Form 11-K Consolidated Communicati For: Dec 31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

☒ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

or

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the transition period from ________  to  ________.

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER:  0-51446

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.  401(k) PLAN

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.

121 South 17th Street

Mattoon, Illinois 61938-3987

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 401(K) PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note: Other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, have been omitted because they are not applicable.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Participants and Plan Administrators of the

Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2015.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As further disclosed in the notes to the financial statements, the Board of Directors of Consolidated Communications, Inc., the plan’s sponsor, approved and authorized the merger of the Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan for Bargaining Associates and the Enventis Corporation Retirement Savings Plan into the Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan effective December 31, 2015.  The transfer of assets and liabilities of these plans are reflected on the 2015 financial statements.       

The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2015, has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan’s financial statements.  The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedule reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedule.  In forming our opinion on the supplemental schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedule, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  In our opinion, the supplemental schedule is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.

Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

See accompanying notes to financial statements

Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015

See accompanying notes to financial statements

The following description of the Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information.  Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

General

The Plan was established January 1, 2003 and is a defined contribution plan with a 401(k) feature covering all salaried, non-union hourly-paid and certain union employees of Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”).  All qualifying employees of the Company and participating subsidiaries are immediately eligible to participate in the Plan upon hire.  The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).

As discussed in Note 8, the Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan for Bargaining Associates and the Enventis Corporation Retirement Savings Plan, which was previously sponsored by an acquired company, were merged with and into the Plan as of December 31, 2015.

Plan Administration

T. Rowe Price Trust Company is the trustee and custodian of the Plan.  The Plan is administered by the Company.

Contributions

Each year, participants may contribute any whole percentage from 1% to 50% of pretax annual compensation as defined in the Plan.  Participants who have attained age 50 before the end of the Plan year are eligible to make catch-up contributions.  The Plan allows participants to designate contributions as Roth 401(k) contributions.  Participant contributions are subject to certain limitations set by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).  Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from another qualified retirement plan or individual retirement account (rollover contributions).  Participants direct the investment of their contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan. 

The Company contributes an amount equal to 100% of each eligible participant’s elective contributions (including catch-up contributions) up to a maximum of 6% of a participant’s compensation contributed to the Plan.  The Company’s matching contribution is invested as directed by the participant.

Participant Accounts

Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of the Company’s matching contribution and Plan earnings including administrative expenses.  Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined by the Plan.  The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.

Vesting

Participants are immediately vested in their and the Company’s contributions plus actual earnings thereon. 

Notes Receivable from Participants

Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their account balance.  Loan terms generally range from one to five years, but may extend up to ten years for the purchase of a primary residence.  The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at the prime interest rate (as defined in the Plan documents) plus one percentage point.  Principal and interest is paid ratably through payroll deductions.

Payment of Benefits

On termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant may elect to receive either a lump sum amount equal to the value of the participant’s vested interest in his or her account, or annual installments over a period of time not more than the participant’s assumed life expectancy (or the assumed life expectancies of the participant and his/her beneficiary), or in partial withdrawals.  For termination of service for other reasons, a participant may receive the value in his or her account as a lump sum distribution.  An eligible rollover distribution is also permitted.  The Plan permits in-kind distributions of a participant’s investment in the Company’s common stock.  Distributions for the value of a participant’s account invested in the Company’s common stock can be distributed in the form of whole shares plus cash for any fractional shares or in cash as elected by the participant.

If the value of a participant’s vested interest is less than $1,000, a lump sum distribution will be made without regard to the consent of the participant within a reasonable time after termination of service. 

Forfeited Accounts

Forfeited accounts may be used to reduce future employer contributions and to pay Plan administrative expenses.  At December 31, 2015 and 2014, accumulated forfeited nonvested accounts were $0.  In 2015, employer contributions were reduced by $1,407 from forfeited nonvested accounts. 

Administrative Expenses and Participant Transaction Fees

Certain administrative expenses for maintaining the plan are paid directly by the Company.  The Company also provides accounting and other administrative services for the Plan at no charge.  Expenses that are paid directly by the Company are excluded from these financial statements.  Investment fund administrative expenses and record keeping fees are paid by the Plan.  Expenses relating to specific participant transactions (i.e., loan fees, distribution fees, etc.) are deducted directly from the participant’s account.  Certain investment related expenses are included in net appreciation (depreciation) of fair value of investments.  The Company may utilize credits received under its service agreement with the Plan’s trustee to pay certain administrative expenses and any excess may be allocated to participant accounts at the discretion of the Plan’s fiduciary.

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared using the accrual method of accounting.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

The Plan’s investments are reported at fair value.  Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  See Note 3 for additional discussion of fair value measurements.

Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade-date basis.  Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.  Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  Net appreciation (depreciation) includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.

Notes Receivable from Participants

Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest.  Interest income on notes receivable from participants is recorded when earned.  No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2015 or 2014.  Delinquent participant loans are reclassified as distributions based upon the terms of the Plan document.

