UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 28, 2011
Level 3 Communications, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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0-15658 |
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47-0210602 |
(State or other |
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(Commission File |
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(IRS employer |
jurisdiction of incorporation) |
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Number) |
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Identification No.) |
1025 Eldorado Blvd., Broomfield, Colorado |
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80021 |
720-888-1000
(Registrants telephone number including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name and former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01. Other Events
On July 28, 2011, Level 3 Escrow, Inc. (Level 3 Escrow), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Level 3), issued an additional $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 (the Additional Senior Notes) under that certain indenture (the Indenture), dated as of July 9, 2011, between Level 3 Escrow and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
The Additional Senior Notes were issued as additional notes under the Indenture and will be treated as a single series of notes with the 8.125% Senior Notes that were issued on June 9, 2011 (the Previously Issued Senior Notes).
The gross proceeds from the offering of the Additional Senior Notes were deposited into the same segregated escrow account into which the gross proceeds from the offering of the Previously Issued Senior Notes were deposited on June 9, 2011. The gross proceeds from the offering will remain in escrow until the date of the satisfaction of certain escrow conditions including, but not limited to, the substantially concurrent consummation of the proposed acquisition (the Amalgamation) by Level 3 of Global Crossing Limited (Global Crossing) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, dated as of April 10, 2011, by and among Level 3, Apollo Amalgamation Sub, Ltd. and Global Crossing and the assumption of the Additional Senior Notes (and the Previously Issued Senior Notes) by Level 3 Financing, Inc. (the Notes Assumption), a wholly owned subsidiary of Level 3 and the direct parent company of Level 3 Escrow (Level 3 Financing). If the escrow conditions are not satisfied on or before April 10, 2012 (or any earlier date on which Level 3 determines that any of such escrow conditions cannot be satisfied) Level 3 Escrow will be required to redeem the Additional Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Additional Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Prior to the Notes Assumption, Level 3 and Level 3 Financing will not be liable for the obligations of Level 3 Escrow for principal, premium or interest payments with respect to the Additional Senior Notes. Following the Notes Assumption, the Additional Senior Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Level 3 Financing, ranking equal in right of payment with all other senior unsecured indebtedness of Level 3 Financing, and Level 3 will guarantee the Additional Senior Notes. The Additional Senior Notes will mature on July 1, 2019. Interest on the Additional Senior Notes will be payable on January 1 and July 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2012.
Following the release of the escrowed funds in connection with the Notes Assumption, the escrowed funds will be used to refinance certain existing indebtedness of Global Crossing in connection with the closing of the Amalgamation. To the extent the gross proceeds from the offering of the Additional Senior Notes, together with the gross proceeds from the offering of the Previously Issued Senior Notes and proceeds from other indebtedness incurred concurrently with the closing of the Amalgamation exceed, in the aggregate, the amount necessary to refinance substantially all of that indebtedness of Global Crossing, those excess proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the offering reduced to zero the outstanding bridge commitment that Level 3 has in place with certain financial institutions in connection with refinancing certain Global Crossing indebtedness.
The offering of the Additional Senior Notes was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Additional Senior Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The Additional Senior Notes were sold to qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Indenture governing the Additional Senior Notes and the Previously Issued Senior Notes was filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8-K filed by Level 3 on June 13, 2011.
On July 28, 2011, Level 3 issued a press release relating to the closing of Level 3 Escrows private offering of the additional $600 million aggregate principal amount of the Additional Senior Notes.
That press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired
None
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information
None
(c) Shell Company Transactions
None
(d) Exhibits
99.1 |
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Press Release, dated July 28, 2011, relating to the closing of the private offering of the additional 8.125% Senior Notes by Level 3 Escrow, Inc. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
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Level 3 Communications, Inc. | |
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By: |
/s/ Neil J. Eckstein |
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Neil J. Eckstein |
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Senior Vice President |
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Date: July 28, 2011 |
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Exhibit 99.1
Level 3 Completes Offering of Additional $600 Million Aggregate
Principal Amount of Senior Notes
BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 28, 2011 Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) today announced that Level 3 Escrow, Inc., its indirect, wholly owned subsidiary, has completed its previously announced offering of an additional $600 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers, as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933. This offering represented an additional offering of the 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 that were issued on June 9, 2011. These notes were offered as additional notes under the same indenture as the 8.125% Senior Notes issued on June 9, 2011, and will be treated under that indenture as a single series of notes with the previously issued 8.125% Senior Notes.
The notes will mature on July 1, 2019.
The gross proceeds from the offering of the notes were deposited into the same segregated escrow account into which the gross proceeds from the offering of the previously issued 8.125% Senior Notes were deposited on June 9, 2011. The gross proceeds from the offering of the notes will remain in the escrow account until the date on which certain escrow conditions, including, but not limited to, the substantially concurrent consummation of the acquisition by Level 3 of Global Crossing Limited and the assumption of the notes by Level 3 Financing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Level 3 and the direct parent company of Level 3 Escrow, are satisfied. If the escrow conditions are not satisfied on or before April 10, 2012 (or any earlier date on which Level 3 determines that any of such escrow conditions cannot be satisfied), Level 3 Escrow will be required to redeem the notes.
Following the release of the escrowed funds in connection with the assumption of the notes by Level 3 Financing, the gross proceeds from the offering of the notes will be used to refinance certain existing indebtedness of Global Crossing, including fees and premiums, in connection with the closing of Level 3s proposed acquisition of Global Crossing. To the extent the gross proceeds from the offering of the notes, together with the gross proceeds from the offering of the previously issued 8.125% Senior Notes and proceeds from other indebtedness incurred concurrently with the closing of Level 3s proposed acquisition of Global Crossing, exceed, in the aggregate, the amount necessary to refinance substantially all of that existing indebtedness of Global Crossing, those excess proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the offering reduced to zero the outstanding bridge commitment for
unsecured debt that Level 3 has in place with certain financial institutions in connection with refinancing certain Global Crossing indebtedness.
The notes are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws.
About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) is a leading international provider of fiber-based communications services. Enterprise, content, wholesale and government customers rely on Level 3 to deliver services with an industry-leading combination of scalability and value over an end-to-end fiber network. Level 3 offers a portfolio of metro and long-haul services, including transport, data, Internet, content delivery and voice. For more information, visit www.level3.com.
© Level 3 Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Level 3, Level 3 Communications and the Level 3 Communications Logo are either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or one of its Affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. Level 3 services are provided by wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. Any other service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward looking in nature. These statements are based on managements current expectations or beliefs. These forward looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside Level 3s control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. The most important factors that could prevent Level 3 from achieving its stated goals include, but are not limited to: the current uncertainty in the global financial markets and the global economy; a discontinuation of the development and expansion of the Internet as a communications medium and marketplace for the distribution and consumption of data and video; and disruptions in the financial markets that could affect Level 3s ability to obtain additional financing. Additional factors include, but are not limited to, the companys ability to: increase and maintain the volume of traffic on its network; develop effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; adapt to rapid technological changes that lead to further competition; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; successfully integrate acquisitions; and meet all of the terms and conditions of debt obligations. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Level 3s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Level 3 is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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Contact Information
Media: |
Investors: |
Monica Martinez |
Mark Stoutenberg |
720-888-3991 |
720-888-2518 |
Monica.Martinez@level3.com |
Mark.Stoutenberg@level3.com |