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<font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-VARIANT: normal; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: normal">UNITED STATES</font></div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-VARIANT: normal; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-VARIANT: normal; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-VARIANT: normal; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center">FORM 8-K</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">CURRENT REPORT</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 6, 2017</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Exact name of registrant</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">as specified in its charter</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">jurisdiction of</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">incorporation or organization</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Windstream Holdings, Inc.</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Delaware</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">001-32422</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Windstream Services, LLC</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Delaware</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">001-36093</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">20-0792300</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">4001 Rodney Parham Road</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Little Rock, Arkansas</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">72212</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(501) 748-7000</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">N/A</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: right">Emerging growth company <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.&#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">On December 6, 2017, counsel for Windstream Services, LLC (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) sent a letter to counsel for Aurelius Capital Master Ltd. (&#8220;Aurelius&#8221;), a holder of the Company&#8217;s 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2023 (the &#8220;6 3/8% Senior Notes&#8221;), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(a).</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Item 8.01. Other Events</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">On November 27, 2017, the Company received a purported notice of default dated November 27, 2017 (the &#8220;November Notice&#8221;) from Aurelius which alleged that the Company&#8217;s previously announced offers to exchange certain of the Company&#8217;s existing senior notes for additional 6 3/8% Senior Notes and/or 8.625% Senior First Lien Notes due 2025 and solicitation of consents from holders of the 6 3/8%&#160; Senior Notes (the &#8220;Exchange and Consent Transactions&#8221;) violated the terms of the indenture governing the 6 3/8% Senior Notes (the &#8220;Indenture&#8221;).</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">On December 6, 2017, the Company received a notice dated December 6, 2017 from Aurelius rescinding the November Notice.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">The allegations in the November Notice were substantially the same as claims Aurelius has made in litigation relating to its purported notice of default dated September 21, 2017 (the &#8220;Original Notice&#8221;) that is pending in federal district court in the Southern District of New York. The Company will vigorously defend against these claims. The Company has also filed pleadings outlining that the claims asserted in the litigation by the trustee under the Indenture that relate to the Original Notice are mooted by the Exchange and Consent Transactions and, thus, ripe for dismissal. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in the pending litigation.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt">(d) Exhibits:</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Description</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a href="s001990x1_ex99a.htm">Exhibit 99(a)</a></div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Letter dated December 6, 2017</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">SIGNATURE</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">WINDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">/s/ Kristi M. Moody</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">/s/ Kristi M. Moody</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Name:</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Kristi M. Moody</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Name:</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Kristi M. Moody</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt">Dated: December 6, 2017</div>

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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "s001990x1_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 22880}]
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 6, 2017
Exact name of registrant
as specified in its charter
State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization
Commission
File Number
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
Windstream Holdings, Inc.
Delaware
001-32422
46-2847717
Windstream Services, LLC
Delaware
001-36093
20-0792300
4001 Rodney Parham Road
Little Rock, Arkansas
72212
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(501) 748-7000
(Registrants' telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
☐
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure
On December 6, 2017, counsel for Windstream Services, LLC (the "Company") sent a letter to counsel for Aurelius Capital Master Ltd. ("Aurelius"), a holder of the Company's 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "6 3/8% Senior Notes"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(a).
Item 8.01. Other Events
On November 27, 2017, the Company received a purported notice of default dated November 27, 2017 (the "November Notice") from Aurelius which alleged that the Company's previously announced offers to exchange certain of the Company's existing senior notes for additional 6 3/8% Senior Notes and/or 8.625% Senior First Lien Notes due 2025 and solicitation of consents from holders of the 6 3/8%  Senior Notes (the "Exchange and Consent Transactions") violated the terms of the indenture governing the 6 3/8% Senior Notes (the "Indenture").
On December 6, 2017, the Company received a notice dated December 6, 2017 from Aurelius rescinding the November Notice.
The allegations in the November Notice were substantially the same as claims Aurelius has made in litigation relating to its purported notice of default dated September 21, 2017 (the "Original Notice") that is pending in federal district court in the Southern District of New York. The Company will vigorously defend against these claims. The Company has also filed pleadings outlining that the claims asserted in the litigation by the trustee under the Indenture that relate to the Original Notice are mooted by the Exchange and Consent Transactions and, thus, ripe for dismissal. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in the pending litigation.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits:
Exhibit No.
Description
Exhibit 99(a)
Letter dated December 6, 2017
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WINDSTREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
WINDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC
By:
/s/ Kristi M. Moody
By:
/s/ Kristi M. Moody
Name:
Kristi M. Moody
Name:
Kristi M. Moody
Title:
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Title:
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary
Corporate Secretary
Dated: December 6, 2017