TDS Telecommunications Corp recently acquired Baja Broadband, LLC (Baja), a cable company headquartered in Alamogordo, N.M., for a final price of $267.5 million.

Recognized as one the largest local exchange telephone companies in the U.S., TDS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems. The new acquisition will enable TDS to extend its business in Alamogordo and other cities.

"Spirits are high and we are feeling confident the transition will be successful," said Mark Barber (News - Alert), vice president of Cable Operations for TDS Telecom. "The transition team has been working around the clock to prepare both organizations for the change. Our goal is to make no impact on customer operations and to support Baja employees, as well as TDS employees, as they work together to meet the needs of customers today and to expand services in the future."

Baja Broadband is a full-service communications company, offering best-in-class residential and commercial video, high-speed Internet and voice services. With its 278-plus employees, Baja Broadband caters to the communication needs of residential customers and businesses in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.

Baja also displayed in expertise in delivering broadband and video services, by serving more than 214,000 homes till date. The company claims that 96 percent of its network is equipped to deliver high-speed, high-capacity broadband and video services.

"This is our largest acquisition to date and we are well positioned to drive growth going forward. I believe Baja Broadband has significant potential to deliver increased returns over time," said David A. Wittwer, president and CEO, TDS Telecommunications Corp. "Our strategy is to leverage our expertise and technologies to accelerate growth in underserved, high-potential markets."

Baja selected RBC Capital Markets as its exclusive M&A advisor, to go further with this transaction. Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP served as legal counsel to Baja.