| Reorganization under Chapter 11 of US Bankruptcy Code Disclosure [Text Block] | Chapter 11 Filing, Going Concern and Other Related Matters: Chapter 11 Filing On February 15, 2019, Judge Jesse Furman of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued findings of fact and conclusions of law in litigation relating to a noteholder’s allegations that our spin-off of certain assets in 2015 into a publicly-traded real estate investment trust resulted in one or more defaults of certain covenants under one of Windstream Services’ existing indentures. The findings resulted in a cross default under Windstream Services’ senior secured credit agreement governing its secured term and revolving loan obligations and remaining obligations under the contractual arrangement with Uniti. In addition, the findings resulted in a cross-acceleration event of default under the indentures governing Windstream Services’ other series of secured and unsecured notes. As a result, all long-term debt and remaining obligations under the contractual arrangement with Uniti were classified as current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018. On February 25, 2019 (the “Petition Date”), Windstream Holdings and all of its subsidiaries, including Windstream Services (collectively, the “Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”). The filing of the Chapter 11 Cases also constitutes an event of default under our debt agreements. Subject to certain specific exceptions under the Bankruptcy Code, the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases automatically stayed most judicial or administrative actions against the Debtors and efforts by creditors to collect on or otherwise exercise rights or remedies with respect to pre-petition claims. Absent an order from the Bankruptcy Court, substantially all of the Debtors’ pre-petition liabilities are subject to settlement under the Bankruptcy Code. The Chapter 11 Cases are being jointly administered under the caption In re Windstream Holdings, Inc., et al., No 19-22312 (RDD). We will continue to operate our businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. In general, as debtors-in-possession under the Bankruptcy Code, we are authorized to continue to operate as an ongoing business, however, we may not engage in transactions outside the ordinary course of business without the prior approval of the Bankruptcy Court. Pursuant to first day motions filed with the Bankruptcy Court, the Bankruptcy Court authorized us to conduct our business activities in the ordinary course, including, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions of such orders, authorizing us to: obtain debtor-in-possession financing, pay certain employee wages and benefits, and pay certain vendors and suppliers in the ordinary course for most goods and services. 2. Chapter 11 Filing, Going Concern and Other Related Matters, Continued: Subject to certain exceptions, under the Bankruptcy Code, the Debtors may assume, assign, or reject certain executory contracts and unexpired leases subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court and certain other conditions. Generally, the rejection of an executory contract or unexpired lease is treated as a pre-petition breach of such executory contract or unexpired lease and, subject to certain exceptions, relieves the Debtors from performing their future obligations under such executory contract or unexpired lease but entitles the contract counterparty or lessor to a pre-petition general unsecured claim for damages caused by such deemed breach. Generally, the assumption of an executory contract or unexpired lease requires the Debtors to cure existing monetary defaults under such executory contract or unexpired lease and provide adequate assurance of future performance. Accordingly, any description of an executory contract or unexpired lease with the Debtors discussed herein, including a quantification of the Debtors’ obligations under any such executory contract or unexpired lease, is qualified by any overriding rejection rights the Debtors have under the Bankruptcy Code. Uniti Arrangement The acceleration of the 2023 Notes resulted in an event of default under the contractual arrangement with Uniti but no default notice has been received. Upon an event of default, remedies available to Uniti include terminating the contractual arrangement and requiring us to transfer the business operations we conduct on the telecommunication network assets so terminated (with limited exceptions) to a successor party for fair market value pursuant to a process set forth in the contractual arrangement, dispossessing us from the telecommunication network assets, and/or collecting monetary damages for the breach (including payment acceleration), electing to leave the contractual arrangement in place and sue for payment and any other monetary damages, and seeking any and all other rights and remedies available under law or in equity. The exercise of such remedies could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and liquidity. Uniti’s ability to exercise remedies under the contractual arrangement was stayed as of the date of the Chapter 11 petition filing. In connection with the Chapter 11 Cases, the Debtors analyzed the arrangement with Uniti, and on July 25, 2019, the Debtors filed a complaint, in the Bankruptcy Court seeking, among other things, to recharacterize the Uniti arrangement from a lease to a financing. The complaint contained additional claims that certain transfers from Windstream to Uniti were fraudulent transfers under the applicable Bankruptcy Code provisions, and