Lumen Technologies, Inc. Announces Pricing of its 8.500% Senior Notes Due 2036 and Upsize of Previously Announced Debt Tender Offers

Key Terms

senior notes financial

Senior notes are a type of loan that a company borrows from investors, promising to pay it back with interest. They are called "senior" because in case the company faces financial trouble, these lenders are paid back before others. This makes senior notes safer for investors compared to other types of loans or bonds.

second lien notes financial

Second lien notes are loans or bonds that are backed by a company’s assets but sit behind first-lien debt in the pecking order for repayment; think of them like a second mortgage on a house. They matter to investors because they typically pay higher interest to compensate for the greater risk of getting paid only after first-lien creditors in a default, so they balance higher return potential against lower recovery chances.

tender offers financial

A tender offer is a proposal by one company or individual to buy shares from existing owners of a company at a specified price within a certain time frame. It matters to investors because it can lead to changes in company ownership or control, potentially affecting the value of their investments. Essentially, it’s a way for someone to try to purchase a large portion of a company’s stock directly from shareholders.

offer to purchase financial

An offer to purchase is a formal proposal from one party to buy a specific amount of shares or assets from another party at a set price. It matters to investors because it signals interest in acquiring ownership and can influence the value or control of a company. Think of it as someone putting forward a clear, serious offer to buy something they find valuable.

rule 144a regulatory

Rule 144A is a regulation that makes it easier for companies to sell private bonds to large investors without going through all the usual rules that apply to public sales. It matters because it helps companies raise money more quickly and privately, often attracting big investors looking for special deals.

regulation s regulatory

Regulation S is a set of rules that allows companies to sell securities (like shares or bonds) to investors outside the United States without having to follow all U.S. securities laws. It matters because it makes it easier for companies to raise money from international investors while still complying with U.S. regulations.

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lumen Technologies, Inc. (“Lumen,” “us,” “we” or “our”) (NYSE: LUMN) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Level 3 Financing, Inc. (“Level 3 Financing”), has agreed to sell $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of its 8.500% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “Notes”), which represents a $500 million increase from the previously announced size of the offering.

The Notes were priced to investors at a price of 100.000% of their aggregate principal amount and will mature on Jan. 15, 2036. Upon issuance, the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsubordinated and unsecured basis by Level 3 Parent, LLC, the direct parent of Level 3 Financing, and certain unregulated subsidiaries of Level 3 Financing.

Level 3 Financing intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with cash on hand or other available liquidity, if necessary, to purchase its Existing Second Lien Notes (as defined below) pursuant to the Tender Offers (as defined below) and to pay related fees and expenses. To the extent not applied to purchase the Existing Second Lien Notes in the Tender Offers and to pay related fees and expenses, Level 3 Financing intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes. The offering of the Notes is expected to be completed on Dec. 23, 2025, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions.

Concurrently with the offering, Level 3 is conducting cash tender offers (the “Tender Offers” and each, a “Tender Offer”) to purchase the outstanding notes described below, pursuant to and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in an Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement, as supplemented (the “Statement”). The notes offered to be purchased in the Tender Offers, listed in the order of priority, are the (1) 4.000% Second Lien Notes due 2031, (2) 3.875% Second Lien Notes due 2030, (3) 4.500% Second Lien Notes due 2030, and (4) 4.875% Second Lien Notes due 2029 (collectively, the “Existing Second Lien Notes”) up to an aggregate purchase price, excluding accrued and unpaid interest, of $1.5 billion (the “Aggregate Purchase Price”). The Aggregate Purchase Price represents an increase in the previously announced amount of $1.0 billion. Level 3 Financing has correspondingly increased the minimum gross proceeds required from one or more debt financings to satisfy the financing condition set forth in the Offer to Purchase to $1.25 billion, from the previously announced amount of $750 million.

The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws in the United States and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the applicable registration requirements. Accordingly, the Notes are being offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. The Notes will not have registration rights.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the Notes, nor will there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell any Existing Second Lien Notes, nor will there be any purchase of Existing Second Lien Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Lumen Technologies

Lumen is unleashing the world's digital potential. We ignite business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. As the trusted network for AI, Lumen uses the scale of our network to help companies realize AI's full potential. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, managed service, and digital platform capabilities, we meet our customers’ needs today and as they build for tomorrow.

Lumen and Lumen Technologies are registered trademarks of Lumen Technologies, Inc. in the United States. Level 3 Financing, Inc. is a wholly owned affiliate of Lumen Technologies, Inc.

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,” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. 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: failure to satisfy or waive the conditions to consummation of the Notes offering or the conditions set forth in the Statement; corporate developments that could preclude, impair or delay the above-described transactions due to restrictions under the federal securities laws; changes in Level 3 Financing’s credit ratings; changes in the cash requirements, financial position, financing plans or investment plans of Level 3 Financing or its affiliates; changes in general market, economic, tax, regulatory or industry conditions that impact the ability or willingness of Level 3 Financing to consummate the above-described transactions on the terms described above or at all; and other risks referenced from time to time in the filings of Lumen or Level 3 Parent, LLC with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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. We may change our intentions, strategies or plans (including our plans expressed herein) without notice at any time and for any reason.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251208625722/en/

Media Contact:

Anita J. Gomes

Anita.Gomes@lumen.com

+1 858-229-8538

Investor Contact:

Jim Breen, CFA

Jim.Breen@lumen.com

+1 603-404-7003

Source: Lumen Technologies