Document:

unit-ex1011_1391.htm

Exhibit 10.11

EXECUTION VERSION

 

AMENDMENT NO. 4 AND LIMITED WAIVER

This Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver (this “Agreement” or “Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver”), dated as of March 18, 2019, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2015 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated October 21, 2016, as further amended by Amendment No. 2 dated February 9, 2017, as further amended by Amendment No. 3 dated April 27, 2017 and after giving effect to the Borrower Assumption Agreement and Joinder, dated as of May 9, 2017, the “Credit Agreement”; capitalized terms used in this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given thereto in the Credit Agreement), is made by and among Uniti Group Inc. (f/k/a Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc.), a Maryland corporation (the “Parent Guarantor”), Uniti Group LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Assumed Borrower”), Uniti Group Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (“FinCo”), CSL CAPITAL, LLC (“CSL Capital” and, collectively with the Assumed Borrower and Finco, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (the “Administrative Agent”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Borrowers have advised the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP may include a going concern or like qualification or exception (the “Going Concern Qualification”) in its audit opinion with respect to the financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (the “2018 Audited Financial Statements”) required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) of the Credit Agreement and the penultimate paragraph of Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement;

WHEREAS, the delivery of 2018 Audited Financial Statements accompanied by an auditor’s report containing the Going Concern Qualification would violate Section 6.01(a) of the Credit Agreement and would result in a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01(b) of the Credit Agreement (any such Default or Event of Default being, collectively, the “Specified Default”);

WHEREAS, the Loan Parties have requested that the Required Lenders waive the Specified Default arising from such breach of the terms of Section 6.01(a) of the Credit Agreement;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement, the Loan Parties and the Required Lenders may amend or waive any provision of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document pursuant to an agreement in writing; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement, the Loan Parties and each of the undersigned Lenders, together constituting the Required Lenders, are willing to amend the Credit Agreement and waive the Specified Default with respect to the 2018 Audited Financial Statements on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and further valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.Limited Waiver.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lenders signatory hereto hereby waive the Specified Default arising solely from the Borrowers' delivery of an audit report containing the Going Concern Qualification with respect to the 2018 Audited Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

The limited waiver set forth in this Section 1 (the “Default Waiver”) is limited to the extent expressly set forth above and no other terms, covenants or provisions of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document shall in any way be affected hereby.  The Default Waiver is granted only with respect to the Specified Default relating to the 2018 Audited Financial Statements, and shall not apply to any financial statements for any other fiscal year or period, any other breach of the terms of the Credit Agreement, or any actual or prospective default or breach of any other provision of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.  The Default Waiver shall not in any manner create a course of dealing or otherwise impair the future ability of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to declare a Default or Event of Default under or otherwise enforce the terms of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document with respect to any matter other than the Specified Default specifically and expressly waived in, and subject to the terms of, the Default Waiver.

2.Amendments to the Credit Agreement.  The Credit Agreement is, effective as of the Effective Date (as defined below), hereby amended as follows:

(a)Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following definitions in appropriate alphabetical order:

“Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver” means that certain Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver, dated as of March 18, 2019, by and among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto.

“Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date” means March 18, 2019.

“Reversion Date” means the date on which (i)(A) either Tenant, Windstream and all subsidiaries or affiliates thereof that are parties to the Master Lease from time to time (the “Windstream Master Lease Parties”) have all emerged from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases under the United States Bankruptcy Code or (B) the Windstream Master Lease Parties shall have assumed the Master Lease pursuant to an order of the Bankruptcy Court or the Windstream Master Lease Parties shall have entered into any Permitted Replacement Lease (subject to any amendment, modification or waiver thereof that is permitted by the Credit Agreement) approved by the Bankruptcy Court (it being understood and agreed that any rejection of the Master Lease (or any Permitted Replacement Lease) or any violation of the terms thereof by any of the Windstream Master Lease Parties or any other party thereto including any party to any Master Lease Guaranty that would permit termination thereof by Parent, CSL National, LP or any of its applicable Subsidiaries after the condition in clause (i)(B) shall have been satisfied shall result in all the terms and restrictions set forth in this Agreement that apply solely prior to the Reversion Date being reinstated as if the Reversion Date did not occur until such time as a Permitted Replacement Lease is agreed to and is in effect or all relevant defaults shall have been cured)), (ii) the Master Lease (or any Permitted Replacement Lease) and any Master Lease Guaranties are in full force and effect with no amendment, modification or waiver thereof that is not permitted by the Credit Agreement, (iii) the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis (including after giving effect to any such amendment, modification or waiver thereof that is permitted by the Credit Agreement), as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b) is equal to or less than 5.00 to 1.00 and (iv) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

