Document:

EX-10.3

 

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

GUARANTY AGREEMENT

dated as of December 31, 2007

by and among

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.,

and certain of its Subsidiaries

as Guarantors,

in favor of

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	Page	 
	ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS	 	 	1	 
	 
	 	SECTION 1.1	 	Definitions	 	 	1	 
	 
	 	SECTION 1.2	 	Other Definitional Provisions	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE II GUARANTY	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.1	 	Guaranty	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.2	 	Bankruptcy Limitations on Guarantors	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.3	 	Agreements for Contribution	 	 	3	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.4	 	Nature of Guaranty	 	 	4	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.5	 	Waivers	 	 	5	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.6	 	Modification of Loan Documents, etc	 	 	6	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.7	 	Demand by the Administrative Agent	 	 	6	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.8	 	Remedies	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.9	 	Benefits of Guaranty	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.10	 	Termination; Reinstatement	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	SECTION 2.11	 	Payments	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	SECTION 3.1	 	Organization, etc	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	SECTION 3.2	 	Due Authorization; Non-Contravention, etc	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	SECTION 3.3	 	Governmental Approval, Regulation, etc	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	SECTION 3.4	 	Validity, etc	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	SECTION 3.5	 	Litigation	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	SECTION 3.6	 	Solvency	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.1	 	Notices	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.2	 	Amendments in Writing	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.3	 	Expenses; Indemnification; Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.4	 	Right of Set-off	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.5	 	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Service of Process	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.6	 	Waiver of Jury Trial	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.7	 	No Waiver by Course of Conduct, Cumulative Remedies	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.8	 	Successors and Assigns	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.9	 	Survival of Indemnities	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.10	 	Titles and Captions	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.11	 	Severability of Provisions	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.12	 	Counterparts	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.13	 	Integration	 	 	12	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.14	 	Advice of Counsel, No Strict Construction	 	 	12	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.15	 	Acknowledgements	 	 	12	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.16	 	Releases	 	 	12	 
	 
	 	SECTION 4.17	 	Additional Guarantors	 	 	12	 

i

 

     GUARANTY AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, this
“Guaranty” or this “Agreement”), dated as of December 31, 2007, is made by
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), and
certain of its Subsidiaries as identified on the signature pages hereto and any Additional
Guarantor (as defined below) who may become party to this Guaranty (such Subsidiaries and
Additional Guarantors, collectively, with Holdings, the “Guarantors”, each, a
“Guarantor”), in favor of WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent (in
such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the ratable benefit itself and the
Guaranteed Parties (as defined below).

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

     Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement, dated of even date herewith (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among
Holdings, each of CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC., an Illinois corporation (the “CCI
Borrower”), CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS ACQUISITION TEXAS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
“TXU Borrower”), and FORT PITT ACQUISITION SUB INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (the
“Merger Sub”, and together with the CCI Borrower and the TXU Borrower, the
“Borrowers”), the banks and other financial institutions who are or may become party
thereto (the “Lenders”), the Administrative Agent, CoBank, ACB, as Syndication Agent,
General Electric Capital Corporation, as Co-Documentation Agent, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as
Co-Documentation Agent and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as sole lead arranger and sole
bookrunner.

     Pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to extend certain
credit facilities to the Borrowers upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein.

     The Borrowers and the Guarantors, though separate legal entities, comprise one integrated
financial enterprise, and the extension of such credit facilities to the Borrowers will inure,
directly or indirectly, to the benefit of the Guarantors.

     It is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to extend those certain credit
facilities to the Borrowers under the Credit Agreement that the Guarantors shall have executed and
delivered this Guaranty to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed
Parties.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, and to induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to extend those certain credit
facilities to the Borrowers thereunder, the Guarantors hereby agree with the Administrative Agent,
for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Parties, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINED TERMS

     SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this Guaranty shall have
the meanings assigned to them below:

     “Additional Guarantor” means each Domestic Subsidiary of any Borrower which hereafter
becomes a Guarantor pursuant to Section 4.17 hereof and Section 5.16 of the Credit
Agreement.

 

 

     “Applicable Insolvency Laws” means all Applicable Laws governing bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency,
fraudulent transfers or conveyances or other similar laws (including, without limitation, 11 U.S.C.
Sections 544, 547, 548 and 550 and other “avoidance” provisions of Title 11 of the United States
Code, as amended or supplemented).

     “Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

     “Guaranteed Parties” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) the Lenders, (c) each
Secured Hedging Provider, (d) any other holder from time to time of the Guaranteed Obligations and
(e) the successors and permitted assigns of each of the foregoing.

     “Solvent” means, as to each Guarantor on a particular date, that such Guarantor (a)
has capital sufficient to carry on its business and transactions and all business and transactions
in which it is about to engage and is able to pay its debts as they mature, (b) has assets having a
value, both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value, greater than the amount required
to pay its probable liabilities (including contingencies), and (c) does not believe that it will
incur debts or liabilities beyond its ability to pay such debts or liabilities as they mature,
subject in each case to the first sentence in Section 2.2 hereof.

