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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 5, 2025

 

 

 

Uniti Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-42779   85-2262564

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number) 

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

2101 Riverfront Drive, Suite A

Little Rock, AR, 72202

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

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

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) 

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) 

 

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 is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

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. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

On August 5, 2025, Uniti Group Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the Company’s results for its fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2025. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 2.02 disclosure.

 

The information contained in this Item 2.02, including the exhibit attached hereto, is being “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. The information in this Item 2.02 shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or into any filing or other document pursuant to the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in any such filing.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
99.1   Press Release issued August 5, 2025
     
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: August 5, 2025 UNITI GROUP INC.
       
  By: /s/ Daniel L. Heard
    Name: Daniel L. Heard
    Title: Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

  Press Release
Release date: August 5, 2025

 

 

 

Uniti Group Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

 

Completes Previously Announced Merger with Windstream

 

Provides Consolidated 2025 Outlook for Combined Company

 

·Net Loss of $10.7 Million for the Second Quarter

·Net Loss of $0.04 Per Diluted Common Share for the Second Quarter

·AFFO of $0.36 Per Diluted Common Share for the Second Quarter

 

 

  

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., August 5, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Uniti Group Inc. (“Uniti” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: UNIT) today announced its results for the second quarter 2025. The second quarter results and highlights presented in this release are for legacy Uniti Group Inc. (now known as Uniti Group LLC and a subsidiary of the Company) prior to the previously announced business combination with Windstream, which closed August 1, 2025, as discussed in greater detail below.

 

“This is an exciting time for Uniti as we enter a new chapter in the Company’s history with the completion of our merger with Windstream. The combination creates a premier insurgent fiber provider with approximately 240,000 route miles that is uniquely positioned to benefit from many favorable tailwinds driving the communications infrastructure industry, including convergence and Generative AI,” commented Kenny Gunderman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Uniti.

 

Mr. Gunderman continued, “We saw another quarter of solid results at Uniti and continue to successfully execute on our priorities we set out earlier this year. Our core recurring strategic fiber revenue grew approximately 5% in the second quarter of 2025 when compared to the second quarter of 2024, consolidated bookings were consistent with levels in recent quarters, and the capital intensity of our fiber business continues to become more efficient. We also successfully issued unsecured debt recently for the first time within the past four years and redeemed a portion of our most expensive current outstanding debt while at the same time substantially reducing our secured leverage. We are well positioned to now accelerate our already impressive fiber to home build engine and ultimately grow our mission critical fiber business.”

 

QUARTERLY RESULTS

 

Consolidated revenues for the second quarter of 2025 were $300.7 million. Net loss and Adjusted EBITDA were $10.7 million and $242.6 million, respectively, for the same period, achieving Adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 81%. Net loss attributable to common shares was $10.7 million for the period. AFFO attributable to common shareholders was $96.5 million, or $0.36 per diluted common share.

 

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Uniti Fiber contributed $74.3 million of revenues and $28.8 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2025, achieving Adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 39%. Uniti Fiber’s net success-based capital expenditures during the quarter were $20.6 million.

 

Uniti Leasing contributed revenues of $226.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $220.1 million for the second quarter. Uniti Leasing’s net success-based capital expenditures during the quarter were $1.8 million.

 

FINANCING TRANSACTIONS

 

On June 24, 2025, Uniti closed its offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 8.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2032. Uniti used the net proceeds from the offering to fund the partial redemption of $500 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 10.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 and for general corporate purposes.

 

LIQUIDITY

 

At quarter-end, the Company had approximately $740.7 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, and undrawn borrowing availability under its revolving credit agreement. The Company’s leverage ratio at quarter-end was 5.75x based on net debt to second quarter 2025 annualized Adjusted EBITDA, excluding the debt and the net contributions from our ABS facilities.

 

MERGER WITH WINDSTREAM

 

On August 1, 2025, Uniti successfully completed the previously announced merger (the “Merger”) of Uniti Group LLC (formerly known as Uniti Group Inc.) (“Legacy Uniti”) with New Windstream Merger Sub, LLC, and the merger of New Windstream, LLC (together with its subsidiaries, “Windstream”) with and into the Company (formerly known as Windstream Parent, Inc.). As a result of the mergers, both Legacy Uniti and Windstream have become indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company.

