Long-Term Debt

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Long-Term Debt.

Long-Term Debt

(8) Long-Term Debt

As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, long-term debt was as follows:

(dollars in millions)	June 30, 2011			December 31, 2010
Senior Secured Term Loan due 2014	$	1,680		$	1,680
Senior Notes due 2014 (9.25%)	807			1,250
Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2015 (4.215% as of June 30, 2011 and 4.344% as of December 31, 2010)	300			300
Senior Notes due 2017 (8.75%)	700			700
Senior Notes due 2018 (10.0%)	640			640
Senior Notes due 2019 (11.875%)	605			—
Senior Notes due 2019 (9.375%)	500			—
Senior Notes due 2019 (8.125%)	600			—
Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 (5.25%)	—			196
Convertible Senior Notes due 2012 (3.5%)	294			294
Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (15.0%)	400			400
Convertible Senior Discount Notes due 2013 (9.0%)	—			295
Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 (7.0%)	200			200
Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 Series B (7.0%)	275			275
Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 (6.5%)	201			201
Commercial Mortgage due 2015 (9.86%)	66			67
Capital Leases	28			29
Total Debt Obligations	7,296			6,527
Unamortized (Discount) Premium:
Discount on Senior Secured Term Loan due 2014	(1		)	(1		)
Premium on Senior Notes due 2014 (9.25%)	4			7
Discount on Senior Notes due 2018 (10.0%)	(11		)	(12		)
Discount on Senior Notes due 2019 (11.875%)	(11		)	—
Discount on Senior Notes due 2019 (9.375%)	(10		)	—
Discount on Senior Notes due 2019 (8.125%)	(4		)	—
Discount on Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 (5.25%)	—			(20		)
Discount on Convertible Senior Notes due 2012 (3.5%)	(20		)	(29		)
Discount on Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 (7.0%)	(3		)	(3		)
Discount due to embedded derivative contracts	(16		)	(21		)
Total Unamortized (Discount) Premium	(72		)	(79		)
Carrying Value of Debt	7,224			6,448
Less current portion	(875		)	(180		)
Long-term Debt, less current portion	$	6,349		$	6,268

Approximately $294 million of the Company’s 3.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2012 have been reclassified into the current portion of long-term debt based on the contractual maturity date in June 2012. In addition, approximately $600 million aggregate principal of Level 3 Escrow’s 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 have been presented within the current portion of long-term debt due to certain conditions discussed below.

2011 Debt Issuance and Related Redemptions

8.125% Senior Notes Due 2019

In June 2011, Level 3 Escrow, Inc. (“Level 3 Escrow”), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Level 3 Communications, Inc., issued $600 million in aggregate principal amount of its 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “8.125% Senior Notes”). The Company issued the 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 to investors at a price of 99.264% of their principal amount. The debt issuance discount of approximately $4 million is reflected as a reduction in long-term debt and is being amortized as interest expense over the beginning initial term of the 8.125% Senior Notes using the effective interest method. As a result of certain conditions that could require Level 3 Escrow to redeem the notes on or before April 10, 2012, discussed further below, the initial term of the 8.125% Senior Notes is deemed to be through April 2012. When the contingency is resolved, the Company will reclassify these notes into long-term debt and the remaining related debt issue discount will be amortized as interest expense over the remaining term of the 8.125% Senior Notes. The 8.125% Senior Notes will mature on July 1, 2019 and are not guaranteed by the Company’s subsidiaries. Interest on the notes accrues at 8.125% per year and is payable on January 1 and July 1, beginning on January 1, 2012.

The gross proceeds from the offering of the 8.125% Senior Notes were deposited into a segregated escrow account and 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 by Level 3 of Global Crossing pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement and the assumption of the 8.125% Senior Notes by Level 3 Financing, Inc. (the “Notes Assumption”).  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 8.125% Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 8.125% 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 8.125% Senior Notes.  Following the Notes Assumption, the 8.125% 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 8.125% Senior Notes.

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.  The gross proceeds from the offering reduce the outstanding bridge commitment that Level 3 has in place with certain financial institutions in connection with refinancing certain Global Crossing indebtedness. See Note 2 — Pending Acquisition of Global Crossing.

Following the Notes Assumption, the 8.125% Senior Notes will be subject to redemption at the option of Level 3 Financing, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, (i) prior to July 1, 2015, at 100% of the principal amount of 8.125% Senior Notes so redeemed plus (A) the applicable make-whole premium set forth in the Indenture, as of the redemption date and (B) accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including, the redemption date, and on and after April 1, 2015, at the redemption prices set forth below (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including the redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve months beginning April 1, of the years indicated below:

Year	Redemption Price
2015	104.063	%
2016	102.031	%
2017	100.000	%

At any time or from time to time after the Notes Assumption and on or prior to April 1, 2014, up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 8.125% Senior Notes may be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 108.125% of the principal amount of the 8.125% Senior Notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds contributed from one or more private placements of Level 3 or underwritten public offerings of common stock of Level 3 resulting, in each case, in gross proceeds of at least $100 million in the aggregate. However, at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 8.125% Senior Notes must remain outstanding immediately after giving effect to such redemption. Any such redemption shall be made within 90 days following such private placement or public offering upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice.

