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      U.S. Cellular Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

      U.S. Cellular to offer Apple products later this year; updates 2013 guidance


      News provided by

      United States Cellular Corporation

      May 03, 2013, 07:58 ET

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      CHICAGO, May 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As previously announced, U.S. Cellular will hold a teleconference May 3, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. CDT. Listen to the live call via the Conference Calls page of teldta.com or uscellular.com.

      United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE:USM) reported service revenues of $996.3 million for the first quarter of 2013, versus $1,023.8 million for the comparable period one year ago. Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $4.9 million and $0.06 respectively, for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $62.5 million and $0.73, respectively, in the comparable period one year ago.

      As previously announced on Nov. 7, 2012, U.S. Cellular reached a definitive agreement to sell its Chicago, St. Louis, central Illinois and three other markets (the "Divestiture Markets") to subsidiaries of Sprint Nextel Corporation [NYSE:S] for $480 million (the "Divestiture Transaction").  The transaction has been approved by the FCC and the closing is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2013. 

      "We continued to expand our 4G LTE network and encourage customers to migrate, which has helped us further increase smartphone penetration and shift more customers to 4G LTE," said Mary N. Dillon, U.S. Cellular president and CEO. "We added new prepaid customers through our Walmart distribution.  In our core markets, postpaid gross additions were relatively flat and elevated churn resulted in a net customer loss.

      "We have a number of strategies in progress to increase loyalty and attract more customers, including our announcement today that we will begin offering Apple products later this year. By further strengthening our device portfolio, we'll give consumers another great reason to switch to U.S. Cellular, and enable our existing customers to choose from an even wider variety of iconic smartphones, and enjoy the outstanding U.S. Cellular customer experiences they deserve. Our smartphone penetration is currently 43 percent of core market customers and growing quickly. We believe there will be strong, ongoing demand for smartphones and data products and services from our customers, and we have significant room for growth in this area.

      "We're supporting this growth by bringing 4G LTE to 87 percent of our customers in 2013, and increasing our network capacity. In our core markets, 4G LTE smartphones were 76 percent of smartphones sold in the quarter, while smartphones overall were 62 percent of devices sold. We recently launched the 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy S® 4, and we have more devices to come throughout the year. While profitability continues to be impacted by the higher subsidies for 4G LTE smartphones, our long-term strategy is to balance those costs with growth in ARPU and reduced capital expenditures for our legacy networks.

      "We're continuing to enhance and differentiate the U.S. Cellular customer experience and expand our distribution. We began offering U.S. Cellular service through select Sam's Club locations in 14 states in April, to increase availability in new channels. To attract more small and medium business customers, we're launching a marketing campaign this month that addresses their unique needs. We're also focused across U.S. Cellular on simplifying our operations and processes to increase efficiency and reduce complexity and cost."

      2013 ESTIMATES

      U.S. Cellular's estimates of full-year 2013 results are shown below.  Such estimates represent U.S. Cellular's views as of the date of filing of U.S. Cellular's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013.  Such forward‑looking statements 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.




      2013 Estimated Results (1)




      Core Markets (2)


      Divestiture Markets
      (2)(3)


      U.S. Cellular Consolidated
      (2)(3)




      Previous

      Current


      Previous

      Current


      Previous

      Current

      (Dollars in millions)










      Service revenues


      $3,600 - $3,700

      $3,475 - $3,575


      $165 - $185

      $145 - $165


      $3,765 - $3,885

      $3,620 - $3,740

      Adjusted income before income taxes (4) (5)


      $765 - $865

      $560 - $660


      $15 - $35

      $35 - $55


      $780 - $900

      $595 - $715

      Capital expenditures


      Approx. $600

      Approx. $730


      —

      $5


      Approx. $600

      Approx. $735



      (1)

      These estimates are based on U.S. Cellular's current plans, which include an expansion of the multi-year deployment of 4G LTE technology which commenced in 2011; such expansion includes deployment in additional markets as well as deployment on the 850 MHz band to provide additional capacity for future growth in data usage, enable potential future 4G LTE roaming, and support the sale of Apple products.  These estimates also reflect the estimated impacts of selling Apple products and the deconsolidation of certain partnerships that will be accounted for as equity method investments effective April 3, 2013.  New developments or changing conditions (such as, but not limited to, regulatory developments, customer net growth, customer demand for data services or possible acquisitions, dispositions or exchanges) could affect U.S. Cellular's plans and, therefore, its 2013 estimated results.