Benefit Payments

Benefits are recorded when paid.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-12 (“ASU 2015-12”), Simplifying Amendments to Accounting by Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plans and Health and Welfare Benefit Plans.  ASU 2015-12 is divided into three parts: (Part I) Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts, (Part II) Plan Investment Disclosures and (Part III) Measurement Date Practical Expedient.  Part I and Part II of ASU 2015-12 simplify financial reporting requirements for retirement plans by eliminating or reducing certain investment disclosures.  Part I eliminates the requirement to measure and disclose the fair value of fully benefit-responsive investment contracts.  Contract value is the only required measure for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts.  Part II eliminates the requirement to disclose individual investments that represent 5 percent or more of total net assets available for benefits and the net appreciation or depreciation in fair value of investments by general type.  Part II also requires plans to continue to disaggregate investments that are measured using fair value by general type; however, plans are no longer required to also disaggregate investments by nature, characteristics and risks.  Further, the disclosure of information about fair value measurements shall be provided by general type of plan asset.  Part III is not applicable to the Plan.  ASU 2015-12 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted and shall be applied retrospectively for Part I and Part II and prospectively for Part III.  Management has elected to early adopt ASU 2015-12 and has applied these provisions retrospectively.

In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-07 (“ASU 2015-07”), Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share (or its Equivalent).  ASU 2015-07 removes the requirement to categorize investments within the fair value hierarchy for those investments measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient and amends certain disclosure requirements for such investments.  ASU 2015-07 is effective for fiscal reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and should be applied retrospectively.  Earlier adoption is permitted.  Management has elected to early adopt ASU 2015-07 and has applied these provisions retrospectively.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2014 financial statements to conform to the current year presentation related to the adoption in 2015 of ASUs 2015-07 and 2015-12.  These reclassifications had no effect on total net assets available for benefits as previously reported.

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements through the date of issuance. 

On December 31, 2015, two other Company sponsored defined contribution plans were merged into this Plan.  In connection with the Plan mergers, the Plan was amended and restated effective January 1, 2016.  See note 8 for additional discussion on the Plan mergers and restatement.

The framework for measuring fair value provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described as follows:

Level 1Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the plan has the ability to access.

Level 2Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. 

Level 3Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. 

The asset or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value.  There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Common stock:  Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.

Mutual funds:  Valued at quoted market prices, which represents the net asset values of the shares held by the Plan at year end.  The mutual funds held by the Plan are deemed to be actively traded.

Common collective trust funds:  Units in the fund are valued based on the net asset value of the funds, which is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund less its liabilities as reported by the issuer of the fund.  The net asset value is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value.  This practical expedient is not used when it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the investment for an amount different than the reported net asset value.  Participant transactions (purchases and sales) may occur daily.  Were the Plan to initiate a full redemption of the collective trust, the issuer reserves the right to temporarily delay withdrawal from the trust in order to ensure that securities liquidations will be carried out in an orderly business manner.

The preceding methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values.  Furthermore, although the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s assets at fair value as of December 31, 2015 and 2014:

There were no significant transfers between level 1 and level 2 investments during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. 

The following table summarizes investments for which the fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.  There are no participant redemption restrictions for these investments.  The redemption notice period is applicable only to the Plan.

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA.  In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100 percent vested in their accounts.

The IRS has determined and informed Accudraft.com Inc., the Prototype Sponsor, by a letter dated March 31, 2008, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”).  The Prototype Sponsor has informed the Plan’s Administrator that the Plan was amended since receiving the determination letter to comply with the Pension Protection Act of 2006, HEART Act and other IRS guidance.  The plan Administrator and the Plan’s tax counsel believe that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.  Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements. 

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by a plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the organization has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS.  The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2015, there are no uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements.  The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress.  The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2012.

The Plan invests in various investment securities.  Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market, and credit risks.  Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in values of investment funds will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

Certain plan investments are shares of common collective trusts and mutual funds managed by T. Rowe Price Trust Company, the trustee of the Plan.  The Plan also invests in the common stock of the Company.  These transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions under the provisions of ERISA for which a statutory exemption exists.  At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan held 450,721 and 451,645 shares of Consolidated common stock with fair values of $9,442,600 and $12,569,278, respectively.  The Plan also transacts with certain parties who may perform services to the Plan.  Such parties qualify as parties-in-interest under ERISA.

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Enventis Corporation (“Enventis”) in October 2014, the Enventis Corporation Retirement Savings Plan was merged into the Plan effective December 31, 2015.  At December 31, 2015, the net assets transferred to the Plan of $65,896,385 were in transit and included as a receivable from a merged plan in the statements of net assets available for benefits.  The plan assets were received by the Plan on January 4, 2016. 

On December 31, 2015, the Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan for Bargaining Associates was merged into the Plan in order to combine the principal union and non-union defined contribution plans sponsored by the Company.  As a result of the merger, net assets of $42,310,183 were transferred to the Plan on December 31, 2015. 

In connection with the mergers, the Plan was amended and restated effective January 1, 2016 to reflect the mergers and to amend certain plan terms related to participants covered by a collective bargaining agreement.  For those participants covered by a collective bargaining agreement, company contributions are based on the employee’s date of hire and the agreements in place with the labor unions.  Company contributions range from 1% to 6% for union employees.  In addition, certain union employees become fully vested in Company contributions after three years of service.

The following are reconciliations of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:

The following is a reconciliation of total additions per the financial statements to total income per the Form 5500:

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan

EIN:  02-0636475 Plan Number:  002

Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

December 31, 2015

*Represents a party-in-interest to the Plan as defined by ERISA.

Column (d), cost, has been omitted, as investments are all participant directed.

SIGNATURES

The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereto duly authorized. 

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (No. 333-135440) on Form S-8 of Consolidated Communications Holding, Inc. filed with the Security and Exchange Commission, pertaining to the Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan of our report dated June 22, 2016, with respect to the financial statements and supplemental schedule of Consolidated Communications, Inc. 401(k) Plan included in the annual report (Form 11-K) as of December 31, 2015 and for the year then ended.