Paul, this is also the lead story over on WSJ-online. AT&T's offer to TCGI is supposed to be a stock swap valued at 10 - 11 Billion. But then article goes on to say that deal offers TCGI shareholders an amount equivalent to $56/share, which is actually $1 less than where stock finished yesterday. And, when you do the calculations, $56/share multiplied by 61 million shares outstanding, comes to only 3.4 Billion. So, how do we get to a total buyout amount of 10 - 11 Billion? I can't figure it out.
While we weren't the target this time, WCII shares the same "national" focus of TCGI, and there are other LD carriers also are looking for access to local service nationally. Plus, as previous articles have pointed out, broadband wireless gets into places that aren't easily serviced by fiber/coax outfits such as TCGI; so even T might still be shopping around for broadband wireless in addition to TCGI's wireline access. In any event, I expect to see more near-term speculation about WCII being another possible takeover, and for this speculation to take us past $30/share. |
