Lumen Bolsters Runway to Execute Transformation

Rhea-AI Summary

Lumen Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: LUMN) has entered into an amended and restated transaction support agreement with a broadened group of creditors, representing over $12.5 billion of outstanding indebtedness and commitments. The agreement extends debt maturities, provides $1.325 billion of financing through new long-term debt, and access to a new revolving credit facility. The transactions are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024, demonstrating creditors' conviction in Lumen's turnaround plan and growth strategy.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Lumen Technologies' amended transaction support agreement (TSA) with its creditors is a strategic financial maneuver designed to alleviate immediate debt pressures and provide the company with enhanced liquidity. By extending debt maturities primarily to 2029 and beyond, Lumen is effectively spreading its repayment obligations over a longer period, which can ease the burden on its cash flows in the near term. The addition of $1.325 billion in new long-term debt and access to a roughly $1 billion revolving credit facility further bolsters the company's financial position.

Investors should note that such restructuring could signal confidence among creditors in Lumen's ability to execute its turnaround plan and growth strategy. The impact on the company's stock could be positive in the short term, as the market often reacts favorably to improved liquidity positions and extended debt maturities. However, the long-term implications will hinge on the company's operational performance and its ability to disrupt the telecom sector as indicated by the CEO.

It is also important to consider the potential dilution of existing shareholders if the new debt financing includes equity components, or if the terms of the debt are particularly onerous. The precise terms of the new debt and credit facilities will be crucial in evaluating the overall impact on shareholder value.

Legal Expert

The transactions related to the TSA being executed on a privately negotiated basis under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 indicate a non-public offering. This exemption allows the company to raise capital without the need for a public offering, which can be quicker and less costly. However, it limits the pool of potential investors to accredited investors and other qualified parties, which could impact liquidity of the new instruments.

Additionally, the fact that Lumen does not plan to make certain transactions available to all holders could raise questions about equal treatment of creditors and transparency. This selective approach may be strategic, targeting specific debt tranches or creditor groups for restructuring. Stakeholders should monitor the company's follow-on transactions with respect to non-participating debt, as these could affect the overall capital structure and potentially the rights of existing creditors.

Market Research Analyst

From a market perspective, the broad creditor support for Lumen's TSA suggests a level of market confidence in the company's strategic direction. The telecom industry is highly competitive and capital-intensive, with significant ongoing investment required to maintain and upgrade network infrastructure. Lumen's ability to secure such a substantial agreement indicates that the market perceives its growth strategy and transformation journey as viable.

However, the company's future performance in a rapidly evolving telecom market will be critical. With emerging technologies and shifting consumer demands, Lumen's success will depend on its ability to innovate and adapt. The extended debt maturities and additional financing should provide the necessary resources for Lumen to invest in these areas, but the execution of these investments will determine the long-term impact on the company's market position and financial health.

New Agreement with Creditors to Provide Company with Significant Financial Flexibility

DENVER, Jan. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumen Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: LUMN) ("Lumen" or the "Company") today announced that it has entered into an amended and restated transaction support agreement (the "TSA") with a broadened group of creditors who now represent, in the aggregate, over $12.5 billion of the outstanding indebtedness and commitments of the Company and its subsidiaries and represent over 70% in the aggregate of Lumen and Level 3 debt maturing through 2027.  The amended TSA announced today is supported by a significantly larger group of creditors across more of Lumen's capital structure than the agreement previously announced on October 31, 2023. The TSA will, among other things, extend debt maturities to primarily 2029 and beyond, provide $1.325 billion of financing to the Company through new long-term debt and provide access to a new revolving credit facility in an amount expected to be approximately $1 billion. Lumen expects to complete the transactions contemplated by the TSA in the first quarter of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of limited remaining closing conditions. The broad support across the Company's capital structure demonstrates creditors' and stakeholders' conviction in Lumen's turnaround plan and growth strategy.

"This agreement represents another positive step forward in the Lumen turnaround story and creates substantial runway for the Company to achieve its financial and capital structure goals. The TSA transactions, when completed, will provide Lumen significant flexibility as we continue to execute on our transformation journey of disrupting telecom," commented Kate Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lumen.

Lumen plans to make certain term loan transactions available to all holders in connection with the consummation of such transactions. The transactions related to certain notes of the Company and Level 3 will be executed on a privately negotiated basis under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Company does not plan to make such transactions available to all holders in connection with the consummation of such transactions. Following consummation of the TSA transactions, Lumen may assess potential follow-on transactions with respect to non-participating debt.

Additional information can be found in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC today and available on Lumen's investor relations website at https://ir.lumen.com.

Guggenheim Securities, LLC served as financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal advisor to the Company.

About Lumen Technologies

Lumen connects the world. We are igniting growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, and managed service capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow.

