Hickory-based CommScope saw its shares rise by 7% in early afternoon trading after it agreed to sell two business units to a Connecticut company for $2.1 billion.
Amphenol Corp. is acquiring the company’s outdoor wireless network business, as well as its distributed antenna systems business.
The deal is expected to close within the first half of 2025, subject to regulatory approval. CommScope has been under pressure from investors to trim its $9 billion in debt, with $1.27 billion in debt due June 2025. Earlier this year, CommScope sold its home networks business.
CommScope shares traded for more than $30 for much of 2015-18, but have slid since then. Shares were trading at $1.86, up 15 cents, or 8.8%, on Thursday afternoon after reaching a high of $2.35 earlier.
“This transaction allows CommScope to increase focus and further strengthen its CommScope NEXT priorities with its remaining segments and business units,” said CommScope CEO Chuck Treadway in a statement.
The outdoor wireless networks business provides infrastructure for mobile networks, including macro and small cell site solutions. The distribution antenna systems business provides cellular infrastructure inside venues, campuses and enterprises.
The two businesses are expected to have 2024 sales of $1.2 billion and EBITDA margins of 25%. They have 4,000 employees.
Amphenol, which is based in Wallingford, Connecticut, designs, manufactures and markets electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors and interconnect systems, antennas, sensors and sensor-based products and coaxial and high-speed specialty cable. It has facilities in 40 countries.
CommScope, meanwhile, announced plans last year to add 250 jobs and invest $60.3 million to expand its fiber-optic cable manufacturing operations in Catawba County.
But with demand for broadband cable increasing, CommScope has faced a tough competitive environment in recent years. Its $7.4 billion acquisition of Arris in 2019 sent the company’s debt soaring, while the in-home customer products added in the deal haven’t met growth expectations.
It has reported cumulative net losses of more than $4 billion over the past four years despite annual sales topping $5.5 billion annually.
The company will release its second-quarter results on Aug. 8. In the first quarter, the company reported revenue of $1.2 billion, down 29.8%, and a loss of $262.1 million.