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(b)
	
Clause (a) of the definition of “Applicable Rate” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows: 

“(a)with respect to Term Loans, 5.00% in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans and 4.00% in the case of Base Rate Loans; and”

(c)The definition of “Available Amount” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated as follows:

“Available Amount” means, at any time, the sum of (a) $50 million plus (b) 95%

of Funds From Operations (or, if Funds From Operations is a loss, minus 100% of the amount of such loss) for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on the first day of the fiscal quarter during which (x) the Closing Date occurs but excluding the period beginning from April 1, 2019 until the beginning of the fiscal quarter immediately following the Reversion Date or (y) solely with respect to use of the Available Amount pursuant to clause (s) of the definition of Permitted Investments, the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date occurs, to the end of Parent’s most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b) at the time of such Restricted Payment plus (c) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by Parent, of marketable securities or other property received at or prior to such time by Parent or, in connection with “UPREIT” acquisitions, by CSL National following (x) the Closing Date but excluding the period from the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date until the Reversion Date or (y) solely with respect to use of the Available Amount pursuant to clause (s) of the definition of Permitted Investments, the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date, from the issue or sale of (i) Equity Interests of Parent or CSL National and (ii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests of Parent (provided, however, that this clause (ii) shall not include the proceeds of (x) Equity Interests, Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of Parent or CSL National sold to a Restricted Subsidiary or Parent or (y) Disqualified Stock or Indebtedness that has been converted or exchanged into Disqualified Stock) plus (d) 100% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by Parent, of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of Parent or, in connection with “UPREIT” acquisitions, of CSL National (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary or Parent) following (x) the Closing Date but excluding the period from the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date until the Reversion Date or (y) solely with respect to use of the Available Amount pursuant to clause (s) of the definition of Permitted Investments, the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date, at or prior to such time minus (e) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made in reliance on the final paragraph of Section 7.05 at or prior to such time (or solely with respect to use of the Available Amount pursuant to clause (s) of the definition of Permitted Investments, made after the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date and at or prior to such time) minus (f) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made in reliance on Section 7.05(a) at or prior to such time (or solely with respect to use of the Available Amount pursuant to clause (s) of the definition of Permitted Investments, made after the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date and at or prior to such time) minus (g) the aggregate amount of Investments made in reliance on clause (s) of the definition of “Permitted Investment” at or prior to such time (or solely with respect to use of the Available Amount pursuant to clause (s) of the definition of Permitted Investments, made 

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after the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date and at or prior to such time).”

 

	
(d)
	
The definition of “Collateral” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended by adding the following immediately preceding the period at the end thereof:

“; for the avoidance of doubt, in addition to all other rights, interests and privileges of the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and notwithstanding any exclusions or limitations set forth in the Loan Documents, it is the intention of the parties that the Master Lease and all rights and interests therein and all proceeds thereof shall constitute Collateral under, and for all purposes of, the Loan Documents”.

	
(e)
	
The definition of “Permitted Investments” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended by amending and restating clause (s) as follows:

	

	
“(19)  so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in Pro Forma Compliance with Section 7.09 for the most recently ended Test Period for which internal financial statements are available, Investments (other than Investments in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or in any Unrestricted Subsidiary) in an aggregate amount not toexceed the Available Amount and”

 

	
(f)
	
The definition of “Restricted Indebtedness” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended by adding immediately prior to the comma the phrase “(including the 7.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due December 15, 2024)”.

	
(g)
	
Section 7.05 of the Credit Agreement is amended by adding the following additional final paragraph of Section 7.05:

“Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7.05, from and after the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date until the Reversion Date, Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or make any Restricted Payment other than (A) pursuant to Sections 7.05(b), (c), (d) (subject to clause (ii) below), (e), (f), (h), (i), (l), (o) and (q), (B) any dividend or distribution (including any cash dividend or cash distribution) on or in respect of (x) Parent’s Capital Stock, in each case constituting a Restricted Payment, to holders of such Capital Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, dividends or distributions that are made on a pro rata basis to all holders, including unrelated holders, of any class of such Capital Stock) solely to the extent that Parent believes in good faith that Holdings qualifies as a REIT and solely to the extent that Parent believes in good faith that the declaration or payment of a dividend or making of a distribution in such amount is necessary to (i) maintain Holdings’ status as a REIT (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Holdings’ eligibility to be taxed as a REIT under Section 857(b)) for any taxable year, determined without regard to any ability of Holdings to maintain its status as a REIT (and eligibility to be taxed as a REIT under Section 857(b)) for any taxable year by declaring or paying a dividend or making a distribution in whole or in part in any form other than cash, including shares of Parent’s or Holdings’ Capital Stock, with such dividend to be paid or distribution to be made as and when determined by Parent, whether during or after the end of the relevant taxable year, and (ii) permit Holdings to pay an amount equal to any corporate-level U.S. federal and applicable state and local  income 

