SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWashington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
For the quarterly period ended
OR
For the transition period from
Commission File Number 1-9712
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
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UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
2ND QUARTER REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
INDEX
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATIONITEM I. FINANCIAL STATEMENTSUNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Unaudited
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
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UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Unaudited
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UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ASSETSUnaudited
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UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Unaudited
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UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIESNOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular” — AMEX symbol: USM) owns, operates and invests in wireless markets throughout the United States. U.S. Cellular is an 82.1%-owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”).
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with U.S. Cellular’s interim consolidated financial statements and footnotes included herein, and with its audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended.
RESTATEMENTS AND RECLASSIFICATIONS
Investment in Licenses and Goodwill Restatements
On May 14, 2004, U.S. Cellular restated its 2003 and 2002 financial statements relating to the implementation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” which was adopted on January 1, 2002. Prior to January 1, 2002, U.S. Cellular allocated the excess of purchase price of wireless properties over tangible assets and liabilities acquired to investment in licenses and goodwill. At this time, the accounting treatment for U.S. Cellular’s wireless licenses and goodwill was the same for book purposes, with both asset classes amortized over an expected life of 40 years. However, no deferred taxes were provided on the amounts allocated to goodwill.
Based on a subsequent review of goodwill, U.S. Cellular restated the allocation of $138.9 million of purchase price recorded as goodwill to investment in licenses as of January 1, 2002, the date of the adoption of SFAS No. 142. In connection with this restatement, an additional deferred tax liability of $90.7 million was recorded as of January 1, 2002. The additional deferred tax liability recorded in conjunction with this restatement increased the carrying value of the investment in licenses by a corresponding $90.7 million. Following these adjustments, U.S. Cellular reperformed the impairment tests for its investment in licenses as of January 1, 2002, and recorded an impairment loss of $20.9 million before an income tax benefit of $8.2 million. This impairment has been recorded as a cumulative effect of an accounting change at January 1, 2002, the date of the adoption of SFAS 142.
In the first quarter of 2003, U.S. Cellular had recorded a Loss on assets held for sale related to the pending disposition of certain wireless properties. The investment in licenses upon which the impairment was recorded in the first quarter of 2002 included the investment in licenses of these properties. As a result, a portion of the originally recognized Loss on assets held for sale in the first quarter of 2003 was recognized in the first quarter of 2002. Consequently, Loss on assets held for sale in 2003 was reduced by $1.9 million, before an income tax benefit of $0.8 million.
In addition, as a result of the restatement discussed above, U.S. Cellular also reperformed the annual impairment test for its investment in licenses for 2003, which was originally performed during the second quarter of 2003. This resulted in the recognition of an additional impairment loss of $49.6 million, before an income tax benefit of $19.6 million in the second quarter of 2003.
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Retention Reclassifications
Certain amounts reported in prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2003, U.S. Cellular separately disclosed marketing and selling expenses and general and administrative expenses in its statements of operations. In the fourth quarter of 2003, U.S. Cellular combined the marketing and selling expense and general and administrative expense captions into one caption designated as selling, general and administrative expense. Previously, costs for equipment sold to retain current customers were included in selling, general and administrative expense. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2003, these costs were partially offset by equipment sales revenues received from these customers. In the fourth quarter of 2003, U.S. Cellular changed its policy for classifying retention costs and reclassified the equipment sales revenue and cost of equipment sold related to the retention of current customers out of selling, general and administrative expenses and into equipment sales revenues and cost of equipment sold, respectively, for each period presented. These reclassifications have been reflected in the three and six months ended June 30, 2003. These reclassifications increased equipment sales revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 by $6.1 million and $14.0 million, respectively, and increased cost of equipment sold by $22.2 million and $46.1 million, respectively, from the amounts originally reported. Selling, general and administrative expenses were reduced by $16.1 million and $32.1 million from the amounts originally reported in the results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 to reflect the amounts reclassified to equipment sales revenues and cost of equipment sold. These reclassifications did not have any impact on income from operations, net income, earnings per share, financial position or cash flows of U.S. Cellular for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003.
U.S. Cellular owned, or had the right to acquire pursuant to certain agreements, either majority or minority interests in 159 cellular markets and 70 personal communications service basic trading area markets at June 30, 2004.
A summary of the number of markets U.S. Cellular owns or has acquirable follows.
(1) Represents markets whose operations are included in U.S. Cellular's consolidated results. (2) Represents licenses to be acquired from AT&T Wireless over a five-year period beginning August 1, 2003.
OVERVIEW
The following is a summary of certain selected information from the complete management discussion that follows the overview and does not contain all of the information that may be important. You should carefully read this entire management discussion and analysis and not rely solely on the overview.
Results of Operations
U.S. Cellular positions itself as a regional operator, focusing its efforts on providing wireless service to customers in the geographic areas where it has licenses to provide such service. U.S. Cellular differentiates itself from its competitors through a customer satisfaction strategy, reflecting broad product distribution, a customer service focus and a high-quality wireless network.
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U.S. Cellular's business development strategy is to operate controlling interests in wireless licenses in areas adjacent to or in proximity to its other wireless licenses, thereby building contiguous operating market areas. U.S. Cellular's operating strategy is to strengthen the geographic areas where it can continue to build long-term operating synergies and to exit those areas where it does not have opportunities to build such synergies. In addition to the recent transactions disclosed in U.S. Cellular's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended, on February 18, 2004, U.S. Cellular completed the sale of certain of its wireless properties in southern Texas to AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. for $96.9 million in cash, including a working capital adjustment.
U.S. Cellular's operating income in the six months ended June 30, 2004 increased $95.1 million to $94.2 million from an operating loss of $883,000 in 2003. The operating income (loss) margins (as a percent of service revenues) were 7.3% in 2004 and less than (1%) in 2003. U.S. Cellular's 2003 operating loss and operating loss margin were significantly affected by the Loss on assets held for sale and Loss on impairment of intangible assets. Although operating income and margins improved in 2004, U.S. Cellular expects that there will be pressure on operating income and margins in the next few years related to the following factors:
The effects of these factors are expected to be mitigated to some extent by the following factors:
See "Results of Operations."
Financing Initiatives
U.S. Cellular has recently received or will receive licenses that will be in a development phase for several years. U.S. Cellular anticipates that it may require financing over the next few years for capital expenditures, for the development of these new markets and to further its growth in the Chicago market and its other recently launched markets.
To support these anticipated expenditures, U.S. Cellular is committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet and its investment grade rating. U.S. Cellular had Cash and cash equivalents totaling $346.5 million and had $699.8 million of availability under its revolving credit facilities as of June 30, 2004. U.S. Cellular is also generating substantial cash flows from operations. Cash flow from operating activities totaled $228.6 million during the first six months of 2004. In addition, U.S. Cellular has access to public and private capital markets to help meet its long-term financing needs. Management believes that cash on hand, expected future cash flows from operations and existing sources of external financing provide substantial financial flexibility and are sufficient to permit U.S. Cellular to finance its contractual obligations and anticipated capital expenditures.
As of June 17, 2004, U.S. Cellular issued $330 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured 7.5% senior notes due 2034. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, were approximately $319.6 million.
On June 28, 2004, U.S. Cellular issued $100 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured 6.7% senior notes due 2033 priced to yield 7.21% to maturity. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, were approximately $92.9 million. This is a further issuance of U.S. Cellular's 6.7% notes that were issued on December 8, 2003 in the aggregate principal amount of $444 million.
On June 24, 2004, U.S. Cellular issued redemption notices to holders of U.S. Cellular's subordinated 6% zero coupon convertible debentures (also known as Liquid Yield Option Notes) and on June 28, 2004 issued redemption notices to holders of U.S. Cellular's 7.25% senior notes. Consequently, $162.4 million of Liquid Yield Option Notes and $250 million of 7.25% senior notes were reclassified to Current portion of long-term debt on the Balance Sheet.
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The total net proceeds from the 7.5% and 6.7% senior note offerings, after deducting underwriting discounts, were approximately $412.5 million. Of this amount, $163.3 million was used to redeem U.S. Cellular's Liquid Yield Option Notes on July 26, 2004 at accreted value. The balance of the net proceeds, together with borrowings under the revolving credit agreement, is expected be used to redeem all of U.S. Cellular's 7.25% senior notes as of August 16, 2004. U.S. Cellular also used borrowings under its revolving credit facility to fund the repayment of its $105 million loan from TDS (the "Intercompany Note") in February 2004.
See "Financial Resources and Liquidity."
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2003
Following is a table of summarized operating data for U.S. Cellular's consolidated operations.
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On August 1, 2003, U.S. Cellular completed the transfer of wireless assets and customers in ten 25 megahertz markets in Florida and Georgia to AT&T Wireless pursuant to an agreement entered into in March 2003. In exchange, U.S. Cellular received the following: a) rights to acquire controlling interests in 36 personal communication service licenses; b) approximately $34.0 million in cash; and c) minority interests in six markets in which it previously owned a controlling interest. In accordance with the agreement, U.S. Cellular has deferred the assignment and development of 21 licenses for a period of up to five years from the closing date. U.S. Cellular will take possession of the licenses in staggered closings over that five-year period to comply with service requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). The value of these licenses is recorded as License rights on the Balance Sheet.
An estimated loss of $25.1 million was recorded in the six months ended June 30, 2003 as a Loss on assets held for sale (included in operating expenses), representing the difference between the carrying value of the markets transferred to AT&T Wireless and the fair value of the consideration received or to be received in the transaction. The Florida and Georgia markets that were transferred to AT&T Wireless are included in consolidated operations for the six months ended June 30, 2003.
