10-Q 1 d546205d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

  (Mark one)    
  x   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)  
    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  
    For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013  
   

 

OR

 

 
  ¨   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)  
    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  
    For the transition period from              to               

Commission file number: 1-8606

 

Verizon Communications Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   23-2259884

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

140 West Street

New York, New York

  10007
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 395-1000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    x  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    x  Yes    ¨  No

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

 

x

  

Accelerated filer

 

¨

Non-accelerated filer

 

¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company

 

¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    ¨  Yes    x  No

At June 28, 2013, 2,861,646,254 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding, after deducting 105,963,865 shares held in treasury.

 

 

 


Table of Contents
Table of Contents

 

         Page  
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1.   Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

Three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

     2   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

     3   
 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012

     4   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

     5   
 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     6   
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      18   
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      38   
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures      38   
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION   
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings      38   
Item 1A.   Risk Factors      38   
Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      38   
Item 6.   Exhibits      39   
Signature      40   
Certifications   


Table of Contents
Part I - Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts) (unaudited)   2013     2012     2013     2012  

Operating Revenues

  $ 29,786     $ 28,552     $ 59,206     $ 56,794  

Operating Expenses

       

Cost of services and sales (exclusive of items shown below)

    11,033       10,896       21,965       22,215  

Selling, general and administrative expense

    8,047       7,877       16,195       15,577  

Depreciation and amortization expense

    4,151       4,128       8,269       8,156  
 

 

 

 

Total Operating Expenses

    23,231       22,901       46,429       45,948  

Operating Income

    6,555       5,651       12,777       10,846  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses

    120       72       115       175  

Other income, net

    25       34       64       53  

Interest expense

    (514     (679     (1,051     (1,364
 

 

 

 

Income Before Provision For Income Taxes

    6,186       5,078       11,905       9,710  

Provision for income taxes

    (988     (793     (1,852     (1,519
 

 

 

 

Net Income

  $ 5,198     $ 4,285     $ 10,053     $ 8,191  
 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

  $ 2,952     $ 2,460     $ 5,855     $ 4,680  

Net income attributable to Verizon

    2,246       1,825       4,198       3,511  
 

 

 

 

Net Income

  $ 5,198     $ 4,285     $ 10,053     $ 8,191  
 

 

 

 

Basic Earnings Per Common Share

       

Net income attributable to Verizon

  $ .78     $ .64     $ 1.46     $ 1.23  

Weighted-average shares outstanding (in millions)

    2,865       2,849       2,866       2,846  

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

       

Net income attributable to Verizon

  $ .78      $ .64     $ 1.46     $ 1.23  

Weighted-average shares outstanding (in millions)

    2,872       2,858       2,873       2,854  

Dividends declared per common share

  $ 0.515     $ 0.500     $ 1.030     $ 1.000  

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
(dollars in millions) (unaudited)   2013     2012     2013     2012  

Net Income

  $ 5,198     $ 4,285     $ 10,053     $ 8,191  

Other comprehensive income, net of taxes

       

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    12       (195     (136     (91

Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges

    (12     (41     (18     (33

Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities

    (26     (10     (15     13  

Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans

    (36     (5     (72     (11
 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss attributable to Verizon

    (62     (251     (241     (122

Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

    (3     (8     (15     (5
 

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive Income

  $ 5,133     $ 4,026     $ 9,797     $ 8,064  
 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

  $ 2,949     $ 2,452     $ 5,840     $ 4,675  

Comprehensive income attributable to Verizon

    2,184       1,574       3,957       3,389  
 

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive Income

  $ 5,133     $ 4,026     $ 9,797     $ 8,064  
 

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts) (unaudited)   

At June 30,

2013

   

At December 31,

2012

 

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,788     $ 3,093  

Short-term investments

     618       470  

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $661 and $641

     12,216       12,576  

Inventories

     1,040       1,075  

Prepaid expenses and other

     6,295       4,021  
  

 

 

 

Total current assets

     21,957       21,235  
  

 

 

 

Plant, property and equipment

     215,224       209,575  

Less accumulated depreciation

     126,892       120,933  
  

 

 

 
     88,332       88,642  
  

 

 

 

Investments in unconsolidated businesses

     3,319       3,401  

Wireless licenses

     75,825       77,744  

Goodwill

     24,336       24,139  

Other intangible assets, net

     5,776       5,933  

Other assets

     3,801       4,128  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 223,346     $ 225,222  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Debt maturing within one year

   $ 7,961     $ 4,369  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     14,671       16,182  

Other

     6,559       6,405  
  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     29,191       26,956  
  

 

 

 

Long-term debt

     41,791       47,618  

Employee benefit obligations

     33,835       34,346  

Deferred income taxes

     25,696       24,677  

Other liabilities

     5,677       6,092  

Equity

    

Series preferred stock ($.10 par value; none issued)

            

Common stock ($.10 par value; 2,967,610,119 shares
issued in both periods)

     297       297  

Contributed capital

     37,895       37,990  

Accumulated deficit

     (2,483     (3,734

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1,994       2,235  

Common stock in treasury, at cost

     (3,974     (4,071

Deferred compensation – employee stock ownership plans and other

     332       440  

Noncontrolling interests

     53,095       52,376  
  

 

 

 

Total equity

     87,156       85,533  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 223,346     $ 225,222  
  

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
(dollars in millions) (unaudited)    2013     2012  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

    

Net Income

   $ 10,053     $ 8,191  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization expense

     8,269       8,156  

Employee retirement benefits

     354       751  

Deferred income taxes

     1,812       1,237  

Provision for uncollectible accounts

     507       521  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses, net of dividends received

     (95     (149

Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of
effects from acquisition/disposition of businesses

     (1,660     (1,136

Other, net

     (2,092     (2,300
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     17,148       15,271  
  

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

    

Capital expenditures (including capitalized software)

     (7,616     (7,430

Acquisitions of investments and businesses, net of cash acquired

     (76     (203

Acquisitions of wireless licenses, net

     (264     (33

Net change in short-term investments

     (21     21  

Other, net

     142       61  
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (7,835     (7,584
  

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

    

Proceeds from long-term borrowings

     499        

Repayments of long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations

     (2,330     (1,891

Decrease in short-term obligations, excluding current maturities

     (432     (887

Dividends paid

     (2,946     (2,587

Proceeds from sale of common stock

     74       210  

Purchase of common stock for treasury

     (153      

Special distribution to noncontrolling interest

     (3,150     (4,500

Other, net

     (2,180     (1,393
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (10,618     (11,048
  

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (1,305     (3,361

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     3,093       13,362  
  

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 1,788     $ 10,001  
  

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

(Unaudited)

 

1.