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taxes payable by Holdings with respect to any undistributed taxable income (including any undistributed capital gains) (collectively, for each taxable year, the “Minimum Required Distribution Amount”) or (y) shares of preferred stock issued on customary terms by a Restricted Subsidiary solely to permit such Restricted Subsidiary to qualify as a REIT, not to exceed in the aggregate for all such dividends and distributions pursuant to this clause (y) $50,000 per annum; provided that (i) no cash dividend or distribution shall be permitted under this clause (B) to the extent that a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or the Obligations have been accelerated following any other Event of Default; (ii) notwithstanding the foregoing, any distributions made pursuant to subclause (x) of this clause (B) shall not exceed the amount of dividends or distributions that could have been paid or made by Parent at such time pursuant to such subclause (x) if, in the relevant taxable year, Holdings had held no assets, other than a direct or indirect equity interest in Parent, and had recognized no income, gain, loss, deduction or other tax items, other than such items of Parent allocable directly or indirectly to Holdings or, if Holdings is a REIT, dividends from Parent, and prior to or concurrent with paying or making any such dividend or distribution in reliance on this paragraph, Parent shall provide the Administrative Agent a certification in reasonable detail to such effect and (iii) dividends and distributions paid or made pursuant to this clause (B) shall be permitted only so long as Parent is a REIT, a disregarded qualified REIT subsidiary, a disregarded entity or a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and provided, however, that (i) Parent shall be permitted to make or pay cash dividends or distributions pursuant to subclause (x) of this clause (B) in amounts and at times sufficient to permit Holdings to declare and pay quarterly cash dividends in each taxable year, in each case, not to exceed one quarter of Parent’s good faith estimate, as of the date on which the first quarterly dividend for each taxable year is declared by Holdings, of the Minimum Required Distribution Amount for such taxable year (with any unused capacity for the taxable year carrying forward to subsequent quarters of such taxable year), and (ii) Parent shall not declare or pay cash dividends or distributions pursuant to subclause (x) of this clause (B) for any taxable year except (u) as provided in the immediately preceding clause (i) of this proviso or (y) in or after the last fiscal quarter of such taxable year and (C) without duplication of any amounts used pursuant to any subsection of Section 7.05 or section (ii) below, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received at or prior to such time by Parent following the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date from the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of Parent; provided, however, that this clause (C) shall not include the proceeds of Equity Interests of Parent sold to a Restricted Subsidiary or of Disqualified Stock; or

(ii) (A) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including by any exchange or conversion) in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity any Junior Financing other than (i) pursuant to Sections 7.05(c) and (h), (ii) pursuant to Section 7.05(d) with the proceeds of any Refinancing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.02(b)(xii); provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness shall also not (w) have a shorter final maturity than the Junior Financing being refinanced, (x) have any issuers, borrowers or guarantors other than the Junior Financing being refinanced, (y) have any collateral and (z) have any mandatory prepayment requirements other than customary asset sale or change of control provisions consistent with those of the Junior Financing being refinanced or (iii) without duplication of any amounts used pursuant to any subsection of Section 7.05 or section (i) above, with 100% of the net cash proceeds received at or prior to such time by Parent following the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date from the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of Parent; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not 

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include the proceeds of Equity Interests of Parent sold to a Restricted Subsidiary or of Disqualified Stock or (B) amend or modify the terms or provisions of any Junior Financing to the extent such amendments or modifications would not be permitted with respect to any Refinancing Indebtedness thereof pursuant to Section 7.02(b)(xii) and the proviso to the preceding clause (A)(ii)."

 

3.Amendments to the Security Agreement.  The Security Agreement is, effective as of the Effective Date (as defined below), hereby amended as follows:

 

(a)The definition of “Excluded Assets” in Section 1.02 of the Security Agreement is hereby amended by (x) adding “subject to the definition of “Collateral” in the Credit Agreement” after the term “means” and before “(a)” and (y) deleting clauses (j) and (l) of the definition of “Excluded Assets” in their entirety and replacing such clauses with “[reserved]”.