 

As previously announced, as a result of this Merger, Legacy Uniti shareholders received 0.6029 shares of Uniti common stock per share of Legacy Uniti common stock held at the closing of the Merger, which resulted in Legacy Uniti shareholders collectively holding approximately 62% of the outstanding common stock of the Company. Windstream shareholders received approximately $371 million of cash, the Company’s preferred stock with $575 million in aggregate initial liquidation preference and approximately 38% of the outstanding common stock of the Company. Windstream shareholders additionally received non-voting warrants to acquire up to 6.9% of common stock of the Company. The cash portion of the consideration was financed using available funds under Legacy Uniti’s revolving credit facility and cash on hand.

 

In conjunction with the closing of the Merger, Uniti recently completed the necessary steps to combine the Legacy Uniti senior indebtedness and legacy Windstream indebtedness under a single organizational silo that includes both Uniti and Windstream and their respective subsidiaries, thereby effectively eliminating any debt covenants limiting the ability of Legacy Uniti and Windstream to operate together efficiently.

 

FULL YEAR CONSOLIDATED 2025 OUTLOOK

 

The Company’s 2025 outlook reflects the consolidation of Windstream’s expected results for the five-month period following the closing of the Merger on August 1, 2025. We expect this transaction to contribute additional revenues and Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1.0 billion and $160 million, respectively, during such period.

 

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The Company is also updating its 2025 outlook primarily for business unit level revisions, the impact from the issuance of the 8.625% senior unsecured notes due 2032 and partial redemption of the 10.50% senior secured notes due 2028, and transaction related and other costs incurred to date. Our outlook excludes any impact from other future acquisitions, capital market transactions, and future transaction-related and other costs not mentioned herein.

 

The Company’s 2025 outlook is based on management’s current expectations and beliefs but is subject to change as we continue the integration of Windstream and Legacy Uniti.

 

The Company’s consolidated outlook for 2025 is as follows (in millions):

 

   Full Year 2025 
Revenue  $2,215    to   $2,265 
Net loss attributable to common shareholders   (125)   to    (75)
Adjusted EBITDA (1)   1,110    to    1,160 
Interest expense, net   665    to    665 

 

 

(1)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

 

CONFERENCE CALL

 

Uniti will hold a conference call today to discuss this earnings release at 8:30 AM Eastern Time (7:30 AM Central Time). The conference call will be webcast live on Uniti’s Investor Relations website at investor.uniti.com. Those parties interested in participating via telephone may register on the Company’s Investor Relations website or by clicking here. A replay of the call will also be made available on the Investor Relations website.

 

ABOUT UNITI

 

Uniti (NASDAQ: UNIT) is a premier insurgent fiber provider dedicated to enabling mission-critical connectivity across the United States. We build, operate, and deliver fast and reliable communications services, empowering more than a million consumers and businesses in the digital economy. Our broad portfolio of services is offered through a suite of brands: Uniti Wholesale, Kinetic, Uniti Fiber, and Uniti Solutions. Visit us online at www.uniti.com.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions with respect to the future and Uniti management’s current expectations, involve certain risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Uniti’s fiber build strategy, the businesses growth potential, efficiencies from the debt silos combination, and Uniti’s 2025 outlook. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would,” “predicts” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Uniti may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Future results may differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that Uniti makes. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, that could cause events and results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the merger of Uniti and Windstream; competition and overbuilding in consumer service areas and general competition in business markets; risks related to Uniti’s indebtedness, which could reduce funds available for business purposes and operational flexibility; rapid changes in technology, which could affect its ability to compete; risks relating to information technology system failures, network disruptions, and failure to protect, loss of, or unauthorized access to, or release of, data; risks related to various forms of regulation from the Federal Communications Commission, state regulatory commissions and other government entities and effects of unfavorable legal proceedings, government investigations, and complex and changing laws; risks inherent in the communications industry and associated with general economic conditions; and additional risks set forth in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company and its predecessors’ most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the Company’s predecessor’s registration statement on Form S-4 dated February 12, 2025. The discussion of such risks is not an indication that any such risks have occurred at the time of this filing. Uniti does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

NON-GAAP PRESENTATION

 

This release and today’s conference call contain certain supplemental measures of performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Such measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP. Further information with respect to and reconciliations of such measures to the nearest GAAP measure can be found herein.