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared based upon Securities and Exchange Commission rules that permit reduced disclosure for interim periods. For a more complete discussion of significant accounting policies and certain other information, you should refer to the financial statements included in the Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon or the Company) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. These financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations and financial condition for the interim periods shown including normal recurring accruals and other items. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.

We have reclassified prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

During the first quarter of 2013, we adopted the accounting standard update regarding testing of intangible assets for impairment. This standard update allows companies the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. An entity is not required to calculate the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset and perform the quantitative impairment test unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not the asset is impaired. The adoption of this standard update did not have an impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

During the first quarter of 2013, we adopted the accounting standard update regarding reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. This standard update requires companies to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in our condensed consolidated statements of income if the amount being reclassified is required to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference to other required disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. See Note 7 (“Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income”) for additional details.

Leasing Arrangements

At each reporting period, we monitor the credit quality of the various lessees in our portfolios. Regarding the leveraged lease portfolio, external credit reports are used where available and where not available we use internally developed indicators. These indicators or internal credit risk grades factor historic loss experience, the value of the underlying collateral, delinquency trends, and industry and general economic conditions. The credit quality of our lessees primarily varies from AAA to CCC+. For each reporting period the leveraged leases within the portfolio are reviewed for indicators of impairment where it is probable the rent due according to the contractual terms of the lease will not be collected. All significant accounts, individually or in the aggregate, are current and none are classified as impaired.

Earnings Per Common Share

There were a total of approximately 7 million outstanding dilutive securities, primarily consisting of restricted stock units, included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. There were a total of approximately 9 million and 8 million outstanding dilutive securities, primarily consisting of restricted stock units, included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. There were no outstanding options to purchase shares that would have been anti-dilutive for the three months ended June 30, 2013. Outstanding options to purchase shares that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the period were not significant for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.

 

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2.

Wireless Licenses, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Wireless Licenses

Changes in the carrying amount of Wireless licenses are as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)        

Balance at January 1, 2013

   $     77,744  

Acquisitions

     43  

Capitalized interest on wireless licenses

     275  

Reclassifications, adjustments and other

     (2,237
  

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2013

   $     75,825  
  

 

 

 

Reclassifications, adjustments and other includes $2.3 billion of Wireless licenses that are classified as held for sale and included in Prepaid expenses and other on our condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2013 as well as the exchange of wireless licenses completed during the first quarter of 2013. See below for additional details.

During the first quarter of 2013, we completed license exchange transactions with T-Mobile USA Inc. (T-Mobile) and Cricket License Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless, to exchange certain Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) licenses. These non-cash exchanges include a number of intra-market swaps that will enable Verizon Wireless to make more efficient use of the AWS band. As a result of these exchanges, we received an aggregate $0.5 billion of AWS licenses at fair value and recorded an immaterial gain.

On April 18, 2012, we announced plans to initiate an open sale process for all of our 700 MHz lower A and B block spectrum licenses, subject to the receipt of acceptable bids. We acquired these licenses as part of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Auction 73 in 2008. On January 25, 2013, Verizon Wireless agreed to sell 39 lower 700 MHz B block spectrum licenses to AT&T Inc. (AT&T) in exchange for a payment of $1.9 billion and the transfer by AT&T to Verizon Wireless of AWS (10 MHz) licenses in certain markets in the western United States. Verizon Wireless also agreed to sell certain lower 700 MHz B block spectrum licenses to an investment firm for a payment of $0.2 billion. These transactions are subject to approval by the FCC. As a result of these agreements, $2.3 billion of Wireless licenses are classified as held for sale and included in Prepaid expenses and other on our condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2013. When finalized, the sales will complete the open sale process. We expect to deploy the remaining licenses as necessary to meet our own spectrum needs.

At June 30, 2013, approximately $7.7 billion of Wireless licenses were under development for commercial service for which we were capitalizing interest costs.

Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amount of Goodwill are as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)    Wireless      Wireline      Total  

Balance at January 1, 2013

   $ 18,172      $ 5,967      $ 24,139  

Acquisitions

     203               203  

Reclassifications, adjustments and other

            (6      (6
  

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2013

   $     18,375      $     5,961      $     24,336  
  

 

 

 

The increase in Goodwill at June 30, 2013 was recorded by Verizon Wireless upon obtaining control of previously unconsolidated wireless partnerships, which were previously accounted for under the equity method and are now consolidated. This resulted in an immaterial gain recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

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Other Intangible Assets

The following table displays the composition of Other intangible assets, net:

 

     At June 30, 2013     At December 31, 2012  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
(dollars in millions)    Gross
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Amount
    Gross
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Amount
 

 

   

 

 

 

Customer lists (6 to 13 years)

   $ 3,595      $ (2,504   $ 1,091     $ 3,556      $ (2,338   $ 1,218  

Non-network internal-use software (3 to 7 years)

     11,015        (6,734     4,281       10,415        (6,210     4,205  

Other (2 to 25 years)

     742        (338     404       802        (292     510  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $   15,352      $ (9,576)      $ 5,776     $   14,773      $ (8,840   $   5,933  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The amortization expense for Other intangible assets was as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)   Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

2013

    $        399       $        785  

2012

    367       728  

Estimated annual amortization expense for Other intangible assets is as follows:

 

Years    (dollars in millions)  

2013

     $     1,557  

2014

     1,333  

2015

     1,122  

2016

     872  

2017

     664  

 

3.

Debt

 

Changes to debt during the six months ended June 30, 2013 are as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)   Debt Maturing
within One Year
    Long-term
Debt
    Total  

Balance at January 1, 2013

  $ 4,369     $ 47,618     $       51,987  

Proceeds from long-term borrowings

          499       499  

Repayments of long-term borrowings and capital leases obligations

    (2,080     (250     (2,330

Decrease in short-term obligations, excluding current maturities

    (432           (432

Reclassifications of long-term debt

    6,021       (6,021      

Other

    83       (55     28  
 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2013

  $ 7,961     $ 41,791     $ 49,752  
 

 

 

 

During March 2013, we issued $0.5 billion aggregate principal amount of floating rate notes due 2015 in a private placement resulting in cash proceeds of approximately $0.5 billion, net of discounts and issuance costs. The proceeds were used for the repayment of commercial paper.

During April 2013, $1.25 billion of 5.25% Verizon Communications Notes matured and were repaid. During May 2013, $0.1 billion of 7.0% Verizon New York Inc. Debentures matured and were repaid. During June 2013, $0.5 billion of 4.375% Verizon Communications Notes and $0.1 billion of 7.0% Verizon New York Inc. Debentures matured and were repaid. In addition, during June 2013, we redeemed $0.25 billion of 7.15% Verizon Maryland LLC Debentures at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of the debentures.

 

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Guarantees

We guarantee the debentures and first mortgage bonds of our operating telephone company subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2013, $3.8 billion principal amount of these obligations remain outstanding. Each guarantee will remain in place for the life of the obligation unless terminated pursuant to its terms, including the operating telephone company no longer being a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon.