     SECTION 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise
defined in this Guaranty including the preambles and recitals hereof shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement. In the event of a conflict between capitalized terms
defined herein and in the Credit Agreement, this Guaranty shall control. The words “hereof,”
“herein”, “hereto” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Guaranty shall
refer to this Guaranty as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Guaranty, and Section
references are to this Guaranty unless otherwise specified. The meanings given to terms defined
herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. Where the
context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a
Guarantor, shall refer to such Guarantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

ARTICLE II

GUARANTY 

     SECTION 2.1 Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally with the other
Guarantors, unconditionally guarantees to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the
Guaranteed Parties the prompt payment and performance of all Obligations whether primary or
secondary (whether by way of endorsement or otherwise), whether now existing or hereafter arising,
whether or not from time to time reduced or extinguished (except by payment thereof) or hereafter
increased or incurred, whether enforceable or unenforceable as against the Borrowers or any other
Person, whether or not discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any Applicable Insolvency Law or
proceeding thereunder, whether created directly with the Administrative Agent or any other
Guaranteed Party or acquired by the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party through
assignment or endorsement or otherwise, whether matured or unmatured, whether joint or several, as
and when the same become due and payable (whether at maturity or earlier, by reason of
acceleration, mandatory repayment or otherwise), in accordance with the terms of any such
instruments evidencing any such obligations, including all renewals, extensions or modifications
thereof (all Obligations, including all of the foregoing being hereafter collectively referred to
as the “Guaranteed Obligations”).

     SECTION 2.2 Bankruptcy Limitations on Guarantors. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in Section 2.1, it is the intention of each Guarantor and the Guaranteed
Parties that, in

2

 

any proceeding involving the bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment
of debts, relief of debtors, dissolution or insolvency or any similar proceeding with respect to
any Guarantor or its assets, the amount of such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the
Guaranteed Obligations shall be equal to, but not in excess of, the maximum amount thereof not
subject to avoidance or recovery by operation of Applicable Insolvency Laws after giving effect to
Section 2.3(a). To that end, but only in the event and to the extent that after giving
effect to Section 2.3(a) such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed
Obligations or any payment made pursuant to such Guaranteed Obligations would, but for the
operation of the first sentence of this Section 2.2, be subject to avoidance or recovery in
any such proceeding under Applicable Insolvency Laws after giving effect to Section 2.3(a),
the amount of such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations shall be
limited to the largest amount which, after giving effect thereto, would not, under Applicable
Insolvency Laws, render such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations
unenforceable or avoidable or otherwise subject to recovery under Applicable Insolvency Laws. To
the extent any payment actually made pursuant to the Guaranteed Obligations exceeds the limitation
of the first sentence of this Section 2.2 and is otherwise subject to avoidance and
recovery in any such proceeding under Applicable Insolvency Laws, the amount subject to avoidance
shall in all events be limited to the amount by which such actual payment exceeds such limitation
and the Guaranteed Obligations as limited by the first sentence of this Section 2.2 shall
in all events remain in full force and effect and be fully enforceable against such Guarantor. The
first sentence of this Section 2.2 is intended solely to preserve the rights of the
Administrative Agent hereunder against such Guarantor in such proceeding to the maximum extent
permitted by Applicable Insolvency Laws and neither such Guarantor, the Borrowers, any other
Guarantor nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under such sentence that would not
otherwise be available under Applicable Insolvency Laws in such proceeding.

     SECTION 2.3 Agreements for Contribution.

     (a) The Guarantors hereby agree among themselves that, if any Guarantor shall make an Excess
Payment (as defined below), such Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other
Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s Contribution Share (as defined below) of
such Excess Payment. The payment obligations of any Guarantor under this Section 2.3(a)
shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations until such time
as the Guaranteed Obligations have been paid in full, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any
right or remedy under this Section 2.3(a) against any other Guarantor until such Guaranteed
Obligations have been paid in full. For purposes of this Section 2.3(a), (i) “Excess
Payment” shall mean the amount paid by any Guarantor in excess of its Ratable Share of any
Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) “Ratable Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of
any payment of Guaranteed Obligations, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such
payment of Guaranteed Obligations of (A) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable
value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such
Guarantor (including probable, contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities,
but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder) to (B) the amount by which the aggregate
present fair salable value of all assets and other properties of all of the Guarantors exceeds the
amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including probable, contingent, subordinated,
unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder)
of the Guarantors; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Ratable
Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any payment of Guaranteed Obligations, any Guarantor that
became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such payment shall be deemed to have been a
Guarantor on the date of such payment and the financial
information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be
utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such payment; and (iii) “Contribution Share”
shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of any Excess Payment made by any other Guarantor, the
ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such Excess Payment of (A) the amount by which
the aggregate present fair salable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of
all debts and liabilities of such

3

 

Guarantor (including probable, contingent, subordinated,
unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder)
to (B) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all assets and other
properties of the Guarantors other than the maker of such Excess Payment exceeds the amount of all
of the debts and liabilities (including probable, contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and
unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Guarantors) of the Guarantors other
than the maker of such Excess Payment; provided, however, that, for purposes of
calculating the Contribution Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any Excess Payment, any
Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such Excess Payment shall be deemed
to have been a Guarantor on the date of such Excess Payment and the financial information for such
Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in
connection with such Excess Payment. Each of the Guarantors recognizes and acknowledges that the
rights to contribution arising hereunder shall constitute an asset in favor of the party entitled
to such contribution. This Section 2.3(a) shall not be deemed to affect any right of
subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution that any Guarantor may have under Applicable
Law against the Borrowers in respect of any payment of Guaranteed Obligations.

