Crown Castle completes $8.4 billion fiber and small cell business sale

Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE: CCI) announced the completion of its sale of fiber solutions and small cell businesses to Zayo Group Holdings Inc. and Arium Networks for $8.4 billion net of preliminary adjustments, the company said in a press release statement.

The telecommunications infrastructure company plans to use $1.0 billion of the proceeds for share repurchases under a board-approved program effective May 1, 2026, and reduce outstanding debt by more than $7.0 billion.

Crown Castle updated its full year 2026 outlook following the transaction closure. The company expects site rental revenues between $3.83 billion and $3.87 billion, with net income projected at $690 million to $970 million. Adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) per share is forecast at $4.53 to $4.65.

The sale proceeds were received two months earlier than initially anticipated, resulting in a $40 million decrease in projected interest expense and $10 million increase in interest income compared to the previous outlook issued April 22, 2026.

Interest expense is expected to decrease by approximately $160 million from debt repayment following the business sale closure. The company anticipates repaying debt outstanding on credit facilities and commercial paper programs.

Crown Castle now operates as a pure-play tower company focused on the U.S. market, owning approximately 40,000 cell towers nationwide. The company expects discretionary capital expenditures between $150 million and $250 million for 2026.

The transaction involved EQT Active Core Infrastructure acquiring the small cells business while Zayo acquired the fiber solutions business. The sale represents a strategic shift for Crown Castle to focus exclusively on its tower portfolio.

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