Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021

2022

OR

oTRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______ to _______

Commission File Number: 001-36708

Uniti Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland

46-5230630

Maryland

46-5230630
(State or other jurisdiction of


incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

10802 Executive Center

2101 Riverfront Drive,

Benton Building Suite 300

A

Little Rock, Arkansas

72211

72202

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (501) 850-0820

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock

UNIT

The NASDAQ Global Select Market

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 x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

x

Accelerated filer

o

Non-accelerated filer

o

Smaller reporting company

o

Emerging growth company

o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

As of October 31, 2021,27, 2022, the registrant had 236,070,969237,200,050 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, outstanding.



Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements as defined under U.S. federal securities law. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and those regarding our intent, belief or expectations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: our expectations regarding the settlement we have entered into with Windstream Holdings, Inc. (together with Windstream Holdings II, LLC, its successor in interest, and its subsidiaries, “Windstream”); the future prospects and financial health of Windstream; our expectations about our ability to maintain our status as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”); our expectations regarding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations and financial condition, including the potential need to perform an interim goodwill analysis and report an impairment charge related thereto; our expectations regarding the effect of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “2021 Appropriations Act”) and other tax related legislation on our tax position; our expectations regarding the future growth and demand of the telecommunication industry, future financing plans, business strategies, growth prospects, operating and financial performance, and our future liquidity needs and access to capital; ourexpectations regarding future deployment of fiber strand miles and small cell networks and recognition of revenue related thereto; expectations regarding levels of capital expenditures; expectations regarding the deductibility of goodwill for tax purposes; our expectations regarding reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to derivatives to interest expense; our expectations regarding the amortization of intangible assets; our expectations regarding remediation of the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as discussed in Part II, Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 5, 2021, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed on Form 10-K/A with the SEC on March 30, 2021 (the “Annual Report”); and our expectations regarding the payment of dividends.

Words such as “anticipate(s),” “expect(s),” “intend(s),” “plan(s),” “believe(s),” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “seek(s)” and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results differing materially from those projected, forecasted or expected. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to:

the future prospects of our largest customer, Windstream, following its emergence from bankruptcy;

to:

the future prospects of our largest customer, Windstream, following its emergence from bankruptcy;

adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our employees, our business, the business of our customers and other business partners and the global financial markets;

adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and rising interest rates on our employees, our business, the business of our customers and other business partners and the global financial markets;

the ability and willingness of our customers to meet and/or perform their obligations under any contractual arrangements entered into with us, including master lease arrangements; 

the ability and willingness of our customers to meet and/or perform their obligations under any contractual arrangements entered into with us, including master lease arrangements;

the ability of our customers to comply with laws, rules and regulations in the operation of the assets we lease to them; 

the ability and willingness of our customers to renew their leases with us upon their expiration, our ability to reach agreement on the price of such renewal or ability to obtain a satisfactory renewal rent from an independent appraisal, and the ability to reposition our properties on the same or better terms in the event of nonrenewal or in the event we replace an existing tenant;

the ability and willingness of our customers to renew their leases with us upon their expiration, and the ability to reposition our properties on the same or better terms in the event of nonrenewal or in the event we replace an existing tenant; 

the availability of and our ability to identify suitable acquisition opportunities and our ability to acquire and lease the respective properties on favorable terms or operate and integrate the acquired businesses;

our ability to renew, extend or retain our contracts or to obtain new contracts with significant customers (including customers of the businesses that we acquire); 

our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to service our outstanding indebtedness and fund our capital funding commitments;

the availability of and our ability to identify suitable acquisition opportunities and our ability to acquire and lease the respective properties on favorable terms or operate and integrate the acquired businesses; 

our ability to access debt and equity capital markets;

our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to service our outstanding indebtedness and fund our capital funding commitments; 

the impact on our business or the business of our customers as a result of credit rating downgrades and fluctuating interest rates;

our ability to access debt and equity capital markets; 

our ability to retain our key management personnel;

the impact on our business or the business of our customers as a result of credit rating downgrades and fluctuating interest rates; 

changes in the U.S. tax law and other federal, state or local laws, whether or not specific to REITs;

adverse impacts of litigation or disputes involving us or our customers;

covenants in our debt agreements that may limit our operational flexibility;

our ability to retain our key management personnel; 

the possibility that we may experience equipment failures, natural disasters, cyber attacks or terrorist attacks for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage;

our ability to maintain our status as a REIT;

the risk that we fail to fully realize the potential benefits of or have difficulty in integrating the companies we acquire;
other risks inherent in the communications industry and in the ownership of communications distribution systems, including potential liability relating to environmental matters and illiquidity of real estate investments; and
2


Table of Contents

changes in the U.S. tax law and other federal, state or local laws, whether or not specific to REITs, including the impact of the 2017 U.S. tax reform legislation, the CARES Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the 2021 Appropriations Act;

additional factors discussed in Part I, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

covenants in our debt agreements that may limit our operational flexibility; 

the possibility that we may experience equipment failures, natural disasters, cyber attacks or terrorist attacks for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage; 

the risk that we fail to fully realize the potential benefits of or have difficulty in integrating the companies we acquire; 

other risks inherent in the communications industry and in the ownership of communications distribution systems, including potential liability relating to environmental matters and illiquidity of real estate investments; and

additional factors discussed in Part I, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" of our Annual Report, as well as those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report. Except in the normal course of our public disclosure obligations, we expressly disclaim any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

3


Table of Contents

Uniti Group Inc.

Table of Contents

Page

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page

Uniti Group Inc.

11

12

12

12

16

19

6.Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

20

21

23

23

25

26

28

29

33

35

35

17.Subsequent Events

35

36

36

39

53

56

60

60

62

62

62

62

62

62

62

63

4


Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

Uniti Group Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)
(Thousands, except par value)September 30, 2022December 31, 2021
Assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net$3,693,581 $3,508,939 
Cash and cash equivalents43,394 58,903 
Accounts receivable, net41,317 38,455 
Goodwill385,878 601,878 
Intangible assets, net342,291 364,630 
Straight-line revenue receivable62,137 41,323 
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net86,212 80,271 
Other assets83,762 38,900 
Investment in unconsolidated entities38,990 64,223 
Deferred income tax assets, net33,444 11,721 
Total Assets$4,811,006 $4,809,243 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit:  
Liabilities:  
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities$137,019 $86,868 
Settlement payable (Note 13)248,117 239,384 
Intangible liabilities, net169,765 177,786 
Accrued interest payable57,848 109,826 
Deferred revenue1,197,375 1,134,236 
Derivative liability, net822 10,413 
Dividends payable658 1,264 
Operating lease liabilities64,681 57,355 
Finance lease obligations15,569 15,348 
Notes and other debt, net5,179,327 5,090,537 
Total liabilities7,071,181 6,923,017 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Shareholders' Deficit:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding— — 
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 235,741 shares at September 30, 2022 and 234,779 at December 31, 202124 23 
Additional paid-in capital1,227,905 1,214,830 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(688)(9,164)
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings(3,489,718)(3,333,481)
Total Uniti shareholders' deficit(2,262,477)(2,127,792)
Noncontrolling interests:  
Operating partnership units2,052 13,893 
Cumulative non-voting convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 6 shares authorized, 3 issued and outstanding250 125 
Total shareholders' deficit(2,260,175)(2,113,774)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit$4,811,006 $4,809,243 

(Thousands, except par value)

 

(Unaudited)

September 30, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

$

3,472,642

 

 

$

3,273,353

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

69,751

 

 

 

77,534

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

39,014

 

 

 

62,952

 

Goodwill

 

 

601,878

 

 

 

601,878

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

372,076

 

 

 

390,725

 

Straight-line revenue receivable

 

 

33,839

 

 

 

13,107

 

Other assets, net

 

 

122,901

 

 

 

152,883

 

Investment in unconsolidated entities

 

 

64,659

 

 

 

66,043

 

Deferred income tax assets, net

 

 

7,524

 

 

 

-

 

Assets held for sale

 

 

-

 

 

 

93,343

 

Total Assets

 

$

4,784,284

 

 

$

4,731,818

 

Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, net

 

$

156,428

 

 

$

146,144

 

Settlement payable (Note 14)

 

 

358,329

 

 

 

418,840

 

Intangible liabilities, net

 

 

180,459

 

 

 

187,886

 

Accrued interest payable

 

 

60,726

 

 

 

95,338

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

1,143,301

 

 

 

995,123

 

Derivative liability, net

 

 

13,606

 

 

 

22,897

 

Dividends payable

 

 

964

 

 

 

36,725

 

Deferred income tax liabilities, net

 

 

-

 

 

 

10,540

 

Finance lease obligations

 

 

15,538

 

 

 

15,468

 

Contingent consideration

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,957

 

Notes and other debt, net

 

 

4,973,174

 

 

 

4,816,524

 

Liabilities held for sale

 

 

-

 

 

 

55,752

 

Total liabilities

 

 

6,902,525

 

 

 

6,804,194

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders' Deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding: 234,495 shares at September 30, 2021 and 231,262 at December 31, 2020

 

 

23

 

 

 

23

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

1,208,611

 

 

 

1,209,141

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(11,984

)

 

 

(20,367

)

Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings

 

 

(3,333,686

)

 

 

(3,330,455

)

Total Uniti shareholders' deficit

 

 

(2,137,036

)

 

 

(2,141,658

)

Noncontrolling interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating partnership units

 

 

18,670

 

 

 

69,157

 

Cumulative non-voting convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 3 shares authorized, 1 issued and outstanding

 

 

125

 

 

 

125

 

Total shareholders' deficit

 

 

(2,118,241

)

 

 

(2,072,376

)

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit

 

$

4,784,284

 

 

$

4,731,818

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

5


Table of Contents

Uniti Group Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)

(unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands, except per share data)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands, except per share data)2022202120222021

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Leasing

 

$

199,485

 

 

$

182,370

 

 

$

590,478

 

 

$

552,042

 

Leasing$208,623 $199,485 $618,878 $590,478 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

67,262

 

 

 

76,395

 

 

 

217,035

 

 

 

232,942

 

Fiber Infrastructure74,480 67,262 226,234 217,035 

Tower

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

6,112

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

651

 

Total revenues

 

 

266,747

 

 

 

258,765

 

 

 

807,513

 

 

 

791,747

 

Total revenues283,103 266,747 845,112 807,513 

Costs and Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses:

Interest expense

 

 

94,793

 

 

 

102,791

 

 

 

341,762

 

 

 

388,427

 

Interest expense, netInterest expense, net97,731 94,793 290,280 341,762 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

70,530

 

 

 

79,880

 

 

 

211,165

 

 

 

250,970

 

Depreciation and amortization73,516 70,530 217,276 211,165 

General and administrative expense

 

 

25,077

 

 

 

26,659

 

 

 

75,800

 

 

 

81,686

 

General and administrative expense26,863 25,077 75,818 75,800 

Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

 

 

34,167

 

 

 

37,831

 

 

 

105,436

 

 

 

118,308

 

Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)36,291 34,167 108,184 105,436 

Settlement expense

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

650,000

 

Goodwill impairment (Note 2)Goodwill impairment (Note 2)216,000 — 216,000 — 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

1,063

 

 

 

20,816

 

 

 

5,624

 

 

 

55,344

 

Transaction related and other costs2,375 1,063 7,324 5,624 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

-

 

 

 

(22,908

)

 

 

(442

)

 

 

(86,726

)

Gain on sale of real estate(94)— (344)(442)

Gain on sale of operations (Note 5)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(28,143

)

 

 

-

 

Other expense, net

 

 

283

 

 

 

3,098

 

 

 

8,758

 

 

 

12,186

 

Gain on sale of operationsGain on sale of operations(176)— (176)(28,143)
Other (income) expense, netOther (income) expense, net74 283 (8,254)8,758 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

225,913

 

 

 

248,167

 

 

 

719,960

 

 

 

1,470,195

 

Total costs and expenses452,580 225,913 906,108 719,960 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

40,834

 

 

 

10,598

 

 

 

87,553

 

 

 

(678,448

)

(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities(169,477)40,834 (60,996)87,553 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

 

(2,244

)

 

 

2,801

 

 

 

283

 

 

 

(7,650

)

Income tax (benefit) expense(13,056)(2,244)(10,183)283 

Equity in (earnings) from unconsolidated entities

 

 

(604

)

 

 

342

 

 

 

(1,549

)

 

 

342

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

43,682

 

 

 

7,455

 

 

 

88,819

 

 

 

(671,140

)

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

316

 

 

 

190

 

 

 

984

 

 

 

(11,808

)

Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders

 

 

43,366

 

 

 

7,265

 

 

 

87,835

 

 

 

(659,332

)

Equity in earnings from unconsolidated entitiesEquity in earnings from unconsolidated entities(672)(604)(1,696)(1,549)
Net (loss) incomeNet (loss) income(155,749)43,682 (49,117)88,819 
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interestsNet (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests(70)316 135 984 
Net (loss) income attributable to shareholdersNet (loss) income attributable to shareholders(155,679)43,366 (49,252)87,835 

Participating securities' share in earnings

 

 

(283

)

 

 

(229

)

 

 

(864

)

 

 

(853

)

Participating securities' share in earnings(226)(283)(897)(864)

Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock

 

 

(3

)

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(6

)

Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock(5)(3)(15)(8)

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders

 

$

43,080

 

 

$

7,034

 

 

$

86,963

 

 

$

(660,191

)

Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholdersNet (loss) income attributable to common shareholders$(155,910)$43,080 $(50,164)$86,963 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income per common share:(Loss) income per common share:

Basic

 

$

0.18

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.37

 

 

$

(3.40

)

Basic$(0.66)$0.18 $(0.21)$0.37 

Diluted

 

$

0.17

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.37

 

 

$

(3.40

)

Diluted$(0.66)$0.17 $(0.21)$0.37 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:

Basic

 

 

233,513

 

 

 

198,054

 

 

 

232,269

 

 

 

194,278

 

Basic235,739 233,513 235,483 232,269 

Diluted

 

 

264,421

 

 

 

198,373

 

 

 

232,540

 

 

 

194,278

 

Diluted235,739 264,421 235,483 232,540 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

6


Table of Contents

Uniti Group Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

43,682

 

 

$

7,455

 

 

$

88,819

 

 

$

(671,140

)

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized loss on derivative contracts

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(7,036

)

Interest rate swap termination

 

 

2,830

 

 

 

2,829

 

 

 

8,488

 

 

 

7,325

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

2,830

 

 

 

2,829

 

 

 

8,488

 

 

 

289

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

46,512

 

 

 

10,284

 

 

 

97,307

 

 

 

(670,851

)

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

338

 

 

 

237

 

 

 

1,089

 

 

 

(11,806

)

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common shareholders

 

$

46,174

 

 

$

10,047

 

 

$

96,218

 

 

$

(659,045

)

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Thousands)2022202120222021
Net (loss) income$(155,749)$43,682 $(49,117)$88,819 
Other comprehensive income:
Interest rate swap termination2,829 2,830 8,488 8,488 
Other comprehensive income2,829 2,830 8,488 8,488 
Comprehensive (loss) income(152,920)46,512 (40,629)97,307 
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest(69)338 147 1,089 
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to shareholders$(152,851)$46,174 $(40,776)$96,218 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


7


Table of Contents

Uniti Group Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Deficit

(unaudited)

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands, except share data)

 

Preferred Stock

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional Paid-in Capital

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

 

Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest - OP Units

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest - Non-voting Preferred Shares

 

 

Total Shareholders' Deficit

 

(Thousands, except share data)Preferred StockCommon StockAdditional Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Loss
Distributions in
Excess of
Accumulated
Earnings
Noncontrolling
Interest - OP Units
Noncontrolling
Interest - Non-
voting Preferred
Shares
Total Shareholders'
Deficit

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2020

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

192,523,083

 

 

$

19

 

 

$

957,656

 

 

$

(25,937

)

 

$

(3,219,623

)

 

$

70,622

 

 

$

125

 

 

$

(2,217,138

)

Net income

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

7,265

 

 

 

190

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

7,455

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,782

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

47

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,829

 

Common stock dividends declared ($0.15 per share)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(35,731

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(35,731

)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest declared

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(521

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(521

)

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

88

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

88

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

34,830

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

3,341

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

3,341

 

Issuance of common stock - employee stock purchase plan

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

52,939

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Settlement Common Stock

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

38,633,470

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

244,546

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

244,550

 

Balance at September 30, 2020

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

231,244,322

 

 

$

23

 

 

$

1,205,631

 

 

$

(23,155

)

 

$

(3,248,089

)

 

$

70,338

 

 

$

125

 

 

$

(1,995,127

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SharesAmountSharesAmount

Balance at June 30, 2021

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

231,804,921

 

 

$

23

 

 

$

1,153,707

 

 

$

(14,792

)

 

$

(3,341,371

)

 

$

68,868

 

 

$

125

 

 

$

(2,133,440

)

Balance at June 30, 2021— $— 231,804,921 $23 $1,153,707 $(14,792)$(3,341,371)$68,868 $125 $(2,133,440)

Net income

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

43,366

 

 

 

316

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

43,682

 

Net income— — — — — — 43,366 316 — 43,682 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,808

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,830

 

Other comprehensive income— — — — — 2,808 — 22 — 2,830 

Common stock dividends declared ($0.15 per share)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(35,681

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(35,681

)

Common stock dividends declared ($0.15 per share)— — — — — — (35,681)— — (35,681)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest declared

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(141

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(141

)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest declared— — — — — — — (141)— (141)

Exchange of noncontrolling interest

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,528,199

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

50,395

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(50,395

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Exchange of noncontrolling interest— — 2,528,199 — 50,395 — — (50,395)— — 

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(10

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(10

)

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation— — — — (10)— — — — (10)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

123,050

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

4,166

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

4,166

 

Stock-based compensation— — 123,050 — 4,166 — — — — 4,166 

Issuance of common stock - employee stock purchase plan

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

39,186

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

353

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

353

 

Issuance of common stock - employee stock purchase plan— — 39,186 — 353 — — — — 353 

Balance at September 30, 2021

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

234,495,356

 

 

$

23

 

 

$

1,208,611

 

 

$

(11,984

)

 

$

(3,333,686

)

 

$

18,670

 

 

$

125

 

 

$

(2,118,241

)

Balance at September 30 2021Balance at September 30 2021— — 234,495,356 23 1,208,611 (11,984)(3,333,686)18,670 125 (2,118,241)
Balance at June 30, 2022Balance at June 30, 2022— $— 235,699,513 $24 $1,224,427 $(3,516)$(3,298,455)$2,072 $250 $(2,075,198)
Net lossNet loss— — — — — — (155,679)(70)— (155,749)
Other comprehensive incomeOther comprehensive income— — — — — 2,828 — — 2,829 
Common stock dividends declared ($0.15 per share)Common stock dividends declared ($0.15 per share)— — — — — — (35,584)— — (35,584)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest declaredDistributions to noncontrolling interest declared— — — — — — — 49 — 49 
Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensationPayments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation— — — — — — — — 
Stock-based compensationStock-based compensation— — 1,201 — 3,151 — — — — 3,151 
Issuance of common stock - employee stock purchase planIssuance of common stock - employee stock purchase plan— — 40,530 — 325 — — — — 325 
Balance at September 30, 2022Balance at September 30, 2022— — 235,741,244 24 1,227,905 (688)(3,489,718)2,052 250 (2,260,175)

8


Table of Contents

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands, except share data)

 

Preferred Stock

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional Paid-in Capital

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

 

Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest - OP Units

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest - Non-voting Preferred Shares

 

 

Total Shareholders' Deficit

 

(Thousands, except share data)Preferred StockCommon StockAdditional Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Loss
Distributions in
Excess of
Accumulated
Earnings
Noncontrolling
Interest - OP Units
Noncontrolling
Interest - Non-
voting Preferred
Shares
Total Shareholders'
Deficit

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

192,141,634

 

 

$

19

 

 

$

951,295

 

 

$

(23,442

)

 

$

(2,494,740

)

 

$

83,704

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(1,483,164

)

Net loss

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(659,332

)

 

 

(11,808

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(671,140

)

Other comprehensive income

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

287

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

289

 

Common stock dividends declared ($0.15 per share)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(94,017

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(94,017

)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest declared

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(1,560

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(1,560

)

Cumulative non-voting convertible preferred stock

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

125

 

 

 

125

 

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(962

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(962

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

372,430

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

10,446

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

10,446

 

Issuance of common stock - employee stock purchase plan

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

96,788

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

306

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

306

 

Settlement Common Stock

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

38,633,470

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

244,546

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

244,550

 

Balance at September 30, 2020

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

231,244,322

 

 

$

23

 

 

$

1,205,631

 

 

$

(23,155

)

 

$

(3,248,089

)

 

$

70,338

 

 

$

125

 

 

$

(1,995,127

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SharesAmountSharesAmount

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

231,261,958

 

 

$

23

 

 

$

1,209,141

 

 

$

(20,367

)

 

$

(3,330,455

)

 

$

69,157

 

 

$

125

 

 

$

(2,072,376

)

Balance at December 31, 2020— $— 231,261,958 $23 $1,209,141 $(20,367)$(3,330,455)$69,157 $125 $(2,072,376)

Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting standard

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(59,908

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

14,598

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(45,310

)

Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting standard— — — — (59,908)— 14,598 — — (45,310)

Net income

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

87,835

 

 

 

984

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

88,819

 

Net income— — — — — — 87,835 984 — 88,819 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

8,383

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

105

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

8,488

 

Other comprehensive income— — — — — 8,383 — 105 — 8,488 

Common stock dividends declared ($0.15 per share)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(105,664

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(105,664

)

Common stock dividends declared ($0.45 per share)Common stock dividends declared ($0.45 per share)— — — — — — (105,664)— — (105,664)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest declared

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(1,181

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(1,181

)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest declared— — — — — — — (1,181)— (1,181)

Exchange of noncontrolling interest

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,528,199

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

50,395

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(50,395

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Exchange of noncontrolling interest— — 2,528,199 — 50,395 — — (50,395)— — 

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(2,652

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(2,652

)

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation— — — — (2,652)— — — — (2,652)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

630,249

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

10,963

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

10,963

 

Stock-based compensation— — 630,249 — 10,963 — — — — 10,963 
Issuance of common stock - employee stock purchase planIssuance of common stock - employee stock purchase plan— — 74,950 — 672 — — — — 672 
Balance at September 30 2021Balance at September 30 2021— — 234,495,356 23 1,208,611 (11,984)(3,333,686)18,670 125 (2,118,241)
Balance at December 31, 2021Balance at December 31, 2021— $— 234,779,247 $23 $1,214,830 $(9,164)$(3,333,481)$13,893 $125 $(2,113,774)
Net (loss) incomeNet (loss) income— — — — — — (49,252)135 — (49,117)
Other comprehensive incomeOther comprehensive income— — — — — 8,476 — 12 — 8,488 
Common stock dividends declared ($0.45 per share)Common stock dividends declared ($0.45 per share)— — — — — — (106,860)— — (106,860)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest declaredDistributions to noncontrolling interest declared— — — — — — — (111)— (111)
Cumulative non-voting convertible preferred stockCumulative non-voting convertible preferred stock— — — — — — (125)— 125 — 
Exchange of noncontrolling interestExchange of noncontrolling interest— — 244,682 — 7,257 — — (11,877)— (4,620)
Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensationPayments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation— — — — (4,434)— — — — (4,434)
Stock-based compensationStock-based compensation— — 647,461 9,663 — — — — 9,664 
Issuance of common stock - employee stock purchase planIssuance of common stock - employee stock purchase plan— — 69,854 — 589 — — — — 589 
Balance at September 30, 2022Balance at September 30, 2022— — 235,741,244 24 1,227,905 (688)(3,489,718)2,052 250 (2,260,175)

9


Table of Contents

Issuance of common stock - employee stock purchase plan

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

74,950

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

672

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

672

 

Balance at September 30, 2021

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

234,495,356

 

 

$

23

 

 

$

1,208,611

 

 

$

(11,984

)

 

$

(3,333,686

)

 

$

18,670

 

 

$

125

 

 

$

(2,118,241

)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

10

8

Table of Contents

Uniti Group Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Thousands)20222021
Cash flow from operating activities  
Net (loss) income$(49,117)$88,819 
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:  
Depreciation and amortization217,276 211,165 
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount13,510 13,723 
Loss on debt extinguishment— 43,369 
Interest rate swap termination8,488 8,488 
Deferred income taxes(21,723)(2,270)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities(1,696)(1,549)
Distributions of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated entities2,959 2,933 
Cash paid for interest rate swap settlement(9,591)(9,291)
Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles(31,066)(22,455)
Stock-based compensation9,664 10,963 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration— 21 
Goodwill impairment (see Note 2)216,000 — 
Gain on sale of unconsolidated entity (see Note 5)(7,923)— 
Gain on sale of real estate(344)(442)
Gain on sale of operations(176)(28,143)
Loss (gain) on asset disposals902 (232)
Accretion of settlement obligation8,733 13,006 
Other(126)97 
Changes in assets and liabilities:  
Accounts receivable(2,863)23,938 
Other assets7,756 (150)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities(75,556)1,363 
Net cash provided by operating activities285,107 353,353 
Cash flow from investing activities  
Capital expenditures(292,666)(276,010)
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated entity (see Note 5)32,527 — 
Proceeds from sale of real estate, net of cash575 1,034 
Proceeds from sale of operations541 62,113 
Proceeds from sale of other equipment338 1,143 
Net cash used in investing activities(258,685)(211,720)
Cash flow from financing activities  
Repayment of debt— (1,660,000)
Proceeds from issuance of notes— 1,680,000 
Dividends paid(107,362)(105,941)
Payments of settlement payable— (73,516)
Payments of contingent consideration— (2,979)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest(217)(1,700)
Payment for exchange of noncontrolling interest(4,620)— 
Borrowings under revolving credit facility180,000 290,000 
Payments under revolving credit facility(105,000)(220,000)
Finance lease payments(887)(1,745)
Payments for financing costs— (25,755)
Payment of tender premium— (25,800)
Employee stock purchase program589 672 
Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation(4,434)(2,652)
Net cash used in financing activities(41,931)(149,416)
   
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents(15,509)(7,783)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period58,903 77,534 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$43,394 $69,751 
   
Non-cash investing and financing activities:  
Property and equipment acquired but not yet paid$12,751 $22,586 
Tenant capital improvements120,239 140,996 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cash flow from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

88,819

 

 

$

(671,140

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

211,165

 

 

 

250,970

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount

 

 

13,723

 

 

 

27,703

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

43,369

 

 

 

73,952

 

Interest rate swap termination

 

 

8,488

 

 

 

7,325

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

(2,270

)

 

 

(8,506

)

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities

 

 

(1,549

)

 

 

342

 

Distributions of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

2,933

 

 

 

960

 

Cash paid for interest rate swap settlement

 

 

(9,291

)

 

 

(4,886

)

Straight-line revenues

 

 

(22,455

)

 

 

(1,036

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

10,963

 

 

 

10,446

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 

 

21

 

 

 

8,086

 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

(442

)

 

 

(86,726

)

Gain on sale of operations

 

 

(28,143

)

 

 

-

 

(Gain) loss on asset disposals

 

 

(232

)

 

 

1,483

 

Accretion of settlement obligation

 

 

13,006

 

 

 

-

 

Other

 

 

97

 

 

 

(300

)

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

23,938

 

 

 

17,699

 

Other assets

 

 

(150

)

 

 

4,331

 

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

1,363

 

 

 

43,535

 

Settlement payable (Note 15)

 

 

-

 

 

 

438,577

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

353,353

 

 

 

112,815

 

Cash flow from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other capital expenditures

 

 

(276,010

)

 

 

(214,150

)

Proceeds from sale of real estate, net of cash

 

 

1,034

 

 

 

392,011

 

Proceeds from sale of operations (Note 5)

 

 

62,113

 

 

 

-

 

Proceeds from sale of other equipment

 

 

1,143

 

 

 

-

 

Windstream asset acquisition

 

 

-

 

 

 

(73,127

)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

 

(211,720

)

 

 

104,734

 

Cash flow from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayment of debt

 

 

(1,660,000

)

 

 

(2,044,728

)

Proceeds from issuance of notes

 

 

1,680,000

 

 

 

2,250,000

 

Dividends paid

 

 

(105,941

)

 

 

(100,759

)

Payment of settlement obligation

 

 

(73,516

)

 

 

-

 

Payments of contingent consideration

 

 

(2,979

)

 

 

(15,713

)

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(1,700

)

 

 

(1,802

)

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

 

 

290,000

 

 

 

140,000

 

Payments under revolving credit facility

 

 

(220,000

)

 

 

(585,019

)

Finance lease payments

 

 

(1,745

)

 

 

(2,890

)

Payments for financing costs

 

 

(25,755

)

 

 

(47,775

)

Settlement Common Stock issuance

 

 

-

 

 

 

244,550

 

Costs related to the early repayment of debt

 

 

(25,800

)

 

 

-

 

Employee stock purchase program

 

 

672

 

 

 

306

 

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation

 

 

(2,652

)

 

 

(962

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(149,416

)

 

 

(164,792

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(7,783

)

 

 

52,757

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

77,534

 

 

 

142,813

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

69,751

 

 

$

195,570

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment acquired but not yet paid

 

$

22,586

 

 

$

15,242

 

Tenant capital improvements

 

 

140,996

 

 

 

101,877

 

9


Table of Contents
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

11

10

Table of Contents

Uniti Group Inc.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

Note 1. Organization and Description of Business

Uniti Group Inc. (the “Company,” “Uniti,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) was incorporated in the state of Maryland on September 4, 2014. We are an independent internally managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”) engaged in the acquisition, construction and leasing of mission critical infrastructure in the communications industry. We are principally focused on acquiring and constructing fiber optic, copper and coaxial broadband networks and data centers. We have historically managed our operations in 4 separate lines of business: Uniti Fiber, Uniti Towers, Uniti Leasing, and the Consumer CLEC Business.  On June 1, 2020, the Company completed the sale of its Uniti Towers business, and as of the end of the second quarter of 2020, the Company had substantially completed the wind down of its Consumer CLEC business. As a result, effective January 1, 2021, we manage our operations focused on our 2two primary lines of business: Uniti Fiber and Uniti Leasing.