     (b) No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments by any of the Guarantors
hereunder, or any set-off or application of funds of any of the Guarantors by the Administrative
Agent or any other Guaranteed Party, or the receipt of any amounts by the Administrative Agent or
any other Guaranteed Party with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, none of the
Guarantors shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or
any other Guaranteed Party against the Borrowers or the other Guarantors or against any collateral
security held by the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party for the payment of the
Guaranteed Obligations nor shall any of the Guarantors seek any reimbursement from the Borrowers or
any of the other Guarantors in respect of payments made by such Guarantor in connection with the
Guaranteed Obligations, until all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the other
Guaranteed Parties on account of the Guaranteed Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments
are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights
at any time when all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount
shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent, segregated from other funds
of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the
Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly endorsed by such Guarantor
to the Administrative Agent, if required) to be applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether
matured or unmatured, in such order as set forth in the Credit Agreement.

     SECTION 2.4 Nature of Guaranty.

     (a) Each Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty is a continuing, unconditional guaranty of
payment and performance and not of collection, and that its obligations under this Guaranty shall
be primary, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and unaffected by:

     (i) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability or any future amendment of,
or change in, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or any other agreement,
document or instrument to which the Borrowers or any Guarantor is or may become a party;

     (ii) the absence of any action to enforce this Guaranty, the Credit Agreement or any
other Loan Document or the waiver or consent by the Administrative Agent or any other
Guaranteed Party with respect to any of the provisions of this Guaranty, the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document;

     (iii) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect its Lien against, any
security for or other guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations or any action, or the absence
of any

4

 

action, by the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party in respect of such
security or guaranty (including, without limitation, the release of any such security or
guaranty); or

     (iv) any other action or circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or
equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor;

it being agreed by each Guarantor that, subject to the first sentence of Section 2.2, its
obligations under this Guaranty shall not be discharged until the final indefeasible payment and
performance, in full, of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.

     (b) Each Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that its obligations under this Guaranty
are not and shall not be subject to any counterclaims, offsets or defenses of any kind (other than
the defense of payment) against the Administrative Agent, the other Guaranteed Parties or the
Borrowers whether now existing or which may arise in the future.

     (c) Each Guarantor hereby agrees and acknowledges that the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of
them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed,
extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon this Guaranty, and all dealings between the Borrowers
and any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other Guaranteed
Parties, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated
in reliance upon this Guaranty.

     SECTION 2.5 Waivers. To the extent permitted by law, each Guarantor expressly waives
all of the following rights and defenses (and agrees not to take advantage of or assert any such
right or defense):

     (a) any rights it may now or in the future have under any statute, or at law or in equity, or
otherwise, to compel the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party to proceed in respect
of the Guaranteed Obligations against the Borrowers or any other Person or against any security for
or other guaranty of the payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations before proceeding
against, or as a condition to proceeding against, such Guarantor;

     (b) any defense based upon the failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed
Party to commence an action in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations against the Borrowers, such
Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person or any security for the payment and performance
of the Guaranteed Obligations;

     (c) any right to insist upon, plead or in any manner whatever claim or take the benefit or
advantage of, any appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, marshalling of assets or redemption laws,
or exemption, whether now or at any time hereafter in force, which may delay, prevent or otherwise
affect the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations under, or the enforcement by the
Administrative Agent or the other Guaranteed Parties of this Guaranty;

     (d) any right of diligence, presentment, demand, protest and notice (except as specifically
required herein) of whatever kind or nature with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and
waives, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the benefit of all provisions of law which are
or might be in conflict with the terms of this Guaranty; and

     (e) any and all right to notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the
Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any other
Guaranteed Party upon, or acceptance of, this Guaranty.

5

 

     Each Guarantor agrees that any notice or directive given at any time to the Administrative
Agent or any other Guaranteed Party which is inconsistent with any of the foregoing waivers shall
be null and void and may be ignored by the Administrative Agent or such other Guaranteed Party,
and, in addition, may not be pleaded or introduced as evidence in any litigation relating to this
Guaranty for the reason that such pleading or introduction would be at variance with the written
terms of this Guaranty, unless the Administrative Agent and the Requisite Lenders have specifically
agreed otherwise in writing. The foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction
contemplated by the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, but for this Guaranty and
such waivers, the Administrative Agent and Lenders would decline to enter into the Credit Agreement
and the other Loan Documents.

     SECTION 2.6 Modification of Loan Documents, etc. Neither the Administrative Agent nor
any other Guaranteed Party shall incur any liability to any Guarantor as a result of any of the
following, and none of the following shall impair or release this Guaranty or any of the
obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty:

     (a) any change or extension of the manner, place or terms of payment of, or renewal or
alteration of all or any portion of, the Guaranteed Obligations;

     (b) any action under or in respect of the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents in the
exercise of any remedy, power or privilege contained therein or available to any of them at law, in
equity or otherwise, or waiver or refraining from exercising any such remedies, powers or
privileges;

     (c) any amendment to, or modification of, in any manner whatsoever, the Loan Documents;

     (d) any extension or waiver of the time for performance by any Guarantor, any other guarantor,
the Borrowers or any other Person of, or compliance with, any term, covenant or agreement on its
part to be performed or observed under a Loan Document, or waiver of such performance or compliance
or consent to a failure of, or departure from, such performance or compliance;

     (e) the taking and holding of security or collateral for the payment of the Guaranteed
Obligations or the sale, exchange, release, disposal of, or other dealing with, any property
pledged, mortgaged or conveyed, or in which the Administrative Agent or the other Guaranteed
Parties have been granted a Lien, to secure any Indebtedness of any Guarantor, any other guarantor
or the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent or the other Guaranteed Parties;

     (f) the release of anyone who may be liable in any manner for the payment of any amounts owed
by any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent or any other
Guaranteed Party;

     (g) any modification or termination of the terms of any intercreditor or subordination
agreement pursuant to which claims of other creditors of any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the
Borrowers are subordinated to the claims of the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party;
or

     (h) any application of any sums by whomever paid or however realized to any Guaranteed
Obligations owing by any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrowers to the Administrative
Agent or any other Guaranteed Party in such manner as the Administrative Agent or any other
Guaranteed Party shall determine in its reasonable discretion.