finally, that Uniti was in breach of the arrangement by engaging in competitive behavior in violation of certain provisions in the arrangement. After engaging in a seven months -long mediation process with Uniti and its creditors regarding the litigation, that was overseen by the Honorable Judge Shelly C. Chapman, on March 2, 2020, Windstream announced an agreement in principle with Uniti to settle any and all claims and causes that were or could have been asserted against Uniti by Windstream, including seeking the recharacterization of the lease to a financing. Among the terms of the settlement, Uniti agreed to fund up to $1.75 billion in capital improvements to the network; pay Windstream $400 million payable in quarterly cash installments over five years , at an annual interest rate of 9.0 percent , which amount may be fully paid after one year, resulting in total cash payments ranging from $432 - $490 million ; and purchase, for $40 million , certain Windstream-owned fiber assets, including certain fiber indefeasible rights of use (“IRU”) contracts with Windstream transferring to Uniti certain dark fiber IRU contracts. Uniti will also transfer to Windstream $244.5 million of proceeds from, and conditioned upon, the sale of Uniti’s common stock to certain first lien creditors of Windstream Services. Annual rental payments will be equal to the annual rent due under the existing master lease agreement. On the one-year anniversary of any growth capital improvements funded by Uniti, the annual base rent payable by Windstream will increase by an amount equal to 8.0 percent of such investment, subject to a 0.5 percent annual escalator. In conjunction with the announcement, Windstream filed a motion seeking approval from the Bankruptcy Court of the proposed settlement, and a hearing on the motion was held on May 7-8, 2020, at which time the Bankruptcy Court approved the settlement with Uniti. The approved settlement is subject to certain regulatory approvals and conditions precedent, including Uniti's receipt of satisfactory "true lease" and REIT opinions, which remain outstanding. Until all conditions are satisfied, there is no guarantee that the settlement with Uniti will be consummated. 2. Chapter 11 Filing, Going Concern and Other Related Matters, Continued: Plan Support Agreement On March 2, 2020, the Debtors entered into a Plan Support Agreement (the “PSA”) with certain members of first lien lenders and noteholders, including the Debtors’ largest creditor, Elliott Investment Management L.P. (“Elliott”), and Uniti. The PSA contemplates the Debtors’ restructuring and recapitalization (the “Restructuring Transactions”), which will be implemented through a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Plan”). The PSA provided for, among other things: (1) reduction of Windstream’s existing funded debt by more than $4 billion upon emergence of the Chapter 11 Cases, (2) reduction of Windstream’s annual debt service obligations, and (3) access to exit financing consistent with terms set forth in the PSA. Pursuant to the PSA, participating parties agreed to, among other things, support the Restructuring Transactions and vote in favor of the Plan. The PSA, as amended, has support across the Debtors’ capital structure, and participating parties include 94 percent of first lien claims, 54 percent of second lien claims, 39 percent of unsecured notes claims, and 72 percent of holders of 6.375 percent Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Midwest Notes”). On March 2, 2020, the Debtors publicly filed the PSA and accompanying plan term sheet (the “Plan Term Sheet”), outlining the terms of the reorganization, including funding an exit facility in an aggregate amount up to $3,250 million (the “New Exit Facility”) and backstop commitments from certain first lien creditors (the “Backstop Commitment Agreement”) related to a $750 million common equity rights offering upon the effective date (the “Rights Offering”). On March 13, 2020, the Debtors filed a motion to approve the Backstop Commitment Agreement, providing for a backstop premium equal to 8 percent of the $750 million committed amount payable in common stock (the “Backstop Premium”), which agreement was approved by the Bankruptcy Court at a hearing on May 8, 2020, subject to an adjustment, required by the Bankruptcy Court, that in the event that Windstream’s proposed plan of reorganization is not confirmed, the Backstop Premium shall be reduced to 4 percent , or $30 million . Among other items, the PSA is conditioned upon the consummation of the settlement with Uniti. Accordingly, there is no guarantee that the Debtors will consummate the PSA. Plan of Reorganization In order for the Debtors to emerge successfully from Chapter 11, the Debtors must obtain the required votes of creditors accepting a plan of reorganization as well as the Bankruptcy Court’s confirmation of such plan. A reorganization plan determines the rights and satisfaction of claims of various creditors and security holders and is subject to the ultimate outcome of negotiations and Bankruptcy Court decisions ongoing through the date on which the reorganization plan is confirmed. On April 1, 2020, the Debtors filed a Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization (“the Plan”) with the Bankruptcy Court. As of September 30, 2019, the Debtors filed a Disclosure Statement relating to the Plan, along with a motion seeking approval of the Disclosure Statement. On May 6, 2020, an amended Disclosure Statement was filed with the Bankruptcy Court that included ranges of allowed claims by creditor classes. As