U S WEST INC /DE/
8-K, 1998-10-21
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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================================================================================


                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934




       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 21, 1998




                                 U S WEST, Inc.
                            (Formerly "USW-C, Inc.")
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       <S>                                         <C>                              <C>   

        A Delaware Corporation                     Commission File                  IRS Employer Identification
       (State of Incorporation)                    Number 1-14087                         No. 84-0953188
</TABLE>




                 1801 California Street, Denver, Colorado 80202
               (Address of principal executive offices, including
                                    Zip Code)


                         Telephone Number (303) 672-2700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




================================================================================


<PAGE>


Item 5.       Other Events

              On October 21,  1998,  U S WEST,  Inc.  (formerly  "USW-C,  Inc.")
released  its  third  quarter  earnings  results.   The  release  and  financial
statements are attached hereto as Exhibits.


Item 7.       Exhibits

Exhibit       Description

27            Financial Data Schedule

99            Press Release  issued  October 21, 1998  concerning  the earnings 
              results of U S WEST,  Inc. for the third quarter of 1998.

99A.1         Unaudited  Combined  Pro Forma  Statements  of Income of U S WEST,
              Inc. for the quarters and nine-month  periods ended  September 30,
              1997 and 1998,  respectively,  filed in connection  with the Press
              Release dated October 21, 1998.

99A.2         Unaudited Pro Forma Earnings  Normalization  Schedule of U S WEST,
              Inc. for the quarters and nine-month  periods ended  September 30,
              1997 and 1998,  respectively,  filed in connection  with the Press
              Release dated October 21, 1998.

99A.3         Unaudited  Selected  Consolidated  Data of U S WEST,  Inc. for the
              quarters and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1998,
              respectively,  filed in  connection  with the Press  Release dated
              October 21, 1998.

99A.4         Unaudited Consolidated  Statements of Income of U S WEST, Inc. for
              the quarters and nine-month  periods ended  September 30, 1997 and
              1998,  respectively,  filed in  connection  with the Press Release
              dated October 21, 1998.

99A.5         Unaudited  Consolidated  Balance Sheets of U S WEST,  Inc. for the
              nine months ended  September 30, 1998 and the year ended  December
              31, 1997, filed in connection with the Press Release dated October
              21, 1998.

99A.6         Unaudited Consolidated  Statements of Cash Flows of U S WEST, Inc.
              for the  nine-month  periods  ended  September  30, 1997 and 1998,
              respectively,  filed in  connection  with the Press  Release dated
              October 21, 1998.





<PAGE>



                                    SIGNATURE

         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 hereunto duly authorized.


                                     U S WEST, Inc.
                                     (Formerly "USW-C, Inc.")

                                By:  /s/ Thomas O. McGimpsey
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     Thomas O. McGimpsey
                                     Assistant Secretary

Dated:        October 21, 1998



[U S WEST LOGO]

                               Investor Relations

                                                                     NEWS FLASH
October 21, 1998

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note to investors:  U S WEST (NYSE: USW) will hold a live teleconference call at
9:00 a.m. MDT (11:00 a.m.  EDT) today to discuss  third  quarter,  1998 results.
Participants  should call  1-800-946-0712  by the scheduled start time. A replay
will be available starting at noon MDT, through 6 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, Oct. 28
by calling 1-888-707-8792.
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          U S WEST CONTINUES EARNINGS GROWTH DURING THIRD QUARTER, 1998

      -- Company Surpasses 100,000 Mark for PCS Subscribers During Quarter;
         Results Reflect Strong Demand in Core Business and New Data and
                               Wireless Products;
        Earnings on Target Despite 2-Week Work Stoppage During Quarter --

DENVER - U S WEST (NYSE:  USW) today announced third quarter,  diluted  earnings
per share of $.75, up 4.2 percent from pro-forma, normalized third quarter, 1997
earnings.  [Note:  Net income and EPS figures used in this release are pro-forma
and include  full-quarter and  year-to-date,  1997 and 1998 impacts from the U S
WEST Dex transaction.]