     SECTION 2.7 Demand by the Administrative Agent. In addition to the terms set forth in
this Article II and in no manner imposing any limitation on such terms, if all or any
portion of the then outstanding Guaranteed Obligations are declared to be immediately due and
payable, then the Guarantors

6

 

shall, upon demand in writing therefor by the Administrative Agent to
the Guarantors, pay all or such portion of the outstanding Guaranteed Obligations due hereunder
then declared due and payable.

     SECTION 2.8 Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default, with the consent of the Requisite Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the
request of the Requisite Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, enforce against the Guarantors
their obligations and liabilities hereunder and exercise such other rights and remedies as may be
available to the Administrative Agent hereunder, under the Credit Agreement or the other Loan
Documents or otherwise.

     SECTION 2.9 Benefits of Guaranty. The provisions of this Guaranty are for the benefit
of the Administrative Agent and the other Guaranteed Parties and their respective permitted
successors, transferees, endorsees and assigns, and nothing herein contained shall impair, as
between the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the other Guaranteed Parties, the obligations
of the Borrowers under the Loan Documents. In the event all or any part of the Guaranteed
Obligations are transferred, endorsed or assigned by the Administrative Agent or any other
Guaranteed Party to any Person or Persons as permitted under the Credit Agreement, any reference to
an “Administrative Agent”, or “Guaranteed Party” herein shall be deemed to refer equally to such
Person or Persons.

     SECTION 2.10 Termination; Reinstatement.

     (a) Subject to clause (c) below, this Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until all
the Guaranteed Obligations and all the obligations of the Guarantors shall have been paid in full
and the Commitments terminated.

     (b) No payment made by the Borrowers, any Guarantor, or any other Person received or collected
by the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party from the Borrowers, any Guarantor, or any
other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application
at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Guaranteed Obligations shall
be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any Guarantor hereunder
which shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment made by such Guarantor in
respect of the obligations of the Guarantors or any payment received or collected from such
Guarantor in respect of the obligations of the Guarantors), remain liable for the obligations of the Guarantors up to
the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the Guaranteed Obligations and all the
obligations of the Guarantors shall have been paid in full and the Commitments terminated.

     (c) Each Guarantor agrees that, if any payment made by the Borrowers or any other Person
applied to the Guaranteed Obligations is at any time annulled, set aside, rescinded, invalidated,
declared to be fraudulent or preferential or otherwise required to be refunded or repaid, or is
repaid in whole or in part pursuant to a good faith settlement of a pending or threatened claim, or
the proceeds of any Collateral are required to be refunded by the Administrative Agent or any other
Guaranteed Party to the Borrowers, their respective estates, trustees, receivers or any other
Person, including, without limitation, any Guarantor, under any Applicable Law or equitable cause,
then, to the extent of such payment or repayment, each Guarantor’s liability hereunder (and any
Lien or Collateral securing such liability) shall be and remain in full force and effect, as fully
as if such payment had never been made, and, if prior thereto, this Guaranty shall have been
canceled or surrendered (and if any Lien or Collateral securing such Guarantor’s liability
hereunder shall have been released or terminated by virtue of such cancellation or surrender), this
Guaranty (and such Lien or Collateral) shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior
cancellation or surrender shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the
obligations of such Guarantor in respect of the amount of such payment (or any Lien or Collateral
securing such obligation).

7

 

     SECTION 2.11 Payments. Payments by the Guarantors shall be made to the Administrative
Agent, to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with Section
7.05 of the Credit Agreement, in immediately available Dollars to an account designated by the
Administrative Agent or at the Administrative Agent’s Office or at any other address that may be
specified in writing from time to time by the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to extend credit under the Credit Agreement
and the other Loan Documents, each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants that:

     SECTION 3.1 Organization, etc. Such Guarantor (a) is a corporation, partnership or
other form of legal entity, validly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, (b) has all requisite
corporate or other power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, (c) is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or foreign partnership
(or comparable foreign qualification, if applicable, in the case of any other form of legal
entity), as the case may be, in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business requires such
qualification, except where the failure to so qualify will not have a Material Adverse Effect and
(d) has full power and authority and holds all requisite material governmental licenses, permits
and other approvals to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each other
Loan Document to which it is a party and to own or hold under lease its Property and to conduct its
business substantially as currently conducted by it.