of December 31, 2019, the Debtors have adjusted their recorded liabilities to amounts consistent with the estimates ranges specified in the Disclosure Statement. At a hearing held on May 8, 2020 , the Disclosure Statement was approved by the Bankruptcy Court, allowing the Company to begin soliciting the requisite accepting votes in favor of the Plan. The Debtors retain the exclusive right to file the Plan through and including June 22, 2020, as well as the right to seek further extensions of such period up to the statutory maximum date of August 25, 2020. The Plan can be supplemented and revised based upon discussions with the Debtors’ creditors and other interested parties and in response to creditor claims and objections and the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code or the Bankruptcy Court. There can be no assurance that the Debtors will be able to secure requisite accepting votes for the Plan or that confirmation of the Plan by the Bankruptcy Court will occur. On June 24, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing to consider the approval of the Debtors’ Plan. The Plan will be subject to usual and customary conditions to plan confirmation, including obtaining the requisite vote of creditors and approval of the Bankruptcy Court. The Plan memorializes the terms agreed to in the PSA and Plan Term Sheet, providing for, among other things: a) payment in full of debtor-in-possession financing obligations and administrative expense claims; b) distribution to holders of first lien claims on a pro rata basis: (i) 100 percent of new common stock, subject to certain adjustments described in the Plan and dilution by the Backstop Premium, Rights Offering, and Management Incentive Program; (ii) cash in the amount equal to the sum of Exit Facility proceeds, flex proceeds, cash proceeds of the Rights Offering, and cash held by the Debtors; (iii) subscription rights; and (iv) first lien replacement loans, as applicable; c) $100 million in new loans arising under the New Exit Facility to holders of Midwest Notes; 2. Chapter 11 Filing, Going Concern and Other Related Matters, Continued: d) certain cash distributions to holders of the second lien claims, unsecured notes claims, and other general unsecured claims against obligor Debtors, if those classes accept the plan; e) reinstatement or repayment of general unsecured claims against non-obligor Debtors; and f) the cancellation of existing equity interests in Windstream Holdings. The Debtors have been in compliance with all milestones under the PSA, including (1) the milestones to file with the Bankruptcy Court the motion to approve the Uniti Settlement, the Backstop Commitment Agreement, and the motion to approve the Backstop Commitment Agreement, (2) the milestone to file with the Bankruptcy Court the Plan, Disclosure Statement, and motion to approve the Disclosure Statement, (3) the milestones, as extended, to achieve entry of the orders to approve the Backstop Commitment Agreement and Uniti Settlement, and (4) the milestone to achieve entry of the order approving the Disclosure Statement. After the Bankruptcy Court’s approval of the order approving the Disclosure Statement on May 14, 2020, the remaining PSA milestones were extended to provide for a milestone of July 2, 2020 to confirm the Plan and September 30, 2020 to emerge from Chapter 11. The Debtors’ emergence from Chapter 11 is subject to, among other things, consummation of the Restructuring Transactions described above, certain regulatory approvals, and execution and implementation of the definitive documents contemplated by the Uniti Settlement. The Debtors expect to timely emerge from Chapter 11; however, there is no guarantee that we will consummate the Plan and emerge from Chapter 11. Going Concern and Financial Reporting Our financial condition, the defaults under our debt agreements and contractual arrangement with Uniti, and the risks and uncertainties surrounding the Chapter 11 Cases, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Our ability to continue as a going concern is contingent upon, among other factors, our ability to (i) obtain the required creditor acceptance and confirmation under the Bankruptcy Code of our plan of reorganization, (ii) successfully implement such plan of reorganization, (iii) address debt and other liabilities through the bankruptcy process, (iv) generate sufficient cash flow from operations, and (v) obtain financing sources sufficient to meet our future obligations. As a result of the Chapter 11 Cases, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities are subject to uncertainty. While operating as debtors-in-possession pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, we may sell or otherwise dispose of or liquidate assets or settle liabilities, subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court or as otherwise permitted in the ordinary course of business pursuant to relief we obtained from the Bankruptcy Court, for amounts other than those reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In particular, such financial statements do not purport to show with respect to (i) assets, the realization value on a liquidation basis or availability to satisfy liabilities, (ii) liabilities arising prior to the Petition Date, the amounts that may be allowed for claims or contingencies, or the status and priority thereof, (iii) shareholders’ equity accounts, the effect of any changes that may be made in our capitalization, or (iv) operations, the effects of any changes that may be made in the underlying business. A confirmed plan of reorganization would likely cause material changes to the amounts currently disclosed in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Further, the plan of reorganization could materially change the amounts and classifications reported in the consolidated historical financial statements, which do not give effect to any adjustments to the carrying value of assets or amounts of liabilities that might be necessary as a consequence of confirmation of a plan of reorganization. