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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2016

Registration Statement No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Verizon Communications Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   4813   23-2259884

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1095 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

(212) 395-1000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Francis J. Shammo

Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

Verizon Communications Inc.

1095 Avenue of the Americas

8 th Floor

New York, New York 10036

(212) 395-1000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Audrey E. Prashker, Esq.

Vice President & General Counsel—Capital Markets

Verizon Communications Inc.

One Verizon Way

Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920

(908) 559-5430

 

Steven J. Slutzky, Esq.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

919 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

(212) 909-6000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.   ¨

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller Reporting Company   ¨

If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)   ¨

Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)   ¨

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to Be Registered

 

Amount

to Be

Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum
Offering Price

per Security

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(2)

Floating Rate Notes due 2022

  $2,500,000,000   100%   $2,500,000,000   $251,750.00

Floating Rate Notes due 2025

  $2,500,000,000   100%   $2,500,000,000   $251,750.00

 

 

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(f) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(2) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act. The total registration fee due is $503,500.

 

 

 


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities or consummate the Exchange Offers until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 29, 2016

PROSPECTUS

 

 

LOGO

Verizon Communications Inc.

Offer to Exchange

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2022

for

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2022

that have been registered under the

Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)

Offer to Exchange

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2025

for

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2025

that have been registered under the Securities Act

The Exchange Offers will expire at

5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2016,

unless extended with respect to either or both series.

 

 

We hereby offer, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal, to exchange (i) up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our outstanding Floating Rate Notes due 2022 (CUSIP No. U9221A AB4) (the “Original Notes due 2022”) for a like principal amount of our Floating Rate Notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act (CUSIP No. 92343V DA9) (the “Exchange Notes due 2022”) and (ii) up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our outstanding Floating Rate Notes due 2025 (CUSIP No. U9221A AC2) (the “Original Notes due 2025” and, together with the Original Notes due 2022, the “Original Notes”) for a like principal amount of our Floating Rate Notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act (CUSIP No. 92343V DB7) (the “Exchange Notes due 2025” and, together with the Exchange Notes due 2022, the “Exchange Notes”). We refer to these offers as the “Exchange Offers”. When we use the term “Notes” in this prospectus, the term includes the Original Notes and the Exchange Notes unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires. The terms of the Exchange Offers are summarized below and are more fully described in this prospectus.

The terms of each series of Exchange Notes are identical to the terms of the corresponding series of Original Notes, except that the transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest provisions applicable to the Original Notes do not apply to the Exchange Notes.

We will accept for exchange any and all Original Notes of each series validly tendered prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2016, unless extended (the “expiration date”) and not validly withdrawn.

You may withdraw tenders of Original Notes of each series at any time before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offers. The Original Notes surrendered and exchanged for the Exchange Notes will be retired and canceled. Accordingly, the issuance of the Exchange Notes will not result in any increase in our outstanding indebtedness.

The exchange of Original Notes of each series for the corresponding series of Exchange Notes will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

No public market currently exists for any series of Original Notes. We do not intend to list any series of Exchange Notes on any securities exchange and, therefore, no active public market is anticipated.

Any broker-dealer that holds Original Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities will not be entitled to tender its Original Notes in the Exchange Offers and this prospectus may not be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Original Notes where such Original Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.

 

 

See “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 8 to read about important factors you should consider before tendering your Original Notes.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2016


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

About This Prospectus

     i   

Forward-Looking Statements

     i   

Where You Can Find More Information

     ii   

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

     ii   

Summary

     1   

Risk Factors

     8   

Use of Proceeds

     11   

Ratio of Earnings To Fixed Charges

     12   

The Exchange Offers

     13   

Description of the Exchange Notes

     22   

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

     32   

Plan of Distribution

     33   

Experts

     34   

Legal Matters

     34   

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

You should read this prospectus carefully before you invest. This prospectus contains important information you should consider when making your investment decision. You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, which are accurate as of their respective dates. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information, and we take no responsibility for any information that others may give you.

If any statement in this prospectus conflicts with any statement in a document that we have incorporated by reference, then you should consider only the statement in the more recent document. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this document.

In this prospectus, “we,” “our,” “us,” “Verizon” and “Verizon Communications” refer to Verizon Communications Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, contains both historical and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but only predictions and generally can be identified by use of statements that include phrases such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “appear,” “project,” “estimate,” “intend,” or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals also are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could materially affect these forward-looking statements can be found in our periodic reports filed with the SEC.

Potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward- looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are made only as of the date of this prospectus, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events might or might not occur. We cannot assure you that projected results or events will be achieved.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any of these documents at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of ours, please be aware that the reference is only a summary and that you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s website.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents we have filed with the SEC and the future filings we make with the SEC until the date we consummate the Exchange Offers under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K):

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015;

 

    our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016; and

 

    our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2016, May 11, 2016 and June 9, 2016 and on Form 8-K/A filed on June 2, 2016.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by contacting us at:

Investor Relations

Verizon Communications Inc.

One Verizon Way

Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920

Telephone: (212) 395-1525

Internet Site: www.verizon.com/investor

In order to obtain timely delivery of such materials, you must request information from us no later than five business days prior to the expiration of the relevant Exchange Offer.

 

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SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information appearing elsewhere, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus and is, therefore, qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information appearing elsewhere, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus. It may not contain all the information that is important to you. We urge you to read carefully this entire prospectus and the other documents to which it refers to understand fully the terms of the Exchange Notes and the Exchange Offers. You should pay special attention to “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Verizon Communications

We are one of the world’s leading providers of communications, information and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses and governmental agencies. With a presence around the world, we offer voice, data and video services and solutions on our wireless and wireline networks that are designed to meet customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control. Our wireless segment, doing business as Verizon Wireless, provides wireless communications services across one of the most extensive wireless networks in the United States, with 112.6 million retail connections as of March 31, 2016. Our wireline segment provides voice, data and video communications products and enhanced services, including broadband video and data, corporate networking solutions, data center and cloud services, security and managed network services and local and long distance voice services. We provide these products and services to consumers in the United States, as well as to carriers, businesses and government customers both in the United States and around the world. We employed a diverse workforce of approximately 173,300 employees as of March 31, 2016, and generated consolidated revenues of $131.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Our principal executive offices are located at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, and our telephone number is (212) 395-1000.

 



 

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The Exchange Offers

On February 21, 2014, in connection with the consummation of our acquisition of Vodafone Group Plc’s (“Vodafone Group”) indirect 45% interest in Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless we issued $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Original Notes due 2022 and $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Original Notes due 2025. As part of those issuances, we entered into an exchange and registration rights agreement, dated February 21, 2014 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), with respect to each series of Original Notes with Vodafone Group and Vodafone 4 Limited (“Vodafone 4”), in which we agreed, among other things, to use our commercially reasonable efforts to complete an exchange offer for each series of Original Notes. Below is a summary of the Exchange Offers.

 

The Exchange Offers

We are offering to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Original Notes due 2022 and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Original Notes due 2025 for like principal amounts of Exchange Notes due 2022 and Exchange Notes due 2025, respectively. You may tender Original Notes only in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. We will issue each series of Exchange Notes promptly after the expiration of the applicable Exchange Offer. In order to be exchanged, an Original Note must be validly tendered, not validly withdrawn and accepted by us. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the Exchange Offers, all Original Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be accepted by us and exchanged. As of the date of this prospectus, $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Original Notes due 2022 is outstanding and $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Original Notes due 2025 is outstanding. The Original Notes were issued under our Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2000 (as amended or supplemented, the “Indenture”), between us and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank), as trustee (the “Trustee”). If all outstanding Original Notes are tendered for exchange, there will be $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes due 2022 and $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes due 2025 outstanding after the Exchange Offers.

 

Purpose of the Exchange Offers

The purpose of the Exchange Offers is to satisfy our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Expiration Date; Tenders

The Exchange Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2016, unless we extend the period of time during which either or both of the Exchange Offers is open. In the event of any material change to either of the Exchange Offers, we will extend the period of time during which the relevant Exchange Offer is open as necessary so that at least five business days remain in the relevant Exchange Offer period following notice of such material change. By signing or agreeing to be bound by the accompanying letter of transmittal, you will represent, among other things, that: (i) any Original Notes to be exchanged were acquired by you in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any Exchange Notes received by you will be

 



 

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acquired in the ordinary course of business, (iii) you have no arrangements or understanding with any person, including us, to participate in the distribution of the Original Notes or the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iv) you are not an affiliate of the Company, and (v) you are not a broker-dealer electing to exchange Original Notes, acquired for your own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, for the applicable Exchange Notes.

 

Accrued Interest on the Exchange Notes and Original Notes

The Exchange Notes due 2022 will bear interest from                     , 2016, which will be the most recent date to which interest on the Original Notes due 2022 will have been paid prior to the issuance of the Exchange Notes due 2022. The Exchange Notes due 2025 will bear interest from                     , 2016, which will be the most recent date to which interest on the Original Notes due 2025 will have been paid prior to the issuance of the Exchange Notes due 2025. If your Original Notes are accepted for exchange, you will receive interest on the corresponding Exchange Notes and not on such Original Notes. Any Original Notes not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest according to their terms.

 

Conditions to the Exchange Offers

Our obligation to accept Original Notes tendered in the Exchange Offers is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions. See “The Exchange Offers—Conditions to the Exchange Offers.”

 

Procedures for Tendering Original Notes

A tendering holder must, at or prior to the applicable expiration date:

 

    transmit a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, including all other documents required by the letter of transmittal, to the Exchange Agent (as defined herein) at the address listed in this prospectus; or

 

    if Original Notes are tendered in accordance with the book-entry procedures described in this prospectus, the tendering holder must transmit an agent’s message (as defined herein) to the Exchange Agent.

 

  See “The Exchange Offers—Procedures for Tendering.”

 

Special Procedures for Beneficial Holders

If you are a beneficial holder of Original Notes that are registered in the name of your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to tender in either of the Exchange Offers, you should promptly contact the person in whose name your Original Notes are registered and instruct that nominee to tender on your behalf. See “The Exchange Offers—Procedures for Tendering.”

 

Withdrawal Rights

Tenders may be withdrawn at any time before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date. See “The Exchange Offers—Withdrawal Rights.”

 



 

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Acceptance of Original Notes and Delivery of Exchange Notes

Subject to the conditions stated in the section “The Exchange Offers—Conditions to the Exchange Offers” of this prospectus, we will accept for exchange any and all Original Notes of each series that are properly tendered in the Exchange Offers and not validly withdrawn. The corresponding Exchange Notes will be delivered promptly after the applicable expiration date. See “The Exchange Offers—Terms of the Exchange Offers.”

 

Absence of Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal

You do not have dissenters’ rights of appraisal with respect to the Exchange Offers. See “The Exchange Offers—Absence of Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal.”

 

U.S. Federal Tax Considerations

Your exchange of Original Notes for Exchange Notes pursuant to either of the Exchange Offers will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

Exchange Agent

U.S. Bank National Association is serving as the exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) in connection with the Exchange Offers. The address and telephone number of the Exchange Agent are listed under the heading “The Exchange Offers—Exchange Agent.”

 

Use of Proceeds

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offers. The Original Notes surrendered and exchanged for the Exchange Notes will be retired and canceled. Accordingly, issuance of the Exchange Notes will not result in any increase in our outstanding indebtedness.

 

Resale of the Exchange Notes

Based on existing interpretations of the Securities Act by the SEC staff set forth in several no-action letters to third parties and subject to the immediately following sentence, we believe Exchange Notes issued under these Exchange Offers in exchange for Original Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by the holders thereof (other than holders that are broker-dealers) without further compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act. However, any holder of Original Notes that is an affiliate of ours, did not acquire the Original Notes, or will not acquire the Exchange Notes, in the ordinary course of its business or that intends to participate in the Exchange Offers for the purpose of distributing any of the Exchange Notes (i) will not be able to rely on the interpretations of the SEC staff set forth in the above-mentioned no-action letters, (ii) will not be entitled to tender its Original Notes in the Exchange Offers and (iii) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or transfer of the Original Notes unless such sale or transfer is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements.

 

 

Notes, including Exchange Notes issued under these Exchange Offers, held by a Vodafone Entity (as defined in the Noteholders

 



 

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Agreement) will continue to be subject to the contractual limitations on transfer set forth in the Noteholders Agreement. See “The Exchange Offers—Noteholders Agreement.”

 

  Any broker-dealer that holds Original Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities will not be entitled to tender its Original Notes in the Exchange Offers.

 

Consequences Of Not Exchanging Original Notes

If you do not exchange your Original Notes in the Exchange Offers, you will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer described in the legend on your Original Notes. In general, you may offer or sell your Original Notes only:

 

    if they are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws;

 

    if they are offered or sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; or

 

    if they are offered or sold in a transaction not subject to the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

  Although your Original Notes will continue to accrue interest, they will generally retain no rights under the Registration Rights Agreement. We currently do not intend to register any series of Original Notes under the Securities Act. For more information regarding the consequences of not tendering your Original Notes, see “The Exchange Offers—Consequences of Exchanging or Failing to Exchange the Original Notes.”

 

Risk Factors

For a discussion of risk factors you should consider carefully before deciding to participate in the Exchange Offers, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus.

 



 

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The Exchange Notes

 

Issuer

Verizon Communications Inc.

 

Securities Offered

Up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes due 2022 and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes due 2025.

 

  The terms of each series of Exchange Notes are identical to the terms of the corresponding series of Original Notes, except that the transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest provisions applicable to the Original Notes do not apply to the Exchange Notes.

 

Maturity Dates

Exchange Notes due 2022: February 21, 2022. Exchange Notes due 2025: February 21, 2025.

 

Interest Rates

Exchange Notes due 2022: LIBOR plus 1.222%. Exchange Notes due 2025: LIBOR plus 1.372%.

 

  The Exchange Notes due 2022 will bear interest from                     , 2016, which will be the most recent date to which interest on the Original Notes due 2022 will have been paid prior to the issuance of the Exchange Notes due 2022. The Exchange Notes due 2025 will bear interest from                     , 2016, which will be the most recent date to which interest on the Original Notes due 2025 will have been paid prior to the issuance of the Exchange Notes due 2025.

 

Interest Payment Dates

Exchange Notes due 2022: February 21, May 21, August 21 and November 21 of each year, commencing on                     , 2016.

 

  Exchange Notes due 2025: February 21, May 21, August 21 and November 21 of each year, commencing on                     , 2016.

 

Optional Redemption

The Exchange Notes due 2022 and the Exchange Notes due 2025 will not be redeemable prior to maturity. See “Description of the Exchange Notes—Redemption.”

 

Ranking

Each series of Exchange Notes will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our senior unsecured debt.

 

Book Entry; Form and Denominations

Each series of Exchange Notes will initially be represented by (i) one or more fully registered global notes, which we refer to as the “Global Notes” and (ii) one or more fully registered physical certificated notes, which we refer to as the “Physical Notes.”

 

 

The Global Notes will be registered in the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. Beneficial interests in the Exchange Notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Clearstream Banking, société anonyme , and Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as

 



 

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operator of the Euroclear System, will hold interests on behalf of their participants through their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in accounts as participants of DTC. Except in limited circumstances described in this prospectus, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to have Global Notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive Exchange Notes in definitive form and will not be considered holders of Exchange Notes under the Indenture.

 

  The Physical Notes will be registered in the name of the beneficial owner or owners of such Physical Notes (or the nominee of such beneficial owner or owners). Except in limited circumstances provided in this prospectus, holders of Physical Notes will not be entitled to receive beneficial interests in the Global Notes.

 

  The Exchange Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000

 

No Public Market

The Exchange Notes will be new securities for which there is currently no market. A market for either or both series of Exchange Notes may not develop, or if a market does develop, it may not provide adequate liquidity.

 

Governing Law

The Indenture is, and the Exchange Notes will be, governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 



 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the Exchange Notes involves risks. Before making a decision whether to participate in the Exchange Offers, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, including the risk factors set forth in the documents and reports filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference herein. Our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows can be impacted by these factors, any one of which could cause our actual results to vary materially from recent results or from our anticipated future results.

Uncertainty as to the trading market for Original Notes not exchanged

To the extent tenders of Original Notes for exchange in the Exchange Offers are accepted by us and the Exchange Offers are completed, the trading market for the Original Notes that remain outstanding following such completion will be significantly limited. The remaining Original Notes may command a lower price than a comparable issue of securities with greater market liquidity. A reduced market value and reduced liquidity may also make the trading price of the remaining Original Notes more volatile. As a result, the Exchange Offers may cause the market price for the Original Notes that remain outstanding after the completion of the Exchange Offers to be adversely affected. Neither we nor the Exchange Agent has any duty to make a market in any remaining Original Notes.

Uncertainty as to the trading market for the Exchange Notes

We cannot make any assurance as to:

 

    the development of an active trading market for the Exchange Notes;

 

    the liquidity of any trading market that may develop for the Exchange Notes;

 

    the ability of holders to sell their Exchange Notes; or

 

    the price at which the holders would be able to sell their Exchange Notes.

We do not intend to apply for listing of the Exchange Notes on any securities exchange or for quotation through any automated dealer quotation system. Any trading market that may develop for the Exchange Notes may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for securities, changes in our financial performance or prospects, a change in our credit rating, the prospects for companies in our industry generally, any acquisitions or business combinations proposed or consummated by us, the interest of securities dealers in making a market for the Exchange Notes and prevailing interest rates, financial markets and general economic conditions. A market for the Exchange Notes may be subject to volatility.

In addition, Notes, including Exchange Notes issued under these Exchange Offers, held by a Vodafone Entity (as defined in the Noteholders Agreement) will continue to be subject to the contractual limitations on transfer set forth in the Noteholders Agreement. See “The Exchange Offers—Noteholders Agreement.”

Resale of the Original Notes is restricted

Each series of Exchange Notes will be issued pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus forms a part. On the other hand, we have not registered the Original Notes under the Securities Act or for public offerings outside the United States. Consequently, the Original Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States, unless they are registered under the Securities Act, transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or transferred in a transaction not subject to the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. As a result, holders of Original Notes who do not participate in the Exchange Offers will face restrictions on the resale of their Original Notes, and such holders may not be able to sell their Original Notes at the time they wish or at prices acceptable to them. In addition, we do not anticipate that we will register the Original Notes under the Securities Act.

 

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Treatment of the Original Notes not exchanged

Original Notes not exchanged in the Exchange Offers will remain outstanding. The terms and conditions governing the Original Notes will remain unchanged. No amendments to these terms and conditions are being sought.

From time to time after the expiration date, we or our affiliates may acquire Original Notes that are not exchanged in the Exchange Offers through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, tender offers, exchange offers or otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as we or our affiliates may determine or as may be provided for in the documents governing the Original Notes.

Responsibility for complying with the procedures of the Exchange Offers

Holders of Original Notes are responsible for complying with all of the procedures for tendering Original Notes for exchange in a timely manner. Therefore, holders of Original Notes that wish to exchange them for Exchange Notes should allow sufficient time for timely completion of the exchange procedures. If the exchange procedures are not strictly complied with, the letter of transmittal or the agent’s message, as the case may be, may be rejected. Neither we nor the Exchange Agent assumes any responsibility for informing any holder of Original Notes of irregularities with respect to such holder’s participation in the Exchange Offers.

Consummation of the Exchange Offers may not occur

The Exchange Offers are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. See “The Exchange Offers—Conditions to the Exchange Offers.” Even if the Exchange Offers are completed, they may not be completed on the schedule described in this prospectus. Accordingly, holders participating in the Exchange Offers may have to wait longer than expected to receive their Exchange Notes.

