Bluebird Network to be acquired

Bluebird Network LLC is being purchased by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, a fund managed by the Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets division of Macquarie Group.

MIP partnered with Uniti Group Inc. to finance the transaction. Through the deal, Uniti will buy Bluebird's fiber network and then lease it back to the company. Bluebird will acquire Uniti's Midwest fiber business and enter a long-term lease for its Midwest fiber network, mostly in Illinois. Both networks will be operated under the Bluebird name.

“We are very pleased to partner with Bluebird’s experienced management team as MIP expands its portfolio of investments in communications infrastructure,” said Karl Kuchel, CEO of MIP. “As bandwidth needs continue to increase, fiber has become the essential backbone for high-performance connectivity networks. We look forward to working with the Bluebird team to growing the platform in the years ahead."

Based in Columbia, Bluebird operates a data center in Springfield Underground.

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