 

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Uniti Group Inc. 

Consolidated Balance Sheets 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

   June 30, 2025   December 31, 2024 
Assets:          
Property, plant and equipment, net  $4,366,790   $4,209,747 
Cash and cash equivalents   240,727    155,593 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents   57,866    28,254 
Accounts receivable, net   40,677    51,418 
Goodwill   157,380    157,380 
Intangible assets, net   260,563    275,414 
Straight-line revenue receivable   114,609    108,870 
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net   127,938    126,791 
Other assets   40,396    40,633 
Deferred income tax assets, net   136,585    128,045 
Total Assets  $5,543,531   $5,282,145 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit:          
Liabilities:          
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities  $88,302   $89,688 
Settlement payable   24,215    71,785 
Intangible liabilities, net   140,356    145,703 
Accrued interest payable   133,226    143,901 
Deferred revenue   1,430,722    1,400,952 
Dividends payable   2    665 
Operating lease liabilities   82,601    80,504 
Finance lease obligations   23,344    17,190 
Notes and other debt, net   6,064,751    5,783,597 
Total liabilities   7,987,519    7,733,985 
           
Commitments and contingencies          
           
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: 238,568 shares at June 30, 2025 and 237,513 shares at December 31, 2024   24    24 
Additional paid-in capital   1,241,569    1,236,045 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (167)   (634)
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings   (3,685,664)   (3,687,808)
Total Uniti shareholders' deficit   (2,444,238)   (2,452,373)
Noncontrolling interests:          
Operating partnership units       283 
Cumulative non-voting convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 6 shares authorized, 3 issued and outstanding   250    250 
Total shareholders' deficit   (2,443,988)   (2,451,840)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit  $5,543,531   $5,282,145 

 

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Uniti Group Inc. 

Consolidated Statements of Income 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

   Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2025   2024   2025   2024 
Revenues:                    
Revenue from rentals                    
Uniti Leasing  $225,014   $216,640   $445,927   $432,633 
Uniti Fiber   13,041    12,663    29,151    24,826 
Total revenue from rentals   238,055    229,303    475,078    457,459 
Service revenues                    
Uniti Leasing   1,464    1,646    2,919    3,274 
Uniti Fiber   61,213    63,998    116,644    120,632 
Total service revenues   62,677    65,644    119,563    123,906 
Total revenues   300,732    294,947    594,641    581,365 
Costs and Expenses:                    
Interest expense, net   160,784    127,475    298,771    250,686 
Depreciation and amortization   79,663    78,052    159,346    155,537 
General and administrative expense   27,838    25,716    56,147    53,849 
Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization)   34,765    37,036    67,146    72,234 
Transaction related and other costs   13,462    10,977    21,309    16,664 
Gain on sale of real estate               (18,999)
Other expense (income), net   1,127    (19)   1,127    (301)
Total costs and expenses   317,639    279,237    603,846    529,670 
                     
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities   (16,907)   15,710    (9,205)   51,695 
Income tax benefit   (6,178)   (2,571)   (10,696)   (7,934)
Net (loss) income   (10,729)   18,281    1,491    59,629 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests       3        22 
Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders   (10,729)   18,278    1,491    59,607 
Participating securities' share in earnings       (723)   (335)   (1,159)
Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock   (5)   (5)   (10)   (10)
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders  $(10,734)  $17,550   $1,146   $58,438 
                     
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders - Basic   (10,734)   17,550    1,146    58,438 
Impact of if-converted dilutive securities                
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders - Diluted  $(10,734)  $17,550   $1,146   $58,438 
                     
