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): June 15, 2015

 

 

UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

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):

 

 

 

Item 8.01.  Other Events.  

 

The following information is being provided by United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”) relating to its 5.5% ownership interest in the Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership (“LA Partnership”).

 

U.S. Cellular has been notified by the general partner of the LA Partnership that the LA Partnership entered into a capital lease with the general partner related to an Advanced Wireless Services spectrum license covering the LA Partnership’s market; such license was acquired by the general partner’s parent in the most recent Federal Communications Commission auction.  The lease resulted in a one-time charge to the LA Partnership and a corresponding amount payable to the general partner.  The general partner advised U.S. Cellular that cash distributions to the partners will be suspended until the amount payable to the general partner has been paid.   

 

Based on the notice received from the general partner, U.S. Cellular expects that it will not receive a cash distribution from the LA Partnership in 2015.  U.S. Cellular currently expects that it might receive a cash distribution in the latter half of 2016, although the amount of any such distribution is uncertain.  As disclosed in U.S. Cellular’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, U.S. Cellular received cash distributions of $60.5 million, $71.5 million and $66.0 million from the LA Partnership in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. 

 

A decrease in distributions from the LA Partnership does not affect the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA or Operating Cash Flow.  Although U.S. Cellular’s Cash flows from operating activities and Free Cash Flow in 2015 and 2016 will include lower cash flows from the LA Partnership compared to prior years, U.S. Cellular has cash on hand and sources of financing, as disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and its Current Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2015, that U.S. Cellular believes are adequate to meet its day-to-day operating needs. Also, the lower cash flows from the LA Partnership are not expected to result in non-compliance under its revolving credit agreement or term loan.

 

U.S. Cellular last provided estimated guidance based on management’s views as of May 1, 2015.  Such guidance should not be assumed to be current as of any future date.  U.S. Cellular undertakes no duty to update such information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  There can be no assurance that final results will not differ materially from such estimated results.

 

 

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.