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): August 21, 2025
GCI LIBERTY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada |
001-42742 |
36-5128842 |
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
12300 Liberty Blvd.
Englewood, Colorado 80112
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (720) 875-5900
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ 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))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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 x
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Chief Executive Officer Employment Agreement
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. x GCI Liberty, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a new employment agreement with Ronald A. Duncan on August 22, 2025 (the “Employment Agreement”), which generally replaced Mr. Duncan’s prior employment agreement with GCI Communication Corp. (“GCI Corp”). The following description of Mr. Duncan’s Employment Agreement and aircraft agreement (described below) is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Employment Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, and aircraft agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2, each of which are incorporated herein by reference into this Item 5.02.
The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Duncan will continue to serve as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and has a term that began on July 15, 2025 and which is scheduled to end on December 31, 2028. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Duncan is paid an annual base salary of $990,000 and is eligible to participate in the discretionary annual target cash incentive program (the “Target Cash IC Program”) pursuant to which Mr. Duncan is eligible to receive annual target cash incentive compensation of $1,252,741 in each calendar year from 2026 through 2028 (the “Duncan Annual Target Cash IC” or the “Duncan Cash IC”) and annual performance-based restricted stock unit grants with a target grant value of $626,371 in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028 (the “Duncan Annual Target Equity IC” or the “Duncan Equity IC”). Each of the Duncan Cash IC and Duncan Equity IC will be subject to the achievement of annual performance metrics established by the Company’s compensation committee. On August 21, 2025, Mr. Duncan received, pursuant to the terms of his prior employment agreement with GCI Corp, a grant of 18,423 performance-based restricted stock units in respect of the Company’s Series C GCI Group Common Stock (“GLIBK”) for the 2025 calendar year and he remains eligible to participate in the discretionary annual target cash incentive program for the 2025 calendar year as set forth in his prior employment agreement with GCI Corp. In connection with the entry into the Employment Agreement, on August 21, 2025, Mr. Duncan also received a grant of options to purchase 814,441 shares of GLIBK for an exercise price equal to $37.85 and a grant-date fair value of $9 million (the “Multi-Year Option Award”), which options are scheduled to vest in three equal installments on December 31 of each of 2026, 2027 and 2028, in each case, subject to Mr. Duncan remaining employed through the applicable vesting date.
Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Duncan is eligible to participate in all health, welfare and retirement plans that are generally available to other similarly situated executives of GCI Corp. The Employment Agreement, together with an aircraft agreement, which was entered into by GCI Corp and Mr. Duncan simultaneously with the Employment Agreement, provide that, effective from January 1, 2025, Mr. Duncan is entitled to 100 hours per year of personal flight time on an aircraft leased by GCI Corp through the first to occur of (i) the date that Mr. Duncan ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (ii) the date that GCI Corp ceases to own or lease any aircraft. Up to 25 hours of such annual allotment may be rolled over for use in a subsequent calendar year, up to a maximum amount of 150 hours of total flight time per year. In the event of Mr. Duncan’s termination of employment other than for “cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) and not due to Mr. Duncan’s death, Mr. Duncan would remain entitled to use up to one-third of such flight hours during the 120-day period following his termination. In addition, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Duncan may also access GCI Corp’s remote fishing retreat (the “retreat”) for occasional personal use and has limited contract rights to purchase the retreat at fair market value. In the event Mr. Duncan’s employment is terminated for any reason other than for cause, by Mr. Duncan without “good reason” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) prior to December 31, 2025, or due to Mr. Duncan’s death, Mr. Duncan also would receive certain post-employment benefits for ten years, such as paid health insurance premiums (subject to certain limitations once Mr. Duncan or his spouse are 65 or older), continued access to the retreat and continued ability to purchase the retreat on the same terms as described above. Mr. Duncan also would be provided office space and IT support for ten years post-employment.
Termination without “Cause” or for “Good Reason.” If, prior to December 31, 2028, Mr. Duncan’s employment is terminated by him for “good reason” or by the Company without “cause” (each as defined in the Employment Agreement), then Mr.
