NuVox Communications and FDN Communications Close Merger


Two leading communications companies prepare to accelerate market share with a more robust product suite and exceptional customer service

GREENVILLE, S.C. and MAITLAND, Fla., June 13 -- NuVox Communications and FDN Communications, two privately held, facilities-based communications providers, today announced they have completed their merger. The new company will eventually provide service to all of its customers under the name NuVox Communications. NuVox will offer IP-based communications solutions including voice, data connectivity and storage, private networking, web hosting, and security services to business customers across the Southeast and the Midwest. The combined enterprise will initially have more than 90,000 customers, 1 million voice and data lines in service, and annual revenues exceeding $500 million.

"The combination of our two companies greatly accelerates our ability to grow by delivering absolutely outstanding communications solutions for business customers," stated Jim Akerhielm, Chief Executive Officer of NuVox Communications. "I am particularly excited about the new combined team. Both NuVox and FDN have strong records of providing exceptional customer service, and together, I am confident our business will thrive across our 16-state footprint."

"This merger ensures our long-term ability to provide a robust, relevant product set and unmatched customer care. We are well positioned to support our growing customers and their advancing technical needs," added Mike Gallagher, President of Strategic Markets for NuVox and former CEO of FDN Communications.

The senior management team will be comprised of individuals from both FDN Communications and NuVox. Leading the combined company will be Akerhielm, who will serve as CEO, and Gallagher who will serve as President of Strategic Markets. In addition, Stephen H. Shoemaker will serve as Chief Financial Officer; Charles J. Norris will serve as Chief Operating Officer; and Riley M. Murphy will serve as General Counsel and Secretary.

The board of directors will consist of David Solomon as Chairman of the Board, Akerhielm, Gallagher, Jim Wade of MC Venture Partners, Robert Savignol of MC Venture Partners, Jim Fleming of Columbia Capital Partners, James H. (Jamie) Greene, Jr. of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co. (KKR), and Scott Perper of Wachovia Capital Partners.

Customers of both NuVox Communications and FDN Communications will not experience changes to their existing service agreements as a result of the close of the merger. The combined company's headquarters will be in Greenville, SC with extensive sales, customer service, and technical operations in both Greenville, SC and Maitland, FL. Financial terms of the merger were not disclosed.

About NuVox Communications:
NuVox Communications provides voice, data, and security services to business customers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee. These services are provided through advanced Alcatel-Lucent, Nortel, Sonus, and Cisco technology. NuVox has been honored as a certified Cisco Powered Network. NuVox's VoIP services are delivered via technology from Cisco, Sonus, Sylantro, IP Unity, and Acme Packet. For more information, visit www.nuvox.com.

About FDN Communications: Headquartered in Maitland, Florida, FDN Communications has been providing facilities-based, business-class communications services in the Southeastern United States for nearly a decade. Serving tens of thousands of satisfied customers with over a quarter million telephone and Internet lines, FDN presents tailored solutions for today's communication challenges. To learn more about FDN, visit www.fdn.com.

Source: NuVox Communications

CONTACT: Susanne Hite for NuVox Communications, +1-864-672-5097, hite@nuvox.com; or Tina Lange for FDN Communications, +1-407-835-0340, tlange@mail.fdn.com

Web site: www.nuvox.com/
http:/www.fdn.com

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