No Offer or Solicitation

This release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In particular, this communication is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States or any other jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical and factual information, the matters set forth in this release and other of our oral or written statements identified by words such as "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "intends," "will," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements as defined by the federal securities laws, and are subject to the "safe harbor" protections thereunder. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are based on current expectations only, are inherently speculative, and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in those statements if one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect. Factors that could affect actual results include but are not limited to: our ability to close the transactions contemplated by the TSA on the timeline currently expected or at all, including the ability of the parties to negotiate definitive agreements with respect to the matters covered by the term sheet included in the TSA and the occurrence of events that may give rise to failure to satisfy any of the conditions to the closing of the transactions contemplated by, or a right of any of the parties to terminate, the TSA; the effects of intense competition from a wide variety of competitive providers, including decreased demand for our more mature service offerings and increased pricing pressures; the effects of new, emerging or competing technologies, including those that could make our products less desirable or obsolete; our ability to successfully and timely attain our key operating imperatives, including simplifying and consolidating our network, simplifying and automating our service support systems, attaining our Quantum Fiber buildout goals, strengthening our relationships with customers and attaining projected cost savings; our ability to safeguard our network, and to avoid the adverse impact of cyber-attacks, security breaches, service outages, system failures, or similar events impacting our network or the availability and quality of our services; the effects of ongoing changes in the regulation of the communications industry, including the outcome of legislative, regulatory or judicial proceedings relating to content liability standards, intercarrier compensation, universal service, service standards, broadband deployment, data protection, privacy and net neutrality; our ability to generate cash flows sufficient to fund our financial commitments and objectives, including our capital expenditures, operating costs, debt repayments, taxes, pension contributions and other benefits payments; our ability to effectively retain and hire key personnel and to successfully negotiate collective bargaining agreements on reasonable terms without work stoppages; our ability to successfully adjust to changes in customer demand for our products and services, including increased demand for high-speed data transmission services; our ability to successfully maintain the quality and profitability of our existing product and service offerings, to introduce profitable new offerings on a timely and cost-effective basis and to transition customers from our legacy products to our newer offerings; our ability to successfully and timely implement our corporate strategies, including our deleveraging and buildout strategies; our ability to successfully and timely realize the anticipated benefits from the divestiture of our European, Middle Eastern and African business and our divestitures completed in 2022, and to successfully operate and transform our remaining business; changes in our operating plans, corporate strategies, or capital allocation plans, whether based upon changes in our cash flows, cash requirements, financial performance, financial position, market or regulatory conditions, or otherwise; the impact of any future material acquisitions or divestitures that we may transact; the negative impact of increases in the costs of our pension, healthcare, post-employment or other benefits, including those caused by changes in markets, interest rates, mortality rates, demographics or regulations; the potential negative impact of customer complaints, government investigations, security breaches or service outages impacting us or our industry; adverse changes in our access to credit markets on favorable terms, whether caused by changes in our financial position, lower credit ratings, unstable markets, debt covenant restrictions or otherwise; our ability to meet the terms and conditions of our debt obligations and covenants, including our ability to make transfers of cash in compliance therewith; the impact of any purported notice of default or notice of acceleration arising from alleged breach of covenants under our credit documents; our ability to maintain favorable relations with our security holders, key business partners, suppliers, vendors, landlords and financial institutions; our ability to timely obtain necessary hardware, software, equipment, services, governmental permits and other items on favorable terms; our ability to meet evolving environmental, social and governance ("ESG") expectations and benchmarks, and effectively communicate and implement our ESG strategies; the potential adverse effects arising out of allegations regarding the release of hazardous materials into the environment from network assets owned or operated by us or our predecessors, including any resulting governmental actions, removal costs, litigation, compliance costs or penalties; our ability to collect our receivables from, or continue to do business with, financially-troubled customers; our ability to continue to use or renew intellectual property used to conduct our operations; any adverse developments in legal or regulatory proceedings involving us; changes in tax, pension, healthcare or other laws or regulations, in governmental support programs, or in general government funding levels, including those arising from governmental programs promoting broadband development; our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards in the amounts projected; the effects of changes in accounting policies, practices or assumptions, including changes that could potentially require additional future impairment charges; continuing uncertainties regarding the impact that COVID-19 and its aftermath could have on our business, operations, cash flows and corporate initiatives; the effects of adverse weather, terrorism, epidemics, pandemics, rioting, vandalism, societal unrest, or other natural or man-made disasters or disturbances; the potential adverse effects if our internal controls over financial reporting have weaknesses or deficiencies, or otherwise fail to operate as intended; the effects of changes in interest rates or inflation; the effects of more general factors such as changes in exchange rates, in operating costs, in public policy, in the views of financial analysts, or in general market, labor, economic or geopolitical conditions; and other risks referenced from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to unduly rely upon our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments, changed circumstances, or otherwise. Furthermore, any information about our intentions contained in any of our forward-looking statements reflects our intentions as of the date of such forward-looking statement, and is based upon, among other things, regulatory, technological, industry, competitive, economic and market conditions, and our related assumptions, as of such date. We may change our intentions, strategies or plans without notice at any time and for any reason.

 

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SOURCE Lumen Technologies

FAQ

What is the ticker symbol for Lumen Technologies, Inc.?

The ticker symbol for Lumen Technologies, Inc. is LUMN.

What is the amended and restated transaction support agreement (TSA) about?

The amended and restated TSA provides Lumen with significant financial flexibility, extending debt maturities, providing $1.325 billion of financing through new long-term debt, and access to a new revolving credit facility.

When are the transactions contemplated by the TSA expected to be completed?

The transactions are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of limited remaining closing conditions.

Who served as the financial advisor to Lumen Technologies, Inc.?

Guggenheim Securities, LLC served as the financial advisor to the company.