Level 3 Closes Global Crossing Acquisition

Level 3 Communications has completed its acquisition of Global Crossing Limited. The transaction was structured as a tax-free, stock-for-stock exchange. The company will use the Level 3 Communications name with a new brand identity that incorporates elements from both companies. In addition, the company announced plans to transfer the listing of its common stock to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and expects to begin trading on the NYSE on Oct. 20, 2011, under its current ticker symbol "LVLT”. The company will continue to trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market until the transfer is completed. In conjunction with listing on NYSE, the company will implement a 1-for-15 reverse stock split of the Level 3 common stock.?

Level 3 now will operate a services platform for medium to large enterprise, wholesale, content and government customers, anchored by extensive owned fiber networks on three continents in more than 45 countries as well as substantial undersea facilities.

“Our enterprise is now a global, state-of-the-art communications company that is substantially bigger and financially stronger, with an unrivaled IP/optical network and global reach, and an entrepreneurial culture singularly focused on the customer experience,” said James Crowe, chief executive officer of Level 3, in a statement.

The company will operate through three geographically organized business units in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), Latin America and North America, and each business unit will have one leader accountable for sales, operations and marketing for that region. Corporate functions will be centralized in North America and will support the company globally. The corporate headquarters of the company will remain in Broomfield, Colo. (For more, see How Level 3 Is Assembling A Powerhouse, One Company At A Time).