(b)Section 1.02 of the Security Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following definitions in appropriate alphabetical order:

“Excluded Deposit Account” shall mean a segregated Deposit Account that holds solely (a) funds used or to be used for payroll and payroll taxes and other employee benefit payments to or for the benefit of the employees of the Borrowers sand the Guarantors, (b) funds used or to be used to pay any taxes required to be collected, remitted or withheld during the current period, (c) funds which the Borrowers or a Guarantor holds in escrow or as a fiduciary for the benefit of a third person that is not the Borrowers, Holdings, Parent or a Subsidiary, (d) any deposit account that is a zero-balance disbursement account  and (e) any Deposit Account holding less than an average daily balance of $2,000,000 with all such Deposit Accounts excluded pursuant to this clause (e) not to exceed an aggregate average daily balance of $25,000,000.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Rent Account shall constitute an Excluded Deposit Account.”

(c)Section 3.01 of the Security Agreement is hereby amended by deleting clause (f) thereof and replacing such clause (f) with the following:

“(f)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Loan Documents, none of the Grantors shall be required to perfect the Security Interests granted by this Security Agreement (including Security Interests in Investment Property and Fixtures) by any means other than by (A) filings pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant State(s), (B) filings in USPTO or the USCO, as applicable, with respect to Intellectual Property as expressly required elsewhere herein, (C) delivery to the Collateral Agent to be held in its possession of all Collateral consisting of Instruments or Pledged Securities as expressly required elsewhere herein or in the Credit Agreement, (D) Fixture filings in the applicable real estate records with respect to any Fixtures associated with Material Real Property that is subject to a Mortgage and (E) with respect to any Deposit Account (other than any Excluded Deposit Account), entry into Deposit Account Control Agreements. No Grantor shall be required (i) to establish Collateral Agent’s “control” over any Electronic Chattel Paper; (ii) to establish the Agent’s “control” (within the meaning of Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in the applicable jurisdiction (the “UETA”)) over any “transferable records” (as defined in UETA), (iii) to take any action (other than the actions listed in clauses (A) and (C) of the preceding sentence) with respect to any assets located outside of the United States or (iv) to perfect in any assets subject to a certificate of title statute.”

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(d)Section 3.05 of the Security Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its entirety and replacing such Section 3.05 with the following:

Section 3.05. Rents; Controlled Deposit Accounts. Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

 

	
 
	
(a)
	
As of the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date, no Grantor has any Rent Accounts other than Deposit Account listed in the Perfection Certificate that was delivered by the Grantors on the Closing Date, and such Rent Account is a Controlled Deposit Account. 

	
 
	
(b)
	
At all times, all Rents will be deposited, upon or promptly after the receipt thereof, in one or more Controlled Deposit Accounts.  

	
 
	
(c)
	
To the extent not constituting a Controlled Deposit Account on the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date, each Grantor shall promptly, and in any event, within 15 days (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree) of the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree) deliver to the Collateral Agent a duly executed Deposit Account Control Agreement with respect to each Deposit Account (other than an Excluded Deposit Account) maintained by such Grantor as of the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Effective Date.  In the event a Grantor shall hereafter establish (including by acquisition) any Deposit Account (other than an Excluded Deposit Account) it shall deliver a duly executed Deposit Account Control Agreement to the Collateral Agent with respect to such Deposit Account, promptly and in any event within 15 days (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree) of the establishment or acquisition of such Deposit Account.  In respect of each Controlled Deposit Account, the Depositary Bank’s jurisdiction (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-304) will at all times be a jurisdiction in which Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code is in effect.

	
 
	
(d)
	
So long as the Collateral Agent has Control of a Controlled Deposit Account, the Security Interest in such Controlled Deposit Account will be perfected, subject to no prior Liens or rights of others (except the Depositary Bank’s right to deduct its normal operating charges and any uncollected funds previously credited thereto) and other non-consensual liens arising as a matter of law.

