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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Terry Armant, 561.995.0320
Global Tower Partners to Acquire Dobson Communications Tower Portfolio
Acquisition Provides GTP with Enhanced National Footprint.
BOCA RATON, FL, March 13 – Global Tower Partners (“GTP”)
today announced the signing
of a definitive agreement to acquire five hundred and sixty-three (563) communications
towers from Dobson Communications Corporation. Dobson Communications owns more than
60 wireless markets in 16 states covering a population base in excess of 11.5 million.
Using the licensed trade name Cellular One and the business name Dobson Cellular
Systems.
"The Dobson acquisition marks a major achievement in the growth of our
company from
a middle market tower company, to a leader in the U.S. Tower Industry,” said Marc C. Ganzi, chief executive officer,
Global Tower Partners. “We are excited about
the prospects of this portfolio of unique locations and are looking forward to a
long and prosperous partnership with a high quality organization such as Dobson’s.”
“This agreement significantly increases our liquidity and establishes an alliance
that we believe will benefit
both companies as we continue to grow,” said Everett
R. Dobson, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Dobson Communications.
"The Dobson portfolio is an ideal compliment to our existing footprint of towers
and rooftops throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Central United States”
said Terry Armant, Senior Vice President of Development, Global Tower Partners.
"Furthermore, we are excited the portfolio will address the growing needs of our customers in enhancing
their wireless voice and data networks in these core GTP markets."
Post the closing of the Dobson Communications acquisition, GTP will own or master lease some 3,304 sites, including 1,180
owned communications towers. The transaction is expected to close in stages over the next three to nine months.
About Global Tower Partners
Since being founded in late 2003, Boca Raton based Global Tower Partners (http://www.gtpsites.com)
is one of the fastest growing and leading providers of outsourced antennae site
facilities to the wireless communications industry in the United States. Backed
by The Blackstone Group of New York City, GTP's core business includes the ownership,
development, leasing and management of antennae sites on towers and commercial real
estate rooftops. GTP owns, manages or master leases more than 7,200 sites, including
1,800 owned towers located throughout the United States. GTP's customers are leading
wireless communications providers including Sprint-Nextel, Cingular Wireless, T-Mobile
USA, Verizon Wireless, Centennial Wireless, Dobson Communications and Nextel Partners.
About Dobson Communications Corporation
Dobson Communications is a leading provider of wireless phone services to rural
markets in the United States. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the Company owns wireless
operations in 16 states. For additional information on the Company and its operations,
please visit its Web site at (www.dobson.net). Contact: J. Warren Henry, Vice President,
Investor Relations – (405) 529-8820
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