On February 18, 2004, U.S. Cellular completed the sale of certain of its wireless properties in southern Texas to AT&T Wireless for $96.9 million in cash, including a working capital adjustment. The U.S. Cellular markets sold to AT&T Wireless included wireless assets and customers in six 25 megahertz cellular markets. An aggregate loss of $21.3 million (including a $22.0 million estimate of the Loss on assets held for sale in the fourth quarter of 2003 and a $725,000 reduction of the loss in the six months ended June 30, 2004) was recorded as a Loss on assets held for sale (included in operating expenses), representing the difference between the carrying value of the markets sold to AT&T Wireless and the cash received in the transaction. The southern Texas markets sold to AT&T Wireless are included in consolidated operations from January 1, 2004 through February 17, 2004.
Operating revenues increased $120.2 million, or 10%, to $1,369.9 million in 2004 from $1,249.7 million in 2003.
Service revenues increased $107.3 million, or 9%, to $1,282.0 in 2004 from $1,174.7 million in 2003. Service revenues primarily consist of: (i) charges for access, airtime, roaming and value-added services provided to U.S. Cellular’s retail customers (“retail service”); (ii) charges to other wireless carriers whose customers use U.S. Cellular’s wireless systems when roaming (“inbound roaming”); and (iii) charges for long-distance calls made on U.S. Cellular’s systems. The increase was primarily due to the growing number of retail customers. Monthly service revenue per customer averaged $46.96 in the first six months of 2004, a 2% increase in from an average of $46.24 in the first six months of 2003. See footnote 4 to the table on the previous page for the calculation of average monthly service revenue per customer.
Retail service revenues increased $133.4 million, or 14%, to $1,116.8 million in 2004 from $983.4 million in 2003. Growth in U.S. Cellular’s customer base and an increase in average monthly retail service revenue per customer were the primary reasons for the increase in retail service revenue. The number of customers increased 8% to 4,684,000 at June 30, 2004, from 4,343,000 at June 30, 2003. Of the 341,000 increase in customers, 540,000 were added through U.S. Cellular’s, marketing channels while 199,000 net customers were subtracted as a result of acquisition and divestiture activities, primarily the divestitures to AT&T Wireless in August 2003 and February 2004. Average monthly retail service revenue per customer increased 6% to $40.91 in 2004 from $38.71 in 2003. The increase in average monthly retail service revenue per customer was primarily driven by the increase in minutes of use per customer and by growth in revenue from data products.
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Management anticipates that growth in the customer base in U.S. Cellular’s wireless markets will be slower in the future, primarily as a result of the increased competition in its markets and continued penetration of the consumer market. However, as U.S. Cellular expands its operations in Chicago and into its other recently acquired markets in future years, it anticipates adding customers and revenues in those markets.
Monthly local retail minutes of use per customer averaged 517 in 2004 and 401 in 2003. The increase in monthly local retail minutes of use was driven by U.S. Cellular’s focus on designing sales incentive programs and customer billing rate plans to stimulate overall usage. The impact on retail service revenue of this increase was partially offset by a decrease in average revenue per minute of use in 2004. The decrease in average revenue per minute of use reflects the effects of increasing competition, which has led to the inclusion of an increasing number of minutes in package pricing plans. Management anticipates that U.S. Cellular’s average revenue per minute of use will continue to decline in the future, reflecting increased competition and penetration of the consumer market.
Inbound roaming revenues decreased $24.4 million, or 22%, to $87.0 million in 2004 from $111.4 million in 2003. The decrease in revenue primarily related to the decrease in revenue per roaming minute of use, partially offset by an increase in roaming minutes of use. In 2004, the increase in inbound roaming minutes of use was primarily driven by the overall growth in the number of customers throughout the wireless industry and strong customer growth for carriers who use Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) digital radio technology, partially offset by the loss of minutes of use from the markets transferred and sold to AT&T Wireless. Contributing to the decrease in inbound roaming revenue in 2004 was the effect of the transfer of the Florida and Georgia markets to AT&T Wireless in August 2003 and the sale of the southern Texas markets to AT&T Wireless in February 2004; these markets had historically provided substantial amounts of inbound roaming revenue. The decline in revenue per minute of use is primarily due to the general downward trend in negotiated rates.
Management anticipates that the rate of growth in inbound roaming minutes of use will continue to slow down due to these factors:
Management also anticipates that average inbound roaming revenue per minute of use will continue to decline, reflecting the continued general downward trend in negotiated rates.
Long-distance and other revenue decreased $1.6 million, or 2%, to $78.3 million in 2004 from $79.9 million in 2003, primarily related to price reductions related to long-distance charges on roaming minutes of use as well as U.S. Cellular’s increasing use of pricing plans for its retail customers which include long-distance calling at no additional charge, partially offset by an increase in the volume of long-distance calls billed by U.S. Cellular from inbound roamers using its systems to make long-distance calls.
Equipment sales revenues increased $12.8 million, or 17%, to $87.8 million in 2004 from $75.0 million in 2003. U.S. Cellular includes in its equipment sales revenues any handsets and related accessories sold to its customers, whether the customers are new to U.S. Cellular or are current customers who are changing handsets. U.S. Cellular also sells handsets to its agents at a price approximately equal to U.S. Cellular’s cost before applying any rebates. Selling handsets to agents enables U.S. Cellular to provide better control over handset quality, set roaming preferences and pass along quantity discounts. Management anticipates that it will continue to sell handsets to agents in the future, and that it will continue to provide rebates to agents who provide handsets to new and current customers. Equipment sales revenues have grown less significantly than cost of equipment sold in the six months ended June 30, 2004 due to the continued substantial discounting of handsets. This trend is occurring throughout the wireless industry.
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Equipment sales revenue from handset sales to agents is recognized upon delivery of the related products to the agents, net of any anticipated agent rebates. In most cases, the agents receive a rebate from U.S. Cellular at the time these agents provide handsets to sign up new customers or retain current customers.
Customers added to U.S. Cellular’s customer base through its marketing distribution channels (“gross customer activations”), the primary driver of equipment sales revenues, increased 10% in 2004. The higher percentage increase in revenues from handset sales than in gross customer activations was driven by an increase in sales of higher priced data-enabled handsets. These handsets were offered in conjunction with the launch of U.S. Cellular’s data services products, which began in the second half of 2003.
Operating expenses increased $25.1 million, or 2%, to $1,275.7 million in 2004 from $1,250.6 million in 2003.
System operations expenses (excluding depreciation) decreased $2.6 million, or less than (1%) , to $282.4 million in 2004 from $285.0 million in 2003. System operations expenses include charges from landline telecommunications service providers for U.S. Cellular’s customers’ use of their facilities, costs related to local interconnection to the landline network, charges for maintenance of U.S. Cellular’s network, long-distance charges, outbound roaming expenses and payments to third-party data product and platform developers. The decrease in system operations expenses in 2004 was due to the following factors:
The effects of the above factors were partially offset by the following factors:
As a result of the above factors, the components of system operations expenses were affected as follows:
In 2004, roaming charges paid by U.S. Cellular to third parties when its customers roamed in the Chicago market declined compared to 2003. Continued integration of the Chicago market into U.S. Cellular’s operations resulted in increased use of U.S. Cellular’s system by U.S. Cellular’s customers and a corresponding decrease in roaming by its customers on other systems in the Midwest.
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In total, management expects system operations expenses to increase over the next few years, driven by the following factors:
These factors are expected to be partially offset by anticipated decreases in the per-minute cost of usage both on U.S. Cellular’s systems and on other carriers’ networks. As the Chicago area has historically been U.S. Cellular’s customers’ most popular roaming destination, management anticipates that the continued integration of the Chicago market and other recently launched markets into its operations will result in a further increase in minutes of use by U.S. Cellular’s customers on its systems and a corresponding decrease in minutes of use by its customers on other systems, resulting in a lower overall increase in minutes of use by U.S. Cellular’s customers on other systems. Such a shift in minutes of use should reduce U.S. Cellular’s per-minute cost of usage in the future, to the extent that its customers use its systems rather than other carriers’networks. Additionally, U.S. Cellular’s acquisition and subsequent buildout of licensed areas received in the AT&T Wireless exchange transaction may shift more minutes of use to U.S. Cellular’s systems, as many of these licensed areas are major roaming destinations for U.S. Cellular’s current customers.
Cost of equipment sold increased $61.9 million, or 37%, to $230.1 million in 2004 from $168.2 million in 2003. The increase was due to the 10% increase in new customer activations as well as an increase in handsets sold to customers for retention purposes. Retention costs have increased as U.S. Cellular continued to focus on retaining customers by offering existing customers new handsets similar to those offered to new customers as the expiration dates of customers’ service contracts approached. In addition, the overall cost per handset increased in the first six months of 2004 as more customers purchased higher priced data-enabled handsets.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $19.4 million, or 4%, to $527.8 million in 2004 from $508.4 million in 2003. Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries, commissions and expenses of field sales and retail personnel and offices; agent commissions and related expenses; corporate marketing, merchandise management and telesales department salaries and expenses; advertising; and public relations expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses also include the costs of operating U.S. Cellular’s customer care centers, the costs of serving customers and the majority of U.S. Cellular’s corporate expenses.
The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses in the first six months of 2004 is primarily due to the following factors:
The increase was also attributable to the rise in salaries and other employee-related expenses associated with acquiring, serving and retaining customers, primarily as a result of the increase in U.S. Cellular’s customer base.
These increases were partially offset by a $23.2 million decrease in billing-related expenses, primarily due to the expenses incurred in 2003 related to the maintenance of the Chicago market’s billing system and the transition to the system used in U.S. Cellular’s other operations in July 2003.
Sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation increased 4% to $381 in 2004 from $367 in 2003, primarily due to increased handset subsidies. Sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation is not calculable using financial information derived directly from the statement of operations. The definition of sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation that U.S. Cellular uses as a measure of the cost to acquire additional customers through its marketing distribution channels may not be comparable to similarly titled measures that are reported by other companies. Below is a summary of sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation for each period:
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Monthly general and administrative expenses per customer, including the net costs related to the renewal or upgrade of service contracts of existing U.S. Cellular customers (“net customer retention costs”), increased 2% to $13.91 in 2004 from $13.65 in 2003. Management uses this measurement to assess the cost of serving and retaining its customers on a per unit basis.