4.Conditions Precedent.  This Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver shall become effective on the date when the following conditions are met (the “Effective Date”):

(i)the Administrative Agent shall have received a counterpart signature page of this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver duly executed by each of the Parent Guarantor, the Borrowers, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and Lenders constituting the Required Lenders;

(ii)the Borrowers shall have paid to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender that has delivered a counterpart to this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver, a consent fee equal to 1.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Commitments and outstanding Loans held by such Lender;

(iii)the Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, 

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existence and good standing of each Loan Party, the authorization of execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver, the performance of the Credit Agreement and each other applicable Loan Document and any other legal matters relating to the Loan Documents, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel;

(iv) the Loan Parties shall have provided to the Administrative Agent an updated Perfection Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel;

(v)the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Effective Date, signed by a Responsible Officer certifying that each of the Master Lease and the Recognition Agreement (and in each case any amendments thereto) are in full force and effect and attaching executed copies of the Master Lease and the Recognition Agreement (and in each case any amendments thereto); and

(vii) the Borrowers shall have paid all fees and amounts due and payable pursuant to this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of documented and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver and related matters (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, counsel to the Administrative Agent and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel to the ad-hoc group of Term Lenders), any other out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent required to be paid or reimbursed pursuant to the Credit Agreement and any fees and expense payable to the Administrative Agent or its affiliates as separately agreed.

5. Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as of the Effective Date:

(i)the representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in Article 5 of the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document (and acknowledging that this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver is a Loan Document) are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof (except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date); provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties are qualified by materiality, material adverse effect or similar language, they are true and correct in all respects;

(ii)no Default or Event of Default exists or will result from this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver; 

(iii)the Persons appearing as Borrowers and Guarantors on the signature pages to this Agreement constitute all Persons who are required to be Borrowers or Guarantors pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including without limitation all Persons who were required to become Borrowers or Guarantors after the Closing Date, the Borrowers and each such Person that is a Guarantor has executed and delivered the Credit Agreement as a Borrower or a Guaranty as a Guarantor and the Loan Parties have complied with their obligations under Sections 6.02(c) and 6.11 of the Credit Agreement and under the Collateral Documents; and

(iv) Attached hereto as Schedule 1 is a true and complete list of all Deposit Accounts (as defined in the Security Agreement) maintained by each Loan Party, including the name of each 

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institution where each such account is held, the name of each such account, the name of each entity that holds each account and stating if such account is required to be subject to a control agreement pursuant to the Security Agreement and the reason for such account to be excluded from the control agreement requirement.

6.  Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers agree to pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, counsel to the Administrative Agent) in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver, the other instruments and documents to be delivered hereunder and related matters with respect to the Loan Documents and transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the ad-hoc group of Term Lenders (limited to the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel to the ad-hoc group of Term Lenders) in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver (or any subject matter contained herein) and the other instruments and documents to be delivered hereunder.

7.  Governing Law.  This Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

8.  Counterparts.  This Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

9.  Waiver of Right of Trial by Jury.  Section 10.16 of the Credit Agreement is incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis.

10.  Effect of Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver. Except as expressly set forth herein, (i) this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent or any other Agent, in each case under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (ii) shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other provision of either such agreement or any other Loan Document.  Each and every term, condition, obligation, covenant and agreement contained in the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, or any other Loan Document, is hereby ratified and re-affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect.  This Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver shall constitute a Loan Document for all purposes and from and after the Effective Date, all references to the Credit Agreement in any Loan Document and all references in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, shall, unless expressly provided otherwise, refer to the Credit Agreement after giving effect to this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver.  Each of the Loan Parties hereby consents to this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver and confirms and reaffirms (i) that all obligations of such Loan Party under the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party shall continue to apply to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, (ii) its guaranty of the Obligations, (iii) its prior pledges and grants of security interests and Liens on the Collateral to secure the Obligations pursuant to the Collateral Documents and (iv) such Guarantees, prior pledges and grants of security interests and liens on the Collateral to secure the Obligations, as applicable, shall continue to be in full force and effect and shall continue to inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the other Secured Parties.  This Agreement shall not constitute a novation of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.

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11.Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver Lead Arranger.  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is acting as lead arranger in connection with the Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver and shall be entitled to all rights, indemnities, privileges and immunities applicable to the “Arrangers” under the Loan Documents in connection herewith.

[Signature pages follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

		
	
UNITI GROUP INC.

	
 

	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Name:  Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Title:Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

 

		
	
UNITI GROUP LP

	
 

	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Name:Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Title:Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

 

		
	
UNITI GROUP FINANCE INC.

	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Name:Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Title:Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

 

		
	
UNITI FIBER HOLDINGS INC.