We also guarantee the debt obligations of GTE Corporation that were issued and outstanding prior to July 1, 2003. As of June 30, 2013, $1.7 billion principal amount of these obligations remain outstanding.

Debt Covenants

We and our consolidated subsidiaries are in compliance with all of our debt covenants.

Credit Facility

As of June 30, 2013, the unused borrowing capacity under a $6.2 billion four-year credit facility, maturing on August 12, 2016, with a group of major financial institutions was approximately $6.1 billion.

 

4.

Fair Value Measurements

 

The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2013:

 

(dollars in millions)    Level 1 (1)      Level 2 (2)      Level 3 (3)      Total  

Assets:

           

Short-term investments:

           

Equity securities

   $ 333      $      $      $ 333  

Fixed income securities

            285                285  

Other assets:

           

Fixed income securities

            866               866  

Cross currency swaps

            52               52  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 333      $ 1,203      $      $   1,536  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Other liabilities:

           

Cross currency swaps

   $      $ 4      $      $ 4  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $      $ 4      $      $ 4  
  

 

 

 

 

(1) 

quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

(2) 

observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities

(3) no observable pricing inputs in the market

Equity securities consist of investments in common stock of domestic and international corporations measured using quoted prices in active markets.

Fixed income securities consist primarily of investments in municipal bonds that do not have quoted prices in active markets. For these securities, we use alternative matrix pricing resulting in these debt securities being classified as Level 2.

Derivative contracts are valued using models based on readily observable market parameters for all substantial terms of our derivative contracts and thus are classified within Level 2. We use mid-market pricing for fair value measurements of our derivative instruments. Our derivative instruments are recorded on a gross basis.

We recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy as of the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers within the fair value hierarchy during the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

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Fair Value of Short-term and Long-term Debt

The fair value of our debt is determined using various methods, including quoted prices for identical terms and maturities, which is a Level 1 measurement, as well as quoted prices for similar terms and maturities in inactive markets and future cash flows discounted at current rates, which are Level 2 measurements. The fair value of our short-term and long-term debt, excluding capital leases, was as follows:

 

     At June 30, 2013      At December 31, 2012  
(dollars in millions)    Carrying
Amount
     Fair Value      Carrying
Amount
     Fair Value  

Short- and long-term debt, excluding capital leases

   $ 49,432      $ 54,928      $ 51,689      $ 61,552  

Derivative Instruments

We enter into derivative transactions to manage our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and equity and commodity prices. We employ risk management strategies, which may include the use of a variety of derivatives including cross currency swaps, foreign currency and prepaid forwards and collars, interest rate swap agreements, commodity swap and forward agreements and interest rate locks. We do not hold derivatives for trading purposes.

We measure all derivatives, including derivatives embedded in other financial instruments, at fair value and recognize them as either assets or liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair values of derivative instruments not qualifying as hedges or any ineffective portion of hedges are recognized in earnings in the current period. Changes in the fair values of derivative instruments used effectively as fair value hedges are recognized in earnings, along with changes in the fair value of the hedged item. Changes in the fair value of the effective portions of cash flow hedges are reported in Other comprehensive income and recognized in earnings when the hedged item is recognized in earnings.

Interest Rate Swaps

We enter into domestic interest rate swaps to achieve a targeted mix of fixed and variable rate debt. We principally receive fixed rates and pay variable rates based on the London Interbank Offered Rate, resulting in a net increase or decrease to Interest expense. These swaps are designated as fair value hedges and hedge against changes in the fair value of our debt portfolio. We record the interest rate swaps at fair value on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as assets and liabilities. During April 2013, the $1.25 billion notional amount of interest rate swaps matured and the impact to our condensed consolidated financial statements was not material. The fair value of these contracts was not material at December 31, 2012.

Cross Currency Swaps

Verizon Wireless previously entered into cross currency swaps designated as cash flow hedges to exchange approximately $1.6 billion of British Pound Sterling and Euro-denominated debt into U.S. dollars and to fix our future interest and principal payments in U.S. dollars, as well as to mitigate the effect of foreign currency transaction gains or losses. A portion of the gains and losses recognized in Other comprehensive income was reclassified to Other income, net to offset the related pretax foreign currency transaction gain or loss on the underlying debt obligations. The fair value of the outstanding swaps was not material at June 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, an immaterial pretax gain and a pretax loss of $0.1 billion, respectively, were recognized in Other comprehensive income. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, pretax losses of $0.1 billion and an immaterial amount, respectively, were recognized in Other comprehensive income.

 

5.

Stock-Based Compensation

 

Verizon Communications Long-Term Incentive Plan

The Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) permits the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance stock units and other awards. The maximum number of shares available for awards from the Plan is 119.6 million shares.

Restricted Stock Units

The Plan provides for grants of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) that generally vest at the end of the third year after the grant. The RSUs are classified as equity awards because the RSUs will be paid in Verizon common stock upon vesting. The RSU equity

 

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awards are measured using the grant date fair value of Verizon common stock and are not remeasured at the end of each reporting period. Dividend equivalent units are also paid to participants at the time the RSU award is paid, and in the same proportion as the RSU award.

Performance Stock Units

The Plan also provides for grants of Performance Stock Units (PSUs) that generally vest at the end of the third year after the grant. As defined by the Plan, the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors determines the number of PSUs a participant earns based on the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved over the three-year performance cycle. The PSUs are classified as liability awards because the PSU awards are paid in cash upon vesting. The PSU award liability is measured at its fair value at the end of each reporting period and, therefore, will fluctuate based on the price of Verizon common stock as well as performance relative to the targets. Dividend equivalent units are also paid to participants at the time that the PSU award is determined and paid, and in the same proportion as the PSU award.

The following table summarizes the Restricted Stock Unit and Performance Stock Unit activity:

 

(shares in thousands)    Restricted
Stock Units
    Performance
Stock Units
 

Outstanding, beginning of year

     18,669       39,463  

Granted

     4,416       6,883  

Payments

     (7,206     (22,703

Cancelled/Forfeited

     (91     (389
  

 

 

 

Outstanding, June 30, 2013

     15,788       23,254  
  

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2013, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of Verizon’s RSUs and PSUs was approximately $0.7 billion and is expected to be recognized over approximately two years.

The RSUs granted in 2013 have a weighted-average grant date fair value of $47.96 per unit.

 

6.

Employee Benefits

 

We maintain non-contributory defined benefit pension plans for many of our employees. In addition, we maintain postretirement health care and life insurance plans for our retirees and their dependents, which are both contributory and non-contributory, and include a limit on our share of the cost for certain recent and future retirees. In accordance with our accounting policy for pension and other postretirement benefits, operating expenses include pension and benefit related credits and/or charges based on actuarial assumptions, including projected discount rates and an estimated return on plan assets. These estimates are updated in the fourth quarter to reflect actual return on plan assets and updated actuarial assumptions. The adjustment will be recognized in the income statement during the fourth quarter or upon a remeasurement event pursuant to our accounting policy for the recognition of actuarial gains and losses.