The Company operates through a customary “up-REIT” structure, pursuant to which we hold substantially all of our assets through a partnership, Uniti Group LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), that we control as general partner, with the only significant difference between the financial position and results of operations of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries compared to the consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations of Uniti is that the results for the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries do not include Uniti’s Consumer CLEC segment, which consists of Talk America Services (“Talk America”), which we substantially completed the wind down of the business as of the end of the second quarter of 2020.partner. The up-REIT structure is intended to facilitate future acquisition opportunities by providing the Company with the ability to use common units of the Operating Partnership as a tax-efficient acquisition currency. As of September 30, 2021,2022, we are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and own approximately 99.6%99.96% of the partnership interests in the Operating Partnership.

Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and/or controlled subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership. Under the Accounting Standards Codification 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”), the Operating Partnership is considered a variable interest entity and is consolidated in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Uniti Group Inc. because the Company is the primary beneficiary. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.eliminated.

ASC 810 provides guidance on the identification of entities for which control is achieved through means other than voting rights (“variable interest entities” or “VIEs”) and the determination of which business enterprise, if any, should consolidate the VIEs. Generally, the consideration of whether an entity is a VIE applies when either: (1) the equity investors (if any) lack (i) the ability to make decisions about the entity’s activities through voting or similar rights, (ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or (iii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; (2) the equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance that entity’s activities without additional subordinated financial support; or (3) the equity investors have voting rights that are not proportionate to their economic interests and substantially all of the activities of the entity involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor with a disproportionately small voting interest. The Company consolidates VIEs in which it is considered to be the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is defined as the entity having both of the following characteristics: (1) the power to direct the activities that, when taken together, most significantly impact the VIE’s performance; and (2) the obligation to absorb losses and right to receive the returns from the VIE that would be significant to the VIE.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information set forth in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), as published by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and with the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim period have been included. Operating results from any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2021,February 25, 2022, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed on Form 10-K/A with the SEC on March 30, 202122, 2022 (the “Annual Report”). Accordingly, significant accounting policies and other disclosures normally provided have been omitted from the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes since such items are disclosed in our Annual Report.

12


Table of Contents

Concentration of Credit Risks—Prior to September 2020, wewe were party to a long-term exclusive triple-net lease (the “Master Lease”) with Windstream Holdings, Inc. (together with Windstream Holdings II, LLC, its successor in interest, and its subsidiaries, “Windstream”) pursuant to which a substantial portion of our real property was leased to Windstream and from which a substantial portion of our leasing revenues were derived. On September 18, 2020, Uniti and Windstream
11

Table of Contents
bifurcated the Master Lease and entered into two structurally similar master leases (collectively, the “Windstream Leases”), which amended and restated the Master Lease in its entirety. Revenue under the Windstream Leases provided 66.4% and the Master Lease provided 67.6% and 66.1% of our revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 20212022 and 2020,2021, respectively. Because a substantial portion of our revenue and cash flows are derived from lease payments by Windstream pursuant to the Windstream Leases, there could be a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations, liquidity, financial condition and/or ability to pay dividends and service debt if Windstream were to default under the Windstream Leases or otherwise experiences operating or liquidity difficulties and becomes unable to generate sufficient cash to make payments to us.

Prior to its emergence from bankruptcy on September 21, 2020, Windstream was a publicly traded company subject to the periodic filing requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Windstream’s historic filings through their quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020 can be found at www.sec.gov. Additionally, the Windstream audited financial statements as of December 31, 2021, and for the year ended December 31, 2021, as of December 31, 2020 and for the period from September 22, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and as of December 31, 2019 and for the period from January 1, 2020 to September 21, 2020 and for each of the two years in the periodyear ended December 31, 2019 are included as an exhibit to our Annual Report. On September 22, 2020, Windstream filed a Form 15 to terminate all filing obligations under Sections 12(g) and 15(d) under the Exchange Act. Windstream filings are not incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

We monitor the credit quality of Windstream through numerous methods, including by (i) reviewing credit ratings of Windstream by nationally recognized credit agencies, (ii) reviewing the financial statements of Windstream that are required to be delivered to us pursuant to the Windstream Leases, (iii) monitoring news reports regarding Windstream and its business, (iv) conducting research to ascertain industry trends potentially affecting Windstream, (v) monitoring Windstream’s compliance with the terms of the Windstream Leases and (vi) monitoring the timeliness of its payments under the Windstream Leases.

As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Windstream is current on all lease payments. We note that in August 2020, Moody’s Investor Service assigned a B3 corporate family rating with a stable outlook to Windstream in connection with its post-emergence exit financing. At the same time, S&P Global Ratings assigned Windstream a B- issuer rating with a stable outlook. Both ratings remain current as of the date of this filing. In order to assist us in our continuing assessment of Windstream’s creditworthiness, we periodically receive certain confidential financial information and metrics from Windstream.


Goodwill—As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, all of our goodwill is included in our Fiber Infrastructure segment. Goodwill is recognized for the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires significant judgment, including: the identification of reporting units; assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units; and assignment of goodwill to reporting units. In accordance with ASC 350-20, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, we evaluate goodwill for impairment between annual impairment tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount (a “Triggering Event”). On the occurrence of a Triggering Event, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether a quantitative impairment test is necessary. If it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, the fair value of the reporting unit must be compared with its carrying value.

In performing the quantitative assessment of goodwill, we estimate the fair value of our fiber reporting unit using a combination of an income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows and a market approach based on market data of comparable businesses, and acquisition multiples paid in recent transactions. Inherent in our preparation of cash flow projections are significant assumptions and estimates derived from a review of our operating results and business plans, which include expected revenue and expense growth rates, capital expenditure plans and discount rate. In determining these assumptions, we consider our ability to execute on our plans, future economic conditions, interest rates and other market data. Many of the factors used in assessing fair value are outside the control of management, and these assumptions and estimates may change in future periods. Small changes in these assumptions or estimates could materially affect our cash flow projections, and therefore could affect the likelihood and amount of potential impairment in future periods. Potential events that could negatively impact these assumptions or estimates may include customer losses or poor execution of our business plans, which impact revenue growth, cost escalation impacting margin, the level of capital expenditures required to sustain our growth and market factors, including stock price fluctuations and increased interest rates, impacting our discount rate. For example, if we were to experience a significant delay in our permitting process in the construction of our fiber networks, the timing of effected cash flows could impact long term growth rates and negatively impact the income approach, leading to potential impairment. As a result, should our expectations of average projected revenue growth percentage, average projected EBITDA margin percentage and/or average projected capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue change, we may experience future impairment to goodwill (while other assumptions remain constant). Furthermore, a deterioration in market factors such as stock prices or increased interest rates
12

Table of Contents
and/or declines in acquisition multiples utilized in the market approach could affect the likelihood and amount of potential impairment. We evaluate the appropriateness of each valuation methodology in determining the weighting applied to each methodology in the determination of the concluded fair value. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit's net assets is less than its fair value, no impairment exists. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit is greater than the fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment loss must be recognized for the excess and recorded in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill.

In connection with the preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company identified a Triggering Event and, therefore, performed a qualitative and quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Triggering Event was a result of macroeconomic and financial market factors, specifically increased interest rates, impacting our discount rate. As a result of this interim assessment of goodwill, we concluded that the fair value of the Fiber Infrastructure reporting unit, estimated using a combination of the income approach and market approach, is less than its carrying amount. Accordingly, we recorded a $216.0 million goodwill impairment charge in the Fiber Infrastructure reporting unit during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
Reclassifications—Certain prior year asset and liability categories and related amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020,May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, 2021-04, Debt - Debt with ConversionEarnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Other OptionsExtinguishments (Subtopic 470- 20)470-50), Compensation— Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging - Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)815- 40):Issuer’s Accounting for Convertible InstrumentsCertain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options, which clarifies and Contractsreduces diversity in an Entity’s Own Equityissuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options (for example, warrants) that remain equity classified after modification or exchange (“ASU 2020-06”2021-04”). ASU 2021-04 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2021-04 effective January 1, 2022, and there was no impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In July 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-05, Leases (Topic 842): Lessors—Certain Leases with Variable Lease Payments (“ASU 2021-05), which simplifiesrequires lessors to classify leases as operating leases if they (1) have variable lease payments that do not depend on a reference index or rate, and (2) would have resulted in the accountingrecognition of a selling loss at lease commencement if classified as sales-type or direct financing. ASU 2021-05 is effective for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. ASU 2020-06 (1) simplifies the accounting for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock by removing the existing guidance in ASC 470-20, Debt: Debt with Conversion and Other Options, that requiresall entities to account for beneficial conversion features and cash conversion features in equity, separately from the host convertible debt or preferred stock; (2) revises the scope exception from derivative accounting in ASC 815-40 for freestanding financial instruments and embedded features that are both indexed to the issuer’s own stock and classified in stockholders’ equity, by removing certain criteria required for equity classification; and (3) revises the guidance in ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, to require entities to calculate diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for convertible instruments by using the if-converted method.

In addition, entities must presume share settlement for purposes of calculating diluted EPS when an instrument may be settled in cash or shares. ASU 2020-06 is effectivewhich have previously adopted Topic 842 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, andincluding interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted.years. The Company elected to early adopt the guidanceadopted ASU 2020-06 as of2021-05 effective January 1, 2021 using the modified retrospective transition method. Pursuant to the transition guidance, the Company is required to apply the guidance to all impacted2022, and there was no impact on our consolidated financial instruments that were outstanding as of January 1, 2021 with the cumulative effect recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings.

As a result of early adopting ASU 2020-06, the Company made certain adjustments to its accounting for the outstanding exchangeable senior unsecured notes. statements.

13

The adoption of ASU 2020-06 resulted in the re-combination of the liability and equity components of these notes into a single liability instrument. The carrying value as of December 31, 2020, totaled approximately $275.4 million and as a result of the adoption increased by $61.1 million to $336.5 million as of January 1, 2021. Because of this adoption, the effective interest rate on the exchangeable senior unsecured notes went from 11.1% to 4.8%. Additional paid-in-capital was reduced by $59.9

13


Table of Contents

million and deferred tax liabilities were reduced by $15.8 million. Approximately $14.6 million of cumulative effect of adoption was recognized to the opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2021.

Note 3. Revenues

The following is a description of principal activities, separated by reportable segments (see Note 13), from which the Company generates its revenues.

Leasing

Leasing revenue represents the results from our leasing program, Uniti Leasing, which is engaged in the acquisition of mission-critical communications assets and leasing them to anchor customers on either an exclusive or shared-tenant basis. See Note 4.

Fiber Infrastructure

The Fiber Infrastructure segment represents the operations of our fiber business, Uniti Fiber, which provides (i) consumer, enterprise, wholesale and backhaul lit fiber, (ii) E-rate, (iii) small cell, (iv) construction services, (v) dark fiber and (vi) other revenue generating activities.

i.

Consumer, enterprise, wholesale, and backhaul lit fiber fall under the guidance of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). Revenue is recognized over the life of the contracts in a pattern that reflects the satisfaction of Uniti’s stand-ready obligation to provide lit fiber services. The transaction price is equal to the monthly-recurring charge multiplied by the contract term, plus any non-recurring or variable charges. For each contract, the customer is invoiced monthly.

ii.

E-rate contracts involve providing lit fiber services to schools and libraries, and is governed by ASC 606. Revenue is recognized over the life of the contract in a pattern that reflects the satisfaction of Uniti’s stand-ready obligation to provide lit fiber services. The transaction price is equal to the monthly-recurring charge multiplied by the contract term, plus any non-recurring or variable charges. For each contract, the customer is invoiced monthly.

iii.

Small cell contracts provide improved network connection to areas that may not require or accommodate a tower. Small cell arrangements typically contain five streams of revenue: site development, radio frequency (“RF”) design, dark fiber lease, construction services, and maintenance services. Site development, RF design and construction are each separate services and are considered distinct performance obligations under ASC 606. Dark fiber and associated maintenance services constitute a lease, and as such, they are outside the scope of ASC 606 and are governed by other applicable guidance.

iv.

Construction revenue is generated from contracts to provide various construction services such as equipment installation or the laying of fiber.  Construction revenue is recognized over time as construction activities occur as we are either enhancing a customer’s owned asset or constructing an asset with no alternative use to us and we would be entitled to our costs plus a reasonable profit margin if the contract was terminated early by the customer.  We are utilizing our costs incurred as the measure of progress of satisfying our performance obligation.

v.

Dark fiber arrangements represent operating leases under ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”) and are outside the scope of ASC 606.  When (a) a customer makes an advance payment or (b) a customer is contractually obligated to pay any amounts in advance, which is not deemed a separate performance obligation, deferred leasing revenue is recorded. This leasing revenue is recognized ratably over the expected term of the contract, unless the pattern of service suggests otherwise.

vi.

The Company generates revenues from other services, such as consultation services and equipment sales.  Revenue from the sale of customer premise equipment and modems that are not provided as an essential part of the telecommunications services, including broadband, long distance, and enhanced services is recognized when products are delivered to and accepted by the customer. Revenue from customer premise equipment and modems provided as an essential part of the telecommunications services, including broadband, long distance, and enhanced services are recognized over time in a pattern that reflects the satisfaction of the service performance obligation.

Towers

The Towers segment represents the operations of our former towers business, Uniti Towers, through which we acquired and constructed tower and tower-related real estate, which we then leased to our customers in the United States and Latin America. Revenue from our towers business qualifies as a lease under ASC 842 and is outside the scope of ASC 606.  Starting in 2019, the Company completed a series of transactions to largely divest of its towers business and on April 2, 2019, May 23, 2019 and June 1,

14


Table of Contents

2020, the Company completed the sales of its Latin American business, substantially all of its U.S. ground lease business, and its U.S. tower business, respectively.

Consumer CLEC

The Consumer CLEC segment represents the operations of Talk America through which we operated the Consumer CLEC Business, which provided local telephone, high-speed internet and long-distance services to customers in the eastern and central United States. Customers are billed monthly for services rendered based on actual usage or contracted amounts. The transaction price is equal to the monthly-recurring charge multiplied by the initial contract term (typically 12 months), plus any non-recurring or variable charges. As of the end of the second quarter of 2020, we substantially completed a wind down of our Consumer CLEC business.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by revenue stream.

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)2022202120222021

Revenue disaggregated by revenue stream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue disaggregated by revenue stream

Revenue from contracts with customers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from contracts with customers

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

Lit backhaul

 

$

19,381

 

 

$

25,160

 

 

$

67,404

 

 

$

80,568

 

Lit backhaul$19,969 $19,381 $59,344 $67,404 

Enterprise and wholesale

 

 

20,863

 

 

 

19,875

 

 

 

63,190

 

 

 

58,761

 

Enterprise and wholesale21,423 20,863 63,359 63,190 

E-Rate and government

 

 

13,505

 

 

 

17,375

 

 

 

48,795

 

 

 

60,133

 

E-Rate and government15,245 13,505 48,026 48,795 

Other

 

 

839

 

 

 

2,345

 

 

 

2,479

 

 

 

3,648

 

Other703 839 2,076 2,479 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

$

54,588

 

 

$

64,755

 

 

$

181,868

 

 

$

203,110

 

Fiber Infrastructure$57,340 $54,588 $172,805 $181,868 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

651

 

Leasing

 

 

1,070

 

 

 

177

 

 

 

3,237

 

 

 

177

 

Leasing1,201 1,070 3,553 3,237 

Total revenue from contracts with customers

 

 

55,658

 

 

 

64,932

 

 

 

185,105

 

 

 

203,938

 

Total revenue from contracts with customers58,541 55,658 176,358 185,105 

Revenue accounted for under other applicable guidance

 

 

211,089

 

 

 

193,833

 

 

 

622,408

 

 

 

587,809

 

Revenue accounted for under leasing guidanceRevenue accounted for under leasing guidance  
LeasingLeasing207,422 198,415 615,325 587,241 
Fiber InfrastructureFiber Infrastructure17,140 12,674 53,429 35,167 
Total revenue accounted for under leasing guidanceTotal revenue accounted for under leasing guidance224,562 211,089 668,754 622,408 

Total revenue

 

$

266,747

 

 

$

258,765

 

 

$

807,513

 

 

$

791,747

 

Total revenue$283,103 $266,747 $845,112 $807,513 

At September 30, 2021,2022 and December 31, 2020,2021, lease receivables were $15.1$23.8 million and $17.5$19.4 million, respectively, and receivables from contracts with customers were $16.9$17.2 million and $45.1$14.7 million, respectively.

Contract Assets (Unbilled Revenue) and Liabilities (Deferred Revenue)

Contract assets primarily consist of unbilled construction revenue where we are utilizing our costs incurred as the measure of progress of satisfying our performance obligation. Contract assets are reported within accounts receivable, net on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.Sheets. When the contract price is invoiced, the related unbilled receivable is reclassified to trade accounts receivable, where the balance will be settled upon the collection of the invoiced amount. Contract liabilities are generally comprised of upfront fees charged to the customer for the cost of establishing the necessary components of the Company’s network prior to the commencement of use by the customer. Fees charged to customers for the recurring use of the Company’s network are recognized during the related periods of service. Upfront fees that are billed in advance of providing services are deferred until such time the customer accepts the Company’s network and then are recognized as service revenues ratably over a period in which substantive services required under the revenue arrangement are expected to be performed, which is the initial term of the arrangement. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021,2022, we recognized revenues of $1.3$2.6 million and $9.4$5.6 million, respectively, which was included in the December 31, 20202021 contract liabilities balance.

The following table provides information about contract assets and contract liabilities accounted for under ASC 606.

(Thousands)

 

Contract Assets

 

 

Contract Liabilities

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

$

3,462

 

 

$

18,601

 

Balance at September 30, 2021

 

$

614

 

 

$

13,942

 

(Thousands)Contract AssetsContract Liabilities
Balance at December 31, 2021$4,066 $9,099 
Balance at September 30, 2022$391 $11,061 

15

14

Table of Contents

Transaction Price Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations

Performance obligations within contracts to stand ready to provide services are typically satisfied over time or as those services are provided. Contract liabilities primarily relate to deferred revenue from upfront customer payments. The deferred revenue is recognized, and the liability reduced, over the contract term as the Company completes the performance obligation. As of September 30, 2021,2022, our future revenues (i.e., transaction price related to remaining performance obligations) under contract accounted for under ASC 606 totaled $451.7$564.2 million, of which $353.1$464.1 million is related to contracts that are currently being invoiced and have an average remaining contract term of 1.82.4 years,, while $98.6$100.1 million represents our backlog for sales bookings which have yet to be installed and have an average remaining contract term of 6.0 years.6.0 years.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

We do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less.

We exclude from the transaction price any amounts collected from customers for sales taxes and therefore, such amounts are not included in revenue.

Note 4. Leases

Lessor Accounting

We lease communications towers, ground, colocation, and dark fiber to tenants under operating leases. Our leases have initial lease terms ranging from less than one year to 35 years, most of which include options to extend or renew the leases for less than one year to 20 years (based on the satisfaction of certain conditions as defined in the lease agreements), and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within one to six months.months. Certain lease agreements contain provisions for future rent increases. Payments due under the lease contracts include fixed payments plus, for some of our leases, variable payments.

The components of lease income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 2022 and 2020,2021, respectively, are as follows:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)2022202120222021

Lease income - operating leases

 

$

211,089

 

 

$

193,833

 

 

$

622,408

 

 

$

587,809

 

Lease income - operating leases$224,562 $211,089 $668,754 $622,408 

Lease payments to be received under non-cancellable operating leases where we are the lessor for the remainder of the lease terms as of September 30, 20212022 are as follows:

(Thousands)

 

September 30, 2021 (1)

 

(Thousands)September 30, 2022⁽¹⁾

2021

 

$

185,067

 

2022

 

 

753,180

 

2022$191,496 

2023

 

 

760,567

 

2023777,937 

2024

 

 

762,163

 

2024784,400 

2025

 

 

763,786

 

2025785,568 
20262026787,169 

Thereafter

 

 

3,749,758

 

Thereafter3,066,497 

Total lease receivables

 

$

6,974,521

 

Total lease receivables$6,393,067 

(1) Total future minimum lease payments to be received include $6.0 billion relating to the Windstream Leases.

 

(1) Total future minimum lease payments to be received include $5.5 billion relating to the Windstream Leases.
(1) Total future minimum lease payments to be received include $5.5 billion relating to the Windstream Leases.

16

15

Table of Contents

The underlying assets under operating leases where we are the lessor are summarized as follows:

(Thousands)

 

September 30, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

(Thousands)September 30, 2022December 31, 2021

Land

 

$

26,596

 

 

$

26,596

 

Land$26,550 $26,593 

Building and improvements

 

 

342,907

 

 

 

335,495

 

Building and improvements344,836 343,624 

Poles

 

 

278,565

 

 

 

266,758

 

Poles293,504 281,130 

Fiber

 

 

3,224,832

 

 

 

2,994,465

 

Fiber3,465,878 3,278,276 

Equipment

 

 

428

 

 

 

421

 

Equipment428 428 

Copper

 

 

3,919,421

 

 

 

3,850,988

 

Copper3,955,180 3,918,281 

Conduit

 

 

89,831

 

 

 

89,773

 

Conduit89,925 89,859 

Tower assets

 

 

1,397

 

 

 

1,397

 

Tower assets1,397 1,397 

Finance lease assets

 

 

28,126

 

 

 

32,660

 

Finance lease assets28,126 28,126 

Other assets

 

 

10,647

 

 

 

10,425

 

Other assets10,434 10,649 

 

 

7,922,750

 

 

 

7,608,978

 

8,216,258 7,978,363 

Less: accumulated depreciation

 

 

(5,364,117

)

 

 

(5,222,731

)

Less: accumulated depreciation(5,502,245)(5,391,479)

Underlying assets under operating leases, net

 

$

2,558,633

 

 

$

2,386,247

 

Underlying assets under operating leases, net$2,714,013 $2,586,884 

Depreciation expense for the underlying assets under operating leases where we are the lessor for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20212022 and 2020,2021, respectively, is summarized as follows:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)2022202120222021

Depreciation expense for underlying assets under operating leases

 

$

44,763

 

 

$

50,841

 

 

$

134,783

 

 

$

160,278

 

Depreciation expense for underlying assets under operating leases$44,127 $44,763 $130,858 $134,783 

Lessee Accounting

We have commitments under operating leases for communications towers, ground, colocation, dark fiber lease arrangements and buildings. We also have finance leases for dark fiber lease arrangements and other communications equipment.arrangements. Our leases have initial lease terms ranging from less than one year to 30 years, most of which include options to extend or renew the leases for less than one year to 20 years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within one to six months.months. Certain lease agreements contain provisions for future rent increases. Payments due under the lease contracts include fixed payments plus, for some of our leases, variable payments.

As of September 30, 2021,2022, we have short term lease commitments amounting to approximately $2.7 million.

The components of lease cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, are as follows:

$2.8 million.

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Finance lease cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of ROU assets

 

$

1,024

 

 

$

920

 

 

$

3,721

 

 

$

2,890

 

Interest on lease liabilities

 

 

392

 

 

 

943

 

 

 

2,019

 

 

 

2,890

 

     Total finance lease cost

 

 

1,416

 

 

 

1,863

 

 

 

5,740

 

 

 

5,780

 

Operating lease cost

 

 

3,658

 

 

 

5,313

 

 

 

11,873

 

 

 

19,272

 

Short-term lease cost

 

 

907

 

 

 

542

 

 

 

2,347

 

 

 

1,551

 

Variable lease cost

 

 

95

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

391

 

 

 

124

 

Less sublease income

 

 

(3,211

)

 

 

(2,733

)

 

 

(9,439

)

 

 

(9,503

)

Total lease cost

 

$

2,865

 

 

$

5,026

 

 

$

10,912

 

 

$

17,224

 

17


Table of Contents

Amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for leases where we are the lessee were as follows:

(Thousands)

 

Location on Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

September 30, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

Operating leases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROU assets, net

 

Other assets, net

 

$

72,965

 

 

$

97,850

 

Lease liabilities

 

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, net

 

 

49,902

 

 

 

71,483

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance leases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROU asset, gross

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

$

72,254

 

 

$

128,098

 

Lease liabilities

 

Finance lease obligations

 

 

15,538

 

 

 

48,724

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

 

 

8.9 years

 

 

12.2 years

 

Finance leases

 

 

 

13.0 years

 

 

13.3 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average discount rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

 

 

 

9.2

%

 

 

9.9

%

Finance leases

 

 

 

 

9.8

%

 

 

8.0

%

Other information related to leases as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, are as follows:

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating cash flows from finance leases

 

$

2,019

 

 

$

2,890

 

Operating cash flows from operating leases

 

 

14,197

 

 

 

22,573

 

Financing cash flows from finance leases

 

 

1,745

 

 

 

2,890

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New operating leases and remeasurements, net

 

$

4,649

 

 

$

426

 

New finance leases

 

 

-

 

 

 

31

 

Future lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of September 30, 2021 2022 are as follows:

(Thousands)

 

Operating Leases

 

 

Finance Leases

 

(Thousands)Operating LeasesFinance Leases

2021

 

$

3,807

 

 

$

610

 

2022

 

 

13,149

 

 

 

2,334

 

2022$4,079 $625 

2023

 

 

10,963

 

 

 

2,281

 

202315,588 2,497 

2024

 

 

8,558

 

 

 

2,082

 

202413,201 2,307 

2025

 

 

5,896

 

 

 

2,021

 

202510,529 2,254 
202620267,739 2,254 

Thereafter

 

 

33,072

 

 

 

16,667

 

Thereafter47,463 14,878 

Total undiscounted lease payments

 

$

75,445

 

 

$

25,995

 

Total undiscounted lease payments$98,599 $24,815 

Less:�� imputed interest

 

 

(25,543

)

 

 

(10,457

)

Less: imputed interestLess: imputed interest(33,918)(9,246)

Total lease liabilities

 

$

49,902

 

 

$

15,538

 

Total lease liabilities$64,681 $15,569 

 

Future sublease rentals as of September 30, 2021 are as follows:

18

16

Table of Contents

(Thousands)

 

Sublease Rentals

 

2021

 

$

2,896

 

2022

 

 

9,175

 

2023

 

 

9,252

 

2024

 

 

9,331

 

2025

 

 

9,411

 

Thereafter

 

 

136,554

 

Total

 

$

176,619

 

Note 5. Asset Acquisitions and Dispositions

2021 Transaction

Everstream OpCo-PropCo Transaction

On May 28, 2021, the Company completed its previously announced strategic transaction with Everstream Solutions LLC (“Everstream”).  As part of the transaction, Uniti entered into two 20-year dark fiber indefeasible rights of use (“IRU”) lease agreements with Everstream on Uniti owned fiber.  Concurrently, Uniti sold its Uniti Fiber Northeast operations and certain dark fiber IRU contracts acquired as part of the Windstream settlement to Everstream.  Total cash consideration, including upfront IRU payments, was approximately $135 million.  In addition to the upfront proceeds, Uniti will receive fees of approximately $3 million annually from Everstream over the initial 20-year term of the IRU lease agreements, subject to an annual escalator of 2%.  During the quarter ended June 30, 2021, we recorded a gain of $28.1 million related to this transaction, which is included in gain on sale of operations in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).

(Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Assets and liabilities sold:

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

$

44,685

 

Goodwill

 

 

17,794

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

7,264

 

Right of use assets, net

 

 

19,841

 

Total assets

 

$

89,584

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Lease liabilities

 

$

18,779

 

Intangible liabilities, net

 

 

4,492

 

Finance lease obligations

 

 

32,343

 

Total liabilities

 

$

55,614

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash consideration

 

$

62,113

 

Less: total assets and liabilities sold, net

 

 

(33,970

)

Gain on sale of operations

 

$

28,143

 

2020 Transactions

Windstream Settlement Agreement

On September 18, 2020, and in furtherance of our settlement agreement with Windstream (see Note 14), Uniti and Windstream closed an asset purchase agreement, as amended by a letter agreement (collectively, the “Asset Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which (a) Uniti paid to Windstream approximately $284.6 million and (b) Windstream (i) granted to Uniti exclusive rights to use 1.8 million fiber strand miles leased by Windstream under the CLEC MLA, which fiber strands are either unutilized or utilized under certain dark fiber indefeasible rights of use (“IRUs”) that were simultaneously transferred to Uniti, (ii) conveyed to Uniti fiber assets (and

19


Table of Contents

underlying rights) consisting of 0.4 million fiber strand miles (covering 4,000 route miles) owned by Windstream, and (iii) transferred and assigned to subsidiaries of Uniti dark fiber IRUs relating to (x) the fiber strand miles granted to Uniti under the CLEC MLA (and described in clause (i), and (y) the fiber assets (and underlying rights) for the 0.4 million fiber strand miles conveyed to Uniti (and described in clause (ii)), which IRUs generated $28.9 million of annual EBITDA in the aggregate as of the closing of the Asset Purchase Agreement. In addition, upon the transfer of the Windstream owned fiber assets (described in clause (ii) above), Uniti granted to Windstream a 20-year IRU for certain strands included in the transferred fiber assets.

The Company concluded that the Asset Purchase Agreement, and the obligation for Uniti to make cash payments to Windstream in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement (see Note 14), should be combined for the accounting purpose of ASC 842.  As such, total consideration provided to Windstream under the Settlement has been allocated as follows:

(Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Consideration:

 

 

 

 

Asset Purchase Agreement

 

$

284,550

 

Fair value of settlement obligation

 

 

438,577

 

Total consideration

 

$

723,127

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date:

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

$

170,754

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

69,832

 

Other assets

 

 

27,632

 

Intangible liabilities, net

 

 

(195,091

)

Total assets acquired, net

 

 

73,127

 

Settlement expense

 

 

650,000

 

Total

 

$

723,127

 

Of the $69.8 million of intangible assets acquired, $59.3 million is related to contracts (8 year weighted-average life) and $10.5 million is related to underlying rights agreements (30 year life). The Company determined the useful life of the contract intangible assets using the weighted-average remaining term and the rights of way intangible asset by aligning the useful life of the intangible with that of the underlying fiber assets acquired.  The intangible liabilities represents below market leases, where we are the lessor, and has a weighted-average useful life of 19 years, which aligns with the term of the agreement.  Acquired right of use assets $27.6 million are recorded within other assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Sale of Midwest Fiber Network

On July 1, 2020, the Company completed the sale of the entity that controlled the Company’s Midwest fiber network assets (the “Propco”) to Macquarie Infrastructure Partners (“MIP”), selling net assets having a book value of $186.5 million for total cash consideration of $167.6 million.  The Company retained a 20% investment interest in the Propco, having a fair value of $41.9 million, through a newly-formed limited liability company with MIP (see Note 6).  During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, we recorded a gain of $23.0 million related to this transaction.

Sale of U.S. Tower Portfolio

On June 1, 2020, the Company completed the sale of its U.S. tower business to Melody Investment Advisors LP (“Melody”), selling net assets having a book value of $190.0 million for total cash consideration of $225.8 million.  The Company retained a 10% investment interest in the tower business, having a fair value of $26.0 million, through a newly formed limited partnership with Melody (see Note 6), and will receive incremental earn-out payments, estimated to be $1.6 million, which is included in other assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020.  During the quarter ended June 30, 2020, we recorded a gain of $63.4 million related to this transaction.

Note 6.5. Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had an aggregate investment of $64.7 million in its equity method unconsolidated entities, which included a 42% interest in

Fiber Holdings
BB Fiber Holdings LLC (“(Fiber Holdings”) and an 8% interest in Harmoni Towers LP (“Harmoni”).

Fiber Holdings

20


Table of Contents

Fiber Holdings was primarily established to develop fiber networks as real estate property for long-term investment. On July 1, 2020, the Company completed the sale of an ownership stake in the entity that controls the Company’s Midwest fiber network assets (the “Propco”). Fiber Holdings has a 47.5% ownership in the Propco that is under a long-term, triple net lease with our joint venture partner. Our ownership interest in Fiber Holdings represents approximately a 20% economic interest in the Propco. The Company’s current investment and maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with Fiber Holdings, an equity method unconsolidated entity, was approximately $40.3$39.0 million as of September 30, 2021.2022. The Company has not provided financial support to Fiber Holdings.

Harmoni

Harmoni

was primarily established to develop wireless communication towers as real estate property for long-term investment.  We concluded that Harmoni is a VIE; however,On June 21, 2022, the Company determined that it was notcompleted the primary beneficiarysale of its investment in Harmoni Towers LbecauseP (“Harmoni”) to Palistar Communications Infrastructure GP LLC, our partner in the Company lacks the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact its economic performance. The Company’s current investment, and maximum exposure to loss asfor total cash consideration of $32.5 million. As a result of its involvement with Harmoni was approximately $24.4the transaction, during the second quarter of 2022 we recorded a pre-tax gain of $7.9 million aswithin other income (expense), net and $6.7 million of September 30, 2021. The Company has not provided financial support to Harmoni.

We provide transition services to Harmoni in exchange for fees and reimbursements. Total transition service fees earned in connection with Harmoni for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively, which is included in operatingincome tax expense on a net basis inwithin our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).

Income.

Note 7.6. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC 820, Fair ValueMeasurements, establishes a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on the observability of inputs utilized in measuring assets and liabilities at fair values. This hierarchy establishes market-based or observable inputs as the preferred source of values, followed by valuation models using management assumptions in the absence of market inputs. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the assessment date;

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and other receivables, derivative assets and liabilities, our outstanding notes and other debt, settlement payable, contingent consideration and accounts, interest and dividends payable.

17

The following table summarizes the fair value of our financial instruments at September 30, 20212022 and December 31, 2020:

2021:

(Thousands)

 

Total

 

Quoted Prices in Active Markets

(Level 1)

 

Prices with Other Observable Inputs

(Level 2)

 

Prices with Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

 

(Thousands)Total
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Prices with Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Prices with Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)

At September 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2022At September 30, 2022    

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities    

Senior secured notes - 7.875%, due February 15, 2025

 

$

2,376,990

 

$

-

 

$

2,376,990

 

$

-

 

Senior secured notes - 7.875%, due February 15, 2025$2,198,565 $— $2,198,565 $— 

Senior secured notes - 4.75%, due April 15, 2028

 

 

579,519

 

-

 

579,519

 

-

 

Senior secured notes - 4.75%, due April 15, 2028451,640 — 451,640 — 

Senior unsecured notes - 7.125%, due December 15, 2024

 

 

616,770

 

-

 

616,770

 

-

 

Senior unsecured notes - 6.50%, due February 15, 2029

 

 

1,131,073

 

-

 

1,131,073

 

-

 

Senior unsecured notes - 6.50% , due February 15, 2029Senior unsecured notes - 6.50% , due February 15, 2029748,728 — 748,728 — 
Senior unsecured notes - 6.00%, due January 15, 2030Senior unsecured notes - 6.00%, due January 15, 2030447,965 — 447,965 — 

Exchangeable senior notes - 4.00%, due June 15, 2024

 

 

428,897

 

-

 

428,897

 

-

 

Exchangeable senior notes - 4.00%, due June 15, 2024316,517 — 316,517 — 

Senior secured revolving credit facility, variable rate, due December 10, 2024

 

 

179,982

 

-

 

179,982

 

-

 

Senior secured revolving credit facility, variable rate, due December 10, 2024274,972 — 274,972 — 

Settlement payable

 

 

348,500

 

-

 

348,500

 

-

 

Settlement payable235,225 — 235,225 — 

Derivative liability, net

 

 

13,606

 

 

-

 

 

13,606

 

 

-

 

Derivative liability, net822 — 822 — 

Total

 

$

5,675,337

 

$

-

 

$

5,675,337

 

$

-

 

Total$4,674,434 $— $4,674,434 $— 

21


Table of Contents

(Thousands)

 

Total

 

Quoted Prices in Active Markets

(Level 1)

 

Prices with Other Observable Inputs

(Level 2)

 

Prices with Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

 

At December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior secured notes - 6.00%, due April 15, 2023

 

$

561,000

 

$

-

 

$

561,000

 

$

-

 

Senior secured notes - 7.875%, due February 15, 2025

 

 

2,410,313

 

 

-

 

 

2,410,313

 

 

-

 

Senior unsecured notes - 8.25%, due October 15, 2023

 

 

1,112,775

 

 

-

 

 

1,112,775

 

 

-

 

Senior unsecured notes - 7.125%, due December 15, 2024

 

 

601,500

 

 

-

 

 

601,500

 

 

-

 

Exchangeable senior unsecured notes - 4.00%, due June 15, 2024

 

 

426,058

 

 

-

 

 

426,058

 

 

-

 

Senior secured revolving credit facility, variable rate, due April 24, 2022

 

 

110,000

 

 

-

 

 

110,000

 

 

-

 

Settlement payable

 

 

418,840

 

 

-

 

 

418,840

 

 

-

 

Derivative liability, net

 

 

22,897

 

 

-

 

 

22,897

 

 

-

 

Contingent consideration

 

 

2,957

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

2,957

 

Total

 

$

5,666,340

 

$

-

 

$

5,663,383

 

$

2,957

 

(Thousands)Total
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Prices with Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Prices with Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
At December 31, 2021
Liabilities
Senior secured notes - 7.875%, due February 15, 2025$2,351,576 $— $2,351,576 $— 
Senior secured notes - 4.75%, due April 15, 2028560,857 — 560,857 — 
Senior unsecured notes - 6.50% , due February 15, 20291,087,844 — 1,087,844 — 
Senior unsecured notes - 6.00%, due January 15, 2030659,992 — 659,992 — 
Exchangeable senior notes - 4.00%, due June 15, 2024453,104 — 453,104 — 
Senior secured revolving credit facility, variable rate, due December 10, 2024199,980 — 199,980 — 
Settlement payable254,725 — 254,725 — 
Derivative liability, net10,413 — 10,413 — 
Total$5,578,491 $— $5,578,491 $— 

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and other receivables, and accounts, interest and dividends payable approximate fair values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

The total principal balance of our outstanding notes and other debt was $5.06$5.25 billion at September 30, 2021,2022, with a fair value of $5.31$4.44 billion. The estimated fair value of our outstanding notes and other debt was based on available external pricing data and current market rates for similar debt instruments, among other factors, which are classified as Level 2 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. Derivative assets and liabilities are carried at fair value.See Note 98. The fair value of an interest rate swap is determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows using observable, quoted LIBOR swap rates for the full term of the swap and also incorporate credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both Uniti’s own non-performance risk and non-performance risk of the respective counterparties. The Company has
18

Table of Contents
determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivative assets and liabilities fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; however, the associated credit valuation adjustments utilized Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of credit spreads, to evaluate the likelihood of default by the Company and its counterparties. As of September 30, 2021,2022, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustment is not significant to the overall value of the derivatives. As such, the Company classifies its derivative assets and liabilities valuation in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

hierarchy.

Given the limited trade activity of the Exchangeable Notes, the fair value of the Exchangeable Notes (see Note 1110) is determined based on inputs that are observable in the market and have been classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Specifically, we estimated the fair value of the Exchangeable Notes based on readily available external pricing information, quoted market prices, and current market rates for similar convertible debt instruments.

Uniti is required to make $490.1 million of cash payments to Windstream in equal installments over 20 consecutive quarters beginning the first month after Windstream’s emergenceOctober 2020 (the “Settlement Payable”).See Note 1413. The Settlement Payable was recorded at fair value, using the present value of future cash flows. The future cash flows are discounted using discount rate input based on observable market data. Accordingly, we classify inputs used as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. TheAs of September 30, 2022, the remaining Settlement Payable is $358.3$248.1 million and is reported on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2021.Sheets. There have been no changes in the valuation methodologies used since the initial recording.

We acquired Tower Cloud, Inc. (“Tower Cloud”) on August 31, 2016.  As part of the Tower Cloud acquisition, we were obligated to pay contingent consideration upon achievement of certain defined operational and financial milestones from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2021. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company paid $3.0 million for the achievement of the final remaining milestone in accordance with the Tower Cloud merger agreement.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we paid $15.7 million for the achievement of certain milestones in accordance with the Tower Cloud merger agreement.

Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration arrangements are recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) in the period in which the change occurs.  The final measurement of the contingent consideration was recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2021, resulting in an increase in the fair value of less than $0.1 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, there was a $1.9 million and $8.1 million, respectively, increase in the fair value of the contingent consideration that was recorded in other (income) expense on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).

The following is a roll forward of our liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3):

22


Table of Contents

(Thousands)

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

(Gain)/Loss included in earnings

 

 

Settlements

 

 

September 30, 2021

 

Contingent consideration

 

$

2,957

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

22

 

 

$

(2,979

)

 

$

-

 

Note 8.7. Property, Plant and Equipment

The carrying value of property, plant and equipment is as follows:

(Thousands)

 

Depreciable Lives

 

 

September 30, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

(Thousands)Depreciable LivesSeptember 30, 2022December 31, 2021

Land

 

Indefinite

 

 

$

28,157

 

 

$

27,945

 

LandIndefinite$28,678 $28,449 

Building and improvements

 

3 - 40 years

 

 

 

359,045

 

 

 

351,305

 

Building and improvements3 - 40 years361,592 359,980 

Poles

 

30 years

 

 

 

278,565

 

 

 

266,758

 

Poles30 years293,504 281,130 

Fiber

 

30 years

 

 

 

4,033,649

 

 

 

3,737,372

 

Fiber30 years4,354,532 4,107,519 

Equipment

 

5 - 7 years

 

 

 

321,324

 

 

 

298,912

 

Equipment5 - 7 years375,340 331,761 

Copper

 

20 years

 

 

 

3,919,421

 

 

 

3,850,987

 

Copper20 years3,955,180 3,918,281 

Conduit

 

30 years

 

 

 

89,831

 

 

 

89,773

 

Conduit30 years89,925 89,859 

Tower assets

 

20 years

 

 

 

8,545

 

 

 

8,571

 

Tower assets20 years8,544 8,544 

Finance lease assets

 

 

(1

)

 

 

72,254

 

 

 

74,103

 

Finance lease assets(1)73,203 72,284 

Other assets

 

15 - 20 years

 

 

 

10,648

 

 

 

10,553

 

Other assets15 - 20 years10,451 10,652 

Corporate assets

 

3 - 7 years

 

 

 

13,924

 

 

 

13,475

 

Corporate assets3 - 7 years14,775 14,326 

Construction in progress

 

 

(1

)

 

 

31,953

 

 

 

47,086

 

Construction in progress(1)40,141 27,366 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,167,316

 

 

 

8,776,840

 

9,605,865 9,250,151 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,694,674

)

 

 

(5,503,487

)

Less accumulated depreciation(5,912,284)(5,741,212)

Net property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,472,642

 

 

$

3,273,353

 

Net property, plant and equipment$3,693,581 $3,508,939 

(1) See our Annual Report for property, plant and equipment accounting policies.

 

(1) See our Annual Report for property, plant and equipment accounting policies.
Depreciation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 2022 was $65.7$66.1 million and $196.8$194.9 million, respectively. Depreciation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 2021 was $73.3$65.7 million and $228.3$196.8 million, respectively.

Note 9.8. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company uses derivative instruments to mitigate the effects of interest rate volatility inherent in our variable rate debt, which could unfavorably impact our future earnings and forecasted cash flows. The Company does not use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes.

19

Table of Contents
On April 27, 2015, we entered into fixed for floating interest rate swap agreements to mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in our variable rate senior secured term loan B facility. These interest rate swaps were designated as cash flow hedges and have a notional value of $2.01$2.0 billion and mature on October 24, 2022. As a result of the repayment of the Company’s senior secured term loan B facility in February 2020, the Company entered into receive-fixed interest rate swaps to offset its existing pay-fixed interest rate swaps. As a result, the Company discontinued hedge accounting as the hedge accounting requirements were no longer met. Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) incomeloss as of the date of de-designation will be reclassified to interest expense as the hedged transactions impact earnings. Prospectively, changes in fair value of all interest rate swaps will be recorded directly to earnings.

23


Table of Contents

The Company has elected to offset derivative positions that are subject to master netting arrangements with the same counterparty in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following tables present the gross amounts of our derivative instruments subject to master netting arrangements with the same counterparty as of September 30, 20212022 and December 31, 2020:

2021:

Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Liabilities (Thousands)

 

Gross Amounts of

Recognized Assets or

Liabilities

 

 

Gross Amounts Offset in

the Condensed

Consolidated Balance

Sheets

 

 

Net Amounts of Assets or

Liabilities presented in the

Condensed Consolidated

Balance Sheets

 

Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Liabilities (Thousands)
Gross Amounts of
Recognized Assets or
Liabilities
Gross Amounts Offset in
the Condensed
Consolidated Balance
Sheets
Net Amounts of Assets or
Liabilities presented in the
Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheets

At September 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2022At September 30, 2022   

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets   

Interest rate swaps

 

$

16,355

 

 

$

(16,355

)

 

$

-

 

Interest rate swaps$1,278 $(1,278)$— 

Total

 

$

16,355

 

 

$

(16,355

)

 

$

-

 

Total$1,278 $(1,278)$— 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities   

Interest rate swaps

 

$

29,961

 

 

$

(16,355

)

 

$

13,606

 

Interest rate swaps$2,100 $(1,278)$822 

Total

 

$

29,961

 

 

$

(16,355

)

 

$

13,606

 

Total$2,100 $(1,278)$822 

Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Liabilities (Thousands)

 

Gross Amounts of

Recognized Assets or

Liabilities

 

 

Gross Amounts Offset in

the Condensed

Consolidated Balance

Sheets

 

 

Net Amounts of Assets or

Liabilities presented in the

Condensed Consolidated

Balance Sheets

 

Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Liabilities (Thousands)
Gross Amounts of
Recognized Assets or
Liabilities
Gross Amounts Offset in
the Condensed
Consolidated Balance
Sheets
Net Amounts of Assets or
Liabilities presented in the
Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheets

At December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2021At December 31, 2021

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

��

 

 

Assets

Interest rate swaps

 

$

27,869

 

 

$

(27,869

)

 

$

-

 

Interest rate swaps$10,788 $(10,788)$— 

Total

 

$

27,869

 

 

$

(27,869

)

 

$

-

 

Total$10,788 $(10,788)$— 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities   

Interest rate swaps

 

$

50,766

 

 

$

(27,869

)

 

$

22,897

 

Interest rate swaps$21,201 $(10,788)$10,413 

Total

 

$

50,766

 

 

$

(27,869

)

 

$

22,897

 

Total$21,201 $(10,788)$10,413 

The following table summarizes the fair value and the presentation in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(Thousands)

 

Location on Condensed

Consolidated Balance

Sheets

 

September 30, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

(Thousands)
Location on Condensed
Consolidated Balance
Sheets
September 30, 2022December 31, 2021

Interest rate swaps

 

Derivative liability, net

 

$

13,606

 

 

$

22,897

 

Interest rate swapsDerivative liability, net$822 $10,413 

As of September 30, 2021, all of2022, the interest rate swaps were valued in net unrealized loss positions and recognized as liability balances within the derivative liability, net in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.Sheets. As hedge accounting is no longer
20

Table of Contents
applied beginning in February 2020, the unrealized loss amounts are now being recorded directly to earnings. The amount reclassified out of other comprehensive income into interest expense on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of LossIncome for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20212022 was $2.8 million and $8.5 million, respectively. The amount reclassified out of other comprehensive income into interest expense on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of LossIncome for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20202021 was $2.8 million and $8.0$8.5 million, respectively.

During the next twelve months, beginning October 1, 2021,2022, we estimate that $11.3$0.8 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense.

Exchangeable Notes Hedge Transactions

On June 25, 2019, concurrently with the pricing of the Exchangeable Notes, (see Note 11), and on June 27, 2019, concurrently with the exercise by the initial purchasers involved in the offering of the Exchangeable Notes (the “Initial Purchasers”) of their option to purchase additional Exchangeable Notes, Uniti Fiber Holdings Inc., the issuer of the Exchangeable Notes, entered into exchangeable note hedge transactions with respect to the Company’s common stock (the “Note Hedge Transactions”) with certain of the Initial Purchasers or their respective affiliates (collectively, the “Counterparties”). The Note Hedge Transactions cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the Exchangeable Notes, the same number of shares of the Company’s common stock that initially underlie the Exchangeable Notes in the aggregate and are exercisable upon exchange of the Exchangeable Notes. The Note Hedge Transactions have an initial strike price that corresponds to the initial exchange price of the Exchangeable Notes, subject to

24


Table of Contents

anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the Exchangeable Notes. The Note Hedge Transactions will expire upon the maturity of the Exchangeable Notes, if not earlier exercised. The Note Hedge Transactions are intended to reduce potential dilution to the Company’s common stock upon any exchange of the Exchangeable Notes and/or offset any cash payments Uniti Fiber is required to make in excess of the principal amount of exchanged Exchangeable Notes, as the case may be, in the event that the market value per share of the Company’s common stock, as measured under the Note Hedge Transactions, at the time of exercise is greater than the strike price of the Note Hedge Transactions.

The Note Hedge Transactions are separate transactions, entered into by Uniti Fiber Holdings Inc. with the Counterparties, and are not part of the terms of the Exchangeable Notes. Holders of the Exchangeable Notes will not have any rights with respect to the Note Hedge Transactions. The Note Hedge Transactions meet certain accounting criteria under GAAP, are recorded in additional paid-in capital on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and are not accounted for as derivatives that are remeasured each reporting period.

Warrant Transactions

On June 25, 2019, concurrently with the pricing of the Exchangeable Notes, and on June 27, 2019 concurrently with the exercise by the Initial Purchasers of their option to purchase additional Exchangeable Notes, the Company entered into warrant transactions to sell to the Counterparties Warrants (the “Warrants”) to acquire, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, up to approximately 27.8 million shares of the Company’s common stock in the aggregate at an exercise price of approximately $16.42 per share. The maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that could be issued pursuant to the Warrants is approximately 55.5 million. The Company offered and sold the Warrants in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. If the market value per share of the Company’s common stock, as measured under the Warrants, at the time of exercise exceeds the strike price of the Warrants, the Warrants will have a dilutive effect on the Company’s common stock unless, subject to the terms of the Warrants, the Company elects to cash settle the Warrants. The Warrants will expire over a period beginning in September 2024.

The Warrants are separate transactions, entered into by the Company with the Counterparties, and are not part of the terms of the Exchangeable Notes. Holders of the Exchangeable Notes will not have any rights with respect to the Warrants. The Warrants meet certain accounting criteria under GAAP, are recorded in additional paid-in capital on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and are not accounted for as derivatives that are remeasured each reporting period.

21

Table of Contents

Note 10.9. Goodwill and Intangible Assets and Liabilities

There were 0 changes

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill occurring during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. The balance of goodwill recorded in our Fiber Infrastructure segment 2022 are as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is as follows:

(Thousands)

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

Total

 

Goodwill at December 31, 2020

 

$

601,878

 

 

$

601,878

 

Goodwill at September 30, 2021

 

 

601,878

 

 

 

601,878

 

(Thousands)Fiber InfrastructureTotal
Goodwill at December 31, 2021$601,878 $601,878 
Goodwill impairment (Note 2)(216,000)$(216,000)
Goodwill at September 30, 2022$385,878 $385,878 

25


Table of Contents

(Thousands)

 

September 30, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

(Thousands)September 30, 2022December 31, 2021

 

Original

Cost

 

 

Accumulated

Amortization

 

 

Original

Cost

 

 

Accumulated

Amortization

 

Original
Cost
Accumulated
Amortization
Original
Cost
Accumulated
Amortization

Finite life intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finite life intangible assets:

Customer lists

 

$

416,104

 

 

$

(100,144

)

 

$

416,104

 

 

$

(82,989

)

Customer lists$416,104 $(123,012)$416,104 $(105,861)

Contracts

 

 

52,536

 

 

 

(6,567

)

 

 

48,269

 

 

 

(1,068

)

Contracts52,536 (13,134)52,536 (8,209)

Underlying Rights

 

 

10,497

 

 

 

(350

)

 

 

10,497

 

 

 

(87

)

Underlying Rights10,497 (700)10,497 (437)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Total intangible assets

 

$

479,137

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

474,870

 

 

 

 

 

Total intangible assets$479,137  $479,137  

Less: accumulated amortization

 

 

(107,061

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(84,145

)

 

 

 

 

Less: accumulated amortization(136,846) (114,507) 

Total intangible assets, net

 

$

372,076

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

390,725

 

 

 

 

 

Total intangible assets, net$342,291  $364,630  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Finite life intangible liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finite life intangible liabilities:    

Below-market leases

 

$

191,154

 

 

 

(10,695

)

 

$

190,086

 

 

 

(2,200

)

Below-market leases$191,154 (21,389)$191,154 (13,368)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Finite life intangible liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finite life intangible liabilities:    

Below-market leases

 

$

191,154

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

190,086

 

 

 

 

 

Below-market leases$191,154  $191,154  

Less: accumulated amortization

 

 

(10,695

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,200

)

 

 

 

 

Less: accumulated amortization(21,389) (13,368) 

Total intangible liabilities, net

 

$

180,459

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

187,886

 

 

 

 

 

Total intangible liabilities, net$169,765  $177,786  

As of September 30, 2021,2022, the remaining weighted average amortization period of the Company’s intangible assets and liabilities was 15.1 years and 18.1 years, respectively.

14.4 years.

Amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $4.8 2022 was $7.5 million and $14.3$22.3 million, respectively. Amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $6.5 2021 was $4.8 million and $22.6$14.3 million, respectively.

Amortization expense is estimated to be $19.1$29.8 million for the full year of 2021, $19.1 million in 2022, $19.0$29.8 million in 2023, $19.0$29.7 million in 2024, $29.7 million in 2025, and $19.0$29.7 million for 2025. 

2026.
We recognize the amortization of below-market leases in revenue. Revenue related to the amortization of the below-market leases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $2.7 million and $8.0 million. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, $2.7 million and $8.0 million was recorded as a benefit to amortization expense, and subsequently reclassified to revenue during the fourth quarter of 2021. As of September 30, 2022, the remaining weighted average amortization period of the Company’s intangible liabilities was 17.2 years. Revenue due to the amortization of the below-market leases is estimated to be $10.7 million for the full year of 2022, $10.7 million in 2023, $10.7 million in 2024, $10.7 million in 2025, and $10.7 million in 2026.

Note 11.10. Notes and Other Debt

All debt, including the senior secured credit facility and notes described below, are obligations of the Operating Partnership and/or certain of its subsidiaries as discussed below. The Company is, however, a guarantor of such debt.

