Core Viewpoint - Uniti Group Inc. and Windstream have received regulatory approval for their merger, expected to close around August 1, 2025, following prior approvals and stockholder consent [2][4]. Group 1: Merger Details - The merger will result in Uniti becoming an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Windstream Parent, Inc., which will be renamed "Uniti Group Inc." [4]. - The common stock of the newly formed Uniti Group Inc. is anticipated to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "UNIT" starting around August 4, 2025 [4]. Group 2: Management Commentary - The CEO of Uniti expressed excitement about the merger, highlighting its potential to create a leading fiber provider and enhance connectivity for businesses and communities [3]. Group 3: Tax Implications - The merger is expected to be a taxable transaction for Uniti's stockholders, and the company has received a favorable private letter ruling from the IRS regarding certain tax consequences, which may lead to a step-up in the tax basis of some assets post-merger [5]. Group 4: Company Overview - Uniti is a real estate investment trust focused on acquiring and constructing critical communications infrastructure, owning approximately 147,000 fiber route miles and 8.8 million fiber strand miles across the U.S. as of March 31, 2025 [6].

Group 1 - Uniti Group Inc. will report its second quarter 2025 financial results on August 5, 2025, before the market opens [1] - A conference call to discuss the earnings will take place on the same day at 8:30 AM Eastern Time [1] - The conference call will be available via live webcast on Uniti's Investor Relations website, with a replay also accessible afterward [2] Group 2 - Uniti is an internally managed real estate investment trust focused on acquiring and constructing mission-critical communications infrastructure [3] - As of March 31, 2025, Uniti owns approximately 147,000 fiber route miles and 8.8 million fiber strand miles across the United States [3] - Uniti is a leading provider of fiber and wireless solutions for the communications industry [3]

Merger Overview - Uniti and Windstream will combine to create a premier fiber provider with approximately $4 billion in revenue and 236,000 fiber route miles across 47 states in the U S[18] - Existing Uniti shareholders will own about 62% and Windstream shareholders will own about 38% of the combined company's common equity[18] - Windstream shareholders will receive $425 million in cash, $575 million of preferred equity, and common shares representing approximately 38% ownership of the combined company[32] Financial Profile - New Uniti's Fiber Core Revenue for YTD 2024 is $1495 million, a 1 1% increase from $1478 million in YTD 2023[23] - New Uniti's Adjusted EBITDA for YTD 2024 is $916 million, a 5 0% increase from $872 million in YTD 2023[23] - The company projects 2028 revenue of $4 1 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $2 0 billion[27] Synergies and Growth - The merger aims for up to $100 million in annual operating expense synergies and $20-30 million in annual capital expenditure synergies[52] - Kinetic has upgraded approximately 1 6 million households to Next-gen FTTH[42] - Kinetic's cost per passing is approximately $650[42]

Merger Overview - Uniti and Windstream are merging to create a premier fiber provider with approximately $4 billion in revenue and 240,000 fiber route miles across 47 US states[13] - Existing Uniti shareholders will own roughly 62% and Windstream shareholders will own about 38% of the combined company's common equity[13] - The combined company has approximately 44 million residential households, 240,000 fiber route miles, and 150,000 on-net locations[8] Financial Profile & Growth - The combined company anticipates core fiber revenue between $2845 million and $2865 million, and total revenue between $3745 million and $3780 million in 2025[25] - The combined company anticipates total adjusted EBITDA between $1545 million and $1575 million, and total net Capex between $1210 million and $1220 million in 2025[25] - Kinetic consumer revenue is expected to grow approximately 2% in 2025, and strategic fiber infrastructure revenue is expected to grow approximately 5% in 2025[28] - Uniti is targeting strategic recurring revenue growth of approximately 4% to 6% and strategic recurring adjusted EBITDA growth of approximately 8% to 10% in 2025[35] Strategic Priorities - Uniti aims to pass an incremental 325,000 homes with fiber in 2025, reaching approximately 2 million homes in total[35] - Consolidated new sales bookings MRR was $08 million in Q1 2025, up approximately 40% from the prior year period[49] - The company's debt yielded approximately 125% in February 2023, which has improved to approximately 75% currently[52] AI Opportunity - The total AI TAM is projected to be $300 billion by 2030, with digital infrastructure TAM at $40 billion and fiber/network TAM at $15 billion[19]

