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Verizon's Charter deal may break the bank

If Verizon does buy Charter Communications Inc, it would create the biggest US wireless and Internet provider. But can it afford the US$200 billion price tag?

Published Mon, Jan 30, 2017 · 09:50 PM

    New York

    VERIZON Communications Inc is said to have given thought to buying Charter Communications Inc, a deal that would create the biggest US wireless and Internet provider.

    But many in the finance world are focused on another superlative a Charter tie-up could lead to: the world's biggest corporate debtor. And that's causing some credit analysts to wonder how Verizon could finance such a massive deal, while also achieving its goal of reducing debt, let alone avoiding a blow to its credit metrics that could jeopardise its investment-grade rating.

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