Uniti and Windstream Obtain All Necessary Regulatory Approvals to Complete Merger
Uniti Group Inc. (Nasdaq: UNIT) and Windstream have secured all necessary regulatory approvals, including from the California Public Utilities Commission, to complete their previously announced merger. The transaction, approved by Uniti stockholders on April 2, 2025, is expected to close around August 1, 2025.
Post-merger, Windstream Parent Inc. will be renamed Uniti Group Inc. and will trade under the symbol UNIT on Nasdaq starting around August 4, 2025. The merger will be a taxable transaction for Uniti stockholders. The company has received a favorable IRS ruling regarding post-closing restructuring, enabling a tax basis step-up for certain company assets.
Uniti Group Inc. (Nasdaq: UNIT) e Windstream hanno ottenuto tutte le approvazioni regolamentari necessarie, inclusa quella della California Public Utilities Commission, per completare la loro fusione precedentemente annunciata. La transazione, approvata dagli azionisti di Uniti il 2 aprile 2025, 猫 prevista per la chiusura intorno al 1掳 agosto 2025.
Dopo la fusione, Windstream Parent Inc. cambier脿 nome in Uniti Group Inc. e sar脿 quotata con il simbolo UNIT al Nasdaq a partire da circa il 4 agosto 2025. La fusione sar脿 considerata una transazione imponibile per gli azionisti di Uniti. L'azienda ha ricevuto un parere favorevole dall'IRS riguardo alla ristrutturazione post-fusione, che consente un aumento della base imponibile per alcuni asset aziendali.
Uniti Group Inc. (Nasdaq: UNIT) y Windstream han obtenido todas las aprobaciones regulatorias necesarias, incluida la Comisi贸n de Servicios P煤blicos de California, para completar su fusi贸n previamente anunciada. La transacci贸n, aprobada por los accionistas de Uniti el 2 de abril de 2025, se espera que se cierre alrededor del 1 de agosto de 2025.
Despu茅s de la fusi贸n, Windstream Parent Inc. cambiar谩 su nombre a Uniti Group Inc. y cotizar谩 bajo el s铆mbolo UNIT en Nasdaq a partir del 4 de agosto de 2025 aproximadamente. La fusi贸n ser谩 una transacci贸n sujeta a impuestos para los accionistas de Uniti. La compa帽铆a ha recibido una resoluci贸n favorable del IRS respecto a la reestructuraci贸n posterior al cierre, permitiendo un aumento en la base imponible de ciertos activos de la empresa.
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Uniti Group Inc. (Nasdaq : UNIT) et Windstream ont obtenu toutes les approbations r茅glementaires n茅cessaires, y compris de la California Public Utilities Commission, pour finaliser leur fusion annonc茅e pr茅c茅demment. La transaction, approuv茅e par les actionnaires de Uniti le 2 avril 2025, devrait 锚tre conclue aux alentours du 1er ao没t 2025.
Apr猫s la fusion, Windstream Parent Inc. sera renomm茅e Uniti Group Inc. et sera cot茅e sous le symbole UNIT au Nasdaq 脿 partir d'environ le 4 ao没t 2025. La fusion constituera une op茅ration imposable pour les actionnaires de Uniti. L'entreprise a re莽u une d茅cision favorable de l'IRS concernant la restructuration post-cl么ture, permettant une r茅茅valuation fiscale 脿 la hausse de certains actifs de la soci茅t茅.
Uniti Group Inc. (Nasdaq: UNIT) und Windstream haben alle erforderlichen beh枚rdlichen Genehmigungen, einschlie脽lich der California Public Utilities Commission, erhalten, um ihre zuvor angek眉ndigte Fusion abzuschlie脽en. Die Transaktion, die am 2. April 2025 von den Uniti-Aktion盲ren genehmigt wurde, soll voraussichtlich um den 1. August 2025 abgeschlossen werden.
Nach der Fusion wird Windstream Parent Inc. in Uniti Group Inc. umbenannt und ab etwa dem 4. August 2025 unter dem Symbol UNIT an der Nasdaq gehandelt. Die Fusion stellt f眉r Uniti-Aktion盲re eine steuerpflichtige Transaktion dar. Das Unternehmen hat eine g眉nstige IRS-Entscheidung bez眉glich der Umstrukturierung nach dem Abschluss erhalten, die eine steuerliche Wertaufstockung bestimmter Unternehmenswerte erm枚glicht.
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Insights
Uniti-Windstream merger clears final regulatory hurdle; transformative deal to close August 1, creating consolidated fiber provider.
The announcement that Uniti and Windstream have secured all necessary regulatory approvals marks the final checkpoint before their merger completes on August 1, 2025. This transformative deal will create a consolidated fiber infrastructure provider positioned to compete more effectively in the high-capacity connectivity market.
The California Public Utilities Commission approval was the last regulatory requirement following previous state and federal clearances and the April 2 stockholder approval. The transaction structure is noteworthy: Windstream's affiliate will merge into Uniti, but Uniti will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Windstream Parent, which will then adopt the Uniti name and continue trading under the "UNIT" ticker.
