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Touch America buyout looming?

Apparently some well-dressed executive types have been trooping in and out of the sixth floor at the Hennessy Building, fueling
speculation that Touch America may be looking for a buyer.

By Leslie McCartney of the Montana Standard

That cash-strapped telecommunications company has said that it is facing bankruptcy since a multi-million dollar court loss to
Qwest.

According to several people, confidentiality agreements have been signed so the company itself is mum on potential buyers — but
names tossed about include Warren Buffett’s Level 3 Communications and 360 Communica-tions.

Level 3 (LVLT.O), of Broomfield, Colo., sells its high-speed network services to long-distance telephone companies and large
Internet service providers, according to a story in Reuters.

Chicago-based 360 Communications provides wireless voice and data services to more than 1.75 million customers in nearly 100
markets throughout Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, according to its Web site. In addition to the New York Stock Exchange, 360
Communications’ stock is listed on the Chicago and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol XO.

Sources also said that the next month will be telling for the Butte-based Touch America with either a bankruptcy or buyout
looming.
The company’s future is especially critical in Butte with more than 100 people employed at its headquarters.

Leslie McCartney is the business reporter for The Montana Standard. She may be reached via e-mail at
[email protected].

http://www.mtstandard.com/newslocal/lnews111.html

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