Zayo acquires remaining piece of USCarrier for $13.5M

Zayo is once again going to the acquisition well with a new agreement to buy the remaining assets of USCarrier from its current shareholders for $13.5 million.

The deal is expected to close in Q4 2012.

The Louisville, Colo.-based service provider previously acquired a nearly 50 percent interest in USCarrier in October 2010 through its purchase of American Fiber Systems.  

Similar to its other acquisitions, this latest deal is focused on enhancing its growing set of fiber assets.

By acquiring USCarrier, Zayo will gain a 3,700-mile regional fiber network that runs through the South with connections in a number of major markets. It will be able to bolster its network facilities in major cities such as Atlanta, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Nashville and Chattanooga along with 40 smaller cities throughout the Southeast, such as Macon and Savannah, Ga. and Mobile and Montgomery, Ala.

"Extending the reach of Zayo's network with USCarrier's footprint allows us to offer broader solutions to our customers as well as deliver end-to-end national and international connectivity to these markets," said Glenn Russo, Executive Vice President for Corporate Strategy and Development for Zayo Group.

In addition to expanding its fiber asset reach, Zayo will be able to bolster its wholesale capabilities, including fiber-based Ethernet and wavelength services to target more traditional carrier and Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) opportunities that exist in these markets.

For more:
- see the release

Special report: Wholesale provider leaders to watch in 2012

Related articles:
Zayo adds more fiber to its Las Vegas network
Zayo launches R&E channel to capitalize on education network opportunities
Zayo sets 'major expansion' of greater Denver network
Zayo brings fiber network to Albuquerque to target new backhaul and business opportunities
Zayo completes AboveNet acquisition, gains greater enterprise/wholesale balance