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This measurement is reconciled to total selling, general and administrative expenses as follows:
Depreciation expense increased $29.4 million, or 16%, to $211.8 million in 2004 from $182.4 million in 2003. The increase primarily reflects rising average fixed asset balances, which increased 13% in 2004, as well as a change in the useful lives of certain asset categories, which increased depreciation expense $9.9 million in 2004. Also, certain Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”) digital radio equipment consigned to a third party for future sale was written down by $6.3 million prior to its consignment, increasing depreciation expense by that amount. This writedown was necessary to reduce the book value of the assets to be sold to their estimated proceeds from disposition. Increased fixed asset balances in 2004 resulted from the following factors:
In preparation for the implementation of a fixed asset management and tracking software system, including a bar code asset identification system, U.S. Cellular is conducting a physical inventory review of its cell site fixed assets. U.S. Cellular has commenced the cell site fixed asset inventory review and expects to complete the inventory in the fourth quarter of 2004. Based on the results of the review through June 30, 2004, U.S. Cellular estimates that the review, when completed, will result in a write-off of certain assets with a net book value of approximately $4.0 million, and charged $4.0 million to depreciation expense for the estimated write-off in the second quarter. To the extent the final results differ from the $4.0 million already charged to expense, an adjustment would be required.
In 2003, $5 million of depreciation expense was recorded related to the writeoff of certain assets.
See “Financial Resources” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further discussions of U.S. Cellular’s capital expenditures.
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Amortization and accretion expense decreased $7.5 million, or 24%, to $24.4 million in 2004 from $31.9 million in 2003, primarily representing decreased amortization related to the customer list intangible assets acquired in the Chicago market transaction during 2002. These customer list assets are amortized using the declining balance method, based on average customer retention periods of each customer list. Therefore, decreasing amounts of amortization expense will be recorded in each 12-month period following the establishment of each customer list asset. Amortization and accretion expense includes $2.4 million of accretion related to the asset retirement obligation in 2004, and $2.1 million in 2003.
Loss on impairment of intangible assets totaled $49.6 million in 2003. As discussed previously, U.S. Cellular restated its 2003 and 2002 financial statements related to the implementation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” In connection with this restatement, U.S. Cellular reperformed the annual impairment test for its investment in licenses for 2003, which was originally performed during the second quarter of 2003. This resulted in the recognition of an additional impairment loss of $49.6 million, before an income tax benefit of $19.6 million.
The 2004 annual impairment tests for investments in licenses and goodwill were performed in the second quarter of 2004. Other than a license impairment loss recorded as a Loss on investments related to a non-operating market, no impairment losses resulted from the 2004 annual impairment tests. See “Investment and Other Income (Expense)" for a discussion of this license impairment loss.
(Gain) loss on assets held for sale totaled ($725,000) in 2004 and a loss of $25.1 million in 2003.
The amount recorded in 2004 was a reduction of a $22.0 million estimated loss recorded in the fourth quarter 2003 on the sale of U.S. Cellular markets in southern Texas to AT&T Wireless on February 17, 2004. The result was an aggregate loss of $21.3 million, representing the difference between the carrying value of the markets sold and the cash received in the transaction. The southern Texas markets sold to AT&T Wireless were included in consolidated operations from January 1, 2004 through February 17, 2004.
The $25.1 million loss in 2003 represented the difference between the fair value, as determined by an independent valuation, of the assets U.S. Cellular expected to receive in the AT&T Wireless exchange transaction which was completed in August 2003, and the recorded value of the assets it expected to transfer to AT&T Wireless.
Operating Income (Loss)
Operating income (loss) totaled income of $94.2 million in 2004 and a loss of $883,000 in 2003. The operating income (loss) margins (as a percent of service revenues) were 7.3% in 2004 and less than (1%) in 2003. The increase in operating income and operating income margin in 2004 reflects the following:
These factors were partially offset by the following:
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U.S. Cellular expects most of the above factors, except for those related to the Loss on impairment of intangible assets and the (Gain) loss on assets held for sale, to continue to have an effect on operating income and operating margins for the next several quarters. Any changes in the above factors, as well as the effects of other drivers of U.S. Cellular’s operating results, may cause operating income and operating margins to fluctuate over the next several quarters.
U.S. Cellular plans to incur additional expenses during the remainder of 2004 as it competes in its established markets and in recently launched markets. Additionally, U.S. Cellular plans to build out its network into other as yet unserved portions of its licensed areas, and will begin sales and marketing operations in those areas in the second half of 2004 and in subsequent years. U.S. Cellular launched its brand of data-related wireless services in many of its markets in the second half of 2003, and expects to incur expenses related to its continued marketing of data-related wireless services in the next few years.
As a result, depending on the timing and effectiveness of these initiatives, U.S. Cellular anticipates that operating income will range from $150 million to $190 million for the full year of 2004, including $500 million of anticipated depreciation, amortization and accretion expenses, compared to $119 million of operating income in 2003.
U.S. Cellular anticipates that service revenues will total approximately $2.6 billion for the full year of 2004, compared to service revenues of $2.4 billion in 2003. The anticipated service revenue growth in 2004 reflects the effects of the sale of properties to AT&T Wireless in February 2004, the markets transferred to AT&T Wireless in the exchange transaction completed in August 2003, the continued growth in U.S. Cellular’s customer base and the continued marketing of data-related wireless services in its markets.
Depending on the timing and effectiveness of its marketing efforts, U.S. Cellular anticipates that net customer activations from its marketing channels will total 560,000 to 610,000 for the full year of 2004. However, management anticipates that average monthly service revenue per customer will decrease slightly, as retail service revenue per minute of use and inbound roaming revenue per minute of use decline.
U.S. Cellular anticipates that its net costs associated with customer growth, service and retention, initiation of new services, launches in new markets and fixed asset additions will continue to grow. U.S. Cellular anticipates that its net customer retention costs will increase in the future as competitive pressures continue and as per unit handset costs increase. In addition, U.S. Cellular will continue to migrate its customer base to a single digital technology platform and certain customers will require new handsets, further increasing net customer retention costs in the future.
Management believes there exists a seasonality in both service revenues, which tend to increase more slowly in the first and fourth quarters, and operating expenses, which tend to be higher in the fourth quarter due to increased marketing activities and customer growth, which may cause operating income to vary from quarter to quarter. Management anticipates that the impact of such seasonality will decrease in the future, particularly as it relates to operating expenses, as the proportion of full year customer activations derived from fourth quarter holiday sales is expected to decline to reflect ongoing, rather than seasonal, promotions of U.S. Cellular’s products.
Effects of Competition on Operating Income
U.S. Cellular competes directly with several wireless communications services providers, including enhanced specialized mobile radio service providers, in each of its markets. In general, there are between five and seven competitors in each wireless market in which U.S. Cellular provides service. U.S. Cellular generally competes against each of the six near-nationwide wireless companies: Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS (and affiliates), Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile and Nextel. However, not all six competitors operate in all markets where U.S. Cellular does business. U.S. Cellular believes that these competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, marketing, sales, purchasing and distribution resources than it does. In addition, Cingular Wireless has agreed to acquire AT&T Wireless, which will increase this competitor’s financial, technical, marketing, sales, purchasing and distribution resources.
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The use of national advertising and promotional programs by such national wireless operators may be a source of additional competitive and pricing pressures in all U.S. Cellular markets, even if those operators may not provide service in a particular market. U.S. Cellular provides wireless services comparable to the national competitors, but the other wireless companies operate in a wider geographic area and are able to offer no- or low-cost roaming and long-distance calling packages over a wider area on their own networks than U.S. Cellular can offer on its network. If U.S. Cellular offers the same calling area as one of these competitors, it will incur roaming charges for calls made in portions of the calling area that are not part of its network.
In the Midwest, U.S. Cellular’s largest contiguous service area, it can offer larger regional service packages without incurring significant roaming charges than it is able to offer in other parts of its network. U.S. Cellular also employs a customer satisfaction strategy throughout its markets which it believes has contributed to a relatively low customer churn rate.
Some of U.S. Cellular’s competitors bundle other services, such as landline telephone service and internet access, with their wireless communications services, which U.S. Cellular either does not have the ability to offer or has chosen not to offer.
In addition, U.S. Cellular competes against both larger and smaller regional wireless companies in certain areas, including ALLTEL, Western Wireless and Rural Cellular Corporation, and against resellers of wireless services. Since each of these competitors operates on systems using spectrum licensed by the FCC and has comparable technology and facilities, competition for customers among these systems in each market is principally on the basis of quality of service, price, size of area covered, services offered and responsiveness of customer service.
Since U.S. Cellular’s competitors do not disclose their subscriber counts in specific regional service areas, market share for the competitors in each regional market cannot be accurately determined.
Effects of Wireless Number Portability on Operating Income
The FCC has adopted wireless number portability rules requiring wireless carriers to allow a customer to retain, subject to certain geographical limitations, their existing telephone number when switching from one telecommunications carrier to another. These rules have become effective for all U.S. Cellular markets on or before May 24, 2004.
U.S. Cellular has been successful in facilitating number portability requests in a timely manner. The implementation of wireless number portability has not had a material effect on U.S. Cellular’s results of operations to date. However, U.S. Cellular is unable to predict the impact that the implementation of number portability will have in the future. The implementation of wireless number portability may increase churn rates for U.S. Cellular and other wireless companies, as the ability of customers to retain their wireless telephone numbers removes a significant barrier for customers who wish to change wireless carriers. However, to the extent U.S. Cellular loses customers, the effect may be offset to the extent it is able to obtain additional new customers who wish to change their service from other wireless carriers as a result of wireless number portability. The future volume of any porting requests, and the processing costs related thereto, may increase U.S. Cellular’s operating costs in the future. Any of the above factors could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s competitive position, costs of obtaining new subscribers, liquidity, financial position and results of operations.