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any direct adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities or any other adjustments that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern or as a consequence of the Chapter 11 Cases. 2. Chapter 11 Filing, Going Concern and Other Related Matters, Continued: Effective on February 25, 2019, we began to apply the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 852, Reorganizations, which is applicable to companies under bankruptcy protection, and requires amendments to the presentation of key financial statement line items. ASC 852 requires that the financial statements for periods subsequent to the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases distinguish transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization from the ongoing operations of the business. Revenues, expenses, realized gains and losses, and provisions for losses that can be directly associated with the reorganization and restructuring of the business must be reported separately as reorganization items, net in the consolidated statements of operations beginning February 25, 2019. The consolidated balance sheet must distinguish pre-petition liabilities subject to compromise from both those pre-petition liabilities that are not subject to compromise and from post-petition liabilities. Liabilities subject to compromise include pre-petition liabilities that are unsecured, under-secured or where it cannot be determined that the liabilities are fully secured. Liabilities that may be affected by a plan of reorganization must be reported at the amounts expected to be allowed by the Bankruptcy Court, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts as a result of the plan of reorganization or negotiations with creditors. If there is uncertainty about whether a secured claim is undersecured, or will be impaired under the plan of reorganization, the entire amount of the claim is included with prepetition claims in liabilities subject to compromise. In addition, cash used for reorganization items is disclosed. Liabilities Subject to Compromise Due to the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases on February 25, 2019, the classification of pre-petition indebtedness is generally subject to compromise pursuant to a plan of reorganization. Generally, actions to enforce or otherwise effect payment of pre-bankruptcy filing liabilities are stayed. Although payment of pre-petition claims generally is not permitted, the Bankruptcy Court granted the Debtors authority to pay certain pre-petition claims in designated categories and subject to certain terms and conditions. This relief generally was designed to preserve the value of the Debtors’ businesses and assets. Among other things, the Bankruptcy Court authorized the Debtors to pay certain pre-petition claims relating to employee wages and benefits, taxes and critical vendors. The Debtors are paying and intend to pay undisputed post-petition liabilities in the ordinary course of business. In addition, the Debtors may reject certain pre-petition executory contracts and unexpired leases with respect to their operations with the approval of the Bankruptcy Court. Any damages resulting from the rejection of executory contracts and unexpired leases are treated as general unsecured claims. Pre-petition liabilities that are subject to compromise are required to be reported at the amounts expected to be allowed, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts. The amounts currently classified as liabilities subject to compromise may be subject to future adjustments depending on Bankruptcy Court actions, further developments with respect to disputed claims, determinations of secured status of certain claims, the values of any collateral securing such claims, or other events. Any resulting changes in classification will be reflected in subsequent financial statements, as was the case for certain debt obligations of Windstream Services, which were reclassified to liabilities subject to compromise in the second quarter of 2019, as discussed below. As further discussed in Note 4, “Debt,” our debtor-in-possession facilities have priority over all the other debt obligations of Windstream Services and its subsidiaries. Both the March 2020 PSA and the Plan indicated that all debt obligations of Windstream Services and its subsidiaries were impaired, except for the debtor-in-possession facilities. Based on the expected treatment of the creditor classes included in the PSA and the Plan, which the Debtors believe to be the most relevant factor in determining the appropriate classification of its debt obligations as of the balance sheet date, debt obligations under the senior secured credit facility, senior first lien notes and bonds issued by Windstream Holdings of the Midwest, Inc. (“Midwest Bonds”) were classified as liabilities subject to compromise during the second quarter of 2019. All unamortized debt issuance costs and original net discount related to these debt obligations were written-off and charged to reorganization items, net during second quarter of 2019. The senior secured second lien notes and unsecured senior notes, which were undercollateralized as of the Petition Date, had been classified as liabilities subject to compromise in the first quarter of 2019. Accordingly, all debt obligations, except for the debtor-in-possession facilities, have been classified as liabilities subject to compromise in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2019 . 