      (2)

      The U.S. Cellular Consolidated amounts represent GAAP financial measures and include the results of both the Core Markets and the Divestiture Markets.  The amounts for the Core Markets and Divestiture Markets represent non-GAAP financial measures.  U.S. Cellular believes that the amounts for the Core Markets and Divestiture Markets may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating the separate results for the Core Markets.  Divestiture Markets are comprised of U.S. Cellular's Chicago, central Illinois, St. Louis and certain Indiana/Michigan/Ohio markets.  Core Markets are comprised of all other markets in which U.S. Cellular conducts business including Peoria, Rockford and certain other areas in Illinois, and in Columbia, Joplin, Jefferson City and certain other areas in Missouri.  Core Markets as defined also includes any other income or expenses due to U.S. Cellular's direct or indirect ownership interests in other spectrum in the Divestiture Markets which was not included in the sale and other retained assets from the Divestiture Markets.



      (3)

      These estimates assume the Divestiture Transaction closes in the second quarter of 2013.  Actual effects could vary significantly from these estimates as a result of a change in the expected timing of the Divestiture Transaction or changes in other terms and conditions of the sale.



      (4)

      Adjusted income before income taxes is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as Income before income taxes, adjusted for:  Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net Gain or loss on sale of business and other exit costs (if any), and Interest expense. Adjusted income before income taxes is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to Income before income taxes as an indicator of the Company's operating performance or as an alternative to Cash flows from operating activities, determined in accordance with GAAP, as an indicator of cash flows or as a measure of liquidity.  U.S. Cellular believes Adjusted income before income taxes is a meaningful measure of U.S. Cellular's operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, gains and losses and financing charges (Interest expense) in order to show operating results on a more comparable basis from period to period. U.S. Cellular does not intend to imply that any of such amounts that are excluded are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual; such amounts may occur in the future. The following tables provide a reconciliation of Income before income taxes to Adjusted income before income taxes for 2013 Estimated Results and 2012 actual results:




      2013 Estimated Results




      Core Markets (2)

      Divestiture Markets (2)(3)

      U.S. Cellular Consolidated (2)(3)


      (Dollars in millions)





      Income (loss) before income taxes (5)

      ($30)-$70

      ($215)-($195)

      ($245)-($125)


      Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense (6)

      Approx. $540

      Approx. $250

      Approx. $790


      Interest expense

      Approx. $50

      —

      Approx. $50


      Adjusted income before income taxes

      $560-$660

      $35-$55

      $595-$715






















      U.S. Cellular Consolidated Actual Results






      Three Months Ended

      March 31, 2013

      Year Ended

      December 31, 2012
















      Income before income taxes

      $

      18

      $

      205


      Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense (6)


      190


      609


      (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net


      7


      21


      Interest expense


      11


      42


      Adjusted income before income taxes

      $

      226

      $

      877




      (5)

      This amount does not include any estimate for (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net, as the timing of such amount is not readily estimable.



      (6)

      The 2013 estimated amounts for depreciation, amortization and accretion expense in the Divestiture Markets include approximately $185 million of incremental accelerated depreciation, amortization and accretion resulting from the Divestiture Transaction.  Actual results for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012 include $38 million and $20 million, respectively, of incremental accelerated depreciation, amortization and accretion resulting from the Divestiture Transaction.

      Conference Call Information

      U.S. Cellular will hold a conference call on May 3, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. CDT.

      • Access the live call on the Conference Calls page of uscellular.com or at
        http://www.media-server.com/m/acs/1b33881ae5323e924285a4a1458e63c1.
      • Access the call by phone at 877-407-8029 (US/Canada), no pass code required.

      Before the call, certain financial and statistical information to be discussed during the call will be posted to the Conference Calls page of uscellular.com. The call will be archived on the Conference Calls page of uscellular.com.

