HomeMy WebLinkAbout20150225Application Supplement3.pdfMorgan, Lewis & Bockius Llp
2020 K Street, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20006-1806
Tel. 202.373.6000
Fax: 202.373.6001
www.morganlewis.com
Russell M. Blau
Partner
+1.202.373.6035
Russell. blau@morganlewis.com
Jeffrey R. Strenkowski
Of Counsel
+1.202.373.8002
Jeff rey. stren kowski@morganlewi s. com
Morgan Lewrs
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February 24,2015
Via Overniqht Courier
Ms. Jean D. Jewell, Secretary
ldaho Public Utilities Commission
472 West Washington Street
Boise, ldaho 83702
secretary@puc. idaho.gov
Re: Docket No. TAL-T-14-01
SUPPLEMENT Talk America Services, LLC Application for Operating Authority
Dear Ms. Jewell:
This letter supplements the letter filed on February 20,2015, which inadvertently omitted the referenced enclosures,
This letter is intended to supplement the above-referenced application for operating authority filed on behalf of Talk
America Services, LLC ("TAS) on or about September 23, 2014, and prior correspondence concerning the
resignation of Anthony W. Thomas as Chief Operating Officer ("CEO") of TAS and TAS's parent company,
Communications Sales and Leasing, lnc. ("CSL") (collectively, the "Companies"). TAS and CSL have hired a new
CEO, Kenny Gunderman. For your reference, we are attaching a press release issued by Windstream concerning the
management change, which also contains a biography of Mr. Gunderman.
Please acknowledge receipt and acceptance of this supplement. An original and seven (7) copies of this supplement
are being submitted. Please date stamp and return the enclosed extra copy of this filing in the postage pre-paid
envelope provided, Should you have any questions concerning this supplement, please do not hesitate to contact the
undersigned.
Respectfully submitted,
,
-'(,rrt {i.,'l-.*.,f
RussellM, Blau
Jeffrey R, Strenkowski
Counselfor Talk America Services, LLC
Enclosure
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Feb 12,2015
Windstream names Kenny Gunderman REIT CEO
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Windstream (Nasdaq: WIN) has named
Kenny Gunderman, president and chief executive officer of the
company's planned real estate investment trust (REIT) spinoff,
Communications Sales & Leasing,Inc. (CS&L). Gunderman
currently serves as executive vice president and co-head of
investment banking for Stephens, Inc. The appointrnent is effective
March 2.
"Kenny's extensive background in investment banking and his deep
relationships throughout the telecom industry uniquely position him
to drive growth at CS&L," said Windstream Director Francis X.
"Skip" Frantz, who will serve as chairman of CS&L's board upon
close of the transaction.
"I have worked with Kenny on numerous transactions while at
Windstream. His appointment significantly advances our work to
complete the REIT spinoff, which will enable Windstream to accelerate network investrnents, reduce
debt and maximize shareholder value," said Tony Thomas, Windstream president and chief
executive officer.
"I am excited about this appointment and eager to pursue the tremendous opportunity ahead for
CS&L. I look forward to finalizing our leadership team and completing the required financing in
order to expeditiously close the transaction," said Kenny Gunderman. "I also am thankful and
appreciative for my time and experiences at Stephens."
Gunderman, 44, joined Stephens Inc. in 2006 as a senior telecom banker. In February 2007, he was
named co-head of investment banking, and his responsibilities were expanded to include strategic
direction for the invesffnent banking department. Since joining Stephens, he has advised on many of
the firm's recent notable investment banking transactions. His experience since joining Stephens
includes substantial public and private company advisory and financings.
Prior to joining Stephens, Gunderman was a member of the telecom investment banking group at
Lehman Brothers, where he advised on various transactions and financings totaling more than $125
billion. He previously worked at KPMG as a CPA and holds an MBA from Yale and a bachelor of
arts degree from Hendrix College.
Windstream announced on July 29 plans to spin offcertain telecommunications network assets into
an independent publicly traded REIT, which will lease use of the assets to Windstream through a
long-term triple-net exclusive lease. Windstream will operate and maintain the assets to deliver
advanced communications and technology services to consumers and businesses. The REIT will
focus on expanding and diversiffing its assets and tenants through future acquisitions.
About Windstream
Windstream, a FORTUNE 500 and S&P 500 company, is a leading provider of advanced network
communications and technology solutions, including cloud computing and managed services, to
businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, phone and digital TV services to
consumers primarily in rural areas. For more information, visit the company's online newsroom at
news.windstream.com or follow on Twitter at @WindstreamNews.
Windstream claims the protection of the safe-harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to
uncertainties that could cause actual futtre events and results to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements regarding the completion of the transaction, the expected benefits of the
transaction and the expected financial attributes of the new Windsfream. Such statements are based
on estimates, projections, beliefs, and assumptions that Windstream believes are reasonable but are
not guarantees of future events and results. Actual future events and results of Windstream may
differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of
important factors.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in Windstream's
forward-looking statements include, among others: (i) risks related to the anticipated timing of the
proposed separation, the expected tax treatment of the proposed transaction, the ability of each of
Windstream (post-spin) and the new REIT to conduct and expand their respective businesses
following the proposed spinoff, the ability of Windstream to reduce its debt by the
currently-anticipated amounts, and the diversion of management's attention from regular business
concerns; (ii) the risk that Windstream's board of directors could abandon the spinoff or modiff or
change the terms of the spinoffat any time and for any reason until the spinoffis complete; (iii)
Windstream's ability to obtain stockholder approval of an amendment to a subsidiary's certificate of
incorporation that will facilitate the REIT spinoff without incurring a large tax liability; and (iv)
those additional factors under "Risk Factors" in Item lA of Part I of Windstream's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2013, and in subsequent filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) at www.sec.gov.
In connection with the proposed transaction Windstream Holdings has filed with the SEC and
mailed to stockholders a definitive pro)ry statement dated lan. 9,2015. Such proxy statement
includes information about Windstream's directors and executive officers and their ownership of
Windstream's common stock who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies
from Windstream's stockholders with respect to the proposals for which stockholder approval is
being sought in advance of the REIT spinoff. Investors are urged to read the definitive proxy
statement (including any amendments and supplements) and any other relevant documents filed with
the SEC because they contain important information about Windstream and the proposed
transaction. The definitive proxy statement and other documents relating to the proposed transaction
can be obtained free of charge from the SEC's website atl a a4,sec.goy and Windstream's website at
www.windstream.com. In addition, these documents can also be obtained free of charge from
Windstream Holdings upon written request to the Corporate Secretary at 4001 Rodney Parham
Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212.
Kenny Gunderman
Kenny Gunderman is chief executive officer for Communications Sales & Leasing, [nc.
Gunderman joined Stephens Inc. in 2006 as a senior telecom banker. In February 2007, he was
named co-head of investment banking, and his responsibilities were expanded to include
strategic direction for the investment banking department. Since joining Stephens, he has advised
on many of the firm's recent notable investment banking transactions. His experience since
joining Stephens includes substantial public and private company advisory and financings.
Prior to joining Stephens, Gunderman was a member of the telecom investment banking group at
Lehman Brothers, where he advised on various transactions and financings totaling more than
$125 billion. He previously worked at KPMG as a CPA and holds an MBA from Yale and a
bachelor of arts degree from Hendrix College.