UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP

UScellular operates a capital‑intensive business. UScellular makes substantial investments to acquire wireless spectrum licenses and to construct and upgrade wireless telecommunications networks and facilities with a goal of creating long-term value for shareholders. In recent years, rapid changes in technology and new opportunities have required substantial investments in potentially revenue‑enhancing and cost-saving upgrades to UScellular’s networks. Revenues from certain of these investments are long-term and in some cases are uncertain. To meet its cash-flow needs, UScellular may need to delay or reduce certain investments or sell assets. Refer to Liquidity and Capital Resources within this MD&A and Note 7 — Divestitures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. Cash flows may fluctuate from quarter to quarter and year to year due to seasonality, timing and other factors. The following discussion summarizes UScellular’s cash flow activities in 2024, 2023 and 2022.

2024 Commentary

UScellular’s Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash decreased $20 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $883 million due to net loss of $32 million adjusted for non-cash items of $791 million and distributions received from unconsolidated entities of $169 million including $75 million in distributions from the LA Partnership. This was partially offset by changes in working capital items which decreased net cash by $45 million. The working capital changes were primarily driven by an increase in receivable balances and the timing of vendor payments, partially offset by reduced inventory balances.

Distributions from certain equity method investments operated by Verizon are expected to include incremental discrete amounts in 2025 related to proceeds received by Verizon in the tower transaction with Vertical Bridge that closed in December 2024. The process of administering these distributions is in progress and it is uncertain whether such incremental discrete amounts will result in an increase in total distributions from these partnerships in 2025 relative to 2024 given that the final amount of the incremental distributions is not known, and total distributions are dependent upon the operations of the underlying operating companies, and the general partners’ decisions on the amount and timing of any distributions, among other factors.

Cash flows used for investing activities were $556 million, which included payments for property, plant and equipment of $537 million and payments for wireless spectrum licenses of $20 million.

Cash flows used for financing activities were $347 million, due primarily to repayments of $188 million on the receivables securitization agreement, $60 million of repayments on term loan agreements, cash paid for software license agreements of $66 million and the repurchase of $54 million Common Shares, partially offset by $40 million borrowed under the receivables securitization agreement.

2023 Commentary

UScellular’s Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash decreased $129 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $866 million due to net income of $58 million adjusted for non-cash items of $693 million and distributions received from unconsolidated entities of $150 million including $69 million in distributions from the LA Partnership. This was partially offset by changes in working capital items which decreased net cash by $35 million. The working capital changes were primarily driven by the timing of vendor payments, partially offset by reduced inventory balances.

Cash flows used for investing activities were $721 million, which included payments for property, plant and equipment of $608 million and payments for wireless spectrum licenses of $130 million.

Cash flows used for financing activities were $274 million, due primarily to repayments of $440 million on the receivables securitization agreement, a $60 million repayment on the EIP receivables repurchase agreement and cash paid for software license agreements of $66 million, partially offset by $315 million borrowed under the receivables securitization agreement.

2022 Commentary

UScellular’s Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash increased $109 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $832 million due to net income of $35 million adjusted for non-cash items of $761 million and distributions received from unconsolidated entities of $145 million including $59 million in distributions from the LA Partnership. This was partially offset by changes in working capital items which decreased net cash by $109 million. The working capital changes were primarily influenced by an increase in receivable and inventory balances, partially offset by a federal income tax refund of $123 million received during the first quarter of 2022. The increase in receivables was driven by a high volume of equipment upgrades due to promotional activities and a longer contract term for equipment installment plans.

Cash flows used for investing activities were $1,179 million, which included payments for property, plant and equipment of $602 million and payments for wireless spectrum licenses of $585 million. Cash payments for property, plant and equipment are lower than the total capital expenditures in 2022 due primarily to future obligations of certain software license agreements that are recorded as current year capital expenditures but are paid over time.

Cash flows provided by financing activities were $456 million, due primarily to $500 million borrowed under the term loan facilities, $150 million borrowed under the export credit financing agreement, $110 million borrowed under the EIP receivables repurchase agreement, $75 million borrowed under the revolving credit agreement, and $75 million borrowed under the receivables securitization agreement. These were partially offset by $250 million of repayments on the receivables securitization agreement, a $75 million repayment on the revolving credit agreement, a $50 million repayment on the EIP receivables repurchase agreement, the repurchase of $43 million of Common Shares and cash paid for software license agreements of $22 million.