22

Table of Contents
Notes and other debt are as follows:

(Thousands)

 

September 30, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

(Thousands)September 30, 2022December 31, 2021

Principal amount

 

$

5,055,000

 

 

$

4,965,000

 

Principal amount$5,250,000 $5,175,000 

Less unamortized discount, premium and debt issuance costs

 

 

(81,826

)

 

 

(148,476

)

Less unamortized discount, premium and debt issuance costs(70,673)(84,463)

Notes and other debt less unamortized discount, premium and debt issuance costs

 

$

4,973,174

 

 

$

4,816,524

 

Notes and other debt less unamortized discount, premium and debt issuance costs$5,179,327 $5,090,537 

26


Table of Contents

Notes and other debt at September 30, 20212022 and December 31, 20202021 consisted of the following:

 

September 30, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

September 30, 2022December 31, 2021

(Thousands)

 

Principal

 

 

Unamortized

Discount,

Premium and

Debt Issuance

Costs

 

 

Principal

 

 

Unamortized

Discount,

Premium and

Debt Issuance

Costs

 

(Thousands)Principal
Unamortized
Discount,
Premium and
Debt Issuance
Costs
Principal
Unamortized
Discount,
Premium and
Debt Issuance
Costs

Senior secured notes - 6.00%, due April 15, 2023

(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 6.49%)

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

550,000

 

 

$

(4,053

)

Senior secured notes - 7.875%, due February 15, 2025

(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 8.38%)

 

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

(33,589

)

 

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

(39,852

)

Senior secured notes - 7.875%, due February 15, 2025
(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 8.38%)
$2,250,000 $(24,604)$2,250,000 $(31,411)

Senior secured notes - 4.75%, due April 15, 2028

(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 5.04%)

 

 

570,000

 

 

 

(9,184

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Senior secured notes - 4.75%, due April 15, 2028
(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 5.04%)
570,000 (7,968)570,000 (8,886)

Senior unsecured notes - 8.25%, due October 15, 2023

(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 9.06%)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,110,000

 

 

 

(22,024

)

Senior unsecured notes - 4.00%, due June 15, 2024

(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 4.77%)

 

 

345,000

 

 

 

(6,776

)

 

 

345,000

 

 

 

(69,608

)

Senior unsecured notes - 4.00%, due June 15, 2024
(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 4.77%)
345,000 (4,376)345,000 (6,187)

Senior unsecured notes - 7.125% due December 15, 2024

(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 7.38%)

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

(4,526

)

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

(5,316

)

Senior unsecured notes - 6.50%, due February 15, 2029

(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 6.83%)

 

 

1,110,000

 

 

 

(21,721

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Senior unsecured notes - 6.50%, due February 15, 2029
(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 6.83%)
1,110,000 (18,840)1,110,000 (20,797)
Senior unsecured notes - 6.00% due January 15, 2030
(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 6.27%)
Senior unsecured notes - 6.00% due January 15, 2030
(discount is based on imputed interest rate of 6.27%)
700,000 (10,831)700,000 (11,689)

Senior secured revolving credit facility, variable rate, due December 10, 2024

 

 

180,000

 

 

 

(6,030

)

 

 

110,000

 

 

 

(7,623

)

Senior secured revolving credit facility, variable rate, due December 10, 2024275,000 (4,054)200,000 (5,493)

Total

 

$

5,055,000

 

 

$

(81,826

)

 

$

4,965,000

 

 

$

(148,476

)

Total$5,250,000 $(70,673)$5,175,000 $(84,463)

At September 30, 2021,2022, notes and other debt included the following: (i) $180.0$275.0 million under the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) pursuant to the credit agreement by and among Uniti Group LP, Uniti Group Finance 2019 Inc. and CSL Capital, LLC (the “Borrowers”), the guarantors and lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Credit Agreement”); (ii) $2.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Secured Notes”); (iii) $570.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Secured Notes”); (iv) $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due December 15, 2024 (the “2024 Notes”); (v) $1.11 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Senior Notes due February 15, 2029 (the “2029 Notes”); and (vi)(v) $345.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.00% Exchangeable Senior Notes due June 15, 2024 (the “Exchangeable Notes”); and (vi) $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due January 15, 2030 (the “2030 Notes” and collectively with the 2025 Secured Notes, the 2028 Secured Notes, 2024the 2029 Notes and 2029the Exchangeable Notes, the “Notes”). Until our net leverage ratio is below 5.75 : 1.00, o Tur 2025 Secured Notes limit our ability to make cash distributions to our shareholders in amounts exceeding 90% of our good faith estimate, as of the date on which the first quarterly dividend for the relevant year is declared, of our REIT taxable income for such year, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any capital gains.  Except as disclosed herein with respect to the 2030 Notes, as described below, (see Note 17), thehe terms of the Notes are as described in the Company’s Annual Report and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q10-K for the quartersyear ended MarchDecember 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021.

On October 13, 2021, the Operating Partnership, Uniti Fiber Holdings Inc., Uniti Group Finance 2019 Inc. and CSL Capital, LLC (the “Issuers”) issued $700 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes” and used the proceeds to fund the redemption in full of the 2024 Notes on December 15, 2021.  On October 13, 2021, the Issuers deposited amounts sufficient to fund the redemption of the 2024 Notes with the trustee of the 2024 Notes, and to pay any related premiums, fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing, and satisfied and discharged their respective obligations under the indenture governing the 2024 Notes. See Note 17.

Credit Agreement

The

The Borrowers are party to the Credit Agreement, which after the Seventh Amendment (as defined below), providedprovides for a $60.5 million non-extended revolving credit facility that matures on April 24, 2022 (the “Non-Extended Revolving Credit Facility”) and a $500 million revolving credit facility extended that will mature on December 10, 2024 (the “Extended Revolving Credit Facility” and together with Non-Extended Revolving Credit facility, the “Revolving Credit Facility”), which provide and provides us with the ability to obtain revolving loans as well as swingline loans and letters of credit from time to time. All obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by (i) the

27


Table of Contents

Company and (ii) certain of the Operating Partnership’s subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) and are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

The Borrowers are subject to customary covenants under the Credit Agreement, including an obligation to maintain a consolidated secured leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, not to exceed 5.00 to 1.00. We are permitted, subject to customary conditions, to incur other indebtedness, so long as, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any such indebtedness, our consolidated total leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, does not exceed 6.50 to 1.00 and, if
23

Table of Contents
such debt is secured, our consolidated secured leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, does not exceed 4.00 to 1.00. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, including a cross default provision whereby the failure of the Borrowers or certain of their subsidiaries to make payments under other debt obligations, or the occurrence of certain events affecting those other borrowing arrangements, could trigger an obligation to repay any amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement. In particular, a repayment obligation could be triggered if (i) the Borrowers or certain of their subsidiaries fail to make a payment when due of any principal or interest on any other indebtedness aggregating $75.0 million or more, or (ii) an event occurs that causes, or would permit the holders of any other indebtedness aggregating $75.0 million or more to cause, such indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity. As of September 30, 2021,2022, the Borrowers were in compliance with all of the covenants under the Credit Agreement.

A termination of either Windstream Lease would result in an “event of default” under the Credit Agreement if a replacement lease is not entered into within ninety (90) calendar days and we do not maintain pro forma compliance with a consolidated secured leverage ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, of 5.00 to 1.00.

On December 10, 2020, we entered into an amendment (the “Seventh Amendment”) to our Credit Agreement.  Pursuant to the Seventh Amendment, commitments from new and existing lenders

Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility have increased to $500 million and the maturity date of such commitments has been extended to December 10, 2024.  Certain non-extending lender commitments of $60.5 million will mature on April 24, 2022 and will continue to bear interest at rates previously in effect. Prior to the expiration of these commitments, the aggregate size of the Revolving Credit Facility will be $560.5 million from all lenders.

Borrowings under (a) the Non-Extended Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to either a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 3.75% to 4.25% or a eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 4.75% to 5.25% and (b) effective April 17, 2021, following the receipt of certain routine regulatory approvals, the Extended Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to either a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.75% to 3.50% or a eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 3.75% to 4.50%, in each case, calculated in a customary manner and determined based on our consolidated secured leverage ratio.ratio. We are required to pay a quarterly commitment fee under the Revolving Credit Facility equal to 0.50% of the average amount of unused commitments during the applicable quarter (subject to a step-down to 0.40% per annum of the average amount of unused commitments during the applicable quarter upon achievement of a consolidated secured leverage ratio not to exceed a certain level), as well as quarterly letter of credit fees equal to the product of (A) the applicable margin with respect to eurodollar borrowings and (B) the average amount available to be drawn under outstanding letters of credit during such quarter.

Deferred Financing Cost

Deferred financing costs were incurred in connection with the issuance of the Notes and the Revolving Credit Facility. These costs are amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the related indebtedness and are included in interest expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). Income. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, we recognized $4.4 million and $13.0 million, respectively, of non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of deferred financing costs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized $4.2 million and $12.4 million, respectively, of non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of deferred financing costs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recognized $3.9 million and $11.4 million, respectively, of non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of deferred financing costs.

Note 12.11. Earnings Per Share

Our time-based restricted stock awards are considered participating securities as they receive non-forfeitable rights to dividends at the same rate as common stock. As participating securities, we included these instruments in the computation of earnings per share under the two-class method described in FASB ASC 260, Earnings per Share (“ASC 260”).

We also have outstanding performance-based restricted stock units that contain forfeitable rights to receive dividends. Therefore, the awards are considered non-participating restrictive shares and are not dilutive under the two-class method until performance conditions are met.

28


Table of Contents

The dilutive effect of the Exchangeable Notes (see Note 11) is calculated by using the ���if-converted”“if-converted” method. This assumes an add-back of interest, net of income taxes, to net income attributable to shareholders as if the securities were converted at the beginning of the reporting period (or at time of issuance, if later) and the resulting common shares included in number of weighted average shares. The dilutive effect of the Warrants (see Note 98) is calculated using the treasury-stock method. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, and 2020, the Warrants were excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the exercise price exceeded the average market price of our common stock for the reporting period.

24

Table of Contents
The following sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share under the two-class method:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands, except per share data)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands, except per share data)2022202120222021

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share:  

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator:  

Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders

 

$

43,366

 

 

$

7,265

 

 

$

87,835

 

 

$

(659,332

)

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholdersNet (loss) income attributable to shareholders$(155,679)$43,366 $(49,252)$87,835 

Less: Income allocated to participating securities

 

 

(283

)

 

 

(229

)

 

 

(864

)

 

 

(853

)

Less: Income allocated to participating securities(226)(283)(897)(864)

Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock

 

 

(3

)

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(6

)

Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock(5)(3)(15)(8)

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares

 

$

43,080

 

 

$

7,034

 

 

$

86,963

 

 

$

(660,191

)

Net (loss) income attributable to common sharesNet (loss) income attributable to common shares$(155,910)$43,080 $(50,164)$86,963 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:  

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

 

233,513

 

 

 

198,054

 

 

 

232,269

 

 

 

194,278

 

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding235,739 233,513 235,483 232,269 

Basic earnings (loss) per common share

 

$

0.18

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.37

 

 

$

(3.40

)

Basic (loss) earnings per common shareBasic (loss) earnings per common share$(0.66)$0.18 $(0.21)$0.37 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands, except per share data)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands, except per share data)2022202120222021

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share:  

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator:  

Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders

 

$

43,366

 

 

$

7,265

 

 

$

87,835

 

 

$

(659,332

)

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholdersNet (loss) income attributable to shareholders$(155,679)$43,366 $(49,252)$87,835 

Less: Income allocated to participating securities

 

 

(283

)

 

 

(229

)

 

 

(864

)

 

 

(853

)

Less: Income allocated to participating securities(226)(283)(897)(864)

Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock

 

 

(3

)

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(6

)

Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock(5)(3)(15)(8)

Impact on if-converted dilutive securities

 

 

2,984

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Impact on if-converted dilutive securities— 2,984 — — 

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares

 

$

46,064

 

 

$

7,034

 

 

$

86,963

 

 

$

(660,191

)

Net (loss) income attributable to common sharesNet (loss) income attributable to common shares$(155,910)$46,064 $(50,164)$86,963 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:  

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

 

233,513

 

 

 

198,054

 

 

 

232,269

 

 

 

194,278

 

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding235,739 233,513 235,483 232,269 

Effect of dilutive non-participating securities

 

 

338

 

 

 

319

 

 

 

271

 

 

 

-

 

Effect of dilutive non-participating securities— 338 — 271 

Impact on if-converted dilutive securities

 

 

30,570

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Impact on if-converted dilutive securities— 30,570 — — 

Weighted-average shares for dilutive earnings per common share

 

 

264,421

 

 

 

198,373

 

 

 

232,540

 

 

 

194,278

 

Weighted-average shares for dilutive earnings per common share235,739 264,421 235,483 232,540 

Dilutive earnings (loss) per common share

 

$

0.17

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

$

0.37

 

 

$

(3.40

)

Dilutive (loss) earnings per common shareDilutive (loss) earnings per common share$(0.66)$0.17 $(0.21)$0.37 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, 847,147 non-participating securities were excluded from the computation of earnings per share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, 31,691,390 potential common shares related to the Exchangeable Notes were excluded from the computation of earnings per share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, 30,569,588 potential common shares related to the Exchangeable Notes were excluded from the computation of earnings per share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, 29,504,780 potential common shares related to the Exchangeable Notes were excluded from the computation of earnings per share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020,  730,863 non-participating securities were excluded from the computation of earnings per share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Note 13.12. Segment Information

Historically our

Our management, including our chief executive officer, who is our chief operating decision maker, managedmanages our operations as the 4two reportable segments, in addition to our corporate operations, as described below. Due to the sale of our towers

29


Table of Contents

business and wind down of the Consumer CLEC business, effective January 1, 2021, we manage our operations focused on our 2 primary businesses, Leasing and Fiber Infrastructure.

which include:

Leasing: Represents the results fromoperations of our leasing business, Uniti Leasing, which is engaged in the acquisition and construction of mission-critical communications assets and leasing them back to anchor customers on either an exclusive or shared-tenant basis.basis, in addition to the leasing of dark fiber on our existing dark fiber network assets that we either constructed or acquired. While the Leasing segment represents our REIT operations, certain aspects of the Leasing segment are also operated through taxable REIT subsidiaries.

25

Table of Contents
Fiber Infrastructure: Represents the operations of our fiber business, Uniti Fiber, which is a leading provider of infrastructure solutions, including cell site backhaul and dark fiber, to the telecommunications industry.

TowersCorporate: Represents the operations of our former towers business, Uniti Towers, through which we acquired and constructed tower and tower-related real estate and leased space on communications towers to wireless service providers and other tenants in the United States and Latin America.  Starting in 2019, the Company completed a series of transactions to largely divest of its towers business:  on April 2, 2019, May 23, 2019 and June 1, 2020, the Company completed the sales of its Latin American business, substantially all of its U.S. ground lease business, and its U.S. tower business, respectively.

Consumer CLEC: Represents the operations of Talk America through which we operated the Consumer CLEC business, which prior to Uniti’s separation and spin-off from Windstream (the “Spin-Off”) was reported as an integrated operation within Windstream. Talk America provided local telephone, high-speed internet and long-distance services to customers in the eastern and central United States.  As of the end of the second quarter of 2020, we substantially completed a wind down of our Consumer CLEC business.

Corporate: Represents our corporate office and back officeshared service functions. Certain costs and expenses, primarily related to headcount, insurance, professional fees and similar charges, that are directly attributable to operations of our business segments are allocated to the respective segments.

Management evaluates the performance of each segment using Adjusted EBITDA, which is a segment performance measure we define as net income determined in accordance with GAAP, before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of transaction and integration related costs, costs associated with Windstream’s bankruptcy, costs associated with litigation claims made against us, costs associated with the implementation of our enterprise resource planning system, executive severance costs, costs related to the settlement with Windstream, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use assets, the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, gains or losses on dispositions, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments, and other similar or infrequent items (although we may not have had such charges in the periods presented). Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated entities. The Company believes that net income, as defined by GAAP, is the most appropriate earnings metric; however, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA serves as a useful supplement to net income because it allows investors, analysts and management to evaluate the performance of our segments in a manner that is comparable period over period. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income as determined in accordance with GAAPGAAP.

.

26

Table of Contents
Selected financial data related to our segments is presented below for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 2022 and 2020:

30

2021:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
(Thousands)LeasingFiber InfrastructureCorporateSubtotal of Reportable Segments
Revenues$208,623 74,480 $— $283,103 
Adjusted EBITDA$203,209 28,586 (6,742)$225,053 
Less:
Interest expense97,731 
Depreciation and amortization43,121 30,370 25 73,516 
Transaction related and other costs2,375 
Gain on sale of real estate(94)
Gain on sale of operations(176)
Goodwill impairment216,000 
Other, net600 
Stock-based compensation3,151 
Income tax benefit(13,056)
Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities755 
Net loss$(155,749)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2021
(Thousands)LeasingFiber InfrastructureCorporateSubtotal of Reportable Segments
Revenues$199,485 $67,262 $— $266,747 
Adjusted EBITDA$194,303 $27,556 $(4,632)$217,227 
Less:
Interest expense94,793 
Depreciation and amortization41,432 29,036 62 70,530 
Transaction related and other costs1,063 
Gain on sale of real estate— 
Gain on sale of operations— 
Other, net4,472 
Stock-based compensation4,166 
Income tax benefit(2,244)
Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities765 
Net income$43,682 
27

Table of Contents

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

(Thousands)

 

Leasing

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

Towers

 

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Subtotal of Reportable Segments

 

(Thousands)LeasingFiber InfrastructureCorporateSubtotal of Reportable Segments

Revenues

 

$

199,485

 

 

$

67,262

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

266,747

 

Revenues618,878 226,234 $— $845,112 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

194,303

 

 

$

27,556

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(4,632

)

 

$

217,227

 

Adjusted EBITDA602,531 93,628 (19,153)$677,006 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

94,793

 

Interest expense290,280 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

41,432

 

 

 

29,036

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

62

 

 

 

70,530

 

Depreciation and amortization127,738 89,440 98 217,276 

Other expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,472

 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,063

 

Transaction related and other costs7,324 
Gain on sale of real estateGain on sale of real estate(344)
Gain on sale of operationsGain on sale of operations(176)
Goodwill impairmentGoodwill impairment216,000 
Other, netOther, net(6,534)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,166

 

Stock-based compensation9,664 

Income tax benefit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,244

)

Income tax benefit(10,183)

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

765

 

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities2,816 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

43,682

 

Net lossNet loss$(49,117)

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

(Thousands)

 

Leasing

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

Towers

 

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Subtotal of Reportable Segments

 

(Thousands)LeasingFiber InfrastructureCorporateSubtotal of Reportable Segments

Revenues

 

$

182,370

 

 

$

76,395

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

258,765

 

Revenues$590,478 $217,035 $— $807,513 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

181,103

 

 

$

25,419

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(186

)

 

$

(7,775

)

 

$

198,561

 

Adjusted EBITDA$577,937 $86,716 $(17,444)$647,209 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

102,791

 

Interest expense341,762 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

48,189

 

 

 

31,617

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

74

 

 

 

79,880

 

Depreciation and amortization124,132 86,838 195 211,165 

Other expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,098

 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,816

 

Transaction related and other costs5,624 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22,908

)

Gain on sale of real estate(442)
Gain on sale of operationsGain on sale of operations(28,143)
Other, netOther, net14,569 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,341

 

Stock-based compensation10,963 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,801

 

Income tax expense283 

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,287

 

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities2,609 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,455

 

Net income$88,819 

31


Table of Contents

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

 

(Thousands)

 

Leasing

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

Towers

 

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Subtotal of Reportable Segments

 

Revenues

 

$

590,478

 

 

$

217,035

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

807,513

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

577,937

 

 

$

86,716

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(17,444

)

 

$

647,209

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

341,762

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

124,132

 

 

 

86,838

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

195

 

 

 

211,165

 

Other expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,569

 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,624

 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(442

)

Gain on sale of operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(28,143

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,963

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

283

 

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,609

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

88,819

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

(Thousands)

 

Leasing

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

Towers

 

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Subtotal of Reportable Segments

 

Revenues

 

$

552,042

 

 

$

232,942

 

 

$

6,112

 

 

$

651

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

791,747

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

545,792

 

 

$

81,453

 

 

$

77

 

 

$

(461

)

 

$

(23,717

)

 

$

603,144

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

388,427

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

155,216

 

 

 

93,957

 

 

 

783

 

 

 

791

 

 

 

223

 

 

 

250,970

 

Other expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,186

 

Settlement expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

650,000

 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55,344

 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(86,726

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,446

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,650

)

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,287

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(671,140

)

32


Table of Contents

Note 14.13. Commitments and Contingencies

In the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to claims and administrative proceedings, none of which we believe are material or would be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

Windstream Commitments

Following the consummation of our settlement agreement with Windstream, including entry into the Windstream Leases, we are obligated to make $490.1 million of cash payments to Windstream in equal installments over 20 consecutive
28

Table of Contents
quarters beginning in October 2020, and Uniti may prepay any installments due on or after the first anniversary of the settlement agreement (discounted at a 9% rate). As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company made the first five quarterly payments totaling $122.5 million. On October 14, 2021, the Company prepaid four installments for a total of $92.9 million, $78.0 millionmillion. As of which was funded from a portion ofSeptember 30, 2022, the proceeds of the 2030 Notes (see Note 17).

Company has made payments totaling $215.4 million.

Further, we are obligated to reimburse Windstream for up to an aggregate of $1.75 billion for certain growth capital improvements in long-term fiber and related assets made by Windstream (“Growth Capital Improvements”) through 2029. Uniti’s reimbursement commitment for Growth Capital Improvements does not require Uniti to reimburse Windstream for maintenance or repair expenditures (except for costs incurred for fiber replacements to the property leased under the competitive local exchange carrier master lease agreement, up to $70 million during the term), and each such reimbursement is subject to underwriting standards. Uniti’s total annual reimbursement commitments for the Growth Capital Improvements under both Windstream Leases (and under separate equipment loan facilities) were limited to $125 million in 2020, $225 million in 2021, and are limited to $225 million per year in 20212022 through 2024; $175 million per year in 2025 and 2026; and $125 million per year in 2027 through 2029. If the cost incurred by Windstream (or the successor tenant under a Windstream Lease) for Growth Capital Improvements in any calendar year exceeds the annual limit for such calendar year, Windstream (or such tenant, as the case may be) may submit such excess costs for reimbursement in any subsequent year and such excess costs shall be funded from the annual commitment amounts in such subsequent period. In addition, to the extent that reimbursements for Growth Capital Improvements funded in any calendar year during the term is less than the annual limit for such calendar year, the unfunded amount in any calendar year will carry-over and may be added to the annual limits for subsequent calendar years, subject to an annual limit of $250 million in any calendar year, except that, during calendar year 2021, our combined total obligation to fund Growth Capital Improvements may exceed $250 million to the extent of any unfunded excess amounts from calendar year 2020.  Accordingly, because we funded $84.7 million of the $125 million limit in 2020, we are committed to fund up to $265.3 million of Growth Capital Improvements in 2021.year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021,2022, Uniti reimbursed $152.3$158.1 million of Growth Capital Improvements, of which $28.5$30.6 million as allowed under the Settlement, represented the reimbursement of capital improvements completed in 20202021 that were previously classified as tenant funded capital improvements. Upon reimbursement, the Company reduced the unamortized portion of deferred revenue related to these capital improvements and capitalized the difference between the cash provided to Windstream and the unamortized deferred revenue as a lease incentive. This lease incentive, which is $0.9$0.8 million and reported within other assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance SheetSheets as of September 30, 2021,2022, will be amortized againstas a reduction to revenue over the initial term of the Windstream Leases.

Starting on the first anniversary of each installment of reimbursement for a Growth Capital Improvement, the rent payable by Windstream under the applicable Windstream Lease will increase by an amount equal to 8.0% (the “Rent Rate”) of such installment of reimbursement. The Rent Rate will thereafter increase to 100.5% of the prior Rent Rate on each anniversary of each reimbursement. In the event that the tenant’s interest in either Windstream Lease is transferred by Windstream under the terms thereof (unless transferred to the same transferee), or if Uniti transfers its interests as landlord under either Windstream Lease (unless to the same transferee), the reimbursement rights and obligations will be allocated between the ILEC MLA and the CLEC MLA by Windstream, provided that the maximum that may be allocated to the CLEC MLA following such transfer is $20 million per year. If Uniti fails to reimburse any Growth Capital Improvement reimbursement payment or equipment loan funding request as and when it is required to do so under the terms of the Windstream Leases, and such failure continues for thirty (30) days, then such unreimbursed amounts may be applied as an offset against the rent owed by Windstream under the Windstream Leases (and such amounts will thereafter be treated as if Uniti had reimbursed them).
Uniti and Windstream have entered into separate ILEC and CLEC Equipment Loan and Security Agreements (collectively “Equipment Loan Agreement”) in which Uniti will provide up to $125 million (limited to $25 million in any calendar year) of the $1.75 billion of Growth Capital Improvements commitments discussed above in the form of loans for Windstream to purchase equipment related to network upgrades or to be used in connection with the Windstream Leases. Interest on these loans will accrue at 8% from the date of the borrowing. All equipment financed through the Equipment Loan Agreement is the sole property of Windstream; however, Uniti will receive a first-lien security interest in the equipment purchased with the loans.
Other Litigation

On July 3, 2019, SLF Holdings, LLC (“SLF”) filed a complaint against the Company, Uniti Fiber, and certain current and former officers of the Company (collectively, the “Defendants”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, in connection with Uniti Fiber’s purchase of Southern Light, LLC from SLF in July 2017. The complaint asserted claims for fraud and conspiracy, as well as claims under federal and Alabama securities laws, alleging that Defendants improperly failed to disclose to SLF the risk that the Spin-Off and entry into the Master Lease violated certain debt covenants of Windstream. On September 26, 2019, the action was transferred to United States District Court for the District of Delaware. On November 18, 2019, SLF filed an amended complaint, adding allegations that Defendants also failed to fully disclose the risk that the Master Lease purportedly could be recharacterized as a financing instead of a “true
29

Table of Contents
“true lease.” The amended complaint seekssought compensatory and punitive damages, as well as reformation of the purchase agreement for the sale. On December 18, 2019, Defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint in its entirety.  That motion was fully briefed as of February 7, 2020, and a hearing on the motion was heard on May 12, 2020. On November 4, 2020, the court granted the Defendants’ motion and dismissed SLF’s amended complaint, in its entirety, with prejudice. On December 1, 2020, SLF filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from the district court’s dismissal order. The appeal was fully briefed on September 10, 2021.  Oral argument is scheduledOn August 17, 2022, the Court of Appeals for December 31, 2021.the Third Circuit denied SLF's appeal. We have evaluated this matter under the guidance provided by ASC 450-20,450, Contingencies (“ASC 450”), and as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we consider a loss not to be probable and are unable to estimate a reasonably possible range of loss; therefore, we have not recorded any liabilities associated with these claims in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.Sheets.

33


Table of Contents

Beginning on October 25, 2019, several purported shareholders filed separate putative class actions in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas against the Company and certain of our officers, alleging violations of the federal securities laws (the “Shareholder Actions”), based on claims similar to those asserted in the SLF Action. On March 12, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas consolidated the Shareholder Actions and appointed lead plaintiffs and lead counsel in the consolidated cases under the caption In re Uniti Group Inc. Securities Litigation.Litigation (the “Class Action”). On May 11, 2020, lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint in the consolidated Shareholder Actions.Class Action. The consolidated amended complaint seeks to represent investors who acquired the Company’s securities between April 20, 2015 and February 15, 2019. The Shareholder Actions assertClass Action asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, alleging that the Company made materially false and misleading statements by allegedly failing to disclose, among other things, the risk that the Spin-Off and entry into the Master Lease violated certain debt covenants of Windstream and/or the risk that the Master Lease purportedly could be recharacterized as a financing instead of a “true lease.” The Shareholder Actions seekClass Action seeks class certification, unspecified monetary damages, costs and attorneys’ fees and other relief. On July 10, 2020, defendants moved to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On April 1, 2021, the court issued an order denying defendants’ motion to dismiss. On April 15, 2021, defendants filed a motion for reconsideration of the order or, in the alternative, for certification of an appeal of the decision to the Eighth Circuit. Plaintiffs formallyOn October 25, 2021, plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification, which defendants opposed this. On December 22, 2021, the court issued an order denying defendants’ motion for reconsideration or, in the alternative, certification of an appeal. On March 25, 2022, the parties reached an agreement to settle the Class Action, on April 29, 2021.behalf of a settlement class, for $38.9 million, to be funded entirely by the Company’s insurance carriers. On June 17, 2022, the parties signed a stipulation of settlement and plaintiffs moved for preliminary approval of the settlement. The District Court has not yet ruledcourt granted preliminary approval on the motion.  Discovery is ongoing. We intendJuly 20, 2022. The settlement remains subject to defend this matter vigorously, and, because it is still in its preliminary stages, we have not yet determined what effect this lawsuit will have, if any, on our financial position or results of operations. We have evaluated this matter under the guidance provided byfinal court approval. In accordance with ASC 450, we recorded $38.9 million of settlement expense within general and asadministrative expense within our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income during the datefirst quarter of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we consider a loss not to be probable2022 and are unable to estimate a reasonably possible range of loss; therefore, we have not recorded anyaccounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, associated with these claims innet within our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.Sheets as of September 30, 2022. Additionally, we recorded the probable insurance recovery of $38.9 million as a reduction to general and administrative expense during the first quarter of 2022 within our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, and other assets within Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2022.