The offering of the 8.125% Senior Notes was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the 8.125% Senior Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.  The 8.125% 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.

9.375% Senior Notes Due 2019

On March 4, 2011, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Level 3 Financing, Inc. (“Level 3 Financing”) issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.375% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “9.375% Senior Notes”) at a price of 98.001% of their principal amount. The net proceeds from the offering, were used to redeem a portion of Level 3 Financing’s outstanding 9.25% Senior Notes due 2014 on April 4, 2011. The debt issuance discount of approximately $10 million is reflected as a reduction in long-term debt and is being amortized as interest expense over the term of the 9.375% Senior Notes using the effective interest method.  The 9.375% Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Level 3 Financing, ranking equal in right of payment with all other senior unsecured obligations of Level 3 Financing. Level 3 has guaranteed the 9.375% Senior Notes. The 9.375% Senior Notes will mature on April 1, 2019. Interest on the Notes will be payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2011.

Debt issuance costs of approximately $11 million were capitalized and are being amortized over the term of the 9.375% Senior Notes using the effective interest rate method.

The 9.375% Senior Notes Due 2019 are subject to redemption at the option of Level 3 Financing in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, prior to April 1, 2015, at 100% of the principal amount of 9.375% Senior Notes so redeemed plus (A) the applicable make-whole premium set forth in the Indenture, as of the redemption date and (B) accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including, the redemption date, and on or after April 1, 2015 at the redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve months beginning April 1, of the years indicated below:

Year	Redemption Price
2015	104.688	%
2016	102.344	%
2017	100.000	%

At any time or from time to time on or prior to April 1, 2014, Level 3 Financing may redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 9.375% Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 109.375% of the principal amount of the 9.375% Senior Notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including, the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds contributed to the capital of Level 3 Financing from one or more private placements or underwritten public offerings of common stock of Level 3 resulting, in each case, in gross proceeds of at least $100 million in the aggregate. However, at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 9.375% Senior Notes must remain outstanding immediately after giving effect to such redemption. Any such redemption shall be made within 90 days following such private placement or public offering upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice.

The offering of the 9.375% Senior Notes was not originally registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the 9.375% Senior Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. On March 4, 2011, in connection with the offering, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement pursuant to which Level 3 agreed to file a registration statement to exchange the offered notes with new notes that are substantially identical in all material respects, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement to be declared effective no later than 270 days after the issuance of the offered notes. The 9.375% 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.

11.875% Senior Notes Due 2019

In January 2011, in two separate transactions, Level 3 Communications, Inc. issued a total of $605 million aggregate principal amount of its 11.875% Senior Notes due 2019 (“11.875% Senior Notes”). The Company issued a portion of its 11.875% Senior Notes due 2019 to investors at a price of 98.173% of their principal amount. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 11.875% Senior Notes due 2019, which included an $11 million debt issuance discount, were used to redeem the Company’s 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 and exchange the 9% Convertible Senior Discount Notes due 2013 during the first quarter of 2011.  The net discount of approximately $11 million is reflected as a reduction in long-term debt and is being amortized as interest expense over the term of the 11.875% Senior Notes using the effective interest method.  The 11.875% Senior Notes will mature on February 1, 2019 and are not guaranteed by the Company’s subsidiaries. Interest on the notes accrues at 11.875% per year and is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning April 1, 2011.

Debt issuance costs of approximately $8 million were capitalized and are being amortized over the term of the 11.875% Senior Notes using the effective interest rate method.

The 11.875% Senior Notes are subject to redemption at the option of Level 3 Communications, Inc. in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, prior to February 1, 2015, at 100% of the principal amount of 11.875% Senior Notes so redeemed plus (A) the applicable make-whole premium set forth in the Indenture, as of the redemption date and (B) accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including, the redemption date, and on or after April 1, 2015 at the redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve months beginning February 1, of the years indicated below:

Year	Redemption Price
2015	105.938	%
2016	102.969	%
2017	100.000	%

At any time or from time to time on or prior to February 1, 2014, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 11.875% Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 111.875% of the principal amount of the 11.875% Senior Notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including, the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds contributed to the capital of Level 3 from one or more private placements of Level 3 or underwritten public offerings of common stock of Level 3 resulting, in each case, in gross proceeds of at least $100 million in the aggregate. However, at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 11.875% Senior Notes must remain outstanding immediately after giving effect to such redemption. Any such redemption shall be made within 90 days following such private placement or public offering upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice.

The offering of the 11.875% Senior Notes was not originally registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the 11.875% Senior Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. In connection with the offering, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement pursuant to which Level 3 agreed to file a registration statement to exchange the offered notes with new notes that are substantially identical in all material respects, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement to be declared effective no later than 270 days after the issuance of the offered notes. The 11.875% 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.

2011 Debt Redemptions and Exchanges

On July 15, 2011, certain holders converted approximately $128 million of its 15% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2013.  See Note 14 — Subsequent Events for further discussion.

