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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Concentration of Credit Risks

Concentration of Credit Risks—Prior to September 2020, we 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 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 66.9% and 66.3% of our revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 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 June 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 for the period from January 1, 2020 to September 21, 2020 and for the year 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.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications—Certain prior year asset and liability categories and related amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation— Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815- 40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options, which clarifies and reduces diversity in an issuer’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 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 requires 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 recognition of a selling loss at lease commencement if classified as sales-type or direct financing. ASU 2021-05 is effective for all entities which have previously adopted Topic 842 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2021-05 effective January 1, 2022, and there was no impact on our consolidated financial statements.