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8-K - 8-K - TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ | tds_8k.htm |
EX-99.2 - EX-99.2 - TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ | exhibit99_2.htm |
Exhibit 99.1
FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
TDS® acquires BendBroadband in Central
Oregon
TDS Telecom to manage operations
as it expands its cable and broadband portfolio in U.S.
MADISON, Wis. (Sept. 2, 2014)—TDS Telecom, a subsidiary of Telephone and Data
Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], announces the completion of the purchase of
substantially all of the assets of BendBroadband, a cable and broadband company
headquartered in Bend, Oregon, effective September 1, 2014, for a purchase
price of $261 million.
In May, Telephone and Data Systems announced its intention to acquire
BendBroadband in Central Oregon pending regulatory approvals, which have been
received. TDS Telecom will manage the acquired BendBroadband businesses.
“BendBroadband is an exceptional company,” states Mark Barber, vice president
of Cable Operations for TDS Telecom. “BendBroadband customers should continue
to expect the same great products and services, along with the strong local
traditions BendBroadband has established.”
Transition teams have been anticipating the announcement and working to prepare
both organizations for a successful start. TDS Telecom is focused on supporting
the nearly 300 BendBroadband employees who have now joined the company.
“Working together to implement a successful integration within the TDS
organization is a top priority,” adds Barber.
In 2013, BendBroadband reported annual revenues of $70 million. BendBroadband businesses, including The Vault™ and Zolo
Media, offer an extensive range of broadband, fiber connectivity, cable
television and telephone services for thousands of commercial and residential
customers. OneNeck® IT Solutions, a TDS company, plans to integrate
The Vault into its portfolio of data centers across the U.S.
“Our success will be fueled by a geographic region that is exploding
with business growth and residential development. It’s the hot spot of Central
Oregon,” said David A. Wittwer, president and CEO, TDS Telecom. “I believe the
BendBroadband businesses have significant potential to deliver increased
returns over time and the team of talented employees in Bend will help us
expand our cable operations and expertise in other states as well.”
# # #
Media contact: DeAnne Boegli, National Public Relations
Manager, TDS Telecom / 608-664-4428 / deanne.boegli@tdstelecom.com
About TDS Telecom
TDS
Telecom, the seventh largest local exchange telephone company in the U.S., is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. TDS Telecom
provides 1.1 million connections to high-speed Internet, phone, and TV
entertainment services to customers in more than a hundred rural, suburban, and
metropolitan communities. TDS Telecom offers businesses the latest
communications solutions, including: VoIP (managedIP Hosted) phone service,
dedicated high-speed Internet and hosted-managed services. Visit tdstelecom.com or tdsbusiness.com.
TDS Telecom, headquartered in Madison, Wis., operates OneNeck® IT Solutions
LLC, TDS Baja Broadband LLC, and now BendBroadband. Combined, the company
employs 3,300 people.
About BendBroadband
BendBroadband and its
nearly 300 employees have been serving Central Oregon for more than 50 years.
The company quickly began earning its reputation as a regional technology
leader in cable and broadband when it first offered local cable TV services in
1955. BendBroadband and its businesses, The Vault™ by BendBroadband and Zolo
Media, offer an extensive range of broadband, fiber connectivity, cable
television and telephone services for commercial and residential customers. In
2011, the company opened The Vault, a Tier III, SSAE 16, LEED Gold, Energy
Star-certified data center with hosted storage for primary site and disaster
recovery needs, equipment colocation and managed services. Through its Zolo
Media division, the company
operates KBNZ CBS affiliate, KOHD ABC
affiliate, COTV11 and offers multiple video advertising, local advertising and
viewing options for Central Oregonians.
About Telephone and Data Systems
Telephone
and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 1000™ company, provides wireless;
cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to
approximately 5.8 million customers nationwide through its subsidiaries TDS
Telecom and U.S. Cellular. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago,
Telephone and Data Systems employs 10,000 people. Visit teldta.com.
Safe Harbor
Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news
release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking
statements. This includes all statements about the company's plans, beliefs,
estimates, and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates,
projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: impacts of any
pending acquisition and divestiture transactions, including, but not
limited to, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, successfully complete
the transactions and the financial impacts of such transactions; the ability of
the company to successfully manage and grow its markets; the overall economy;
competition; the access to and pricing of unbundled network elements; the
ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on
acceptable terms; the state and federal telecommunications regulatory
environment; the value of assets and investments; adverse changes in the
ratings afforded TDS and U.S. Cellular debt securities by accredited ratings
organizations; industry consolidation; advances in telecommunications
technology; uncertainty of access to the capital markets; pending and
future litigation; changes in income tax rates, laws, regulations or rulings;
acquisitions/divestitures of properties and/or licenses; changes in customer growth
rates, average monthly revenue per user, churn rates, roaming revenue and
terms, the availability of wireless devices, or the mix of products and
services offered by U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom. Investors are encouraged to
consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in the Form
8-K Current Report used by TDS to furnish this press release to the Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are incorporated by reference
herein.
Sources: TDS Telecom, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.