	
 

	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Name:Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Title:Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

 

		
	
CSL CAPITAL, LLC

	
 

	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Name:Daniel Heard

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver]

 

 

 

		
	
 
	
Title:Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver]

 

 

 

 

CONTACT NETWORK, LLC

CSL NATIONAL GP, LLC

CSL Alabama System, LLC

CSL Arkansas System, LLC

CSL Florida System, LLC

CSL Iowa System, LLC

CSL Mississippi System, LLC

CSL Missouri System, LLC

CSL New Mexico System, LLC

CSL Ohio System, LLC

CSL Oklahoma System, LLC

CSL Realty, LLC

CSL Texas System, LLC

CSL North Carolina Realty GP, LLC

CSL Tennessee Realty Partner, LLC

CSL Tennessee Realty, LLC

HUNT TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LLC

INFORMATION TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS, INC.

NEXUS SYSTEMS, INC.

PEG BANDWIDTH DC, LLC
PEG BANDWIDTH DE, LLC
PEG BANDWIDTH IA, LLC
PEG BANDWIDTH LA, LLC
PEG BANDWIDTH MA, LLC
PEG BANDWIDTH MS, LLC
PEG BANDWIDTH TX, LLC
PEG BANDWIDTH VA, LLC

UNITI DARK FIBER LLC

UNITI FIBER LLC

UNITI LEASING LLC

UNITI LEASING X LLC 

UNITI LEASING XI LLC

UNITI TOWERS LLC

UNITI TOWERS NMS HOLDINGS LLC

UNITI TOWERS – NMS INVESTOR LLC

 

		
	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Name:Daniel Heard

	
 
	
Title:Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver]

 

 

 

 

				
	
 

CSL NATIONAL, LP, as a Guarantor

	
 

	
 
	
By:  CSL NATIONAL GP, LLC, as its general partner

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Name:Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Title:Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

				
	
CSL North CAROLINA REALTY, LP, as a Guarantor

	
 

	
 
	
By:  CSL NORTH CAROLINA REALTY GP, LLC, as its general partner

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Name:Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Title:Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

				
	
CSL NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM, LP, as a Guarantor

	
 

	
 
	
By:  CSL NORTH CAROLINA REALTY GP, LLC, as its general partner

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Name: Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Title:    Executive Vice President –General Counsel and Secretary  

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver]

 

 

 

				
				
	
 

Uniti Holdings LP, as a Guarantor

	
 

	
 
	
By:  UNITI HOLDINGS GP LLC, as its general partner

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Name: Daniel Heard

	
 

 
	
 
	
 
	
Title:    Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary  

 

 

 

				
	
UNITI LATAM  LP, as a Guarantor

	
 

	
 
	
By:  UNITI LATAM GP LLC, as its general partner

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Name:Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Title:     Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

				
	
UNITI QRS Holdings LP, as a Guarantor

	
 

	
 
	
By:  UNITI QRS Holdings GP LLC, as its general partner

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
By:
	
/s/ Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Name:Daniel Heard

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Title:Executive Vice President –  General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver]

 

 

 

			
			
	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

 as Administrative Agent

 

	
By:
	
/s/ Laura L. Olson

	
 
	
Name: Laura L. Olson

Title: Vice President
	
 

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver to Credit Agreement]

 

 

Lender Signature Pages:

 

[On File with the Administrative Agent]

 

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver to Credit Agreement]unit-ex1019_1245.htm

Exhibit 10.19

UNITI GROUP INC. 
2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED SHARES AGREEMENT - TIME-BASED VESTING ONLY

Summary of Restricted Share Grant

Uniti Group Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), grants to the Grantee named below, in accordance with the terms of the Uniti Group Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), and this Restricted Shares Agreement (the “Agreement”), the following number of Restricted Shares covered by this Agreement (the “Restricted Shares”), on the Date of Grant set forth below:

	
 
	
Name of Grantee:
	

	
Number of Restricted Shares:  
	

	
Date of Grant:
	
____________ 

Terms of Agreement

1.Grant of Restricted Shares. Subject to and upon the terms, conditions, and restrictions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee as of the Date of Grant, the total number of Restricted Shares (the “Restricted Shares”) set forth above.  The Restricted Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable.   

2.Vesting of Restricted Shares. 

	
(a)
	
The Restricted Shares shall become vested and nonforfeitable (“Vested”) if the Grantee shall have remained in the continuous employ of the Company or a Subsidiary through the vesting dates set forth below with respect to the percentage of Restricted Shares set forth next to such date:  

		
	
Vesting Date
	
Percentage of Restricted Shares Vesting 

on such Vesting Date

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

 

	
(b)
	
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2(a), in the event the Grantee experiences a Company-approved retirement (as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee), the Grantee shall immediately become Vested in a pro rata portion of his Restricted Shares based on the number of days the Grantee was employed by the Company between the Date of Grant and the Vesting Date.