(Loss) income per common share:                    
Basic  $(0.04)  $0.07   $0.00   $0.25 
Diluted  $(0.04)  $0.07   $0.00   $0.25 
                     
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:                    
Basic   238,567    237,347    238,318    237,121 
Diluted   238,567    237,347    238,318    237,121 

 

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Uniti Group Inc. 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 

(In thousands)

 

   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2025   2024 
Cash flow from operating activities          
Net income  $1,491   $59,629 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   159,346    155,537 
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount   10,798    10,950 
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net   40,458     
Interest rate cap amortization   545    720 
Deferred income taxes   (8,539)   (8,652)
Cash paid for interest rate cap       (2,200)
Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles   (11,661)   (17,038)
Stock-based compensation   7,345    6,745 
(Gain) loss on asset disposals   (408)   294 
Gain on sale of real estate       (18,999)
Accretion of settlement obligation   1,441    3,660 
Other   1,666    (48)
Changes in assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   10,741    (10,296)
Other assets   9,005    7,264 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities   (38,733)   (13,228)
Net cash provided by operating activities   183,495    174,338 
Cash flow from investing activities          
Capital expenditures   (246,198)   (262,758)
Proceeds from sale of other equipment   611    435 
Proceeds from sale of real estate       40,039 
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated entity       40,000 
Net cash used in investing activities   (245,587)   (182,284)
Cash flow from financing activities          
Repayment of debt   (900,000)   (122,942)
Proceeds from issuance of notes   600,000    309,000 
Dividends paid   (10)   (108,445)
Payments of settlement obligation   (49,011)   (49,011)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility   40,000    125,000 
Payments under revolving credit facility   (40,000)   (333,000)
Proceeds from ABS Loan Facility and Notes   589,000    275,000 
Finance lease payments   (1,936)   (1,265)
Payments for financing costs   (28,119)   (15,778)
Costs related to the early repayment of debt   (30,982)    
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests       (37)
Payment for noncontrolling interest   (79)   (92)
Employee stock purchase program   278    326 
Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation   (2,303)   (1,583)
Net cash provided by financing activities   176,838    77,173 
Net increase in cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents   114,746    69,227 
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   183,847    62,264 
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $298,593   $131,491 
           
Non-cash investing and financing activities:          
Property and equipment acquired but not yet paid  $11,450   $7,074 
Tenant capital improvements   222,025    94,049 

 

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Uniti Group Inc. 

Reconciliation of Net Income to FFO and AFFO 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

   Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2025   2024   2025   2024 
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders  $(10,734)  $17,550   $1,146   $58,438 
Real estate depreciation and amortization   58,457    55,615    116,441    111,545 
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax               (18,951)
Participating securities share in earnings       723    335    1,159 
Participating securities share in FFO   (1,422)   (1,470)   (3,349)   (2,295)
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests       (9)   (2)   (25)
FFO attributable to common shareholders   46,301    72,409    114,571    149,871 
Transaction related and other costs   13,462    10,977    21,309    16,664 
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount   5,276    5,915    10,798    10,950 
Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discount   4,712        9,477     
Costs related to the early repayment of debt   28,359        32,109     
Stock based compensation   3,584    3,397    7,345    6,745 
Non-real estate depreciation and amortization   21,206    22,437    42,905    43,992 
Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles   (4,802)   (8,216)   (11,661)   (17,038)
Maintenance capital expenditures   (2,176)   (1,909)   (3,582)   (3,998)
TCI revenue amortization   (14,025)   (12,214)   (25,493)   (24,458)
Other, net   (5,414)   (539)   (8,993)   (2,840)
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests       (3)   (1)   (8)
AFFO attributable to common shareholders  $96,483   $92,254   $188,784   $179,880 
                     
Reconciliation of Diluted FFO and AFFO:                    
FFO Attributable to common shareholders - Basic  $46,301   $72,409   $114,571   $149,871 
Impact of if-converted dilutive securities   5,986    6,878    11,963    13,900 
FFO Attributable to common shareholders - Diluted  $52,287   $79,287   $126,534   $163,771 
                     
