UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 8, 2018

 

 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-14157

36-2669023

(State or other jurisdiction of

(Commission

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

File Number)

30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois 60602

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (312) 630-1900

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):

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

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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Emerging growth company

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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements for Certain Officers

Pursuant to Item 5.02(e) of Form 8-K, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) is filing this Form 8-K to report the amount of bonuses paid to its named executive officers in 2018 with respect to 2017 performance.

Officers are not entitled to any bonus unless and until paid. 

In accordance with Instruction 4 of Item 5.02, the below named executive officers include the persons who were identified as named executive officers in TDS’ most recent proxy statement filing with the SEC on April 12, 2017, and who will continue to be identified as named executive officers or reported in the 2018 proxy statement. 

The following amounts of bonuses were paid to the below named executive officers in 2018 relating to 2017 performance:

			LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr.			Kenneth R. Meyers			Douglas D. Shuma			Scott H. Williamson			David A. Wittwer
	Bonus Paid in 2018 for 2017 Performance		$	1,030,000		$	1,066,100		$	274,800		$	381,000		$	490,500

 

The above shows the entire amount of the bonus paid, whether or not some or all of such bonus has been deferred and whether or not some portion of such amount will be reported as non-equity incentive plan compensation in the 2018 proxy statement.  

TDS established guidelines and procedures for awarding bonuses to the President and CEO, LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr.  These guidelines and procedures were filed by TDS as Exhibit 10.1 to TDS' Form 8-K dated November 18, 2009.  United States Cellular Corporation (U.S. Cellular) established guidelines and procedures for awarding bonuses to the President and CEO, Kenneth R. Meyers.  These guidelines and procedures were filed by U.S. Cellular as Exhibit 10.2 to U.S. Cellular's Form 8-K dated August 19, 2014.

TDS established the 2017 Officer Bonus Program for awarding bonuses to certain officers, which includes Douglas D. Shuma, Scott H. Williamson and David A. Wittwer.  This bonus program does not cover LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr. or Kenneth R. Meyers.  This program was filed with the SEC as Exhibit 10.1 to TDS’ Form 8-K dated May 24, 2017.  With respect to Mr. Shuma and Mr. Williamson, the bonus payments reflect TDS’ company performance in 2017 of 103.6%, and individual performance and other factors, as set forth in this program.

As to Mr. Wittwer, the program provided that the TDS Telecom President and CEO would have the same company and individual performance weightings as the other TDS executive officers, provided that in such case the company performance was to be based on TDS Telecom’s performance rather than TDS’ consolidated performance.  Mr. Wittwer’s informal target bonus with respect to the 2017 bonus paid in 2018 was 75% of his 2017 base salary.  TDS Telecom’s overall company performance for 2017 was 99.9%.  Mr. Wittwer retired on December 29, 2017, and was paid a bonus at target.

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 hereunto duly authorized.
		TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
		(Registrant)
Date:	March 14, 2018	By:	/s/ Douglas D. Shuma
			Douglas D. Shuma
			Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Accounting Officer
			(principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)