Level 3 Buys WilTel
Internet-backbone provider Level 3 Communications Inc. is buying WilTel Communications Group Inc. -- which includes the company’s Vyvx subsidiary -- for close to $700 million in cash and stock.
Level 3 provides backbone service to telecommunications companies, including Cox Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp. WilTel is a major provider to SBC Communications Inc., and the company also owns the Vyvx network.
Level 3 will pay $370 million in cash and 115 million shares of stock. Level 3 was trading at $2.86 per share Monday, placing the stock value at $329 million.
The companies said the deal does not include WilTel’s headquarters building, nor the assumption of WilTel’s outstanding debt or mortgage obligations.
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