      About U.S. Cellular®

      United States Cellular Corporation provides a comprehensive range of wireless products and services, excellent customer support, and a high-quality network to 5.7 million customers in 26 states. The Chicago-based company had 8,000 full- and part-time associates as of March 31, 2013. At the end of the year, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. owned 85 percent of U.S. Cellular. For more information about U.S. Cellular, visit uscellular.com.       

      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: impacts of the Divestiture Transaction including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, successfully complete the transaction and the financial impacts of such transaction; the ability of the company to successfully manage and grow its markets; the overall economy; competition; the ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on acceptable terms; the state and federal telecommunications regulatory environment; the value of assets and investments; adverse changes in the ratings afforded our debt securities by accredited ratings organizations; industry consolidation; advances in telecommunications technology; uncertainty of access to the capital markets;  pending and future litigation; changes in income tax rates, laws, regulations or rulings; acquisitions/divestitures of properties and/or licenses; and changes in customer growth rates, average monthly revenue per user, churn rates, roaming revenue and terms, the availability of handset devices, or the mix of products and services offered by the company. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in the Form 8-K Current Report used by U.S. Cellular to furnish this press release to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are incorporated by reference herein.   

      For more information about U.S. Cellular, visit uscellular.com.

      United States Cellular Corporation

      Total Markets Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)


















      Quarter Ended

      3/31/2013


      12/31/2012


      9/30/2012


      6/30/2012


      3/31/2012

      Retail Customers
















      Postpaid
















       Total at end of period (1)


      5,060,000



      5,134,000



      5,175,000



      5,213,000



      5,261,000


       Gross additions


      191,000



      241,000



      230,000



      199,000



      210,000


       Net additions (losses)


      (74,000)



      (41,000)



      (38,000)



      (48,000)



      (38,000)


       ARPU (2)

      $

      54.85


      $

      54.56


      $

      54.34


      $

      54.42


      $

      54.00


       Churn rate (3)


      1.7%



      1.8%



      1.7%



      1.6%



      1.6%


       Smartphone penetration 
      (4) (5)


      43.5%



      41.8%



      38.6%



      36.8%



      34.4%


      Prepaid
















       Total at end of period


      446,000



      423,000



      386,000



      329,000



      309,000


       Gross additions


      104,000



      107,000



      120,000



      78,000



      63,000


       Net additions (losses)


      23,000



      37,000



      57,000



      20,000



      4,000


       ARPU (2)

      $

      33.31


      $

      33.56


      $

      32.97


      $

      33.59


      $

      33.17


       Churn rate (3)


      6.2%



      5.8%



      5.9%



      6.2%



      6.4%

      Total customers at end of period (1)


      5,736,000



      5,798,000



      5,808,000



      5,799,000



      5,837,000

      Billed ARPU (2)

      $

      51.13


      $

      50.94


      $

      50.83


      $

      50.99


      $

      50.52

      Service revenue ARPU (2)

      $

      57.63


      $

      58.00


      $

      59.57


      $

      59.05


      $

      58.21

      Smartphones sold as a percent of total

        devices sold


      61.7%



      62.9%



      53.0%



      51.9%



      54.1%

      Total population
















       Consolidated markets (6)


      93,943,000



      93,244,000



      92,996,000



      92,684,000



      92,684,000


       Consolidated operating markets (6)


      47,440,000



      46,966,000



      46,966,000



      46,966,000



      46,966,000

      Market penetration at end of period
















       Consolidated markets (7)


      6.1%



      6.2%



      6.2%



      6.3%



      6.3%


       Consolidated operating markets (7)


      12.1%



      12.3%



      12.4%



      12.3%



      12.4%

      Capital expenditures (000s)

      $

      118,400


      $

      253,100


      $

      199,100


      $

      183,200


      $

      201,300

      Total cell sites in service


      8,027



      8,028



      7,984



      7,932



      7,875

      Owned towers in service


      4,411



      4,408



      4,377



      4,346



      4,318

















      United States Cellular Corporation

      Core Markets Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)


















      Quarter Ended

      3/31/2013


      12/31/2012


      9/30/2012


      6/30/2012


      3/31/2012

      Retail Customers
















      Postpaid
















       Total at end of period (1)