Results  were  driven  by  continued  double-digit  earnings  growth in the core
communications business. Results were offset by the company's growth initiatives
- - - PCS,  data and video - which,  for now,  are  dilutive.  The company  released
first-year-in-market  figures for several of its new wireless and data products,
for which Inter@ctive Week and NetWorld+Interop  today named U S WEST the year's
"Most Innovative Local Exchange Carrier":

     - During the quarter, the company's Advanced PCS wireless product reached a
     significant milestone, with first-year-in-market subscriber levels reaching
     104,000,   following  its  September  1997  launch.  About  50  percent  of
     subscribers  are taking  advantage  of the  first-in-the-nation  integrated
     features.  Although  U S WEST  has  been the  sixth  entrant  in all of its
     markets,  Advanced  PCS  exceeded  the  industry  benchmark  of  1  percent
     penetration  in its first full year of  operation.  Yesterday,  the company
     launched  the product in its sixth major  market - Seattle  (including  the
     entire Puget Sound area) - with  innovative  Internet  text  messaging  and
     wireless  dialtone  features also  available in other U S WEST Advanced PCS
     markets.
     Advanced PCS now reaches 13.5 million POPs in U S WEST's region.

     - The company's Internet  access  service,  U S WEST.net - approaching  its
     first  year in market -  recently  exceeded  the  70,000-subscriber  level.
     During the quarter, the company completed its 45-city,  14-state deployment
     of the service,  which began in October 1997. Last week U S WEST introduced
     worldwide access for its U S WEST.net customers.

                                    - more -



<PAGE>


U S WEST Third Quarter Earnings - Page 2

     - U S WEST expanded availability  during the quarter for MegaBit  Services,
     its high-speed ADSL  (Asymmetric  Digital  Subscriber  Line) data offering,
     which  began  rolling  out  across the  region in May 1998.  The  September
     completion  of the ADSL rollout  followed a pilot  deployment of an earlier
     version of the  technology in Phoenix late last year.  Central  offices now
     equipped  with this  next-generation  data service  reach about 5.5 million
     lines in more than 40 cities.  By year-end  1998,  the company  projects it
     will have between 20,000 and 25,000 customers,  more than double the August
     1998  projection of U S WEST  customers by Forrester  Research and near the
     total  projection for 1998 by Forrester and The Yankee Group for the entire
     local telecommunications sector.

     - The company continued ramping up for a  late-1998 offering of its  Choice
     TV and OnLine VDSL (Very-high-speed  Digital  Subscriber  Line)  service in
     Phoenix.  VDSL enables  delivery of Internet  access and  cable-like  video
     services over copper wire to a television or computer.

"We met our financial  commitments  for the quarter and we're well positioned to
capture new revenue streams in the future," said Sol Trujillo, president and CEO
of U S WEST.  "Our growth  initiatives  -  particularly  our  wireless  and data
offerings - have really taken off.  Despite a two-week work stoppage,  our local
revenue  growth is  steady,  and we  continue  to  rapidly  build our ATM and IP
networks."

Trujillo  acknowledged  that the work stoppage did affect U S WEST's  ability to
provide new service to customers, but the company has caught up with most of the
backlog.  CWA  approved  the new  contract  on Oct.  9, with  nearly 70  percent
approval.

"In the end, the company  achieved its  objectives in the  bargaining  process,"
said Trujillo.  "This landmark  agreement not only includes a solid wage package
for our employees, it possesses a ground-breaking pay-for-performance bonus plan
for more than 7,000 customer service operations technicians. It also includes an
important   benchmark   healthcare   plan  and  call  monitoring  and  recording
enhancements.  Ultimately,  these  changes will benefit both our  customers  and
shareholders by improving productivity and service."

The company's 1995 labor  agreement with CWA introduced the  pay-for-performance
concept with sales  employees.  Today,  more than 85 percent of those  employees
take advantage of that  voluntary  program,  and from 1995 to 1997  productivity
among these sales employees rose between 24-36 percent in measures such as calls
per rep per day and revenue per rep per day.

The company achieved its third quarter results while absorbing significant costs
related to expansion of new growth businesses, expenses associated with mandated
interconnection and number portability, and Year 2000 expenses.

During the quarter,  the company saw continuing  impacts from competition in its
local  telephony  business.  It now has  re-sold  more  than  205,000  lines  to
competitors.

                                    - more -



<PAGE>


U S WEST Third Quarter Earnings - Page 3

During the quarter, the Iowa Utilities Board approved a three-year price plan in
which the company agreed to cap certain rates,  and which allowed U S WEST to be
more competitive and streamlined in its new product introductions.  Iowa becomes
the seventh among U S WEST's 14 states to adopt some form of regulation based on
price, not rate of return.