Completion, termination, waiver and amendment

Until we announce whether we have accepted valid tenders of Original Notes for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offers, no assurance can be given that the Exchange Offers will be completed. In addition, subject to applicable law and as provided in this prospectus, we may, in our sole discretion, extend, re-open, amend, waive any condition of or terminate either or both of the Exchange Offers at any time before our announcement of whether we will accept valid tenders of Original Notes for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offers, which we expect to make as soon as reasonably practicable after the applicable expiration date.

Responsibility to consult advisers

Holders should consult their own tax, accounting, financial and legal advisers regarding the suitability to themselves of the tax or accounting consequences of participating in the Exchange Offers and an investment in the Exchange Notes.

Neither we nor the Exchange Agent, nor our or its directors, employees or affiliates, is acting for any holder of Original Notes or will be responsible to any holder of Original Notes for providing advice in relation to the Exchange Offers, and accordingly neither we nor the Exchange Agent, nor our or its directors, employees and affiliates, makes any recommendation whatsoever regarding the Exchange Offers or any recommendation as to whether you should tender your Original Notes for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offers.

Registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act

If you exchange your Original Notes in the Exchange Offers for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes, you may be deemed to have received restricted securities and, if so, you will be required

 

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to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction. Our obligation to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part effective is limited. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee that a current prospectus will be available at all times to holders of restricted securities.

Except in limited circumstances, holders of Physical Notes will not be entitled to receive beneficial interests in the Global Notes

Holders of Original Notes in physical certificated form participating in the Exchange Offers will receive Physical Notes in exchange for their Original Notes. Except in limited circumstances, holders of Physical Notes will not be entitled to receive beneficial interests in the Global Notes. See “Description of the Exchange Notes.”

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offers. The Original Notes surrendered and exchanged for the Exchange Notes will be retired and canceled.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table shows our ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2016

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

5.08

  5.27   3.15   7.69   3.55   3.50

For these ratios, “earnings” have been calculated by adding fixed charges to income before (provision) benefit for income taxes, equity in losses (earnings) of unconsolidated businesses and dividends from unconsolidated businesses. “Fixed charges” include interest expense, capitalized interest and the portion of rent expense representing interest. We classify interest expense recognized on uncertain tax positions as income tax expense and therefore such interest expense is not included in the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

 

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THE EXCHANGE OFFERS

Purpose of the Exchange Offers

When we completed the issuance of the Original Notes on February 21, 2014, we entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with Vodafone Group and Vodafone 4. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, we agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement or, at our election in our sole discretion, separate registration statements for (i) the Original Notes due 2022 by no later than July 1, 2016 and (ii) the Original Notes due 2025 by no later than July 1, 2018. We also agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act and the exchange offers to be consummated no later than (i) October 1, 2016, in the case of the Original Notes due 2022 and (ii) October 1, 2018, in the case of the Original Notes due 2025. Upon the effectiveness of the applicable registration statement, we agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to commence the Exchange Offers. The Registration Rights Agreement provides that we will be required to pay additional interest to the holders of the Original Notes of the applicable series if we fail to comply with such filing requirements or the applicable registration statement does not become effective and the applicable Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to (i) October 1, 2016, in the case of the Original Notes due 2022 and (ii) October 1, 2018, in the case of the Original Notes due 2025.

The Exchange Offers are not being made to holders of Original Notes in any jurisdiction where the exchange would not comply with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and it is available from us upon request. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Terms of the Exchange Offers

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, we will accept for exchange Original Notes that are properly tendered before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date and not validly withdrawn as permitted below. We will issue a like principal amount of Exchange Notes in exchange for the principal amount of the corresponding Original Notes tendered under the respective Exchange Offers. As used in this prospectus, the term “expiration date” means                     , 2016. However, if we have extended the period of time for which the Exchange Offers are open with respect to either or both series of Notes, the term “expiration date” means the latest date to which we extend the relevant Exchange Offer.

As of the date of this prospectus, $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Original Notes due 2022 is outstanding and $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Original Notes due 2025 is outstanding. The Original Notes of each series were issued under the Indenture. Our obligation to accept Original Notes of each series for exchange in the Exchange Offers is subject to the conditions described below under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offers.” We reserve the right to extend the period of time during which either or both of the Exchange Offers is open. We may, subject to applicable law, elect to extend the relevant Exchange Offer period if less than 100% of the Original Notes of the relevant series are tendered or if any condition to consummation of the relevant Exchange Offer has not been satisfied as of the relevant expiration date and it is likely that such condition will be satisfied after such date. In addition, in the event of any material change to either or both of the Exchange Offers, we will extend the period of time during which the relevant Exchange Offer is open as necessary so that at least five business days remain in the relevant Exchange Offer period following notice of such material change. In the event of such extension, and only in such event, we may delay acceptance for exchange of any Original Notes of the relevant series by giving written notice of the extension to the holders of Original Notes of such series as described below. During any extension period, all Original Notes of such series previously tendered will remain subject to the Exchange Offers and may be accepted for exchange by us. Any Original Notes not accepted for exchange will be returned to the tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offers.

 

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Original Notes of each series tendered in the Exchange Offers must be in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

Subject to applicable law, we reserve the right to amend or terminate either or both of the Exchange Offers, and not to accept for exchange any Original Notes of the relevant series not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions of the relevant Exchange Offer specified below under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offers.” We will give written notice of any extension, amendment, non-acceptance or termination to the holders of the Original Notes of the relevant series as promptly as practicable. Such notice, in the case of any extension, will be issued by means of a press release or other public announcement no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date for such series.

Our acceptance of the tender of Original Notes by a tendering holder will form a binding agreement upon the terms and subject to the conditions provided in this prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal.

Absence of Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal

Holders of the Original Notes do not have any dissenters’ rights of appraisal in connection with the Exchange Offers.

Procedures for Tendering

Except as described below, a holder tendering Original Notes must, at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date:

 

    transmit a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, including all other documents required by the letter of transmittal, to the Exchange Agent, at the address listed below under the heading “—Exchange Agent;” or

 

    if Original Notes are tendered in accordance with the book-entry procedures described below, the tendering holder must transmit an agent’s message to the Exchange Agent.

Transmittal will be deemed made only when actually received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent.

In addition:

 

    the Exchange Agent must receive, at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date, certificates for the Original Notes; or

 

    the Exchange Agent must receive a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of the Original Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC, the book-entry transfer facility.

The term “agent’s message” means a computer-generated message, transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the Exchange Agent and forming a part of a book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the tendering participant that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by, and makes the representations and warranties contained in, the letter of transmittal and that we may enforce the letter of transmittal against such participant.

The method of delivery of Original Notes, letters of transmittal and all other required documents is at your election and risk. If delivery is by mail, we recommend that you use registered mail, properly insured, with return receipt requested. In all cases, you should allow sufficient time to assure timely delivery. You should not send letters of transmittal or Original Notes to anyone other than the Exchange Agent.

 

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If you are a beneficial owner whose Original Notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and wish to tender, you should promptly instruct the registered holder to tender on your behalf. Any registered holder that is a participant in DTC’s book-entry transfer facility system may make book-entry delivery of the Original Notes by causing DTC to transfer the Original Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account.

Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed unless the Original Notes surrendered for exchange are tendered:

 

    by a registered holder of the Original Notes that has not completed the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on the letter of transmittal; or

 

    for the account of an “eligible institution.”

If signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal are required to be guaranteed, the guarantees must be by an “eligible institution.” An “eligible institution” is a financial institution, including most banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses, that is a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program.

We will reasonably determine all questions as to the validity, form and eligibility of Original Notes tendered for exchange and all questions concerning the timing of receipts and acceptance of tenders. These determinations will be final and binding.

We reserve the right to reject any particular Original Note not properly tendered, or any acceptance that might, in our judgment, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defects or irregularities with respect to the form of, or procedures applicable to, the tender of any particular Original Note prior to the applicable expiration date. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Original Notes must be cured prior to the applicable expiration date of the Exchange Offers. Neither we, the Exchange Agent nor any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity in any tender of Original Notes. Neither we, the Exchange Agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failing to give notification of any defect or irregularity.

If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of Original Notes, the letter of transmittal must be accompanied by a physical certificate representing the Original Notes endorsed by the registered holder or written instrument of transfer or exchange in satisfactory form, duly executed by the registered holder, in either case with the signature guaranteed by an eligible institution. In addition, in either case, the original endorsement or the instrument of transfer must be signed exactly as the name of any registered holder appears on the Original Notes.

If the letter of transmittal or any Original Notes or powers of attorney are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, these persons should so indicate when signing. Unless waived by us, proper evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to so act must be submitted.

By signing or agreeing to be bound by the letter of transmittal, each tendering holder of Original Notes will represent, among other things, that (i) any Original Notes to be exchanged were acquired by it in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any Exchange Notes received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (iii) it has no arrangements or understanding with any person, including the Company, to participate in the distribution of the Original Notes or the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iv) it is not an affiliate of the Company, and (v) it is not a broker-dealer electing to exchange Original Notes, acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, for the applicable Exchange Notes.

 

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Acceptance of Original Notes for Exchange; Delivery of Exchange Notes

Upon satisfaction of all of the conditions to an Exchange Offer, we will accept, promptly after the applicable expiration date, all Original Notes of the relevant series properly tendered. We will issue the applicable Exchange Notes promptly after the expiration of the relevant Exchange Offer and acceptance of the corresponding Original Notes. See “—Conditions to the Exchange Offers” below. For purposes of the Exchange Offers, we will be deemed to have accepted properly tendered Original Notes for exchange when, as and if we have given written notice of such acceptance to the Exchange Agent.

For each Original Note accepted for exchange, the holder of the Original Note will receive an Exchange Note of the corresponding series having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered Original Note, and represented by a Global Note or a Physical Note, as applicable. Original Notes (and beneficial interests therein) represented by one or more global notes may only be exchanged for Global Notes (and beneficial interests therein). Original Notes represented by one or more physical certificated notes may only be exchanged for Physical Notes. The Exchange Notes due 2022 will bear interest from                     , 2016, which will be the most recent date to which interest on the Original Notes due 2022 will have been paid prior to the issuance of the Exchange Notes due 2022. The Exchange Notes due 2025 will bear interest from                     , 2016, which will be the most recent date to which interest on the Original Notes due 2025 will have been paid prior to the issuance of the Exchange Notes due 2025. Original Notes accepted for exchange will cease to accrue interest from and after the date of completion of the relevant Exchange Offer. Holders of Original Notes whose Original Notes are accepted for exchange will not receive any payment for accrued interest on the Original Notes otherwise payable on any interest payment date, the record date for which occurs on or after completion of the relevant Exchange Offer and will be deemed to have waived their rights to receive the accrued interest on the Original Notes.

In all cases, issuance of Exchange Notes for Original Notes will be made only after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of:

 

    certificates for the Original Notes, or a timely book-entry confirmation of the deposit of the Original Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at the book-entry transfer facility;

 

    a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal or a transmitted agent’s message; and

 

    all other required documents.

Unaccepted or non-exchanged Original Notes will be returned without expense to the tendering holder of the Original Notes promptly after the expiration of the relevant Exchange Offer. In the case of Original Notes tendered by book-entry transfer in accordance with the book-entry procedures described below, the non-exchanged Original Notes will be returned or recredited promptly after the expiration of the relevant Exchange Offer.

Book-Entry Transfer

The Exchange Agent will make a request to establish an account for the Original Notes at DTC for purposes of the Exchange Offers within two business days after the date of this prospectus. Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s systems and is tendering Original Notes must make book-entry delivery of the Original Notes by causing DTC to transfer those Original Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedure for transfer. The participant should transmit its acceptance to DTC at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date. DTC will verify this acceptance, execute a book-entry transfer of the tendered Original Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC and then send to the Exchange Agent confirmation of this book-entry transfer. The confirmation of this book-entry transfer will include an agent’s message confirming that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant that the participant has received and agrees to be bound by the letter of transmittal and that we may enforce the letter of transmittal against the participant. Delivery of Exchange Notes issued in the Exchange Offers may be effected through book-entry transfer at DTC. However, the letter of transmittal (or an agent’s message in lieu thereof),

 

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with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, must be transmitted to, and received by, the Exchange Agent at the address listed below under “—Exchange Agent” (or its account at DTC with respect to an agent’s message) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date.

Exchanging Book-Entry Notes

The Exchange Agent and the book-entry transfer facility have confirmed that any financial institution that is a participant in the book-entry transfer facility may utilize the book-entry transfer facility’s Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, procedures to tender Original Notes. Any participant in the book-entry transfer facility may make book-entry delivery of Original Notes by causing the book-entry transfer facility to transfer such Original Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account in accordance with the book-entry transfer facility’s ATOP procedures for transfer. However, the exchange for the Original Notes so tendered will only be made after a book-entry confirmation of the book-entry transfer of Original Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account, and timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of an agent’s message and any other documents required by the letter of transmittal.

Exchanging Physical Certificated Notes

Holders of Original Notes in physical certificated form must transmit a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, including all other documents required by the letter of transmittal, to the Exchange Agent, at the address listed below. Transmittal will be deemed made only when actually received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent. In addition, the Exchange Agent must receive, at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, certificates for the Original Notes.

 

Deliver To:
By Mail:    By Hand or Overnight Courier:    For information or confirmation by email or telephone:
U.S. Bank National Association
Attn: Specialized Finance
60 Livingston Ave—EP-MN-WS2N
St. Paul, MN 55107-2292
   U.S. Bank National Association
Attn: Specialized Finance
111 Fillmore Ave E
St. Paul, MN 55107-1402
   651-466-7150
cts.specfinance@usbank.com

Withdrawal Rights

For a withdrawal to be effective, the Exchange Agent must receive a written notice of withdrawal at the address indicated below under “—Exchange Agent” before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date. Any notice of withdrawal must:

 

    specify the name of the person, referred to as the depositor, having tendered the Original Notes to be withdrawn;

 

    identify the Original Notes to be withdrawn, including the relevant series, certificate number or numbers and principal amount of the Original Notes;

 

    in the case of Original Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, specify the number of the account at the book-entry transfer facility from which the Original Notes were tendered and specify the name and number of the account at the book-entry transfer facility to be credited with the withdrawn Original Notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of such facility;

 

    contain a statement that the holder is withdrawing his election to have the Original Notes exchanged;

 

   

be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original signature on the letter of transmittal by which the Original Notes were tendered, including any required signature guarantees, or be

 

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accompanied by documents of transfer to have the Trustee with respect to the Original Notes register the transfer of the Original Notes in the name of the person withdrawing the tender; and

 

    specify the name in which the Original Notes are registered, if different from that of the depositor.

If certificates for Original Notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Exchange Agent, then, prior to the release of these certificates, the withdrawing holder must also submit the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn and signed notice of withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an eligible institution unless this holder is an eligible institution. We will determine all questions as to the validity, form and eligibility, including time of receipt, of notices of withdrawal. Properly withdrawn Original Notes may be re-tendered by following the procedures described under “—Procedures for Tendering” above at any time on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date.

Conditions to the Exchange Offers

Notwithstanding any other provision of this prospectus, with respect to each Exchange Offer, we will not be obligated to (i) accept for exchange any validly tendered Original Notes or (ii) issue any Exchange Notes in exchange for validly tendered Original Notes or complete such Exchange Offer, if at or prior to the applicable expiration date:

 

  (1) there is threatened, instituted or pending any action or proceeding before, or any injunction, order or decree issued by, any court or governmental agency or other governmental regulatory or administrative agency or commission that might materially impair our ability to proceed with the applicable exchange offer; or

 

  (2) the applicable exchange offer or the making of any exchange by a holder of Original Notes of the relevant series would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the SEC staff.

In addition, we will not accept for exchange any Original Notes tendered, and no Exchange Notes will be issued in exchange for any Original Notes, if any stop order is threatened by the SEC or in effect relating to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We are required to use our commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement at the earliest possible time.

No Exchange Offer is conditioned upon any minimum amount of Original Notes being tendered or the consummation of any other Exchange Offer and each Exchange Offer may be amended, extended or terminated individually.

Exchange Agent

We have appointed U.S. Bank National Association as the Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offers. You should direct all Original Notes in physical certificated form and all executed letters of transmittal to the Exchange Agent at the address indicated below. You should direct questions and requests for assistance, and requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the letter of transmittal to the Exchange Agent addressed as follows:

 

Deliver To:
By Mail:    By Hand or Overnight Courier:    For information or confirmation by email or telephone:
U.S. Bank National Association
Attn: Specialized Finance
60 Livingston Ave—EP-MN-WS2N
St. Paul, MN 55107-2292
   U.S. Bank National Association
Attn: Specialized Finance
111 Fillmore Ave E
St. Paul, MN 55107-1402
   651-466-7150
cts.specfinance@usbank.com

 

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All other questions should be addressed to Verizon Communications Inc., One Verizon Way, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920, Attention: Fixed Income Investor Relations. If you deliver any Original Notes in physical certificated form or the letter of transmittal to an address other than any address for the Exchange Agent indicated above, then your delivery or transmission will not constitute a valid delivery of any Original Notes in physical certificated form or the letter of transmittal.

Fees and Expenses

We will not make any payment to brokers, dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offers. The cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange Offers, including out-of-pocket expenses for the Exchange Agent, will be paid by us.

Transfer Taxes

We will pay any transfer taxes in connection with the tender of Original Notes in the Exchange Offers unless you instruct us to register Exchange Notes in the name of, or request that Original Notes not tendered or not accepted in the Exchange Offers be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder. In those cases, you will be responsible for the payment of any applicable transfer taxes.

Accounting Treatment

The Exchange Notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the Original Notes as reflected in our accounting records on the date of the exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes upon the completion of the Exchange Offers. Payments made to other third parties will be expensed as incurred in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Consequences of Exchanging or Failing to Exchange the Original Notes

Holders of Original Notes that do not exchange their Original Notes for Exchange Notes under the Exchange Offers will remain subject to the restrictions on transfer of such Original Notes as set forth in the legend printed on the global or physical certificates representing the Original Notes as a consequence of the issuance of the Original Notes pursuant to exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. In general, you may not offer or sell the Original Notes unless they are registered under the Securities Act, transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or transferred in a transaction not subject to the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not intend to register resales of any series of Original Notes under the Securities Act.

Under existing interpretations of the Securities Act by the SEC staff contained in several no-action letters to third parties, and subject to the immediately following sentence, we believe the Exchange Notes of each series would, subject to the terms of the Noteholders Agreement for Notes held by a Vodafone Entity, generally be freely transferable by holders after the Exchange Offers without further registration under the Securities Act, subject to certain representations required to be made by each holder of Exchange Notes, as set forth below. However, any holder of Original Notes that is one of our “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or that intends to participate in the Exchange Offers for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Notes:

 

    will not be able to rely on the interpretation of the SEC staff;

 

    will not be able to tender its Original Notes of any series in the Exchange Offers; and

 

    must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or transfer of Original Notes unless such sale or transfer is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

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We do not intend to seek our own interpretation from the SEC staff regarding the Exchange Offers, and there can be no assurance that the SEC staff would make a similar determination with respect to either or both series of Exchange Notes as it has in other interpretations to other parties, although we have no reason to believe otherwise.

Any broker-dealer that holds Original Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities will not be entitled to tender its Original Notes in the Exchange Offers and this prospectus may not be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Original Notes where such Original Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.

Notes, including Exchange Notes issued under these Exchange Offers, held by a Vodafone Entity (as defined in the Noteholders Agreement) will continue to be subject to the contractual limitations on transfer set forth in the Noteholders Agreement. See “The Exchange Offers—Noteholders Agreement.”

