Windstream Holdings Inc. Ratings Placed On CreditWatch Negative Following Announced Share Repurchase Program

U.S.-based telecommunications provider Windstream Holdings Inc. announced today that it had authorized a $75 million share repurchase program, expiring Dec. 31, 2016. We are placing our ratings on Windstream, including our 'BB-' corporate credit rating, on CreditWatch with negative implications. The CreditWatch placement reflects the potential for an affirmation or one-notch downgrade of the corporate credit rating. NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Aug. 6, 2015--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services today said it placed its ratings, including its 'BB-' corporate credit rating, on Little Rock, Ark.-based Windstream Holdings Inc. on CreditWatch with negative implications. The CreditWatch placement follows the company's announcement that it had authorized a $75 million share repurchase program that will expire on Dec. 31, 2016. "We believe that

... Holdings Inc. announced today that it had authorized a $75 million share repurchase program, expiring Dec. 31, 2016. + We are placing our ratings on Windstream, including our '##-' corporate credit rating, on CreditWatch with negative implications. + The CreditWatch placement reflects the potential for an affirmation or one-notch downgrade of the corporate credit rating. NEW YORK (Standard & Poor's) Aug. 6, 2015--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today said it placed its ratings, including its '##-' corporate credit rating, on Little Rock, Ark.-based Windstream Holdings Inc. on CreditWatch with negative implications. The CreditWatch placement follows the company's announcement that it had authorized a $75 million share repurchase program that will expire on Dec. 31, 2016. "We believe that the stock buyback program, coupled with weak operating and financial performance, could make it challenging for the company to achieve our threshold...

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