On August 17, 2021, two purported shareholders filed a derivative action on behalf of Uniti in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, under the caption Mayer et al. v. Gunderman et al., 24-C-21-003488 (the “Derivative Complaint”“Mayer Derivative Action”). The Mayer Derivative ComplaintAction names Kenneth Gunderman and Mark Wallace as defendants and the Company as a nominal defendant and asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. The complaint alleges that the individual defendants caused the Company to issue certain false and misleading statements relating to the Spin-Off and/or the Master Lease. In particular, as in the Shareholder Actions, the complaint alleges, among other things, that Defendantsdefendants failed to disclose the risk that the Spin-Off and entry into the Master Lease violated certain debt covenants of Windstream and/or the risk that the Master Lease purportedly could be recharacterized as a financing instead of a “true lease.” The complaint seeks unspecified damages, unspecified equitable relief, and related costs and fees. The parties are currently discussingOn December 23, 2021, the court entered a potentialjoint stipulation to stay of the action pending the outcome of the Shareholder Actions.  In the meantime, the plaintiffs have agreed to extendMayer Derivative Action, including the time for the defendants to respond to the complaint.complaint, pending the outcome of the Class Action. Because this matter is still in its preliminary stages, we have not yet determined what effect this lawsuit will have, if any, on our financial position or results of operations. We have evaluated this matter under the guidance provided by ASC 450, and as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we consider a loss not to be probable and are unable to estimate a reasonably possible range of loss; therefore, we have not recorded any liabilities associated with these claims in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.Sheets.

On February 11, 2022, a purported shareholder filed a derivative action on behalf of Uniti in the federal District Court for the District of Maryland, under the caption Guzzo et al. v. Gunderman et al., 1:22-cv-00366-GLR (the “Guzzo Derivative Action”). The complaint names Kenneth Gunderman, Mark Wallace, Francis Frantz, David Solomon, Jennifer Banner, and Scott Bruce as defendants and the Company as a nominal defendant and asserts claims for contribution against Gunderman and Wallace if the Company is found to be liable for violations of the federal securities laws in the Class Action and claims against all the individual defendants for breaches of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets, and unjust enrichment. The allegations in the Guzzo Derivative Action are similar to those in the Mayer Derivative Action and the Class Action. The
30

Table of Contents
complaint seeks unspecified damages, equitable relief, and related costs and fees. On March 16, 2022, the court entered a joint stipulation to stay the Guzzo Derivative Action, including the time for the defendants to respond to the complaint, pending the outcome of the Class Action. We intend to defend this matter vigorously, and, because it is still in its relatively early stages, we have not yet determined what effect this lawsuit will have, if any, on our financial position or results of operations.
We maintain insurance policies that would provide coverage to various degrees for potential liabilities arising from the legal proceedings described above.

Under the terms of the tax matters agreement entered into on April 24, 2015 by the Company, Windstream Services, LLC and Windstream (the “Tax Matters Agreement”), in connection with the Spin-Off, we are generally responsible for any taxes imposed on Windstream that arise from the failure of the Spin-Off and the debt exchanges to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes, within the meaning of Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, as applicable, to the extent such failure to qualify is attributable to certain actions, events or transactions relating to our stock, indebtedness, assets or business, or a breach of the relevant representations or any covenants made by us in the Tax Matters Agreement, the materials submitted to the IRS in connection with the request for the private letter ruling or the representations provided in connection with the tax opinion. We believe that the probability of us incurring obligations under the Tax Matters Agreement are remote; and therefore, we have recorded 0no such liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Balance SheetSheets as of September 30, 2021.

34


Table of Contents2022.

Note 15.14. Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

Loss

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) incomeloss by component is as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20212022 and 2020:

2021:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)2022202120222021

Cash flow hedge changes in fair value (loss) gain:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period attributable to common shareholders

 

$

(30,353

)

 

$

(30,353

)

 

$

(30,353

)

 

$

(23,442

)

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(7,713

)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

677

 

Balance at end of period

 

 

(30,353

)

 

 

(30,353

)

 

 

(30,353

)

 

 

(30,478

)

Less: Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(125

)

Balance at end of period attributable to common shareholders

 

 

(30,353

)

 

 

(30,353

)

 

 

(30,353

)

 

 

(30,353

)

Cash flow hedge changes in fair value:Cash flow hedge changes in fair value:
Balance at beginning of period attributable to shareholdersBalance at beginning of period attributable to shareholders$(30,353)$(30,353)$(30,353)$(30,353)
Balance at end of period attributable to shareholdersBalance at end of period attributable to shareholders(30,353)(30,353)(30,353)(30,353)

Interest rate swap termination:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swap termination:

Balance at beginning of period attributable to common shareholders

 

 

15,561

 

 

 

4,416

 

 

 

9,986

 

 

 

-

 

Balance at beginning of period attributable to shareholdersBalance at beginning of period attributable to shareholders26,837 15,561 21,189 9,986 

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

2,830

 

 

 

2,829

 

 

 

8,488

 

 

 

7,325

 

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income2,829 2,830 8,488 8,488 

Balance at end of period

 

 

18,391

 

 

 

7,245

 

 

 

18,474

 

 

 

7,325

 

Balance at end of period29,666 18,391 29,677 18,474 

Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

22

 

 

 

47

 

 

 

105

 

 

 

127

 

Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest$22 12 105 

Balance at end of period attributable to common shareholders

 

 

18,369

 

 

 

7,198

 

 

 

18,369

 

 

 

7,198

 

Balance at end of period attributable to shareholdersBalance at end of period attributable to shareholders29,665 18,369 29,665 18,369 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of period

 

$

(11,984

)

 

$

(23,155

)

 

$

(11,984

)

 

$

(23,155

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of period$(688)$(11,984)$(688)$(11,984)

Note 16.15. Capital Stock

The limited partner equity interests in our operating partnership (commonly called “OP Units”), are exchangeable on a 1-for-oneone-for-one basis for shares of our common stock or, at our election, cash of equivalent value. On August 2, 2021, the Company exchanged 2,528,199No OP Units held by a third partyparties were exchanged during the three months ended September 30, 2022. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company exchanged 591,349 OP Units held by third parties, of which 244,683 OP Units were exchanged for an equal number of common shares of the Company. TheCompany and 346,667 OP Units were exchanged representedfor cash consideration of $4.6 million, representing approximately 73%85% of the OP Units held by a third partyparties with a carrying value of $50.4$11.9 million as of the exchange date.

Note 17. Subsequent Events

dates.

31

2030 Notes

On October 13, 2021, the Issuers issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Senior Notes due 2030. The Issuers deposited a portion of the net proceeds from the offering with the trustee for the Issuers’ outstanding 2024 Notes sufficient to fund the redemption thereof on December 15, 2021, and to pay any related premiums, fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing. Upon such deposit, the Issuers’ obligations under the 2024 Notes and indenture were discharged. The Company used the remaining proceeds of $78.0 million to prepay a portion of the settlement obligations under the settlement agreement with Windstream. See Note 14.

The 2030 Notes were issued at an issue price of 100% of their principal amount pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of October 13, 2021 (the “2030 Indenture”), among the Issuers, the guarantors named therein (collectively, the “Guarantors”) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”). The 2030 Notes mature on January 15, 2030 and bear interest at a rate of 6.000% per year. Interest on the 2030 Notes is payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2022.

The Issuers may redeem the 2030 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to January 15, 2025 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2030 Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the 2030 Notes, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date, plus an applicable “make whole” premium described in the 2030 Indenture. Thereafter, the Issuers may redeem

35


Table of Contents

the 2030 Notes in whole or in part, at the redemption prices set forth in the 2030 Indenture. Further, at any time on or prior to January 15, 2025, up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes may be redeemed with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 106.000% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date; provided that at least 60% of aggregate principal amount of the originally issued 2030 Notes remains outstanding. If certain changes of control of Uniti Group LP occur, holders of the 2030 Notes will have the right to require the Issuers to offer to repurchase their 2030 Notes at 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the repurchase date.

The 2030 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by the Company and by each of Uniti Group LP’s existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries (other than the Issuers and certain regulated subsidiaries) that guarantees indebtedness under the Company’s senior secured credit facilities and existing notes (collectively, the “Guarantors”). In addition, the Issuers will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain necessary regulatory approval to allow such non-guarantor subsidiaries of the Company to guarantee the 2030 Notes, including by making filings to obtain such approval within 60 days of the issuance of the 2030 Notes. The guarantees are subject to release under specified circumstances, including certain circumstances in which such guarantees may be automatically released without the consent of the holders of the 2030 Notes.

The 2030 Notes and the related guarantees are the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ senior unsecured obligations and rank equal in right of payment with all of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any of the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ subordinated indebtedness. The 2030 Notes and related guarantees are effectively subordinated to all of the Issuers’ and Guarantors’ secured indebtedness (including the senior secured credit facilities and secured notes) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness and are structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities (including trade payables) of the Issuers’ subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 2030 Notes.

The 2030 Indenture contains customary high yield covenants limiting the ability of Uniti Group LP and its restricted subsidiaries to: incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; incur or guarantee secured indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase, capital stock; make certain investments or other restricted payments; sell assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; merge or consolidate or sell all or substantially all of their assets; and create restrictions on the ability of the Issuers and their restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or other amounts to the Issuers. These covenants are subject to a number of important and significant limitations, qualifications and exceptions. The 2030 Indenture also contains customary events of default.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations describes the principal factors affecting the results of our operations, financial condition, and changes in financial condition for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. 2022. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and the notes thereto set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 5, 2021,February 25, 2022, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed on Form 10-K/A with the SEC on March 30, 202122, 2022 (the “Annual Report”).

Overview

Company Description

Uniti Group Inc. (the “Company”, “Uniti”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is an independent, internally managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”) engaged in the acquisition construction and leasingconstruction of mission critical infrastructure in the communications industry. We are principally focused on acquiring and constructing fiber optic, copper and coaxial broadband networks and data centers.

centers.

On April 24, 2015, we were separated and spun-off (the “Spin-Off”) from Windstream Holdings, Inc. (“Windstream Holdings” and together with Windstream Holdings II, LLC, its successor in interest, and its subsidiaries, “Windstream”) pursuant to which Windstream contributed certain telecommunications network assets, including fiber and copper networks and other real estate (the “Distribution Systems”) and a small consumer competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) business (the “Consumer CLEC Business”) to Uniti and Uniti issued common stock and indebtedness and paid cash obtained from borrowings under Uniti’s senior credit facilities to Windstream. In connection with the Spin-Off, we entered into a long-term exclusive triple-net lease (the “Master Lease”) with Windstream, pursuant to which a substantial portion of our real property is leased to Windstream and from which a substantial portion of our leasing revenues are currently derived.derived. In connection with Windstream’s emergence from bankruptcy,, Uniti and Windstream bifurcated the Master Lease and entered into two structurally similar master leases (collectively, the “Windstream Leases”), which amended and restated the Master Lease in its entirety. The Windstream Leases consist of (a) a master lease (the

36


Table of Contents

“ILEC “ILEC MLA”) that governs Uniti owned assets used for Windstream’s incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILEC”) operations and (b) a master lease (the “CLEC MLA”) that governs Uniti owned assets used for Windstream’s CLEC operations.

Uniti operates as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, the Company is generally not subject to U.S. federal income taxes on income generated by its REIT operations, which includes income derived from the Windstream Leases. We have elected to treat the subsidiaries through which we operate our fiber business, Uniti Fiber, certain aspects of our leasing business, Uniti Leasing, certain aspects of our former towers business, and Talk America Services, LLC, which operated the Consumer CLEC Business (“Talk America”), as taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). TRSs enable us to engage in activities that result in income that does not constitute qualifying income for a REIT. Our TRSs are subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income taxestaxes..

The Company operates through a customary up-REIT structure, pursuant to which we hold substantially all of our assets through a partnership, Uniti Group LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), that we control as general partner. This structure is intended to facilitate future acquisition opportunities by providing the Company with the ability to use common units of the Operating Partnership as a tax-efficient acquisition currency. As of September 30, 2021,2022, we are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and own approximately 99.6%99.96% of the partnership interests in the Operating Partnership.

In addition, we have undertaken a series of transactions to permit us to hold certain assets through subsidiaries that are taxed as REITs, which may also facilitate future acquisition opportunities.

We aim to grow and diversify our portfolio and tenant base by pursuing a range of transaction structures with communication service providers, including (i) sale-leaseback transactions, whereby we acquire existing infrastructure assets from third parties, including communication service providers, and lease them back on a long-term triple-net basis; (ii) leasing of dark fiber and selling of lit services on our existing fiber network assets that we either constructed or acquired; (iii) whole company acquisitions, which may include the use of one or more TRSs that are permitted under the tax laws to acquire and operate non-REIT businesses and assets subject to certain limitations; (iv) capital investment financing, whereby we offer communication service providers a cost efficient method of raising funds for discrete capital investments to upgrade or expand their network; and (v) mergers and acquisitions financing, whereby we facilitate mergers
32

Table of Contents
and acquisition transactions as a capital partner, including through operating company-property company (“OpCo-PropCo”) structures. Consistent with this strategy, we regularly evaluate and consider potential opportunities.

structures.

Segments

We have historically managedmanage our operations as the fourtwo reportable business segments, listed below (inin addition to our corporate operations), but due to the sale of our towers business and wind down of the Consumer CLEC Business, effective January 1, 2021, we manage our operations, focused on our two primary businesses, Leasing and Fiber Infrastructure:which include:

Leasing Segment: Represents the results fromoperations of our leasing business, Uniti Leasing, which is engaged in the acquisition and construction of mission-critical communications assets and leasing them to anchor customers on either an exclusive or shared-tenant basis,.  Uniti in addition to the leasing of dark fiber on our existing fiber network assets that we either constructed or acquired. While the Leasing is a component ofsegment represents our REIT operations.operations, certain aspects of the Leasing segment are also operated through TRSs.

Fiber Infrastructure Segment: Represents the operations of our fiber business, Uniti Fiber, which is a leading provider of infrastructure solutions, including cell site backhaul and dark fiber, to the telecommunications industryindustry..

Towers Segment: Represents the operations of our former towers business, Uniti Towers, through which we acquired and constructed tower and tower-related real estate and leased space on communications towers to wireless service providers and other tenants in the United States.  Starting in 2019, the Company completed a series of transactions to largely divest of its towers business and on April 2, 2019, May 23, 2019 and June 1, 2020, the Company completed the sales of its Latin American business, substantially all of its U.S. ground lease business, and its U.S. tower business, respectively.  Portions of our former towers business were a component of our REIT operations, while the remainder were owned and operated by our TRSs.

Consumer CLEC Segment: Represents the operations of Talk America through which we operated the Consumer CLEC Business that, prior to the Spin-Off, was reported as an integrated operation within Windstream. Talk America provided local telephone, high-speed internet and long-distance services to customers in the eastern and central United States.  As of the end of the second quarter of 2020, we substantially completed a wind down of our Consumer CLEC Business.

Corporate Operations: Represents our corporate office and shared service functions. Certain costs and expenses, primarily related to headcount, information technology systems, insurance, professional fees and similar charges, that are directly attributable to operations of our business segments are allocated to the respective segmentssegments..

37


Table of Contents

We evaluate the performance of each segment based on Adjusted EBITDA, which is a segment performance measure we define as net income determined in accordance with GAAP, before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of transaction and integration related costs, costs associated with Windstream’s bankruptcy, costs associated with litigation claims made against us, costs associated with the implementation of our enterprise resource planning system, executive severance costs, costs related to the settlement with Windstream, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use assets, the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, gains or losses on dispositions, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments, and other similar or infrequent items (although we may not have had such charges in the periods presented). Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated entities.entities. For more information on Adjusted EBITDA, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.” Detailed information about our segments can be found in Note 1312 to our accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Significant Business Developments

33

Unsecured Notes Offering and Redemption.On October 13, 2021, the Operating Partnership, Uniti Fiber Holdings Inc., Uniti Group Finance 2019 Inc. and CSL Capital, LLC (the “Issuers”) issued $700 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”) and used the proceeds to fund the redemption in full of their outstanding 7.125% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) on December 15, 2021.  On October 13, 2021, the Issuers deposited amounts sufficient to fund the redemption of the 2024 Notes with the trustee of the 2024 Notes, and to pay any related premiums, fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing, and satisfied and discharged their respective obligations under the indenture governing the 2024 Notes.  The Company used the remaining proceeds of $78.0 million to prepay a portion of the settlement obligations under the settlement agreement with Windstream. See Notes 14 and 17to our accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

38


Table of Contents

Results of Operations

Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 20212022 and 2020

2021

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated, our results of operations expressed as dollars and as a percentage of total revenues:

revenues for the periods indicated:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

20222021

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Revenues

 

(Thousands)Amount% of RevenuesAmount% of Revenues

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Leasing

 

$

199,485

 

 

74.8%

 

 

$

182,370

 

 

70.5%

 

Leasing$208,623 73.7%$199,485 74.8%

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

67,262

 

 

25.2%

 

 

 

76,395

 

 

29.5%

 

Fiber Infrastructure74,480 26.3%67,262 25.2%

Tower

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

Total revenues

 

 

266,747

 

 

100.0%

 

 

 

258,765

 

 

100.0%

 

Total revenues283,103 100.0%266,747 100.0%

Costs and Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses:

Interest expense

 

 

94,793

 

 

35.6%

 

 

 

102,791

 

 

39.8%

 

Interest expense, netInterest expense, net97,731 34.5%94,793 35.6%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

70,530

 

 

26.4%

 

 

 

79,880

 

 

30.9%

 

Depreciation and amortization73,516 26.1%70,530 26.4%

General and administrative expense

 

 

25,077

 

 

9.4%

 

 

 

26,659

 

 

10.3%

 

General and administrative expense26,863 9.5%25,077 9.4%

Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

 

 

34,167

 

 

12.8%

 

 

 

37,831

 

 

14.6%

 

Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)36,291 12.8%34,167 12.8%
Goodwill impairmentGoodwill impairment216,000 76.3%— —%

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

1,063

 

 

0.4%

 

 

 

20,816

 

 

8.0%

 

Transaction related and other costs2,375 0.8%1,063 0.4%

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

(22,908

)

 

(8.9%)

 

Gain on sale of real estate(94)0.0%— —%

Other expense, net

 

 

283

 

 

0.1%

 

 

 

3,098

 

 

1.2%

 

Gain on sale of operationsGain on sale of operations(176)(0.1%)— —%
Other (income) expense, netOther (income) expense, net74 0.0%283 0.1%

Total costs and expenses

 

 

225,913

 

 

84.7%

 

 

 

248,167

 

 

95.9%

 

Total costs and expenses452,580 159.9%225,913 84.7%

Income before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

40,834

 

 

15.3%

 

 

 

10,598

 

 

4.1%

 

(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities(169,477)(59.8)%40,834 15.3%

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

 

(2,244

)

 

(0.9%)

 

 

 

2,801

 

 

1.1%

 

Income tax (benefit) expense(13,056)(4.6%)(2,244)(0.9%)

Equity in (earnings) loss from unconsolidated entities

 

 

(604

)

 

(0.2%)

 

 

 

342

 

 

0.1%

 

Net income

 

 

43,682

 

 

16.4%

 

 

 

7,455

 

 

2.9%

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

316

 

 

0.1%

 

 

 

190

 

 

0.1%

 

Net income attributable to shareholders

 

 

43,366

 

 

16.3%

 

 

 

7,265

 

 

2.8%

 

Equity in earnings from unconsolidated entitiesEquity in earnings from unconsolidated entities(672)(0.2%)(604)(0.2%)
Net (loss) incomeNet (loss) income(155,749)(55.0%)43,682 16.4%
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interestsNet (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests(70)0.0%316 0.1%
Net (loss) income attributable to shareholdersNet (loss) income attributable to shareholders(155,679)(55.0)%43,366 16.3%

Participating securities' share in earnings

 

 

(283

)

 

(0.1%)

 

 

 

(229

)

 

(0.1%)

 

Participating securities' share in earnings(226)(0.1%)(283)(0.1%)

Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock

 

 

(3

)

 

(0.0%)

 

 

 

(2

)

 

(0.0%)

 

Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock(5)0.0%(3)0.0%

Net income attributable to common shareholders

 

$

43,080

 

 

16.2%

 

 

$

7,034

 

 

2.7%

 

Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholdersNet (loss) income attributable to common shareholders$(155,910)(55.1)%$43,080 16.2%

39

34

Table of Contents

The following tables set forth revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and net income of our reportable segments for the three months ended September 30, 20212022 and 2020, revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and net (loss) income of our reportable segments:

2021:

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

(Thousands)

 

Leasing

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

Towers

 

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Subtotal of Reportable Segments

 

(Thousands)LeasingFiber InfrastructureCorporateSubtotal of Reportable Segments

Revenues

 

$

199,485

 

 

$

67,262

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

266,747

 

Revenues$208,623 $74,480 $— $283,103 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

194,303

 

 

$

27,556

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(4,632

)

 

$

217,227

 

Adjusted EBITDA$203,209 $28,586 $(6,742)$225,053 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

94,793

 

Interest expense  97,731 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

41,432

 

 

 

29,036

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

62

 

 

 

70,530

 

Depreciation and amortization43,121 30,370 25 73,516 

Other expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,472

 

Gain on sale of real estateGain on sale of real estate(94)
Gain on sale of operationsGain on sale of operations(176)
Goodwill impairmentGoodwill impairment216,000 
Other, netOther, net600 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,063

 

Transaction related and other costs2,375 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,166

 

Stock-based compensation3,151 

Income tax benefit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,244

)

Income tax benefit(13,056)

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

765

 

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities755 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

43,682

 

Net lossNet loss$(155,749)

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

(Thousands)

 

Leasing

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

Towers

 

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Subtotal of Reportable Segments

 

(Thousands)LeasingFiber InfrastructureCorporateSubtotal of Reportable Segments

Revenues

 

$

182,370

 

 

$

76,395

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

258,765

 

Revenues$199,485 $67,262 $— $266,747 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

181,103

 

 

$

25,419

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(186

)

 

$

(7,775

)

 

$

198,561

 

Adjusted EBITDA$194,303 $27,556 $(4,632)$217,227 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:    

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

102,791

 

Interest expense   94,793 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

48,189

 

 

 

31,617

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

74

 

 

 

79,880

 

Depreciation and amortization41,432 29,036 62 70,530 

Other expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,098

 

Other, netOther, net   4,472 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,816

 

Transaction related and other costs   1,063 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22,908

)

Gain on sale of real estate— 
Gain on sale of operationsGain on sale of operations— 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,341

 

Stock-based compensation   4,166 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,801

 

Income tax benefitIncome tax benefit   (2,244)

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,287

 

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities   765 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,455

 

Net income   $43,682 

40

35

Table of Contents

Summary of Operating Metrics

 

Operating Metrics

 

Operating Metrics

 

As of September 30,

 

September 30,

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

% Increase / (Decrease)

 

20222021% Increase / (Decrease)

Operating metrics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating metrics:

Leasing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leasing:

Fiber strand miles

 

 

4,890,000

 

 

 

4,500,000

 

 

8.7%

 

Fiber strand miles5,140,000 4,890,000 5.1%

Copper strand miles

 

 

230,000

 

 

 

230,000

 

 

0.0%

 

Copper strand miles230,000 230,000 0.0%

Fiber Infrastructure:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure:

Fiber strand miles

 

 

2,590,000

 

 

 

2,200,000

 

 

17.7%

 

Fiber strand miles2,840,000 2,590,000 9.7%

Customer connections

 

 

25,897

 

 

 

25,885

 

 

0.0%

 

Customer connections27,615 25,897 6.6%

Revenues

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

20222021

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

��

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

(Thousands)Amount% of Consolidated RevenuesAmount% of Consolidated Revenues

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Leasing

 

$

199,485

 

 

74.8%

 

 

$

182,370

 

 

70.5%

 

Leasing$208,623 73.7%$199,485 74.8%

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

67,262

 

 

25.2%

 

 

 

76,395

 

 

29.5%

 

Fiber Infrastructure74,480 26.3%67,262 25.2%

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

Total revenues

 

$

266,747

 

 

100.0%

 

 

$

258,765

 

 

100.0%

 

Total revenues$283,103 100.0%$266,747 100.0%

Leasing – Leasing revenues are primarily attributable to rental revenue from leasing our Distribution Systems to Windstream pursuant to the Windstream Leases (and historically, the Master Lease). Under the Windstream Leases, Windstream is responsible for the costs related to operating the Distribution Systems, including property taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repair costs. As a result, we do not record an obligation related to the payment of property taxes, as Windstream makes direct payments to the taxing authorities. The initial term of the Windstream Leases expires on April 30, 2030. The aggregate initial annualAnnual rent under the Windstream Leases for the full year 2022 is $663$668.9 million equal to the annual rent under the Master Lease previously in effect, and is subject to annual escalation at a rate of 0.5%. For a description of the Windstream Leases, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Windstream Master Lease and Windstream Leases” below.

The rent for the first year of each renewal term will be an amount agreed to by us and Windstream. While the agreement requires that the renewal rent be “Fair Market Rent,” if we are unable to agree, the renewal Fair Market Rent will be determined by an independent appraisal process. Commencing with the second year of each renewal term, the renewal rent will increase at an escalation rate of 0.5%.

Pursuant to the Windstream Leases, Windstream (or any successor tenant under a Windstream Lease) has the right to cause Uniti to reimburse up to an aggregate $1.75 billion for certain growth capital improvements in long-term value accretive fiber and related assets made by Windstream (or the applicable tenant under the Windstream Lease) to certain ILEC and CLEC properties (the “Growth Capital Improvements” or “GCIs”). Uniti’s reimbursement commitment for Growth Capital Improvements does not require Uniti to reimburse Windstream for maintenance or repair expenditures (except for costs incurred for fiber replacements to the CLEC MLA leased property, up to $70 million during the term), and each such reimbursement is subject to underwriting standards. Uniti’s total annual reimbursement commitments to Windstream for the Growth Capital Improvements under both is discussed below in “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Windstream Leases (and under separate equipment loan facilities) are limited to $225 million per year in 2021 through 2024; $175 million per year in 2025Master Lease and 2026; and $125 million per year in 2027 through 2029.  If the cost incurred by Windstream (or the successor tenant under a Windstream Lease) for Growth Capital Improvements in any calendar year exceeds the annual limit for such calendar year, Windstream (or such tenant, as the case may be) may submit such excess costs for reimbursement in any subsequent year and such excess costs shall be funded from the annual commitment amounts in such subsequent period.  In addition, to the extent that reimbursements for Growth Capital Improvements funded in any calendar year during the term is less than the annual limit for such calendar year, the unfunded amount in any calendar year will carry-over and may be added to the annual limits for subsequent calendar years, subject to an annual limit of $250 million in any calendar year, except that, during calendar year 2021, Uniti’s combined total obligation to fund Growth Capital Improvements may exceed $250 million to the extent of any unfunded excess amounts from calendar year 2020.  Accordingly,

41


Table of Contents

because we funded $84.7 million of the $125 million limit in 2020, we are committed to fund up to $265.3 million of Growth Capital Improvements in 2021.

Leases.”

Starting on the first anniversary of each installment of reimbursement for a Growth Capital Improvement, the rent payable by Windstream under the applicable Windstream Lease will increase by an amount equal to 8.0% (the “Rent Rate”) of such installment of reimbursement. The Rent Rate will thereafter increase to 100.5% of the prior Rent Rate on each anniversary of each reimbursement. In the event that the tenant’s interest in either Windstream Lease is transferred by Windstream under the terms thereof (unless transferred to the same transferee), or if Uniti transfers its interests as landlord under either Windstream Lease (unless to the same transferee), the reimbursement rights and obligations will be allocated between the ILEC MLA and the CLEC MLA by Windstream, provided that the maximum that may be allocated to the CLEC MLA following such transfer is $20 million per year. If Uniti fails to reimburse any Growth Capital Improvement reimbursement
36

Table of Contents
payment or equipment loan funding request as and when it is required to do so under the terms of the Windstream Leases, and such failure continues for thirty (30) days, then such unreimbursed amounts may be applied as an offset against the rent owed by Windstream under the Windstream Leases (and such amounts will thereafter be treated as if Uniti had reimbursed them).