     SECTION 3.2 Due Authorization; Non-Contravention, etc. The execution, delivery and
performance by such Guarantor of this Guaranty are within such Guarantor’s corporate, partnership
or comparable powers, as the case may be, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate,
partnership or comparable and, if required, stockholder action, as the case may be, and do not (a)
contravene the Organic Documents of such Guarantor; (b) contravene any material law, statute, rule
or regulation binding on or affecting such Guarantor; (c) except as set forth on Schedule
3.02(c) of the Credit Agreement, violate or result in a default or event of default or an
acceleration of any rights or benefits under any material indenture, agreement or other instrument
binding upon such Guarantor; or (d) result in, or require the creation or imposition of, any Lien
on any material asset of such Guarantor, except Liens created under the Loan Documents.

     SECTION 3.3 Governmental Approval, Regulation, etc. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.03 of the Credit Agreement, no consent, authorization or approval or other
action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or regulatory body or other
Person is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by such Guarantor of this
Agreement except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except
filings necessary to perfect Liens under the Security Documents.

     SECTION 3.4 Validity, etc. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
such Guarantor and constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which such Guarantor is a party
will, on the due execution and delivery thereof and assuming the due execution and delivery of this
Agreement by each of the other parties hereto, constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation
of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its respective terms, subject to the effect of
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforceability of
creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity.

8

 

     SECTION 3.5 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.07 to the Credit
Agreement, there is no pending or, to the knowledge of such Guarantor, threatened litigation,
action or proceeding (including, without limitation, any existing or new litigation relating to the
Transactions) affecting such Guarantor’s operations, properties, businesses, assets or prospects,
or the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, which would have
a Material Adverse Effect or which purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of
this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.

     SECTION 3.6 Solvency. As of the Closing Date (or such later date upon which such
Guarantor became a party hereto) such Guarantor is Solvent.

ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

     SECTION 4.1 Notices. All notices and communications hereunder shall be given to the
addresses and otherwise made in accordance with Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement;
provided that notices and communications to the Guarantors shall be directed to the
Guarantors, at the address of the Borrower Representative set forth in Section 9.01 of the
Credit Agreement.

     SECTION 4.2 Amendments in Writing. None of the terms or provisions of this Guaranty
may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except in accordance with Section
9.02 of the Credit Agreement.

     SECTION 4.3 Expenses; Indemnification; Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc.

     (a) Each Guarantor agrees to pay or reimburse each Guaranteed Party and the Administrative
Agent for all its costs and expenses incurred in connection with enforcing or preserving any rights
under this Guaranty and the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party, including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including the allocated fees
and expenses of in-house counsel) to each Guaranteed Party and of counsel to the Administrative
Agent.

     (b) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and the other
Guaranteed Parties harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any
such Guarantor’s delay in paying, any and all stamp, excise, sales or other taxes which may be
payable or determined to be payable in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this
Guaranty.

     (c) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and the other
Guaranteed Parties harmless from any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
costs and expenses in connection with actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance
and administration of this Guaranty to the extent the Borrowers would be required to do so pursuant
to Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement.

     (d) To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Guarantor shall not assert, and
hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect,
consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in
connection with, or as a result of, this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any agreement or
instrument
contemplated hereby or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. No Indemnitee
referred to in this Section 4.3 shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by
unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through
telecommunications, electronic or other

9

 

information transmission systems in connection with this
Guaranty or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

     (e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after demand therefor.

     SECTION 4.4 Right of Set-off. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, each Guaranteed Party and its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time
to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, to the fullest
extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special,
time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations
(in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Guaranteed Party or any such Affiliate to or for
the credit or the account of such Guarantor against any and all of the obligations of such
Guarantor now or hereafter existing under this Guaranty or any other Loan Document to such
Guaranteed Party, irrespective of whether or not such Guaranteed Party shall have made any demand
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Guarantor may
be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Guaranteed Party different
from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of
each Guaranteed Party and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and
remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Guaranteed Party or its Affiliates may have.
Each Guaranteed Party agrees to notify such Guarantor and the Administrative Agent promptly after
any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not
affect the validity of such setoff and application.

     SECTION 4.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Service of Process.

     (a) Governing Law. This Guaranty shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the law of the State of New York.

     (b) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State
of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern
District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Guaranty or any other Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement
of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all
claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York
State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, in such Federal court. Each of
the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be
conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by law. Nothing in this Guaranty or in any other Loan Document shall affect any
right that the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party may otherwise have to bring any
action or proceeding relating to this Guaranty or any other Loan Document against any Guarantor or
its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

     (c) Waiver of Venue. Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty or any
other Loan Document
in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the defense of an
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

     (d) Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process
in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. Nothing in
this Guaranty will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner
permitted by Applicable Law.

10

 

     SECTION 4.6 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY
OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY
OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE
OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

     SECTION 4.7 No Waiver by Course of Conduct, Cumulative Remedies. Neither the
Administrative Agent nor any other Guaranteed Party shall by any act (except by a written
instrument pursuant to Section 4.2), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to
have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default.
No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising on the part of the Administrative Agent or any
other Guaranteed Party, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof.
No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by
the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one
occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or
such other Guaranteed Party would otherwise have on any future occasion. The rights and remedies
herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of
any other rights or remedies provided by law.

     SECTION 4.8 Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of each Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of each Guarantor (and
shall bind all Persons who become bound as a Guarantor under this Guaranty), the Administrative
Agent and the other Guaranteed Parties and their successors and assigns; provided that no
Guarantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Guaranty
without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (except as otherwise
provided by the Credit Agreement).