 

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Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The following table summarizes the benefit (income) cost related to our pension and postretirement health care and life insurance plans:

 

(dollars in millions)    Pension     Health Care and Life  
  

 

 

 
Three Months Ended June 30,          2013           2012           2013           2012  

Service cost

   $ 98     $ 90     $ 79     $ 93  

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

     2       (1     (61     (9
  

 

 

 

Subtotal

     100       89       18       84  

Expected return on plan assets

     (311     (443     (36     (42

Interest cost

     251       362       274       326  
  

 

 

 

Subtotal

     40       8       256       368  

Remeasurement gain, net

     (237                  
  

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit (income) cost

   $ (197   $ 8     $ 256     $ 368  
  

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)    Pension     Health Care and Life  
  

 

 

 
Six Months Ended June 30,          2013           2012           2013           2012  

Service cost

   $ 197     $ 179     $ 159     $ 185  

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

     3       (2     (123     (18
  

 

 

 

Subtotal

     200       177       36       167  

Expected return on plan assets

     (622     (885     (72     (85

Interest cost

     501       724       548       653  
  

 

 

 

Subtotal

     79       16       512       735  

Remeasurement gain, net

     (237                  
  

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit (income) cost

   $ (158   $ 16     $ 512     $ 735  
  

 

 

 

Pension Remeasurement

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, we recorded net pretax pension remeasurement credits of approximately $0.2 billion in accordance with our accounting policy to recognize actuarial gains and losses in the period in which they occur. The pension remeasurement credits relate to settlements for employees who received lump-sum distributions. The credits were primarily driven by an approximately 75 basis point increase in our discount rate assumption used to determine the current year liabilities of one of our pension plans. The change in discount rate resulted in a gain of $0.3 billion, partially offset by a loss resulting from the difference between our expected return on assets assumption of 7.5% at December 31, 2012 and our annualized actual return on assets of 7.2% at June 30, 2013, as well as other losses ($0.1 billion). Our weighted-average discount rate assumption increased from 4.2% at December 31, 2012 to 5.0% at June 30, 2013.

Severance Payments

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, we paid severance benefits of $0.1 billion and $0.2 billion, respectively. At June 30, 2013, we had a remaining severance liability of $0.8 billion, a portion of which includes future contractual payments to employees separated as of June 30, 2013.

Employer Contributions

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, we contributed $0.3 billion and $0.7 billion to our other postretirement benefit plans, respectively. The contributions to our nonqualified pension plans were not material during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013. There have been no material changes to the estimated qualified and nonqualified pension contributions in 2013 as previously disclosed in Part II. Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

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7.

Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

Equity

Changes in the components of Total equity were as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)   Attributable
to Verizon
    Noncontrolling
Interests
    Total
Equity
 

Balance at January 1, 2013

  $ 33,157     $ 52,376     $ 85,533  

Net income

    4,198       5,855       10,053  

Other comprehensive loss

    (241     (15     (256
 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

    3,957       5,840       9,797  
 

 

 

 

Contributed capital

    (95           (95

Dividends declared

    (2,947           (2,947

Common stock in treasury

    97             97  

Distributions and other

    (108     (5,121     (5,229
 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2013

  $ 34,061     $ 53,095     $         87,156  
 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interests included in our condensed consolidated financial statements primarily consist of Vodafone Group Plc’s (Vodafone) 45% ownership interest in Verizon Wireless.

Common Stock

During the first quarter of 2013, Verizon purchased approximately 3.5 million shares under our authorized share buyback program for approximately $0.2 billion. There were no such repurchases during the second quarter of 2013. At June 30, 2013, the maximum number of shares that could be purchased by or on behalf of Verizon under our share buyback program was 96.5 million.

Special Distribution

In May 2013, the Board of Representatives of Verizon Wireless declared a distribution to its owners, which was paid in the second quarter of 2013 in proportion to their partnership interests on the payment date, in the aggregate amount of $7.0 billion. As a result, Vodafone received a cash payment of $3.15 billion and the remainder of the distribution was received by Verizon.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The changes in the balances of Accumulated other comprehensive income by component are as follows:

 

(dollars in millions)   Foreign currency
translation
adjustments
    Unrealized
loss on cash
flow hedges
    Unrealized
loss on
marketable
securities
    Defined benefit
pension and
postretirement
plans
    Total  

Balance at January 1, 2013

  $ 793     $ 88     $ 101     $ 1,253     $ 2,235  

Other comprehensive loss

    (136     (37     (7           (180

Amounts reclassified to net income

          19       (8     (72     (61
 

 

 

 

Net other comprehensive loss

    (136     (18     (15     (72     (241
 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2013

  $ 657     $ 70     $ 86     $ 1,181     $ 1,994  
 

 

 

 

The amounts presented above in net other comprehensive loss are net of taxes and noncontrolling interests, which are not significant. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the amounts reclassified to net income related to defined benefit pension and postretirement plans in the table above are included in Cost of services and sales and Selling, general and administrative expense on our condensed consolidated statements of income. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, all other amounts reclassified to net income in the table above are included in Other income, net on our condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

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8.

Segment Information

 

Reportable Segments

We have two reportable segments, which we operate and manage as strategic business units and organize by products and services. We measure and evaluate our reportable segments based on segment operating income, consistent with the chief operating decision maker’s assessment of segment performance.

Corporate, eliminations and other includes unallocated corporate expenses, intersegment eliminations recorded in consolidation, the results of other businesses, such as our investments in unconsolidated businesses, pension and other employee benefit related costs, lease financing, as well as other adjustments and gains and losses that are not allocated in assessing segment performance due to their non-operational nature. Although such transactions are excluded from the business segment results, they are included in reported consolidated earnings. Gains and losses that are not individually significant are included in all segment results as these items are included in the chief operating decision maker’s assessment of segment performance.

Our segments and their principal activities consist of the following:

 

Segment      Description
Wireless     

Wireless’ communications products and services include wireless voice and data services and equipment sales, which are provided to consumer, business and government customers across the United States.

Wireline     

Wireline’s voice, data and video communications products and enhanced services include local and long distance voice, broadband Internet access and video, corporate networking solutions, data center and cloud services and security and managed network 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 in over 150 other countries around the world.

