TDS and U.S. Cellular have obtained extensions until June 30, 2006 to regain compliance with AMEX listing standards.

The restatements and delays in filing quarterly and annual reports resulted in defaults under revolving credit agreements between the companies and certain lenders and under certain forward contracts between subsidiaries of the companies and a counterparty. Waivers of such defaults obtained previously were extended, on the condition that the companies file their Forms 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005 and Forms 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 by June 30, 2006.

About TDS
TDS is a diversified telecommunications corporation founded in 1969. Through its business units, U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom, TDS operates primarily by providing wireless, local telephone and broadband services. As of March 31, 2006, the company employed 11,600 people and served 6.7 million customers/units in 36 states.

About U.S. Cellular
As of March 31, 2006, U.S. Cellular, the nation's sixth-largest wireless service carrier, provided wireless service to 5.6 million customers in 26 states. The Chicago-based company operates on a customer satisfaction strategy, meeting customer needs by providing a comprehensive range of wireless products and services, superior customer support and a high-quality network.


Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements. This includes all statements about the company's plans, beliefs, estimates and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates, projections and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: The ability of U.S. Cellular to successfully manage and grow the operations of the Chicago MTA and newly launched markets; changes in the overall economy; changes in competition in the markets in which U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom operate; changes due to industry consolidation; advances in telecommunications technology, including Voice over Internet Protocol; changes to access and pricing of unbundled network elements; changes in the state and federal telecommunications regulatory environment; changes in the value of investments, including variable prepaid forward contracts; an adverse change in the ratings afforded TDS and U.S. Cellular debt securities by accredited ratings organizations; uncertainty of access to the capital markets; possible future restatements; pending and future litigation; acquisitions/ divestitures of properties and/or licenses; and changes in customer growth rates, average monthly revenue per unit, churn rates, roaming rates and the mix of products and services offered in U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom markets. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in the Form 8-K used by TDS to furnish this press release to the SEC, which are incorporated by reference herein.

For more information about TDS or its business units, visit:


TDS:  www.teldta.com   TDS Telecom:  www.tdstelecom.com  
USM:  www.uscellular.com  TDS Metrocom:  www.tdsmetro.com 
EX-99 4 usmexh992.htm

Exhibit 99.2

PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
SAFE HARBOR CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

The earnings release attached to this Form 8-K contain statements that are not based on historical fact, including the words "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects," and similar words. These statements constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be significantly different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following risks:

  • Intense competition in the markets in which U.S. Cellular operates could adversely affect U.S. Cellular's revenues or increase its costs to compete.

  • Consolidation in the telecommunications industry could adversely affect U.S. Cellular's revenues and increase its costs of doing business.

  • Advances or changes in telecommunications technology, such as Voice over Internet Protocol or WiMAX, could render certain technologies used by U.S. Cellular obsolete, could reduce U.S. Cellular's revenues or could increase its costs of doing business.

  • Changes in the regulatory environment or a failure by U.S. Cellular to timely or fully comply with any regulatory requirements could adversely affect U.S. Cellular's financial condition, results of operations or ability to do business.

  • Changes in U.S. Cellular's enterprise value, changes in the supply or demand of the market for wireless licenses, adverse developments in the business or the industry in which U.S. Cellular is involved and/or other factors could require U.S. Cellular to recognize impairments in the carrying value of U.S. Cellular's license costs, goodwill and/or physical assets.

  • Early redemptions of debt or repurchases of debt, issuances of debt, changes in prepaid forward contracts, changes in operating leases, changes in purchase obligations or other factors or developments could cause the amounts reported under Contractual Obligations in U.S. Cellular's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, to be different from the amounts actually incurred.

  • Changes in accounting standards or U.S. Cellular's accounting policies, estimates and/or in the assumptions underlying the accounting estimates could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's financial condition or results of operations.

  • Settlements, judgments, restraints on its current or future manner of doing business and/or legal costs resulting from pending and future litigation could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's financial condition, results of operations or ability to do business.

  • Costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions/divestitures of properties and/or licenses and/or expansion of U.S. Cellular's business could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

  • Changes in various business factors could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

  • A significant portion of U.S. Cellular's revenues is derived from customers who buy services through independent agents and dealers who market U.S. Cellular's services on a commission basis. If U.S. Cellular's relationships with these agents and dealers are seriously harmed, its wireless revenues could be adversely affected.

  • U.S. Cellular's investments in technologies which are unproven or for which success has not yet been demonstrated may not produce the benefits that U.S. Cellular expects.

  • An inability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on terms that are acceptable to U.S. Cellular, and/or changes in roaming rates and the lack of standards and roaming agreements for wireless data products, could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

  • Changes in access to content for data or video services and access to new handsets being developed by vendors, or an inability to manage its supply chain or inventory successfully, could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

  • A failure by U.S. Cellular's service offerings to meet customer expectations could limit U.S. Cellular's ability to attract and retain customers and have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's operations.

  • A failure by U.S. Cellular to complete significant network build-out and system implementation as part of its plans to build out new markets and improve the quality and capacity of its network could have an adverse effect on its operations.

  • A failure by U.S. Cellular's business to acquire adequate radio spectrum could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business and operations.

  • Financial difficulties of U.S. Cellular's key suppliers or vendors, or termination or impairment of U.S. Cellular's relationship with such suppliers or vendors, could result in a delay or termination of U.S. Cellular's receipt of equipment or services, which could adversely affect U.S. Cellular's business and results of operations.


  • An increase of U.S. Cellular's debt in the future could subject U.S. Cellular to various restrictions and higher interest costs and decrease its cash flows and earnings.

  • An inability to attract and/or retain management, technical, sales and other personnel could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

  • U.S. Cellular has significant investments in entities that it does not control. Losses in the value of such investments could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's results of operations or financial condition.

  • Changes in guidance or interpretations of accounting requirements, changes in industry practice, identification of errors or changes in management assumptions could require amendments to or restatements of financial information or disclosures included in this or prior filings with the SEC.

  • Uncertainty of access to capital for telecommunications companies, deterioration in the capital markets, other changes in market conditions, changes in U.S. Cellular's credit ratings or other factors could limit or restrict the availability of financing on terms and prices acceptable to U.S. Cellular, which could require U.S. Cellular to reduce its construction, development and acquisition programs.

  • Changes in income tax rates, laws, regulations or rulings, or federal or state tax assessments could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's financial condition or results of operations.

  • War, conflicts, hostilities and/or terrorist attacks or equipment failure, power outages, natural disasters or breaches of network or information technology security could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

  • Changes in general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the markets in which U.S. Cellular operates, could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

  • Changes in facts or circumstances, including new or additional information that affects the calculation of potential liabilities for contingent obligations under guarantees, indemnities or otherwise, could require U.S. Cellular to record charges in excess of amounts accrued in the financial statements, if any, which could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's financial condition or results of operations.

  • Material weaknesses in the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting could result in inaccurate financial statements or other disclosures or fail to prevent fraud, which could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

  • The pending SEC investigation regarding the restatement of U.S. Cellular's financial statements could result in substantial expenses, and could result in monetary or other penalties.

  • The possible development of adverse precedent in litigation or conclusions in professional studies to the effect that radio frequency emissions from handsets, wireless data devices and/or cell sites cause harmful health consequences, including cancer or tumors, or may interfere with various electronic medical devices such as pacemakers, could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

  • U.S. Cellular's assets are concentrated in the U.S. telecommunications industry. As a result, its results of operations may fluctuate based on factors related entirely to conditions in this industry.

  • As U.S. Cellular continues to implement its strategies, there are internal and external factors that could impact its ability to successfully meet its objectives.

  • Any of the foregoing events or other events could cause revenues, customer additions, operating income, capital expenditures and or any other financial or statistical information to vary from U.S. Cellular's forward estimates by a material amount.

  • The market price of U.S. Cellular's Common Shares is subject to fluctuations due to a variety of factors.

  • Certain matters, such as control by TDS and provisions in the U.S. Cellular restated certificate of incorporation, may serve to discourage or make more difficult a change in control of U.S. Cellular.

  • There are potential conflicts of interests between TDS and U.S. Cellular.

U.S. Cellular undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers should evaluate any statements in light of these important factors.

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