In March of 2014 Peppertree Capital Management committed to investing up to $80 million to create Blue Sky Tower Partners, LLC, which will be spear-headed by the principal of Wireless Realty Advisors (WRA) and the former vice president of Global Tower Partners (GTP). The newly formed company will focus on the management of wireless infrastructure, including aspects such as development of new towers, rooftop management, and cell site lease buyouts.
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Like other third-party lease buyout companies, Blue Sky Tower Partners makes a profit by purchasing cellular lease agreements from property owners, public entities (like schools) and municipalities. Since as early as May 2014, we have seen solicitations from Blue Sky that offer to purchase existing lease contacts. It appears that they are targeting rooftop owners.
Blue Sky will offer a one-time payment to property owners in exchange for the right to receive future revenue from the cellular lease (including rental payments through the duration of the lease, as well as any additional revenue that might happen as a result of carrier collocation). This lump-sum payment is typically discounted from the future value of the cell tower or cell site lease, in exchange for BlueSky carrying the risk that the lease might be terminated in the future.
In addition to the lump-sum buyout offer, many buyout companies claim that they will proactively “market” cell site locations to other carriers, in an attempt to increase carrier collocation (sharing of equipment) on cell towers. They say that this will result in additional revenue that will be split with the property owner. We caution our clients to beware of offers such as these for two main reasons: 1. Other companies might be willing to purchase your lease, as well, and offer much better terms; and 2. There’s no real reason to give up a portion of future revenue that might happen if and when additional carriers choose to collocate on your tower location.
If contacted by Blue Sky, a good question to ask is how many employees they have on board whose sole job is to market acquired cell tower sites to wireless carriers. Ask them if you would still have to split revenue with them if the interested carrier were to contact you directly.
HOW TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
If contacted by Blue Sky, a good question to ask is how many employees they have on board whose sole job is to market acquired cell tower sites to wireless carriers. Ask them if you would still have to split revenue with them if the interested carrier were to contact you directly.
- Why is Blue Sky interested in buying my cell site lease and should I sell or hold onto it?
- Is there additional revenue that I am sacrificing by selling the lease?
- What is the risk that my cell site lease will be terminated early?
- What are the benefits of these types of transactions?
- How will I be taxed on this transaction? (Consult your tax attorney or accountant)
- Are there other companies that might be willing to purchase this cell site lease?
- Will these other companies pay more for the cell site lease?
- How will current industry dynamics, including mergers and acquisitions between wireless carriers and cell tower companies, as well as changing wireless infrastructure deployment plans, affect my lease in the near future?
- Is Blue Sky likely to gain any further tenants on my rooftop than would come naturally?
- Is this the best offer that Blue Sky can give?
Steel in the Air has assisted over 3,000 clients with cellular lease negotiations, lease buyouts and cellular asset valuation. We are seasoned wireless communications and infrastructure deployment consultants, and know the wireless industry, how the game is played and what motivates the players, better than any other independent consultants. If you’re interested in how to strategically position yourself and achieve the most valuable outcome, please contact us.
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If you found this page in error while looking for Blue Sky Towers, LLC- please visit http://www.wirelessra.com . We are not affiliated with Blue Sky Towers, LLC. We counsel clients who have been solicited by Blue Sky. Steel in the Air is not affiliated with Blue Sky Towers, LLC.