Uniti and Windstream have entered into separate ILEC and CLEC Equipment Loan and Security Agreements (collectively “Equipment Loan Agreement”) in which Uniti will provide up to $125 million (limited to $25 million in any calendar year) of the $1.75 billion of Growth Capital Improvements commitments discussed above in the form of loans for Windstream to purchase equipment related to network upgrades or to be used in connection with the Windstream Leases. Interest on these loans will accrue at 8% from the date of the borrowing. All equipment financed through the Equipment Loan Agreement is the sole property of Windstream; however, Uniti will receive a first-lien security interest in the equipment purchased with the loans. No such loans were made to Windstream during quarter ended September 30, 2021.

The Windstream Leases provide that tenant funded capital improvements (“TCIs”), defined as maintenance, repair, overbuild, upgrade or replacement to the Distribution Systems, including without limitation, the replacement of copper distribution systems with fiber distribution systems, automatically become property of Uniti upon their construction by Windstream. We receive non-monetary consideration related to TCIs as they automatically become our property, and we recognize the cost basis of TCIs that are capital in nature as real estate investments and deferred revenue. We depreciate the real estate investments over their estimated useful lives and amortize the deferred revenue as additional leasing revenues over the same depreciable life of the TCI assets. TCIs exclude Growth Capital Improvements as and when reimbursed by Uniti.

Three Months Ended September 30,
20222021
(Thousands)Amount% of Segment RevenuesAmount% of Segment Revenues
Leasing revenues:
Windstream Leases:
Cash revenue
Cash rent$167,500 80.3%$166,666 83.5%
GCI revenue3,914 1.9%— —%
Total cash revenue171,414 82.2%166,666 83.5%
Non-cash revenue
TCI revenue10,939 5.2%9,929 5.0%
GCI revenue3,624 1.7%3,505 1.8%
Other straight-line revenue2,241 1.1%3,085 1.5%
Total non-cash revenue16,804 8.0%16,519 8.3%
Total Windstream revenue188,218 90.2%183,185 91.8%
Other services20,405 9.8%16,300 8.2%
Total Leasing revenues$208,623 100.0%$199,485 100.0%
The increase in TCI revenue is attributable to continued investment by Windstream. As of September 30, 2022 and 2021, the total amount invested in TCIs by Windstream since the inception of the Windstream Leases and Master Lease was $1.1 billion and $986.7 million, respectively.
The increase in GCI revenue is attributable to Uniti’s continued reimbursement of Growth Capital Improvements. During the three months ended September 30, 2021,2022, Uniti reimbursed $60.2$66.4 million of Growth Capital Improvements.Improvements. Subsequent to September 30, 2021,2022, Windstream requested, and we reimbursed $16.5$27.4 million of qualifying Growth Capital Improvements. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we have reimbursed a total of $253.5$491.7 million of Growth Capital Improvements.

Improvements.

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

 

 

 

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Segment Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Segment Revenues

 

Leasing revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windstream Leases:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash rent

 

$

166.7

 

 

83.5%

 

 

$

165.8

 

 

90.9%

 

Non-cash revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TCI revenue

 

 

10.0

 

 

5.0%

 

 

 

9.2

 

 

5.0%

 

Straight-line revenue

 

 

6.5

 

 

3.3%

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

0.3%

 

Total non-cash revenue

 

 

16.5

 

 

8.3%

 

 

 

9.7

 

 

5.3%

 

Total Windstream revenue

 

 

183.2

 

 

91.8%

 

 

 

175.5

 

 

96.2%

 

Other triple-net leasing and dark fiber IRU

 

 

16.3

 

 

8.2%

 

 

 

6.9

 

 

3.8%

 

Total Leasing revenues

 

$

199.5

 

 

100.0%

 

 

$

182.4

 

 

100.0%

 

The increase in TCI revenue is attributable to continued investment by Windstream, which invested $34.2We recognized $20.4 million in TCIs during the three months ended September 30, 2021.  The total amount invested in TCIs by Windstream since the inception of the Windstream Leases and Master Lease was $986.7 million as of September 30, 2021.  For the three months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized $16.3 million of leasing revenues from other services including non-Windstream triple-net leasing and dark fiber indefeasible rights of use (“IRU”)

42


Table of Contents

arrangements. For arrangements for the three months ended September 30, 2020, we recognized $6.9 million from non-Windstream triple-net leasing2022 and dark fiber IRU arrangements.

2021, respectively.

Because a substantial portion of our revenue and cash flows are derived from lease payments by Windstream pursuant to the Windstream Leases, there could be a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations, liquidity, financial condition and/or ability to maintain our status as a REIT and service debt if Windstream were to become unable to generate sufficient cash to make payments to us.

Prior to its emergence from bankruptcy on September 21, 2020, Windstream was a publicly traded company and was subject to the periodic filing requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Windstream’s historic filings through their quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020 can be found at www.sec.gov. Additionally, the
37

Table of Contents
Windstream audited financial statements as of December 31, 2021, and for the year ended December 31, 2021, as of December 31, 2020 and for the period from September 22, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and as of December 31, 2019 and for the period from January 1, 2020 to September 21, 2020 and for each of the two years in the periodyear ended December 31, 2019 are included as an exhibit to our Annual Report. On September 22, 2020, Windstream filed a Form 15 to terminate all filing obligations under Section 12(g) and 15(d) under the Exchange Act. Windstream filings are not incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

We monitor the credit quality of Windstream through numerous methods, including by (i) reviewing credit ratings of Windstream by nationally recognized credit agencies, (ii) reviewing the financial statements of Windstream that are required to be delivered to us pursuant to the Windstream Leases, (iii) monitoring news reports regarding Windstream and its business, (iv) conducting research to ascertain industry trends potentially affecting Windstream, (v) monitoring Windstream’s compliance with the terms of the Windstream Leases and (vi) monitoring the timeliness of its payments under the Windstream Leases.

As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Windstream is current on all lease payments. We note that in August 2020, Moody’s Investor Service assigned a B3 corporate family rating with a stable outlook to Windstream in connection with its post-emergence exit financing. At the same time, S&P Global Ratings assigned Windstream a B- issuer rating with a stable outlook. Both ratings remain current as of the date of this filing. In order to assist us in our continuing assessment of Windstream’s creditworthiness, we periodically receive certain confidential financial information and metrics from Windstream.

Windstream.

Fiber Infrastructure – Fiber Infrastructure revenues for the three months ended September 30, 20212022 and 20202021 consisted of the following:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

20222021

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Segment Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Segment Revenues

 

(Thousands)Amount% of Segment RevenuesAmount% of Segment Revenues

Fiber Infrastructure revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure revenues:

Lit backhaul services

 

$

19,381

 

 

28.8%

 

 

$

25,160

 

 

33.0%

 

Lit backhaul services$19,969 26.8%$19,381 28.8%

Enterprise and wholesale

 

 

20,863

 

 

31.1%

 

 

 

19,875

 

 

26.0%

 

Enterprise and wholesale21,423 28.8%20,863 31.1%

E-Rate and government

 

 

13,505

 

 

20.1%

 

 

 

17,375

 

 

22.7%

 

E-Rate and government15,245 20.5%13,505 20.1%

Dark fiber and small cells

 

 

12,674

 

 

18.8%

 

 

 

11,640

 

 

15.2%

 

Dark fiber and small cells17,140 23.0%12,674 18.8%

Other services

 

 

839

 

 

1.2%

 

 

 

2,345

 

 

3.1%

 

Other services703 0.9%839 1.2%

Total Fiber Infrastructure revenues

 

$

67,262

 

 

100.0%

 

 

$

76,395

 

 

100.0%

 

Total Fiber Infrastructure revenues$74,480 100.0%$67,262 100.0%


For the three months ended September 30, 2021,2022, Fiber Infrastructure revenues totaled $67.3$74.5 million as compared to $76.4$67.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. As of September 30, 2021, we had approximately 25,897 customer connections, up from 25,885 customer connections as of September 30, 2020. The $9.1 million decrease in2021. Fiber Infrastructure revenues isincreased $7.2 million, primarily attributabledue to a $4.7an increase in one-time early termination revenues of $4.0 million decrease in lit backhaul servicewithin dark fiber and small cells revenues relatedand an increase of $2.4 million within Enterprise and Wholesale revenues primarily due to the Uniti Fiber Northeast operations sold on May 28, 2021, a $1.9 million decrease related to the wind down of our construction activities, shown above within E-rate and government, and a $3.1 million decrease in equipment sales and installation revenue.

increased customer connections.

38

Towers – For the three months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized no revenue from the Towers business, as we completed the sale of our U.S. tower business on June 1, 2020.

43


Table of Contents

Consumer CLEC – For the three months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized no revenue from the Consumer CLEC Business, as we substantially completed the wind down of the business as of the end of the second quarter of 2020.

Interest Expense, net

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Increase / (Decrease)

 

(Thousands)20222021% Increase / (Decrease)

Interest expense, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net:

Cash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash:

Senior secured notes - 4.75%, 6.00% and 7.875%

 

 

49,691

 

 

 

52,547

 

 

 

(2,856

)

Senior unsecured notes - 4.00%, 6.50%. 7.125% and 8.25%

 

 

32,176

 

 

 

37,031

 

 

 

(4,855

)

Senior secured notesSenior secured notes$51,066 $49,691 1,375 
Senior unsecured notesSenior unsecured notes31,988 32,176 (188)

Senior secured revolving credit facility - variable rate

 

 

2,210

 

 

 

710

 

 

 

1,500

 

Senior secured revolving credit facility - variable rate3,539 2,210 1,329 
Tender premium paymentTender premium payment— — — 

Interest rate swap termination

 

 

2,829

 

 

 

2,829

 

 

 

-

 

Interest rate swap termination2,829 2,829 — 

Other

 

 

366

 

 

 

1,082

 

 

 

(716

)

Other985 366 619 

Total cash interest

 

 

87,272

 

 

 

94,199

 

 

 

(6,927

)

Total cash interest90,407 87,272 3,135 

Non-cash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash:

Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount

 

 

4,352

 

 

 

9,037

 

 

 

(4,685

)

Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount4,495 4,352 143 
Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discountWrite off of deferred financing costs and debt discount— — — 

Accretion of settlement payable

 

 

4,117

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

4,117

 

Accretion of settlement payable2,946 4,117 (1,171)

Capitalized Interest

 

 

(948

)

 

 

(445

)

 

 

(503

)

Capitalized interestCapitalized interest(117)(948)831 

Total non-cash interest

 

 

7,521

 

 

 

8,592

 

 

 

(1,071

)

Total non-cash interest7,324 7,521 (197)

Total interest expense, net

 

$

94,793

 

 

$

102,791

 

 

$

(7,998

)

Total interest expense, net$97,731 $94,793 $2,938 

(1) Swapped to fixed rate. See Note 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021 decreased $8.02022 increased $2.9 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2020.2021. The decreaseincrease is primarily dueattributable to lowerhigher cash interest expense of $6.9$3.1 million, resulting froma $1.2 million decrease in accretion expense associated with the extinguishment ofsettlement payable, and a $0.8 million decrease in capitalized interest during the 6.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Secured Notes”) and 8.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”).

three months ended September 30, 2022.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Increase / (Decrease)

 

(Thousands)20222021% Increase / (Decrease)

Depreciation and amortization expense by segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense by segment:

Depreciation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation expense

Leasing

 

$

42,376

 

 

$

48,189

 

 

$

(5,813

)

Leasing$41,392 $42,376 $(984)

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

23,318

 

 

 

25,105

 

 

 

(1,787

)

Fiber Infrastructure24,653 23,318 1,335 

Corporate

 

 

62

 

 

 

74

 

 

 

(12

)

Corporate25 62 (37)

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total depreciation expense

 

 

65,756

 

 

 

73,368

 

 

 

(7,612

)

Total depreciation expense66,070 65,756 314 

Amortization expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization expense

Leasing

 

 

(944

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

(944

)

Leasing1,729 (944)2,673 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

5,718

 

 

 

6,512

 

 

 

(794

)

Fiber Infrastructure5,717 5,718 (1)

Corporate

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total amortization expense

 

 

4,774

 

 

 

6,512

 

 

 

(1,738

)

Total amortization expense7,446 4,774 2,672 

Total depreciation and amortization expense

 

$

70,530

 

 

$

79,880

 

 

$

(9,350

)

Total depreciation and amortization expense$73,516 $70,530 $2,986 

44


Table of Contents

Leasing – Leasing depreciation expense decreased $5.8$1.0 million for the quarterthree months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2021. The decrease is primarily attributable to an increase in fully depreciated Windstream Distribution System assets of $1.1 million, partially offset by a $0.2 million increase related to asset additions since September 30, 2021. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, $2.7 million was recorded as compareda benefit to amortization expense, and subsequently reclassified to revenue during the quarter ended September 30, 2020.  The decrease is attributable to a $7.6 million decrease related to the natural decrease in remaining useful life of the Windstream Distribution System assets which utilize the group composite depreciation method, partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in depreciation expense related to the asset purchase agreement the Company entered into with Windstream which was completed in the thirdfourth quarter of 2020 (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”), which is discussed in greater detail in Note 5 to our accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 12021.
39

Table of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  The $0.9 million decrease in amortization expense relates to intangible liabilities assumed from Windstream under the Asset Purchase Agreement.Contents

Fiber Infrastructure – Fiber Infrastructure depreciation and amortization expense decreasedincreased $1.3 million for the quarterthree months ended September 30, 2021 as2022 compared to the quarterthree months ended September 30, 2020.2021. The $1.8 million decreaseincrease in depreciation expense is primarily attributable to the Everstream transaction completed on May 28,asset additions since September 30, 2021.See Note 5.  The $0.8 million decrease in amortization expense relates to a trademark intangible asset, associated with the wind down of the construction business, that became fully amortized in 2020.

General and Administrative Expense

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

 

 

 

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

General and administrative expense by segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

$

13,427

 

 

5.1%

 

 

$

14,538

 

 

5.6%

 

Leasing

 

 

2,254

 

 

0.8%

 

 

 

1,735

 

 

0.7%

 

Corporate

 

 

9,396

 

 

3.5%

 

 

 

10,304

 

 

4.0%

 

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

82

 

 

0.0%

 

Total general and administrative expenses

 

$

25,077

 

 

9.4%

 

 

$

26,659

 

 

10.3%

 

General and administrative expenses include compensation costs, including stock-based compensation awards, professional and legal services, corporate office costs and other costs associated with administrative activities. Foractivities of our segments.

Three Months Ended September 30,
20222021
(Thousands)Amount% of Consolidated RevenuesAmount% of Consolidated Revenues
General and administrative expense by segment:
Leasing$3,368 1.2%$2,254 0.8%
Fiber Infrastructure14,820 5.2%13,427 5.1%
Corporate8,675 3.1%9,396 3.5%
Total general and administrative expenses$26,863 9.5%$25,077 9.4%
Leasing – Leasing general and administrative expense increased $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, general and administrative costs totaled $25.1 million.  For2022 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2020, general and administrative costs totaled $26.7 million.2021. The decrease in general and administrative expensesincrease is primarily attributable to a decrease of approximately $1.0$0.7 million increase in insurancepersonnel expenses driven by incremental customer growth, a $0.1 million increase in legal fees, and a $0.3 million increase in other operating expenses.
Fiber Infrastructure – Fiber Infrastructure general and administrative expense increased $1.4 million for the period.three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2021. This increase is primarily attributable to a $0.5 million increase in advertising expenses, a $0.4 million increase in regulatory and professional fees, a $0.2 million increase in personnel expenses driven by incremental customer growth, and a $0.3 million increase in other operating expenses.

Corporate – Corporate general and administrative expense decreased $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2021. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $1.2 million decrease in personnel expenses, partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in computer software and maintenance expenses and a $0.1 increase in facility expenses.
Operating Expense

Operating expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021 decreased2022 increased by $3.7$2.1 million from the three months ended September 30, 2020, which was primarily attributable to decreases in Fiber Infrastructure, Towers and Consumer CLEC Business operating expenses offset by an increase in Leasing operating expenses discussed below.2021. Operating expense for our reportable segments for the three months ended September 30, 20212022 and 20202021 consisted of the followingfollowing:
Three Months Ended September 30,
20222021
(Thousands)Amount% of Consolidated RevenuesAmount% of Consolidated Revenues
Operating expense by segment:
Leasing$4,679 1.7%$5,184 1.9%
Fiber Infrastructure31,612 11.1%28,983 10.9%
Total operating expenses$36,291 12.8%$34,167 12.8%
40

:

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

Operating expenses by segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

$

28,983

 

 

10.9%

 

 

$

37,122

 

 

14.4%

 

Leasing

 

 

5,184

 

 

1.9%

 

 

 

605

 

 

0.2%

 

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

104

 

 

0.0%

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

34,167

 

 

12.8%

 

 

$

37,831

 

 

14.6%

 

45


Table of Contents

Fiber InfrastructureLeasingLeasing operating expense decreased $0.5 million for the Forthree months ended September 30, 2022 and as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2021, 2021. The decrease is primarily driven by lower network related expenses of $0.6 million.
Fiber InfrastructureFiber Infrastructure operating expenses totaled $29.0 million as compared to $37.1increased $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020.2022 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2021. Operating expense consists of network related costs, such as dark fiber and tower rents, and lit service and maintenance expense.  In addition,expense and costs associated with our construction activities are presented within operating expenses.activities. The $8.1 million decreaseincrease in operating expenses is primarily attributable to decreasesincreases in construction relatedpersonnel expense of $1.2 million, dark fiber early termination fees of $0.6 million, property taxes of $0.4 million, and unsplicing expenses of $2.8$0.4 million.
Goodwill Impairment
As a result of macroeconomic and financial market factors, specifically increased interest rates impacting our discount rate, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of the Fiber Infrastructure reporting unit, estimated using a combination of the income approach and market approach, is less that its carrying amount. Accordingly, we recorded a $216.0 million $2.8 million in equipment sales and installation expense and $2.0 million in expenses related to the Uniti Fiber Northeast operations sold on May 28, 2021.

Leasing – Leasing operating expense was $5.2 million and $0.6 million forgoodwill impairment in the Fiber Infrastructure reporting unit during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  The increase is primarily driven by a $4.1 million increase2022.See Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in network expenses due to the Asset Purchase Agreement the Company entered into with Windstream which was completed in the third quarterPart I Item 1 of 2020.

Towers – For the three months ended September 30, 2021, Towers operating expenses were not incurred as the U.S. tower business sale was completedthis Quarterly Report on June 1, 2020Form 10-Q..

Consumer CLEC – For the three months ended September 30, 2021, Consumer CLEC Business operating expenses were not incurred, as we substantially completed the wind down of the business as of the end of the second quarter of 2020.

Transaction Related and Other Costs

Transaction related and other costs included incremental acquisition, pursuit, transaction and integration costs (including unsuccessful acquisition pursuit costs), costs incurred as a result of Windstream’s bankruptcy filing, costs associated with Windstream’s claims against us and costs associated with the implementation of our new enterprise resource planning system. For the three months ended September 30, 2021,2022, we incurred $1.1$2.4 million of transaction related and other costs, compared to $20.8$1.1 million of such costs during the three months ended September 30, 20202021. The decrease is primarily related to incurring $16.4 million of total costs related to the Windstream bankruptcy for the three months ended September 30, 2020.

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

Benefit

The income tax (benefit) expensebenefit recorded for the three months ended September 30, 20212022 and 2020,2021, respectively, is related to the tax impact of the following:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)20222021

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

Pre-tax loss (Fiber Infrastructure)

 

$

(3,476

)

 

$

3,606

 

Pre-tax loss (Fiber Infrastructure)$(14,555)$(3,476)

Gain on sale of operations

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Gain on sale of operations— — 
Gain on sale of unconsolidated entityGain on sale of unconsolidated entity— — 

Other undistributed REIT taxable income

 

 

778

 

 

 

-

 

Other undistributed REIT taxable income963 778 

REIT state and local taxes

 

 

352

 

 

 

-

 

REIT state and local taxes516 352 

Other

 

 

102

 

 

 

(805

)

Other20 102 

Total income tax (benefit) expense

 

$

(2,244

)

 

$

2,801

 

Total income tax (benefit) expense$(13,056)$(2,244)

46


Table of Contents

Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 20212022 and 2020

2021

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated, our results of operations expressed as dollars and as a percentage of total revenues:

revenues for the periods indicated:

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Revenues

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leasing

 

$

590,478

 

 

73.1%

 

 

$

552,042

 

 

69.7%

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

217,035

 

 

26.9%

 

 

 

232,942

 

 

29.4%

 

Tower

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

6,112

 

 

0.8%

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

651

 

 

0.1%

 

Total revenues

 

 

807,513

 

 

100.0%

 

 

 

791,747

 

 

100.0%

 

Costs and Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

341,762

 

 

42.3%

 

 

 

388,427

 

 

49.2%

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

211,165

 

 

26.2%

 

 

 

250,970

 

 

31.7%

 

General and administrative expense

 

 

75,800

 

 

9.4%

 

 

 

81,686

 

 

10.3%

 

Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

 

 

105,436

 

 

13.1%

 

 

 

118,308

 

 

14.9%

 

Settlement expense

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

650,000

 

 

82.1%

 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

5,624

 

 

0.7%

 

 

 

55,344

 

 

7.0%

 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

(442

)

 

(0.1%)

 

 

 

(86,726

)

 

(11.0%)

 

Gain on sale of operations

 

 

(28,143

)

 

(3.5%)

 

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

Other expense

 

 

8,758

 

 

1.1%

 

 

 

12,186

 

 

1.5%

 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

719,960

 

 

89.2%

 

 

 

1,470,195

 

 

185.7%

 

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) from unconsolidated entities

 

 

87,553

 

 

10.8%

 

 

 

(678,448

)

 

(85.7%)

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

283

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

(7,650

)

 

(0.9%)

 

Equity in (earnings) loss from unconsolidated entities

 

 

(1,549

)

 

(0.2%)

 

 

 

342

 

 

0.0%

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

88,819

 

 

11.0%

 

 

 

(671,140

)

 

(84.8%)

 

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

984

 

 

0.1%

 

 

 

(11,808

)

 

(1.5%)

 

Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders

 

 

87,835

 

 

10.9%

 

 

 

(659,332

)

 

(83.3%)

 

Participating securities' share in earnings

 

 

(864

)

 

(0.1%)

 

 

 

(853

)

 

(0.1%)

 

Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock

 

 

(8

)

 

(0.0%)

 

 

 

(6

)

 

(0.0%)

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders

 

$

86,963

 

 

10.8%

 

 

$

(660,191

)

 

(83.4%)

 

41

47


Table of Contents

Nine Months Ended September 30,
20222021
(Thousands)Amount% of RevenuesAmount% of Revenues
Revenues:
Leasing$618,878 73.2%$590,478 73.1%
Fiber Infrastructure226,234 26.8%217,035 26.9%
Total revenues845,112 100.0%807,513 100.0%
Costs and Expenses:
Interest expense, net290,280 34.3%341,762 42.3%
Depreciation and amortization217,276 25.7%211,165 26.2%
General and administrative expense75,818 8.9%75,800 9.4%
Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)108,184 12.8%105,436 13.1%
Goodwill impairment216,000 25.6%— —%
Transaction related and other costs7,324 0.9%5,624 0.7%
Gain on sale of real estate(344)0.0%(442)(0.1)%
Gain on sale of operations(176)0.0%(28,143)(3.5)%
Other (income) expense, net(8,254)(1.0%)8,758 1.1%
Total costs and expenses906,108 107.2%719,960 89.2%
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities(60,996)(7.2)%87,553 10.8%
Income tax (benefit) expense(10,183)(1.2%)283 0.0%
Equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities(1,696)(0.2%)(1,549)(0.2%)
Net (loss) income(49,117)(5.8%)88,819 11.0%
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests135 0.0%984 0.1%
Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders(49,252)(5.8)%87,835 10.9%
Participating securities' share in earnings(897)(0.1%)(864)(0.1%)
Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock(15)0.0%(8)0.0%
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders$(50,164)(5.9)%$86,963 10.8%
The following tables set forth revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and net income of our reportable segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 2022 and 2020, revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and net (loss) income of our reportable segments:

2021:

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

 

(Thousands)

 

Leasing

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

Towers

 

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Subtotal of Reportable Segments

 

Revenues

 

$

590,478

 

 

$

217,035

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

807,513

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

577,937

 

 

$

86,716

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(17,444

)

 

$

647,209

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

341,762

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

124,132

 

 

 

86,838

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

195

 

 

 

211,165

 

Other expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,569

 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,624

 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(442

)

Gain on sale of operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(28,143

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,963

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

283

 

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,609

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

88,819

 

42


 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

(Thousands)

 

Leasing

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

Towers

 

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Subtotal of Reportable Segments

 

Revenues

 

$

552,042

 

 

$

232,942

 

 

$

6,112

 

 

$

651

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

791,747

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

545,792

 

 

$

81,453

 

 

$

77

 

 

$

(461

)

 

$

(23,717

)

 

$

603,144

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

388,427

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

155,216

 

 

 

93,957

 

 

 

783

 

 

 

791

 

 

 

223

 

 

 

250,970

 

Other expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,186

 

Settlement expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

650,000

 

Transaction related and other costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55,344

 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(86,726

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,446

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,650

)

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,287

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(671,140

)

48


Table of Contents
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
(Thousands)LeasingFiber InfrastructureCorporateSubtotal of Reportable Segments
Revenues$618,878 $226,234 $— $845,112 
Adjusted EBITDA$602,531 $93,628 $(19,153)$677,006 
Less:
Interest expense290,280 
Depreciation and amortization127,738 89,440 98 217,276 
Gain on sale of real estate(344)
Gain on sale of operations(176)
Goodwill impairment216,000 
Other, net(6,534)
Transaction related and other costs7,324 
Stock-based compensation9,664 
Income tax benefit(10,183)
Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities2,816 
Net loss$(49,117)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
(Thousands)LeasingFiber InfrastructureCorporateSubtotal of Reportable Segments
Revenues$590,478 $217,035 $— $807,513 
Adjusted EBITDA$577,937 $86,716 $(17,444)$647,209 
Less:
Interest expense341,762 
Depreciation and amortization124,132 86,838 195 211,165 
Other, net14,569 
Transaction related and other costs5,624 
Gain on sale of real estate(442)
Gain on sale of operations(28,143)
Stock-based compensation10,963 
Income tax expense283 
Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities2,609 
Net income$88,819 
43

Table of Contents

Revenues

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

20222021

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

(Thousands)Amount% of Consolidated RevenuesAmount% of Consolidated Revenues

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Leasing

 

$

590,478

 

 

73.1%

 

 

$

552,042

 

 

69.7%

 

Leasing$618,878 73.2%$590,478 73.1%

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

217,035

 

 

26.9%

 

 

 

232,942

 

 

29.4%

 

Fiber Infrastructure226,234 26.8%217,035 26.9%

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

6,112

 

 

0.8%

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

651

 

 

0.1%

 

Total revenues

 

$

807,513

 

 

100.0%

 

 

$

791,747

 

 

100.0%

 

Total revenues$845,112 100.0%$807,513 100.0%

LeasingLeasing revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Nine Months Ended September 30,
20222021
(Thousands)Amount% of Segment RevenuesAmount% of Segment Revenues
Leasing revenues:
Windstream Leases:
Cash revenue
Cash rent$501,390 81.0%$498,896 84.5%
GCI revenue8,734 1.4%— —%
Total cash revenue510,124 82.4%498,896 84.5%
Non-cash revenue
TCI revenue32,010 5.2%28,761 4.8%
GCI revenue11,073 1.7%7,730 1.3%
Other straight-line revenue7,851 1.3%10,394 1.8%
Total non-cash revenue50,934 8.2%46,885 7.9%
Total Windstream revenue561,057 90.7%545,780 92.4%
Other services57,821 9.3%44,697 7.6%
Total Leasing revenues$618,878 100.0%$590,478 100.0%
The increase in TCI revenue is attributable to continued investment by Windstream. As of September 30, 2022 and 2021, the total amount invested in TCIs by Windstream since the inception of the Windstream Leases and Master Lease was $1.1 billion and $986.7 million, respectively.
The increase in GCI revenue is attributable to Uniti’s continued reimbursement of Growth Capital Improvements. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021,2022, Uniti reimbursed $152.3$158.1 million of Growth Capital Improvements, of which $28.5 million, as allowed for under the Settlement, represented the reimbursement of capital improvements completed in 2020 that were previously classified as TCIs.  Upon reimbursement, the Company reduced the unamortized portion of deferred revenue related to these capital improvements and capitalized the difference between the cash provided to Windstream and the unamortized deferred revenue as a lease incentive.  This lease incentive, which is $0.9 million and reported within other assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2021, will be amortized against revenue over the initial term of the Windstream Leases.Improvements. Subsequent to September 30, 2021,2022, Windstream requested, and we reimbursed $16.5$27.4 million of qualifying Growth Capital Improvements. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we have reimbursed a total of $253.5$491.7 million of Growth Capital Improvements.