Group 1 - Uniti Group Inc. announced the pricing of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 8.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2032, with an issue price of 100.000% [1] - The net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund the partial redemption of $500 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding 10.50% senior notes due 2028, with the redemption expected to occur on June 24, 2025 [2] - The notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers [3] Group 2 - Uniti is an internally managed real estate investment trust engaged in the acquisition and construction of mission-critical communications infrastructure, owning approximately 147,000 fiber route miles and 8.8 million fiber strand miles as of March 31, 2025 [5]

Core Viewpoint - Uniti Group Inc. is initiating an offering of $600 million in senior notes due 2032 to fund the partial redemption of $500 million of its outstanding 10.50% senior notes due 2028, with the redemption scheduled for June 24, 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Offering Details - The offering of the senior notes is subject to market and other conditions, and will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company and its subsidiaries [1]. - The net proceeds from the notes will be used primarily for the partial redemption of the 2028 secured notes, including related premiums, fees, and expenses [2]. - The redemption of the 2028 secured notes is contingent upon the completion of debt financings totaling at least $550 million [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - Uniti is an internally managed real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring and constructing critical communications infrastructure, providing fiber and wireless solutions [5]. - As of March 31, 2025, Uniti owns approximately 147,000 fiber route miles and 8.8 million fiber strand miles across the United States [5].