     SECTION 4.9 Survival of Indemnities. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Guaranty, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent and the other Guaranteed Parties are
entitled under the provisions of Section 4.3 and any other provision of this Guaranty and
the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and shall
protect the Administrative Agent and the other Guaranteed Parties against events arising after
such termination as well as before.

     SECTION 4.10 Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles, Sections and
subsections in, and the table of contents of, this Guaranty are for convenience only, and neither
limit nor amplify the provisions of this Guaranty.

     SECTION 4.11 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Guaranty or any other
Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or
affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

     SECTION 4.12 Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed shall be deemed

11

 

to be an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one
and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Guaranty
by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of this Guaranty.

     SECTION 4.13 Integration. This Guaranty comprises the complete and integrated
agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior
agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the
provisions of this Guaranty and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of the Credit
Agreement shall control; provided that any provision of the any other Loan Document which
imposes additional burdens on any Guarantor or further restricts the rights of any Guarantor or
gives the Administrative Agent or other Guaranteed Parties additional rights shall not be deemed to
be in conflict or inconsistent with this Guaranty and shall be given full force and effect.

     SECTION 4.14 Advice of Counsel, No Strict Construction. Each of the parties
represents to each other party hereto that it has discussed this Guaranty with its counsel. The
parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Guaranty. In the
event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Guaranty shall be construed
as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise
favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Guaranty.

     SECTION 4.15 Acknowledgements. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that:

     (a) neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Guaranteed Party has any fiduciary
relationship with or duty to any Guarantor arising out of or in connection with this Guaranty or
any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and
the Administrative Agent and the other Guaranteed Parties, on the other hand, in connection
herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

     (b) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by
virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Guarantors and the
Lenders.

     SECTION 4.16 Releases. At such time as the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Hedging
Obligations) shall have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated, this Guaranty
and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the
Administrative Agent and each Guarantor hereunder shall terminate, all without delivery of any
instrument or performance of any act by any party.

     SECTION 4.17 Additional Guarantors. Each Subsidiary of a Borrower that is required to
become a party to this Guaranty pursuant to Section 5.16 of the Credit Agreement shall
become a Guarantor for all purposes of this Guaranty upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary
of a supplement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

[Signature Pages to Follow]

12

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Guarantors has executed and delivered this Guaranty under seal
by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC., as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 

[Signature Pages Continue]

[Consolidated Communications Guaranty Agreement]

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC SERVICES, INC., as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS MARKET RESPONSE, INC., as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR SERVICES, INC., as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SERVICES, INC., as Guarantor

 	 
	 	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS MOBILE SERVICES, INC., as Guarantor

 	 
	 	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 

[Signature Pages Continue]

[Consolidated Communications Guaranty Agreement]

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INC., as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS VENTURES COMPANY, as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES COMPANY, as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS TELECOM SERVICES OF TEXAS COMPANY, as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OF FORT BEND COMPANY, as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 

[Signature Pages Continue]

[Consolidated Communications Guaranty Agreement]

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OF TEXAS COMPANY, as Guarantor

 	 
	 	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS TRANSPORT COMPANY, as Guarantor

 	 
	 	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	NORTH PITTSBURGH TELEPHONE COMPANY, as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	PENN TELECOM, INC., as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	PINNATECH, INC., as Guarantor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Steven L. Childers
 	 
	 	 	          Steven L. Childers 	 
	 	 	          Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 

[Signature Pages Continue]

[Consolidated Communications Guaranty Agreement]

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
Administrative Agent

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Marc Birenbaum
 	 
	 	 	          Marc Birenbaum 	 
	 	 	          Director 	 
	 

[Consolidated Communications Guaranty Agreement]EX-10.12

 

Exhibit 10.12

 

EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGREEMENT

     THIS EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into this                      day of
                    , 200___, between Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”), and                                        (“Employee”).

     Employee is employed by the Company or one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries (referred to
collectively as the “Company”) and the Company desires to provide certain security to Employee in
connection with any potential change in control of the Company. Accordingly, the Company and
Employee, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, hereby agree as follows:

	1.	 	Payments and Benefits Upon a Change in Control. If within two (2) years after a Change in
Control (as defined below), (i) the Company shall terminate Employee’s employment with the
Company without Cause (as defined below), or (ii) Employee shall voluntarily terminate such
employment with Good Reason (as defined below), the Company shall provide the benefits and,
within thirty (30) days of Employee’s Employment Termination (as defined below), make the
payments, described below.

	 	(a)	 	Cash Payment. The Company shall make a lump sum cash payment to
Employee equal to [for Vice President-level employees, insert: “Employee’s annual base
salary” ] [for Director-level employees, insert: “one-half of Employee’s annual base
salary] at the rate in effect on the date of Employment Termination.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Short-Year Bonus. The Company shall make a lump sum cash payment to
Employee equal to a pro rata portion (based on the date on which Employee’s Employment
Termination occurs) of the average of the annual amounts paid to Employee under all
annual cash-based incentive or bonus plans or arrangements of the Company, with respect
to the last three full fiscal years of Employee’s participation in such plans or
arrangements prior to Employment Termination. If Employee’s number of full fiscal
years of participation in any such plan or arrangement is less than three, the average
amount shall be calculated as the average of the annual amounts paid to Employee over
the number of full fiscal years of Employee’s participation in the plan or arrangement.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Welfare Benefit Plans. With respect to each Welfare Benefit Plan (as
defined below), for the period beginning on Employee’s Employment Termination and
ending on the earlier of (i) [for Vice President-level employees, insert: “one year” ]
[for Director-level employees, insert: “six months” ] following Employee’s Employment
Termination, or (ii) the date Employee becomes covered by a welfare benefit plan or
program maintained by an entity other than the Company which provides coverage or
benefits at least equal, in all respects, to such Welfare Benefit Plan, Employee shall
continue to participate in such Welfare Benefit Plan on the same basis and at the same
cost to Employee as was the case immediately prior to the Change in Control, or, if any
benefit or coverage cannot be provided under a Welfare Benefit Plan because of
applicable law or contractual provisions,

