MONROE, La., and DENVER — CenturyLink and Qwest Communications announced recently that their boards of directors have approved an agreement under which CenturyLink will acquire Qwest in a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Qwest shareholders will receive 0.1664 CenturyLink shares for each share of Qwest common stock they own at closing. Upon closing of the transaction, CenturyLink shareholders are expected to own approximately 50.5 percent and Qwest shareholders are expected to own approximately 49.5 percent of the combined company.
Based on the closing stock price of CenturyLink on April 21, the per share consideration to be received by Qwest shareholders would be equivalent to $6.02 of CenturyLink stock, which represents a premium to Qwest shareholders of approximately 15 percent over Qwest’s closing stock price April 21. Based on the closing stock price of CenturyLink April 21, the transaction reflects an enterprise value of Qwest of approximately $22.4 billion, including the assumption of $11.8 billion of Qwest net debt outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2009.
The parties expect the transaction to be accretive to CenturyLink’s free cash flow per share, excluding integration costs, immediately following the close of the transaction. The transaction is expected to generate annual operating and capital synergies of approximately $625 million when fully recognized over a three- to five-year period following the close of the transaction.
As of Dec. 31, 2009, CenturyLink and Qwest served local markets in 37 states with approximately 5 million broadband customers, 17 million access lines, 1,415,000 video subscribers and 850,000 wireless consumers.
CenturyLink CEO and President Glen F. Post III said, “We believe the combination of CenturyLink’s and Qwest’s employees, assets and service areas will provide us greater scale, scope and expertise and will provide significant benefits for shareholders, customers and our communities. This combination will enhance our ability to deploy innovative IP products and high-bandwidth services to business customers, expand broadband availability and speed to consumers, and offer superior, differentiated video products.”
Qwest Chairman and CEO Edward A. Mueller said, “Over the last several years, Qwest has been focused on generating sustainable free cash flow and strengthening the balance sheet, as well as creating innovative approaches to drive efficiency and perfect the customer experience. We are pleased with the progress we have made and believe that the combined company will be well positioned to win in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”
Based on the closing stock price of CenturyLink on April 21, the per share consideration to be received by Qwest shareholders would be equivalent to $6.02 of CenturyLink stock, which represents a premium to Qwest shareholders of approximately 15 percent over Qwest’s closing stock price April 21. Based on the closing stock price of CenturyLink April 21, the transaction reflects an enterprise value of Qwest of approximately $22.4 billion, including the assumption of $11.8 billion of Qwest net debt outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2009.
The parties expect the transaction to be accretive to CenturyLink’s free cash flow per share, excluding integration costs, immediately following the close of the transaction. The transaction is expected to generate annual operating and capital synergies of approximately $625 million when fully recognized over a three- to five-year period following the close of the transaction.
As of Dec. 31, 2009, CenturyLink and Qwest served local markets in 37 states with approximately 5 million broadband customers, 17 million access lines, 1,415,000 video subscribers and 850,000 wireless consumers.
CenturyLink CEO and President Glen F. Post III said, “We believe the combination of CenturyLink’s and Qwest’s employees, assets and service areas will provide us greater scale, scope and expertise and will provide significant benefits for shareholders, customers and our communities. This combination will enhance our ability to deploy innovative IP products and high-bandwidth services to business customers, expand broadband availability and speed to consumers, and offer superior, differentiated video products.”
Qwest Chairman and CEO Edward A. Mueller said, “Over the last several years, Qwest has been focused on generating sustainable free cash flow and strengthening the balance sheet, as well as creating innovative approaches to drive efficiency and perfect the customer experience. We are pleased with the progress we have made and believe that the combined company will be well positioned to win in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”