Investment and Other Income (Expense)
Investment and other income (expense) totaled expense of $(7.3) million in 2004 and $(7.8) million in 2003.
Investment income increased $6.7 million, or 26%, to $32.6 million in 2004 from $25.9 million in 2003. Investment income primarily represents U.S. Cellular’s share of net income from the markets managed by others that are accounted for by the equity method. The aggregate net income of these investment markets increased significantly in 2004, resulting in a corresponding increase in investment income.
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Interest (expense) increased $9.4 million, or 29%, to $41.3 million in 2004 from $31.9 million in 2003. Interest expense in 2004 is primarily related to Liquid Yield Option Notes ($4.9 million); U.S. Cellular’s 7.25% notes ($9.2 million); its 8.75% notes ($5.7 million); its 6.7% notes ($15.4 million); its 7.5% notes ($1.0 million); its revolving credit facilities with a series of banks ($1.7 million); its Vodafone forward contracts ($1.4 million); and its Intercompany Note with TDS (the “Intercompany Note”) ($0.9 million). The Intercompany Note was repaid in full on February 9, 2004 using U.S. Cellular’s $700 million revolving credit facility.
Interest expense in 2003 is primarily related to Liquid Yield Option Notes ($4.6 million); U.S. Cellular’s 7.25% notes ($9.3 million); its 8.75% notes ($5.7 million); its revolving credit facilities with a series of banks ($5.4 million); its Vodafone forward contracts ($1.5 million); and its Intercompany Note with TDS ($4.3 million).
The overall increase in interest expense in the first six months of 2004 is due to the effect of the issuance of the 6.7% notes in December 2003 and June 2004 and subsequent repayment of lower interest rate revolving credit facility borrowings in December 2003.
The Liquid Yield Option Notes accreted interest at 6% annually, but did not require current cash payments of interest. All accreted interest was added to the outstanding principal balance on June 15 and December 15 of each year for purposes of calculating interest expense. U.S. Cellular redeemed all of such notes for cash as of July 26, 2004.
U.S. Cellular’s $250 million principal amount of 7.25% senior notes are unsecured and become due in August 2007. Interest on such notes is payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year. U.S. Cellular has sent a notice of redemption of such notes effective August 16, 2004.
U.S. Cellular’s $130 million principal amount of 8.75% senior notes are unsecured and become due in November 2032. Interest on such notes is payable quarterly on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year.
U.S. Cellular’s $544 million principal amount of 6.7% senior notes are unsecured and become due in December 2033. Interest on such notes is payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year. U.S. Cellular originally issued $444 million of the 6.7% notes in December 2003 in order to reduce the use of its revolving credit facility and the related interest rate risk. An additional $100 million of such notes was issued in June 2004. The proceeds of such additional issuance, together with the proceeds of the 7.5% notes discussed below, were used to redeem the Liquid Yield Option Notes on July 26, 2004. The balance of the net proceeds, together with borrowings under the revolving credit agreement, is expected to be used to redeem all of U.S. Cellular’s 7.25% senior notes as of August 16, 2004.
As of June 17, 2004, U.S. Cellular issued $330 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.5% senior notes due 2034. These notes are unsecured and interest on such notes is payable quarterly on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year.
For information regarding U.S. Cellular’s Revolving Credit Facilities, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Revolving Credit Facilities.” For information regarding the Intercompany Note from TDS, see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”
Loss on investments totaled $1.8 million in 2004 and $3.5 million in 2003. A $3.5 million license impairment loss was recorded in 2003 related to U.S. Cellular’s investment in a non-operational market in Florida that remained with U.S. Cellular after the exchange with AT&T Wireless was completed in August 2003. An additional impairment loss of $1.8 million was recorded in the second quarter of 2004 to reflect a further impairment in the carrying value of the same investment.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense (benefit) totaled expense of $34.8 million in 2004 and $1.7 million in 2003. The overall effective tax rates were 40.0% in 2004 and (19.4%) in 2003. The effective tax rate in 2003 was impacted by the Loss on impairment of intangible assets, Loss on assets held for sale and Loss on investments, which have different tax rates than U.S. Cellular’s overall operations. For further discussion of U.S. Cellular’s effective tax rates in 2004 and 2003, see Note 4 – Income Taxes.
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TDS and U.S. Cellular are parties to a Tax Allocation Agreement, pursuant to which U.S. Cellular is included in a consolidated federal income tax return with other members of the TDS consolidated group.
For financial reporting purposes, U.S. Cellular computes federal income taxes as if it was filing a separate return as its own affiliated group and was not included in the TDS group.
Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change
Effective January 1, 2003, U.S. Cellular adopted SFAS No.143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” and recorded the initial liability for legal obligations associated with an asset retirement. The cumulative effect of the implementation of this accounting standard on periods prior to 2003 was recorded in the first quarter of 2003, decreasing net income by $14.3 million, net of tax and minority interest, or $0.17 per basic and diluted share.
Net Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) totaled income of $47.2 million in 2004 and a loss of $(29.5) million in 2003. Diluted earnings (loss) per share was $0.54 in 2004 and $(0.34) in 2003.
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Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2003
Operating Revenues
Operating revenues increased $66.3 million, or 10%, to $712.2 million in the three months ended June 30, 2004 from $645.9 million in 2003.
Retail service revenues increased $65.4 million, or 13%, to $576.5 million in 2004 from $511.1 million in 2003, primarily due to 8% growth in U.S. Cellular’s customer base and a 5% increase in average monthly retail service revenue per customer.
Inbound roaming revenue decreased $12.3 million, or 22%, to $44.5 million in 2004 from $56.8 million in 2003, for reasons generally the same as for the first six months of 2004.
Long-distance and other revenues decreased $0.6 million, or 1%, to $41.6 million in 2004 from $42.2 million in 2003, for reasons generally the same as for the first six months of 2004.
Equipment sales revenue increased $13.7 million, or 38%, to $49.5 million in 2004 from $35.8 million in 2003. The increase was primarily due to the 14% increase in gross customer activations as well as an increase in handsets sold to customers for retention purposes. In addition, the overall revenue per handset increased in the second quarter of 2004 as more customers purchased higher priced data-enabled handsets.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses increased $3.9 million, or 1%, to $646.4 million in 2004 from $642.5 million in 2003.
System operations expenses (excluding depreciation) decreased $2.1 million, or 1%, to $144.9 million in 2004 from $147.0 million in 2003, for reasons generally the same as for the first six months of 2004.
Cost of equipment sold increased $30.6 million, or 38%, to $110.2 million in 2004 from $79.6 million in 2003. The increase was due to the 14% increase in gross customer activations in 2004 as well as an increase in handsets sold to customers for retention purposes. In addition, the overall cost per handset increased in the second quarter of 2004 as more customers purchased higher priced data-enabled handsets.
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Selling, general and administrative expense increased $11.5 million, or 4%, to $269.6 million in 2004 from $258.1 million in 2003, for reasons generally the same as for the first six months of 2004. Gross customer activations increased 14% and the number of customers increased 8% in the second quarter of 2004 compared to the same period in 2003.
Sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation increased 4% to $392 in 2004 from $378 in 2003, primarily due to increased handset subsidies. Below is a summary of sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation for each period.
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Monthly general and administrative expenses per customer, including the net costs related to the renewal or upgrade of service contracts of existing U.S. Cellular customers (“net customer retention costs”), decreased 4% to $13.50 in 2004 from $14.09 in 2003. This measurement is reconciled to total selling, general and administrative expenses as follows:
Depreciation expense increased $22.8 million, or 26%, to $110.3 million in 2004 from $87.5 million in 2003, for reasons generally the same as for the first six months of 2004. Average fixed asset balances increased 14% in 2004. In the second quarter of 2004, certain TDMA digital radio equipment consigned to a third party for future sale was written down by $6.3 million prior to its consignment, increasing depreciation expense by that amount. This writedown was necessary to reduce the book value of the assets to be sold to their estimated proceeds from disposition.
Amortization and accretion expense decreased $5.3 million, or 31%, to $11.9 million in 2004 from $17.2 million in 2003, for reasons generally the same as for the first six months of 2004.
Loss on impairment of intangible assets totaled $49.6 million in 2003. As discussed previously, U.S. Cellular restated 2003 and 2002 financial statements related to the implementation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” In connection with this restatement, U.S. Cellular reperformed the annual impairment test for its investment in licenses for 2003, which was originally performed during the second quarter of 2003. This resulted in the recognition of an additional impairment loss of $49.6 million, before an income tax benefit of $19.6 million.
(Gain) loss on assets held for sale totaled ($582,000) in 2004 and a loss of $3.5 million in 2003. In 2004, U.S. Cellular’s operating expenses included a $582,000 reduction of Loss on assets held for sale previously recorded on the sale of wireless properties in southern Texas to AT&T Wireless in February
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2004. In 2003, operating expenses included $3.5 million of additional Loss on assets held for sale related to the exchange of wireless properties in Georgia and Florida with AT&T Wireless in August 2003.
Operating income increased $62.5 million, to $65.9 million in 2004 from $3.4 million in 2003; operating income margins (as a percent of service revenues) totaled 10% in 2004 and less than (1%) in 2003.
Investment and other (expense) totaled expense of $(2.0) million in 2004 and $(1.4) million in 2003. Investment income increased $4.9 million, or 36%, to $18.4 million in 2004 from $13.5 million in 2003 as U.S. Cellular’s share of net income from markets managed by others that are accounted for by the equity method increased. Interest expense increased $4.6 million, or 28%, to $21.0 million in 2004 from $16.4 million in 2003, as U.S. Cellular replaced its short-term, lower interest rate borrowings under the revolving credit facility with long-term, higher interest rate debt in December 2003 and June 2004. In 2004, a Loss on investments of $1.8 million was recorded to reflect an impairment in the carrying value of an investment in a non-operational market in Florida.
