Vertical Bridge Completes $3.3 Billion Tower Transaction with Verizon

Rhea-AI Summary

Vertical Bridge REIT has completed its previously announced transaction with Verizon (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), acquiring exclusive rights to lease, operate, and manage over 6,300 wireless communications towers across all 50 states for approximately $3.3 billion. The deal includes certain commercial benefits and involves under-tenanted towers, many in hard-to-site locations. This transaction positions Vertical Bridge to expand vertical real estate solutions to its customers and strengthens its status as the largest private owner and operator of communications infrastructure in the United States.

Positive

• Strategic acquisition of 6,300+ wireless towers across all 50 states
• Expansion into hard-to-site locations providing competitive advantage
• Potential for revenue growth through under-tenanted tower optimization

Negative

• Significant capital expenditure of $3.3 billion
• Integration risks associated with large-scale tower acquisition

Insights

Financial Analyst

The $3.3 billion tower transaction represents a strategic monetization of Verizon's infrastructure assets, following industry trends of carriers selling tower assets to specialized infrastructure operators. This deal strengthens Verizon's balance sheet while maintaining network control through lease arrangements. The "under-tenanted" nature of these 6,300 towers suggests significant revenue upside potential through additional tenant colocation, which could generate steady cash flows for Vertical Bridge while reducing Verizon's infrastructure maintenance costs. This transaction aligns with Verizon's asset-light strategy and helps optimize capital allocation. The deal's structure, providing exclusive rights rather than outright ownership, indicates a balanced approach to maintaining network quality while improving financial flexibility. For investors, this represents positive cash flow generation without compromising network capabilities.

Infrastructure Investment Specialist

The strategic value of these tower assets extends beyond their current utilization. Located across all 50 states, many in "hard-to-site locations," these towers represent valuable vertical real estate that's increasingly scarce and difficult to replicate. The transaction's timing coincides with the ongoing 5G network expansion, where tower infrastructure plays a important role. The under-tenanted status presents a substantial opportunity for Vertical Bridge to increase occupancy rates and optimize revenue streams through additional carrier leases. For Verizon, this arrangement maintains network access while transferring operational responsibilities and creating immediate capital returns. This deal structure reflects evolving infrastructure ownership models in telecommunications, where specialized operators can more efficiently manage and monetize tower assets.

Market Research Analyst

This transaction significantly impacts the communications infrastructure landscape, positioning Vertical Bridge more competitively against major tower companies like American Tower and Crown Castle. The deal's $3.3 billion value implies approximately $523,000 per tower, which aligns with market valuations for similar assets. The exclusive rights structure maintains Verizon's network quality while providing Vertical Bridge with steady anchor tenant revenue and upside potential through additional leasing. For Verizon shareholders, this represents effective capital recycling without compromising network performance. The presence of top-tier advisors like J.P. Morgan and Centerview Partners underscores the transaction's significance in the telecommunications infrastructure sector.

BOCA RATON, Fla., Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC ("Vertical Bridge"), the largest private owner and operator of communications infrastructure in the United States, today announced that it has closed its previously announced transaction with Verizon Communications Inc. ("Verizon") (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), providing Vertical Bridge the exclusive rights to lease, operate, and manage more than 6,300 wireless communications towers across all 50 states from subsidiaries of Verizon for approximately $3.3 billion, including certain commercial benefits.

"The close of this transaction marks a transformative milestone for Vertical Bridge, solidifying us as the partner of choice in the U.S. communications infrastructure industry. These under-tenanted towers, many in hard-to-site locations, uniquely position us to expand vertical real estate solutions to our customers," said Ron Bizick, President and CEO of Vertical Bridge. "With the addition of these towers, Vertical Bridge looks forward to growing our partnership with all our tenants."

Advisors
Centerview Partners LLC served as financial advisor to Vertical Bridge and Greenberg Traurig acted as legal counsel. J.P. Morgan acted as financial advisor to Verizon and Jones Day acted as legal counsel.

About Vertical Bridge
Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, was founded in 2014 and is the largest private owner and operator of communications infrastructure and locations in the United States, with a portfolio of more than 500,000 sites, including over 17,000 owned and master-leased towers. Vertical Bridge provides build-to-suit and colocation solutions to the wireless industry. The Company's portfolio spreads across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

In 2020, Vertical Bridge became the first tower company in the world to achieve the CarbonNeutral^® company certified status and has been recertified every year since. For more information, please visit www.verticalbridge.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
In this communication we have made forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words "anticipates," "assumes," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "hopes," "intends," "plans," "targets" or similar expressions. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Media Contact

Vertical Bridge
Blair Crawford
209-482-2030
Blair.Crawford@verticalbridge.com

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SOURCE Vertical Bridge

FAQ

How much did Vertical Bridge pay for Verizon's tower assets?

Vertical Bridge paid approximately $3.3 billion for the exclusive rights to lease, operate, and manage over 6,300 Verizon wireless communications towers.

How many towers did Verizon (VZ) sell to Vertical Bridge?

Verizon sold the rights to over 6,300 wireless communications towers to Vertical Bridge.

What is the geographical coverage of the VZ tower transaction with Vertical Bridge?

The tower transaction covers all 50 states in the United States.

What type of rights did Vertical Bridge acquire in the VZ tower deal?

Vertical Bridge acquired exclusive rights to lease, operate, and manage the wireless communications towers from Verizon subsidiaries.

Who were the advisors in the Vertical Bridge-VZ tower transaction?

Centerview Partners and Greenberg Traurig advised Vertical Bridge, while J.P. Morgan and Jones Day advised Verizon.