About the Merger

The CenturyTel / EMBARQ transaction has received favorable response from government officials, industry analysts, and telecom experts.

"I want to congratulate CenturyTel and its leadership for successfully completing a merger with EMBARQ to form CenturyLink. CenturyLink will be recognized as one of the country's leading telecommunications companies - based right here in Monroe, Louisiana. [...] This news adds to a series of recent major economic development wins for Northeast Louisiana. Combined, these wins will create thousands of good-paying jobs, enhance the region's competitiveness and significantly expand its economy."

Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA)
July 1, 2009

"In our opinion, CenturyLink will likely remain an active participant in subsequent RLEC sector M&A. Given the company's size (market capitalization and assets), we believe it will be a consolidator."

David Coleman
RBC Capital Markets
July 8, 2009

"CenturyTel should be able to recognize potential synergies from the Embarq acquisition that improve its cost structure and are accretive to free cash flow. [...] We believe CenturyTel's strong balance sheet and investment grade debt rating provide flexibility in a changing industry while maximizing shareholder return."

Michael Nelson
Soleil/Nelson Alpha Research
July 7, 2009

"We continue to recommend Buy-rated CenturyLink, following the completion of its merger with Embarq, based on the opportunities to improve cash flow through merger- related synergies beginning in the 2H/09, retain balance sheet flexibility to improve shareholder returns, and trade at a relatively attractive valuation."

Michael Rollins, CFA
CitiGroup
July 1, 2009

"CenturyLink remains our top pick among the RLECs [...] while the company is faced with increasing revenue pressure, similar to its peer group, we believe upside to synergies from its merger with Embarq will boost profitability and cash flow."

Batya Levi
UBS
July 7, 2009

"I believe that rural consumers and wholesale customers will benefit from the merged entity's commitment to maintain service levels consistent with the better of the management and operating practices of the pre-merger companies."

Acting Chairman Michael J. Kopps
Federal Communications Commission
June 25, 2009

"The merger will benefit consumers in many ways, including creating synergies that will spur network investment and speeding the roll-out of broadband and other advanced services throughout the combined entity's service area."

Commissioner Robert M. McDowell
Federal Communications Commission
June 25, 2009

Neither CenturyTel nor EMBARQ has requested or obtained the consent of any of the authors or original publications of the statements quoted above for use on this website or as proxy soliciting material.