Income tax expense totaled $23.1 million in 2004 and $2.1 million in 2003. For an analysis of U.S. Cellular’s effective tax rates in the second quarter of 2004 and 2003, see Note 4 – Income Taxes.
Net income (loss) totaled income of $38.0 million in 2004 compared to a loss of $(1.7) million in 2003. Diluted earnings (loss) per share totaled $0.44 in 2004 and $(0.02) in 2003.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Under SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity,” certain minority interests in consolidated entities with finite lives may meet the standard’s definition of a mandatorily redeemable financial instrument and thus require reclassification as liabilities and remeasurement at the estimated amount of cash that would be due and payable to settle such minority interests under the applicable entity’s organization agreement assuming an orderly liquidation of the finite-lived entity, net of estimated liquidation costs (the “settlement value”). U.S. Cellular’s consolidated financial statements include such minority interests that meet the standard’s definition of mandatorily redeemable financial instruments. These mandatorily redeemable minority interests represent interests held by third parties in consolidated partnerships and limited liability companies (“LLCs”), where the terms of the underlying partnership or LLC agreement provide for a defined termination date at which time the assets of the subsidiary are to be sold, the liabilities are to be extinguished and the remaining net proceeds are to be distributed to the minority interest holders and U.S. Cellular in accordance with the respective partnership and LLC agreements. The termination dates of U.S. Cellular’s mandatorily redeemable minority interests range from 2042 to 2100.
On November 7, 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 150-3, “Effective Date, Disclosures, and Transition for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests under FASB Statement No. 150.” The FSP indefinitely deferred the classification and measurement provisions of SFAS No. 150 related to the mandatorily redeemable minority interests associated with finite-lived subsidiaries, but retained the related disclosure provisions. The settlement value of U.S. Cellular’s mandatorily redeemable minority interests is estimated to be $113.2 million at June 30, 2004. This represents the estimated amount of cash that would be due and payable to settle minority interests assuming an orderly liquidation of the finite-lived consolidated partnerships and LLCs on June 30, 2004, net of estimated liquidation costs. This amount is being disclosed pursuant to the requirements of FSP FAS 150-3; U.S. Cellular has no current plans or intentions to liquidate any of the related partnerships or LLCs prior to their scheduled termination dates. The corresponding carrying value of the minority interests in finite-lived consolidated partnerships and LLCs at June 30, 2004 is $36.6 million, and is included in the balance sheet caption Minority interest in subsidiaries. The excess of the aggregate settlement value over the aggregate carrying value of the mandatorily redeemable minority interests of $76.6 million is primarily due to the unrecognized appreciation of the minority interest holders’share of the underlying net assets in the consolidated partnerships and LLCs. Neither the minority interest holders’ share, nor U.S. Cellular’s share, of the appreciation of the underlying net assets of these subsidiaries is reflected in the consolidated financial statements. The estimate of settlement value was based on certain factors and assumptions. Change in those factors and assumptions could result in a materially larger or smaller settlement amount.
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The FASB plans to reconsider certain implementation issues and perhaps the classification or measurement guidance for mandatorily redeemable minority interests during the deferral period. The outcome of their deliberations cannot be determined at this point. Accordingly, it is possible that the FASB could require the recognition and measurement of mandatorily redeemable minority interests at their settlement value at a later date.
Earnings Per Share
In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 03-6, “Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings per Share.” EITF 03-6 clarifies what constitutes a participating security and provides further guidance in applying the two-class method of calculating earnings per share. The consensuses reached by the Task Force in this Issue were ratified by the FASB on March 31, 2004, and are effective for reporting periods beginning after March 31, 2004. U.S. Cellular has reviewed the issue and concluded that it has no participating securities as defined by EITF Issue No. 03-6.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
U.S. Cellular operates a capital- and marketing-intensive business. In recent years, U.S. Cellular has generated cash from its operations, received cash proceeds from divestitures, used its short-term credit facilities and used long-term debt financing to fund its network construction costs and operating expenses. U.S. Cellular anticipates further increases in wireless customers, revenues, operating expenses, cash flows from operating activities and fixed asset additions in the future. Cash flows may fluctuate from quarter to quarter depending on the seasonality of each of these growth factors. Following is a summary of cash flows activities:
U.S. Cellular generates substantial internal funds from operations. Cash flows from operating activities provided $228.6 million in the first six months of 2004 compared to $195.0 million in the same period of 2003. Income excluding adjustments to reconcile income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities, excluding changes in assets and liabilities from operations (“noncash” items) totaled $298.5 million in 2004 and $262.5 million in 2003. Changes in assets and liabilities from operations required $69.9 million in 2004 and $67.5 million in 2003, reflecting timing differences in the payment of accounts payable and accrued taxes and the receipt of accounts receivable.
The following table is a summary of the components of cash flows from operating activities:
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Cash Flows from Investing Activities U.S. Cellular makes substantial investments each year to acquire, construct, operate and upgrade modern high-quality wireless networks and facilities as a basis for creating long-term value for shareowners. In recent years, rapid changes in technology and new opportunities have required substantial investments in revenue enhancing and cost reducing upgrades to U.S. Cellular’s networks. Cash flows used for investing activities required $200.3 million in the first six months of 2004 compared to $289.2 million in 2003. Cash required for property, plant and equipment and system development expenditures totaled $263.1 million in 2004 and $304.0 million in 2003. In both periods, these expenditures were financed primarily with internally generated cash and borrowings from U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit facilities. These expenditures primarily represent the construction of 369 and 192 cell sites in 2004 and 2003, respectively, as well as other plant additions and costs related to the development of U.S. Cellular’s office systems. In 2004 and 2003, these plant additions included approximately $10 million and $43 million, respectively, for the migration to a single digital equipment platform. In both periods, other plant additions included significant amounts related to the replacement of retired assets. In 2003, significant amounts were added to plant under construction as certain markets prepared to migrate to a single digital equipment platform.
In 2004, net cash received from the sale of wireless properties in southern Texas to AT&T Wireless totaled $96.9 million. Cash paid for the acquisition of certain minority wireless interests in several wireless markets in which U.S. Cellular already owned a controlling interest totaled $40.4 million in 2004. Cash distributions from cellular entities in which U.S. Cellular has an interest provided $7.2 million in 2004 and $17.6 million in 2003.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities Cash flows from financing activities provided $308.3 million in the first six months of 2004 and $105.0 million in 2003. Issuances of $330 million of 7.5% senior notes and $100 million of 6.7% senior notes provided $412.5 million in 2004. U.S. Cellular did not issue any long-term debt in the first six months of 2003. In 2003, U.S. Cellular repurchased and cancelled the remaining $45.2 million of 9% Series A Notes from PrimeCo Wireless Communications LLC, related to U.S. Cellular’s acquisition of the Chicago market, for $40.7 million. The repurchase was financed using U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit facility. In 2004, U.S. Cellular repaid the $105.0 million Intercompany Note to TDS, which was financed using its revolving credit facility. Cash received from short term borrowings on revolving lines of credit provided $270.0 million in 2004. Repayments of short term borrowings required $270.0 million, primarily paid with cash received from the long-term debt issuances. Cash received from long-term debt issuances was temporarily used to reduce short-term debt pending the redemption of long-term debt. See Liquidity and Capital Resources –Revolving Credit Facilities and Long-term Debt below. In 2003, U.S. Cellular borrowed $239.3 million and repaid $94.3 million under its revolving credit facilities.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Management believes that internal cash flow, existing cash and cash equivalents, and funds available from line of credit arrangements provide substantial financial flexibility for U.S. Cellular to meet both its short- and long-term needs. U.S. Cellular also may have access to public and private capital markets to help meet its long-term financing needs. U.S. Cellular anticipates issuing debt and equity securities only when capital requirements (including acquisitions), financial market conditions and other factors warrant, as was the case in the second quarter of 2004 when it issued $430 million of new long-term debt financing in order to redeem shorter term debt later in 2004.
However, the availability of financial resources is dependent on economic events, business developments, technological changes, financial conditions or other factors, many of which are not in U.S. Cellular’s control. If at any time financing is not available on terms acceptable to U.S. Cellular, it might be required to reduce its business development and capital expenditure plans, which could have a materially adverse effect on its business and financial condition. U.S. Cellular does not believe that any circumstances that could materially adversely affect U.S. Cellular’s liquidity or capital resources are currently reasonably likely to occur, but it cannot provide assurances that such circumstances will not occur or that they will not occur rapidly. Economic downturns, changes in financial markets or other factors could rapidly change the availability of U.S. Cellular’s liquidity and capital resources. Uncertainty of access to capital for telecommunications companies, deterioration in the capital markets, other changes in market conditions 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.
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U.S. Cellular generates substantial cash from its operations and anticipates financing all of its 2004 obligations with internally generated cash and with short- and long-term debt as the timing of such expenditures warrants. U.S. Cellular had $346.5 million of cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2004.
Revolving Credit Facilities and Long-Term Debt
U.S. Cellular has a $700 million revolving credit facility available for general corporate purposes. At June 30, 2004, this line of credit had $699.8 million available for use, net of outstanding letters of credit of $0.2 million. This credit facility expires in June 2007. Borrowings bear interest at the LIBOR rate plus a margin percentage, based on U.S. Cellular’s credit rating, which was 55 basis points as of June 30, 2004 (for a rate of 1.92% based on the one month LIBOR rate at June 30, 2004).