-1-

 

	 	 	 	Employee shall be provided with substantially similar benefits and coverage for
such period. Immediately following the expiration of the continuation period
required by the preceding sentence, Employee shall be entitled to continued group
health benefit plan coverage (so-called “COBRA coverage”) in accordance with Section
4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), it being
intended that COBRA coverage shall be consecutive to the benefits and coverage
provided for in the preceding sentence.

	 	(d)	 	Salary to Date of Employment Termination. The Company shall pay to
Employee any unpaid salary or other compensation of any kind earned with respect to any
period prior to Employee’s Employment Termination and a lump sum cash payment for
accumulated but unused vacation earned through such Employment Termination.

	2.	 	Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

	 	(a)	 	“Cause” shall mean: (i) the conviction of, pleading guilty to, or confessing
or otherwise admitting to any felony or any act of fraud, misappropriation or
embezzlement; (ii) the act or omission by Employee involving malfeasance or gross
negligence in the performance of Employee’s duties and responsibilities to the material
detriment of the Company; or (iii) the breach of any provision of any code of conduct
adopted by the Company which applies to the Company if the consequence to such
violation for any Employee subject to such code of conduct ordinarily would be a
termination of his or her employment by the Company.
	 
	 	(b)	 	(i) “Good Reason” shall exist if:

	 	a.	 	there is any reduction after the Change
Effective Date (as defined below) in Employee’s base salary and/or
bonus opportunity without Employee’s express written consent;
	 
	 	b.	 	there is any reduction after the Change
Effective Date in the scope, importance or prestige of Employee’s
duties, responsibilities or powers at the Company without Employee’s
express written consent; or
	 
	 	c.	 	the Company transfers Employee’s primary work
site to a new primary work site which is more than 30 miles (measured
along a straight line) from Employee’s then current primary work site
unless such new primary work site is closer (measured along a straight
line) to Employee’s primary residence than Employee’s then current
primary work site.

	 	(ii)	 	Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such act or omission shall be
treated as “Good Reason” under this Agreement unless:

	 	a.	 	(1) within 90 days of such act, Employee
delivers to the Director — Human Resources a detailed, written
statement of the basis for

-2-

 

	 	 	 	Employee’s belief that such act or omission constitutes Good
Reason, (2) Employee gives the Company a thirty (30) day period after
the delivery of such statement to cure the basis for such belief and
(3) Employee actually submits his or her written resignation to the
Director — Human Resources during the sixty (60) day period which
begins immediately after the end of such thirty (30) day period; or
	 
	 	b.	 	the Company states in writing to Employee that
Employee has the right to treat any such act or omission as Good Reason
under this Agreement and Employee actually submits his or her written
resignation to the Director — Human Resources during the sixty (60)
day period which starts on date such statement is actually delivered to
Employee.

	 	(c)	 	“Change in Control” shall mean a change in control of the Company of a nature
that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation 14A promulgated under the 1934 Act as in effect at the time of such “change
in control”, provided that such a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred on
the earliest to occur of any of the following:

	 	(i)	 	any “person” (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act), other than an “affiliate” (as that term is defined
in Section 5 of Article IV of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of
incorporation) of Richard A. Lumpkin, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) directly or indirectly, of securities
representing a majority of the combined voting power for election of directors
of the then outstanding securities of the Company or any successor to the
Company;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	during any period of two consecutive years or less, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board cease, for any reason,
to constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election or
nomination for election of each new director was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the
beginning of the period;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	the shareholders of the Company approve any reorganization,
merger, consolidation or share exchange as a result of which the common stock
of the Company shall be changed, converted or exchanged into or for securities
of another corporation (other than a merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Company) or any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale or
the disposition of 50% or more of the assets or business of the Company; or
	 
	 	(iv)	 	shareholders of the Company approve any reorganization, merger,
consolidation or share exchange unless (A) the persons who were the

-3-

 

	 	 	 	beneficial owners of the outstanding shares of the common stock of the
Company immediately before the consummation of such transaction beneficially
own at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the common stock of the
successor or survivor corporation in such transaction immediately following
the consummation of such transaction and (B) the number of shares of the
common stock of such successor or survivor corporation beneficially owned by
the persons described in § 2(c)(iv)(A) immediately following the
consummation of such transaction is beneficially owned by each such person
in substantially the same proportion that each such person had beneficially
owned shares of the Company common stock immediately before the consummation
of such transaction, provided (C) the percentage described in § 2(c)(iv)(A)
of the beneficially owned shares of the successor or survivor corporation
and the number described in § 2(c)(iv)(B) of the beneficially owned shares
of the successor or survivor corporation shall be determined exclusively by
reference to the shares of the successor or survivor corporation which
result from the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock of the
Company by the persons described in § 2(c)(iv)(A) immediately before the
consummation of such transaction.