 

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The following table provides operating financial information for our two reportable segments:

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
(dollars in millions)    2013     2012     2013     2012  

External Operating Revenues

        

Wireless

        

Retail service

   $ 16,408     $ 15,215     $ 32,563     $ 30,087  

Other service

     656       544       1,213       1,068  
  

 

 

 

Service revenue

     17,064       15,759       33,776       31,155  

Equipment

     1,949       1,766       3,758       3,601  

Other

     939       1,030       1,914       2,049  
  

 

 

 

Total Wireless

     19,952       18,555       39,448       36,805  

Wireline

        

Consumer retail

     3,642       3,478       7,232       6,919  

Small business

     647       664       1,295       1,323  
  

 

 

 

Mass Markets

     4,289       4,142       8,527       8,242  

Strategic services

     2,079       1,983       4,166       3,952  

Core

     1,549       1,837       3,209       3,719  
  

 

 

 

Global Enterprise

     3,628       3,820       7,375       7,671  

Global Wholesale

     1,437       1,562       2,908       3,154  

Other

     115       130       218       253  
  

 

 

 

Total Wireline

     9,469       9,654       19,028       19,320  
  

 

 

 

Total segments

     29,421       28,209       58,476       56,125  

Corporate, eliminations and other

     365       343       730       669  
  

 

 

 

Total consolidated – reported

   $ 29,786     $ 28,552     $     59,206     $     56,794  
  

 

 

 

Intersegment Revenues

        

Wireless

   $ 24     $ 22     $ 51     $ 45  

Wireline

     265       277       536       556  
  

 

 

 

Total segments

     289       299       587       601  

Corporate, eliminations and other

     (289     (299     (587     (601
  

 

 

 

Total consolidated – reported

   $     $      $     $  
  

 

 

 

Total Operating Revenues

        

Wireless

   $ 19,976     $ 18,577     $ 39,499     $ 36,850  

Wireline

     9,734       9,931       19,564       19,876  
  

 

 

 

Total segments

     29,710       28,508       59,063       56,726  

Corporate, eliminations and other

     76       44       143       68  
  

 

 

 

Total consolidated – reported

   $ 29,786     $ 28,552     $ 59,206     $ 56,794  
  

 

 

 

Operating Income

        

Wireless

   $ 6,464     $ 5,713     $ 12,882     $ 10,930  

Wireline

     74       188       87       345  
  

 

 

 

Total segments

     6,538       5,901       12,969       11,275  

Reconciling items

     17       (250     (192     (429
  

 

 

 

Total consolidated – reported

   $ 6,555     $ 5,651     $ 12,777     $ 10,846  
  

 

 

 

 

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(dollars in millions)   

At June 30,

2013

   

At December 31,

2012

 

Assets

    

Wireless

   $ 142,997     $ 142,485  

Wireline

     85,549       84,815  
  

 

 

 

Total segments

     228,546       227,300  

Reconciling items

     (5,200     (2,078
  

 

 

 

Total consolidated – reported

   $ 223,346     $ 225,222  
  

 

 

 

A reconciliation of the total of the reportable segments’ operating income to consolidated income before provision for income taxes is as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
(dollars in millions)    2013     2012     2013     2012  

Total segment operating income

   $ 6,538     $ 5,901     $ 12,969     $ 11,275  

Pension remeasurement (Note 6)

     237              237         

Corporate, eliminations and other

     (220     (250     (429     (429
  

 

 

 

Total consolidated operating income

     6,555       5,651       12,777       10,846  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses

     120       72       115       175  

Other income, net

     25       34       64       53  

Interest expense

     (514     (679     (1,051     (1,364
  

 

 

 

Income Before Provision For Income Taxes

   $ 6,186     $ 5,078     $ 11,905     $ 9,710  
  

 

 

 

We generally account for intersegment sales of products and services and asset transfers at current market prices. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of our total operating revenues during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012.

 

9.

Commitments and Contingencies

 

In the ordinary course of business Verizon is involved in various commercial litigation and regulatory proceedings at the state and federal level. Where it is determined, in consultation with counsel based on litigation and settlement risks, that a loss is probable and estimable in a given matter, the Company establishes an accrual. In none of the currently pending matters is the amount of accrual material. An estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss in excess of the amounts already accrued cannot be made at this time due to various factors typical in contested proceedings, including (1) uncertain damage theories and demands; (2) a less than complete factual record; (3) uncertainty concerning legal theories and their resolution by courts or regulators; and (4) the unpredictable nature of the opposing party and its demands. We continuously monitor these proceedings as they develop and adjust any accrual or disclosure as needed. We do not expect that the ultimate resolution of any pending regulatory or legal matter in future periods, including the Hicksville matter described below, will have a material effect on our financial condition, but it could have a material effect on our results of operations for a given reporting period.

During 2003, under a government-approved plan, remediation commenced at the site of a former Sylvania facility in Hicksville, New York that processed nuclear fuel rods in the 1950s and 1960s. Remediation beyond original expectations proved to be necessary and a reassessment of the anticipated remediation costs was conducted. A reassessment of costs related to remediation efforts at several other former facilities was also undertaken. In September 2005, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) accepted the Hicksville site into the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. This may result in the ACE performing some or all of the remediation effort for the Hicksville site with a corresponding decrease in costs to Verizon. To the extent that the ACE assumes responsibility for remedial work at the Hicksville site, an adjustment to a reserve previously established for the remediation may be made. Adjustments to the reserve may also be made based upon actual conditions discovered during the remediation at this or any other site requiring remediation.

Verizon is currently involved in approximately 50 federal district court actions alleging that Verizon is infringing various patents. Most of these cases are brought by non-practicing entities and effectively seek only monetary damages; a small number are brought by companies that have sold products and seek injunctive relief as well. These cases have progressed to various stages and a small number may go to trial in the coming 12 months if they are not otherwise resolved.

 

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In connection with the execution of agreements for the sales of businesses and investments, Verizon ordinarily provides representations and warranties to the purchasers pertaining to a variety of nonfinancial matters, such as ownership of the securities being sold, as well as indemnity from certain financial losses. From time to time, counterparties may make claims under these provisions, and Verizon will seek to defend against those claims and resolve them in the ordinary course of business.

Subsequent to the sale of Verizon Information Services Canada in 2004, we continue to provide a guarantee to publish directories, which was issued when the directory business was purchased in 2001 and had a 30-year term (before extensions). The preexisting guarantee continues, without modification, despite the subsequent sale of Verizon Information Services Canada and the spin-off of our domestic print and Internet yellow pages directories business. The possible financial impact of the guarantee, which is not expected to be adverse, cannot be reasonably estimated as a variety of the potential outcomes available under the guarantee result in costs and revenues or benefits that may offset each other. We do not believe performance under the guarantee is likely.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon or the Company) is a holding company that, acting through its subsidiaries, is one of the world’s leading providers of communications, information and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses and governmental agencies with a presence in over 150 countries around the world. Our offerings, designed to meet customers’ demand for speed, mobility, security and control, include voice, data and video services on our wireless and wireline networks. We have two reportable segments, Wireless and Wireline. Our wireless business, operating as Verizon Wireless, provides voice and data services and equipment sales across the United States using one of the most extensive and reliable wireless networks. Our wireline business provides consumer, business and government customers with communications products and services, including voice, broadband data and video services, network access, long distance and other communications products and services, and also owns and operates one of the most expansive end-to-end global Internet Protocol (IP) networks. We have a highly skilled, diverse and dedicated workforce of approximately 180,900 employees as of June 30, 2013.