Financially, two key elements stand out. First, this will be a taxable transaction for Uniti stockholders, meaning they'll need to recognize capital gains or losses. Second, the company secured a favorable IRS private letter ruling that will enable a tax basis step-up in certain Uniti assets post-closing. This technical but significant tax advantage could reduce future tax obligations by increasing depreciation deductions on those assets.
The strategic rationale centers on vertical integration - combining Windstream's telecom operations with Uniti's fiber infrastructure ownership creates a unified entity that can potentially accelerate network deployment and streamline capital allocation decisions. CEO Gunderman's characterization as an "insurgent fiber provider" signals an aggressive competitive posture against established telecom players.
Uniti Receives Favorable Private Letter Ruling from IRS
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uniti Group Inc. (鈥淯niti鈥� or the 鈥淐ompany鈥�) (Nasdaq: UNIT) and New Windstream, LLC (鈥淲indstream鈥�) jointly announced today the receipt of regulatory approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to complete the previously announced merger (the 鈥淢erger鈥�) between Uniti and an affiliate of Windstream. All other state and federal regulatory approvals necessary for completion of the Merger were previously received, and the Company鈥檚 stockholders approved the Merger at a special meeting held on April 2, 2025. As a result, Uniti and Windstream expect the Merger to be completed after market close on or around August 1, 2025.
鈥淲e are thrilled to be crossing the finish line on our transformational merger with Windstream. This transaction creates a premier insurgent fiber provider that is uniquely positioned to accelerate the delivery of mission-critical, high鈥慶apacity connectivity to the businesses and communities across our footprint. Bringing these two organizations fully together unlocks tremendous opportunity for our customers, employees and stockholders, and I could not be more excited about the growth potential and innovation we will drive as one company,鈥� commented President and Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Gunderman.
As previously announced, under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, an affiliate of Windstream will merge with and into Uniti, with Uniti surviving the Merger as an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Windstream Parent, Inc. Windstream Parent, Inc. will be renamed 鈥淯niti Group Inc.鈥� in connection with the Merger, and its common stock is expected to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol 鈥淯NIT鈥� at the beginning of trading on or around August 4, 2025.
The Merger is expected to be a taxable transaction to Uniti鈥檚 stockholders. In addition, the Company has received a favorable private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of a post-closing restructuring, which is expected to result in a step-up in the tax basis of certain of the Company鈥檚 assets following the closing of the Merger.
ABOUT UNITI
Uniti, an internally managed real estate investment trust, is engaged in the acquisition and construction of mission critical communications infrastructure, and is a leading provider of fiber and other wireless solutions for the communications industry. As of March 31, 2025, Uniti owns approximately 147,000 fiber route miles, 8.8 million fiber strand miles, and other communications real estate throughout the United States. Additional information about Uniti can be found on its website at .
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this communication may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended from time to time. Those forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated closing of the Merger of Uniti and Windstream and the future performance of Uniti, Windstream and the combined company following the Merger (the 鈥淢erged Group鈥�).
Words such as "anticipate(s)," "expect(s)," "intend(s)," 鈥渆stimate(s),鈥� 鈥渇oresee(s),鈥� "plan(s)," "believe(s)," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seek(s)," 鈥渁ppear(s),鈥� 鈥渢arget(s),鈥� 鈥減roject(s),鈥� 鈥渃ontemplate(s),鈥� 鈥減redict(s),鈥� 鈥減otential,鈥� 鈥渃ontinue(s)鈥� 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 management believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, neither the Company nor the Merged Group can give any assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors which could materially alter such expectations include, but are not limited to, the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the consummation of the Merger, including, without limitation, regulatory approvals obtained on terms desired or anticipated; unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the Merger, including, without limitation, difficulties that result in the failure to realize expected synergies, efficiencies and cost savings from the Merger within the expected time period (if at all); potential difficulties in Uniti鈥檚 and Windstream鈥檚 ability to retain employees as a result of the announcement and pendency of the Merger; risks relating to the value of the Merged Group鈥檚 securities to be issued in connection with the Merger; disruptions of Uniti and Windstream鈥檚 current plans, operations and relationships with customers caused by the announcement and pendency of the Merger; legal proceedings that may be instituted against Uniti or Windstream following announcement of the Merger; demands on the Merged Group鈥檚 cash resources to make interest and principal payments on indebtedness and other expenses following closing of the Merger; changes in current or future state, federal or local laws, regulations or rules; the ultimate tax treatment of the Merger and related transactions; 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; risks associated with general economic conditions; and additional factors described in the Company鈥檚 reports filed with the SEC, including Uniti鈥檚 annual report on Form 10-K, periodic quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, periodic current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC.
All forward-looking statements are based on information and estimates available at the time of this communication and are not guarantees of future performance.
Except as required by applicable law, neither Uniti nor the Merged Group assumes any obligation to, and expressly disclaims any duty to, provide any additional or updated information or to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. Nothing in this communication will, under any circumstances (including by reason of this communication remaining available and not being superseded or replaced by any other presentation or publication with respect to Uniti, Windstream or the Merged Group, or the subject matter of this communication), create an implication that there has been no change in the affairs of Uniti or Windstream since the date of this communication.
INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS:
Paul Bullington, 251-662-1512
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
Bill DiTullio, 501-850-0872
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasury
This press release was published by a CLEAR庐 Verified individual.