The continued availability of this revolving line of credit requires U.S. Cellular to comply with certain negative and affirmative covenants, maintain certain financial ratios and to represent certain matters at the time of each borrowing. On May 14, 2004, U.S. Cellular filed a Form 10-K/A to restate its financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 and for the interim periods for such years. The restatements resulted in a default under the revolving credit agreement between U.S. Cellular and certain lenders. U.S. Cellular did not fail to make any scheduled payment of principal or interest under such revolving credit agreement. U.S. Cellular received waivers from the lenders under which the lenders agreed to waive any defaults that may have occurred as a result of the restatements.
U.S. Cellular’s interest cost on its line of credit would increase if its credit rating goes down, which would increase its cost of financing, but the line of credit would not cease to be available solely as a result of a decline in its credit rating. Certain of U.S. Cellular’s credit facility would accelerate in the event of a change in control.
On May 25, 2004, U.S. Cellular filed with the SEC a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 to register the issuance from time to time of up to $500 million of senior debt securities. This registration statement became effective on June 2, 2004.
As of June 17, 2004, U.S. Cellular issued $330 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured 7.5% senior notes due June 15, 2034 under this registration statement. The estimated net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, were approximately $319.6 million.
Also, on June 28, 2004, U.S. Cellular issued $100 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured 6.7% senior notes due December 15, 2033 priced to yield 7.21% to maturity under this registration statement. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, were approximately $92.9 million. This is a further issuance of U.S. Cellular’s 6.7% notes that were issued on December 8, 2003 in the aggregate principal amount of $444 million.
On June 24, 2004, U.S. Cellular issued redemption notices to holders of U.S. Cellular’s Liquid Yield Option Notes and on June 28, 2004 issued redemption notices to holders of U.S. Cellular’s 7.25% senior notes. Consequently, $162.4 million of Liquid Yield Option Notes and $250 million of 7.25% senior notes were reclassified to Current portion of long-term debt on the Balance Sheet.
The total net proceeds from the 7.5% and 6.7% senior note offerings, after deducting underwriting discounts, were approximately $412.5 million. Of this amount, $163.3 million was used to redeem U.S. Cellular’s Liquid Yield Option Notes on July 26, 2004 at accreted value. The balance of the net proceeds, together with borrowings under the revolving credit agreement, is expected to be used to redeem all of U.S. Cellular’s 7.25% senior notes as of August 16, 2004. No gain or loss is expected to be recognized as a result of such redemptions. However, U.S. Cellular expects to charge $3.6 million of deferred debt expenses to the Statement of Operations related to the redemption of long-term debt.
As of the date of filing of this Form 10-Q, U.S. Cellular is in compliance with all covenants and other requirements set forth in its revolving credit agreement and long-term debt indentures. U.S. Cellular does not have any rating downgrade triggers that would accelerate the maturity dates of its debt. However, a downgrade in U.S. Cellular’s credit rating could adversely affect its ability to renew existing, or obtain access to new, credit facilities in the future.
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Marketable Equity Securities and Forward Contracts
U.S. Cellular and its subsidiaries hold a substantial amount of marketable equity securities that are publicly traded and can have volatile share prices. U.S. Cellular and its subsidiaries do not make direct investments in publicly traded companies and all of these interests were acquired as a result of sales, trades or reorganizations of other assets.The investment in Vodafone Group Plc (“Vodafone”) resulted from certain dispositions of non-strategic cellular investments to or settlements with AirTouch Communications, Inc. (“AirTouch”), in exchange for stock of AirTouch, which was then acquired by Vodafone whereby U.S. Cellular received American Depositary Receipts representing Vodafone stock. The investment in Rural Cellular Corporation (“Rural Cellular”) is the result of a consolidation of several cellular partnerships in which U.S. Cellular subsidiaries held interests into Rural Cellular , and the distribution of Rural Cellular stock in exchange for these interests. A contributing factor in U.S. Cellular’s decision not to dispose of the investments is that their tax basis is significantly lower compared to current stock prices, and therefore would trigger a substantial taxable gain upon disposition.
A subsidiary of U.S. Cellular has entered into a number of variable prepaid forward contracts (“forward contracts”) with counterparties related to the marketable equity securities that it holds. The forward contracts mature in May 2007 and, at U.S. Cellular’s option, may be settled in shares of the respective security or cash. U.S. Cellular has provided guarantees to the counterparties which provide assurance that all principal and interest amounts will be paid upon settlement of the contracts by its subsidiary. If shares are delivered in the settlement of the forward contract, U.S. Cellular would incur a current tax liability at the time of delivery based on the difference between the tax basis of the marketable equity securities delivered and the net amount realized through maturity. Deferred taxes have been provided for the difference between the financial reporting basis and the income tax basis of the marketable equity securities and are included in deferred tax liabilities on the balance sheet. As of June 30, 2004, such deferred tax liabilities totaled $71.7 million.
U.S. Cellular is required to comply with certain covenants under the forward contracts. On May 14, 2004, U.S. Cellular filed a Form 10-K/A to restate its financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 and for the interim periods for such years. The restatements resulted in defaults under certain of the forward contracts with one counterparty. U.S. Cellular did not fail to make any scheduled payments under any of the forward contracts. U.S. Cellular received waivers from the counterparty to such forward contracts, as required, under which the counterparty agreed to waive any defaults that may have occurred as a result of the restatements.
As of the date of filing of this Form 10-Q, U.S. Cellular is in compliance with all covenants and other requirements set forth in the forward contracts.
Capital Expenditures
Anticipated capital expenditures for 2004 primarily reflect U.S. Cellular’s plans for construction, system expansion, the buildout of certain of its licensed areas and additional expenditures related to its plans to migrate to a single digital equipment platform. U.S. Cellular plans to finance its construction program using internally generated cash and short-term and long-term financing. U.S. Cellular’s estimated capital spending for 2004 is $655 million to $695 million. U.S. Cellular’s capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2004 totaled $263.1 million.
U.S. Cellular’s 2004 capital expenditures will primarily address the following needs:
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U.S. Cellular’s overlay of existing technologies with CDMA is largely completed, and when the project is fully completed in 2004 it anticipates total expenditures related to the project to be no more than $300 million. U.S. Cellular will utilize CDMA technology in building out the licenses it has acquired and expects to acquire in the future from AT&T Wireless.
U.S. Cellular expects capital expenditures related to the buildout of the licensed areas it acquired in 2001 through 2003, including those in the AT&T Wireless exchange transaction, to be substantial. U.S. Cellular plans to build networks to serve these licensed areas and launch commercial service in these areas over the next several years. Approximately $100 million of the estimated capital spending for 2004 is allocated to the buildout of certain of these licenses, and U.S. Cellular expects a significant portion of its capital spending over the next few years to be related to the buildout of its wireless licensed areas.
Repurchase of Securities
U.S. Cellular has no current plans to repurchase a significant number of its Common Shares, and it did not repurchase any Common Shares in the first six months of 2004 or 2003. U.S. Cellular’s primary repurchase program expired in December 2003. However, U.S. Cellular has an ongoing authorization to repurchase a limited amount of additional Common Shares on a quarterly basis, primarily for use in employee benefit plans.
Contractual Obligations
Except as described below, there has been no material change in the resources required for scheduled repayment of contractual obligations from the table of Contractual Obligations included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition included in U.S. Cellular’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended.
Subsequent to December 31, 2003, U.S. Cellular issued $330 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured 7.5% senior notes due 2034 and an additional $100 million of its unsecured 6.7% senior notes due 2033 in June 2004. The total net proceeds from these offerings, after deducting underwriting discounts, were approximately $412.5 million. Of this amount, approximately $163.3 million was used to redeem U.S. Cellular’s Liquid Yield Option Notes on July 26, 2004. The balance of the net proceeds, together with borrowings under the revolving credit agreement, is expected to be used to redeem all of U.S. Cellular’s 7.25% senior notes as of August 16, 2004.
The following table shows the increases and decreases in contractual obligations, as presented in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended, as a result of the debt transactions described above:
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
U.S. Cellular has no transactions, agreements or contractual arrangements with unconsolidated entities involving “off-balance sheet arrangements,” as defined by SEC rules, that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, revenues or expenses.
U.S. Cellular has certain variable interests in investments in unconsolidated entities where U.S. Cellular holds a minority interest. The investments in unconsolidated entities total $189.5 million as of June 30, 2004 and are accounted for using either the equity or cost method. U.S. Cellular’s maximum loss exposure for these variable interests is limited to the aggregate carrying amount of the investments.
Indemnity Agreements
U.S. Cellular enters into agreements in the normal course of business that provide for indemnification of counterparties. These include certain asset sales and financings with other parties. The term of the indemnification varies by agreement. The events or circumstances that would require U.S. Cellular to perform under these indemnities are transaction specific; however these agreements may require U.S. Cellular to indemnify the counterparty for costs and losses incurred from litigation or claims arising from the underlying transaction. U.S. Cellular is unable to estimate the maximum potential liability for these types of indemnifications as the amounts are dependent on the outcome of future events, the nature and likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time. Historically, U.S. Cellular has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements.
ACQUISITIONS, EXCHANGES AND DIVESTITURES
U.S. Cellular assesses its wireless holdings on an ongoing basis in order to maximize the benefits derived from its operating markets. U.S. Cellular also reviews attractive opportunities for the acquisition of additional wireless spectrum.
2004 Activity
On February 18, 2004, U.S. Cellular completed the sale of certain of its wireless properties in southern Texas to AT&T Wireless for $96.9 million in cash, including a working capital adjustment. The U.S. Cellular markets sold to AT&T Wireless included wireless assets and customers in six 25 megahertz cellular markets. An aggregate loss of $21.3 million (including a $22.0 million estimate of the Loss on assets held for sale in the fourth quarter of 2003 and a $725,000 reduction of the loss in the six months ended June 30, 2004) was recorded as a Loss on assets held for sale (included in operating expenses), representing the difference between the carrying value of the markets sold to AT&T Wireless and the cash received and expected to be received in the transaction.