Other third quarter highlights include:

Volumes and Penetration:

     - The number of searches conducted on the U S WEST Dex Internet Yellow
     Pages grew by 126 percent, compared to third  quarter  1997.  In  addition,
     independent  market  research  indicates  that  this  usage  is  meaningful
     traffic,  which truly links buyers and sellers.  In Denver,  for  instance,
     this research shows that more  consumers use the Dex Internet  Yellow Pages
     to actually  follow up and contact  merchants and make  purchases  than any
     other  Internet  Yellow  Pages or local  city  guide  site.  Dex also began
     selling Web site design and local Internet banner  advertising  packages to
     small businesses,  and is seeing strong sales results. In the first 90 days
     of sales, nearly 1,000 small businesses have purchased web site design from
     U S WEST Dex.

     - Residential penetration levels at the end of the quarter for the 
     company's most popular custom calling features remained strong:  Caller ID,
     33.6 percent,  Voice  Messaging,  18.5 percent  (tops in the  industry) and
     Call Waiting, 35.7 percent.

     - The addition of 584,000  access lines (adjusted for the sales of selected
     rural  exchanges)  over the past 12 months for a normalized  growth rate of
     3.7 percent.  The company said some of the slowdown in this growth rate for
     the quarter is  attributable  to the work stoppage.  On an adjusted  basis,
     business access lines grew at 3.9 percent; residential access lines grew at
     3.6 percent; and residential additional lines grew 19.4 percent, reaching a
     penetration level of 15.2 percent.  Special access services growth was 29.9
     percent year-over-year.  On a  "voice-grade-equivalent"  basis, access line
     growth was 9.4 percent.

     - On the small business  side,  total  access lines  equipped  with Centrex
     services grew to nearly 1.4 million, a 50 percent year-over-year increase.

Sales and Revenues:

     - Local service revenues rose by 6.4 percent year over year.  Local service
     revenues on the consumer side were up 8.7 percent.

     - Published revenue growth for U S WEST Dex was 7.1 percent year over year.

     - Revenues from  vertical  services  increased by nearly 10 percent for the
     quarter.

     - Revenue from U S WEST's  data  group,  !NTERPRISE,  grew 51 percent  this
     quarter to $140 million.

                                    - more -



<PAGE>


U S WEST Third Quarter Earnings - Page 4

     - A 19 percent increase in private line and special access  revenues, which
     totaled $257 million for the third  quarter - a reflection of the company's
     growing data networking  services  business and its ability to successfully
     compete  in  one  of  the  most   highly   competitive   segments   of  the
     telecommunications market.

Costs and Margins:

     - Absorbed approximately  $60 million in  incremental  expenses  related to
     interconnection, number portability and Year 2000 during the quarter.

U S WEST  (NYSE:  USW)  provides a full range of  telecommunications  services -
including  wireline,  wireless PCS, data  networking,  directory and information
services - to more than 25 million  customers  nationally  and in 14 western and
midwestern states.  More information about U S WEST can be found on the Internet
at http://www.uswest.com.


[Safe Harbor Statement:  This document contains statements about expected future
events and financial results that are  forward-looking  and subject to risks and
uncertainties.  For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor
for forward-looking  statements  contained in the Private Securities  Litigation
Reform Act of 1995.  Factors  that could  cause  actual  results to differ  from
expectations include: (i) greater than anticipated competition from new entrants
into the local exchange, intraLATA toll, wireless, data and directories markets;
(ii)  changes in demand  for the  Company's  products  and  services,  including
optional custom calling features; (iii) higher than anticipated employee levels,
capital expenditures, and operating expenses (such as costs associated with year
2000  remediation);   (iv)  the  loss  of  significant  customers;  (v)  pending
regulatory actions in state jurisdictions; (vi) regulatory changes affecting the
telecommunications  industry, including changes that could have an impact on the
competitive environment in the local exchange market; (vii) a change in economic
conditions in the various markets served by the Company's  operations that could
adversely  affect the level of demand for  telephone,  wireless,  directories or
other  services  offered  by  the  Company;   (viii)  greater  than  anticipated
competitive  activity  requiring  new  pricing  for  services;  (ix) higher than
anticipated  start-up  costs  associated  with new business  opportunities;  (x)
increases in fraudulent activity with respect to wireless services;  (xi) delays
in the Company's  ability to begin offering  interLATA  long-distance  services;
(xii) consumer acceptance of broadband services,  including telephony, data, and
wireless   services;   or  (xiii)  delays  in  the  development  of  anticipated
technologies,  or the  failure  of such  technologies  to perform  according  to
expectations.]


