Verizon to raise $61B bridge for $130B deal.

Verizon Communications (VZ) has reportedly started syndicating a $61B one-year bridge loan that will support the company's $130B acquisition of 45% of Verizon Wireless from Vodafone (VOD), which was announced yesterday. Verizon intends to help pay for the deal with $49B in bonds and $14B in other debt, but might need the bridge loan if it can't issue the bonds by the time the transaction closes. Vodafone plans to use some of the proceeds from the deal to launch Project Spring, a £6B ($9.3B) scheme to invest in 4G infrastructure and fiber-optic cables.