Exhibit 4.1


 


Execution Version


 


 





JOINDER AGREEMENT


 


THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of August 4,
2017 (the “Agreement”), to the Guaranty Agreement and the Collateral Agreement referred to below is entered
into by and among CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC., an Illinois corporation (the “Borrower”), each entity party
hereto as a New Subsidiary (each a “New Subsidiary” and collectively, the “New Subsidiaries”),
and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative
Agent”) under the Credit Agreement referred to below.


 


Statement of Purpose


 


Reference is hereby made to that certain Third
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 5, 2016 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the
“Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”),
the Lenders who are or may become party thereto (the “Lenders”) and the Administrative Agent. In connection
with the Credit Agreement, Holdings, the Borrower and certain of their respective Subsidiaries have entered into the Collateral
Agreement referred to therein and certain Subsidiaries of Holdings have entered into the Guaranty Agreement referred to therein.


 


On July 3, 2017, each New Subsidiary became
a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower. Pursuant to Section 5.16 of the Credit Agreement, (a) each New Subsidiary will execute,
among other documents, this Agreement in order (i) to become a Guarantor under the Guaranty Agreement and (ii) to become a Grantor
and an Issuer, as applicable, under the Collateral Agreement and (b) the Borrower, as Grantor under the Collateral Agreement and
owner of the Equity Interests of each New Subsidiary, will execute, among other documents, this Agreement, in order to confirm
and reaffirm its pledge of one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of each New Subsidiary. It is a condition precedent
to the obligation of the Lenders to continue to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement
that the New Subsidiaries shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit
of the Secured Parties.


 


NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises
and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:


 


Section 1.                
Guaranty Agreement Supplement.


 


(a)               
Each New Subsidiary hereby agrees that by execution of this Agreement it is a Guarantor under the Guaranty Agreement as
if a signatory thereof on the Effective Date, and each New Subsidiary (i) shall comply with, and be subject to, and have the benefit
of, all of the terms, conditions, covenants, agreements and obligations set forth in the Guaranty Agreement and (ii) hereby makes
each representation and warranty set forth in the Guaranty Agreement. 


 


(b)              
The Borrower and each New Subsidiary hereby agree that each reference to a “Guarantor” or the “Guarantors”
in the Credit Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall include each New Subsidiary, and each reference
to the “Guaranty Agreement” or “Guaranty” as used therein shall mean the Guaranty Agreement as supplemented
hereby.


 






     

     

    

 


Section 2.                
Collateral Agreement Supplement.


 


(a)               
Joinder to the Collateral Agreement.


 


(i)                     
The Borrower and each New Subsidiary hereby agree that by execution of this Agreement, each New Subsidiary is a party to
the Collateral Agreement as if a signatory thereof as a Grantor and as an Issuer on the Effective Date, and each New Subsidiary
shall (A) comply with, and be subject to, and have the benefit of, all of the terms, covenants, conditions, agreements and obligations
set forth in the Collateral Agreement and (B) hereby makes each representation and warranty set forth in the Collateral Agreement
(subject to the information set forth on the schedules delivered pursuant to clause (d) below). The Borrower and each New Subsidiary
hereby agree that each reference to a “Grantor”, the “Grantors”, an “Issuer” or the “Issuers”
in the Collateral Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall include each New Subsidiary.


 


(ii)                     
In order to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration
or otherwise) of the Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (A) each New
Subsidiary hereby grants, pledges and collaterally assigns to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of itself and the
Lenders, a security interest in and to all of such New Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to all Collateral whether
now or at any time hereafter acquired by such New Subsidiary or in which such New Subsidiary now has or at any time in the future
may acquire any right, title or interest, and wherever located or deemed located (collectively, the “New Collateral”)
and (B) the Borrower hereby confirms and reaffirms that the Collateral of the Borrower includes one hundred percent (100%) of the
Equity Interests owned by the Borrower in each New Subsidiary (collectively, the “Additional Investment Property”).


 


(iii)                     
The Borrower and each New Subsidiary hereby agree that “Collateral” as used in the Collateral Agreement and
the Credit Agreement shall include all New Collateral and all Additional Investment Property pledged pursuant hereto, “Investment
Property” and “Partnership/LLC Interests”, as applicable, as used therein shall include the Additional Investment
Property pledged pursuant hereto and “Collateral Agreement” or “Agreement” as used therein shall mean the
Collateral Agreement as supplemented hereby.