Registration Rights

The following description of the Registration Rights Agreement is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available upon request to us at our address set forth under “Documents Incorporated by Reference.”

On February 21, 2014, we entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with Vodafone Group and Vodafone 4 pursuant to which we agreed, at our cost, to:

 

    use our commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement or, at our election in our sole discretion, separate registration statements for (a) the Original Notes due 2022 and (b) the Original Notes due 2025 (each, an “Exchange Offer Registration Statement”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act, with respect to a proposed offer to the holders of the Original Notes due 2022, by no later than July 1, 2016, and with respect to a proposed offer to the holders of Original Notes due 2025, by no later than July 1, 2018 (each, a “Registered Exchange Offer”) to issue and deliver to the holders of the Original Notes, in exchange for their Original Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes; and

 

    use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act and the Registered Exchange Offers to be consummated no later than (a) October 1, 2016, in the case of the Original Notes due 2022, and (b) October 1, 2018, in the case of the Original Notes due 2025.

Upon the effectiveness of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, we agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to commence the applicable Registered Exchange Offer.

If:

 

    an applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC by July 1, 2016, in the case of the Original Notes due 2022, or July 1, 2018, in the case of the Original Notes due 2025; or

 

    the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement does not become effective under the Securities Act and the applicable Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to October 1, 2016, in the case of the Original Notes due 2022, or October 1, 2018, in the case of the Original Notes due 2025,

then we will pay additional interest to the holders of the Original Notes affected thereby during the period beginning on October 1, 2016, in the case of the Original Notes due 2022, or October 1, 2018, in the case of the Original Notes due 2025, in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum on the principal amount of the applicable Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) until such securities cease to be Registrable Securities or, if earlier, the applicable Exchange Offer is consummated.

 

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We will not be required to pay additional interest to the holders of the Original Notes if the holders failed to comply with their obligations to make the representations set forth above in the last paragraph under “The Exchange Offers—Procedures for Tendering.”

Noteholders Agreement

On February 21, 2014, we entered into a Noteholders Agreement (the “Noteholders Agreement”) with respect to the Original Notes due 2022 and the Original Notes due 2025 with Vodafone Group and Vodafone 4 whereby the parties agreed to contractual arrangements with respect to the transfer of the Notes by a Vodafone Entity (as defined in the Noteholders Agreement) and the repurchase of the Notes by us. The Noteholders Agreement does not amend the terms of the Notes, including the Exchange Notes, and no holder of Exchange Notes other than a Vodafone Entity is entitled to any rights or subject to any obligations under the Noteholders Agreement.

Among other things, the Noteholders Agreement provides that the Notes may only be transferred by the Vodafone Entities to third parties in specified amounts during specified periods, commencing January 1, 2017. In addition, pursuant to the Noteholders Agreement, at any time following February 21, 2016, we may repurchase all or any portion of the Notes to the extent they are held by a Vodafone Entity at a price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest. Any Notes held by persons other than the Vodafone Entities will not be redeemable by us prior to their maturity dates; however, we may from time to time purchase all or some of the Exchange Notes by tender, in the open market or by private agreement, subject to applicable law.

The foregoing description of the Noteholders Agreement is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the Noteholders Agreement. A copy of the Noteholders Agreement is available upon request to us at our address set forth under “Documents Incorporated by Reference.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES

General

The Exchange Notes will be issued under our Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2000 (as amended or supplemented, the “Indenture”), between us and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank), as trustee (the “Trustee”), and will be issued in book-entry or physical certificated form, as applicable, and shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

The Indenture provides for the issuance from time to time of debt securities in an unlimited principal amount and in an unlimited number of series. The Exchange Notes will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our senior unsecured debt. Each of the Exchange Notes due 2022 and the Exchange Notes due 2025 will be a series of debt securities under the Indenture.

The following summary sets forth certain terms and provisions of the Exchange Notes and the Indenture, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of the Exchange Notes and the Indenture, including the definitions therein, copies of which are available as set forth under “Where You Can Find More Information.” Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you may find useful in evaluating an investment in the Exchange Notes. We urge you to read the Indenture and the Exchange Notes because they, and not this description, define your rights as holders of the Exchange Notes.

Maturity and Interest

The Exchange Notes due 2022 will mature on February 21, 2022 and the Exchange Notes due 2025 will mature on February 21, 2025.

We will pay interest on the Exchange Notes due 2022 at the rate of LIBOR plus 1.222% per annum on February 21, May 21, August 21 and November 21 of each year to holders of record on the fifteenth calendar day, whether or not a business day, immediately preceding such interest payment date. We will pay interest on the Exchange Notes due 2025 at the rate of LIBOR plus 1.372% per annum on February 21, May 21, August 21 and November 21 of each year to holders of record on the fifteenth calendar day, whether or not a business day, immediately preceding such interest payment date. The first interest payment date on the Exchange Notes due 2022 is                     , 2016. The first interest payment date on the Exchange Notes due 2025 is                     , 2016.

If any interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day, as defined below, we will make the interest payment on the next succeeding business day unless that business day is in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case we will make the interest payment on the immediately preceding business day. Interest on the Exchange Notes due 2022 and the Exchange Notes due 2025 will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed.

Interest on the Exchange Notes due 2022 and the Exchange Notes due 2025 will accrue from, and including,                     , 2016, to, but excluding, the next interest payment date for such series and then from, and including, the immediately preceding interest payment date for such series to which interest has been paid or duly provided for to, but excluding, the next interest payment date for such series or the maturity date for such series, as the case may be. We refer to each of these periods as an “interest period.” The amount of accrued interest that we will pay for any interest period can be calculated by multiplying the face amount of the Exchange Notes due 2022 or the Exchange Notes due 2025, as applicable, by an accrued interest factor. This accrued interest factor for the Notes is computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each day from the last interest payment date for such series to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, to the date for which accrued interest is being calculated. The interest factor for each day is computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to that day by

 

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360. If the maturity date of the Exchange Notes due 2022 or the Exchange Notes due 2025 falls on a day that is not a business day, we will pay principal and interest on the next succeeding business day, but we will consider that payment as being made on the date that the payment was due. Accordingly, no interest will accrue on the payment for the period from and after the maturity date to the date we make the payment on the next succeeding business day. Interest on the Notes on any interest payment date, subject to certain exceptions, will be paid to the person in whose name the Notes are registered at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day, whether or not a business day, immediately preceding the interest payment date for such series of Notes. However, interest that we pay on the maturity date will be payable to the person to whom the principal will be payable.

When we use the term “business day” with respect to the Notes, we mean any day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York; provided that such day is also a London business day. “London business day” means any day on which commercial banks are open for business, including dealings in U.S. dollars, in London.

The interest rate on the Exchange Notes due 2022 will be calculated by the calculation agent, which will be an independent investment banking or commercial banking institution of international standing appointed by us, and will be equal to three-month LIBOR plus 1.22%. The interest rate on the Exchange Notes due 2025 will be calculated by the calculation agent, which will be an independent investment banking or commercial banking institution of international standing appointed by us, and will be equal to three-month LIBOR plus 1.372%. The calculation agent will reset the interest rate on each interest payment date, each of which we refer to as an “interest reset date.” The second London business day preceding an interest reset date will be the “interest determination date” for that interest reset date. The interest rate in effect on each day that is not an interest reset date will be the interest rate determined as of the interest determination date pertaining to the immediately preceding interest reset date. The interest rate in effect on any day that is an interest reset date will be the interest rate determined as of the interest determination date pertaining to that interest reset date.

“LIBOR” will be determined by the calculation agent in accordance with the following provisions:

 

  (1) With respect to any interest determination date, LIBOR will be the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the first day of the applicable interest period that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on that interest determination date. If no such rate appears, then LIBOR, in respect to that interest determination date, will be determined in accordance with the provisions described in (2) below.

 

  (2) With respect to an interest determination date on which no rate appears on the Designated LIBOR Page, as specified in (1) above, the calculation agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the calculation agent, to provide the calculation agent with its offered quotation for deposits in U.S. dollars for the period of three months, commencing on the first day of the applicable interest period, to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such interest determination date and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in such market at such time. If at least two quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such interest determination date shall be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such interest determination date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., in The City of New York, on such interest determination date by three major banks in The City of New York selected by the calculation agent for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, having a three-month maturity and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks so selected by the calculation agent are not providing quotations in the manner described in this sentence, LIBOR determined as of such interest determination date will be LIBOR in effect on such interest determination date.

 

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“The Designated LIBOR Page” means the Reuters screen “LIBOR01” page, or any successor page on Reuters selected by us with the consent of the calculation agent, or if we determine that no such successor page shall exist on Reuters, the Bloomberg page “BBAM,” or any successor page on Bloomberg selected by us with the consent of the calculation agent.

Additional Notes of the Same Series

We may without consent of or notice to the holders of the Exchange Notes issue additional debt securities under the Indenture having the same terms in all respects as the Exchange Notes due 2022 or the Exchange Notes due 2025 offered hereby. Any additional debt securities with the same terms as the Exchange Notes due 2022 or the Exchange Notes due 2025 will be consolidated with and treated as a single series with the applicable series of Exchange Notes offered hereby for all purposes under the Indenture.

Redemption

The Exchange Notes will not be redeemable under the terms of the Indenture prior to Maturity. However, we may from time to time purchase all or some of the Exchange Notes by tender, in the open market or by private agreement, including by exercising our rights under the Noteholders Agreement (See “The Exchange Offers—Noteholders Agreement”), subject to applicable law.

Liens on Assets

The Exchange Notes will not be secured. However, if at any time we incur other debt or obligations secured by a mortgage or pledge on any of our property, the Indenture requires us to secure the outstanding debt securities issued under the Indenture, including the Exchange Notes, equally with our other debt or obligations for as long as the other debt or obligations remain secured. Exceptions to this requirement include the following:

 

    purchase-money mortgages or liens;

 

    liens on any property or asset that existed at the time when we acquired that property or asset;

 

    any deposit or pledge to secure public or statutory obligations;

 

    any deposit or pledge with any governmental agency required to qualify us to conduct any part of our business, to entitle us to maintain self-insurance or to obtain the benefits of any law relating to workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions or other social security; or

 

    any deposit or pledge with any court, board, commission or governmental agency as security for the proper conduct of any proceeding before it.

The Indenture does not prevent any of our affiliates from mortgaging, pledging or subjecting to any lien any property or asset, even if the affiliate acquired that property or asset from us.

We may issue or assume an unlimited amount of debt under the Indenture. As a result, the Indenture does not prevent us from significantly increasing our unsecured debt levels, which may negatively affect the resale of the Exchange Notes.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

The Indenture provides that we may not merge with another company or sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our property to another company unless:

 

    the successor corporation expressly assumes:

 

    payment of principal, interest and any premium on the Exchange Notes; and

 

    performance and observance of all covenants and conditions in the Indenture;

 

    after giving effect to the transaction, there is no default under the Indenture;

 

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    we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel stating that such transaction complies with the conditions set forth in the Indenture; and

 

    if as a result of the transaction, our property would become subject to a lien that would not be permitted by the asset lien restriction, we secure the Exchange Notes equally and ratably with, or prior to, all indebtedness secured by that lien.

Events of Default, Notices and Waiver

An “event of default” means, for any series of debt securities issued under the Indenture, any of the following:

 

    failure to pay interest on that series of debt securities for 90 days after payment is due;

 

    failure to pay principal or any premium on that series of debt securities when due;

 

    failure to perform any other covenant relating to that series of debt securities for 90 days after notice to us; and

 

    certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization.

An event of default for a particular series of debt securities issued under the Indenture does not necessarily impact any other series of debt securities issued under the Indenture. If an event of default for any series of debt securities issued under the Indenture occurs and continues, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of that series can rescind the declaration if there has been deposited with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest, principal and any premium.

The holders of more than 50% of the outstanding principal amount of any series of the debt securities may, on behalf of the holders of all of the debt securities of that series, control any proceedings resulting from an event of default or waive any past default except a default in the payment of principal, interest or any premium. We are required to file an annual certificate with the Trustee stating whether we are in compliance with all of the conditions and covenants under the Indenture.

Changes to the Indenture

The Indenture may be changed with the consent of holders owning more than 50% of the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the change. However, we may not change your principal or interest payment terms or the percentage required to change other terms of the Indenture, without your consent and the consent of others similarly affected. We may enter into supplemental indentures for other specified purposes, including the creation of any new series of debt securities, without the consent of any holder of debt securities.

Concerning the Trustee

Within 90 days after a default occurs with respect to the debt securities of a particular series, the Trustee must notify the holders of the debt securities of that series of such default known to the Trustee if we have not remedied it (default is defined for this purpose to include the events of default specified above absent any grace periods or notice). If a default described above in the third bullet under “—Events of Default, Notices and Waiver” occurs, the Trustee will not give notice to the holders of the affected series until at least 60 days after the occurrence of that default. The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any default (except in the payment of principal, interest or any premium) if it in good faith believes that withholding this notice is in the interest of the holders.

 

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Prior to an event of default, the Trustee is required to perform only the specific duties stated in the Indenture, and after an event of default, must exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The trustee is not required to take any action permitted by the Indenture at the request of holders of the debt securities, unless those holders protect the Trustee against costs, expenses and liabilities. The Trustee is not required to spend its own funds or become financially liable when performing its duties if it reasonably believes that it will not be adequately protected financially.

The Trustee and its affiliates have commercial banking relationships with us and some of our affiliates and serve as trustee or paying agent under indentures relating to debt securities issued by us and some of our affiliates.

Paying Agent and Registrar

The Trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar. We may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the Exchange Notes, and we may act as paying agent or registrar, although we currently have no plans to do so.

Defeasance

The Indenture permits us to discharge or “defease” certain of our obligations on any series of debt securities at any time. We may defease by depositing with the Trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay all sums due on that series of debt securities.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

Except as described under the caption “—Certificated Notes”, the Exchange Notes will be issued in book-entry form, which means that such Exchange Notes of each series (which we refer to as Global Notes) will be represented by one or more permanent global certificates registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, commonly known as DTC, or in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. You may hold interests in Global Notes directly through DTC, Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., commonly known as Euroclear, or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme , Luxembourg, commonly known as Clearstream, if you are a participant in any of these clearing systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in those systems. Links have been established among DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear to facilitate the issuance of the Global Notes and cross-market transfers of the Global Notes associated with secondary market trading. DTC is linked indirectly to Clearstream and Euroclear through the depositary accounts of their respective U.S. depositaries. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may be held in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Notes in book-entry form that can be exchanged for definitive notes of the applicable series under the circumstances described under the caption “—Certificated Notes” will be exchanged only for definitive notes of the applicable series issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

Book-Entry Procedures for the Global Notes

The descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream described below are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of these settlement systems and are subject to change by them from time to time. Neither we, the Trustee, nor any paying agent takes any responsibility for these operations or procedures, and investors are urged to contact the relevant system or its participants directly to discuss these matters.

 

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The clearing systems have advised us as follows:

DTC

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants, known as DTC participants, deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among DTC participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through computerized records for DTC participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need to exchange certificates. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations.

DTC’s book-entry system is also used by other organizations such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that work through a DTC participant. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

We expect that pursuant to procedures established by DTC:

 

    upon deposit of each Global Note, DTC will credit the accounts of participants in DTC designated by the Exchange Agent with an interest in the Global Note; and

 

    ownership of the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of the Global Notes will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC, with respect to the interests of participants in DTC, and the records of participants and indirect participants, with respect to the interests of persons other than participants in DTC.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the Exchange Notes represented by a Global Note to these persons may be limited. In addition, because DTC can act only on behalf of its participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through participants, the ability of a person having an interest in Global Notes to pledge or transfer that interest to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC’s system, or to otherwise take actions in respect of that interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of the interest.

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the Global Note, DTC or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Global Notes for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note:

 

    will not be entitled to have Global Notes registered in their names;

 

    will not receive or be entitled to receive Physical Notes; and

 

    will not be considered the owners or holders of the Exchange Notes under the Indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the Trustee under the Indenture.

Accordingly, each holder owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if the holder is not a participant or an indirect participant in DTC, on the procedures of the DTC participant through which the holder owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of Exchange Notes under the Indenture or the Global Note. We understand that under existing industry practice, if we request any action of holders of notes, or a holder that is an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note desires to take any action that DTC, as the holder of the Global Note, is entitled to take, then DTC would authorize its participants to take the action and the participants would authorize holders owning through participants to take the action or would otherwise act upon the instruction of such holders. Neither we, the Trustee nor any paying agent, if applicable,

 

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will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of notes by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to the Exchange Notes.

Payments with respect to the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, any Global Notes registered in the name of DTC or its nominee on the applicable record date will be payable by the Trustee or any paying agent, if applicable, to or at the direction of DTC or its nominee in its capacity as the registered holder of the Global Note representing those Exchange Notes, under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, we, the Trustee and any paying agent, if applicable may treat the persons in whose names the Exchange Notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners of the Exchange Notes for the purpose of receiving payment on the Exchange Notes and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Accordingly, neither we, the Trustee, nor any paying agent has or will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note, including principal, premium, if any, and interest. Payments by the participants and the indirect participants in DTC to the owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be governed by standing instructions and customary industry practice and will be the responsibility of the participants or the indirect participants and DTC. Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds. Transfers between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with the clearing systems’ respective rules and operating procedures.

Upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest, DTC will credit DTC participants’ accounts on the payment date according to such participants’ respective holdings of beneficial interests in the Global Notes as shown on DTC’s records. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting rights to DTC participants whose accounts are credited with securities on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy. Payments by DTC participants to owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes, and voting by DTC participants, will be governed by the customary practices between the DTC participants and owners of beneficial interests, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in street name. However, these payments will be the responsibility of the DTC participants and not of DTC, the Trustee, the Exchange Agent, any paying agent, if applicable, or us.

Clearstream

Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations, known as Clearstream participants, and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector ( Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier ). Clearstream participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include an underwriter, dealer, agent or purchaser engaged by us to sell the Global Notes. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant either directly or indirectly. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear.

Distributions with respect to interests in the Global Notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream.

 

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Euroclear

Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for its participants, known as Euroclear participants, and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants and between Euroclear participants and participants of certain other securities intermediaries through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear is owned by Euroclear plc, a U.K. limited liability company, and operated through a license agreement by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., known as the Euroclear operator. The Euroclear operator provides Euroclear participants, among other things, with safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement, securities lending and borrowing and related services. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include an underwriter, dealer, agent or purchaser engaged by us to sell the Global Notes.

Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.

The Euroclear operator is a Belgian bank regulated by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and is overseen as the operator of a securities settlement system by the National Bank of Belgium.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law, collectively referred to as the terms and conditions. The terms and conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear operator acts under the terms and conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.

Distributions with respect to Global Notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the terms and conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

All initial settlements for the Exchange Notes will be made in U.S. dollars, in same-day funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in same-day funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream participants and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in same-day funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC participants, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the applicable European international clearing system by its U.S. depositary; however, these cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the European international clearing system by the counterparty in that system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The European international clearing system will, if a transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Notes in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for settlement in DTC. Clearstream participants and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositary.