In April 2011, in connection with the issuance of the 9.375% Senior Notes due 2019, together with cash on hand, the Company redeemed approximately $443 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.25% Senior Notes due 2014 at a price of 104.625% of the principal amount.  The Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of the portion of the aggregate principal amount of its 9.25% Senior Notes due 2014 retired of approximately $23 million in the second quarter of 2011.

In the first quarter of 2011, in connection with the issuance of the 11.875% Senior Notes due 2019, the Company redeemed the outstanding $196 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 at a price of 100.75% of the principal amount and exchanged the outstanding $295 million aggregate principal amount of 9% Convertible Senior Discount Notes due 2013. The Company recognized a loss of $20 million in the first quarter as a result of the redemption of the 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 and the exchange of the 9% Convertible Senior Discount Notes due 2013.

2010 Debt Issuances

6.5% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2016

During the third quarter of 2010, the Company issued $175 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 (the “6.5% Convertible Senior Notes”). The net proceeds from the issuance of the 6.5% Convertible Senior Notes were approximately $170 million after deducting debt issuance costs. In connection with the issuance of the Company’s 6.5% Convertible Senior Notes, the Company granted an overallotment option to the underwriters to purchase up to an additional $26 million aggregate principal amount of these notes less the underwriting discount. The underwriters exercised the overallotment option in full during the fourth quarter of 2010, and the Company received net proceeds of approximately $25.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. The 6.5% Convertible Senior Notes will mature on October 1, 2016 and have an interest rate of 6.5% per annum with interest payable semiannually on April 1 and October 1, beginning April 1, 2011.

Debt issuance costs of approximately $6 million were capitalized and are being amortized over the term of the 6.5% Convertible Senior Notes using the effective interest rate method.

10% Senior Notes Due 2018

During the first quarter of 2010, Level 3 Financing, Inc. issued $640 million in aggregate principal amount of its 10% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “10% Senior Notes”) in a private offering. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 10% Senior Notes were $613 million after deducting a $13 million discount and approximately $14 million of debt issuance costs. The net proceeds were used to fund Level 3 Financing, Inc.’s purchase of its 12.25% Senior Notes due 2013 (the “12.25% Senior Notes”) in a concurrent tender offer and consent solicitation. The 10% Senior Notes will mature on February 1, 2018 and are guaranteed by Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Level 3 Communications, LLC (see Note 13—Condensed Consolidating Financial Information). Interest on the notes accrues at 10% per year and is payable on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning August 1, 2010.

The offering of the 10% Senior Notes was not originally registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and included a registration rights agreement.  In June 2010, all of the originally placed notes were exchanged for a new issue of 10% Senior Notes due 2018 with identical terms and conditions, other than those related to registration rights, in a registered exchange offer and are now freely tradable.

2010 Tender Offer

In the first quarter of 2010, Level 3 Financing, Inc. commenced a tender offer to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding $550 million aggregate principal amount of its 12.25% Senior Notes for a price equal to $1,080.00 per $1,000 principal amount of the notes, which included $1,050.00 as the tender offer consideration and $30.00 as a consent payment (the “12.25% Tender Offer”). In connection with the 12.25% Tender Offer, Level 3 and Level 3 Financing, Inc. solicited consents to certain proposed amendments to the indenture governing the 12.25% Senior Notes to eliminate substantially all of the covenants, certain repurchase rights and certain events of default and related provisions contained in the indenture.

Holders of the 12.25% Senior Notes, representing approximately 99.4% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 12.25% Senior Notes, participated in the tender offer. At the expiration of the tender offer, an aggregate principal amount of approximately $547 million of notes had been tendered. The Company redeemed in full the remaining $3 million aggregate principal of the 12.25% Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 106.125% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The Company recognized a loss associated with the 12.25% Tender Offer of approximately $55 million.

2010 Debt Repayments and Repurchases

In the third quarter of 2010, the Company repaid the $38 million aggregate principal amount of its 2.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010 that matured on July 15, 2010.

In the second quarter of 2010, the Company redeemed all of the outstanding $172 million aggregate principal amount of its 10% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 for a price equal to $1,016.70 per $1,000 principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including the redemption date.  The Company used cash on hand to fund the redemption of these notes and recognized a loss on extinguishment of approximately $4 million.

In the first quarter of 2010, the Company repaid $111 million aggregate principal amount of its 6% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2010 that matured on March 15, 2010.  In addition, in various transactions during the first quarter of 2010, the Company repurchased $3 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011, the remaining $3 million of its 10.75% Senior Notes due 2011, and $2 million aggregate principal amount of 2.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010.  Repurchases were made at prices to par ranging from 95% to 100%, and the Company recognized a net loss on these repurchases of less than $1 million.

Long-Term Debt Maturities

Aggregate future contractual maturities of long-term debt and capital leases (excluding issue discounts, premiums and fair value adjustments) were as follows as of June 30, 2011 (in millions):

2011 (remaining six months)	$	2
2012	899
2013	406
2014	2,494
2015	832
2016	204
Thereafter	2,459
	$	7,296