Verizon/Cable Would Be Rife With Possibilities, Hurdles, Citigroup Analyst Says

There's speculation Verizon could combine with a cable company, but any such deal would have to clear a regulatory hurdle and business issues like total debt loads and unfunded pension and possibly other post retirement benefit liabilities, Citigroup analyst Michael Rollins wrote investors Thursday. He said a quad-play offering may not have as many revenue benefits as hoped, though a combined network would have scale and synergy benefits. He said Verizon's 5G fixed wireless plans could be "a viable third pipe" that could compete with the wireline and cable broadband duopoly without any need for cable assets. Rollins said the expected tax law overhauls and rising interest rates are driving increased urgency for mergers and acquisitions.