Levels onNextel Communications' bank debt strengthened last week with the bank debt following the bonds' incremental climb to 80. The levels on the bank debt were reported at 92 1/2 to 93 1/4 early last week, which is up from trading levels of 90 three weeks ago. Nextel, one of the most liquid and strong names, had recently sagged a little as the telecom industry has plunged.
Traders have said Nextel will weather the telecom crash reasonably well. "Wireless in general has done a better job. There's a firm business model [in Nextel]," one noted, adding that Nextel's upcoming challenge will be to upgrade its network. "It has some big capital expenditures coming up. They need to get to the next generation of cellular, and their system isn't as easy to upgrade as others." Another dealer disagreed, noting that Nextel's brand recognition separates it from the telecom names that are "alive but half dead. When you walk down the street, you don't have to walk far to see a Nextel phone or storefront," he said.
The company has a $5 billion deal, which breaks down into four tranches and expires in 2008.