 


(b)              
Filing Information and Perfection. The Borrower and each New Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
such certificates and other documents (including, without limitation, UCC-1 financing statements, unit certificates and unit powers,
as applicable) and take such action as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in order to effectuate the terms hereof
and the Collateral Agreement.


 


(c)               
Acknowledgement and Consent. Each New Subsidiary hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Collateral Agreement,
the Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and agrees for the benefit of the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders to be bound thereby and to comply with the terms thereof insofar as such terms are applicable to it.


 


(d)              
Schedules to the Credit Agreement and the Collateral Agreement. Attached hereto as Annex A is all information
required to be provided on Schedules 1.01(a), 3.09, 3.10(b) and 3.20(d) to the Credit Agreement and
each of the Schedules to the Collateral Agreement, as applicable, setting forth all information required to be provided therein
with respect to each New Subsidiary. 


 


Section 3.                
Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of an originally executed
counterpart hereof by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each New Subsidiary. 


 






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Section 4.                
General Provisions.


 


(a)               
Limited Effect. Except as expressly provided herein, the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document shall continue
to be, and shall remain, in full force and effect. This Agreement shall not be deemed (i) to be a waiver of, or consent to, or
a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or (ii) to prejudice
any right or rights which the Administrative Agent or any Lender may now have or may have in the future under or in connection
with the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein, as the same
may be amended or modified from time to time. References in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement” (and indirect
references such as “hereunder”, “hereby”, “herein”, and “hereof”) and in any Loan
Document to the “Credit Agreement” shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby.


 


(b)              
Costs and Expenses. The Borrower and each other Loan Party, jointly and severally, shall pay or reimburse the Administrative
Agent for all of its out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of
this Agreement including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel.


 


(c)               
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in different
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall be binding upon all parties, their successors
and assigns, and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. 


 


(d)              
Definitions. The following capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings given thereto in
the Collateral Agreement: “Grantor”, “Investment Property”, “Issuer”, “Partnership/LLC
Interest” and “Security Interest”. All other capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings
given thereto in the Credit Agreement or the applicable Loan Document referred to therein.


 


(e)               
GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.


 


(f)               
Electronic Transmission. A facsimile, telecopy or other reproduction of this Agreement may be executed by one or
more parties hereto, and an executed copy of this Agreement may be delivered by one or more parties hereto by facsimile or similar
instantaneous electronic transmission device pursuant to which the signature of or on behalf of such party can be seen, and such
execution and delivery shall be considered valid, binding and effective for all purposes. At the request of any party hereto, all
parties hereto agree to execute an original of this Agreement as well as any facsimile, telecopy or other reproduction hereof.


 


[Signature Pages Follow]


 


 


 


 


 






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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned hereby cause
this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first above written.


 





	 	NEW SUBSIDIARIES:	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	NORTHLAND TELEPHONE COMPANY OF MAINE, INC., as a Guarantor, Grantor and Issuer
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
	 	 	 	 
	 	COMMUNITY SERVICE TELEPHONE CO., as a Guarantor, Grantor and Issuer
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
	 	 	 	 
	 	SIDNEY TELEPHONE COMPANY, as a Guarantor, Grantor and Issuer
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
	 	 	 	 
	 	UTILITIES, INC., as a Guarantor, Grantor and Issuer
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
	 	 	 	 
	 	CHINA TELEPHONE COMPANY, as a Guarantor, Grantor and Issuer
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
	 	 	 	 
	 	MAINE TELEPHONE COMPANY, as a Guarantor, Grantor and Issuer
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer







 


 





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	 	STANDISH TELEPHONE COMPANY, as a Guarantor, Grantor and Issuer
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
	 	 	 	 
	 	UI LONG DISTANCE, INC., as a Guarantor, Grantor and Issuer
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC., as a Guarantor, Grantor and Issuer
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer







 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


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	 	BORROWER:	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC., as Borrower and Grantor
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Name:  Steven L. Childers	 
	 	Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer







 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


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	 	ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
	 	 	 	 
	 	WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Kieran Mahon	 
	 	Name: Kieran Mahon	 
	 	Title: Director	 







 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


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