 

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Because of time-zone differences, credits of Global Notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. The credits or any transactions in the Global Notes settled during this processing will be reported to the Clearstream or Euroclear participants on the same business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of the Global Notes by or through a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear are expected to follow these procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the Global Notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they will be under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures and these procedures may be changed or discontinued at any time. Neither we, the Trustee, the Exchange Agent nor any paying agent, if applicable, will have any responsibility for the performance of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Certificated Notes

Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Original Notes in physical certificated form purchased by a holder will be issued in physical certificated form, which we refer to as Physical Notes. In order for the Trustee to transfer all or any portion of the principal amount of the Physical Notes to the applicable Global Notes, the Trustee is required to have received (i) an executed certificate of an authorized officer of the Company, which shall include a Notice of Transfer executed by the applicable holder and delivered to us, pursuant to which the holder will provide notice of its intention to transfer the Physical Notes and (ii) the Physical Note to be transferred. In the event of a partial transfer of a Physical Note, the Physical Note to be partially transferred shall be cancelled and a new Physical Note representing the principal amount to be retained by the transferring holder shall be issued in the name of such holder.

In the case of Exchange Notes in certificated form, we will make payment of principal and any premium at the maturity of such Exchange Notes in immediately available funds upon presentation of such Exchange Notes at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, or at any other place as we may designate. Payment of interest on Exchange Notes in certificated form due at maturity will be made to the person to whom payment of the principal of the Exchange Note will be made. Payment of interest due on Exchange Notes in certificated form other than at maturity will be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee or, at our option, may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to receive payment as the address appears in the security register, except that a holder of $1,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of a series of Exchange Notes in certificated form may, at our option, be entitled to receive interest payments on any interest payment date other than at maturity by wire transfer of immediately available funds, if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the Trustee at least 15 days prior to the interest payment date. Any wire instructions received by the Trustee will remain in effect until revoked by the holder.

If:

 

    DTC notifies us that it is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary or DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days; or

 

    we execute and deliver to the Trustee a company order to the effect that the Global Notes will be exchangeable for Physical Notes,

the Global Notes will be exchangeable for Physical Notes with the same terms and of an equal aggregate principal amount, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Physical Notes will be registered in the name or names as DTC instructs the Trustee or any registrar appointed by us. We expect that instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from participants with respect to

 

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ownership of beneficial interests in Global Notes. Upon the issuance of such Physical Notes, the Trustee or any registrar appointed by us is required to register such Physical Notes in the name of that person or persons, or their nominee, and cause such Physical Notes to be delivered.

Neither we, the Trustee, the Exchange Agent nor any registrar appointed by us will be liable for any delay by DTC or any participant or indirect participant in DTC in identifying the beneficial owners of the related Exchange Notes, and each of those persons may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from DTC for all purposes, including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Exchange Notes to be issued.

Governing Law

The Indenture is, and the Exchange Notes will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the Exchange Offers. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated or proposed thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as in effect on the date hereof, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or to different interpretation. This discussion does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to specific Holders (as defined below) in light of their particular circumstances (including Holders that are directly or indirectly related to us) or to Holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law (such as banks, insurance companies, dealers in securities or other Holders that generally mark their securities to market for U.S. federal income tax purposes, tax-exempt entities, retirement plans, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, Holders that hold a Note as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion or other integrated transaction or Holders that are U.S. persons and have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar). This discussion does not address any U.S. state or local or non-U.S. tax considerations or any U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations. As used in this discussion, the term “Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Note.

The exchange of an Original Note for an Exchange Note pursuant to either of the Exchange Offers will not be treated as a sale or exchange of the Original Note by a Holder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a Holder of an Original Note will not recognize any gain or loss upon the exchange of such Original Note for an Exchange Note pursuant to either of the Exchange Offers. Such Holder’s holding period for such Exchange Note will include such Holder’s holding period for such Original Note, and such Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Exchange Note will be the same as such Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Original Note.

There will be no U.S. federal income tax consequences to a Holder of an Original Note that does not participate in the Exchange Offers.

EACH HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO THE EXCHANGE OFFERS IN LIGHT OF ITS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Based on existing interpretations of the Securities Act by the SEC staff set forth in several no-action letters to third parties (including Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (available June 5, 1991), K-111 Communications Corporation (available May 14, 1993) and Shearman & Sterling (available July 2, 1993)), and subject to the immediately following sentence, we believe Exchange Notes issued under the Exchange Offers in exchange for Original Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by the holders thereof (other than holders that are broker-dealers) without further compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act. However, any holder of Original Notes that is an affiliate of ours (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), that did not acquire the Original Notes, or will not acquire the Exchange Notes, in the ordinary course of its business or that intends to participate in the Exchange Offers for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Notes (i) will not be able to rely on the interpretations of the SEC staff set forth in the above-mentioned no-action letters, (ii) will not be entitled to tender its Original Notes in the Exchange Offers, and (iii) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or transfer of the Original Notes unless such sale or transfer is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements.

Any broker-dealer that holds Original Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities will not be entitled to tender its Original Notes in the Exchange Offers, and this prospectus may not be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Original Notes where such Original Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.

We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offers.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon Communications) incorporated by reference in Verizon Communications’ Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2015 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of Verizon Communications’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, incorporated by reference therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

LEGAL MATTERS

William L. Horton, Jr., Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Verizon, is passing upon the validity of the Exchange Notes for us. As of June 16, 2016, Mr. Horton beneficially owned 9,206 shares of Verizon common stock.

 

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LOGO

Verizon Communications Inc.

Offer to Exchange

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount

of Floating Rate Notes due 2022

for

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount

of Floating Rate Notes due 2022

that have been registered under the Securities Act

Offer to Exchange

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount

of Floating Rate Notes due 2025

for

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount

of Floating Rate Notes due 2025

that have been registered under the Securities Act

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

                    , 2016

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) permits a corporation to indemnify any of its directors or officers who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any third-party proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or in the right of the corporation, the corporation is permitted to indemnify directors and officers against expenses (including attorney’s fees) actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant directors or officers are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

Article 7 of the Verizon Communications’ restated certificate of incorporation makes mandatory the indemnification expressly authorized under the DGCL, except that the restated certificate of incorporation only provides for indemnification in derivative actions, suits or proceedings initiated by a director or officer if the initiation of such action, suit or proceeding was authorized by the board of directors.

The restated certificate of incorporation of Verizon Communications limits the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

The directors and officers of Verizon Communications are insured against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act, which might be incurred by them in such capacities and against which they cannot be indemnified by Verizon Communications.

 

ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The “Exhibit Index” is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(a) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(b) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

II-1


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(c) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(5) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this Form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

(6) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Verizon Communications Inc. has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on June 29, 2016.

 

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
By:  

  /s/ Scott Krohn

 

Name: Scott Krohn

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature    Title   Date

*

Shellye L. Archambeau

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Mark T. Bertolini

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Richard L. Carrión

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Melanie L. Healey

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

M. Frances Keeth

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Karl-Ludwig Kley

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Lowell C. McAdam

  

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

  June 29, 2016

*

Donald T. Nicolaisen

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Clarence Otis, Jr.

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Rodney E. Slater

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Kathryn A. Tesija

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Gregory D. Wasson

   Director   June 29, 2016

*

Gregory G. Weaver

   Director   June 29, 2016

 

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Signature    Title   Date

*

Francis J. Shammo

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)   June 29, 2016

*

Anthony T. Skiadas

  

Senior Vice President and Controller

(principal accounting officer)

  June 29, 2016

 

* By:  

  /s/ Scott Krohn

  Scott Krohn
  (as attorney-in-fact)

 

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Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Verizon Communications Inc. (incorporated by reference to Verizon Communications Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, Exhibit 3(a))
  3.2    Bylaws of Verizon Communications Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to Verizon Communications Inc.’s Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2015, Exhibit 3(b))
  4.1    Indenture between Verizon Communications Inc., both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of December 1, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Verizon Global Funding Corp.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-64792, Exhibit 4.1)
  4.2    First Supplemental Indenture between Verizon Communications Inc., both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of May 15, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Verizon Global Funding Corp.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-67412, Exhibit 4.2)
  4.3    Second Supplemental Indenture between Verizon Communications Inc., both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of September 29, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Verizon Communications Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2006, Exhibit 4.1)
  4.4    Third Supplemental Indenture between Verizon Communications Inc., both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of February 1, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Verizon Communications Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2006, Exhibit 4.2)
  4.5    Fourth Supplemental Indenture between Verizon, both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of April 4, 2016*
  4.6    Form of Floating Rate Note due 2022 (included in Exhibit 4.9 hereto)
  4.7    Form of Floating Rate Note due 2025 (included in Exhibit 4.9 hereto)
  4.8    Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 21, 2014*
  4.9    Noteholders Agreement with respect to Floating Rate Notes due 2022 and Floating Rate Notes due 2025, by and among Vodafone Group Plc, Vodafone 4 Limited and Verizon Communications Inc., dated as of February 21, 2014*
  5.1    Opinion and Consent of William L. Horton, Jr., Esq.*
12.1    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges of Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Verizon Communications Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, Exhibit 12)
12.2    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges of Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Verizon Communications Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, Exhibit 12)
21    List of principal subsidiaries of Verizon (incorporated by reference to Verizon Communications Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, Exhibit 21)


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

  

Description

23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP*
23.2    Consent of William L. Horton, Jr., Esq. (contained in opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)*
24.1    Powers of Attorney*
25.1    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-l for Verizon Communications Inc. Indenture*
99.1    Form of Letter of Transmittal*

 

* Filed herewith.

Exhibit 4.5

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

(as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp.),

Issuer

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association,

formerly known as First Union National Bank),

Trustee

 

 

FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of April 4, 2016

TO

INDENTURE

Dated as of December 1, 2000

 

 

 

 

 


FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of April 4, 2016, between VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. (as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp.), a corporation duly incorporated and existing under the laws of Delaware and having its principal executive office at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank), a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee (hereinafter referred to as the “Trustee”) under the Indenture dated as of December 1, 2000, between the Company and the Trustee (hereinafter referred to as the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture dated as of May 15, 2001 (hereinafter referred to the “First Supplemental Indenture”), the second supplemental indenture dated as of September 29, 2004 (hereinafter referred to the “Second Supplemental Indenture”) and the third supplemental indenture dated as of February 1, 2006 (hereinafter referred to the “Third Supplemental Indenture”). The Original Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture and the Third Supplemental Indenture, is hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture.”

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company has previously issued its 2.50% Notes due 2016 (the “2.50% Notes”), its 2.00% Notes due 2016 (the “2.00% Notes”) and its 6.35% Notes due 2019 (the “6.35% Notes” and, together with the 2.00% Notes and the 2.50% Notes, the “Amended Notes”);

WHEREAS, Section 902 of the Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement any provision of the Indenture (other than certain provisions enumerated in Section 902 of the Indenture, none of which are implicated hereby) with the consent of the Holders of more than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series of Securities affected thereby;

WHEREAS, the Company has solicited, and has received, consents upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase and consent solicitation statement, dated March 4, 2016 (the “Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement”), from Holders of more than a majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of the outstanding Amended Notes, to the amendments contemplated hereby (the “Consents”);

WHEREAS, Section 904 of the Indenture provides that a supplemental indenture becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder of Securities; and

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that the requirements of the Indenture have been satisfied and has requested the Trustee to join with them in the execution and delivery of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture; all requirements necessary to make this Fourth Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument in accordance with its terms have been met; and the execution and delivery hereof have been in all respects duly authorized.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee as follows:

SECTION 1. Definition of Terms.

For all purposes of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture:

(a) capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings specified in the Indenture;

(b) all references herein to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of the Indenture;

(c) the terms “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Fourth Supplemental Indenture; and

 

1


(d) in the event of a conflict between any definition set forth in the Indenture and any definition set forth in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the definition set forth in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture shall control.

SECTION 2. Amendments.

2.1 The first sentence of Section 1104 of the Indenture, solely with respect to the Amended Notes, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106 not later than the third Business Day and not earlier than the sixtieth day prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.

2.2 With respect to the Global Securities representing the 2.50% Notes (the “2.50% Global Notes”), the first sentence of the eighth paragraph under the caption “(FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBT SECURITY)” is hereby amended to change the reference from “not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice” to “not less than three Business Days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice” as follows:

The Debt Securities may be redeemed on not less than 30 days three Business Days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice given as provided in the Indenture, in whole or from time to time in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to such redemption date.

2.3 With respect to the Global Securities representing the 2.00% Notes (the “2.00% Global Notes”), the first sentence of the seventh paragraph under the caption “(FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBT SECURITY)” is hereby amended to change the reference from “not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice” to “not less than three Business Days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice” as follows:

The Debt Securities may be redeemed on not less than 30 days three Business Days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice given as provided in the Indenture, in whole or in part, at any time prior to maturity, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Debt Securities being redeemed, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Debt Securities being redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption), as the case may be, discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to but excluding the date of redemption.

2.4 With respect to the Global Securities representing the 6.35% Notes (the “6.35% Global Notes” and, together with the 2.50% Global Notes and the 2.00% Global Notes, the “Global Notes”), the first sentence of the seventh paragraph under the caption “(FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBT SECURITY)” is hereby amended to change the reference from “not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice” to “not less than three Business Days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice” as follows:

The Debt Securities may be redeemed on not less than 30 days three Business Days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice given as provided in the Indenture, in whole or in part, at any time prior to maturity, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Debt Securities being redeemed, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Debt Securities being redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption), as the case may be, discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 75 basis points, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to but excluding the date of redemption.

 

2


SECTION 3. Ratification and Effect

This Fourth Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Indenture and, as provided in the Indenture, this Fourth Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof. The Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects hereby adopted, ratified and confirmed.

Upon and after the execution of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Indenture shall mean and be a reference to the Indenture as modified hereby.

SECTION 4. Effect of Headings

The section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 5. Conflicts

To the extent of any inconsistency between the terms of the Indenture or the Global Notes and this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the terms of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture will control.

SECTION 6. Entire Agreement

This Fourth Supplemental Indenture constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the amendments to the Indenture set forth herein.

SECTION 7. Successors

All covenants and agreements in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture given by the parties hereto shall bind their successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture or the Global Notes shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture or such Global Notes, but this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture and such Global Notes shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

SECTION 9. Benefits of Fourth Supplemental Indenture

Nothing in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture or in the Indenture, express or implied, shall give to any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Amended Notes (to the extent specified herein or therein) any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 10. Governing Law.

This Fourth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.

SECTION 11. Execution and Counterparts

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being duly authorized, have executed this Fourth Supplemental Indenture on behalf of the respective parties hereto as of the date first above written.

 

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
By:   /s/ Scott Krohn
Name:   Scott Krohn
Title:   Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

Attest:   /s/ Tracy Krause
Name:   Tracy Krause
Title:   Assistant Treasurer

[Signature page to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture ]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:   /s/ George J Rayzis
Name:   George J Rayzis
Title:   Vice President

 

Attest:   /s/ Stephen J. Kaba
Name:   Stephen J. Kaba
Title:   Vice President

[Signature page to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture ]

Exhibit 4.8

EXECUTION VERSION

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

$5,000,000,000

$2,500,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2022

$2,500,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2025

EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

February 21, 2014

Vodafone Group Plc

Vodafone House

The Connection

Newbury

Berkshire, RG14 2FN

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Verizon Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Issuer ”), proposes to issue to Vodafone 4 Limited (the “ Seller ”), $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Floating Rate Notes due 2022 (the “ Notes due 2022 ”) and $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Floating Rate Notes due 2025 (the “ Notes due 2025 ” and, together with the Notes due 2022, the “ Securities ”).

As contemplated by Exhibit D to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 2, 2013, and amended as of December 5, 2013, among Vodafone Group Plc (“ Vodafone ”), the Seller and the Issuer (the “ Stock Purchase Agreement ”), the Issuer agrees with the Seller, as the holder of the Securities (the Seller, together with any of Vodafone or its affiliates who hereafter hold Securities, collectively, the “ Holder ”), and Vodafone, as the parent company of the Seller, as follows:

1. Registered Exchange Offers . The Issuer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement or, at the election of the Issuer in its sole discretion, separate registration statements for (a) the Notes due 2022 and (b) the Notes due 2025 (each, an “ Exchange Offer Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), with respect to a proposed offer to the Holder of the Notes due 2022, by no later than July 1, 2016, and with respect to a proposed offer to the Holder of Notes due 2025, by no later than July 1, 2018 (each, a “ Registered Exchange Offer ”), to issue and deliver to the Holder of the applicable series of the Securities, in exchange for its Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Issuer that are identical in all material respects to the applicable series of Securities, except for provisions relating to additional interest and that they have been registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and do not contain restrictions on transfer pursuant to applicable securities laws (the “ Exchange Securities ”). The Issuer agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act and the Registered Exchange Offers to be consummated no later than (a) October 1, 2016, in the case of the Notes due 2022, and (b) October 1, 2018, in the case of the Notes due 2025. The Exchange Securities will be issued under the Indenture between the Issuer and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank), as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), dated as of December 1, 2000, as amended and supplemented (the “ Indenture ”).

Upon the effectiveness of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Issuer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to commence the applicable Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable the Holder electing to participate in such Registered Exchange Offer to exchange Securities for the applicable Exchange Securities (assuming that the Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the


Issuer, (b) is not an Exchange Dealer (as defined herein), (c) acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of the Holder’s business and (d) has no arrangements or understandings with any Person, including the Issuer, to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities) and to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act. “ Exchange Dealer ” means a broker-dealer electing to exchange Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, for the applicable Exchange Securities.

In connection with a Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuer shall:

(a) mail to the Holder of the applicable Securities a copy of the prospectus forming part of the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 business days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date on which notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holder (such period being called the “ Exchange Offer Registration Period ”);

(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;

(d) permit the Holder to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

(e) otherwise comply in all respects with all laws that are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer.

As soon as practicable after the close of a Registered Exchange Offer but in any event not later than three (3) business days after such close, the Issuer shall:

(a) accept for exchange all Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

(b) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(c) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to the Holder, the applicable Exchange Securities equal in principal amount and maturity to the Securities of the Holder so accepted for exchange.

Interest on each Exchange Security issued pursuant to a Registered Exchange Offer will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Securities, from the date of the original issuance of the Securities.

The Holder participating in a Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Issuer that at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Securities to be exchanged in the Registered Exchange Offer were acquired by the Holder in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any Exchange Securities received by the Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (iii) the Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any Person, including the Issuer, to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iv) the Holder is not an affiliate of the Issuer, and (v) the Holder is not an Exchange Dealer.

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Issuer will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be

 

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stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not, as of the consummation of the applicable Registered Exchange Offer, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

2. Additional Interest .

(a) The parties hereto agree that the Holder of Registrable Securities (as defined below) will suffer damages if the Issuer fails to fulfill its obligations under Section 1 and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, if (i) an applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission by July 1, 2016, in the case of the Notes due 2022, or July 1, 2018, in the case of the Notes due 2025, or (ii) the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement does not become effective under the Securities Act and the applicable Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to October 1, 2016, in the case of the Notes due 2022, or October 1, 2018, in the case of the Notes due 2025 (each, an “ Additional Interest Trigger ”), the Issuer will be obligated to pay additional interest to the Holder of Registrable Securities affected thereby, during the period beginning on October 1, 2016, in the case of the Notes due 2022, or October 1, 2018, in the case of the Notes due 2025, in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum on the principal amount of the applicable Registrable Securities held by the Holder until such Securities cease to be Registrable Securities or, if earlier, the applicable Registered Exchange Offer is consummated (an “ Additional Interest Accrual Period ”). The rate for additional interest will not exceed 0.25% per annum. Additional interest shall only accrue during an Additional Interest Accrual Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2(a), the Issuer shall not be required to pay additional interest to the Holder of Securities if the Holder failed to comply with its obligations to make the representations set forth in the second to last paragraph of Section 1. For purposes of this agreement, the term “Registrable Securities” means the Securities; provided , that any Security shall cease to be a “Registrable Security” as of the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which such Security has been exchanged for an Exchange Security pursuant to a Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) the date on which such Security ceases to be outstanding, or (iii) if the Exchange Offer is made with respect to the series of Securities of which the Security is a part, on the close of business, New York City time, on the last day of the Exchange Offer Registration Period therefor with respect to a Holder that is eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer but fails to tender such Security in the Registered Exchange Offer or fails to make the representations required by the second to last paragraph of Section 1.

