Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2025

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

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. We have accrued an estimate of the probable costs for the resolution of those claims for which the occurrence of loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. These estimates have been developed in consultation with counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any specific period could be materially affected by changes in its assumptions or the effectiveness of its strategies related to these proceedings. Legal expenses associated with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.

Windstream Pre-Merger Commitments

Prior to the Merger, in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement with Windstream, including entry into the Windstream Leases, Old Uniti was obligated to make up to $490.1 million of cash payments to Windstream in equal installments over 20 consecutive quarters beginning in October 2020. Old Uniti had the option to prepay any installments due on or after the first anniversary of the settlement agreement (discounted at a 9% rate). In July 2025, Old Uniti made the final quarterly cash installment due under the settlement agreement. As of July 31, 2025, Old Uniti had made payments totaling $484.9 million.

Additionally, beginning in October 2020, Old Uniti was 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. Old Uniti’s reimbursement commitment for Growth Capital Improvements did not require it to reimburse Windstream for maintenance or repair expenditures (except for costs incurred for fiber replacements to the property leased under the CLEC MLA, up to $70.0 million during the term), and each such reimbursement was subject to underwriting standards. Old Uniti’s total annual reimbursement commitments for the Growth Capital Improvements under both Windstream Leases (and under separate equipment loan facilities) were limited to $225.0 million in 2024, and were limited to $175.0 million per year in 2025 and 2026; and $125.0 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 exceeded the annual limit for such calendar year, Windstream (or such tenant, as the case may be) could have submitted such excess costs for reimbursement in any subsequent year and such excess costs would have been 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 was less than the annual limit for such calendar year, the unfunded amount in any calendar year would have carried-over and could have been added to the annual limits for subsequent calendar years, subject to an annual limit of $250.0 million in any calendar year. During the seven months ended July 31, 2025, Old Uniti reimbursed Windstream for $175.0 million of Growth Capital Improvements, all of which were for the reimbursement of capital improvements completed in 2024 that were previously classified as tenant funded capital improvements. As of the date of the Merger, Old Uniti had reimbursed Windstream a total of $1.2 billion of Growth Capital Improvements.

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 increased by an amount equal to 8.0% (the “Rent Rate”) of such installment of reimbursement. The Rent Rate thereafter increased 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 was transferred by Windstream under the terms thereof (unless transferred to the same transferee), or if Old Uniti transferred its interests as landlord under either Windstream Lease (unless to the same transferee), the reimbursement rights and obligations would have been allocated between the ILEC MLA and the CLEC MLA by Windstream, provided that the maximum that was allocated to the CLEC MLA following such transfer was $20.0 million per year. If Old Uniti failed to reimburse any Growth Capital Improvement reimbursement payment or equipment loan funding request as and when it was required to do so under the terms of the Windstream Leases, and such failure continued for thirty (30) days, then such unreimbursed amounts would have been applied as an offset against the rent owed by Windstream under the Windstream Leases (and such amounts thereafter would have been treated as if Old Uniti had reimbursed them).

Finally, Old Uniti and Windstream had entered into separate ILEC and CLEC Equipment Loan and Security Agreements (collectively “Equipment Loan Agreement”) in which Old Uniti provided up to $125.0 million (limited to $25.0 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 accrued at 8% from the date of the borrowing. All equipment financed through the Equipment Loan Agreement was the sole property of Windstream; however, Old Uniti received a first-lien security interest in the equipment purchased with the loans. No such loans were made as of the date of the Merger. Following the Merger, all such pre-existing relationships between Old Uniti and Windstream and the related transactions and balances became intercompany transactions under New Uniti.