	
(c)
	
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2(a) or 2(b), all of the Restricted Shares covered by this Agreement shall immediately become Vested if, during the vesting period, the Grantee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated without Cause, the Grantee terminates his employment with the Company or a Subsidiary for 

 

		
Good Reason, or the Grantee dies or becomes permanently disabled (as determined by the Committee) while in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary.  

	
(d)
	
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at which the Restricted Shares become vested and nonforfeitable on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate.  

3.Forfeiture of Shares.  The Restricted Shares that have not yet Vested pursuant to Section 2 (including without limitation any cash dividends or distributions and any non-cash proceeds related to the Restricted Shares for which the record date occurs on or after the date of forfeiture) shall be forfeited automatically without further action or notice if the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary other than as provided in Section 2(b). In the event of a forfeiture of the Restricted Shares, the stock book entry account representing the Restricted Shares covered by this Agreement shall be cancelled and all Restricted Shares shall be returned to the Company.

4.Transferability.  The Restricted Shares may not be sold, exchanged, assigned, transferred, pledged, encumbered or otherwise disposed of by the Grantee, except to the Company, until the Restricted Shares have become nonforfeitable as provided in Section 2.  Any purported transfer or encumbrance in violation of the provisions of this Section 4 shall be void, and the other party to any such purported transaction shall not obtain any rights to or interest in such Restricted Shares.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, when and as is permitted by the Plan, may waive the restrictions on transferability with respect to all or a portion of the Restricted Shares, provided that any permitted transferee (other than the Company) shall remain subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to the Restricted Shares prior to such transfer.

5.Dividend, Voting and Other Rights.  Except as otherwise provided herein, from and after the Date of Grant, the Grantee shall have all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote the Restricted Shares and receive any cash dividends that may be paid thereon (which such dividends shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to the holders of the Common Shares or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividends are paid to the holders of the Common Shares); provided, however, that any additional Common Shares or other securities that the Grantee may become entitled to receive pursuant to a stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, separation or reorganization or any other change in the capital structure of the Company shall be considered Restricted Shares and shall be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Shares covered by this Agreement.  Any cash dividends paid with respect to the Restricted Shares shall be reported on the Grantee’s annual wage and tax statement (Form W-2) as compensation and shall be subject to all applicable tax withholdings as provided in Section 10.  

6.Custody of Restricted Shares; Stock Power.  Until the Restricted Shares have become Vested as provided in Section 2, the Restricted Shares shall be issued in book-entry only form and shall not be represented by a certificate.  The restrictions set forth in this Agreement shall be reflected on the stock transfer records maintained by or on behalf of the Company. By execution of this Agreement and effective until the Restricted Shares have become Vested as provided in Section 2, the Grantee hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint a person or persons of the Company’s choosing, or any of them, attorneys-in-fact to transfer the Restricted Shares on 

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the stock transfer records of the Company with full power of substitution.  The Grantee agrees to take any and all other actions (including without limitation executing, delivering, performing and filing such other agreements, instruments and documents) as the Company may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out and give effect to the provisions of this Agreement.  

7.Continuous Employment.  For purposes of this Agreement, the continuous employment of the Grantee with the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to have been interrupted, and the Grantee shall not be deemed to have ceased to be an employee of the Company and its Subsidiaries, by reason of the transfer of his employment among the Company and its Subsidiaries or a leave of absence approved by the Committee.

8.No Employment Contract; Disclaimer.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer upon the Grantee any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries, nor limit or affect in any manner the right of the Company and its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment or adjust the compensation of the Grantee, in each case with or without cause.  By acceptance of this Agreement, the Grantee acknowledges and agrees that neither this Agreement nor any other agreement awarded prior to the date hereof under any equity compensation plan of the Company or its subsidiaries has created or shall create, or be deemed or construed to create or have created, (i) a contractual, equitable, or other right to receive future grants of equity awards, or other benefits in lieu of equity awards, or (ii) a fiduciary duty or other comparable duty of trust or confidence owed to the Grantee (or any successor, assign, affiliate or family member of the Grantee) by the Company and its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or contractors.

