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Fitch Affirms Windstream IDR at 'BB-' on EarthLink Merger; Outlook StableFitch Ratings has affirmed the 'BB-' Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of Windstream (News - Alert) Services, LLC and its subsidiary Windstream Holdings of the Midwest, Inc. The Rating Outlook is Stable. The rating action affects approximately $4.9 billion of debt outstanding as of June 30, 2016. KEY RATING DRIVERS Merger with EarthLink: Windstream has reached an agreement to merge with EarthLink Holdings Corp. (EarthLink) in an all-stock transaction with a total value, including debt, of approximately $1.1 billion. Windstream anticipates refinancing EarthLink's approximately $436 million of outstanding debt. Fitch expects EarthLink to become a guarantor on Windstream's credit facilities and senior unsecured notes. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2017 (1H17), following customary shareholder and regulatory approvals. Windstream anticipates realizing more than $125 million of annual run-rate synergies three years after the close of the merger, of which $110 million consists of operating cost savings and $15 million in capital spending savings. In each of the first two years following the merger, Windstream expects to realize $50 million in synergies, with the remaining $25 million to be realized by the end of year three. In its base case assumptions for Windstream, Fitch has assumed moderately lower cost savings in each of the three years following the merger. Windstream also expects to benefit from net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs) which are estimated to have a net present value of approximately $95 million at the close of the transaction. Fitch believes there are strategic benefits to the transaction, with both companies focused on growing their enterprise services business. The combined network of the company will consist of approximately 145,000 route miles of fiber, positioning the company as one of the largest network providers in the U.S. Fitch believes there are potential execution risks with respect to achieving the operating cost and capital expenditure synergies following the close of the merger. Initial savings are expected to be realized from reduced selling, general and administrative savings as corporate overheads and other public company cost savings arise. Over time, the company is expected to realize the benefits of lower network access costs as on-network opportunities lower third-party network access costs. Finally, over time, cost savings are expected to be realized by IT and billing system cost savings. In Fitch's view, the transaction is beneficial to Windstream's credit profile, as the transaction reduces Windstream's leverage modestly following the close of the transaction, with further potential improvements arising as synergies are realized. Synergies are also expected to contribute to an improving free cash flow (FCF) profile in 2017 and beyond. Near-Term Pressures: In the first nine months of 2016, Windstream experienced a decline of less than 3% in adjusted service revenue (adjusted for disposed businesses). Since the beginning of the year, sequential revenues have been relatively stable in the consumer and small/medium business segment, and the enterprise segment. The company has experienced some pressure in the wholesale segment, as well as the small/medium business competitive local exchange carrier segment. Fitch's base case (excluding the EarthLink acquisition) assumes EBITDAR returns to growth in 2018 and revenue growth turns positive in 2019. Revenue Mix Changes: Windstream derives approximately two-thirds of its revenues from enterprise services, consumer high-speed internet services and its carrier customers (core and wholesale), which all have growing or stable prospects in the long term. Certain legacy revenues remain pressured, but Windstream's revenues should stabilize gradually as legacy revenues dwindle in the mix. Leverage Metrics: Fitch expects total adjusted debt/EBITDAR to be approximately 5.4x in 2016 and 5.1x in 2017. Fitch's estimates include the debt reduction associated with the June 2016 monetization of Windstream's remaining 19.6% stake in Communications Sales & Leasing (CSAL) via two debt-for-equity exchanges. The disposition of shares retired approximately $672 million in debt. In calculating total adjusted debt, Fitch applies an 8x multiple to the sum of the annual rental payment to CSAL plus other rental expenses. KEY ASSUMPTIONS Fitch's key assumptions within the rating case for the issuer include: --In 2016, service revenues will approximate the mid-point of Windstream's guidance of $5.275 billion to $5.425 billion. In 2017, Fitch has assumed revenues decline in the 1% to 2% range, with revenues flat in 2018. --2016 and 2017 EBITDA margins, including the annual rental payment as an operating expense, are