                                       ###



Further information:  Larry Thede,  303-896-3550;  Rodney Miller,  303-896-3096;
Hadley Evans, 303-896-5706.

NOTE:  This  release  and the  financial  statements  will be  available  on the
Internet   after  7  a.m.   (MDT)  by  accessing  U  S  WEST's   Internet  site:
www.uswest.com.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

COMBINED PRO FORMA STATEMENTS OF INCOME (1)          U S WEST, INC.
(UNAUDITED)
                        Quarter Ended          Nine Months Ended
                        September 30,    %       September 30,   %
In millions             1998    1997   Change   1998    1997   Change
- - --------------------- ------- -------  -------------- -------  ------
<S>                  <C>     <C>       <C>   <C>     <C>       <C>

OPERATING REVENUES
 Local service       $1,398  $  1,314    6.4 $4,117  $  3,739   10.1
 Interstate access      693       663    4.5  2,102     2,028    3.6
 Intrastate access      208       208     -     616       608    1.3
 Long-distance
  network               199       231  (13.9)   595       721  (17.5)
 Directory services     315       296    6.4    935       879    6.4
 Other services         299       248   20.6    809       682   18.6
                      ----------------        ----------------
Total operating rev.  3,112     2,960    5.1  9,174     8,657    6.0
                      ----------------        ----------------
OPERATING EXPENSES
 Employee-related     1,104     1,018    8.4  3,179     2,915    9.1
 Other operating        567       539    5.2  1,798     1,517   18.5
 Taxes other than
  income taxes           84       106  (20.8)   274       320  (14.4)
 Depreciation & amort   558       541    3.1  1,625     1,616    0.6
                      ----------------        ----------------
Total operating exp.  2,313     2,204    4.9  6,876     6,368    8.0
                      ----------------        ----------------

Operating income        799       756    5.7  2,298     2,289    0.4

Interest expense        172       165    4.2    495       500   (1.0)
Gains on sales of rural
 telephone exchanges      -        30     -       -        77     -
Other expense            19        12   58.3     77        51   51.0
                      ----------------        ----------------
Income before income
 taxes and extra-
 ordinary item          608       609   (0.2) 1,726     1,815   (4.9)

Income tax provision    229       226    1.3    658       677   (2.8)
                      ----------------        ----------------
Income before
 extraordinary item     379       383   (1.0) 1,068     1,138   (6.2)

Extraordinary Item:
 Early extinguishment
 of debt - net of tax     -        (3)    -       -        (3)    -
                      ----------------        ----------------
PRO FORMA
 NET INCOME          $  379  $    380   (0.3)$1,068  $  1,135   (5.9)
                      ================        ================

</TABLE>



                                  5


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

COMBINED PRO FORMA STATEMENTS OF INCOME, (1)         U S WEST, INC.
CONTINUED (UNAUDITED)
                        Quarter Ended          Nine Months Ended
In millions, except     September 30,    %       September 30,   %
per share amounts       1998    1997   Change   1998    1997   Change
- - --------------------- ------- -------  -------------- -------  ------
<S>                  <C>     <C>        <C>    <C>     <C>        <C>

Pro forma basic
 average shares
 outstanding          501.8     499.6    0.4    501.5     498.7    0.6
                      ================          ================

Pro forma basic earnings per share:
Income before
 extraordinary item  $ 0.76  $   0.77   (1.3)  $ 2.13  $   2.28   (6.6)
Extraordinary item:
 Early extinguishment
 of debt                  -     (0.01)    -        -     (0.01)    -
                      ------- -------           ------- -------
Pro forma basic
 earnings per share  $ 0.76  $   0.76     -    $ 2.13  $   2.28 # (6.6)
                      ================          ================

Pro forma diluted
 average shares
 outstanding          505.9     507.7   (0.4)   505.7     508.9   (0.6)
                      ================          ================

Pro forma diluted earnings per share:
Income before
 extraordinary item  $ 0.75  $   0.76   (1.3)  $ 2.11  $   2.25   (6.2)
Extraordinary item:
 Early extinguishment
 of debt                  -     (0.01)    -        -     (0.01)    -
                      ------- -------           ------- -------
Pro forma diluted
 earnings per share  $ 0.75  $   0.75     -    $ 2.11  $   2.25 # (6.2)
                      ================          ================