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Duncan would receive cash severance equal to the sum of, (A) if not otherwise eligible to receive such amounts pursuant to the terms of any program or award agreement under which such incentive compensation was granted, any annual bonus for the year prior to the year of termination, to the extent not yet paid and the Duncan Annual Target Cash IC and the Duncan Annual Target Equity IC for the year of termination (prorated based on his employment during the year), paid in a lump sum, and (B) the sum of his base salary, the Duncan Annual Target Cash IC and the Duncan Annual Target Equity IC, paid in twelve equal installments. As a condition to his receipt of any cash severance payments as a result of his termination, Mr. Duncan must execute a release in favor of the Company in accordance with the terms of his compensation arrangement and he must comply with certain restrictions that continue to apply following his termination. Subject to Mr. Duncan’s execution of a release in favor of the Company, Mr. Duncan would also be entitled to pro-rata (plus one-year look forward) vesting of each tranche of his Multi-Year Option Award with additional time to exercise (subject to the original expiration date).
Termination as a result of Death or Disability. If Mr. Duncan’s employment is terminated as a result of his death or due to his disability, then, subject to Mr. Duncan’s (or his estate’s, as applicable) execution of a release in favor of the Company, Mr. Duncan would be entitled to full vesting of his Multi-Year Option Award with additional time to exercise (subject to the original expiration date).
Termination at the end of the Term. If Mr. Duncan’s employment is terminated at or following December 31, 2028 for any reason, Mr. Duncan will remain eligible to receive the amount payable under the Target Cash IC Program and Duncan Equity IC Program in each case, for 2028.
Restrictive Covenants and Post-Termination Obligations. Mr. Duncan is also subject to certain perpetual confidentiality obligations and certain non-competition and non-solicitation obligations that apply during and for 12 months following his termination under the Employment Agreement.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
10.1 |
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Employment Agreement, effective July 15, 2025, between the Company and Ronald A. Duncan |
10.2 |
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Aircraft Agreement, effective January 1, 2025, between GCI Corp and Ronald A. Duncan |
104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: August 25, 2025
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GCI LIBERTY, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Brittany A. Uthoff |
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Name: Brittany A. Uthoff |
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Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
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Exhibit 10.1
GCI LIBERTY, INC.
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Executive Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of August 22, 2025, with the terms hereof effective as of July 15, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), by and between GCI Liberty, Inc., a Nevada Corporation (“GLIB”), and Ronald Duncan (“Executive”).
WHEREAS, GCI Communication Corp., an Alaska corporation (the “Company”) and Executive currently are parties to an Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement effective as of December 22, 2022, together with the acknowledgements contained in that certain letter agreement from Executive to the Company and Liberty Broadband Corporation, dated July 9, 2025 (collectively, the “Prior Agreement”), and following the July 14, 2025 spin-off of GLIB and its subsidiaries from Liberty Broadband Corporation, GLIB and Executive desire to enter into this Agreement and to clarify the effect of this Agreement on the Prior Agreement and Executive’s rights thereunder.
WHEREAS, except as expressly set forth herein, this Agreement shall supersede and completely replace the Prior Agreement as of the Effective Date.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
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reelection to the Board at any of GLIB’s annual stockholder meetings during the Term. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment by GLIB for any reason or voluntarily by Executive for any reason, Executive shall be deemed to have resigned, effective on the termination date from all positions that Executive holds as an officer of GLIB, the Company or any of its Affiliates or as a member of the Board (or any committee thereof) and the boards of directors (or any committees thereof) of any of its Affiliates, in each case, unless otherwise requested by GLIB.
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units (the “Performance RSUs”) with an initial target grant value equal to Six Hundred Twenty Six Thousand Three Hundred Seventy One Dollars ($626,371.00) per calendar year (determined, in each case, in accordance with the issuer’s standard practice as then in effect), subject to approval of the Committee (the “Annual Target Equity IC Amount”). The vesting of each grant of Performance RSUs will be subject to the satisfaction of such performance metrics as are determined each year by the Committee (which may include negative discretion criteria). Such grants will be made pursuant to restricted stock unit award agreements in the form approved by the issuer from time to time, which shall include the issuer’s standard terms and provisions. On or about the date this Agreement is entered into, in satisfaction of the applicable terms under the Prior Agreement, the Committee granted Performance RSUs to Executive for calendar year 2025 (the “2025 Performance RSUs”). For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Effective Date, this Agreement (as the same may hereafter be amended) constitutes the “Employment Agreement” for purposes of the 2025 Performance RSUs. The issuer’s standard terms and provisions will provide for full vesting of any portion of a Performance RSU award that is outstanding but unvested at the time of death of Executive or at the time of Executive’s termination as a result of Executive’s “Disability” (as defined in the applicable incentive plan pursuant to which such awards are issued). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event will any Performance RSUs be granted to Executive after the earlier of December 31, 2028, or the date of Executive’s termination of employment.
