Schurz Communications has announced the acquisition of Winona, Minnesota-based Hiawatha Broadband Communications for an undisclosed sum.
The deal will give Mishawaka, Indiana-based Schurz cable systems in Southeast Minnesota. Hiawatha will continue to operate under the same name and will keep its Winona headquarters.
“HBC has been an integral part of Southeast Minnesota for 20 years and that’s not going to change,” said Todd Schurz, president and CEO of Schurz, in a statement. “We plan to continue investing in the business and the employees because we know that our success is at the local level where the day to day business will be run. On behalf of Schurz we want to welcome HBC to our family of companies and look forward to growing together,” Schurz added.
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Schurz expects the deal to close at the end of December.
Hiawatha operates a fiber-optic network serving gigabit broadband, telephone, and video services.
The video service has a selection of more than 300 channels, VOD and extensive local high school and college sporting events that are produced by Hiawatha’s own studio facilities. Hiawatha’s data transport network in Southern Minnesota connects more than 20 cities to a protected fiber-optic network ring.
"The board and management of HBC carefully evaluated whether Schurz was the right company to carry forward the true spirit and intent of what the HBC team has worked hard to create in Minnesota,” said Dan Pecarina, CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communications, in the statement. “Schurz believes, as we do, that a good company is actively engaged in and cares about the communities they serve. Schurz focuses on employees and customers and believes that local employees making the day to day decisions serve the customer best. We’re pleased to join Schurz as they share our vision of not just what HBC is today but also what we believe HBC can be in the future.”