<FN>
<F1>
(1) The  separation  of U S WEST,  Inc.  ("Old U S WEST")  into two  independent
companies,  U S WEST,  Inc.  ("New U S  WEST")  and  MediaOne  Group,  Inc.,(the
"Separation")  occurred on June 12, 1998 (the "Separation  Date"). The pro forma
results for the nine months ended  September 30, 1998 and for the three and nine
months ended  September  30, 1997 give effect to the  Separation,  including the
assumption of indebtedness and the issuance of shares in connection with the Dex
transaction,  as if the Separation  had been  consummated as of the beginning of
the periods indicated.
<F2>
# Amount does not foot due to rounding of the individual components.
</FN>
</TABLE>
                                 6

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

PRO FORMA EARNINGS NORMALIZATION SCHEDULE            U S WEST, INC.
(UNAUDITED)
                        Quarter Ended          Nine Months Ended
In millions, except     September 30,    %       September 30,   %
per share amounts       1998     1997  Change   1998     1997  Change
- - --------------------- ------- -------  -------------- -------  ------
<S>                  <C>     <C>        <C>    <C>     <C>        <C>

NORMALIZED PRO FORMA INCOME:
Reported pro forma
 net income          $  379  $    380   (0.3)  $1,068  $  1,135   (5.9)
Adjustments:
 Rural exchange sales     -       (19)    -        -        (48)    -
Separation costs          -         -     -        68        -      -
 Asset impairment                   -     -        21        -      -
 Extraordinary item-
  net of tax              -         3     -        -          3     -
                      ----------------          ----------------
Normalized pro forma
 income              $  379  $    364    4.1   $1,157  $  1,090    6.1
                      ================          ================

NORMALIZED PRO FORMA
 BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Reported pro forma
 basic earnings
 per share           $ 0.76  $   0.76     -    $ 2.13  $   2.28   (6.6)
Adjustments:
 Rural exchange sales     -     (0.04)    -         -     (0.10)    -
 Separation costs         -         -     -      0.13         -     -
 Asset impairment         -         -     -      0.04         -     -
 Extraordinary item-
  net of tax              -      0.01     -         -      0.01     -
                      ----------------          ----------------
Normalized pro forma
 basic earnings
 per share           $ 0.76  $   0.73    4.1   $ 2.31 #$   2.19    5.5
                      ================          ================

NORMALIZED PRO FORMA
 DILUTED EARNINGS
 PER SHARE:
Reported pro forma
 diluted earnings
 per share           $ 0.75  $   0.75     -    $ 2.11  $   2.25   (6.2)
Adjustments:
 Rural exchange sales     -     (0.04)    -         -     (0.10)    -
 Separation costs         -         -     -      0.13         -     -
 Asset impairment         -         -     -      0.04         -     -
 Extraordinary item-
  net of tax              -      0.01     -         -      0.01     -
                      ----------------          ----------------
Normalized pro forma
 diluted earnings
 per share           $ 0.75  $   0.72    4.2   $ 2.29 #$   2.16    6.0
                      ================          ================
<FN>
# Amount does not foot due to rounding of the individual components.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                  7

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED DATA (UNAUDITED)               U S WEST, INC.

                      Quarter Ended          Nine Months Ended
In millions, except    September 30,      %       September 30,    %
per share amounts     1998       1997     Change   1998     1997   Change
- - ------------------- -------    -------    --------------  -------  ------
<S>                 <C>        <C>        <C>    <C>      <C>      <C>

Normalized access lines (thousands):
 Business             4,904      4,721      3.9    4,904    4,721     3.9
 Consumer            11,509     11,108      3.6   11,509   11,108     3.6
Total                16,413     15,829      3.7   16,413   15,829     3.7

Access lines
 (thousands):
 Business             4,903      4,721      3.9    4,903    4,721     3.9
 Consumer            11,505     11,108      3.6   11,505   11,108     3.6
Total access lines   16,408     15,829      3.7   16,408   15,829     3.7

Billed access minutes of use (millions):
 Interstate          14,707     13,760      6.9   43,868   41,085     6.8
 Intrastate           3,107      2,960      5.0    9,206    8,702     5.8
Total minutes of use 17,814     16,720      6.5   53,074   49,787     6.6