Improvements.

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Segment Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Segment Revenues

 

Leasing revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windstream leases:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash rent

 

$

498.9

 

 

84.5%

 

 

$

496.4

 

 

89.9%

 

Non-cash revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TCI revenue

 

 

28.8

 

 

4.8%

 

 

 

26.2

 

 

4.7%

 

Straight-line revenue

 

 

18.1

 

 

3.1%

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

0.1%

 

Total non-cash revenue

 

 

46.9

 

 

7.9%

 

 

 

26.6

 

 

4.8%

 

Total Windstream revenue

 

 

545.8

 

 

92.4%

 

 

 

523.0

 

 

94.7%

 

Other triple-net leasing and dark fiber IRU

 

 

44.7

 

 

7.6%

 

 

 

29.0

 

 

5.3%

 

Total Leasing revenues

 

$

590.5

 

 

100.0%

 

 

$

552.0

 

 

100.0%

 

The increase in TCI revenue is attributable to continued investment by Windstream, which invested $141.0We recognized $57.8 million in TCIs duringand $44.7 million of revenues from non-Windstream triple-net leasing, dark fiber IRU arrangements, and other services for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.2022 and 2021, respectively. The total amount invested in TCIs by Windstream since the inceptionincrease is primarily related to continued lease-up of the Windstream Leases and Master Lease was $986.7 million asour network to new customers.

44

Table of September 30, 2021.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized $44.7 million of leasing revenues from non-Windstream triple-net leasing and dark fiber IRU arrangements. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recognized $29.0 million from non-Windstream triple-net leasing and dark fiber IRU arrangements.

Contents

Fiber Infrastructure – Fiber Infrastructure revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 20212022 and 20202021 consisted of the following:

49


Nine Months Ended September 30,
20222021
(Thousands)Amount% of Segment RevenuesAmount% of Segment Revenues
Fiber Infrastructure revenues:
Lit backhaul services$59,344 26.3%$67,404 31.0%
Enterprise and wholesale63,359 28.0%63,190 29.1%
E-Rate and government48,026 21.2%48,795 22.5%
Dark fiber and small cells53,429 23.6%35,167 16.2%
Other services2,076 0.9%2,479 1.1%
Total Fiber Infrastructure revenues$226,234 100.0%$217,035 100.0%
Table of Contents

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Segment Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Segment Revenues

 

Fiber Infrastructure revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lit backhaul services

 

$

67,404

 

 

31.1%

 

 

$

80,568

 

 

34.6%

 

Enterprise and wholesale

 

 

63,190

 

 

29.1%

 

 

 

58,761

 

 

25.2%

 

E-Rate and government

 

 

48,795

 

 

22.5%

 

 

 

60,133

 

 

25.8%

 

Dark fiber and small cells

 

 

35,167

 

 

16.2%

 

 

 

29,832

 

 

12.8%

 

Other services

 

 

2,479

 

 

1.1%

 

 

 

3,648

 

 

1.6%

 

Total Fiber Infrastructure revenues

 

$

217,035

 

 

100.0%

 

 

$

232,942

 

 

100.0%

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021,2022, Fiber Infrastructure revenues totaled $217.0$226.2 million as compared to $232.9$217.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The $15.92021. Fiber Infrastructure revenues increased $9.2 million, primarily due to an increase in one-time early termination revenues of $16.3 million within dark fiber and small cells revenues, partially offset by an $8.1 million decrease in Fiber Infrastructure revenues is primarily attributable to a $10.0 million decrease related to the wind down of our construction activities, shown above within E-rate and government, and a decrease of $6.3 million in litLit backhaul service revenues, related toprimarily driven by the sale of our Uniti Fiber Northeast operations sold on May 28, 20201.

Towers – For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 wand lit-to-dark fiber conversions.

45

e recognized no revenue from the Towers business, as we completed the saleTable of our U.S. tower business on June 1, 2020.Contents

Consumer CLEC – For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized no revenue from the Consumer CLEC Business, as we substantially completed the wind down of the business as of the end of the second quarter of 2020.

Interest Expense, net

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Increase / (Decrease)

 

(Thousands)20222021% Increase / (Decrease)

Interest expense, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net:

Cash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash:

Senior secured term loan B - variable rate (1)

 

$

-

 

 

$

15,709

 

 

$

(15,709

)

Senior secured notes - 4.75%, 6.00% and 7.875%

 

 

156,550

 

 

 

138,344

 

 

 

18,206

 

Senior unsecured notes - 4.00%, 6.50%. 7.125% and 8.25%

 

 

99,438

 

 

 

111,092

 

 

 

(11,654

)

Senior secured notesSenior secured notes$153,198 $156,550 (3,352)
Senior unsecured notesSenior unsecured notes95,963 99,438 (3,475)

Senior secured revolving credit facility - variable rate

 

 

7,095

 

 

 

12,942

 

 

 

(5,847

)

Senior secured revolving credit facility - variable rate9,018 7,095 1,923 

Tender premium and early redemption payments

 

 

20,541

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

20,541

 

Tender premium paymentTender premium payment— 20,541 (20,541)

Interest rate swap termination

 

 

8,488

 

 

 

7,325

 

 

 

1,163

 

Interest rate swap termination8,488 8,488 — 

Other

 

 

2,070

 

 

 

3,157

 

 

 

(1,087

)

Other1,664 2,070 (406)

Total cash interest

 

 

294,182

 

 

 

288,569

 

 

 

5,613

 

Total cash interest268,331 294,182 (25,851)

Non-cash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash:

Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount

 

 

13,723

 

 

 

27,703

 

 

 

(13,980

)

Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount13,510 13,723 (213)

Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discount

 

 

22,828

 

 

 

73,952

 

 

 

(51,124

)

Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discount— 22,828 (22,828)

Accretion of settlement payable

 

 

13,006

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

13,006

 

Accretion of settlement payable8,733 13,006 (4,273)

Capitalized Interest

 

 

(1,977

)

 

 

(1,797

)

 

 

(180

)

Capitalized interestCapitalized interest(294)(1,977)1,683 

Total non-cash interest

 

 

47,580

 

 

 

99,858

 

 

 

(52,278

)

Total non-cash interest21,949 47,580 (25,631)

Total interest expense, net

 

$

341,762

 

 

$

388,427

 

 

$

(46,665

)

Total interest expense, net$290,280 $341,762 $(51,482)

(1) Swapped to fixed rate. See Note 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 20212022 decreased $46.7$51.5 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020.2021. The decrease is primarily dueattributable to (i) the decrease in debt extinguishment loss2021 issuance of $30.6 million onthe 2029 Notes used to fund the redemption of the 2023 Notes and the 2021 issuance of the 2028 Secured Notes used to fund the redemption of the 2023 Secured Notes, which collectively resulted in $20.5 million of tender premium payments and the 2023 Notes and lower cash interest expensewrite off of $13.4$22.8 million resulting from extinguishment of 2023 Secured Notes and 2023 Notesdeferred financing costs, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

2021 and (ii) lower cash interest expense of $5.3 million, primarily associated with the 2029 Notes and 2028 Notes financing transactions, and a $4.3 million decrease in accretion expense associated with the settlement payable during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

50


Table of Contents

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Increase / (Decrease)

 

(Thousands)20222021% Increase / (Decrease)

Depreciation and amortization expense by segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense by segment:

Depreciation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation expense

Leasing

 

$

126,965

 

 

$

151,845

 

 

$

(24,880

)

Leasing$122,550 $126,965 $(4,415)

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

69,684

 

 

 

75,505

 

 

 

(5,821

)

Fiber Infrastructure72,290 69,684 2,606 

Corporate

 

 

195

 

 

 

223

 

 

 

(28

)

Corporate98 195 (97)

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

 

783

 

 

 

(783

)

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total depreciation expense

 

 

196,844

 

 

 

228,356

 

 

 

(31,512

)

Total depreciation expense194,938 196,844 (1,906)

Amortization expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization expense

Leasing

 

 

(2,833

)

 

 

3,371

 

 

 

(6,204

)

Leasing5,188 (2,833)8,021 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

17,154

 

 

 

18,452

 

 

 

(1,298

)

Fiber Infrastructure17,150 17,154 (4)

Corporate

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

 

791

 

 

 

(791

)

Total amortization expense

 

 

14,321

 

 

 

22,614

 

 

 

(8,293

)

Total amortization expense22,338 14,321 8,017 

Total depreciation and amortization expense

 

$

211,165

 

 

$

250,970

 

 

$

(39,805

)

Total depreciation and amortization expense$217,276 $211,165 $6,111 

Leasing – Leasing depreciation expense decreased $24.9$4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 20212022 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020.2021. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $26.8 million decrease related to the natural decreasean increase in remaining useful life of thefully depreciated Windstream Distribution System assets which utilize the group composite depreciation method,of $5.2 million, partially offset by $4.3a $0.9 million increase in depreciation expense related to asset additions since September 30, 2021. During the assets acquired from Windstream under the Asset Purchase Agreement.  The $6.2 nine months ended September 30, 2021, $8.0
46

Table of Contents
million decrease inwas recorded as a benefit to amortization expense, relatesand subsequently reclassified to intangible liabilities assumed from Windstream underrevenue during the Asset Purchase Agreement.

fourth quarter of 2021.

Fiber Infrastructure – Fiber Infrastructure depreciation and amortization expense decreasedincreased $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as2022 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020.2021. The $5.8 million decreaseincrease in depreciation expense is primarily attributable to the Everstream transaction completed on May 28,asset additions since September 30, 2021.See Note 5.  The $1.3 million decrease in amortization expense relates to a trademark intangible asset, associated with the wind down of the construction business, that became fully amortized in 2020.

General and Administrative Expense

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

General and administrative expense by segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

$

41,190

 

 

5.1%

 

 

$

42,124

 

 

5.3%

 

Leasing

 

 

7,436

 

 

0.9%

 

 

 

5,242

 

 

0.7%

 

Corporate

 

 

27,174

 

 

3.4%

 

 

 

31,492

 

 

4.0%

 

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

2,607

 

 

0.3%

 

Consumer CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

221

 

 

0.0%

 

Total general and administrative expenses

 

$

75,800

 

 

9.4%

 

 

$

81,686

 

 

10.3%

 

General and administrative expenses include compensation costs, including stock-based compensation awards, professional and legal services, corporate office costs and other costs associated with administrative activities. Foractivities of our segments.

Nine Months Ended September 30,
20222021
(Thousands)Amount% of Consolidated RevenuesAmount% of Consolidated Revenues
General and administrative expense by segment:
Leasing$9,907 1.1%$7,436 0.9%
Fiber Infrastructure40,603 4.9%41,190 5.1%
Corporate25,308 3.0%27,174 3.4%
Total general and administrative expenses$75,818 9.0%$75,800 9.4%
Leasing – Leasing general and administrative expense increased $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, general and administrative costs totaled $75.8 million.  For2022 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020, general and administrative costs totaled $81.7 million. 2021. The decrease in general and administrative expensesincrease is primarily attributable to a $1.7 million increase in personnel expenses and a $0.8 million increase in other operating expense.
Fiber Infrastructure – Fiber Infrastructure general and administrative expense decreased $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021. This decrease is primarily attributable to a $0.2 million decrease in personnel expenses, a $0.2 million decrease in facility expenses, and a $0.1 million decrease in other operating expenses.
Corporate – Corporate general and administrative expense decreased $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The decrease is attributable to reductions in personnel expenses of approximately $3.8$2.4 million and insurance expenses of $1.7 million, partially offset by increases in professional and legal expenses for the period.of $1.5 million, computer software and maintenance of $0.4 million, and facility expense of $0.3 million.

Operating Expense

51


Table of Contents

Operating expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 decreased2022 increased by $2.7 million from the nine months ended September 30, 2020,2021, which was primarily attributable to decreasesa $2.3 million increase in Leasing operating expenses and a $0.4 million increase in Fiber Infrastructure Towers and Consumer CLEC Business operating expenses offset by an increase in Leasing operating expenses discussed below. Operating expense for our reportable segments for the nine months ended September 30, 20212022 and 20202021 consisted of the followingfollowing:
Nine Months Ended September 30,
20222021
(Thousands)Amount% of Consolidated RevenuesAmount% of Consolidated Revenues
Operating expense by segment:
Leasing$14,385 1.7%$12,026 1.5%
Fiber Infrastructure93,799 11.1%93,410 11.6%
Total operating expenses$108,184 12.8%$105,436 13.1%
47

:Table of Contents

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

 

Amount

 

 

% of Consolidated Revenues

 

Operating expenses by segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

$

93,410

 

 

11.6%

 

 

$

111,405

 

 

14.0%

 

Leasing

 

 

12,026

 

 

1.5%

 

 

 

2,320

 

 

0.3%

 

Towers

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

3,692

 

 

0.5%

 

CLEC

 

 

-

 

 

0.0%

 

 

 

891

 

 

0.1%

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

105,436

 

 

13.1%

 

 

$

118,308

 

 

14.9%

 

Fiber InfrastructureLeasingLeasing operating expense increased $2.3 million for the Fornine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The increase is primarily driven by a $1.9 million increase in other operating expense resulting from incremental customer growth and increased network related expense of $0.5 million.

Fiber InfrastructureFiber Infrastructure operating expenses totaled $93.4 million as compared to $111.4increased $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.2022 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Operating expense consists of network related costs, such as dark fiber and tower rents, lit service and maintenance expense, and costs associated with our construction activities. The $18.0 million decreaseincrease in operating expenses is primarily attributable to to increases in dark fiber early termination fees of $2.4 million, property taxes of $1.6 million, personnel expense of $1.4 million, and unsplicing expenses of $1.4 million, partially offset by decreases in construction related expenses of $12.7$2.0 million, non-recurring equipment and $4.2installation expenses of $1.6 million, inand expenses related to the Uniti Fiber Northeast operations sold on May 28, 2021.

Leasing – Leasing operating2021 of $1.5 million, right of way expense was $12.0of $0.9 million, and $2.3network maintenance and repair expenses of $0.5 million forreduction.

Goodwill Impairment
As a result of macroeconomic and financial market factors, specifically increased interest rates impacting our discount rate, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of the Fiber Infrastructure reporting unit, estimated using a combination of the income approach and market approach, is less that its carrying amount. Accordingly, we recorded a $216.0 million goodwill impairment in the Fiber Infrastructure reporting unit during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  The increase is primarily driven by a $8.1 million increase2022.See Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in network expenses due to the Asset Purchase Agreement the Company entered into with Windstream which was completed in the third quarterPart I Item 1 of 2020.

Towers – For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, Towers operating expenses were not incurred as the U.S. tower business sale was completedthis Quarterly Report on June 1, 2020.  Towers operating expense was $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020Form 10-Q..

Consumer CLEC – For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, Consumer CLEC Business operating expenses were not incurred, as we substantially completed the wind down of the business as of the end of the second quarter of 2020.

Transaction Related and Other Costs

Transaction related and other costs included incremental acquisition, pursuit, transaction and integration costs (including unsuccessful acquisition pursuit costs), costs incurred as a result of Windstream’s bankruptcy filing, costs associated with Windstream’s claims against us and costs associated with the implementation of our new enterprise resource planning system. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021,2022, we incurred $5.6$7.3 million of transaction related and other costs, compared to $55.3$5.6 million of such costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease is primarily related to incurring $40.2 million of total costs related to the Windstream bankruptcy for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, and we incurred $5.2 million in costs related to the sale of our U.S. towers business during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

2021.

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense (Benefit)

The income tax (benefit) expense (benefit) recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 20212022 and 2020,2021, respectively, is related to the tax impact of the following:

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)20222021

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit) expenseIncome tax (benefit) expense

Pre-tax loss (Fiber Infrastructure)

 

$

(9,484

)

 

$

(7,128

)

Pre-tax loss (Fiber Infrastructure)$(21,798)$(9,484)

Gain on sale of operations

 

 

7,041

 

 

 

-

 

Gain on sale of operations— 7,041 
Gain on sale of unconsolidated entityGain on sale of unconsolidated entity6,711 — 

Other undistributed REIT taxable income

 

 

1,310

 

 

 

-

 

Other undistributed REIT taxable income3,229 1,310 

REIT state and local taxes

 

 

1,291

 

 

 

-

 

REIT state and local taxes1,594 1,291 

Other

 

 

125

 

 

 

(522

)

Other81 125 

Total income tax expense (benefit)

 

$

283

 

 

$

(7,650

)

Total income tax (benefit) expenseTotal income tax (benefit) expense$(10,183)$283 

52


Table of Contents

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We refer to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Funds From Operations (“FFO”) (as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”)) and Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) in our analysis of our results of operations, which are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). While we believe that net income, as defined by GAAP, is the most appropriate earnings measure, we also believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO and AFFO are important non-GAAP supplemental measures of operating performance for a REIT.

48

Table of Contents
We define “EBITDA” as net income, as defined by GAAP, before interest expense, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as EBITDA before stock-based compensation expense and the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of transaction and integration related costs, costs associated with Windstream’s bankruptcy, costs associated with litigation claims made against us, and costs associated with the implementation of our enterprise resource planning system, (collectively, “Transaction Related and Other Costs”), costs related to the settlement with Windstream, goodwill impairment charges,, executive severance costs,, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use assets, the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, gains or losses on dispositions, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments, and other similar or infrequent items (although we may not have had such charges in the periods presented). Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated entities. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are important supplemental measures to net income because they provide additional information to evaluate our operating performance on an unleveraged basis. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is calculated similar to defined terms in our material debt agreements used to determine compliance with specific financial covenants. Since EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered as alternatives to net income determined in accordance with GAAP.

Because the historical cost accounting convention used for real estate assets requires the recognition of depreciation expense except on land, such accounting presentation implies that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. However, since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market and other conditions, presentations of operating results for a REIT that uses historical cost accounting for depreciation could be less informative. Thus, NAREIT created FFO as a supplemental measure of operating performance for REITs that excludes historical cost depreciation and amortization, among other items, from net income, as defined by GAAP. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net income attributable to common shareholders computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from real estate dispositions, plus real estate depreciation and amortization and impairment charges, and includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of FFO from unconsolidated entities. We compute FFO in accordance with NAREIT’s definition.

The Company defines AFFO, as FFO excluding (i) Transaction Related and Other Costs; (ii) costs related to the litigation settlement with Windstream, and accretion on our settlement obligation, and gains on prepayment of our settlement obligation as these items are not reflective of ongoing operating performance; (iii) goodwill impairment charges; (iv) certain non-cash revenues and expenses such as stock-based compensation expense, amortization of debt and equity discounts, amortization of deferred financing costs, depreciation and amortization of non-real estate assets, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use assets, straight line revenues, non-cash income taxes, and the amortization of other non-cash revenues to the extent that cash has not been received, such as revenue associated with the amortization of TCIs; and (v) the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees, additional costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, executive severance costs, taxes associated with tax basis cancellation of debt, gains or losses on dispositions, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments and similar or infrequent items less maintenance capital expenditures. AFFO includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of AFFO from unconsolidated entities. We believe that the use of FFO and AFFO, and their respective per share amounts, combined with the required GAAP presentations, improves the understanding of operating results of REITs among investors and analysts, and makes comparisons of operating results among such companies more meaningful. We consider FFO and AFFO to be useful measures for reviewing comparative operating performance. In particular, we believe AFFO, by excluding certain revenue and expense items, can help investors compare our operating performance between periods and to other REITs on a consistent basis without having to account for differences caused by unanticipated items and events, such as transaction and integration related costs. The Company uses FFO and AFFO, and their respective per share amounts, only as performance measures, and FFO and AFFO do not purport to be indicative of cash available to fund our future cash requirements. While FFO and AFFO are relevant and widely used measures of operating performance of REITs, they do not represent cash flows from operations or net income as defined by GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to those measures in evaluating our liquidity or operating performance.

53


Table of Contents

Further, our computations of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO and AFFO may not be comparable to that reported by other REITs or companies that do not define FFO in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or that interpret the current NAREIT definition or define EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and AFFO differently than we do.

54

49

Table of Contents

The reconciliation of our net (loss) income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and of our net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders to FFO and AFFO for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and 2020 is as follows:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

(Thousands)

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Net income (loss)

$

43,682

 

 

$

7,455

 

 

$

88,819

 

 

$

(671,140

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

70,530

 

 

 

79,880

 

 

 

211,165

 

 

 

250,970

 

Interest expense, net

 

94,793

 

 

 

102,791

 

 

 

341,762

 

 

 

388,427

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(2,244

)

 

 

2,801

 

 

 

283

 

 

 

(7,650

)

EBITDA

$

206,761

 

 

$

192,927

 

 

$

642,029

 

 

$

(39,393

)

Stock based compensation

 

4,166

 

 

 

3,341

 

 

 

10,963

 

 

 

10,446

 

Transaction related and other costs

 

1,063

 

 

 

20,816

 

 

 

5,624

 

 

 

55,344

 

Settlement expense

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

650,000

 

Gain on sale of operations

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(28,143

)

 

 

-

 

Gain on sale of real estate

 

-

 

 

 

(22,908

)

 

 

(442

)

 

 

(86,726

)

Other expense

 

4,472

 

 

 

3,098

 

 

 

14,569

 

 

 

12,186

 

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

765

 

 

 

1,287

 

 

 

2,609

 

 

 

1,287

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

217,227

 

 

$

198,561

 

 

$

647,209

 

 

$

603,144

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

(Thousands)

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders

$

43,080

 

 

$

7,034

 

 

$

86,963

 

 

$

(660,191

)

Real estate depreciation and amortization

 

53,620

 

 

 

59,318

 

 

 

159,175

 

 

 

185,377

 

Gain on sale of real estate assets, net of tax

 

-

 

 

 

(22,501

)

 

 

(442

)

 

 

(86,319

)

Participating securities share in earnings

 

283

 

 

 

229

 

 

 

864

 

 

 

853

 

Participating securities share in FFO

 

(635

)

 

 

(331

)

 

 

(1,660

)

 

 

(937

)

Real estate depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities

 

646

 

 

 

366

 

 

 

1,876

 

 

 

366

 

Adjustments for noncontrolling interests

 

(412

)

 

 

(598

)

 

 

(1,979

)

 

 

(1,700

)

FFO attributable to common shareholders

$

96,582

 

 

$

43,517

 

 

$

244,797

 

 

$

(562,551

)

Transaction related and other costs

 

1,063

 

 

 

20,816

 

 

 

5,624

 

 

 

55,344

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 

-

 

 

 

1,946

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

8,086

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount

 

4,352

 

 

 

9,037

 

 

 

13,723

 

 

 

27,703

 

Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discount

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

22,828

 

 

 

73,952

 

Costs related to the early repayment of debt

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

28,485

 

 

 

-

 

Stock based compensation

 

4,166

 

 

 

3,341

 

 

 

10,963

 

 

 

10,446

 

Gain on sale of operations

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(28,143

)

 

 

-

 

Non-real estate depreciation and amortization

 

16,910

 

 

 

20,562

 

 

 

51,990

 

 

 

65,593

 

Settlement expense

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

650,000

 

Straight-line revenues

 

(8,240

)

 

 

(1,747

)

 

 

(22,455

)

 

 

(1,036

)

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

(1,938

)

 

 

(1,617

)

 

 

(6,322

)

 

 

(4,978

)

Other, net

 

(2,949

)

 

 

(3,461

)

 

 

(4,958

)

 

 

(25,271

)

Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities

 

119

 

 

 

921

 

 

 

733

 

 

 

921

 

Adjustments for noncontrolling interests

 

(120

)

 

 

(775

)

 

 

(990

)

 

 

(15,114

)

AFFO attributable to common shareholders

$

109,945

 

 

$

92,540

 

 

$

316,296

 

 

$

283,095

 

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Thousands)2022202120222021
Net (loss) income$(155,749)$43,682 $(49,117)$88,819 
Depreciation and amortization73,516 70,530 217,276 211,165 
Interest expense, net97,731 94,793 290,280 341,762 
Income tax (benefit) expense(13,056)(2,244)(10,183)283 
EBITDA$2,442 $206,761 $448,256 $642,029 
Stock based compensation3,151 4,166 9,664 10,963 
Transaction related and other costs2,375 1,063 7,324 5,624 
Gain on sale of operations(176)— (176)(28,143)
Gain on sale of real estate(94)— (344)(442)
Goodwill impairment216,000 — 216,000 — 
Other, net600 4,472 (6,534)14,569 
Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities755 765 2,816 2,609 
Adjusted EBITDA$225,053 $217,227 $677,006 $647,209 

55

50

Table of Contents

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Thousands)2022202120222021
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders$(155,910)$43,080 $(50,164)$86,963 
Real estate depreciation and amortization53,118 53,620 157,436 159,175 
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net of tax(94)— (344)(442)
Participating securities share in earnings226 283 897 864 
Participating securities share in FFO(226)(635)(1,788)(1,660)
Real estate depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities436 646 1,931 1,876 
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests(24)(412)(235)(1,979)
FFO attributable to common shareholders$(102,474)$96,582 $107,733 $244,797 
Transaction related and other costs2,375 1,063 7,324 5,624 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration— — — 21 
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount4,495 4,352 13,510 13,723 
Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discount— — — 22,828 
Costs related to the early repayment of debt— — — 28,485 
Stock based compensation3,151 4,166 9,664 10,963 
Gain on sale of unconsolidated entity, net of tax— — (1,212)— 
Gain on sale of operations(176)— (176)(28,143)
Non-real estate depreciation and amortization20,398 16,910 59,840 51,990 
Goodwill impairment216,000 — 216,000 — 
Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles(9,918)(8,240)(31,066)(22,455)
Maintenance capital expenditures(2,314)(1,938)(7,136)(6,322)
Other, net(19,182)(2,949)(35,412)(4,958)
Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities319 119 887 733 
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests(96)(120)(137)(990)
AFFO attributable to common shareholders$112,578 $109,945 $339,819 $316,296 
Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal liquidity needs are to fund operating expenses, meet debt service obligations, fund investment activities, including capital expenditures, and make dividend distributions. Furthermore, following consummation of our settlement agreement with Windstream, including entry into the Windstream Leases, we are obligated (i) to make $490.1 million of cash payments to Windstream in equal installments over 20 consecutive quarters beginning in October 2020 and (ii) to reimburse Windstream for up to an aggregate of $1.75 billion for Growth Capital Improvements in long-term value accretive fiber and related assets made by Windstream through 2029. To date, we have paid $215.4 million of the $490.1 million due to Windstream under the settlement agreement, including $92.9 million that we pre-paid on October 14, 2021, $78.0 million of which was funded from a portion of the proceeds of the 2030 Notes. Uniti’s reimbursement commitment for Growth Capital Improvements does not require Uniti to reimburse Windstream for maintenance or repair expenditures (except for costs incurred for fiber replacements to the CLEC MLA leased property, up to $70 million during the term), and each such reimbursement is subject to underwriting standards. Uniti’s total annual reimbursement commitments for the Growth Capital Improvements under both Windstream Leases (and under separate equipment loan facilities) were limited to $125 million in 2020 and $225 million in 2021, and are limited to $225 million per year in 20212022 through 2024; $175 million per year in 2025 and 2026; and $125 million per year in 2027 through 2029.
Our If the cost incurred by Windstream (or the successor tenant under a Windstream Lease) for Growth Capital Improvements in any calendar year exceeds the annual limit for such calendar year, Windstream (or such tenant, as the case may be) may submit such excess costs for reimbursement in any subsequent year and such excess costs shall be funded from the annual commitment amounts in such subsequent period.  In addition, to the extent that reimbursements for Growth Capital Improvements funded in any calendar year during the term is less than the annual limit for such calendar year, the unfunded amount in any calendar year will carry-over and may be added to the annual limits for subsequent calendar years, subject to an annual limit of $250 million in any calendar year, except that, during calendar year 2021, our combined total obligation to fund Growth Capital Improvements may exceed $250 million to the extent of any unfunded excess amounts from calendar year 2020.  Accordingly, because we funded $84.7 million of the $125 million limit in 2020, we are committed to fund up to $265.3 million of Growth Capital Improvements in 2021.

Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are cash on hand, cash provided by operating activities (primarily from the Windstream Leases), available borrowings under our credit agreement by and among the Operating Partnership, CSL Capital, LLC and Uniti Group Finance 2019 Inc., the guarantors and lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A.,

51

Table of Contents
as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Credit Agreement”), and proceeds from the issuance of debt and equity securities.

As of September 30, 2021,2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $69.8$43.4 million and approximately $380.5$225.0 million of borrowing availability under our Revolving Credit Facility.Facility under the Credit Agreement. Subsequent to September 30, 2021,2022, other than the redemption of the 2024 Notes as described below, and $16.5$27.4 million of Growth Capital Improvements (see “Result of Operations—Revenues” above), there have been no material outlays of funds outside of our scheduled interest and dividend payments. Availability under our Revolving Credit Facility is subject to various conditions, including a maximum secured leverage ratio of 5.0:1. In addition, if we incur debt under our Revolving Credit Facility or otherwise such that our total leverage ratio exceeds 6.5:1, our Revolving Credit Facility would impose significant restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. See “—Dividends.”

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)20222021

Cash flow from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow from operating activities:

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

353,353

 

 

$

112,815

 

Net cash provided by operating activities$285,107 $353,353 

Cash provided by operating activities was $353.4 million and $112.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  

Cash provided by operating activities is primarily attributable to our leasing activities.

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cash flow from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windstream asset acquisition

 

$

-

 

 

$

(73,127

)

Proceeds from sale of real estate, net of cash

 

 

1,034

 

 

 

392,011

 

Proceeds from sale of operations (Note 5)

 

 

62,113

 

 

 

-

 

Proceeds from sale of other equipment

 

 

1,143

 

 

 

-

 

Other capital expenditures

 

 

(276,010

)

 

 

(214,150

)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

$

(211,720

)

 

$

104,734

 

56


Tableactivities, which includes the leasing of Contents

mission-critical communications assets to anchor customers on either an exclusive or shared-tenant basis, in addition to the leasing of dark fiber network assets to the telecommunications industry. Cash used in investingoperating activities includes compensation and related costs, interest payments, and other changes in working capital. Net cash provided by operating activities was $211.7$285.1 million and $353.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, andrespectively. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 is driven by capital expenditures, primarily relatedattributable to our Uniti Fiber and Uniti Leasing business for deploymentthe timing of network assets, partially offset by proceeds fromthe upfront IRU payments received in connection with the sale of the Uniti Fiber Northeast operations to Everstream ($62.1 million).  Cash provided byon May 28, 2021.

Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Thousands)20222021
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures$(292,666)$(276,010)
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated entity (see Note 5)32,527 — 
Proceeds from sale of real estate, net of cash575 1,034 
Proceeds from sale of operations541 62,113 
Proceeds from sale of other equipment338 1,143 
Net cash used in investing activities$(258,685)$(211,720)
Net cash used in investing activities was $258.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 20202022, primarily driven by capital expenditures ($292.7 million), partially offset by proceeds received from the sale of the Harmoni investment ($32.5 million). Net cash used in investing activities was $104.7$211.7 million which wasfor the nine months ended September 30, 2021, primarily driven by capital expenditures ($276.0 million), partially offset by proceeds from the May 28, 2021 sale of our U.S. tower businessthe Uniti Fiber Northeast operations ($225.162.1 million), proceeds from the sale of our Midwest fiber network ($166.9 million), partially offset by capital. Capital expenditures ($214.2 million), whichare primarily related to our Uniti Fiber and Uniti Leasing businesses for the deployment of network assets, but also includes $29.1 millionas described under “—Capital Expenditures.”
52

Table of Growth Capital Improvements and expenditures of $73.1 million in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement.Contents

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Thousands)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

(Thousands)20222021

Cash flow from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow from financing activities:

Repayment of debt

 

$

(1,660,000

)

 

$

(2,044,728

)

Repayment of debt$— $(1,660,000)

Proceeds from issuance of notes

 

 

1,680,000

 

 

 

2,250,000

 

Proceeds from issuance of notes— 1,680,000 

Dividends paid

 

 

(105,941

)

 

 

(100,759

)

Dividends paid(107,362)(105,941)

Payment of settlement obligation

 

 

(73,516

)

 

 

-

 

Payments of settlement payablePayments of settlement payable— (73,516)

Payments of contingent consideration

 

 

(2,979

)

 

 

(15,713

)

Payments of contingent consideration— (2,979)

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(1,700

)

 

 

(1,802

)

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest(217)(1,700)
Payment for exchange of noncontrolling interestPayment for exchange of noncontrolling interest(4,620)— 

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

 

 

290,000

 

 

 

140,000

 

Borrowings under revolving credit facility180,000 290,000 

Payments under revolving credit facility

 

 

(220,000

)

 

 

(585,019

)

Payments under revolving credit facility(105,000)(220,000)

Finance lease payments

 

 

(1,745

)

 

 

(2,890

)

Finance lease payments(887)(1,745)

Payments for financing costs

 

 

(25,755

)

 

 

(47,775

)

Payments for financing costs— (25,755)

Settlement Common Stock issuance

 

 

-

 

 

 

244,550

 

Costs related to the early repayment of debt

 

 

(25,800

)

 

 

-

 

Payment of tender premiumPayment of tender premium— (25,800)

Employee stock purchase program

 

 

672

 

 

 

306

 

Employee stock purchase program589 672 

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation

 

 

(2,652

)

 

 

(962

)

Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation(4,434)(2,652)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

$

(149,416

)

 

$

(164,792

)

Net cash used in financing activities$(41,931)$(149,416)

Cash

Net cash used in financing activities was $41.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, which was primarily related to $149.4dividend payments of $107.4 million, net borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of $75.0 million, payment for an exchange of noncontrolling interest of $4.6 million, and payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation of $4.4 million. Net cash used in financing activities was $149.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which was primarily driven by the repayment of the 2023 Notes and 2023 Secured Notes ($($1.66 billion), net borrowingspayments under the Revolving Credit Facility ($($70.0 million), dividend payments ($($105.9 million), payments for financing costs ($($25.8 million), payment of settlement obligation ($($73.5 million), 2023 Notes tender premium payment ($($17.6 million), 2023 Secured Notes early redemption payment ($8.3 million) and contingent consideration payments ($($3.0 million), partially offset by proceeds from the issuance of the 2029 Notes and 2028 Secured Notes (($1.68 billion)$1.68. billion).  Cash used
Windstream Master Lease and Windstream Leases
On September 18, 2020, in financing activities was $164.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, which was primarily driven by the repayment of senior secured term loan B ($2.04 billion), net payments under the Revolving Credit Facility ($445.0 million), dividend payments ($100.8 million) and payments for financing costs ($47.8 million), contingent consideration payments ($15.7 million), partially offset by the proceedsconnection with Windstream’s emergence from the issuance of the 2025 Secured Notes ($2.25 billion)bankruptcy and the issuanceimplementation of the Settlement, Common Stock ($244.6 million).

Senior Notes

On October 13, 2021, Uniti Group LP, Uniti Fiber Holdings Inc., Uniti Group Finance 2019 Inc. and CSL Capital, LLC (together,Windstream bifurcated the “Issuers”) issued $700 millionMaster Lease and entered into the Windstream Leases that each expires on April 30, 2030. The aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Senior Notes due 2030initial annual rent under the Windstream Leases is equal to the annual rent under the Master Lease previously in effect. The Windstream Leases contain cross-guarantees and cross-default provisions, which will useremain effective as long as Windstream or an affiliate is the proceeds to fund the redemptiontenant under both of the Issuer’s 2024 NotesWindstream Leases and unless and until the landlords under the ILEC MLA are different from the landlords under the CLEC MLA. The Windstream Leases permit Uniti to transfer its rights and obligations and otherwise monetize or encumber the Windstream Leases, together or separately, so long as Uniti does not transfer interests in either Windstream Lease to a Windstream competitor.

Pursuant to the Windstream Leases, Windstream (or any successor tenant under a Windstream Lease) has the right to cause Uniti to reimburse up to an aggregate $1.75 billion for certain growth capital improvements in long-term value accretive fiber and related assets made by Windstream (or the applicable tenant under the Windstream Lease) to certain ILEC and CLEC properties (the “Growth Capital Improvements”). Uniti’s reimbursement commitment for Growth Capital Improvements does not require Uniti to reimburse Windstream for maintenance or repair expenditures (except for costs incurred for fiber replacements to the CLEC MLA leased property, up to $70.0 million during the term), and each such reimbursement is subject to underwriting standards. Uniti’s total annual reimbursement commitments for the Growth Capital Improvements under both Windstream Leases (and under separate equipment loan facilities) were limited to $125 million in 2020 and $225 million in 2021, and are limited to $225 million per year in 2022 through 2024; $175 million per year in 2025 and 2026; and $125 million per year in 2027 through 2029. If the costs incurred by Windstream (or the successor tenant under a Windstream Lease) for Growth Capital Improvements in any calendar year exceeds the annual limit for such calendar year, Windstream (or such tenant, as the case may be) may submit such excess costs for reimbursement in any subsequent year and such excess costs shall be funded from the annual commitment amounts in such
53

Table of Contents
subsequent period. In addition, to the extent that reimbursements for Growth Capital Improvements funded in any calendar year during the term is less than the annual limit for such calendar year, the unfunded amount in any calendar year will carry-over and may be added to the annual limits for subsequent calendar years, subject to an annual limit of $250.0 million in any calendar year.
Starting on December 15, 2021. On October 13, 2021, the Issuers deposited amounts withfirst anniversary of each installment of reimbursement for a Growth Capital Improvement, the trusteerent payable by Windstream under the applicable Windstream Lease will increase by an amount equal to 8.0% (the “Rent Rate”) of such installment of reimbursement. The Rent Rate will thereafter increase to 100.5% of the 2024 Notes sufficientprior Rent Rate on each anniversary of each reimbursement. In the event that the tenant’s interest in either Windstream Lease is transferred by Windstream under the terms thereof (unless transferred to fund the redemptionsame transferee), or if Uniti transfers its interests as landlord under either Windstream Lease (unless to the same transferee), the reimbursement rights and obligations will be allocated between the ILEC MLA and the CLEC MLA by Windstream, provided that the maximum that may be allocated to the CLEC MLA following such transfer is $20 million per year. If Uniti fails to reimburse any Growth Capital Improvement reimbursement payment or equipment loan funding request as and when it is required to do so under the terms of the 2024 Notes on December 15, 2021,Windstream Leases, and such failure continues for thirty (30) days, then such unreimbursed amounts may be applied as an offset against the rent owed by Windstream under the Windstream Leases (and such amounts will thereafter be treated as if Uniti had reimbursed them).
Uniti and Windstream have entered into separate ILEC and CLEC Equipment Loan and Security Agreements (collectively “Equipment Loan Agreement”) in which Uniti will provide up to pay$125 million (limited to $25 million in any calendar year) of the $1.75 billion of Growth Capital Improvements commitments discussed above in the form of loans for Windstream to purchase equipment related premiums, fees and expensesto network upgrades or to be used in connection with the foregoing, and therefore satisfied and discharged their respective obligations under the indenture governing the 2024 Notes.

The 2030 Notes were issued at an issue price of 100% of their principal amount pursuant to an indenture, dated as of October 13, 2021, among the Issuers, the guarantors named therein and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee. The 2030 Notes mature on January 15, 2030 and bear interest at a rate of 6.000% per year.Windstream Leases. Interest on these loans will accrue at 8% from the 2030 Notesdate of the borrowing. All equipment financed through the Equipment Loan Agreement is payable on January 15 and July 15the sole property of each year, beginning on July 15, 2022.

For additional information, see Note 11 to our accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements containedWindstream; however, Uniti will receive a first-lien security interest in Part 1, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

57


Table of Contents

the equipment purchased with the loans.

At-the-Market Common Stock Offering Program

We have an effective shelf registration statement on file with the SEC (the “Registration Statement”) to offer and sell various securities from time to time. Under the registration statement, we have established an at-the-market common stock offering program (the “ATM Program”) to sell shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $250$250.0 million. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021,2022, we did not make any sales under the ATM Program. This program is intended to provide additional financial flexibility and an alternative mechanism to access the capital markets at an efficient cost as and when we need financing, including for acquisitions. In addition, our UPREIT structure enables us to acquire properties by issuing to sellers, as a form of consideration, limited partnership interests in our operating partnership, (commonly called “OP Units”). We believe that this structure will facilitate our ability to acquire individual properties and portfolios of properties by enabling us to structure transactions which will defer taxes payable by a seller while preserving our available cash for other purposes, including the possible payment of dividends.

Outlook

We anticipate continuing to invest in our network infrastructure across our Uniti Leasing and Uniti Fiber portfolios. We anticipate that we will partially finance these needs, as well as operating expenses (including our debt service obligations), from our cash on hand and cash flows provided by operating activities. As of September 30, 2021,2022, we had $380.5$225.0 million in borrowing availability under our Revolving Credit Facility (subject to customary borrowing conditions), however, we may need to access the capital markets to generate additional funds in an amount sufficient to fund our business operations, announced investment activities, capital expenditures, including reimbursement commitments for Growth Capital Improvements, debt service and distributions to our shareholders. We may also issue equity securities to repay debt and reduce our leverage ratio to be below 5.75 to 1.0 to obtain additional flexibility under our debt covenants, as described under “—Dividends.”  In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the global economy and capital markets, we are closely monitoring the equity and debt markets and may seek to access them promptly if and when we determine market conditions are appropriate. Our debt covenants currently do not permit us to incur material additional debt.

The amount, nature and timing of any capital markets transactions will depend on: the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on the global economy and capital markets, our operating performance and other circumstances; our then-current commitments and obligations; the amount, nature and timing of our capital requirements; and any limitations imposed by our current credit arrangements.arrangements; and overall market conditions. These expectations are forward-looking and subject to a number of uncertainties and assumptions. If our expectations about our liquidity prove to be incorrect or we are unable to access the capital markets as we anticipate, we would be subject to a shortfall in liquidity in the future which could lead to a reduction in our capital expenditures and/or dividends and, in an extreme case, our ability to pay our debt service obligations. If this shortfall occurs rapidly and with little or no notice, it could limit our ability to address the shortfall on a timely basis.

54

Table of Contents
In addition to exploring potential capital markets transactions, the Company regularly evaluates market conditions, its liquidity profile, and various financing alternatives for opportunities to enhance its capital structure. If opportunities are favorable, the Company may refinance or repurchase existing debt. However, there can be no assurances that any debt refinancing would be on similar or more favorable terms than our existing arrangements. This would include the risk that interest rates could increase and/or there may be changes to our existing covenants.

If circumstances warrant, we may take measures to conserve cash as we anticipate that it will be more difficult for us to access the capital markets at attractive rates until such uncertainty is clarified.

Capital Expenditures

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

(Thousands)

 

Success Based

 

 

Maintenance

 

 

Integration

 

 

Non-Network

 

 

Total

 

(Thousands)Success BasedMaintenanceIntegrationNon-NetworkTotal

Capital expenditures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures:

Leasing

 

$

2,551

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,551

 

Leasing$19,645 $— $— $— $19,645 

Growth capital improvements

 

 

152,254

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

152,254

 

Growth capital improvements158,086 — — — 158,086 

Fiber Infrastructure

 

 

113,388

 

 

 

6,322

 

 

 

485

 

 

 

1,010

 

 

 

121,205

 

Fiber Infrastructure106,072 7,136 931 460 114,599 
CorporateCorporate— — — 336 336 

Total capital expenditures

 

$

268,193

 

 

$

6,322

 

 

$

485

 

 

$

1,010

 

 

$

276,010

 

Total capital expenditures$283,803 $7,136 $931 $796 $292,666 

We categorize our capital expenditures as either (i) success-based, (ii) maintenance, (iii) integration or (iv) corporate and non-network. We define success-based capital expenditures as those related to installing existing or anticipated contractual customer service orders. Maintenance capital expenditures are those necessary to keep existing network elements fully operational. Integration capital expenditures are those made specifically with respect to recent acquisitions that are essential to integrating acquired companies in our business. We anticipate continuing to invest in our network infrastructure across our Uniti Leasing and Uniti Fiber businesses

58


Table of Contents

and expect that cash on hand and cash flows provided by operating activities will be sufficient to support these investments. We have the right, but not the obligation (except for Growth Capital Improvements), to reimburse growth capital expenditures in certain of our lease arrangements where we are the lessor.

Uniti’s total annual reimbursement commitments to Windstream for the Growth Capital Improvements under the is discussed above in this Part I, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Windstream Leases (and under separate equipment loan facilities) are limited to $225 million per year in 2021 through 2024; $175 million per year in 2025Master Lease and 2026; and $125 million per year in 2027 through 2029. If the cost incurred by Windstream (or the successor tenant under a Windstream Lease) forLeases.” Growth Capital Improvements in any calendar year exceedsare treated as success-based capital improvements based on the annual limit forrents paid with respect to such calendar year, Windstream (or such tenant, as the case may be) may submit such excess costs for reimbursement in any subsequent year and such excess costs shall be funded from the annual commitment amounts in such subsequent period.  In addition, to the extent that reimbursements for Growth Capital Improvements funded in any calendar year during the term is less than the annual limit for such calendar year, the unfunded amount in any calendar year will carry-over and may be added to the annual limits for subsequent calendar years, subject to an annual limit of $250 million in any calendar year, except that, during calendar year 2021, our combined total obligation to fund Growth Capital Improvements may exceed $250 million to the extent of any unfunded excess amounts from calendar year 2020.  Accordingly, because we funded $84.7 million of the $125 million limit in 2020, we are committed to fund up to $265.3 million of Growth Capital Improvements in 2021.

amounts.

If circumstances warrant, we may need to take measures to conserve cash, which may include a suspension, delay or reduction in success-based capital expenditures.
Dividends
We continually assess our capital expenditure plans in light of developments the impact COVID-19 has on our business and that of our tenants and customers.

Dividends

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its taxable income. Subject to the restrictions imposed by our 7.875% senior secured notes due 2025 (the “2025 Secured Notes”), inIn order to maintain our REIT status, we intend to make dividend payments of all or substantially all of our taxable income to holders of our common stock out of assets legally available for this purpose, if and to the extent authorized by our board of directors. Before we make any dividend payments, whether for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise, we must first meet both our operating requirements and debt service obligations. If our cash available for distribution is less than our taxable income, we could be required to sell assets or borrow funds to make cash dividends or we may make a portion of the required dividend in the form of a taxable distribution of stock or debt securities.

55

Table of Contents
The following table below sets out details regarding our cash dividends on our common stock:

Period

 

Payment Date

 

Cash Dividend Per Share

 

 

Record Date

October 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020

 

January 4, 2021

 

$

0.15

 

 

December 15, 2020

January 1, 2021 - March 31, 2021

 

April 16, 2021

 

$

0.15

 

 

April 1, 2021

April 1, 2021 - June 30, 2021

 

July 2, 2021

 

$

0.15

 

 

June 18, 2021

July 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021

 

October 1, 2021

 

$

0.15

 

 

September 17, 2021

PeriodPayment DateCash Dividend Per ShareRecord Date
October 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021January 3, 2022$0.15 December 17, 2021
January 1, 2022 - March 31, 2022April 15, 2022$0.15 April 1, 2022
April 1, 2022 - June 30, 2022July 1, 2022$0.15 June 17, 2022
July 1, 2022 - September 30, 2022September 23, 2022$0.15 September 9, 2022

Any dividends must be declared by our Board of Directors, which will take into account various factors including our current and anticipated operating results, our financial position, REIT requirements, conditions prevailing in the market, restrictions in our debt documents and additional factors they deem appropriate. Dividend payments are not guaranteed, and our Board of Directors may decide, in its absolute discretion, at any time and for any reason, not to pay dividends or to change the amount paid as dividends. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we may take further measures to conserve cash, which may include a suspension, delay or reduction in our dividend.  In addition, until such time our consolidated net leverage ratio (as defined in the indenture governing the 2025 Secured Notes) is no greater than 5.75 to 1.0, our 2025 Secured Notes generally limit our ability to pay cash dividends in excess of 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gains.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We make certain judgments and use certain estimates and assumptions when applying accounting principles in the preparation of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The nature of the estimates and assumptions are material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain factors or the susceptibility of such factors to change. We have identified the accounting for income taxes, revenue recognition, the impairment of property, plant and equipment, goodwill

59


Table of Contents

impairment and business combinations as critical accounting estimates, as they are the most important to our financial statement presentation and require difficult, subjective and complex judgments.

We believe the current assumptions and other considerations used to estimate amounts reflected in our accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are appropriate. However, if actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating amounts reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the resulting changes could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations and, in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Goodwill—As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, all of our goodwill is included in our Fiber Infrastructure segment. Goodwill is recognized for the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires significant judgment, including: the identification of reporting units; assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units; and assignment of goodwill to reporting units. In accordance with ASC 350-20, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, we evaluate goodwill for impairment between annual impairment tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount (a “Triggering Event”).On the occurrence of a Triggering Event, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether a quantitative impairment test is necessary. If it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, the fair value of the reporting unit must be compared with its carrying value.

In performing the quantitative assessment of goodwill, we estimate the fair value of our fiber reporting unit using a combination of an income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows and a market approach based on market data of comparable businesses, and acquisition multiples paid in recent transactions. Inherent in our preparation of cash flow projections are significant assumptions and estimates derived from a review of our operating results and business plans, which include expected revenue and expense growth rates, capital expenditure plans and discount rate. In determining these assumptions, we consider our ability to execute on our plans, future economic conditions, interest rates and other market data. Many of the factors used in assessing fair value are outside the control of management, and these assumptions and estimates may change in future periods. Small changes in these assumptions or estimates could materially affect our cash flow projections, and therefore could affect the likelihood and amount of potential impairment in future periods. Potential events that could negatively impact these assumptions or estimates may include customer losses or poor execution of our business plans, which impact revenue growth, cost escalation impacting margin, the level of capital expenditures required to sustain our growth and market factors, including stock price fluctuations and increased interest rates, impacting our discount rate. For example, if we were to experience a significant delay in our permitting process in the construction of our fiber networks, the timing of effected cash flows could impact long term growth rates and negatively impact the income approach, leading to potential impairment. As a result, should our expectations of average projected revenue growth percentage, average projected EBITDA margin percentage and/or average projected capital
56

Table of Contents
expenditures as a percentage of revenue change, we may experience future impairment to goodwill (while other assumptions remain constant). Furthermore, a deterioration in market factors such as stock prices or increased interest rates and/or declines in acquisition multiples utilized in the market approach could affect the likelihood and amount of potential impairment. We evaluate the appropriateness of each valuation methodology in determining the weighting applied to each methodology in the determination of the concluded fair value. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit's net assets is less than its fair value, no impairment exists. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit is greater than the fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment loss must be recognized for the excess and recorded in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill.

In connection with the preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company identified a Triggering Event and, therefore, performed a qualitative and quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Triggering Event was a result of macroeconomic and financial market factors, specifically increased interest rates, impacting our discount rate.As a result of this interim assessment of goodwill, we concluded that the fair value of the Fiber Infrastructure reporting unit, estimated using a combination of the income approach and market approach, is less than its carrying amount. Accordingly, we recorded a $216.0 million goodwill impairment charge in the Fiber Infrastructure reporting unit during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
For further information on our critical accounting estimates, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the notes to our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report. As of September 30, 2021,2022, there has been no material change to these estimates.

estimates other than discussion above on goodwill.

Recent Accounting Guidance

New accounting rules and disclosures can impact our reported results and comparability of our financial statements. These matters are describedSee Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470- 20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. ASU 2020-06 (1) simplifies the accounting for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock by removing the existing guidance in ASC 470-20, Debt: Debt with Conversion and Other Options, that requires entities to account for beneficial conversion features and cash conversion features in equity, separately from the host convertible debt or preferred stock; (2) revises the scope exception from derivative accounting in ASC 815-40 for freestanding financial instruments and embedded features that are both indexed to the issuer’s own stock and classified in stockholders’ equity, by removing certain criteria required for equity classification; and (3) revises the guidance in ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, to require entities to calculate diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for convertible instruments by using the if-converted method.

In addition, entities must presume share settlement for purposes of calculating diluted EPS when an instrument may be settled in cash or shares. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early adopt the guidance ASU 2020-06 as of JanuaryPart I Item 1 2021 using the modified retrospective transition method. Pursuant to the transition guidance, the Company is required to apply the guidance to all impacted financial instruments that were outstanding as of January 1, 2021 with the cumulative effect recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings.

As a result of early adopting ASU 2020-06, the Company made certain adjustments to its accounting for the outstanding exchangeable senior unsecured notes. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 resulted in the re-combination of the liability and equity components of these notes into a single liability instrument. The carrying value as of December 31, 2020, totaled approximately $275.4 million and as a result of the adoption increased by $61.1 million to $336.5 million as of January 1, 2021.  Because of this adoption, the effective interest rate on the exchangeable senior unsecured notes went from 11.1% to 4.8%.  Additional paid-in-capital was reduced by $59.9 million and deferred tax liabilities were reduced by $15.8 million.  Approximately $14.6 million of cumulative effect of adoption was recognized to the opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2021.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

10-Q.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

There have been no material changes from the information reported under Item 7A of our Annual Report.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We have established disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act, of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or

60


Table of Contents

submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2021,2022, and based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2021, due to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting that was disclosed in our Annual Report2022..

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

As disclosed in “Part II. Item 9A. Controls and Procedures” in our Annual Report, during the fourth quarter of 2020, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting due to ineffective controls over the annual goodwill impairment assessment, specifically, the control activities over the determination of the carrying value to be used in the assessment of goodwill impairment did not operate effectively due to an insufficient complement of qualified personnel.As of September 30, 2021, management is continuing to implement the remediation plan as disclosed in “Part II. Item 9A. Controls and Procedures” in our Annual Report, which is described below.

Management believes that our condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have certified that, based on such officer’s knowledge, the condensed consolidated financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 20212022 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Remediation Plan

57

Management is continuing to implement the remediation plan as disclosed in “Part II. Item 9A. Controls and Procedures” in our Annual Report, to ensure that the deficiency contributing to the material weakness is remediated such that this control will operate effectively.  We believe that these actions, and the improvements we expect to achieve as a result, will effectively remediate the material weakness. However, the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting will not be considered remediated until management has concluded, through testing, that this control is designed effectively. We expect that the remediation of this material weakness will be completed later in fiscal 2021.

61


Table of Contents

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

A description of legal proceedings can be found in Note 14 13 - Commitments and Contingencies to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included in this report at Part I, Item 1-Financial Statements, and is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes to the risk factors affecting our business that were discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The table below provides information regarding shares withheld from Uniti employees to satisfy minimum statutory tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of restricted stock granted under the Uniti Group Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. The shares of common stock withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations may be deemed purchases of such shares required to be disclosed pursuant to this Item 2.

Period

 

Total Number of Shares Purchased

 

Average Price Paid per Share(1)

 

Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs

 

Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs

 

July 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021

 

 

957

 

$

11.10

 

 

 

 

 

August 1, 2021 to August 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021

 

 

89,513

 

 

12.94

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

90,470

 

$

12.92

 

 

 

 

 

PeriodTotal Number of Shares Purchased
Average Price Paid per Share(1)
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or ProgramsMaximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022616$9.88 
August 1, 2022 to August 31, 2022— 
September 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022— — 
Total616$9.88 

(1) The average price paid per share is the weighted average of the fair market prices at which we calculated the number of shares withheld to cover tax withholdings for the employees.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not Applicable

Item 5. Other Information.

None
58

NoneTable of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits.

Exhibit

Number

Description

Exhibit
Number

Description

4.1

Indenture, dated October 13, 2021, by and among Uniti Group LP, Uniti Fiber Holdings Inc., Uniti Group Finance 2019 Inc. and CSL Capital, LLC, as Issuers, the guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, governing the 6.000% Senior Notes due 2030 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed with the SEC as of October 13, 2021 (File No. 001-36708))

4.2

Form of 6.000% Senior Notes due 2030 (included in Exhibit 4.1) ((incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed with the SEC as of October 13, 2021 (File No. 001-36708))

62


Table of Contents

31.1*

31.2*

32.1*

32.2*

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

*Filed herewith.

Filed herewith.

59

Table of Contents
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.

UNITI GROUP INC.

Date:

November 4, 2021

7, 2022

/s/ Paul E. Bullington

Paul E. Bullington


Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


(Principal Financial Officer)


Date:

November 4, 2021

7, 2022

/s/ Travis T. Black

Travis T. Black

Interim
Vice President –
Chief Accounting Officer


(Principal Accounting Officer)

63

60