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Wak Retreat, Executive may use such services for transportation to and from the Wak (but not for remote excursions from the Wak) under the Company’s existing contracts with respect thereto; provided, that Executive shall reimburse the Company for the incremental hourly cost payable by the Company under such contracts with respect to Executive’s use of such services. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive will not be entitled to any compensation or consideration for his failure to use the full two weeks of Wak Retreat use described above.
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For the avoidance of doubt, to avoid double counting, Annual Target Cash IC and/or Annual Target Equity IC will not be included in the calculations in clause (b) above for the calendar year in which a termination of employment occurs if following such termination Executive remains eligible to receive all or a portion of the applicable incentive compensation pursuant to the terms of the program or award under which such incentive compensation was granted.
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further Post-Termination Benefits. GLIB may also require Executive to repay to GLIB all prior Severance Pay payments made to Executive by GLIB other than the amount of the Release Consideration.
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this Agreement that are taxable income to Executive shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which Executive incurs such expense. With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses or provides for in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A, (a) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, (b) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year; and (c) any such reimbursement for expenses shall be made on or before the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred.
GCI Liberty, Inc.
12300 Liberty Boulevard
Englewood, CO 80112
Attn: Chief Legal Officer & Chief Administrative Officer
E-mail: [separately provided]
With a copy to:
GCI Communication Corp
2550 Denali Street, Suite 1000
Anchorage, AK 99503-2781
Attention: Corporate Counsel
E-mail: [separately provided]
(i)while Executive is employed by GLIB, to Executive’s attention at GLIB’s address set forth above, and
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(ii)following termination of Executive’s employment, to Executive’s attention, at Executive’s most recent home address, fax number or e-mail address reflected in GLIB’s books and records.
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GLIB and Executive have entered into this Executive Employment Agreement as of the date set forth above, to be effective as of the Effective Date.
GCI LIBERTY, INC.
By: /s/ Renee L. Wilm
Name: Renee L. Wilm
Title: Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administration Officer
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Ronald Duncan
Name: Ronald Duncan
Acknowledged and agreed:
GCI COMMUNICATION CORP.
By: /s/ Moira Smith
Name: Moira Smith
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer
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See attached.
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A-1 |
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NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and effective as of the date specified in Schedule I hereto (the “Grant Date”), by and between the issuer specified in Schedule I hereto (the “Company”) and you.
The Company has adopted the incentive plan that governs the Options specified in Schedule I hereto (as has been or may hereafter be amended, the “Plan”), a copy of which is attached via a link at the end of this online Agreement as Exhibit A and, by this reference, made a part hereof. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Agreement will have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.
Pursuant to the Plan, the Plan Administrator has determined that it would be in the interest of the Company and its stockholders to grant you an Award of Options, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan, in order to provide you with additional remuneration for services rendered, to encourage you to remain in the service or employ of the Company or its Subsidiaries and to increase your personal interest in the continued success and progress of the Company.
The Company and you therefore agree as follows:
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A-3 |
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A-4 |
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A-5 |
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Notwithstanding any period of time referenced in this Section 7 or Schedule I hereto or any other provision of this Agreement that may be construed to the contrary, the Options will in any event terminate at the Close of Business on the Option Termination Date. Notwithstanding anything herein or the Plan to the contrary, if the Options would otherwise expire when trading in the Common Stock is prohibited by law or the Company’s insider trading policy pursuant to an event-specific occurrence (as determined by the Company), then the Options shall instead expire on the 30th day after the expiration of such prohibition.
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, pursuant to 18 USC § 1833(b), an individual will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made: (a) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law and in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official (either directly or indirectly) or to an attorney; or (b) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Further, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to his or her attorney and use the trade secret information in a court proceeding, so long as the individual (I) files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and (II) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. And further, nothing herein shall limit your ability to (i) provide truthful information, cause information to be provided, or otherwise assist in an investigation regarding any conduct which you reasonably believes constitutes a violation of 18 U.S.C. sections 1341, 1343, 1344, or 1348, any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any provision of Federal law relating to fraud against shareholders, when the information or assistance is provided to or the investigation is conducted by a Federal regulatory or law enforcement agency, any Member of Congress or any committee of Congress, or a person with supervisory authority over you (or such other employee who has the authority to investigate, discover, or terminate misconduct); or (ii) file, cause to be filed, testify, participate in, or otherwise assist in a proceeding filed or about to be filed relating to an alleged violation of any of the foregoing.