(b) The Issuer shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent under the Indenture promptly upon the happening of an Additional Interest Trigger. The Issuer shall pay any additional interest due on the Registrable Securities by depositing with the Paying Agent, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders thereof, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next interest payment date specified by the Indenture and the applicable Registrable Securities, sums sufficient to pay the additional interest then due. The additional interest due shall be payable on each interest payment date specified by the Indenture and the applicable Registrable Securities to the record Holder entitled to receive the interest payment to be made on such date. The obligation to pay additional interest shall be deemed to accrue from and including October 1, 2016, in the case of the Notes due 2022, or October 1, 2018, in the case of the Notes due 2025 (following an Additional Interest Trigger), to but excluding the last day of the Additional Interest Accrual Period.

(c) The parties hereto agree that if the Issuer files an applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement with the Commission, but, notwithstanding the Issuer’s use of its commercially reasonable efforts, the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement does not become effective under the Securities Act and the applicable Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated, the additional interest provided for in Section 2(a) is intended by the parties hereto to constitute the sole and exclusive remedy for any damages suffered by any Holder of Registrable Securities by reason of the failure of the Issuer to have fulfilled its obligations under Section 1 of this Agreement.

 

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3. Registration Procedures . In connection with any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) The Issuer shall furnish to counsel for the Holder, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein.

(b) The Issuer shall advise counsel for the Holder, if so requested and, if requested, confirm such advice in writing:

(i) when any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when such Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

(iv) of the receipt by the Issuer of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities or the Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

(v) of the happening of any event that requires the making of any changes in any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein in order that the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(c) The Issuer will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(d) The Issuer will furnish to the Holder, if so requested, without charge, at least one conformed copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein.

(e) The Issuer will cooperate with the Holder of Exchange Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Exchange Securities to be sold pursuant to any Exchange Offer Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and registered in such names as the Holder may request in writing prior to sales of Exchange Securities pursuant to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(f) The Issuer will cause the Indenture to be qualified under the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as required by applicable law in a timely manner.

(g) The Issuer will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities issued in global form not later than the initial effective date of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

4. Registration Expenses . The Issuer will bear all Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under this agreement. “ Registration Expenses ” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Issuer with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all Commission filing fees, (ii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing,

 

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printing and distributing any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any prospectus forming part of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto, any exchange agent agreements, information agent agreements, deposit agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iii) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws and the Trust Indenture Act, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (v) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuer and (vi) the fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accountants of the Issuer.

5. Miscellaneous .

(a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Issuer has obtained the written consent of the Holder or, if there are more than one Holder, the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities.

(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery:

(1) if to the Holder, c/o Vodafone Group Plc, Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, facsimile: +44 1635 238080, attention of the Company Secretary;

(2) if to counsel for the Holder, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, facsimile: 212-455-2502, attention John D. Lobrano, Esq.; or

(3) if to the Issuer, c/o Verizon Communications Inc., One Verizon Way, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920, facsimile: 908 766 3813, attention of the Corporate Secretary.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; one business day after being delivered to a next-day air courier; five business days after being deposited in the mail; and when receipt is acknowledged by the recipient’s telecopier machine, if sent by telecopier.

(c) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon each party and its respective successors and assigns.

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (which may be delivered in original form or by telecopier) and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(e) Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “ business day ” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for trading, (b) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “ affiliate ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and (c) the term “ Person ” has the meaning given to it in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(h) Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, together with the Noteholders Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2014, by and among Vodafone, the Seller and the Issuer, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes any prior

 

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discussions, correspondence, negotiation, proposed term sheet or agreement, understanding and parties hereto make no representations or warranties with respect to such subject matter other than those set forth or referred to in this Agreement. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.

(i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

[ Signature page follows ]

 

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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Issuer and the Holder.

 

Very truly yours,
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
By:  

   /s/ Matthew D. Ellis

Name: Matthew D. Ellis
Title:   Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

Accepted:
By: VODAFONE GROUP PLC

 

By:  

     /s/ Rosemary Martin

Name: Rosemary Martin
Title:   Group General Counsel & Company
Secretary
By: VODAFONE 4 LIMITED

 

By:  

     /s/ Erik de Rijk

Name: Erik de Rijk
Title:   Managing Director

 

 

(Registration Rights Agreement)

Exhibit 4.9

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

NOTEHOLDERS AGREEMENT

with respect to

THE FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2022 AND

THE FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2025

of

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

dated as of February 21, 2014

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
Article I DEFINITIONS      1   
        1.1    Certain Defined Terms.      1   
        1.2    Other Definitional Provisions.      4   

Article II TRANSFERS

     4   
        2.1    Rights and Obligations of Transferees.      4   
        2.2    Transfer Restrictions.      4   
        2.3    Void Transfers.      5   
        2.4    Trading Restrictions.      5   
        2.5    No Vodafone Entity Repurchase.      5   
        2.6    Regulation S Restricted Period.      6   
Article III REPURCHASE      6   
        3.1    Optional Repurchase Right.      6   
        3.2    Notices.      6   
        3.3    Payment.      6   
        3.4    Pro-Rata Payments.      6   
        3.5    Failure to Deliver Notes.      6   
        3.6    Title to Notes.      6   
        3.7    No Transfer Following Repurchase Notice.      6   
Article IV MISCELLANEOUS      7   
        4.1    Termination.      7   
        4.2    Amendments and Waivers.      7   
        4.3    Successors and Assigns.      7   
        4.4    Notices.      7   
        4.5    Further Assurances.      8   
        4.6    Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.      8   
        4.7    Restrictions on Other Agreements.      8   
        4.8    Delays or Omissions.      8   
        4.9    Submission to Jurisdiction.      8   
        4.10    Waiver of Jury Trial.      9   
        4.11    Severability.      9   
        4.12    Enforcement.      9   
        4.13    Titles and Subtitles.      9   
        4.14    Governing Law.      9   
        4.15    Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures.      9   

Exhibits

  

Exhibit A—Form of Regulation S Certificate

  

Exhibit B—Form of Reduction Notice

  

Exhibit C—Form of 2022 Note

  

Exhibit D—Form of 2025 Note

  
Exhibit E—Form of Verizon Officers’ Certificate (Including Form of Notice of Transfer and Form of Joinder Agreement)   

 

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THIS NOTEHOLDERS AGREEMENT (as amended, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of February 21, 2014, among Vodafone Group Plc, an English public limited company (“ Vodafone ”), Vodafone 4 Limited, an indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Vodafone (the “ Seller ”) and Verizon Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and any Affiliate of Vodafone who becomes a party hereto by executing a Joinder Agreement pursuant to Section 2.1(b) hereto.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 2, 2013, and amended as of December 5, 2013 (as so amended and as subsequently amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), by and among Vodafone, the Seller and the Company, the Seller has acquired $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Floating Rate Notes due 2022 (the “ 2022 Notes ”) and $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Floating Rate Notes due 2025 (the “ 2025 Notes ” and together with the 2022 Notes, the “ Initial Notes ”) from the Company on the Closing Date (the “ Transaction ”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Seller’s acquisition of the Initial Notes, the Seller provided Verizon an officer’s certificate (the “ Regulation S Certificate ”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the consummation of the Transaction, Vodafone, the Seller and the Company have entered into an Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), dated the Closing Date, providing for, among other things, the exchange of the Initial Notes for new senior unsecured notes of the Company registered under the Securities Act (the “ Exchange Notes ,” and together with the Initial Notes, the “ Notes ”) having substantially the same terms as the Initial Notes (other than provisions relating to Additional Interest), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein; and

WHEREAS, concurrently with the consummation of the Transaction, Vodafone, the Seller and the Company desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for certain rights and restrictions with respect to the Notes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, each party hereto hereby agrees as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Certain Defined Terms . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

2022 Notes ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

2022 Physical Note ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c).

2022 Regulation S Global Note ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c).

2025 Notes ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

2025 Physical Note ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c).

2025 Regulation S Global Note ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c).

Affiliate ” has the meaning given to such term in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Agreement ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.


Beneficial Owner ” or “ Beneficially Own ” has the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s Beneficial Ownership of the Notes shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule.

Business Day ” has the meaning given to such term in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

CDS ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.4.

Closing Date ” means February 21, 2014.

Company ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

Control ” (including the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Disposal ” or “ Dispose ” means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer or similar disposition of, any Notes Beneficially Owned by a Noteholder or any interest in any Notes Beneficially Owned by a Noteholder.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Notes ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

Form of 2022 Note ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c).

Form of 2025 Note ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c).

Global Notes ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c).

Indenture ” means the Indenture dated as of December 1, 2000, between the Company, as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, as amended by the first, second and third supplemental indentures, and as the same may be amended, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Initial Notes ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

Joinder Agreement ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.1(b).

Law ” has the meaning given to such term in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Notes ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

Noteholder ” and “ Noteholders ” means the Seller and any subsequent Transferee that is a Vodafone Entity, in each case so long as (and only so long as) such Person is (and remains) a holder of Notes.

Optional Repurchase ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1.

Optional Repurchase Price ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1.

 

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Outstanding ” or “ outstanding ,” when used with respect to the Notes means, as of the date of determination, all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered under the Indenture, except ( i ) Notes theretofore cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, ( ii ) Notes for whose payment or repurchase money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or paying agent in trust for the holders of such Notes, provided that, if such Notes are to be repurchased, notice of such repurchase has been duly given pursuant to Article III hereto, and ( iii ) Notes in exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Indenture.

Person ” has the meaning given to such term in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Physical Notes ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c).

Pricing Date ” means five Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

Reduction Notice ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(b).

Registration Rights Agreement ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

Regulation S Global Security ” has the meaning given to it in the Indenture.

Regulation S Restricted Period ” has the meaning given to it in the Indenture.

Representatives ” means with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s, or its Affiliates’, directors, officers, employees, general partners, Affiliates, direct or indirect shareholders, members or limited partners, attorneys, accountants, financial and other advisers, and other agents and representatives.

Repurchase Notice ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.2.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Seller ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

Stock Purchase Agreement ” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals.

Subsidiary ” has the meaning given to such term in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Transaction ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

Transfer ” means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition of, any Notes Beneficially Owned by a Person or any interest in any Notes Beneficially Owned by a Person. In the event that any Noteholder that is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity (other than an individual, trust or estate) ceases to be, directly or indirectly, controlled by the Person controlling such Noteholder as of the date hereof or a Vodafone Entity, such event shall be deemed to constitute a “Transfer” subject to the restrictions on Transfer contained or referenced herein. Any transfer of all or any portion of the principal amount of a Physical Note to the applicable Global Note shall constitute a “Transfer.” Any exchange of the Initial Notes for Exchange Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, shall not constitute a “Transfer.”

Transferee ” means any Person to whom any Noteholder or any Transferee thereof Transfers Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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Trustee ” means U.S. Bank National Association.

Verizon Officers’ Certificate ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c).

Vodafone Entity ” means Vodafone or any of its Affiliates.

Vodafone Notes ” any outstanding Notes that are legally or Beneficially Owned by a Vodafone Entity, whether directly or indirectly or in whole or in part, and which have not been previously Transferred to a Person that is not a Vodafone Entity.

1.2 Other Definitional Provisions .

(a) The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Article and Section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

(b) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

(c) Reference to the amount of any Notes shall be to the principal amount of such Notes.

ARTICLE II

TRANSFERS

2.1 Rights and Obligations of Transferees .

(a) No Transferee of any Noteholder, except a Vodafone Entity, shall be entitled to any rights or subject to any obligations under this Agreement.

(b) As a condition precedent to the consummation of a Transfer by any Noteholder to any Vodafone Entity, the applicable Transferee shall execute and deliver a joinder agreement in the form included in Exhibit E attached hereto (a “ Joinder Agreement ”) to the Company and the Transferring Noteholder.

2.2 Transfer Restrictions .

(a) Prior to June 30, 2020, no Noteholder may effect any Transfer of all or any portion of the Notes, or any interest therein, other than: ( i ) Disposals to another Vodafone Entity; provided that such proposed Transferee executes and delivers a Joinder Agreement as required pursuant to Section 2.1(b); ( ii ) subject to Section 2.2(b), Disposals of up to $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Notes during the period from January 1, 2017 through and including June 30, 2017; and ( iii ) subject to Section 2.2(b), Disposals of up to $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of Notes (which Notes may be either the 2022 Notes or the 2025 Notes, or any combination thereof) during the period from January 1, 2019 through and including June 30, 2019. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Noteholders Transfer more than $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of Notes to any entity other than a Vodafone Entity, during any rolling 12-month period.

(b) If the Company repurchases any Notes pursuant to Article III, prior to January 1, 2017, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to reduce the aggregate principal amount of Notes thereafter Transferable pursuant to either clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.2(a), as and to the extent specified by the Company in a notice to be given by the Company to Vodafone prior to January 1, 2017 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (each, a “ Reduction Notice ”), up to the principal amount of Notes so repurchased; provided , however , that in the event that a Reduction Notice specifies that a repurchase of the 2022 Notes shall reduce the aggregate

 

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principal amount of Notes that may be transferred pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(iii), a corresponding aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes shall thereafter be transferable pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(ii), it being understood that this proviso shall not increase the aggregate principal amount of Notes transferable pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(ii) and (iii).

(c) The 2022 Notes, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ Form of 2022 Note ”), have initially been issued in the form of one physical certificated note in the principal amount of $2,499,998,000 (the “ 2022 Physical Note ”) and one Regulation S Global Security, in the principal amount of $2,000 (the “ 2022 Regulation S Global Note ”). The 2025 Notes, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “ Form of 2025 Note ”), have initially been issued in the form of one physical certificated note in the principal amount of $2,499,998,000 (the “ 2025 Physical Note ” and together with the 2022 Physical Note, the “ Physical Notes ”) and one Regulation S Global Security, in the principal amount of $2,000 (the “ 2025 Regulation S Global Note ,” and together with the 2022 Regulation S Global Notes, the “ Global Notes ”). The Global Notes have been, and any future Global Notes shall be, registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or its nominee. In order for the Trustee to Transfer all or any portion of the principal amount of the Physical Notes to the applicable Global Notes, the Trustee is required to have received (i) an executed certificate of an authorized officer of the Company in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (a “ Verizon Officers’ Certificate ”), which shall include a Notice of Transfer as described below and (ii) the Physical Note to be Transferred; provided , however , that in the event of a partial Transfer of a Physical Note, the Physical Note to be partially Transferred shall be cancelled and a new Physical Note representing the principal amount to be retained by the Transferring Noteholder shall be issued in the name of such Noteholder.

(d) Prior to and as a condition to any Transfer of the Notes by a Noteholder pursuant to Section 2.2(a), the Noteholder will execute and deliver to the Company a notice of its intention to Transfer, in the form attached as Annex A to Exhibit E hereto (a “ Notice of Transfer ”), which shall include, if applicable, an executed Joinder Agreement in the event of a proposed Transfer to a Vodafone Entity.

(e) Upon receipt of an executed Notice of Transfer (and, if applicable, an executed Joinder Agreement), the Company agrees to provide to the Trustee a Verizon Officers’ Certificate, no later than 2 Business Days after receipt of the Notice of Transfer; provided , however , that the Company will not be obligated to deliver the Verizon Officers’ Certificate if it reasonably believes on the written advice of counsel that the Transfer is not permitted under this Section 2.2, under the Indenture or under applicable Law, or if a Vodafone Entity has failed, and continues to fail, to deliver any Notes subject to a Repurchase Notice to the Company or any other person designated by the Company to receive such Notes on the Repurchase Payment Date.

2.3 Void Transfers . Any Transfer or attempted or purported Transfer in violation of this Agreement shall be void.

2.4 Trading Restrictions . Prior to January 1, 2017, no Vodafone Entity will participate, directly or indirectly, in markets for the Company’s debt securities or credit default swaps (“ CDS ”); provided , however , that the foregoing shall not be deemed to restrict the Company’s ability to market or issue debt securities during such period.

2.5 No Vodafone Entity Repurchase . In no instance shall a Vodafone Entity purchase or otherwise acquire a beneficial interest in or record ownership of, either directly or indirectly, any Notes Transferred to any holder of the Notes that is not a Vodafone Entity; provided , however , that this Section 2.5 shall not prohibit the acquisition of any indirect interest in any Notes Transferred to any holder of the Notes that is not a Vodafone Entity that arises by virtue of such holder becoming an Affiliate of Vodafone, provided that (i) such holder becoming an Affiliate of Vodafone was not reasonably foreseeable at the time such holder acquired an interest in the Notes and (ii) the acquisition of any indirect interest in the Notes by a Vodafone Entity was not part of a plan or scheme to evade the provisions or intent of this Agreement.

 

5


2.6 Regulation S Restricted Period . Following the Regulation S Restricted Period, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, upon a Holder’s request, to have (a) the Global Notes transferred into an unrestricted CUSIP through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company and (b) the “Regulation S Legend” removed from the Physical Notes.

ARTICLE III

REPURCHASE

3.1 Optional Repurchase Right . At any time following February 21, 2016, the Company shall have the right to repurchase from time to time (the “ Optional Repurchase ”) all or any portion of the outstanding Vodafone Notes. The repurchase price with respect to such Vodafone Notes shall be equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes being repurchased to, but excluding, the date of repurchase (the “ Optional Repurchase Price ”).

3.2 Notices . Prior to any exercise by the Company of its rights to repurchase all or any portion of the Vodafone Notes, the Company will send a written notice (a “ Repurchase Notice ”) to the applicable Noteholder stating (a) the principal amount of 2022 Notes and/or 2025 Notes, as applicable, to be repurchased from such Noteholder, (b) the Optional Repurchase Price and the date on which such Vodafone Notes are to be repurchased, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date on which such Repurchase Notice is sent (the “ Repurchase Payment Date ”) and (c) the place or places where such Vodafone Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the Optional Repurchase Price.

3.3 Payment . On the Repurchase Payment Date:

 

  (a) the Noteholder will deliver the Notes being repurchased to the Company; and

 

  (b) the Company will:

(i) accept such Notes for payment; and

(ii) deposit with the Noteholder or any other Person designated by the Noteholder to receive funds on its behalf an amount equal to the Optional Repurchase Price in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Noteholder.

3.4 Pro-Rata Payments . In the event that the Vodafone Notes to be repurchased are held by more than one Noteholder the Optional Repurchase shall be made pro-rata, in integral multiples of $1,000, by the applicable series of Notes.

3.5 Failure to Deliver Notes . Vodafone shall indemnify the Company and shall hold it harmless from any interest payments required to be paid on the Notes to a Person that is not a controlled Affiliate of the Company as a result of the failure of any Vodafone Entity to deliver the Notes being repurchased to the Company on the Repurchase Payment Date.

3.6 Title to Notes . At all times while this Agreement is in effect, each Vodafone Entity that is a Noteholder of the Vodafone Notes will, subject to Section 2.2(a), maintain good and valid title to its Vodafone Notes, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or adverse claims; and, upon delivery of any Vodafone Notes and payment therefor in connection with any Optional Repurchase hereunder, good and valid title to such Vodafone Notes, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or adverse claims, will pass to the Company.