      4,639,000



      4,672,000



      4,688,000



      4,708,000



      4,736,000


       Gross additions


      184,000



      218,000



      204,000



      176,000



      182,000


       Net additions (losses)


      (32,000)



      (16,000)



      (20,000)



      (28,000)



      (21,000)


       ARPU (2)

      $

      54.23


      $

      53.92


      $

      53.68


      $

      53.70


      $

      53.25


       Churn rate (3)


      1.5%



      1.7%



      1.6%



      1.4%



      1.4%


       Smartphone penetration
      (4) (5)


      43.0%



      41.1%



      37.8%



      36.0%



      34.3%


      Prepaid
















       Total at end of period


      373,000



      342,000



      305,000



      246,000



      223,000


       Gross additions


      92,000



      86,000



      100,000



      59,000



      42,000


       Net additions (losses)


      31,000



      38,000



      59,000



      23,000



      5,000


       ARPU (2)

      $

      32.92


      $

      33.21


      $

      33.09


      $

      33.37


      $

      32.69


       Churn rate (3)


      5.7%



      5.0%



      5.0%



      5.2%



      5.6%

      Total customers at end of period (1)


      5,225,000



      5,238,000



      5,223,000



      5,196,000



      5,210,000

      Billed ARPU (2)

      $

      50.65


      $

      50.43


      $

      50.34


      $

      50.43


      $

      49.91

      Service revenue ARPU (2)

      $

      57.37


      $

      57.90


      $

      59.66


      $

      59.03


      $

      58.20

      Smartphones sold as a percent of total

        devices sold


      62.1%



      62.9%



      53.0%



      52.0%



      54.1%

      Total population
















       Consolidated markets (6)


      84,625,000



      83,864,000



      83,075,000



      82,763,000



      82,763,000


       Consolidated operating markets (6)


      32,422,000



      31,925,000



      31,590,000



      31,590,000



      31,590,000

      Market penetration at end of period
















       Consolidated markets (7)


      6.2%



      6.2%



      6.3%



      6.3%



      6.3%


       Consolidated operating markets (7)


      16.1%



      16.4%



      16.5%



      16.4%



      16.5%

      Capital expenditures (000s)

      $

      113,300


      $

      241,400


      $

      184,100


      $

      163,600


      $

      179,700

      Total cell sites in service


      6,277



      6,292



      6,251



      6,199



      6,146

      Owned towers in service


      3,846



      3,847



      3,818



      3,787



      3,761



      (1)

      Includes 176,000 and 168,000 postpaid customers at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, related to the St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership ("NY1") and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership ("NY2" and, together with NY1, the "Partnerships").

      (2)

      ARPU metrics are calculated by dividing a revenue base by an average number of customers by the number of months in the period.  These revenue bases and customer populations are shown below:


      a.     

      Postpaid ARPU consists of total postpaid service revenues and postpaid customers.


      b.     

      Prepaid ARPU consists of total prepaid service revenues and prepaid customers.


      c.   

      Billed ARPU consists of total retail service revenues and postpaid, prepaid and reseller customers.


      d.     

      Service revenue ARPU consists of total retail service revenues, inbound roaming and other service revenues and postpaid, prepaid and reseller customers.


      (3)

      Churn metrics represent the percentage of the postpaid or prepaid customers that disconnect service each month. These metrics represent the average monthly postpaid or prepaid churn rate for each respective period.

      (4)

      Smartphones represent wireless devices which run on an AndroidTM, BlackBerry® or Windows Mobile® operating system, excluding tablets.

      (5)

      Smartphone penetration is calculated by dividing postpaid smartphone customers by total postpaid customers.

      (6)

      Used only to calculate market penetration of consolidated markets and consolidated operating markets, respectively. See footnote (7) below.

      (7)

      Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of wireless customers at the end of the period by the total population of consolidated markets and consolidated operating markets, respectively, as estimated by Claritas®.