In recent years, Verizon has embarked upon a strategic transformation as advances in technology have changed the ways that our customers interact in their personal and professional lives and that businesses operate. To meet the changing needs of our customers and the changing technological landscape, we are focusing our efforts around higher margin and growing areas of our business: wireless data, wireline data and Strategic services, including cloud computing services.

Our strategy requires significant capital investments primarily to acquire wireless spectrum, put the spectrum into service, expand the fiber optic network that supports our wireless and wireline businesses, maintain our wireless and wireline networks and develop and maintain significant advanced database capacity.

In our Wireless business, during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012, revenue growth of 7.5% was driven by connection growth and strong demand for smartphones and Internet data devices. At June 30, 2013, we experienced a 6.1% increase in retail postpaid connections as compared to June 30, 2012, with smartphones representing 64.4% of our retail postpaid phone base at June 30, 2013. Also during the three months ended June 30, 2013, postpaid smartphone activations represented 84.4% of phones activated compared to 71.6% in the similar period in 2012.

As of June 30, 2013, our fourth-generation (4G) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network covered our existing 3G network footprint. Our 4G LTE network is available in 500 markets to more than 95% of the U.S. population and covers approximately 301 million people, including those in areas served by our LTE in Rural America partners. Our 4G LTE network provides higher data throughput performance for data services at lower cost compared to those offered by 3G technologies. On July 18, 2013, we announced the new Verizon Edge device payment plan option which allows customers to trade in their phone for a new phone as often as every six months, subject to certain conditions. Verizon Edge will be available to customers on Share Everything® plans beginning August 25, 2013.

In Wireline, during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012, the overall decline in revenue was primarily due to declines in Global Enterprise Core and Global Wholesale, partially offset by revenue increases in Consumer retail driven by FiOS services and Strategic services within Global Enterprise. FiOS represented approximately 71% of Consumer retail revenue during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to approximately 65% during the similar period in 2012. As the FiOS products mature, we continue to seek ways to increase incremental revenue and further realize operating and capital efficiencies as well as maximize profitability. As more applications are developed for this high-speed service, we expect that FiOS will become a hub for managing multiple home services that will eventually be part of the digital grid, including not only entertainment and communications, but also machine-to-machine communications, such as home monitoring, home health care, energy management and utilities management.

Also positively contributing to Wireline’s revenues during the three months ended June 30, 2013 was a 4.8% increase in Strategic services revenue, which represented 57% of total Global Enterprise revenues. However, total Global Enterprise and Global Wholesale revenues declined as customers continue to be adversely affected by the economy, resulting in delayed discretionary spending and delayed purchasing decisions. To compensate for the shrinking market for traditional voice service, we continue to build our Wireline segment around data, video and advanced business services – areas where demand for reliable high-speed connections is growing.

During the first quarter of 2013, we completed license exchange transactions with T-Mobile USA Inc. (T-Mobile) and Cricket License Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless, to exchange certain Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) licenses. These non-cash exchanges include a number of intra-market swaps that will enable Verizon Wireless to make more efficient use of the AWS band. As a result of these exchanges, we received an aggregate $0.5 billion of AWS licenses at fair value and recorded an immaterial gain.

 

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On April 18, 2012, we announced plans to initiate an open sale process for all of our 700 MHz lower A and B block spectrum licenses, subject to the receipt of acceptable bids. We acquired these licenses as part of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Auction 73 in 2008. On January 25, 2013, Verizon Wireless agreed to sell 39 lower 700 MHz B block spectrum licenses to AT&T Inc. (AT&T) in exchange for a payment of $1.9 billion and the transfer by AT&T to Verizon Wireless of AWS (10 MHz) licenses in certain markets in the western United States. Verizon Wireless also agreed to sell certain lower 700 MHz B block spectrum licenses to an investment firm for a payment of $0.2 billion. These transactions are subject to approval by the FCC. As a result of these agreements, $2.3 billion of Wireless licenses are classified as held for sale and included in Prepaid expenses and other on our condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2013. When finalized, the sales will complete the open sale process. We expect to deploy the remaining licenses as necessary to meet our own spectrum needs.

Investing in innovative technology like wireless networks, high-speed fiber and cloud services has positioned Verizon at the center of the growth trends of the future. By investing in our own capabilities, we are also investing in the markets we serve by making sure our communities have an efficient, reliable infrastructure for competing in the information economy. We are committed to putting our customers first and being a responsible member of our communities. Guided by this commitment and by our core values of integrity, respect, performance excellence and accountability, we believe we are well-positioned to produce a long-term return for our shareowners, create meaningful work for ourselves and provide something of lasting value for society.

Trends

Our 2013 capital program includes capital to fund advanced networks and services, including 4G LTE and FiOS, the continued expansion of our core networks, including IP and data center enhancements, maintenance and support for our legacy voice networks and other expenditures to drive operating efficiencies. The level and the timing of the Company’s capital expenditures within these broad categories can vary significantly as a result of a variety of factors outside our control, including, for example, material weather events. We believe that we have significant discretion over the amount and timing of our capital expenditures on a Company-wide basis as we are not subject to any agreement that would require significant capital expenditures on a designated schedule or upon the occurrence of designated events. Previously, we expected our full year capital expenditures for 2013 to be consistent with 2012. During 2013, strong connections growth driven by 4G LTE and our Share Everything® plans has resulted in expectations for higher demand, and for this reason, we now expect capital expenditures during 2013 to be between $16.4 billion and $16.6 billion.

There have been no significant changes to the information related to trends affecting our business that was disclosed in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, except to the extent described above.

 

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Consolidated Results of Operations

In this section, we discuss our overall results of operations and highlight items of a non-operational nature that are not included in our segment results. We have two reportable segments, Wireless and Wireline, which we operate and manage as strategic business units and organize by products and services. In “Segment Results of Operations,” we review the performance of our two reportable segments.

Corporate, eliminations and other includes unallocated corporate expenses such as certain pension and other employee benefit related costs, intersegment eliminations recorded in consolidation, the results of other businesses such as our investments in unconsolidated businesses, lease financing and other adjustments and gains and losses that are not allocated in assessing segment performance due to their non-operational nature. Although such transactions are excluded from the business segment results, they are included in reported consolidated earnings. Gains and losses that are not individually significant are included in all segment results as these items are included in the chief operating decision maker’s assessment of segment performance. We believe that this presentation assists users of our financial statements in better understanding our results of operations and trends from period to period.