Summary of Unity's Conference Call Company Overview - Unity is one of the largest independent fiber providers in the United States, with nearly 200,000 route miles of fiber [4][5][6] Industry Insights - The demand for fiber, particularly from hyperscalers, has significantly increased, with the Total Addressable Market (TAM) in the fiber space growing from a de minimis level to approximately $15 billion to $20 billion in just 12 to 24 months [5][7] - The company is experiencing a shift in its customer base, with hyperscalers now representing a substantial portion of its business [5][9] Financial Performance and Expectations - Unity reported strong demand and bookings, but cautioned that bookings can be lumpy due to the nature of hyperscaler deals [6][7] - The company anticipates that the TAM for hyperscalers will grow to $40 billion to $50 billion in the coming years [7] - Analyst estimates for the second quarter are considered low due to the back-end loaded nature of the year, primarily driven by large hyperscaler deals that do not reflect in traditional bookings [7][10] Customer Segmentation - Unity serves a diverse range of customer segments, including hyperscalers, wireless carriers, and large enterprises, with no single segment representing more than 10% of revenue or EBITDA [13][14] - The company is merging with Windstream, which has a significant wholesale fiber business, creating synergies and expanding opportunities in the hyperscaler market [16] Deal Structure and Yields - Unity's approach to hyperscaler deals involves building new fiber with anchor customers, targeting initial yields of 5% to 10% [18][19] - The blended initial yield on greenfield builds is around 7%, with overall yields approaching 30% [19][20] - The company is successfully executing its lease-up strategy, with yields from hyperscaler deals approaching 20% [20] Market Dynamics - Unity focuses on tier two and tier three markets, benefiting from less stressed power grids compared to larger cities, which enhances its ability to service hyperscaler data centers [22][23] - The company is optimistic about the transition from training to inference in AI, which is expected to drive increased demand for fiber [27][30] Fiber to the Home Strategy - Unity's Kinetic division aims to build fiber to 3.5 million homes by 2029, with a current build cost of approximately $6.50 per home, significantly lower than industry averages [40][41] - The company attributes its lower build costs to its focus on smaller markets and prior investments in backhaul and metro fiber [42][44] Financing and Capital Structure - Unity has identified $1 billion of ABS capacity for funding its builds, with potential capacity of $3 billion to $4 billion [54][56] - The company plans to maintain a healthy mix of high yield and ABS in its capital structure, taking advantage of lower refinancing opportunities [58][59] Market Perception and Stock Performance - Unity's stock price has been affected by technical overhangs related to its merger with Windstream and the transition from a REIT to a C Corp [61][62] - There is optimism about the intrinsic value of the business, despite current market perceptions [64]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uniti Group Inc. (“Uniti”) (Nasdaq: UNIT) announced today that its President and Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Gunderman, is scheduled to present at the Nareit 2025 REITweek Investor Conference. The presentation is scheduled for 8:00 AM EDT on June 4, 2025 in New York, NY. You may access a live webcast of the event on Uniti’s Investor Relations website at investor.uniti.com. The webcast will be available for replay for a limited time following the present ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong demand and reiterated guidance for the combined company, indicating that the fundamentals of the business are strong despite perceived misguidance [6][8] - The total addressable market (TAM) for hyperscalers in the fiber industry has grown from de minimis to an estimated $15 billion, with projections to reach close to $50 billion in the coming years [16][17] - Hyperscalers currently represent less than 5% of revenue and EBITDA, but this is expected to change significantly as economic benefits from deals materialize [17][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has seen a significant increase in the number of generative AI deals in its funnel, growing from less than five to close to 100, now representing about 20% of the funnel [24][25] - The company maintains incredibly low churn rates, which supports mid-single-digit top-line growth even with steady bookings [21][22] - Fiber to the home providers have become the largest customer segment, with backhaul representing 10-20% of the cost of providing fiber to the home [48][49] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wireless carriers have shown signs of growth in 2025 after a decline in 2024, with network infilling and backhaul purchases expected to increase [45][46] - The company is diversifying its customer segments, ensuring no single segment represents more than 20% of revenue or bookings [44] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on building a robust edge network to support the growing demand for inference models in AI, which is expected to drive future growth [27][37] - The merger with Windstream is seen as a strategic move to consolidate fiber to the home business and maximize fiber penetration [73][78] - The company is prioritizing capital allocation towards fiber infrastructure over M&A opportunities, although it remains open to bolt-on acquisitions and joint ventures [60][62] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the technical noise around the stock but emphasizes strong underlying business trends and demand, particularly in generative AI and hyperscaler markets [5][8] - The company is optimistic about the future, expecting to see significant growth in bookings and recurring revenue as it transitions from bespoke deals to more standardized offerings [18][19] - Management believes that the integration of AI into their operations will enhance efficiency and customer service post-merger with Windstream [55][56] Other Important Information - The company is not experiencing challenges in service delivery or meeting demand, maintaining discipline in its building strategy [40][41] - The company is actively exploring joint ventures to enhance its capabilities and capitalize on market opportunities [62][65] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations regarding the stock price and market perception? - Management noted that the stock price fluctuations are largely due to technical factors and misperceptions, but the fundamentals remain strong [5][6] Question: How is the company addressing the demand for generative AI? - The company has seen a significant increase in generative AI deals and expects this segment to grow, representing a substantial portion of the future funnel [24][25] Question: What is the outlook for the wireless segment? - Management indicated that there are early signs of growth in the wireless segment, particularly in network infilling and backhaul purchases [45][46] Question: How does the company view M&A opportunities? - While M&A is always a consideration, the company currently sees the best returns from investing in fiber infrastructure rather than pursuing acquisitions [60][62] Question: What are the next steps post-merger with Windstream? - The focus will be on integrating Kinetic and maximizing fiber coverage, with plans to reach 3.5 million homes by 2029 [76][78]

Merger Overview - Uniti and Windstream are merging to create a premier insurgent fiber provider with approximately $4 billion in revenue[13] - The combined company will have approximately 240,000 fiber route miles covering 47 states in the U S [13] - Existing Uniti shareholders will own approximately 62% and existing Windstream shareholders will own approximately 38% of the combined company's outstanding common equity[13] - The combined company will have approximately 4 4 million residential households, approximately 150,000 on-net locations, and approximately 625,000 near-net locations[8] Financial Highlights - The combined company's core fiber revenue is estimated to be between $2 845 million and $2 865 million in 2025[25] - Total revenue for the combined company is estimated to be between $3 745 million and $3 780 million in 2025[25] - Total adjusted EBITDA for the combined company is estimated to be between $1 545 million and $1 575 million in 2025[25] - Total net Capex for the combined company is estimated to be between $1 210 million and $1 220 million in 2025[25] Growth and Strategy - Uniti is targeting strategic recurring revenue growth of approximately 4% to 6% in 2025[35] - Uniti is targeting strategic recurring adjusted EBITDA growth of approximately 8% to 10% in 2025[35] - Consolidated new sales bookings MRR was $0 8 million in the first quarter of 2025, up approximately 40% from the prior year period[49]