3.7 No Transfer Following Repurchase Notice . At any time following the receipt of a Repurchase Notice, no Noteholder may agree to any Transfer of the principal amount of the Notes subject to such Repurchase Notice or effect any Transfer of the principal amount of the Notes subject to such Repurchase Notice not agreed to prior to

 

6


the effectiveness of the applicable Repurchase Notice, unless and until the Company fails to pay the applicable Optional Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes on the applicable Repurchase Payment Date (other than as a result of the failure on the part of the Noteholder to deliver the Notes being repurchased to the Company on the Repurchase Payment Date).

ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

4.1 Termination . Subject to the early termination of any provision as a result of an amendment to this Agreement agreed to by the Noteholders as provided under Section 4.2, Sections 2.1 and 2.3, and this Section 4.1 shall not terminate until such time as no Vodafone Notes remain outstanding. Nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability for the breach of any of the agreements set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding any such termination, the provisions of Section 3.5 shall remain in effect.

4.2 Amendments and Waivers . No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto; provided , however , that any Joinder Agreement executed pursuant to Section 2.1(b) shall not be considered an amendment for purposes of this Section 4.2.

4.3 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, including all Vodafone Entities that hold or Beneficially Own Notes.

4.4 Notices . Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be effective (a) when personally delivered or transmitted by telecopier on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received at the address or number designated below or (b) on the business day where such notice is to be received following the date of mailing by overnight courier, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, whichever shall first occur. The addresses for such communications shall be:

 

  (a) if to Vodafone, to:

Vodafone Group Plc

Vodafone House

The Connection

Newbury

Berkshire

RG14 2FN

Fax: +44 1635 238080

Attention: Company Secretary

if to Seller, to:

Vodafone 4 Limited

Rivium Quadrant 173

2909 LC Capelle aan den Ijssel

The Netherlands

Telecopier +31 10 498 77 22

Attention: Erik de Rijk, Managing Director

 

7


  (b) if to the Company, to:

Verizon Communications Inc.

One Verizon Way

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Fax: (908) 766-3813

Attention: William L. Horton, Jr., Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

  (c) if to any other Noteholder, to the address of such other Noteholder as shown on the Joinder Agreement delivered by such Noteholder.

4.5 Further Assurances . Subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

4.6 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement, together with the Indenture, the Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes any prior discussions, correspondence, negotiation, proposed term sheet, agreement or understanding, and the parties hereto make no representations or warranties with respect to such subject matter other than those set forth or referred to in this Agreement, and, except as provided in Section 4.3, this Agreement is not intended to confer upon any Person not a party to this Agreement (and their successors and assigns) any rights, benefits, causes of action or remedies with respect to the subject matter or any provision hereof.

4.7 Restrictions on Other Agreements . Following the date hereof, no Noteholder or Vodafone Entity shall enter into or agree to be bound by any agreements or arrangements of any kind with any Person with respect to any Notes except as would not conflict with this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement.

4.8 Delays or Omissions . It is agreed that no delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party, upon any breach, default or noncompliance by another party hereto under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. All remedies, either under this Agreement, by Law, or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

4.9 Submission to Jurisdiction . Each party to this Agreement irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect hereof brought by another party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York in New York County), and each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such action or proceeding for itself and in respect to its property, generally and unconditionally, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, ( a ) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 4.9, ( b ) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise), and ( c ) to the fullest extent permitted by Law, that ( i ) the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, ( ii ) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper and ( iii ) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

 

8


4.10 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and for any counterclaim therein.

4.11 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any Law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

4.12 Enforcement . Each party hereto acknowledges that money damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the covenants or agreements in this Agreement are not performed in accordance with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the non-breaching party will have the right to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof.

4.13 Titles and Subtitles . The titles of the articles, sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and will not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

4.14 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of Law rules of such state that would result in the application of the Laws of any other jurisdiction

4.15 Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Each of the parties hereto ( i ) has agreed to permit the use, from time to time, of faxed or otherwise electronically transmitted signatures in order to expedite the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, ( ii ) intends to be bound by its respective faxed or otherwise electronically transmitted signature, ( iii ) is aware that the other parties hereto will rely on the faxed or otherwise electronically transmitted signature, and ( iv ) acknowledges such reliance and waives any defenses to the enforcement of the documents effecting the transaction contemplated by this Agreement based on the fact that a signature was sent by fax or otherwise electronically transmitted.

[Rest of page intentionally left blank]

 

9


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

 

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

By:    

 

    /s/ Matthew D. Ellis

 

Name:

 

Matthew D. Ellis

 

Title:

 

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

VODAFONE GROUP PLC

By:    

 

    /s/ Rosemary Martin

 

Name: Rosemary Martin

Title: Group General Counsel & Company

Secretary

VODAFONE 4 LIMITED

By:    

 

    /s/ Erik de Rijk

 

Name: Erik de Rijk

Title: Managing Director

(Noteholders Agreement)


Exhibit A

February 21, 2014

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

140 West Street

New York, NY 10007

 

  Re: Floating Rate Notes due 2022 and Floating Rate Notes due 2025 of Verizon Communications Inc. – Regulation S Certificate

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 2, 2013, and amended as of December 5, 2013 (as so amended and as subsequently amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “ Stock Purchase Agreement ”) by and among Vodafone Group Plc, an English public limited company (“ Vodafone ”), Vodafone 4 Limited, an indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Vodafone (the “ Seller ”), and Verizon Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), whereby, among other things, the Company agreed to issue to the Seller $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Floating Rate Notes due 2022 (the “ 2022 Notes ”) and $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Floating Rate Notes due 2025 (together with the 2022 Notes, the “ Verizon Notes ”).

In connection with the Seller’s acquisition of the Verizon Notes pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Seller represents:

(a) that it is not a U.S. person and is acquiring the Verizon Notes in an offshore transaction (as such terms are defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S under the Securities Act); and

(b) that it will not within 40 days after the date of the original issuance of the Verizon Notes, offer, resell or otherwise transfer such Verizon Notes except to Vodafone, any Subsidiary of Vodafone that is not a U.S. person or to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof.

Capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

Very truly yours,
VODAFONE 4 LIMITED
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


Exhibit B

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

140 West Street

New York, NY 10007

Vodafone Group Plc

Vodafone House

The Connection

Newbury

Berkshire

RG14 2FN

Fax: +44 1635 238080

Attention: Company Secretary

Reference is hereby made to the Noteholders Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2014, by and among Verizon Communications Inc. (“ Verizon ”), Vodafone Group Plc (“ Vodafone ”), and Vodafone 4 Limited, an indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Vodafone (the “ Seller ”) (as the same may be amended and supplemented, the “ Noteholders Agreement ”), entered into in connection with the issuance of Verizon’s Floating Rate Notes due 2022 (the “ 2022 Notes ”) and Floating Rate Notes due 2025 (the “ 2025 Notes ” and together with the 2022 Notes, the “ Verizon Notes ”) issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2000 between Verizon, as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First Union National Bank), as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as amended by the first, second and third supplemental indentures. This notice is delivered to you in accordance with Section 2.2(b) of the Noteholders Agreement.

You are hereby notified that Verizon intends to reduce the aggregate principal amount of the 20[●] Notes, that may be transferred by the Noteholder during the period beginning on January 1, [2017/2019] and ending on June 30 [2017/2019] to $[●] as a consequence of the repurchase by Verizon of $[●] aggregate principal amount of the 20[●] Notes in accordance with Section 2.2(b) of the Noteholders Agreement[, it being understood that a corresponding aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes shall thereafter be transferable pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(ii) of the Noteholders Agreement] 1 .

Capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Noteholders Agreement.

 

Very truly yours,
By:  

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

1   Language should be included only if the Company specified that a repurchase of 2022 Notes reduced the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be Transferred during the 2019 transfer window.


Exhibit C

FORM OF 2022 NOTE

[TRANSFERS OF THIS NOTE BY THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE NOTEHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 21, 2014, BY AND AMONG VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., VODAFONE GROUP PLC AND VODAFONE 4 LIMITED.] 1

[REGULATION S LEGEND]

[THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM] 2 [PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF (A) THE DATE ON WHICH THE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND (B) THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE SECURITY] 3 .

[THE FOREGOING LEGEND MAY BE REMOVED FROM THIS SECURITY AFTER 40 DAYS BEGINNING ON AND INCLUDING THE LATER OF (A) THE DATE ON WHICH THE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND (B) THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE SECURITY.] 4

[GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND]

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.] 5

 

No.                     

   $                        

[CUSIP No.: [●]

ISIN No.: [●]] 6

 

1   Include only in the case of a Physical Note.
2   Include in the case of a Regulation S Global Note and Physical Note.
3   Include in the case of a Regulation S Global Note
4   Include in the case of a Physical Note.
5   To be inserted if a Global Security.
6   Do not include for the Physical Notes.


Verizon Communications Inc.

Floating Rate Notes due 2022

Verizon Communications Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [●], or registered assigns, the principal sum of              Dollars ($              ) [(subject to adjustment as reflected in the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security attached hereto)] 7 on February 21, 2022, and to pay interest on said principal sum at the floating rate per annum determined in accordance with the provisions below (the “interest rate”), until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. This Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities, as defined in the Indenture) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR (as defined below) plus 1.222%, which rate will be reset quarterly (as described below), and will be payable quarterly in arrears on each February 21, May 21, August 21 and November 21, each an “interest payment date.” If any interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day (as defined below), the Company will make the interest payment on the next succeeding business day unless such business day is in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case the Company will make the interest payment on the immediately preceding business day.

Interest on this Debt Security will accrue from, and including, February 21, 2014, to, but excluding, the first interest payment date and then from and including, the immediately preceding interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from, and including, February 21, 2014, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for) to, but excluding, the next applicable interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be (each of these periods, an “interest period”). The amount of accrued interest payable for any interest period shall be calculated by multiplying the face amount of this Debt Security by an accrued interest factor. Such accrued interest factor is computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each day from February 21, 2014, or from the immediately preceding interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, to the date for which accrued interest is being calculated. The interest factor for each day shall be computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360.

If the maturity date of this Debt Security falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be made on the next succeeding business day, as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest on such payment shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after the maturity date to the date of such payment on the next succeeding business day.

The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date will, as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be the fifteenth calendar day, whether or not a business day, immediately preceding such interest payment date. However, interest that the Company pays on the maturity date shall be payable to the person to whom the principal hereof shall be payable. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on such regular record date, and may be paid to the person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered holders of this series of Debt Securities as provided in the Indenture, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to.

As used herein, “business day” means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in

 

7   To be inserted if a Global Security.

 

2


The City of New York; provided, that such day is also a London business day. “London business day” means any day on which commercial banks are open for business, including dealings in U.S. dollars, in London.

The interest rate on this Debt Security shall be calculated by the calculation agent, which will be an independent investment banking or commercial banking institution of international standing appointed by the Company and shall be equal to LIBOR (as defined below) plus 1.222%; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period from February 21, 2014 to but excluding May 21, 2014, the initial interest reset date, shall be 1.456% (the “initial interest rate”). The calculation agent will reset the interest rate on each interest payment date, each of which is an “interest reset date.” The second London business day preceding an interest reset date will be the “interest determination date” for that interest reset date. The interest rate in effect on each day that is not an interest reset date shall be the interest rate determined as of the interest determination date pertaining to the immediately preceding interest reset date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period from and including February 21, 2014, to but excluding the initial interest reset date shall be the initial interest rate. The interest rate in effect on any day that is an interest reset date shall be the interest rate determined as of the interest determination date pertaining to such interest reset date.

“LIBOR” shall be determined by the calculation agent in accordance with the following provisions:

(i) With respect to any interest determination date, LIBOR shall be the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the first day of the applicable interest period that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such interest determination date. If no such rate appears, then LIBOR, in respect to such interest determination date, shall be determined in accordance with the provisions described in (ii) below.

(ii) With respect to an interest determination date on which no rate appears on the Designated LIBOR Page, as specified in (i) above, the calculation agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the calculation agent, to provide the calculation agent with its offered quotation for deposits in U.S. dollars for the period of three months, commencing on the first day of the applicable interest period, to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such interest determination date and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such interest determination date shall be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such interest determination date shall be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., in The City of New York, on such interest determination date by three major banks in The City of New York selected by the calculation agent for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, having a three month maturity and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks so selected by the calculation agent are not providing quotations in the manner described in this sentence, LIBOR determined as of such interest determination date shall be LIBOR in effect on such interest determination date.

“The Designated LIBOR Page” means the Reuters screen “LIBOR01” page, or any successor page on Reuters selected by the Company with the consent of the calculation agent, or if the Company determines that no such successor page shall exist on Reuters, the Bloomberg page “BBAM,” or any successor page on Bloomberg selected by the Company with the consent of the calculation agent.

The calculation agent (which initially shall be U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, and which may be changed by the Company from time to time subject to the third preceding paragraph) shall calculate the interest rate on this Debt Security on or before each calculation date and, upon request, provide holders of the Debt Securities the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate which shall become effective as a result of a determination made for the next succeeding interest reset date with respect to this Debt Security. The calculation agent’s determination of any interest rate shall be final and binding absent error in the calculation thereof. The “calculation date” pertaining to any interest determination

 

3


date shall be the earlier of (a) the tenth calendar day after such interest determination date, or if any such day is not a business day, the next succeeding business day, or (b) the business day immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be.

Notwithstanding the other provisions herein, the interest rate hereon shall in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general application.

Except as otherwise provided herein, all percentages resulting from any calculation shall be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all amounts used in or resulting from such calculation shall be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).

The principal of and the interest on this Debt Security shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City of New York, State of New York (and at the office or agency of any paying agent the Company may appoint) in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register; provided, further, that all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Debt Securities [represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of or held by a depositary or its nominee, or other Debt Securities] in a principal amount of at least $1,000,000, will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof not less than five business days prior to the applicable payment date. This Debt Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, or be valid or become obligatory for any purpose, until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

The provisions of this Debt Security are continued on the reverse side hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed.

 

Dated:     VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
    By  

 

      Name:
      Title:


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

U.S. Bank National Association

as Trustee, Authenticating Agent and

Security Registrar

By    
  Authorized Signatory

Dated:


(FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBT SECURITY)

This Debt Security is one of a duly authorized series of Securities of the Company, all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of December 1, 2000, duly executed and delivered by the Company, as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank (hereinafter referred to as the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented (the “Indenture”), to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Securities. By the terms of the Indenture, the Securities are issuable in series which may vary as to amount, date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as in the Indenture provided. This Debt Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof (herein called the “Debt Securities”) unlimited in aggregate principal amount.

[Holders of the Debt Securities are entitled to the benefits of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2014 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company and parties named therein, including the right to receive additional interest under an Additional Interest Trigger (as defined therein). The Debt Securities and any related Exchange Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class, and none of such securities shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class.] 1

Beneficial interests in this [global] Debt Security may be held in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. This [global] Debt Security shall be exchangeable for Debt Securities in definitive form registered in the names of persons other than the Depository or its nominee only if ( i ) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as the Depository or if at any time such Depository is no longer registered as a clearing agency or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or other applicable statute and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days or ( ii ) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate that the [global] Debt Security shall be so exchangeable. To the extent that the [global] Debt Security is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence, it shall be exchangeable for Debt Securities registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Debt Securities represented by this [global] Debt Security that may be exchanged for Debt Securities in definitive form under the circumstances described in this paragraph will be exchangeable only for Debt Securities in definitive form issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, this [global] Debt Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of such Depository or by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository.

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, with respect to the Debt Securities shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debt Securities may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected at the time outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of such Securities; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, among other things, (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of each Debt Security then outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the

 

1   To be deleted upon issuance of Exchange Notes.

 

2


holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time outstanding, on behalf of the holders of Securities of such series, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series. Any such consent or waiver by the registered holder of this Debt Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Debt Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debt Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Debt Security at the times and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

The Debt Securities are issuable as registered Debt Securities without coupons.

The Debt Securities shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Debt Securities may be exchanged, upon presentation thereof for that purpose, at the office or agency of the Company in the City of New York, State of New York, for other Debt Securities of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount and series, and upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto.

This Debt Security will not be redeemable prior to maturity.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Debt Security is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Debt Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the City of New York, State of New York accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar duly executed by the registered holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Debt Securities of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.

Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debt Security the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar for the Debt Securities may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar for the Debt Securities) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and (subject to Section 310 of the Indenture) interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar for the Debt Securities shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Debt Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

[ If a Global Security : The Depository by acceptance of this global Debt Security agrees that it will not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise convey any beneficial interest in this global Debt Security unless such beneficial interest is in an amount equal to an authorized denomination for Debt Securities of this series.]

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture.

 

3


[ TO BE ATTACHED IF A GLOBAL SECURITY ]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The following increases and decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of

Decrease or

Increase

   Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of this
Global Security
   Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount of this
Global Security
   Principal Amount of this
Global Security following
such decrease or increase
   Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Securities Custodian

 

4


Exhibit D

FORM OF 2025 NOTE

[TRANSFERS OF THIS NOTE BY THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE NOTEHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 21, 2014, BY AND AMONG VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS, INC., VODAFONE GROUP PLC AND VODAFONE 4 LIMITED.] 1

[REGULATION S LEGEND]

[THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM] 2 [PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF (A) THE DATE ON WHICH THE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND (B) THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE SECURITY] 3 .

[THE FOREGOING LEGEND MAY BE REMOVED FROM THIS SECURITY AFTER 40 DAYS BEGINNING ON AND INCLUDING THE LATER OF (A) THE DATE ON WHICH THE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND (B) THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE SECURITY.] 4

[GLOBAL NOTES LEGEND]

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.] 5

 

No.                     

   $                        

[CUSIP No.: [●]

ISIN No.: [●]] 6

 

1   Include only in the case of a Physical Note.
2   Include in the case of a Regulation S Global Note and Physical Note.
3   Include in the case of a Regulation S Global Note
4   Include in the case of a Physical Note.
5   To be inserted if a Global Security.
6   Do not include for the Physical Notes.


Verizon Communications Inc.

Floating Rate Notes due 2025

Verizon Communications Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [●], or registered assigns, the principal sum of              Dollars ($              ) [(subject to adjustment as reflected in the Schedule of Increase and Decreases in Global Security attached hereto)] 7 on February 21, 2025, and to pay interest on said principal sum at the floating rate per annum determined in accordance with the provisions below (the “interest rate”), until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. This Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities, as defined in the Indenture) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR (as defined below) plus 1.372%, which rate will be reset quarterly (as described below), and will be payable quarterly in arrears on each February 21, May 21, August 21 and November 21, each an “interest payment date.” If any interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day (as defined below), the Company will make the interest payment on the next succeeding business day unless such business day is in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case the Company will make the interest payment on the immediately preceding business day.

Interest on this Debt Security will accrue from, and including, February 21, 2014, to, but excluding, the first interest payment date and then from and including, the immediately preceding interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from, and including, February 21, 2014, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for) to, but excluding, the next applicable interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be (each of these periods, an “interest period”). The amount of accrued interest payable for any interest period shall be calculated by multiplying the face amount of this Debt Security by an accrued interest factor. Such accrued interest factor is computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each day from February 21, 2014, or from the immediately preceding interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, to the date for which accrued interest is being calculated. The interest factor for each day shall be computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360.

If the maturity date of this Debt Security falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be made on the next succeeding business day, as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest on such payment shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after the maturity date to the date of such payment on the next succeeding business day.