 

Consolidated Revenues

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      (Decrease)     2013      2012      (Decrease)  

Wireless

                    

Service revenue

   $ 17,078      $ 15,776      $ 1,302       8.3   $ 33,806      $ 31,186      $ 2,620       8.4

Equipment and other

     2,898        2,801        97       3.5       5,693        5,664        29       0.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

     19,976        18,577        1,399       7.5       39,499        36,850        2,649       7.2  

Wireline

                    

Mass Markets

     4,291        4,145        146       3.5       8,531        8,248        283       3.4  

Global Enterprise

     3,636        3,820        (184     (4.8     7,389        7,672        (283     (3.7

Global Wholesale

     1,686        1,827        (141     (7.7     3,413        3,688        (275     (7.5

Other

     121        139        (18     (12.9     231        268        (37     (13.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

     9,734        9,931        (197     (2.0     19,564        19,876        (312     (1.6

Corporate, eliminations and other

     76        44        32       72.7       143        68        75       nm   
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Consolidated Revenues

   $ 29,786      $ 28,552      $   1,234       4.3     $ 59,206      $ 56,794      $   2,412       4.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

nm – not meaningful

The increase in consolidated revenue during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 was primarily due to higher revenues at Wireless, as well as higher Mass Markets revenues driven by FiOS services and increased Strategic services revenues within Global Enterprise at our Wireline segment. Partially offsetting these increases were lower Global Enterprise Core and Global Wholesale revenues at our Wireline segment.

Wireless’ revenues increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to growth in service revenue. Service revenue increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily driven by higher retail postpaid service revenue, which increased largely as a result of an increase in retail postpaid connections as well as the continued increase in penetration of smartphones, tablets and other Internet devices through our Share Everything® plans. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, retail postpaid connection net additions increased compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to an increase in retail postpaid connection gross additions, partially offset by an increase in our retail postpaid connection churn rate. Retail postpaid connections per account increased as of June 30, 2013 compared to June 30, 2012, primarily due to the increased use of tablets and other Internet devices.

Wireline’s revenues decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily driven by declines in Global Enterprise Core and Global Wholesale, partially offset by higher Mass Markets revenues driven by FiOS services and increased Strategic services revenues within Global Enterprise.

 

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Mass Markets revenues increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to the expansion of FiOS services (Voice, Internet and Video) as well as changes in our pricing strategies adopted in the third quarter of 2012, partially offset by the continued decline of local exchange revenues.

Global Enterprise revenues decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to a decline in Core customer premise equipment revenues and lower voice services and data networking revenues. This decrease was partially offset by higher Strategic services revenues, primarily due to growth in advanced services, such as IP communications, contact center solutions and our cloud and data center offerings as well as revenue from a telematics services business that we acquired in the third quarter of 2012.

Global Wholesale revenues decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to a decline in traditional voice revenues as a result of decreased minutes of use (MOUs) and a decline in domestic wholesale connections, partially offset by continuing demand for high-speed digital data services from fiber-to-the-cell customers upgrading their core data circuits to Ethernet facilities as well as Ethernet migrations from other core customers.

Other revenues decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to reduced volumes outside of our network footprint.

 

Consolidated Operating Expenses

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      (Decrease)     2013      2012      (Decrease)  

Cost of services and sales

   $ 11,033      $ 10,896      $ 137        1.3   $ 21,965      $ 22,215      $   (250     (1.1 )% 

Selling, general and administrative expense

     8,047        7,877        170        2.2       16,195        15,577        618       4.0  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     4,151        4,128        23        0.6       8,269        8,156        113       1.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

   

Consolidated Operating Expenses

   $ 23,231      $ 22,901      $ 330        1.4     $ 46,429      $ 45,948      $   481       1.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

   

Cost of Services and Sales

Cost of services and sales increased during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012 primarily due to increases in cost of equipment sales and cost of network services at our Wireless segment and increased content costs associated with continued FiOS subscriber growth and vendor rate increases at our Wireline segment. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases in costs related to customer premise equipment, a decline in access costs and a favorable change in regulatory fees at our Wireline segment, as well as decreases in data roaming, cost for data services and network connection costs at our Wireless segment.

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, Cost of services and sales decreased compared to the similar period in 2012 primarily due to decreases in costs related to customer premise equipment, a decline in access costs and a favorable change in regulatory fees at our Wireline segment, as well as decreases in network connection costs, cost for data services and data roaming at our Wireless segment. Partially offsetting these decreases were increased content costs associated with continued FiOS subscriber growth and vendor rate increases at our Wireline segment, as well as increases in cost of network services and cost of equipment sales at our Wireless segment.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Selling, general and administrative expense increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to higher sales commission expense at our Wireless segment as well as higher transaction and property tax expenses at our Wireline segment, partially offset by lower costs associated with regulatory fees at our Wireless segment.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization expense increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to an increase in net depreciable assets at our Wireless segment and higher amortization expense related to non-network software and other intangible assets at our Wireline segment. These increases were partially offset by a decline in net depreciable assets at our Wireline segment.

 

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Non-operational Credits

Non-operational credits included in operating expenses were as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      2013      2012  

Pension remeasurement

   $ 237       $       $ 237       $   

See “Other Items” for a description of non-operational items.

Consolidated Operating Income and EBITDA

Consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses (Consolidated EBITDA) and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, which are presented below, are non-GAAP measures and do not purport to be alternatives to operating income as a measure of operating performance. Management believes that these measures are useful to investors and other users of our financial information in evaluating operating profitability on a more variable cost basis as they exclude the depreciation and amortization expense related primarily to capital expenditures and acquisitions that occurred in prior years, as well as in evaluating operating performance in relation to our competitors. Consolidated EBITDA is calculated by adding back interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses and other income, net to net income.

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by excluding the effect of non-operational items from the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA. Management believes that this measure provides additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of our financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of our operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management’s evaluation of business performance. See “Other Items” for additional details regarding these non-operational items.

Operating expenses include pension and benefit related credits and/or charges based on actuarial assumptions, including projected discount rates and an estimated return on plan assets. These estimates will be updated in the fourth quarter to reflect actual return on plan assets and updated actuarial assumptions. The adjustment will be recognized in the income statement during the fourth quarter or upon a remeasurement event pursuant to our accounting policy for the recognition of actuarial gains/losses. During the second quarter of 2013, we recorded pension remeasurement credits in accordance with our accounting policy to recognize actuarial gains and losses in the period in which they occur. In the third and fourth quarters of 2013, we expect to remeasure our pension assets and liabilities based on updated actuarial assumptions. These remeasurements could result in significant charges or credits to one or more of our pension plans.

