Level 3 Communications could face competition in its...

Level 3 Communications could face competition in its bid to buy tw telecom, but it is tw telecom’s “natural merger partner” because the two have “similar and yet complementary” assets, said Canaccord Genuity analyst Greg Miller in an emailed report. Level 3 said Monday it plans to buy tw telecom for $7.3 billion, including debt (CD June 17 p7). CenturyLink had been seen as close to buying tw telecom in 2012, Miller said. CenturyLink did not comment.