The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date will, as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be the fifteenth calendar day, whether or not a business day, immediately preceding such interest payment date. However, interest that the Company pays on the maturity date shall be payable to the person to whom the principal hereof shall be payable. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on such regular record date, and may be paid to the person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered holders of this series of Debt Securities as provided in the Indenture, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to.

As used herein, “business day” means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in

 

7   To be inserted if a Global Security.

 

2


The City of New York; provided, that such day is also a London business day. “London business day” means any day on which commercial banks are open for business, including dealings in U.S. dollars, in London.

The interest rate on this Debt Security shall be calculated by the calculation agent, which will be an independent investment banking or commercial banking institution of international standing appointed by the Company and shall be equal to LIBOR (as defined below) plus 1.372%; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period from February 21, 2014 to but excluding May 21, 2014, the initial interest reset date, shall be 1.606% (the “initial interest rate”). The calculation agent will reset the interest rate on each interest payment date, each of which is an “interest reset date.” The second London business day preceding an interest reset date will be the “interest determination date” for that interest reset date. The interest rate in effect on each day that is not an interest reset date shall be the interest rate determined as of the interest determination date pertaining to the immediately preceding interest reset date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period from and including February 21, 2014, to but excluding the initial interest reset date shall be the initial interest rate. The interest rate in effect on any day that is an interest reset date shall be the interest rate determined as of the interest determination date pertaining to such interest reset date.

“LIBOR” shall be determined by the calculation agent in accordance with the following provisions:

(i) With respect to any interest determination date, LIBOR shall be the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the first day of the applicable interest period that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such interest determination date. If no such rate appears, then LIBOR, in respect to such interest determination date, shall be determined in accordance with the provisions described in (ii) below.

(ii) With respect to an interest determination date on which no rate appears on the Designated LIBOR Page, as specified in (i) above, the calculation agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the calculation agent, to provide the calculation agent with its offered quotation for deposits in U.S. dollars for the period of three months, commencing on the first day of the applicable interest period, to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such interest determination date and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such interest determination date shall be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such interest determination date shall be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., in The City of New York, on such interest determination date by three major banks in The City of New York selected by the calculation agent for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, having a three month maturity and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks so selected by the calculation agent are not providing quotations in the manner described in this sentence, LIBOR determined as of such interest determination date shall be LIBOR in effect on such interest determination date.

“The Designated LIBOR Page” means the Reuters screen “LIBOR01” page, or any successor page on Reuters selected by the Company with the consent of the calculation agent, or if the Company determines that no such successor page shall exist on Reuters, the Bloomberg page “BBAM,” or any successor page on Bloomberg selected by the Company with the consent of the calculation agent.

The calculation agent (which initially shall be U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, and which may be changed by the Company from time to time subject to the third preceding paragraph) shall calculate the interest rate on this Debt Security on or before each calculation date and, upon request, provide holders of the Debt Securities the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate which shall become effective as a result of a determination made for the next succeeding interest reset date with respect to this Debt Security. The calculation agent’s determination of any interest rate shall be final and binding absent error in the calculation thereof. The “calculation date” pertaining to any interest determination date shall be the earlier of ( a ) the tenth calendar day after such interest determination date, or if any such day is

 

3


not a business day, the next succeeding business day, or ( b ) the business day immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be.

Notwithstanding the other provisions herein, the interest rate hereon shall in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general application.

Except as otherwise provided herein, all percentages resulting from any calculation shall be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all amounts used in or resulting from such calculation shall be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).

The principal of and the interest on this Debt Security shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City of New York, State of New York (and at the office or agency of any paying agent the Company may appoint) in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register; provided, further, that all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Debt Securities [represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of or held by a depositary or its nominee, or other Debt Securities] in a principal amount of at least $1,000,000, will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof not less than five business days prior to the applicable payment date. This Debt Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, or be valid or become obligatory for any purpose, until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

The provisions of this Debt Security are continued on the reverse side hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed.

 

Dated:   VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
  By  

 

    Name:
    Title:

 

5


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

U.S. Bank National Association

as Trustee, Authenticating Agent and

Security Registrar

 

By

 

 

  Authorized Signatory

Dated:

 

6


(FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBT SECURITY)

This Debt Security is one of a duly authorized series of Securities of the Company, all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of December 1, 2000, duly executed and delivered by the Company, as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank (hereinafter referred to as the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented (the “Indenture”), to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Securities. By the terms of the Indenture, the Securities are issuable in series which may vary as to amount, date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as in the Indenture provided. This Debt Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof (herein called the “Debt Securities”) unlimited in aggregate principal amount.

[Holders of the Debt Securities are entitled to the benefits of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2014 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company and parties named therein, including the right to receive additional interest under an Additional Interest Trigger (as defined therein). The Debt Securities and any related Exchange Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class, and none of such securities shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class.] 8

Beneficial interests in this [global] Debt Security may be held in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. This [global] Debt Security shall be exchangeable for Debt Securities in definitive form registered in the names of persons other than the Depository or its nominee only if ( i ) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as the Depository or if at any time such Depository is no longer registered as a clearing agency or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or other applicable statute and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days or ( ii ) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate that the [global] Debt Security shall be so exchangeable. To the extent that the [global] Debt Security is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence, it shall be exchangeable for Debt Securities registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Debt Securities represented by this [global] Debt Security that may be exchanged for Debt Securities in definitive form under the circumstances described in this paragraph will be exchangeable only for Debt Securities in definitive form issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, this [global] Debt Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of such Depository or by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository.

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, with respect to the Debt Securities shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debt Securities may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected at the time outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of such Securities; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, among other things, (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of each Debt Security then outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount

 

8   To be deleted upon issuance of Exchange Notes.

 

7


of the Securities of any series at the time outstanding, on behalf of the holders of Securities of such series, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series. Any such consent or waiver by the registered holder of this Debt Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Debt Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debt Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Debt Security at the times and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

The Debt Securities are issuable as registered Debt Securities without coupons.

The Debt Securities shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Debt Securities may be exchanged, upon presentation thereof for that purpose, at the office or agency of the Company in the City of New York, State of New York, for other Debt Securities of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount and series, and upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto.

This Debt Security will not be redeemable prior to maturity.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Debt Security is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Debt Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the City of New York, State of New York accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar duly executed by the registered holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Debt Securities of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.

Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debt Security the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar for the Debt Securities may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar for the Debt Securities) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and (subject to Section 310 of the Indenture) interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar for the Debt Securities shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Debt Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

[ If a global security : The Depository by acceptance of this global Debt Security agrees that it will not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise convey any beneficial interest in this global Debt Security unless such beneficial interest is in an amount equal to an authorized denomination for Debt Securities of this series.]

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture.

 

8


[ TO BE ATTACHED IF A GLOBAL SECURITY ]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The following increases and decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of

Decrease or

Increase

   Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of this
Global Security
   Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of this
Global Security
   Principal Amount of this
Global Security
following such decrease
or increase
   Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Securities Custodian

 

9


Exhibit E

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

140 West Street

New York, NY 10007

Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Sections 102 and 301 of the Indenture and Section 2.2(e)

of the Noteholders Agreement

Pursuant to ( i ) Sections 102 and 301 of the Indenture dated as of December 1, 2000 between Verizon Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation, as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp. (the “ Company ”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First Union National Bank), as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as amended by the first, second and third supplemental indentures, and as the same may be amended, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “ Indenture ”), ( ii ) Section 2.2(e) of the Noteholders Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2014, by and among the Company, Vodafone Group Plc (“ Vodafone ”) and Vodafone 4 Limited, an indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Vodafone (as the same may be amended and supplemented (the “ Noteholders Agreement ”), entered into in connection with the issuance of the Company’s Floating Rate Notes due 2022 (the “ 8-Year Notes ”) and Floating Rate Notes due 2025 (the “ 11-Year Notes ” and together with the 8-Year Notes, the “ Verizon Notes ”) issued pursuant to the Indenture and ( iii ) the Officers’ Certificate of the Company dated February 21, 2014 authorizing the issuance of the Verizon Notes (the “ Officers’ Certificate ”), the undersigned, [●], in [his/her] capacity as [●] of the Company, and [●], in [his/her] capacity as [●] of the Company, respectively, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that:

 

  1. We have read the applicable provisions of the Indenture, Noteholders Agreement and Officers’ Certificate, including all covenants and conditions relating to the transfer of $[●] principal amount of [●]-Year Notes represented by physical certificates registered in the name of [ Vodafone Entity ] (the “ Holder ”). We have also examined the Vodafone Notice of Transfer dated [●] [●], 20[●] attached hereto as Annex A (the “ Vodafone Notice ”) and such corporate records and other documents and satisfied ourselves as to such other matters as we have deemed necessary to enable us to express informed opinions as to the matters covered by this certificate.

 

  2. [Subject to the Trustee’s receipt of the physical certificates specified below in this Paragraph 2 (the “ Old Notes ”), duly endorsed for transfer, and based upon the examination described above in Paragraph 1, including the review of the representations in the Vodafone Notice, all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture, the Noteholders Agreement and the Officers’ Certificate to register the transfer of $[●] principal amount (the “Transferred Amount”) of [●]-Year Notes represented by the Old Notes for a beneficial interest equal in the aggregate to the Transferred Amount in one or more of the registered global certificates representing [●]-Year Notes and bearing CUSIP No. [●] (the “ Transfer ”), which certificates are registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, have been complied with, and the Company hereby requests and directs the Trustee to effect the Transfer and, upon such Transfer [(and registration and delivery pursuant to Paragraph 3, if applicable)] to cancel the Old Notes upon the Trustee’s receipt of the Old Notes as described above.

 

       Certificates: [●]-Year Notes No(s). [●]] 1

 

  3. [Subject to the Trustee’s receipt of the physical certificates specified below in this Paragraph 2 (the “ Old Notes ”), duly endorsed for transfer, and based upon the examination described above in Paragraph 1, including the review of the representations in the Vodafone Notice, all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture, the Noteholders Agreement and the Officers’ Certificate to register the transfer of $[●] principal amount of [●]-Year Notes represented by the Old Notes for $[●] aggregate principal amount of [●]-Year Notes in the form of one or more physical certificates (the “ Affiliate Notes ”), which are to be registered in the name of [ Vodafone entity ] (the “ Affiliate Holder ”), have been complied with, and the Company hereby requests and directs the Trustee to register in the

 

1   This bracketed text to be included only in the case of a transfer to a person other than a Vodafone Entity.


  name of and deliver to the Affiliate Holder the Affiliate Notes and, upon such registration and delivery, [(and registration and delivery pursuant to Paragraph 3, if applicable)] to cancel the Old Notes upon the Trustee’s receipt of the Old Notes as described above.

 

       Certificates: [●]-Year Notes No(s). [●]] 2

 

  [4. The Company hereby requests and directs you to register in the name of and deliver to the Holder $[●] aggregate principal amount of [●]-Year Notes in the form of one or more physical certificates reflecting the principal amount of the Old Notes that was not transferred as part of the transfer described above.] 3

Capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture or the Noteholders Agreement, as the case may be.

 

2   This bracketed text to be included only in the case of a transfer to a Vodafone Entity.
3   This paragraph to be deleted in the event that the Old Notes are transferred in their entirety to a person other than a Vodafone Entity by means of the Global Notes or to a Vodafone Entity by means of physical certificates.

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto set their hands this [●] day of [●], 20[●].

 

 

Name:
Title:

 

Name:
Title:

 

3


Annex A

[ Letterhead of Holder ]

[●] [●], 20[●]

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

140 West Street

New York, NY 10007

 

  Re: Floating Rate Notes due 20[●] of Verizon Communications Inc.—Notice of Transfer

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Noteholders Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2014, by and among Verizon Communications Inc. (“ Verizon ”), Vodafone Group Plc (“ Vodafone ”) and Vodafone 4 Limited, an indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Vodafone (as the same may be amended and supplemented, the “ Noteholders Agreement ”), entered into in connection with the issuance and sale of Verizon’s Floating Rate Notes due 2022 (the “ 8-Year Notes ”) and Floating Rate Notes due 2025 (the “ 11-Year Notes ” and together with the 8-Year Notes, the “ Verizon Notes ”) issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2000, between Verizon, as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly known as First Union National Bank), as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as amended by the first, second and third supplemental indentures, and as the same may be amended, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. This notice is delivered to you in accordance with Section 2.2(d) of the Noteholders Agreement.

You are hereby notified that [ Vodafone Entity ] (“ Holder ”) intends to transfer $[●] principal amount of [●]-Year Notes registered in Holder’s name to a Person (the “ Transferee ” and such transfer, the “ Transfer ”), who is, as of the date hereof:

 

  ¨ not a Vodafone Entity.

 

  ¨ a Vodafone Entity.

After the Transfer, $[●] principal amount of the [●]-Year Notes will be held by one or more Vodafone Entities. The Holder hereby certifies that Holder has fully complied with the conditions and covenants of the Noteholders Agreement applicable to such Transfer.

We hereby request that you transmit the officers’ certificate required pursuant to Section 2.2(e) of the Noteholders Agreement to the Trustee on [●] [●], 20[●] with instructions to register the transfer of $[●] principal amount (the “ Transferred Amount ”) of [●]-Year Notes represented by Note No. [●], currently held in physical form (the “ Physical Note ”):

(i) if the Transferee is not a Vodafone Entity, for a beneficial interest in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Transferred Amount in one or more of the registered global certificates representing the [●]-Year Notes and bearing CUSIP No. [●], which certificates are registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of The Depository Trust Company; or

(ii) if the Transferee is a Vodafone Entity, for a new physical certificate held in the name of [●], the Transferee and representing an aggregate principal amount of [●]-Year Notes equal to the Transferred Amount; and cancel the existing Physical Note[, and issue a new physical certificate for [●]-Year Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $[●] to Holder, reflecting the principal amount of the Physical Note that was not transferred]. 21

 

21   Bracketed text to be included if less than the entire aggregate principal amount of the Physical Note is transferred.


[In connection with the delivery of this Notice of Transfer and the transfer to [ Vodafone entity ], a Vodafone Entity, as proposed above, the Transferee has executed a Joinder Agreement which is attached hereto.] 22

Capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Noteholders Agreement.

 

Very truly yours,

[ Vodafone entity ]

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

[JOINDER AGREEMENT

Reference is made to the ( i ) Noteholders Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2014 (as the same may be amended and supplemented, the “ Noteholders Agreement ”), among Verizon Communications Inc. (the “ Company ”), Vodafone Group Plc, an English public limited company, Vodafone 4 Limited, and certain holders of the ( a ) Floating Rate Notes due 2022 and ( b ) Floating Rate Notes due 2025 of the Company who become a party thereto and ( ii ) the Registration Rights Agreement as defined therein, the undersigned by execution hereof, hereby agrees to become a party to, and to be subject to the rights and obligations of a Noteholder (as such term is defined in the Noteholders Agreement) under, the Noteholders Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement upon consummation of the Transfer described in the Notice of Transfer accompanying this Joinder Agreement.

 

[ Vodafone Affiliate ]

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Date:

 

 

Address: ] 23

Accepted and Agreed:

 

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

22   Include only in the event of a transfer to a Vodafone Entity.
23   Joinder Agreement to be included only in the event of a transfer to a Vodafone Entity.

 

2

Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of William L. Horton, Jr.]

June 29, 2016

 

Re: Verizon Communications Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act of 1933

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) which Verizon Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pertaining to the offer by the Company to exchange (i) up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding Floating Rate Notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its Floating Rate Notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act (the “Exchange Notes due 2022”) and (ii) up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding Floating Rate Notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its Floating Rate Notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act (the “Exchange Notes due 2025” and, together with the Exchange Notes due 2022, the “Exchange Notes”), each as described in the Registration Statement and the accompanying Prospectus.

I, or attorneys under my direction, have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, and such other documents and records as I have deemed appropriate for the purpose of giving this opinion.

Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

2. The Exchange Notes, upon the issuance and sale thereof in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and the indenture referenced in the Prospectus, will be legally issued and will be binding obligations of the Company, except to the extent that enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, or similar laws of general applicability affecting the enforceability of creditor’s rights.

I express no opinion as to matters governed by any laws other than the laws of the State of New York, the Federal laws of the United States of America and the corporate laws of the State of Delaware.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Registration Statement and to being named under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ William L. Horton, Jr.

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-4) and related Prospectus of Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) for the registration of $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate notes due 2022, $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate notes due 2025 and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated February 23, 2016, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Verizon and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Verizon, incorporated by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York

June 29, 2016

Exhibit 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Shellye L. Archambeau

Shellye L. Archambeau


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for her and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Mark T. Bertolini

Mark T. Bertolini


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Richard L. Carrión

Richard L. Carrión


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Melanie L. Healey

Melanie L. Healey


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ M. Frances Keeth

M. Frances Keeth


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Karl-Ludwig Kley

Karl-Ludwig Kley


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Lowell C. McAdam

Lowell C. McAdam


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Donald T. Nicolaisen

Donald T. Nicolaisen


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Clarence Otis, Jr.

Clarence Otis, Jr.


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Rodney E. Slater

Rodney E. Slater


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Kathryn A. Tesija

Kathryn A. Tesija


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Gregory D. Wasson

Gregory D. Wasson


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Gregory G. Weaver

Gregory G. Weaver


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Scott Krohn and Anthony T. Skiadas and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Francis J. Shammo

Francis J. Shammo


POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), one or more registration statements on Form S-4 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Company’s offer to exchange up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2022 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act and up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding floating rate notes due 2025 for a like principal amount of its floating rate notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Lowell C. McAdam, Francis J. Shammo and Scott Krohn and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 2 nd day of June, 2016.

 

/s/ Anthony T. Skiadas

Anthony T. Skiadas

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER

THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

¨ Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

31-0841368

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

 

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota

  55402
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

George J. Rayzis

U.S. Bank National Association

50 South 16 th Street, Suite 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19102

(215) 761-9317

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Verizon Communications Inc.

(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

 

 

 

Delaware   23-2259884

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1095 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York

  10036
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

 

Floating Rate Notes due 2022

Floating Rate Notes due 2025

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 

 

 


FORM T-1

 

Item 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

 

  a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

 

  b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

 

Items 3-15 Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

 

Item 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

 

  1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee.*

 

  2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.

 

  3. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 3.

 

  4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.**

 

  5. A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

 

  6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

 

  7. Report of Condition of the Trustee as of March 31, 2016 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.

* Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to Amendment No. 2 to registration statement on S-4, Registration Number 333-128217 filed on November 15, 2005.

** Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to registration statement on form S-3ASR, Registration Number 333-199863 filed on November 5, 2014.

 

2


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania on the 29th of June, 2016.

By:   /s/ George J. Rayzis
 

George J. Rayzis

Vice President

 

3


Exhibit 2

 

 

LOGO

 

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

 

  Washington, DC 20219

CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE

I, Thomas J. Curry, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:

1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.

2. “U.S. Bank National Association,” Cincinnati, Ohio (Charter No. 24), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking on the date of this certificate.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today,

December 4, 2015, I have hereunto

subscribed my name and caused my seal

of office to be affixed to these presents at

the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in

the City of Washington, District of

Columbia.

 

LOGO  

LOGO

Comptroller of the Currency

 

4


Exhibit 3

 

 

LOGO

 

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

 

  Washington, DC 20219

CERTIFICATION OF FIDUCIARY POWERS

I, Thomas J. Curry, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:

1. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.

2. “U.S. Bank National Association,” Cincinnati, Ohio (Charter No. 24), was granted, under the hand and seal of the Comptroller, the right to act in all fiduciary capacities authorized under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved September 28, 1962, 76 Stat. 668, 12 USC 92a, and that the authority so granted remains in full force and effect on the date of this certificate.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today,

December 4, 2015, I have hereunto

subscribed my name and caused my seal of

office to be affixed to these presents at the

U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City

of Washington, District of Columbia.

