IP and managed services provider Birch Communications plans to make its 12^th acquisition in five years with the purchase of bankrupt Cordia Communications Corp.s CLEC assets.

Georgia-based Birch was the only bidder for Cordias customer accounts and access lines. Birch will pay $8 million for the Florida-headquartered Cordia, according to reports. The deal will increase Birchs customer density in 38 states, Birch said, and add up to 50 jobs in Georgia and Kansas.

Cordia filed for bankruptcy protection in May. The Birch takeover is set to close within three months.