	 	(d)	 	“Change Effective Date” shall mean either the date which includes the “closing”
of the transaction which makes a Change in Control effective if the Change in Control
is made effective through a transaction which has a “closing” or the date a Change in
Control is reported in accordance with applicable law as effective to the Securities
and Exchange Commission if the Change in Control is made effective other than through a
transaction which has a “closing”.
	 
	 	(e)	 	“Employment Termination” shall mean the effective date of: (i) Employee’s
voluntary termination of employment with the Company with Good Reason; or (ii) the
termination of Employee’s employment by the Company without Good Cause.
	 
	 	(f)	 	“Welfare Benefit Plan” shall mean each welfare benefit plan maintained or
contributed to by the Company, including, but not limited to a plan that provides
health (including medical and dental), life, accident or disability benefits or
insurance, or similar coverage, in which Employee was participating immediately prior
to the date of the Change in Control.

	3.	 	Payment Delayed in Certain Circumstances. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if at Employee’s Employment Termination Employee is a “Key Employee” as defined in
Section 416(i) of the Internal Revenue Code (without reference to paragraph 5 thereof), to the
extent any amounts payable to Employee pursuant to this Agreement are subject to Section 409A
of the Internal Revenue Code, payment of such amounts shall not be made until six months
following Employee’s Employment Termination.

-4-

 

	4.	 	Mitigation and Set-Off. Employee shall not be required to mitigate Employee’s damages by
seeking other employment or otherwise. Except as provided in Section 1(c)
of this Agreement, the Company’s obligations under this Agreement shall not be reduced in
any way by reason of any compensation or benefits received (or foregone) by Employee from
sources other than the Company after Employee’s Employment Termination, or any amounts that
might have been received by Employee in other employment had Employee sought such other
employment. Employee’s entitlement to benefits and coverage under this Agreement shall
continue after, and shall not be affected by, Employee’s obtaining other employment after
his Employment Termination, provided that any such benefit or coverage shall not be
furnished if Employee expressly waives the specific benefit or coverage by giving written
notice of waiver to the Company.
	 
	5.	 	Restrictive Covenants. While Employee is employed by the Company and for one year following
any Employment Termination, Employee shall not be associated, directly or indirectly, as an
employee, proprietor, stockholder, partner, agent, representative, officer, or otherwise, with
the operation of any business that is competitive with any line of business of the Company for
which Employee has provided substantial services, in any geographic area in which such line of
business was active at the time of Employee’s Employment Termination, without the prior
written consent of the Company, which shall not unreasonably be withheld.
	 
	6.	 	No Solicitation of Customers, Representatives, Agents or Employees. Employee agrees that he
shall not, while Employee is employed by the Company and for one year following any Employment
Termination, directly or indirectly, in his individual capacity or otherwise, induce, cause,
persuade, or attempt to do any of the foregoing in order to cause, any customer,
representative, agent or employee of the Company to terminate such person’s relationship with
the Company or to violate the terms of any agreement between said customer, representative,
agent or employee and the Company.
	 
	7.	 	Confidentiality. Employee acknowledges that preservation of a continuing business
relationship between the Company and its customers, representatives, and employees is of
critical importance to the continued business success of the Company and that it is the active
policy of the Company to guard as confidential the identity of its customers, trade secrets,
pricing policies, business affairs, representatives and employees. In view of the foregoing,
Employee agrees that he shall not, while employed by the Company and thereafter, without the
prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably),
disclose to any person or entity any information concerning the business of, or any customer,
representative, agent or employee of, the Company which was obtained by Employee in the course
of his employment by the Company. This section shall not be applicable if and to the extent
Employee is required to testify in a legislative, judicial or regulatory proceeding pursuant
to an order of Congress, any state or local legislature, a judge, or an administrative law
judge.
	 
	8.	 	Assignment; Successors. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company without the
written consent of Employee but the obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall be
the binding legal obligations of any successor to the Company by

-5-

 

	 	 	merger, consolidation or otherwise, and in the event of any business combination or transaction that results in the
transfer or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company, the Company will cause
the transferee to assume the obligations of the
Company under this Agreement. This Agreement may not be assigned by Employee during
Employee’s life, and upon Employee’s death will inure to the benefit of Employee’s heirs,
legatees and legal representatives of Employee’s estate.
	 
	9.	 	Withholding. The Company may withhold from any payment that it is required to make under
this Agreement amounts sufficient to satisfy applicable withholding requirements under any
federal, state or local law.
	 
	10.	 	Amendment or Termination. This Agreement may be amended or terminated at any time by written
agreement between the Company and Employee.
	 
	11.	 	Financing. Cash and benefit payments under this Agreement shall constitute general
obligations of the Company. Employee shall have only an unsecured right to payment thereof
out of the general assets of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, by
agreement with one or more trustees to be selected by the Company, create a trust on such
terms as the Company shall determine to make payments to Employee in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement.
	 
	12.	 	Interpretation. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to the conflict of law
principles thereof.
	 
	13.	 	Severability. In the event that any provision or portion of this Agreement shall be
determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions of this
Agreement shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.
	 
	14.	 	Other Agreements. This Agreement supersedes and cancels any prior written or oral agreements
and understandings relating to the terms of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first
written above.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.

	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Its:

	 	 	 	 	 	Employee
	 

	 	 

	 	 	 	 

-6-

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00138-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00138-of-00352.parquet"}]]