UScellular Announces Pricing of $500 Million of 5.500% Senior Notes due 2070

Rhea-AI Summary

UScellular announced the pricing of a public offering for $500 million of 5.500% Senior Notes due 2070, callable at par on June 1, 2026. The closing of the offering is anticipated on May 17, 2021. Proceeds will be used to redeem a portion of outstanding 7.25% Senior Notes due 2064 and for general corporate purposes, including debt repayment and funding 5G projects. The notes will be listed on the NYSE under symbol UZF. BofA Securities and other firms are managing the offering.

Positive

• Raising $500 million through Senior Notes enhances liquidity.
• Use of proceeds for debt redemption may lower interest expenses.
• Funds allocated for 5G buildout could improve competitive positioning.

Negative

• Significant debt issuance may raise concerns about long-term financial health.
• Market competition may impact the effectiveness of new capital investments.

CHICAGO, May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE: USM) ("UScellular") announced today the pricing of an underwritten public offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.500% Senior Notes due 2070. The notes will be callable at par on and after June 1, 2026. Closing of the offering is expected to occur on May 17, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The notes are expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "UZF".

Following completion of the offering, UScellular expects to use a portion of the net proceeds to redeem some or all of the $300 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 7.25% Senior Notes due 2064 and the remainder of the net proceeds from the offering, if any, for general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation, the repayment of other indebtedness, the purchase of additional spectrum and the funding of capital expenditures, including in connection with 5G buildout projects.

BofA Securities, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, RBC Capital Markets, UBS Investment Bank and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

UScellular has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) related to the notes with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Information about the offering of the notes is available in the prospectus supplement to be filed by UScellular with the SEC. The offering is being made under UScellular's registration statement filed with the SEC and only by means of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the prospectus supplement related to the offering and other documents UScellular has filed with the SEC for more complete information about UScellular and the offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, when available, a copy of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained from any of the following: BofA Securities, Inc., toll-free at 1-800-294-1322 or email dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., toll-free at 1-800-831-9146 or prospectus@citi.com; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, toll-free at 1-800-584-6837; RBC Capital Markets, LLC toll-free at 1-866-375-6829 or email rbcnyfixedincomeprospectus@rbccm.com; UBS Securities LLC, toll-free at 1-888-827-7275; or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, toll-free at 1-800-645-3751 or email wfscustomerservice@wellsfargo.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

About UScellular
UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier is building a stronger network with the latest 5G technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers' lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements. This includes all statements about the closing of the offering and the use of proceeds therefrom. These statements are based on current estimates, projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: intense competition; the ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on acceptable terms; the ability to obtain access to adequate radio spectrum to meet current or anticipated future needs, including participation in FCC auctions; the ability to attract people of outstanding talent throughout all levels of the organization; UScellular's smaller scale relative to larger competitors; changes in demand, consumer preferences and perceptions, price competition, or churn rates; advances in technology; impacts of costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions, divestitures or exchanges of properties or wireless spectrum licenses and/or expansion of UScellular's businesses; the ability of the company to successfully construct and manage its networks; difficulties involving third parties; uncertainties in UScellular's future cash flows and liquidity and access to the capital markets; the ability to make payments on UScellular indebtedness or comply with the terms of debt covenants; conditions in the U.S. telecommunications industry; the value of assets and investments; the state and federal regulatory environment; pending and future litigation; potential conflicts of interests between TDS and UScellular; cyber-attacks or other breaches of network or information technology security; disruption in credit or other financial markets; deterioration of U.S. or global economic conditions; and the impact, duration and severity of public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are more fully described under "Risk Factors" in the most recent filing of UScellular's Form 10-K, as updated by any UScellular Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Form 10-K.

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SOURCE United States Cellular Corporation

FAQ

What are the details of USM's recent public offering?

UScellular announced a public offering of $500 million in 5.500% Senior Notes due 2070, with closing expected on May 17, 2021.

When can USM's Senior Notes be called?

The Senior Notes can be called at par starting June 1, 2026.

What will USM do with the proceeds from the offering?

Proceeds will be used to redeem some existing 7.25% Senior Notes and for general corporate purposes, including 5G projects.

Where will USM's Senior Notes be listed?

The Senior Notes will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UZF.

Who is managing the USM notes offering?

BofA Securities, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and others are acting as joint book-running managers.