9.Relation to Other Benefits.  Any economic or other benefit to the Grantee under this Agreement or the Plan shall not be taken into account in determining any benefits to which the Grantee may be entitled under any profit-sharing, retirement or other benefit or compensation plan maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary and shall not affect the amount of any life insurance coverage available to any beneficiary under any life insurance plan covering employees of the Company or a Subsidiary.   

10.Taxes and Withholding.  The Grantee is responsible for any federal, state, local or other taxes with respect to the Restricted Shares (including the grant, the Vesting, the receipt of Common Shares, the sale of Common Shares and the receipt of dividends or distributions, if any).  The Company does not guarantee any particular tax treatment or results in connection with the grant or Vesting of the Restricted Shares or the payment of dividends or distributions.  If the Company or any Subsidiary is required to withhold any federal, state, local or other taxes in connection with the delivery or vesting of the Restricted Shares, the Grantee shall pay the tax or make provisions that are satisfactory to the Company or such Subsidiary for the payment thereof.  The Grantee may elect to satisfy all or any portion of any such withholding obligation by surrendering to the Company or such Subsidiary a portion of the Common Shares that become Vested hereunder, and the Common Shares so surrendered by the Grantee shall be credited against any such withholding obligation at the Market Value per Share of such Common Shares on the date of such surrender. 

11.Section 83(b) Election Prohibited.  As a condition to receiving this award, the Grantee acknowledges and agrees that he or she shall not file an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to all or any portion of the Restricted Shares.  

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12.Compliance with Law.  The Company shall make reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws and listing requirements of the NASDAQ or any national securities exchange with respect to the Restricted Shares; provided, however, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Restricted Shares shall not be delivered or become Vested if the delivery or vesting thereof would result in a violation of any such law or listing requirement.  

13.Amendments.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may modify this Agreement upon written notice to the Grantee.  Any amendment to the Plan shall be deemed to be an amendment to this Agreement to the extent that the amendment is applicable hereto.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment of the Plan or this Agreement shall adversely affect the rights of the Grantee under this Agreement regarding Restricted Shares that are then vested under the Plan without the Grantee’s consent.  

14.Severability.  In the event that one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be invalidated for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, any provision so invalidated shall be deemed to be separable from the other provisions hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be valid and fully enforceable.

15.Relation to Plan.  This Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.  This Agreement and the Plan contain the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter contained in this Agreement, and supersede all prior written or oral communications, representations and negotiations in respect thereto.  In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan.  The Committee acting pursuant to the Plan, as constituted from time to time, shall, except as expressly provided otherwise herein, have the right to determine any questions which arise in connection with the grant of the Restricted Shares.

16.Successors and Assigns.  Without limiting Section 4, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns of the Grantee, and the successors and assigns of the Company.

17.Governing Law.  The interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.

18.Electronic Delivery.  The Grantee hereby consents and agrees to electronic delivery of any documents that the Company may elect to deliver (including, but not limited to, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, grant or award notifications and agreements, account statements, annual and quarterly reports, and all other forms of communications) in connection with this and any other award made or offered under the Plan. The Grantee understands that, unless earlier revoked by the Grantee by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company, this consent shall be effective for the duration of the Agreement.  The Grantee also understands that he or she shall have the right at any time to request that the Company deliver written copies of any and all materials referred to above at no charge. The Grantee hereby consents to any and all procedures the Company has established or may establish for an electronic signature system 

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for delivery and acceptance of any such documents that the Company may elect to deliver, and agrees that his or her electronic signature is the same as, and shall have the same force and effect as, his or her manual signature. The Grantee consents and agrees that any such procedures and delivery may be effected by a third party engaged by the Company to provide administrative services related to the Plan.  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officer and the Grantee has also executed this Agreement, as of the Date of Grant.

UNITI GROUP INC.

 

By:   Kenny Gunderman

Title:President and CEO

By clicking the [I Accept] button, the Grantee hereby acknowledges that a copy of the Plan, Plan Summary and Prospectus and the Company’s most recent Annual Report and Proxy Statement (the “Prospectus Information”) are available for viewing on the Company’s intranet site at [web address].  The Grantee hereby consents to receiving this Prospectus Information electronically, or, in the alternative, agrees to contact [name and phone number] to request a paper copy of the Prospectus Information at no charge. The Grantee represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions of the Prospectus Information and hereby accepts the award of Restricted Shares on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.  These terms and conditions constitute a legal contract that will bind both you and the Company as soon as you click the [I Accept] button.

 

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