M/C Partners Closes Sale of Baja Broadband

M/C Partners said Monday it closed the sale of Baja Broadband to Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. The deal was valued at $267.5 million. Alamogordo, N.M.-based Baja is a cable company that offers video, high-speed Internet, and voice service. Waller Capital Partners and RBC Capital Markets served as M&A advisors to M/C Partners.

PRESS RELEASE

Boston, Mass. – August 5, 2013 – M/C Partners today announced the closing of the sale of the firm’s portfolio company, Baja Broadband, LLC (“Baja”), a cable company headquartered in Alamogordo, New Mexico, to Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS].   The base all-cash consideration for Baja was valued at the previously announced $267.5 million.  The transaction was first announced in February 2013.
 
“This successful transaction validates our premise of continued growth in broadband demand,” said Lydia Jett, Vice President, M/C Partners.  “We are proud of the tremendous job the Baja management did in positioning the company for this moment, and are pleased that TDS is acquiring Baja.  We are confident TDS will serve the communities and Baja’s employees well in the long term.”
 
M/C Partners co-led the acquisition of Baja, a full-service communications company, providing video, high-speed broadband and voice services to residential and commercial customers in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.  M/C Partners invested a total of $27.2 million in Baja since 2006.  The firm recruited a new management team to turn around the asset, and led its acquisition of US Cable, effectively doubling its footprint.   M/C Partners was also instrumental in corporate development, acquisition and divestiture efforts in Baja.  Baja has performed exceptionally, with annual EBITDA growth of 22% for last four years.
 
RBC Capital Markets served as the exclusive M&A advisor to Baja Broadband. Waller Capital Partners and RBC Capital Markets served as M&A advisors to M/C Partners on the transaction. Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP served as legal counsel to Baja.
 
About Telephone and Data Systems
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 500® company, provides wireless; broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 7 million customers in 36 states through its business units, U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom and TDS Hosted & Managed Services. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed 12,300 people as of Dec. 31, 2012. Visit www.teldta.com for comprehensive financial information, including earnings releases, quarterly and annual filings, shareholder information and more.
 
About Baja Broadband
Baja Broadband is a full-service communications company offering best-in-class residential and commercial video, high-speed Internet, and voice services. Baja is committed to being the leading provider of entertainment, information, and communication services in the communities it serves. Baja owns and operates broadband networks in communities within Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. Visit www.bajabroadband.com for more information.
 
Baja is currently managed by Last Mile Communications, an international management partnering and telecommunications consulting firm. Visit lastmile.net for more information.
 
About M/C Partners
M/C Partners is a private equity firm focused exclusively on the communications, media, and information technology sectors. The firm has invested over $1.5 billion into nearly 100 companies in those sectors. Companies M/C has backed include Cavalier Telephone, Corelink, Fusepoint, GTS Central Europe, ICG Communications, Legendary Pictures, Lightower, MetroPCS, NuVox, Open Mobile, Seven Networks and Zayo Group. The firm has strong institutional backing from the nation’s leading pension funds and endowments as well as a long track record of success. M/C Partners has offices in Boston, San Francisco and London. For more information, visit www.mcpartners.com.