 

LOGO  

LOGO

Comptroller of the Currency

 

5


Exhibit 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Dated: June 29, 2016

By:   /s/ George J. Rayzis
 

George J. Rayzis

Vice President

 

6


Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

As of 03/31/2016

($000’s)

 

     03/31/2016  

Assets

  

Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions

   $ 10,947,868   

Securities

     106,681,861   

Federal Funds

     36,987   

Loans & Lease Financing Receivables

     263,697,563   

Fixed Assets

     5,196,349   

Intangible Assets

     12,814,361   

Other Assets

     23,828,774   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 423,203,763   

Liabilities

  

Deposits

   $ 315,187,684   

Fed Funds

     1,383,186   

Treasury Demand Notes

     0   

Trading Liabilities

     1,570,792   

Other Borrowed Money

     44,382,132   

Acceptances

     0   

Subordinated Notes and Debentures

     3,800,000   

Other Liabilities

     12,270,761   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 378,594,555   

Equity

  

Common and Preferred Stock

     18,200   

Surplus

     14,266,915   

Undivided Profits

     29,514,964   

Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

     809,129   
  

 

 

 

Total Equity Capital

   $ 44,609,208   

Total Liabilities and Equity Capital

   $ 423,203,763   

 

7

Exhibit 99.1

THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to the action to be taken you should immediately consult your broker, bank manager, lawyer, accountant, investment adviser or other professional adviser.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

Relating to the

Verizon Communications Inc.

Offer to Exchange

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2022

for

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2022

that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)

Offer to Exchange

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2025

for

$2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2025

that have been registered under the Securities Act

pursuant to the Prospectus, dated                     , 2016

The exchange offers (as defined below) will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2016, unless extended by the Company (as defined below) with respect to either or both series of original notes (as defined below) (such date and time, as it may be extended, the “expiration date”). Tendered original notes (as defined below) may be withdrawn at any time before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

Delivery To: U.S. Bank National Association, Exchange Agent

By Mail :

U.S. Bank National Association

Attn: Specialized Finance

60 Livingston Ave – EP-MN-WS2N

St. Paul, MN 55107-2292

By Hand or Overnight Courier:

U.S. Bank National Association

Attn: Specialized Finance

111 Fillmore Ave E

St. Paul, MN 55107-1402

For information or confirmation by email or telephone:

651-466-7150

cts.specfinance@usbank.com


DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

The undersigned acknowledges that he or she has received and reviewed the prospectus, dated                     , 2016 (the “Prospectus”), of Verizon Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and this letter of transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which together constitute the Company’s offers to exchange (the “exchange offers”): (i) up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our outstanding Floating Rate Notes due 2022 (CUSIP No. U9221A AB4) (the “Original Notes due 2022”) for a like principal amount of our Floating Rate Notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act (CUSIP No. 92343V DA9) (the “Exchange Notes due 2022”) and (ii) up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our outstanding Floating Rate Notes due 2025 (CUSIP No. U9221A AC2) (the “Original Notes due 2025” and, together with the Original Notes due 2022, the “original notes”) for a like principal amount of our Floating Rate Notes due 2025 that have been registered under the Securities Act (CUSIP No. 92343V DB7) (the “Exchange Notes due 2025” and, together with the Exchange Notes due 2022, the “exchange notes”).

For each original note accepted for exchange, the holder of such original note will receive an exchange note of the corresponding series having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered original note. The Exchange Notes due 2022 will bear interest from                     , 2016, which will be the most recent date to which interest on the Original Notes due 2022 will have been paid prior to the issuance of the Exchange Notes due 2022. The Exchange Notes due 2025 will bear interest from                     , 2016, which will be the most recent date to which interest on the Original Notes due 2025 will have been paid prior to the issuance of the Exchange Notes due 2025. Original notes accepted for exchange will cease to accrue interest from and after the date of completion of the relevant exchange offer. Holders of original notes whose original notes are accepted for exchange will not receive any payment for accrued interest on the original notes otherwise payable on any interest payment date, the record date for which occurs on or after completion of the relevant exchange offer and will be deemed to have waived their rights to receive the accrued interest on the original notes.

Original notes tendered prior to the expiration date may be withdrawn at any time before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a holder of original notes either if physical certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if a tender of original notes is to be made by book-entry transfer to the account maintained by the Exchange Agent (as defined above) at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in the sections of the Prospectus entitled “The Exchange Offers—Procedures for Tendering,” “—Book-Entry Transfer,” “—Exchanging Physical Certificated Notes” and “—Exchanging Book-Entry Notes” and an agent’s message (as defined below) is not delivered. Tenders by book-entry transfer also may be made by delivering an agent’s message in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal. The term “agent’s message” means a computer-generated message, transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the Exchange Agent and forming a part of a book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the tendering participant that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by, and makes the representations and warranties contained in, this Letter of Transmittal and that the Company may enforce this Letter of Transmittal against such participant.

Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the Exchange Agent.

The undersigned has completed the appropriate boxes below and signed this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to either or both of the exchange offers.

List below the original notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If the space provided below is inadequate, the relevant series, certificate numbers and principal amount of original notes should be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed hereto.

 

2


DESCRIPTION OF ORIGINAL NOTES

 

           
    1   2   3   4   5

Name(s) and

Address(es) of

Holder(s)

(Please fill in, if

blank)

 

    Certificate    

Numbers*

 

Aggregate

Principal
Amount of

  Original Notes  

due 2022

 

Principal
Amount of
    Original Notes    
due 2022

Tendered**

  Aggregate
Principal
Amount of
    Original Notes    
due 2025
  Principal
Amount of
    Original Notes    
due 2025
Tendered***
                       
                           
                       
                           
                           

*      Need not be completed if original notes are being tendered by book-entry transfer.

**    Unless otherwise indicated in this column, a holder will be deemed to have tendered ALL of the Original Notes due 2022 represented by the Original Notes due 2022 indicated in column 2. See Instruction 2. Original Notes due 2022 tendered hereby must be in denominations of principal amount of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. See Instruction 1.

***  Unless otherwise indicated in this column, a holder will be deemed to have tendered ALL of the Original Notes due 2025 represented by the Original Notes due 2025 indicated in column 4. See Instruction 2. Original Notes due 2025 tendered hereby must be in denominations of principal amount of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. See Instruction 1.

 

¨ CHECK HERE IF TENDERED ORIGINAL NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT WITH THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

 

Name of Tendering Institution:  

 

 

Account Number:    

 

  Transaction Code Number:    

 

By crediting the original notes to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) and by complying with applicable ATOP procedures with respect to the exchange offers, including, if applicable, transmitting to the Exchange Agent an agent’s message in which the holder of the original notes acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms of, and makes the representations and warranties contained in, this Letter of Transmittal, the participant in DTC confirms on behalf of itself and the beneficial owner(s) of such original notes all provisions of this Letter of Transmittal (including all representations and warranties) applicable to it and such beneficial owner(s) as fully as if it had completed the information required herein and executed and transmitted this Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent.

 

Name:

 

 

Address:

 

 

The undersigned represents that (i) any original notes to be exchanged were acquired by it in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any exchange notes received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (iii) it has no arrangements or understanding with any person, including the Company, to participate in the distribution of the original notes or the exchange notes within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iv) it is not an affiliate of the Company, and (v) it is not a broker-dealer electing to exchange original notes, acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, for the applicable exchange notes, and that it is not acting on behalf of any person who could not truthfully make the foregoing representations and warranties.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

 

3


Ladies and Gentlemen:

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the applicable exchange offer, the undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the aggregate principal amount of original notes of the relevant series indicated above. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of such original notes tendered hereby, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company all right, title and interest in and to such original notes as are being tendered hereby.

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as the undersigned’s true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact with respect to such tendered original notes, with full power of substitution, among other things, to cause the original notes to be assigned, transferred and exchanged. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer such original notes, and to acquire exchange notes of the relevant series issuable upon the exchange of such tendered original notes, and that, when such original notes are accepted for exchange, the Company will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claim when the same are accepted by the Company. The undersigned hereby further represents that (i) any original notes to be exchanged were acquired by it in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any exchange notes received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (iii) it has no arrangements or understanding with any person, including the Company, to participate in the distribution of the original notes or the exchange notes within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iv) it is not an affiliate of the Company, and (v) it is not a broker-dealer electing to exchange original notes, acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, for the applicable exchange notes, and that it is not acting on behalf of any person who could not truthfully make the foregoing representations and warranties.

Any broker-dealer that holds original notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities will not be entitled to tender its original notes in the exchange offers, and the Prospectus may not be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for original notes where such original notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.

The undersigned acknowledges that these exchange offers are being made upon the belief that, based on existing interpretations of the Securities Act by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) staff set forth in several no-action letters to third parties, the exchange notes issued under the exchange offers in exchange for the original notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof without further compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act. However, the SEC has not considered the exchange offers in the context of a no-action letter and there can be no assurance that the SEC staff would make a similar determination with respect to either or both of the exchange offers as in other circumstances. The undersigned represents that it is not participating, does not intend to participate, and has no arrangement or understanding with anyone to participate, in a distribution of exchange notes of any series. If any holder of the original notes is an “affiliate” of the Company (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), did not acquire the original notes, or will not acquire the exchange notes, in the ordinary course of its business or intends to participate in the exchange offers for the purpose of distributing the exchange notes, such holder (i) will not be able to rely on the interpretations of the SEC staff set forth in the above-mentioned no-action letters, (ii) will not be entitled to tender its original notes of any series in the exchange offers and (iii) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or transfer of original notes of any series unless such sale or transfer is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements.

The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the original notes tendered hereby. All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter of Transmittal and every obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in

 

4


bankruptcy and legal representatives of the undersigned and shall not be affected by, and shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. This tender may be withdrawn only in accordance with the procedures set forth in “The Exchange Offers—Withdrawal Rights” section of the Prospectus.

Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” below, please deliver the relevant exchange notes (and, if applicable, substitute physical certificates representing original notes for any original notes not exchanged) in the name of the undersigned, or in the case of a book-entry delivery of original notes, please credit the account indicated above maintained at DTC. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” below, please send the relevant exchange notes (and, if applicable, substitute physical certificates representing original notes for any original notes not exchanged) to the undersigned at the address shown above in the box entitled “Description of Original Notes.”

 

5


THE UNDERSIGNED, BY COMPLETING THE BOX ENTITLED “DESCRIPTION OF ORIGINAL NOTES” ABOVE AND SIGNING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE TENDERED THE ORIGINAL NOTES AS SET FORTH IN SUCH BOX ABOVE.

 

SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 3 and 4)

 

To be completed ONLY if physical certificates for original notes not exchanged and/or exchange notes are to be issued in the name of and sent to someone other than the person(s) whose signature (s) appear(s) on this Letter of Transmittal above, or if original notes delivered by book-entry transfer that are not accepted for exchange are to be returned by credit to an account maintained at DTC other than the account indicated above.

 

Issue exchange notes and/or original notes to:

 

Name(s):         
  (Please Type or Print)
 
  (Please Type or Print)
Address:    
 
  (Zip Code)
 

(Employer Identification or Social Security Number)

 

  ¨ Credit unexchanged original notes delivered by book-entry transfer to the DTC account set forth below.  

 

 

(DTC Account Number, if applicable)

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 3 and 4)

 

To be completed ONLY if physical certificates for original notes not exchanged and/or exchange notes are to be sent to someone other than the person(s) whose signature(s) appear(s) on this Letter of Transmittal above or to such person(s) at an address other than the address shown in the box entitled “Description of Original Notes” in this Letter of Transmittal above.

Mail exchange notes and/or original notes to:

 

Name(s):         
  (Please Type or Print)
 
  (Please Type or Print)
Address:    
 
  (Zip Code)
 

(Employer Identification or Social Security Number)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR AN AGENT’S MESSAGE IN LIEU THEREOF (TOGETHER WITH THE PHYSICAL CERTIFICATES FOR ORIGINAL NOTES OR A BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING ANY BOX ABOVE.

 

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PLEASE SIGN HERE

(TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS)

 

Dated:   

 

  , 2016

 

 

 

  ,  

 

  , 2016  

 

 

  ,  

 

  , 2016  
  (Signature(s) of Owner)     (Date)    
Area Code and Telephone Number:    
If a holder is tendering any original notes, this Letter of Transmittal must be signed by the registered holder(s) as the name(s) appear(s) on the physical certificate(s) for the original notes or on the security position listing of DTC or by any person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title. See Instruction 3.
Name(s):     
(Please Type or Print)
Capacity:     
Address:     
(Including Zip Code)

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

(If required by Instruction 3)

Signature(s) Guaranteed

by an Eligible Institution: 

   
(Authorized Signature)
 

(Title)

 

(Name and Firm)
Dated:   

 

  , 2016

 


 

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INSTRUCTIONS

Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of each Exchange Offer

 

1. Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal and Original Notes.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by holders of original notes either if physical certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer set forth in “The Exchange Offers—Book-Entry Transfer” section of the Prospectus and an agent’s message is not delivered. Tenders by book-entry transfer may also be made by delivering an agent’s message in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal. The term “agent’s message” means a computer-generated message, transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the Exchange Agent and forming a part of a book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the tendering participant that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by, and makes the representations and warranties contained in, this Letter of Transmittal and that the Company may enforce this Letter of Transmittal against such participant. Physical certificates for all physically tendered original notes in physical certificated form, or book-entry confirmation, as the case may be, as well as a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or agent’s message in lieu thereof) and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth herein (or its account at DTC with respect to an agent’s message) at or prior to the expiration date. Original notes of each series tendered hereby must be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, the original notes and all other required documents is at the election and risk of the tendering holders, and delivery will be deemed made only when actually received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent. If original notes are sent by mail, it is suggested that the mailing be registered mail, properly insured, with return receipt requested, made sufficiently in advance of the expiration date to permit delivery to the Exchange Agent at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. The Company reserves the right to reject any particular original note not properly tendered, or any acceptance that might, in the Company’s judgment, be unlawful. The Company also reserves the right to waive any defects or irregularities with respect to the form or procedures applicable to the tender of any particular original note at or prior to the expiration date. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of original notes must be cured within a reasonable period of time prior to the expiration date.

See “The Exchange Offers” section of the Prospectus.

 

2. Partial Tenders (not applicable to holders that tender by book-entry transfer).

If less than all of the original notes of any series evidenced by a submitted physical certificate are to be tendered, the tendering holder(s) should fill in the principal amount of original notes of the relevant series to be tendered in the boxes above entitled “Description of Original Notes—Principal Amount of Original Notes due 2022 Tendered” and/or “Description of Original Notes—Principal Amount of Original Notes due 2025 Tendered,” as applicable. A reissued physical certificate representing the balance of any nontendered original notes of the applicable series will be sent to such tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal, promptly after the expiration date. All of the original notes of each series delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

 

3. Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal; Bond Powers and Endorsements; Guarantee of Signatures.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the original notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond exactly with the name as written on the face of the physical certificates or as written on DTC’s security position listing as the holder of such original notes, as applicable, without any change whatsoever.

If any tendered original notes are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all of such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

 

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If any tendered original notes are registered in different names on several physical certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate copies of this Letter of Transmittal as there are different registrations of physical certificates.

When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder or holders of the original notes specified herein and tendered hereby, no endorsements of physical certificates or separate bond powers are required. If, however, the exchange notes are to be issued, or any untendered original notes are to be reissued, to a person other than the registered holder, then endorsements of any physical certificates transmitted hereby or separate bond powers are required. Signatures on such physical certificate(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined below).

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder or holders of any physical certificate(s) specified herein, such physical certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers, in either case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holder or holders appear(s) on the physical certificate(s) and signatures on such physical certificate(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

If this Letter of Transmittal or any physical certificates or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by the Company, proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must be submitted.

Endorsements on physical certificates for original notes or signatures on bond powers required by this Instruction 3 must be guaranteed by a firm that is a financial institution (including most banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (each an “Eligible Institution”).

Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal need not be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution, provided the original notes are tendered: (i) by a registered holder of original notes (which term, for purposes of the exchange offers, includes any participant in the DTC system whose name appears on a security position listing as the holder of such original notes) who has not completed the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on this Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution.

 

4. Special Issuance and Delivery Instructions.

Tendering holders of original notes should indicate in the applicable box(es) the name and address to which exchange notes issued pursuant to the exchange offers and/or substitute physical certificates evidencing original notes not exchanged are to be issued or sent, if different from the name or address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the employer identification or social security number of the person named must also be indicated. Holders tendering original notes by book-entry transfer may request that original notes not exchanged be credited to such account maintained at DTC as such holder may designate hereon. If no such instructions are given, such original notes not exchanged will be returned to the name and address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal.

 

5. Transfer Taxes.

Except as set forth in this Instruction 5, the Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the transfer of original notes to it or its order pursuant to the exchange offers. If, however, exchange notes and/or substitute original notes not exchanged are to be delivered to, or are to be registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of the original notes tendered hereby, or if tendered original notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of Transmittal or if a transfer tax is

 

9


imposed for any reason other than the transfer of original notes to the Company or its order pursuant to the exchange offers, the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted herewith, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.

Except as provided in this Instruction 5, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the original notes specified in this Letter of Transmittal.

 

6. Waiver of Conditions.

Because the Company may, subject to applicable law, amend or modify either or both of the exchange offers, and such amendment or modification may be deemed to be a waiver of a condition, it has the right to waive satisfaction of conditions enumerated in the Prospectus. Accordingly, the Company has, subject to applicable law, effectively retained the ability to waive the conditions to consummation of either or both of the exchange offers.

 

7. No Conditional Tenders.

No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will be accepted. All tendering holders of original notes, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal or an agent’s message in lieu thereof, shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of their original notes for exchange.

Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person is obligated to give notice of any defect or irregularity with respect to any tender of original notes nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.

 

8. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Original Notes.

Any holder whose original notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange Agent at the address indicated above for further instructions.

 

9. Withdrawal Rights.

Tenders of original notes may be withdrawn at any time before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

For a withdrawal of a tender of original notes to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth above before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. Any such notice of withdrawal must (i) specify the name of the person having tendered the original notes to be withdrawn (the “Depositor”), (ii) identify the original notes to be withdrawn (including the relevant series, certificate number or numbers and the principal amount of such original notes), (iii) contain a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such original notes exchanged, (iv) be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which such original notes were tendered (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of transfer to have the Trustee register the transfer of such original notes in the name of the person withdrawing the tender, together with satisfactory evidence of payment of applicable transfer taxes or exemption therefrom, and (v) specify the name in which such original notes are registered, if different from that of the Depositor. If original notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer set forth in “The Exchange Offers—Book-Entry Transfer” section of the Prospectus, any notice of withdrawal must specify the number of the account at DTC from which the original notes were tendered and specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn original notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of DTC. All questions as to

 

10


the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such notices will be determined by the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties. Any original notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the applicable exchange offer, and no exchange notes will be issued with respect thereto unless the original notes so withdrawn are validly re-tendered. Any original notes that have been tendered for exchange but which are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder (or, in the case of original notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures set forth in “The Exchange Offers—Book-Entry Transfer” section of the Prospectus, such original notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the original notes) promptly after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the applicable exchange offer. Properly withdrawn original notes may be re-tendered by following the procedures described above at any time at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

 

10. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies.

Questions relating to the procedure for tendering original notes, as well as requests for additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal and requests for other related documents, may be directed to the Exchange Agent, at the address and telephone number set forth herein.

 

11