In addition, in the first quarter of 2004, U.S. Cellular purchased certain minority interests in several wireless markets in which it already owned a controlling interest for $40.4 million in cash. These acquisitions increased investment in licenses, goodwill and customer lists by $2.7 million, $3.6 million and $12.9 million, respectively.
Subsequent Event
On August 4, 2004, TDS and U.S. Cellular announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with ALLTEL Communications, Inc. ("ALLTEL") to sell certain wireless properties. U.S. Cellular will sell two consolidated properties and five minority interests to ALLTEL for $80 million in cash, including repayment of debt and working capital that is subject to adjustment at closing. The transactions are subject to regulatory approvals. The closing of the transactions are expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2004.
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The following table summarizes the recorded value of the assets and liabilities of the properties that U.S. Cellular will be transferring:
U.S. Cellular expects to record a gain related to these transactions for the excess of the cash received over the book value of the net assets given up, subject to a working capital adjustment. As a result of signing the definitive agreements for these transactions, U.S. Cellular will reclassify the net assets of the properties to be transferred as assets held for sale in the third quarter of 2004.
2003 Activity
On August 1, 2003, U.S. Cellular completed the transfer of wireless assets and customers in ten 25 megahertz markets in Florida and Georgia to AT&T Wireless pursuant to an agreement entered into in March 2003. In return, U.S. Cellular received the following: a) rights to acquire controlling interests in 36 personal communication service licenses contiguous to and that overlap existing U.S. Cellular properties in 13 states in the Midwest and the Northeast; b) approximately $34 million in cash; and c) minority interests in six markets in which it previously owned a controlling interest. In accordance with the agreement, U.S. Cellular has deferred the assignment and development of 21 licenses for a period of up to five years from the closing date. U.S. Cellular will take possession of the licenses in staggered closings over that five-year period to comply with service requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). The value of these licenses is recorded as License rights on the Balance Sheet.
The acquisition of the licenses in the exchange was accounted for as a purchase by U.S. Cellular and the transfer of the properties by U.S. Cellular to AT&T Wireless was accounted for as a sale. An estimated loss of $25.1 million was recorded in the six months ended June 30, 2003 as a Loss on assets held for sale (included in operating expenses), representing the difference between the carrying value of the markets transferred to AT&T Wireless and the fair value of the consideration received or to be received in the transaction.
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
U.S. Cellular prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). U.S. Cellular’s significant accounting policies are discussed in detail in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions and information that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
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Management believes the following critical accounting estimates reflect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements. U.S. Cellular’s senior management has discussed the development and selection of each of the following accounting estimates and the following disclosures with the audit committee of U.S. Cellular’s board of directors.
Investment in Licenses and Goodwill
U.S. Cellular reported $1,192.8 million and $1,189.3 million of investment in licenses and $433.3 million and $430.3 million of goodwill, at June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively, as a result of the acquisitions of wireless licenses and markets. In addition, at the end of both periods, U.S. Cellular reported $42.0 million of License rights related to the licenses that will be received when the AT&T Wireless exchange transaction is fully completed.
Investments in licenses and goodwill must be reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. U.S. Cellular performs the annual impairment review on licenses and goodwill during the second quarter. There can be no assurance that, upon review at a later date, material impairment charges will not be required.
The intangible asset impairment test consists of comparing the fair value of the intangible asset to the carrying amount of the intangible asset. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference. The goodwill impairment test is a two-step process. The first step compares the fair value of the reporting unit, as identified in accordance with SFAS No. 142, to its carrying value. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the second step of the test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step compares the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. To calculate the implied fair value of goodwill, an enterprise allocates the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that reporting unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value was the price paid to acquire the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit is the implied fair value of goodwill. If the carrying amount exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized for that difference.
The fair value of an intangible asset and reporting unit goodwill is the amount at which that asset or reporting unit could be bought or sold in a current transaction between willing parties. Therefore, quoted market prices in active markets are the best evidence of fair value and should be used when available. If quoted market prices are not available, the estimate of fair value is based on the best information available, including prices for similar assets and the use of other valuation techniques. Other valuation techniques include present value analysis, multiples of earnings or revenue or a similar performance measure. The use of these techniques involve assumptions by management about factors that are highly uncertain including future cash flows, the appropriate discount rate and other inputs. Different assumptions for these inputs or different valuation methods could create materially different results.
U.S. Cellular tests goodwill for impairment at the level of reporting referred to as a reporting unit. Following the divestiture of its southern Texas markets, which in the aggregate represented an entire reporting unit, in February 2004, U.S. Cellular has identified six reporting units pursuant to paragraph 30 of SFAS No. 142. The six reporting units represent six geographic groupings of FCC licenses, constituting six geographic service areas. U.S. Cellular combines its FCC licenses into six units of accounting for purposes of testing the licenses for impairment pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force Statement 02-7, “Units of Accounting for Testing Impairment of Indefinite-Lived Assets” (“EITF 02-7”) and SFAS No. 142, using the same geographic groupings as its reporting units.
In 2004 and 2003, U.S. Cellular retained a third-party valuation firm to prepare valuations of each of the reporting units for purposes of goodwill impairment testing. A discounted cash flow approach was used to value each of the reporting units, using value drivers and risks specific to each individual geographic region. The cash flow estimates incorporate assumptions that market participants would use in their estimates of fair value. Key assumptions made in this process were the selection of a discount rate, estimated future cash flow levels, projected capital expenditures, and selection of terminal values.
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U.S. Cellular also retained a third-party valuation firm to prepare valuations of similar groupings of FCC licenses (units of accounting pursuant to EITF 02-7). The valuations were prepared using an excess earnings methodology, through the use of a discounted cash flow approach. This excess earnings methodology estimates the fair value of the intangible assets (FCC license units of accounting) by measuring the future cash flows of the license groups, reduced by charges for contributory assets such as working capital, trademarks, existing subscribers, fixed assets, assembled workforce and goodwill.
In the second quarter of 2004, U.S. Cellular recorded an additional $1.8 million impairment loss on its investment in the same non-operating market in Florida in which the license impairment loss was recorded in the first quarter of 2003. No other impairment losses were identified during the annual impairment testing in the second quarter of 2004.
In the first quarter of 2003 a license impairment loss was recorded related to U.S. Cellular’s investment in a non-operational market in Florida remaining after the exchange with AT&T Wireless was completed. In the second quarter of 2003, U.S. Cellular recorded an impairment loss on its investment in licenses totaling $49.6 million in 2003 related to the impairment of two reporting units.
The changes in the carrying amounts of licenses and license rights and goodwill for the six months ended June 30, 2004 were as follows:
Asset Retirement Obligations
SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” became effective for U.S. Cellular beginning January 1, 2003. SFAS No. 143 requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for legal obligations associated with an asset retirement in the period in which the obligations are incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost of the asset retirement obligation by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the obligation, any difference between the cost to retire the asset and the liability recorded is recognized in the statement of operations as a gain or loss.
The calculation of the asset retirement obligation for U.S. Cellular is a critical accounting estimate because changing the factors used in calculating the obligation could result in larger or smaller estimated obligations that could have a significant impact on its results of operations and financial condition. Such factors may include probabilities or likelihood of remediation, cost estimates, lease renewals and salvage values. Actual results may differ materially from estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
U.S. Cellular is subject to asset retirement obligations associated primarily with its cell sites, retail sites and office locations. Asset retirement obligations include costs to remediate leased land on which U.S. Cellular’s cell sites and switching offices are located. U.S. Cellular is also required to return lease retail store premises and office space to their pre-existing conditions.
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U.S. Cellular determined that it had an obligation to remove long-lived assets in its cell sites, retail sites and office locations as described by SFAS 143. The change in asset retirement obligation during 2004 was as follows:
The accounting for income taxes, the amounts of income tax assets and liabilities and the related income tax provision are critical accounting estimates because such amounts are significant to U.S. Cellular’s financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations.
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires U.S. Cellular to calculate its provision for income taxes. This process involves estimating the actual current income tax liability together with assessing temporary differences resulting from the different treatment of items, such as depreciation expense, for tax and accounting purposes. These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in U.S. Cellular’s consolidated balance sheet. U.S. Cellular must then assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, and, to the extent management believes that recovery is not likely, establish a valuation allowance. Management’s judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. U.S. Cellular’s current net deferred tax asset was $18.4 million as of June 30, 2004, representing primarily the deferred tax effects of the allowance for doubtful accounts on accounts receivable, and is included in Other current assets on the balance sheet.
The temporary differences that gave rise to the noncurrent deferred tax assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2004 are as follows:
The valuation allowance relates to state net operating loss carryforwards and the federal net operating loss carryforwards for those subsidiaries not included in the consolidated federal income tax return since it is more likely than not that a portion will expire before such carryforwards can be utilized.
The deferred income tax liability relating to marketable equity securities of $71.7 million at June 30, 2004 represents deferred income taxes calculated on the difference between the book basis and the tax basis of the marketable securities. Income taxes will be payable when U.S. Cellular disposes of the marketable equity securities.
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U.S. Cellular is routinely subject to examination of its income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other tax authorities. U.S. Cellular periodically assesses the likelihood of adjustments to its tax liabilities resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes, including related interest. Management judgment is required in assessing the eventual outcome of these examinations. Changes to such assessments affect the calculation of U.S. Cellular’s income tax expense. The IRS has completed audits of U.S. Cellular’s federal income tax returns (through its parent company – TDS) for tax years through 1996.
In the event of an increase in the value of tax assets or a decrease in tax liabilities, U.S. Cellular would decrease the income tax expense or increase the income tax benefit by an equivalent amount. In the event of a decrease in the value of tax assets or an increase in tax liabilities, U.S. Cellular would increase the income tax expense or decrease the income tax benefit by an equivalent amount.
