Case Study
Cell Tower Lease Buyout for Wisconsin Siblings: A Co-Owner Case Study
Partner Up With The Best
This cell tower lease buyout case study shows how Symphony Towers Infrastructure acquired the lease on a US Cellular tower in Wisconsin from four siblings who co-owned the site and had different goals. It explains how one offer was structured so each sibling received the payout that fit their needs.
Symphony Towers Infrastructure, renowned for its expertise in navigating the complexities of wireless infrastructure transactions, recently achieved a significant milestone with the acquisition of the US Cellular tower at Chuck Road in Wisconsin. This case study unravels the details of Symphony’s success, highlighting strategic negotiation, competitive positioning, and the factors that set Symphony apart in a competitive landscape.
At a glance
- Site: US Cellular tower, Chuck Road, Wisconsin
- Owners: Four siblings with equal shares
- Challenge: Each sibling wanted a different outcome
- Solution: The top offer in the market, split into lump-sum and five-year installment payments
- Result: All four siblings agreed to one transaction
The Landscape: Chuck Road And Sibling Ownership
Chuck Road presented a unique opportunity for Symphony Towers Infrastructure. The tower was owned jointly by four siblings in Wisconsin. The dynamics of sibling ownership added a layer of complexity to the transaction, requiring Symphony Towers to navigate multiple perspectives and align the interests of each party involved. The siblings were aligned to sell but split on how to achieve maximum value. Many players were vying for the asset, each representing different positions of value.
The equity of this deal was the real deciding factor, as there were four siblings involved who all had an equal stake in the asset, with four different opinions. Two of the siblings wanted as much cash upfront as possible, one sibling didn’t want to sell as they were accustomed to the monthly payments, and the fourth shared that opinion but wanted to explore short- and long-term value now. Situations like this are common, because cell site lease income is hard to value and every owner weighs it differently.
Sibling Alignment From Experience
The success at Chuck Road can be attributed to Symphony Towers’ adept handling of sibling dynamics and its ability to align the interests of all parties involved. First Symphony needed to be the top offer, then they needed to display the value over time to the parties involved.
To do this, Symphony raised its offering over 80K to cement itself as the top offer in the market. Then it sought to meet all four siblings’ needs: Learn more about how cell tower lease buyouts work.
- For the first two siblings who just wanted to sell, they would get 25% of the cell site lease buyout offer in a lump sum agreement after the purchase is final.
- For the third sibling who wanted to stay with the monthly payments, the 25% allocation for them was broken into 5 payments across 5 years; supplementing the monthly payments across the short term while this sibling adjusted to the new path.
- The fourth sibling was the one who helped put this all together. He clearly understood Symphony’s differentiator; their focus on growing the asset over time and how this would funnel into the siblings’ pockets with no effort of their own.
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Competing On Value: Symphony Towers Differentiator
Beyond the signing bonus, Symphony Towers Infrastructure differentiated itself by emphasizing its commitment to maximizing value for the siblings. The company’s approach went beyond a mere transaction; it underscored Symphony’s commitment to its partners’ long-term success and satisfaction. Namely, expanding the value of the asset by adding it to its sizable portfolio and using industry connections to find more tenants. All of this ties into a profit share agreement at the point of sale, thus creating the long- and short-term value that so many site owners seek in these types of transactions. See also how a country club structured its lease buyout.
Cell Tower Lease Buyout FAQs for Co-Owners
Can co-owners agree on a cell tower lease buyout if they want different things?
Yes. A buyout can be structured so each co-owner receives value in the way that fits them. In this case, two siblings took their share as a lump sum, one received theirs over five years, and the fourth helped bring the group to one agreement.
How is a cell tower lease buyout divided between co-owners?
Usually by ownership share. Here each sibling held 25%, so each received a quarter of the buyout. How and when each share is paid can differ, which lets co-owners with different goals agree on the same transaction.
Can a cell tower lease buyout be paid in installments?
Yes. Payments can be spread over time instead of paid all at once. One sibling received their share in five payments over five years, which eased the transition from the monthly rent they were used to.
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