Employees:
 U S WEST, Inc.      53,758     50,661      6.1   53,758   50,661     6.1
 Telephone
  operations only    45,654     43,388      5.2   45,654   43,388     5.2
Telephone empl per
 10,000 access lines   27.8       27.4      1.5     27.8     27.4     1.5

Dividends per
 common share (#1)  $  0.535$    0.535      -  $   1.605$   1.605     -
Common shares
 outstanding (#1)     502.1      499.8      0.5    502.1    499.8     0.5
Capital expend      $   589     $  712    (17.3) $ 1,920  $ 1,644    16.8
EBITDA (#2)           1,357      1,297      4.6    3,923    3,905     0.5
EBITDA margin          43.6%      43.8%      -      42.8%    45.1%     -
Debt-to-capital
 ratio (#3)            56.0%      55.6%#     -      56.0%    55.6%#    -
<FN>
<F1>
# As of December 31, 1997.
<F2>
# 1:  Dividends  per common  share for the nine month period of 1998 and for the
three and nine month periods of 1997, and common shares outstanding at September
30, 1997 are pro forma and assume the Separation had been consummated as of each
period indicated.
<F3>
# 2: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization,
and other (EBITDA). EBITDA also excludes gains on asset sales.
<F4>
# 3: Telephone operations only.
</FN>


</TABLE>

                                  8

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (1)                  U S WEST, INC.
(UNAUDITED)
                        Quarter Ended         Nine Months Ended
                         September 30,   %     September 30,     %
In millions             1998   1997  Change   1998     1997   Change
- - ---------------------- --------------------- -------  ------- -------
<S>                   <C>     <C>     <C>    <C>       <C>     <C>

OPERATING REVENUES
 Local service        $1,398  $1,314    6.4  $4,117    $3,739   10.1
 Interstate access       693     663    4.5   2,102     2,028    3.6
 Intrastate access       208     208    -       616       608    1.3
 Long-distance network   199     231  (13.9)    595       721  (17.5)
 Directory services      315     296    6.4     935       879    6.4
 Other services          299     248   20.6     809       682   18.6
                       ---------------       ----------------
Total operating rev.   3,112   2,960    5.1   9,174     8,657    6.0
                       ---------------       ----------------
OPERATING EXPENSES
 Employee-related      1,104   1,018    8.4   3,179     2,915    9.1
 Other operating         567     539    5.2   1,798     1,517   18.5
 Taxes other than
  income taxes            84     106  (20.8)    274       320  (14.4)
 Depreciation & amort    558     541    3.1   1,625     1,616    0.6
                       ---------------       ----------------
Total operating exp.   2,313   2,204    4.9   6,876     6,368    8.0
                       ---------------       ----------------

Operating income         799     756    5.7   2,298     2,289    0.4

Interest expense         172     100   72.0     378       304   24.3
Gains on sales of rural
 telephone exchanges       -      30    -        -         77    -
Other expense             19      12   58.3      77        51   51.0
                       ---------------       ----------------
Income before taxes
 and extraordinary
 item                    608     674   (9.8)  1,843     2,011   (8.4)
Income tax provision     229     251   (8.8)    703       752   (6.5)
                       ---------------       ----------------
Income before
 extraordinary item      379     423  (10.4)  1,140     1,259   (9.5)
Extraordinary Item:
 Early extinguishment
 of debt - net of tax      -     (3)     -       -        (3)     -
                       ---------------       ----------------
NET INCOME            $  379  $  420   (9.8) $1,140    $1,256   (9.2)
                       ===============       ================
<FN>
(1) The historical  results  presented reflect  unaudited  historical  financial
information  as if the  businesses  that  comprise  New U S WEST  operated  as a
separate  entity for the  periods  presented.  The  effects  of the  Separation,
including the assumption of indebtedness and the
issuance of shares in connection with the Dex transaction, have been included in
the historical results as of the Separation Date.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                  9

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                           U S WEST, Inc.
(UNAUDITED)
<S>                                      <C>             <C>    

                                         September 30,    December 31,
In millions                                   1998          1997
- - --------------------------------------   -------------   --------------

ASSETS

Current assets:
 Cash and cash equivalents               $         22    $          27
 Accounts and notes receivable                  1,735            1,717
 Inventories and supplies                         248              150
 Deferred directory costs                         261              257
 Deferred tax asset                               205              271
 Prepaid and other                                 82               82
                                         -------------   --------------
   Total current assets                         2,553            2,504
                                         -------------   --------------