in the 23% to 24% range. --In 2016, capital spending per company guidance and including $200 million for Project Excel ranges from $1 billion to $1.05 billion. Cash taxes are not expected to be material. Capital intensity in 2017 is expected to be in the 15% to 16% range, and includes Connect America Fund II spending, for Windstream on a stand-alone basis, and a partial-year amount for EarthLink at the low end of its 2016 capital expenditure guidance (no guidance has been provided for 2017). --The EarthLink acquisition closes July 1, 2017, and that EarthLink's revenues and EBITDA continued to be pressured in 2017, then return to stability in 2018. Fitch assumes Windstream will benefit from synergies post-acquisition, and has moderately reduced the amount of operating cost synergies from the $110 million anticipated by Windstream and to be achieved over a three-year period. The cost to achieve synergies is estimated by Windstream to total $125 million, and Fitch has assumed approximately $75 million in 2017 and $50 million in 2018. RATING SENSITIVITIES Positive Trigger: A positive action could occur if total adjusted debt/EBITDAR, which will be used as the primary metric, is sustainable under 5.2x-5.3x. Additionally, revenues and EBITDA would need to stabilize or demonstrate a return to growth on a sustained basis. Fitch would need to see progress on execution of the integration of the two companies prior to taking a positive rating action. Negative Trigger: A negative rating action could occur if total adjusted debt/EBITDAR is 5.7x-5.8x or higher for a sustained period, or if competitive and business conditions were such that the company no longer makes progress toward revenue and EBITDA stability. LIQUIDITY The rating is supported by the liquidity providd by Windstream's $1.25 billion revolving credit facility (RCF). At June 30, 2016, approximately $1.1 billion was available. The revolver availability was supplemented with $61 million in cash at the end of 3Q16. The $1.25 billion senior secured RCF is in place until April 2020. Principal financial covenants in Windstream's secured credit facilities require a minimum interest coverage ratio of 2.75x and a maximum leverage ratio of 4.5x. The dividend is limited to the sum of excess FCF and net cash equity issuance proceeds subject to pro forma leverage of 4.5x or less. In March 2016, Windstream entered into an incremental secured term loan approximating $600 million, and in September 2016, increased the amount to $747 million. In 2016, the company used proceeds from its senior secured facilities to repay its 2017 senior unsecured debt maturity, which totalled $904 million at year-end 2015. There are no major maturities in 2017 and 2018. In June 2016, Windstream engaged in two debt-for-equity exchanges of its stake in CSAL, which reduced its revolver borrowings by $672 million In 2016, Fitch expects post-dividend FCF to range from negative $200 million to negative $250 million, including expected spending of $200 million in 2016 on Windstream's Project Excel. In 2017, Fitch expects capital spending to return to normal levels on the completion of Project Excel, and Fitch expects Windstream to return to positive FCF in 2017, including the effect of the merger with EarthLink. FULL LIST OF RATING ACTIONS Fitch has affirmed the following ratings: Windstream Services, LLC --Long-Term IDR at 'BB-'; --$1.25 billion senior secured RCF due 2020 at 'BB+/RR1'; --$575 million senior secured credit facility, Tranche B5 due 2019 at 'BB+/RR1'; --$747 million senior secured credit facility, Tranche B6 due 2021 at 'BB+/RR1'; --Senior unsecured notes at 'BB-/RR4'. Windstream Holdings of the Midwest, Inc. --Long-Term IDR at 'BB-'; --$100 million secured notes due 2028 at 'BB-/RR4'. The Rating Outlook is Stable. The 'BB-/RR4' rating on Windstream Services, LLC's senior unsecured 7.875% notes due Nov. 1, 2017 was previously withdrawn as the notes have been repaid. Summary of Financial Statement Adjustments - Financial statement adjustments that depart materially from those contained in the published financial statements of the relevant rated entity or obligor are disclosed below: -- Fitch has adjusted the financial statements to treat the communications network lease as an operating lease. On the income statement, the network lease has been added as rent expense and the interest associated with the lease was removed from interest expense. On the cash flow statement, rent expense was moved to 'Operating cash flows' from 'Financing cash flows'. Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com. Applicable Criteria
Criteria for Rating Non-Financial Corporates (pub. 27 Sep 2016)
Recovery Ratings and Notching Criteria for Non-Financial Corporate
Issuers (pub. 05 Apr 2016) Additional Disclosures
Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form
Solicitation Status
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