Integra Telecom Buys Electric Lightwave

Integra Telecom Inc., a provider of local, long-distance and Internet services for SMBs, has agreed to buy Electric Lightwave Inc. (ELI) for $243 million in cash. The company also will assume ELI’s approximately $4 million in capital lease obligations.

ELI is owned by Citizens Communications. The companies expect the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2006.

Integra said the acquisition will make it one of the largest CLECs in the western United States. Its market reach will expand from 18 metropolitan areas to 23, and the number of states it serves will grow from five to eight.

In addition to the metropolitan area networks, Integra also will own and operate ELI’s 4,700-mile, long-haul network.

Integra Telecom will remain headquartered in Portland, Ore., which also is where ELI is based.

Electric Lightwave www.eli.net
Integra Telecom www.integratelecom.com

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