      United States Cellular Corporation


      Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights


      Three Months Ended March 31,


      (Unaudited, dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)











            Increase (Decrease)





      2013


      2012


      Amount


      Percent


      Operating revenues













      Service

      $

      996,349


      $

      1,023,820


      $

      (27,471)


      (3%)



      Equipment sales


      85,397



      68,301



      17,096


      25%



       Total operating revenues


      1,081,746



      1,092,121



      (10,375)


      (1%)
















      Operating expenses













      System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion

        reported below)


      216,299



      233,164



      (16,865)


      (7%)



      Cost of equipment sold


      241,691



      187,036



      54,655


      29%



      Selling, general and administrative


      420,080



      442,244



      (22,164)


      (5%)



      Depreciation, amortization and accretion


      189,845



      146,685



      43,160


      29%



      Loss on asset disposals, net


      5,434



      2,003



      3,431


      >100%



      (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net


      6,931



      (4,213)



      11,144


      >(100%)



       Total operating expenses


      1,080,280



      1,006,919



      73,361


      7%
















      Operating income


      1,466



      85,202



      (83,736)


      (98%)
















      Investment and other income (expense)













      Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities


      26,835



      21,614



      5,221


      24%



      Interest and dividend income


      903



      1,043



      (140)


      (13%)



      Interest expense


      (10,910)



      (13,411)



      2,501


      19%



      Other, net


      (215)



      202



      (417)


      >(100%)



       Total investment and other income


      16,613



      9,448



      7,165


      76%
















      Income before income taxes


      18,079



      94,650



      (76,571)


      (81%)



      Income tax expense


      7,369



      25,638



      (18,269)


      (71%)
















      Net income


      10,710



      69,012



      (58,302)


      (84%)



      Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax


      (5,796)



      (6,520)



      724


      11%


      Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders

      $

      4,914


      $

      62,492


      $

      (57,578)


      (92%)















      Basic weighted average shares outstanding


      83,838



      84,570



      (732)


      (1%)


      Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders

      $

      0.06


      $

      0.74


      $

      (0.68)


      (92%)
















      Diluted weighted average shares outstanding


      84,403



      85,133



      (730)


      (1%)


      Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders

      $

      0.06


      $

      0.73


      $

      (0.67)


      (92%)






      United States Cellular Corporation


      Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights


      (Unaudited, dollars in thousands)










      ASSETS




















       March 31,


       December 31,




      2013


      2012


      Current assets








      Cash and cash equivalents

      $

      419,696


      $

      378,358



      Short-term investments


      110,585



      100,676



      Accounts receivable from customers and others


      394,701



      445,220



      Inventory


      139,136



      155,886



      Income taxes receivable


      2,776



      1,612



      Prepaid expenses


      64,365



      62,560



      Net deferred income tax asset


      36,302



      35,419



      Other current assets


      17,111



      16,745





      1,184,672



      1,196,476










      Assets held for sale


      213,593



      216,763










      Investments








      Licenses


      1,470,944



      1,456,794



      Goodwill


      421,743



      421,743



      Customer lists, net


      68



      102



      Investments in unconsolidated entities


      165,529



      144,531



      Long-term investments


      40,142



      50,305





      2,098,426



      2,073,475










      Property, plant and equipment








      In service and under construction


      7,562,931



      7,478,428



      Less: Accumulated depreciation


      4,614,423



      4,455,840





      2,948,508



      3,022,588










      Other assets and deferred charges


      78,436



      78,148










      Total assets

      $

      6,523,635


      $

      6,587,450






      United States Cellular Corporation


      Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights


      (Unaudited, dollars in thousands)











      LIABILITIES AND EQUITY























       March 31,


       December 31,





      2013


      2012


      Current liabilities








      Current portion of long-term debt

      $

      93


      $

      92



      Accounts payable









      Affiliated


      8,792



      10,725




      Trade


      281,762



      310,936



      Customer deposits and deferred revenues


      202,209



      192,113



      Accrued taxes


      43,357



      35,834



      Accrued compensation


      50,698



      90,418



      Other current liabilities


      98,657



      114,881






      685,568



      754,999











      Liabilities held for sale


      18,360



      19,594











      Deferred liabilities and credits








      Net deferred income tax liability


      857,439



      849,818



      Other deferred liabilities and credits


      292,687



      288,441











      Long-term debt


      878,975



      878,858











      Noncontrolling interests with redemption features


      466



      493











      Equity







      U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity








      Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $1 per share


      88,074



      88,074



      Additional paid-in capital


      1,417,308



      1,412,453



      Treasury shares


      (183,385)