AFFO Attributable to common shareholders - Basic  $96,483   $92,254   $188,784   $179,880 
Impact of if-converted dilutive securities   5,747    6,807    11,494    13,783 
AFFO Attributable to common shareholders - Diluted  $102,230   $99,061   $200,278   $193,663 
                     
Weighted average common shares used to calculate basic earnings per common share (1)   238,567    237,347    238,318    237,121 
Impact of dilutive non-participating securities                
Impact of if-converted dilutive securities   42,044    52,911    42,044    54,070 
Weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO and AFFO per common share (1)   280,611    290,258    280,362    291,191 
                     
Per diluted common share:                    
EPS  $(0.04)  $0.07   $0.00   $0.25 
FFO  $0.19   $0.27   $0.45   $0.56 
AFFO  $0.36   $0.34   $0.71   $0.67 
                     

 

 

(1) For periods in which FFO to common shareholders is a loss, the weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO per common share is equal to the weighted average common shares used to calculate basic earnings per share.

 

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Uniti Group Inc. 

Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA 

(In thousands)

 

   Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2025   2024   2025   2024 
Net (loss) income  $(10,729)  $18,281   $1,491   $59,629 
Depreciation and amortization   79,663    78,052    159,346    155,537 
Interest expense, net   160,784    127,475    298,771    250,686 
Income tax benefit   (6,178)   (2,571)   (10,696)   (7,934)
EBITDA  $223,540   $221,237   $448,912   $457,918 
Stock based compensation   3,584    3,397    7,345    6,745 
Transaction related and other costs   13,462    10,977    21,309    16,664 
Gain on sale of real estate               (18,999)
Other, net   1,977    1,048    2,827    2,959 
Adjusted EBITDA  $242,563   $236,659   $480,393   $465,287 
                     
Adjusted EBITDA:                    
Uniti Leasing  $220,111   $210,853   $435,237   $421,530 
Uniti Fiber   28,763    31,091    57,519    54,929 
Corporate   (6,311)   (5,285)   (12,363)   (11,172)
   $242,563   $236,659   $480,393   $465,287 
                     
Annualized Adjusted EBITDA (1)  $929,931                
                     
As of June 30, 2025:                    
Total Debt (2)  $5,584,844                
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents   240,727                
Net Debt  $5,344,117                
                     
Net Debt/Annualized Adjusted EBITDA   5.75x                

 

 

(1)Calculated as Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently reported three-month period, excluding the Adjusted EBITDA of $10.1 million contributed from the ABS Loan Facility subsidiaries, multiplied by four. Annualized Adjusted EBITDA has not been prepared on a pro forma basis in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X.

 

(2)Includes $23.3 million of finance leases, but excludes $85.7 million of unamortized discounts and deferred financing costs and excludes the principal balance from the $589.0 million ABS loan facility.

 

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Uniti Group Inc. 

Projected Future Results (1) 

(In millions)

 

   Year Ended
December 31, 2025
 
Net loss (2)   ($125) to ($75) 
Interest expense, net   665 
Depreciation and amortization   590 
Income tax benefit   (63) 
EBITDA (2)   1,066 to 1,116 
Stock-based compensation   15 
Transaction related and other costs (3)   30 
Adjusted EBITDA (2)   $ 1,110 to $ 1,160 

 

 

(1)These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from the estimates set forth above.

(2)The components of projected future results may not add due to rounding.

(3)Future transaction related costs not mentioned herein are not included in our current outlook.

 

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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, as well as FFO and AFFO for a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), are important non-GAAP supplemental measures. Following the Merger, Legacy Uniti ceased to be a REIT, and the Company does not qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company does not expect to report FFO and AFFO in future periods.

 

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 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, 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. 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.

 

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The Company defines AFFO, as FFO excluding (i) Transaction Related and Other Costs; (ii) costs related to the litigation settlement with Windstream, accretion on our settlement obligation, and gains on the 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 tenant capital improvements; 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, 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.

 

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.

 

INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS:

 

Paul Bullington, 251-662-1512 

Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer 

paul.bullington@uniti.com

 

Bill DiTullio, 501-850-0872 

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasury 

bill.ditullio@uniti.com

 

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