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A-8 |
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A-9 |
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A-10 |
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*****
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See attached.
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B-1 |
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Grant Date: |
August 21, 2025 |
Issuer/Company: |
GCI Liberty, Inc., a Nevada corporation |
Plan: |
GCI Liberty, Inc. 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time |
Common Stock: |
GCI Liberty, Inc. Series C GCI Group Common Stock Option Termination Date: August 21, 2030 |
Option Exercise Price: |
GCI Liberty, Inc. Series C GCI Group Common Stock: |
General Vesting Schedule: |
Subject to your continuous employment with the Company or a Subsidiary from the Grant Date through the following applicable vesting dates, the Options will vest and become exercisable, rounded down to the nearest whole number, on the following schedule: Vesting Vesting December 31, 2026 33 1/3% December 31, 2027 33 1/3% December 31, 2028 33 1/3% Each portion of the Options that relates to a particular vesting date is referred to herein as an individual “Tranche” (e.g., if this Award includes three vesting dates, then there are three Tranches). |
Overriding Definitions: |
For purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding Section 1.1 of this Agreement: “Cause” has the meaning specified in the Employment Agreement. |
Additional Definitions: |
For purposes of this Agreement: “Employment Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement between you and the Company, effective as of July 15, 2025, as the same may be amended from time to time. “Good Reason” has the meaning specified in the Employment Agreement. “Protected Termination” means a termination of your employment by the Company without Cause or by you for Good Reason in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement. “Release Condition” means your execution of, and delivery to the Company in accordance with the notice requirements of the Employment Agreement, a general release agreement in a form satisfactory to the Company and such release becoming irrevocable in accordance with its terms, in each case, no later than 55 days following the Employment Termination Date. |
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Vesting Terms Upon a Termination without Cause: |
Notwithstanding Section 3(a) of the Agreement, if your employment with the Company or a Subsidiary terminates on or after the Grant Date pursuant to a Protected Termination and the Release Conditions are timely met, a Pro Rata Portion (as defined below) of each remaining unvested Tranche will become vested and exercisable upon the Release Conditions being met. In each case, if the Release Conditions are not so timely met, any unvested Options will be forfeited. For purposes of this Agreement, a Pro Rata Portion shall be equal to the product of “A” multiplied by “B,” where “A” equals the number of Options in the applicable Tranche that are not vested on the Employment Termination Date, and “B” is a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar days that have elapsed from July 15, 2025 through the Employment Termination Date plus an additional 365 calendar days, and the denominator of which is the number of days that have elapsed from July 15, 2025 through the Vesting Date of the applicable Tranche (in no event to exceed the total number of unvested Options in such Tranche as of the Employment Termination Date). |
Post-Termination without Cause Exercise Period: |
Notwithstanding Section 7(b)(i) of the Agreement, if your employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated pursuant to a Protected Termination and the Release Conditions are timely met, those Options which are then exercisable (after taking into account the applicable accelerated vesting treatment) shall remain exercisable for the period of time beginning on the Employment Termination Date and continuing for the number of days that is equal to the sum of (i) 90, plus (ii) 180 multiplied by your total Years of Continuous Service. |
Company Notice Address: |
GCI Liberty, Inc. |
Company Website: |
www.gciliberty.com |
Plan Access: |
You can access the Plan via the link at the end of the Agreement or by contacting GCI Liberty, Inc.’s Legal Department. |
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Exhibit 10.2
August 22, 2025
Mr. Ronald A. Duncan
GCI Liberty, Inc.
12300 Liberty Boulevard
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Re:Personal Use of Company Aircraft
Dear Ron:
This letter (this “Agreement”) sets forth our agreement with respect to your personal use of aircraft (the “Aircraft”) owned or leased by GCI Communication Corp. (“GCC”), on and after the Effective Date (defined below). This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the prior aircraft usage letter dated July 1, 2020 between you and GCC.
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please execute the enclosed copy of this letter.
Very truly yours,
GCI Communication Corp.
By: /s/ Moira Smith
Moira Smith
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Chief Administrative Officer
Agreed:
/s/ Ronald A. Duncan
Ronald A. Duncan