Gross property, plant and equipment            34,840           33,651
Less accumulated depreciation                  20,342           19,343
                                         -------------   --------------
Property, plant and equipment - net            14,498           14,308
Other assets                                    1,010              855
                                         -------------   --------------
   Total assets                          $     18,061    $      17,667
                                         =============   ==============


LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
 Short-term debt                         $      1,913    $         695
 Accounts payable                               1,121            1,377
 Dividends payable                                269              259
 Other                                          1,955            1,868
                                         -------------   --------------
   Total current liabilities                    5,258            4,199
                                         -------------   --------------

Long-term debt                                  7,920            5,020
Postretirement and other postemployment
 benefit obligations                            2,556            2,534
Deferred taxes, credits and other               1,702            1,547

Shareowners' equity                               625            4,367
                                         -------------   --------------
   Total liabilities and
      shareowners' equity                $     18,061    $      17,667
                                         ==============  ==============
</TABLE>

                                  10

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS                 U S WEST, Inc.
(UNAUDITED)
                                Nine Months Ended
                                  September 30,
In millions                                           1998     1997
- - -------------------------------------------------   -------- ---------
<S>                                                 <C>      <C>    

OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 Net income                                         $ 1,140  $ 1,256
 Adjustments to net income:
  Depreciation and amortization                       1,625    1,616
  Gains on sales of rural telephone exchanges             -      (77)
  Deferred income taxes and amortization
   of investment tax credits                            102        7
 Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
  Accounts receivable                                   (18)      40
  Inventories, supplies and other current assets        (49)     (75)
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities              116      245
 Other - net                                             34      141
- - -------------------------------------------------   -------- ---------
Cash provided by operating activities                 2,950    3,153
- - -------------------------------------------------   -------- ---------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 Expenditures for property, plant and equipment      (1,937)  (1,322)
 Proceeds from (payments on) disposals of property,
   plant and equipment                                  (14)      27
 Purchase of PCS licenses                               (18)     (57)
 Proceeds from sales of rural telephone exchanges         -       51
 Other                                                  (39)       -
- - -------------------------------------------------   -------- ---------
Cash (used for) investing activities                 (2,008)  (1,301)
- - -------------------------------------------------   -------- ---------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt    1,519     (701)
 Net (repayments of) proceeds from issuance
   of Old U S WEST debt                                (198)     303
 Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt             3,066        -
 Repayment of Old U S WEST debt in connection
   with the DEX Alignment                            (3,829)       -
 Repayments of long-term debt                          (411)    (412)
 Dividends paid on common stock                        (787)    (733)
 Dividends paid to Old U S WEST                        (194)    (243)
 Payment to Old U S WEST for debt refinancing costs    (140)       -
 Return of capital from Old U S WEST                     13        -
 Proceeds from issuance of common stock                  60       50
 Purchases of treasury stock                            (46)       -
- - -------------------------------------------------   -------- ---------
Cash (used for) financing activities                   (947)  (1,736)
- - -------------------------------------------------   -------- ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 Increase (decrease)                                     (5)     116
 Beginning balance                                       27       80
- - -------------------------------------------------   -------- ---------
Ending balance                                      $    22  $   196
=================================================   ======== =========
</TABLE>

                                  11

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5

<CIK>                         0001054522                       
<NAME>                        U S WEST, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>                       <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1998               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-01-1998               JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                             SEP-30-1998               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                        22                        22
<SECURITIES>                                   0                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              1,735                     1,735
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  248                       248
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           2,553                     2,553
<PP&E>                                    34,840                    34,840
<DEPRECIATION>                            20,342                    20,342
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            18,061                    18,061
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      5,258                     5,258
<BONDS>                                    7,920                     7,920
                          0                         0
                                    0                         0
<COMMON>                                       0                         0
<OTHER-SE>                                   625                       625
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>              18,061                    18,061
<SALES>                                    3,112                     9,174
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           3,112                     9,174
<CGS>                                          0                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  0                         0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           2,313                     6,876
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           172                       495
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              608                     1,726
<INCOME-TAX>                                 229                       658
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          379                     1,068
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0                         0
<CHANGES>                                      0                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                 379                     1,068
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               0.76                      2.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                               0.75                      2.11
        



</TABLE>


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