Spirit Communications to acquire South Carolina-based SCANA Communications, Inc.
December 16, 2014
COLUMBIA, SC – Spirit Communications announced the acquisition of SCANA Communications, Inc. (“SCI”), including its interest in FRC, LLC, (“FRC”) a fiber network joint venture between SCI and Spirit Communications.
SCI is the telecommunications subsidiary of SCANA Corporation (NYSE: SCG), a South Carolina-based energy company that has been doing business in the Southeast for 160 years. SCI’s fiber network includes over 1,125 route miles of dense long haul and metro fiber, and extends across multiple markets in South Carolina, as well as in North Carolina. SCI’s services include Metro Ethernet, long haul high bandwidth IP Transport and SONET-based transport capacity, and state-of-the art data center and co-location facilities. Spirit Communications is also acquiring SCI’s cellular tower business, which includes the construction and management of cell towers for wireless carriers in the Carolinas and Tennessee.
Spirit Communications and SCI have partnered to provide communication services to Carrier, Enterprise and Government customers for almost 30 years. Today’s announcement brings together two of South Carolina’s most respected companies known for providing cutting edge communications to businesses across the Carolinas. “The acquisition of SCI and FRC supports our strategy to be fiber-based and improves the fundamentals of our business, both operationally and financially, and provides a unique platform to serve our customers. This acquisition makes Spirit the largest fiber-based CLEC in South Carolina” said Bob Keane, President and CEO of Spirit Communications. “We have enjoyed a long and successful partnership with SCANA over the years, and this acquisition enhances our extensive and unique network in the Carolinas. In addition to the outright purchase of SCI, the agreement between SCANA and Spirit Communications builds on the longstanding relationship we have both enjoyed for many years and increases our commitment to serve SCANA and all South Carolina businesses, government agencies, medical institutions and research universities”, continued Mr. Keane.
Jefferies LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Spirit Communications.
About Spirit Communications
Headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, Spirit Communications provides voice, data, Internet and fiber optic solutions, along with a full suite of Cloud services to commercial businesses and government agencies across the Southeast. The company’s mission is to enable customers to transform their operations through fast, stable and secure offerings that flex with business demand. Ranked among the top 25 privately-held firms in South Carolina, Spirit Communications serves thousands of customers in over 150 service locations throughout South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Spirit Communications is owned by eleven Independent Telephone Companies in South Carolina. For more information, visit www.spiritcom.com.
About SCANA Communications Inc.,
SCI, a carriers’ carrier since 1985 owns, develops and operates long haul and metro fiber optics networks in South Carolina and North Carolina. SCI provides data transport services, bandwidth, tower site construction, management and rental services for wireless carriers, enterprise, government and communications service providers. For more information, visit www.scanacommunications.com