Property, Plant and Equipment
U.S. Cellular provides for depreciation on its property, plant and equipment using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Annually, U.S. Cellular reviews its property, plant and equipment to assess whether the estimated useful lives are appropriate. The estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment is a critical accounting estimate because changing the lives of assets can result in larger or smaller charges for depreciation expense. Factors used in determining useful lives include technology changes, regulatory requirements, obsolescence and type of use.
In the first quarter of 2004, U.S. Cellular adjusted the useful lives of TDMA radio equipment, switch software and antenna equipment. TDMA radio equipment lives were adjusted to be fully depreciated by the end of 2008, which is the latest date the wireless industry will be required by regulation to support analog service. U.S. Cellular currently uses TDMA radio equipment to support analog service, and expects to have its digital radio network fully migrated to CDMA 1XRTT or some future generation of CDMA technology by that time. The useful lives for certain switch software was reduced to one year from three years and antenna equipment lives were reduced from eight years to seven years in order to better align the useful lives with the actual length of time the assets are in use. These changes increased depreciation by $2.5 million and $9.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2004, respectively, and is estimated to increase depreciation by $14.9 million for the full year 2004. The change in useful lives reduced net income by $1.5 million, or $0.02 per share in the three months ended June 30, 2004 and by $6.0 million, or $0.07 per share in the six months ended June 30, 2004.
In the second quarter of 2004, certain TDMA digital radio equipment consigned to a third party for future sale was written down by $6.3 million prior to its consignment, increasing depreciation expense by that amount. This writedown was necessary to reduce the book value of the assets to be sold to their estimated proceeds from disposition.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
In August 2002, U.S. Cellular entered into a loan agreement with TDS (“Intercompany Note”) under which it borrowed $105 million, which was used for the Chicago market purchase. The loan bore interest at an annual rate of 8.1%, payable quarterly, and was due in August 2008, with prepayments optional. The terms of the loan did not contain covenants that are more restrictive than those included in U.S. Cellular’s senior debt, except that, until December 19, 2003, the loan agreement provided that U.S. Cellular may not incur senior debt in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $325 million unless it obtained the consent of TDS as lender. U.S. Cellular’s Board of Directors, including independent directors, approved the terms of this loan and determined that such terms were fair to U.S. Cellular and all of its shareholders. On February 9, 2004, U.S. Cellular repaid this note in full.
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U.S. Cellular is billed for all services it receives from TDS, pursuant to the terms of various agreements between it and TDS. The majority of these billings are included in U.S. Cellular’s general and administrative expenses. Some of these agreements were established at a time prior to U.S. Cellular’s initial public offering when TDS owned more than 90% of U.S. Cellular’s outstanding capital stock and may not reflect terms that would be obtainable from an unrelated third party through arms-length negotiations. The principal arrangements that affect U.S. Cellular’s operations are described in Item 13 of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended. Management believes the method TDS uses to allocate common expenses is reasonable and that all expenses and costs applicable to U.S. Cellular are reflected in its financial statements on a basis which is representative of what they would have been if it operated on a stand-alone basis.
The following persons are partners of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, the principal law firm of U.S. Cellular and its subsidiaries: Walter C. D. Carlson, a director of U.S. Cellular, a director and non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of TDS and a trustee and beneficiary of a voting trust that controls TDS; William S. DeCarlo, the General Counsel of TDS and an Assistant Secretary of TDS and certain subsidiaries of TDS; and Stephen P. Fitzell, the General Counsel and an Assistant Secretary of U.S. Cellular and the General Counsel and/or Assistant Secretary of certain other subsidiaries of TDS. Walter C. D. Carlson does not provide legal services to TDS, U.S. Cellular or their subsidiaries.
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PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 SAFE HARBOR CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition and other sections of this Annual Report to Shareholders 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:
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
U.S. Cellular is subject to market rate risks due to fluctuations in interest rates. U.S. Cellular currently has both fixed-rate and variable-rate long-term debt instruments, with original maturities ranging from five to 30 years. Accordingly, fluctuations in interest rates can lead to significant fluctuations in the fair value of such instruments. As of June 30, 2004, U.S. Cellular has not entered into financial derivatives to reduce its exposure to interest rate risks.
Reference is made to the disclosure under Market Risk – Long Term Debt in U.S. Cellular’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended, for additional information about the annual requirements of principal payments, the average interest rates, and the estimated fair values of long-term debt.
In June 2004, U.S. Cellular issued $330 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured 7.5% senior notes due 2034 and $100 million of unsecured 6.7% senior notes due 2033 in June 2004. The total net proceeds from these offerings, after deducting underwriting discounts, were approximately $412.5 million. Of this amount, $163.3 million was used to redeem U.S. Cellular’s Liquid Yield Option Notes on July 26, 2004 at accreted value. The balance of the net proceeds, together with borrowings under the revolving credit agreement, is expected to be used to redeem all of U.S. Cellular’s 7.25% senior notes as of August 16, 2004.
The following shows the annual requirements for principal payments on such long-term debt transactions:
U.S. Cellular maintains a portfolio of available-for-sale marketable equity securities, the majority of which are the result of sales or trades of non-strategic assets. The market value of these investments aggregated $229.7 million at June 30, 2004. As of June 30, 2004, the net unrealized holding gain, net of tax included in accumulated other comprehensive income totaled $42.1 million.
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A subsidiary of U.S. Cellular has entered into forward contracts related to the Vodafone marketable equity securities that it holds. U.S. Cellular has provided guarantees to the counterparties which provide assurance to the counterparties that all principal and interest amounts are paid upon settlement of the contracts by such subsidiary. The risk management objective of the forward contracts is to hedge the value of the marketable equity securities from losses due to decreases in the market prices of the securities (“downside limit”) while retaining a share of gains from increases in the market prices of such securities (“upside potential”). The downside limit of the Vodafone securities is hedged at a range of $15.07 to $16.07 per share, which is at or above the cost basis, thereby eliminating the other than temporary risk on these contracted securities. The upside potential is a range of $21.31 to $22.93 per share.
Under the terms of the forward contracts, U.S. Cellular continues to own the contracted shares and will receive dividends paid on such contracted shares, if any. The forward contracts mature in May 2007 and, at U.S. Cellular’s option, may be settled in shares of the security or in cash, pursuant to formulas that “collar” the price of the shares. The collars effectively limit U.S. Cellular’s downside risk and upside potential on the contracted shares. The collars are typically adjusted for any changes in dividends on the contracted shares. If U.S. Cellular elects to settle in shares, it will be required to deliver the number of shares of the contracted security determined pursuant to the formula. If shares are delivered in the settlement of the forward contract, U.S. Cellular would incur a current tax liability at the time of delivery based on the difference between the tax basis of the marketable equity securities delivered and the net amount realized though maturity. If U.S. Cellular elects to settle in cash, it will be required to pay an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of the number of shares determined pursuant to the formula. If cash is delivered in the settlement of the forward contract, U.S. Cellular would incur a current tax liability or a deferred tax benefit, based on the difference between the amount of cash paid in the settlement and the net amount realized through maturity.
Deferred taxes have been provided for the difference between the carrying value and the income tax basis of the marketable equity securities and are included in deferred tax liabilities on the balance sheet. Such deferred tax liabilities totaled $71.7 million at June 30, 2004.
The following table summarizes certain details relating to the contracted securities as of June 30, 2004.
The following analysis presents the hypothetical change in the fair value of marketable equity securities and derivative instruments at June 30, 2004, using the Black-Scholes model, assuming the same hypothetical price fluctuations of plus and minus 10%, 20% and 30%. The table presents hypothetical information as required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Such information should not be inferred to suggest that U.S. Cellular has any intention of selling any marketable equity securities or canceling any derivative instruments.
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
U.S. Cellular is involved in a number of legal proceedings before the FCC and various state and federal courts. In some cases, the litigation involves disputes regarding rights to certain wireless telephone systems and other interests. U.S. Cellular does not believe that any of these proceedings should have a material adverse impact on U.S. Cellular.
Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
U.S. Cellular Repurchases of Common Shares
Neither U.S. Cellular, nor any "affiliated purchaser" (as defined by the SEC) of U.S. Cellular, has made any purchases of U.S. Cellular Common Shares under U.S. Cellular's publicly announced repurchase program or otherwise during the quarter covered by this Form 10-Q.
The following is additional information with respect to U.S. Cellular's publicly announced Common Share repurchase program:
U.S. Cellular Repurchases of Liquid Yield Option Notes
On June 24, 2004, U.S. Cellular issued a notice of redemption and all of the subordinated 6% zero coupon convertible debentures, also known as Liquid Yield Option Notes ("LYONs"), were redeemed in full as of July 26, 2004 pursuant to the terms of the LYONs. The following provides information about the LYONs for and as of the end of the quarter ended June 30, 2004.
Neither U.S. Cellular, nor any "affiliated purchaser" (as defined by the SEC) of U.S. Cellular, has made any purchases of U.S. Cellular's LYONs under U.S. Cellular's publicly announced repurchase program or otherwise during the quarter covered by this Form 10-Q. For these purposes, purchases do not include LYONs canceled upon conversion, regardless of whether U.S. Cellular delivered cash or Common Shares in exchange therefor. Also, purchases do not include any LYONs that may be redeemed pursuant to the terms of the LYONs. U.S. Cellular may redeem the LYONs in whole or in part from time to time at accreted value.
The following is additional information with respect to U.S. Cellular's publicly announced LYONs repurchase programs:
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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security-Holders
At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of U.S. Cellular, held on June 29, 2004, the following number of votes were cast for the matters indicated:
1. Election of Directors:
2. Proposal to Ratify the Selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Independent Accountants for 2004:
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Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.
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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 thereunto duly authorized.
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION(Registrant)
Signature page for the U.S. Cellular 2004 Second Quarter Form 10-Q