      (165,724)



      Retained earnings


      2,403,325



      2,399,052




      Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity


      3,725,322



      3,733,855











      Noncontrolling interests


      64,818



      61,392












      Total equity


      3,790,140



      3,795,247











      Total liabilities and equity

      $

      6,523,635


      $

      6,587,450


      United States Cellular Corporation
      Schedule of Cash and Cash Equivalents and Investments
      (Unaudited, dollars in thousands)


      The following table presents U.S. Cellular's cash and cash equivalents and investments at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.








      March 31,


      December 31,


      2013


      2012








      Cash and cash equivalents

      $

      419,696


      $

      378,358








      Amounts included in short-term investments (1)(2)







      Government-backed securities (3)


      110,585



      100,676








      Amounts included in long-term investments (1)(4)







      Government-backed securities (3)


      40,142



      50,305








      Total cash and cash equivalents and investments

      $

      570,423


      $

      529,339



      (1)

      Designated as held-to-maturity investments and are recorded at amortized cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

      (2)

      Maturities are less than twelve months from the respective balance sheet dates.

      (3)

      Includes U.S. treasury securities and corporate notes guaranteed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program.

      (4)

      Maturities are 20 months from the balance sheet date.



      United States Cellular Corporation


      Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows


      Three Months Ended March 31,


      (Unaudited, dollars in thousands)









      2013


      2012


      Cash flows from operating activities








      Net income

      $

      10,710


      $

      69,012



      Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from

        operating activities










      Depreciation, amortization and accretion


      189,845



      146,685





      Bad debts expense


      16,910



      13,850





      Stock-based compensation expense


      5,036



      5,391





      Deferred income taxes, net


      7,048



      6,283





      Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities


      (26,835)



      (21,614)





      Distributions from unconsolidated entities


      5,836



      2,822





      Loss on asset disposals, net


      5,434



      2,003





      (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net


      6,931



      (4,213)





      Noncash interest expense


      262



      451





      Other operating activities


      250



      449



      Changes in assets and liabilities from operations










      Accounts receivable


      33,611



      36,621





      Inventory


      16,750



      (4,410)





      Accounts payable - trade


      4,644



      (17,689)





      Accounts payable - affiliate


      (1,933)



      2,989





      Customer deposits and deferred revenues


      8,862



      9,512





      Accrued taxes


      6,175



      79,765





      Accrued interest


      9,201



      9,167





      Other assets and liabilities


      (75,122)



      (80,107)







      223,615



      256,967












      Cash flows from investing activities








      Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment


      (151,024)



      (209,160)



      Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses


      (14,150)



      (11,096)



      Cash received from divestitures


      —



      49,786



      Cash paid for investments


      —



      (10,000)



      Cash received for investments


      —



      10,000



      Other investing activities


      3,654



      296







      (161,520)



      (170,174)












      Cash flows from financing activities








      Repayment of long-term debt


      (61)



      (12)



      Common shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments


      123



      357



      Common shares repurchased


      (18,425)



      —



      Distributions to noncontrolling interests


      (2,396)



      (218)



      Other financing activities


      2



      3







      (20,757)



      130












      Net increase in cash and cash equivalents


      41,338



      86,923












      Cash and cash equivalents








      Beginning of period


      378,358



      424,155



      End of period

      $

      419,696


      $

      511,078




      United States Cellular Corporation


      Financial Measures and Reconciliations


      (Unaudited, dollars in thousands)












      Three months ended March 31,



      2013



      2012













      Cash flows from operating activities


      $

      223,615


      $

      256,967



      Deduct:









      Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment



      151,024



      209,160




      Free cash flow (1)


      $

      72,591


      $

      47,807




      (1)

      Free cash flow is defined as Cash flows from operating activities less Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. U.S. Cellular believes that free cash flow as reported by U.S. Cellular may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating the amount of cash generated by business operations, after consideration of capital expenditures.



      SOURCE United States Cellular Corporation

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