2. Chapter 11 Filing, Going Concern and Other Related Matters, Continued: As also discussed in Note 4, “Debt,” adequate protection payment was granted by the Bankruptcy Court to holders of debt obligations under Windstream Services’ senior secured credit facility and to holders of the senior first lien notes and Midwest Bonds. The Debtors have concluded that such payments do not represent the reduction of principal because the allowed claim for the associated secured debt included in the Disclosure Statement agreed to the outstanding principal balance as of September 30, 2019 and the Bankruptcy Court has not taken any action to date to recharacterize the adequate protection payments as principal reduction. Accordingly, all such adequate protection payments remitted subsequent to the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases have been classified as interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Disclosure Statement is subject to amendment and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that the treatment of the adequate protection payments will not change. Liabilities subject to compromise at September 30, 2019 consisted of the following: (Millions) Accounts payable $ 346.6 Advance payments 8.7 Accrued taxes 20.2 Other current liabilities 102.7 Deferred taxes 42.5 Operating lease liabilities 4,087.4 Pension and other employee benefit plan obligations 316.9 Other liabilities 201.1 Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities 5,126.1 Debt subject to compromise 5,599.3 Accrued interest on debt subject to compromise 28.9 Long-term debt and accrued interest 5,628.2 Total liabilities subject to compromise $ 10,754.3 Determination of the value at which liabilities will ultimately be settled cannot be made until the Bankruptcy Court approves the Plan. We will continue to evaluate the amount and classification of our pre-petition liabilities. Potential Claims On May 10, 2019, the Debtors filed with the Bankruptcy Court schedules and statements setting forth, among other things, the assets and liabilities of each of the Debtors, subject to the assumptions filed in connection therewith. These schedules and statements may be subject to further amendment or modification after filing. Certain holders of pre-petition claims that were not governmental entities were required to file proofs of claim by the deadline for general claims, which was on July 15, 2019 (the “Bar Date”). The governmental bar date was August 26, 2019. As of May 15, 2020, the Debtors have received approximately 8,250 proofs of claim for an amount of approximately $16.5 billion . Such amount includes duplicate claims across multiple debtor legal entities. These claims will continue to be reconciled to amounts recorded in liabilities subject to compromise in the consolidated balance sheet. Differences in amounts recorded and claims filed by creditors continue to be investigated and resolved, including through the filing of objections with the Bankruptcy Court, where appropriate. The Debtors may ask the Bankruptcy Court to disallow claims that the Debtors believe are duplicative, have been later amended or superseded, are without merit, are overstated or should be disallowed for other reasons. In addition, as a result of this process, the Debtors may identify additional liabilities that will need to be recorded or reclassified to liabilities subject to compromise. In light of the substantial number of claims filed, and expected to be filed, the claims resolution process may take considerable time to complete and likely will continue after the Debtors emerge from bankruptcy. 2. Chapter 11 Filing, Going Concern and Other Related Matters, Continued: Reorganization Items The Debtors have incurred and will continue to incur significant costs associated with the reorganization, primarily legal and professional fees. Subsequent to the Petition Date, these costs are being expensed as incurred and are expected to significantly affect our consolidated results of operations. Reorganization items incurred as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases presented separately in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 were as follows: (Millions) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Write-off of deferred long-term debt issuance costs $ — $ 54.7 Write-off of original issue net discount on debt subject to compromise — 27.1 Debtor-in-possession financing costs 1.0 43.4 Professional fees and other bankruptcy related costs 32.4 99.1 Provision for estimated damages on rejected executory contracts 0.2 25.5 Gain on write-off of net lease liabilities for rejected leases (0.2 ) (17.6 ) Gain on vendor settlements of liabilities subject to compromise (4.2 ) (12.7 ) Reorganization items, net $ 29.2 $ 219.5 Professional fees included in reorganization items, net represent fees for post-petition expenses related to the Chapter 11 Cases. The write-offs of deferred long-term debt issuance costs and original issue net discount relate to debt classified as liabilities subject to compromise. Included in debtor-in-possession financing costs were fees of $16.9 million that were netted against the $500.0 million proceeds received from issuance of the DIP Facility. |