It is management’s intent to provide non-GAAP financial information to enhance the understanding of Verizon’s GAAP financial information, and it should be considered by the reader in addition to, but not instead of, the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Each non-GAAP financial measure is presented along with the corresponding GAAP measure so as not to imply that more emphasis should be placed on the non-GAAP measure. The non-GAAP financial information presented may be determined or calculated differently by other companies.

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      2013      2012  

Consolidated Operating Income

   $ 6,555      $ 5,651      $ 12,777      $ 10,846  

Add Depreciation and amortization expense

     4,151        4,128        8,269        8,156  
  

 

 

 

Consolidated EBITDA

     10,706        9,779        21,046        19,002  

Less Pension remeasurement

     237                 237           
  

 

 

 

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 10,469      $ 9,779      $ 20,809      $ 19,002  
  

 

 

 

The changes in the table above during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 were a result of the factors described in connection with operating revenues and operating expenses above.

 

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Other Consolidated Results

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Businesses

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses increased $48 million during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012 primarily due to an immaterial gain recorded by Verizon Wireless upon obtaining control of previously unconsolidated wireless partnerships, which were previously accounted for under the equity method and are now consolidated, partially offset by lower earnings from operations at Vodafone Omnitel N.V.

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses decreased $60 million during the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012 primarily due to lower earnings from operations at Vodafone Omnitel N.V., partially offset by an immaterial gain recorded by Verizon Wireless upon obtaining control of previously unconsolidated wireless partnerships, which were previously accounted for under the equity method and are now consolidated.

Other Income, Net

Additional information relating to Other income, net is as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013     2012     (Decrease)     2013     2012     (Decrease)  

Interest income

   $ 14     $ 15     $ (1     (6.7 )%    $ 27     $ 30     $ (3     (10.0 )% 

Foreign exchange gains, net

     1       9       (8     (88.9     18       7       11       nm   

Other, net

     10       10           –               19       16       3       18.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

   $ 25     $ 34     $ (9     (26.5   $ 64     $ 53     $   11       20.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

nm – not meaningful

                        
Interest Expense                         
    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013     2012     (Decrease)     2013     2012     (Decrease)  

Total interest costs on debt balances

   $ 700     $ 744     $ (44     (5.9 )%    $ 1,414     $ 1,497     $ (83     (5.5 )% 

Less capitalized interest costs

     186       65           121       nm        363       133           230       nm   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

   $ 514     $ 679     $ (165     (24.3   $ 1,051     $ 1,364     $ (313     (22.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Average debt outstanding

   $ 52,710     $ 52,230         $   52,636     $   52,555      

Effective interest rate

     5.3     5.7         5.4     5.7    

nm – not meaningful

Total interest costs on debt balances decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 due to a lower effective interest rate (see “Consolidated Financial Condition”). Capitalized interest costs were higher in 2013 primarily due to increases in wireless licenses that are currently under development.

 

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Provision for Income Taxes

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013     2012     (Decrease)     2013     2012     (Decrease)  

Provision for income taxes

   $ 988     $ 793     $   195        24.6   $ 1,852     $ 1,519     $   333        21.9

Effective income tax rate

     16.0     15.6          15.6     15.6     

The effective income tax rate is calculated by dividing the provision for income taxes by income before the provision for income taxes. Our annual effective income tax rate is significantly lower than the statutory federal income tax rate due to the inclusion of income attributable to Vodafone Group Plc.’s (Vodafone) noncontrolling interest in the Verizon Wireless partnership within our income before the provision for income taxes, which resulted in our effective income tax rate being 14.6 and 14.7 percentage points lower during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 15.0 and 14.6 percentage points lower during the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The increase in the provision for income taxes and effective income tax rate during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012 is primarily due to higher income before income taxes as a result of higher consolidated earnings as well as the pension remeasurement, partially offset by higher tax benefits resulting from the favorable resolution of various income tax matters in the current period.

The increase in the provision for income taxes during the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012 is primarily due to higher income before income taxes, partially offset by higher tax benefits resulting from the favorable resolution of various income tax matters in the current period. The effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2013 is comparable to the similar period in 2012.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

Unrecognized tax benefits were $2.2 billion at June 30, 2013 and $2.9 billion at December 31, 2012. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were $0.3 billion (after-tax) and $0.4 billion (after-tax) at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The decrease in unrecognized tax benefits was primarily due to the resolution of issues with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) involving tax years 2004 through 2006, as well as the resolution of a tax examination in Italy.

As a large taxpayer, we are under audit by the IRS and multiple state and foreign jurisdictions for various open tax years. The IRS is currently examining the Company’s U.S. income tax returns for tax years 2007-2009. Significant tax examinations are ongoing in New York City for tax years as early as 2000. It is reasonably possible that the amount of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits could change by a significant amount in the next twelve months. An estimate of the range of the possible change cannot be made until these tax matters are further developed or resolved.

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      (Decrease)     2013      2012      (Decrease)  

Net income attributable to
noncontrolling interests

   $ 2,952      $ 2,460      $   492        20.0   $ 5,855      $ 4,680      $   1,175        25.1

The increase in Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 was due to higher earnings in our Wireless segment, which has a 45% noncontrolling partnership interest attributable to Vodafone.

 

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Segment Results of Operations

We have two reportable segments, Wireless and Wireline, which we operate and manage as strategic business units and organize by products and services. We measure and evaluate our reportable segments based on segment operating income. The use of segment operating income is consistent with the chief operating decision maker’s assessment of segment performance.

Segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Segment EBITDA), which is presented below, is a non-GAAP measure and does not purport to be an alternative to operating income as a measure of operating performance. Management believes that this measure is useful to investors and other users of our financial information in evaluating operating profitability on a more variable cost basis as it excludes the depreciation and amortization expenses related primarily to capital expenditures and acquisitions that occurred in prior years, as well as in evaluating operating performance in relation to our competitors. Segment EBITDA is calculated by adding back depreciation and amortization expense to segment operating income.

Wireless Segment EBITDA service margin, also presented below, is calculated by dividing Wireless Segment EBITDA by Wireless service revenues. Wireless Segment EBITDA service margin utilizes service revenues rather than total revenues. Service revenues primarily exclude equipment revenues in order to reflect the impact of providing service to the wireless customer base on an ongoing basis. Wireline EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing Wireline EBITDA by total Wireline revenues.

 

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Wireless

Our Wireless segment is primarily comprised of Cellco Partnership doing business as Verizon Wireless. Cellco Partnership is a joint venture formed in April 2000 by the combination of the U.S. wireless operations and interests of Verizon and Vodafone. Verizon owns a controlling 55% interest in Verizon Wireless and Vodafone owns the remaining 45%. Verizon Wireless provides wireless communications services across one of the most extensive wireless networks in the United States.

We provide these services and equipment sales to consumer, business and government customers in the United States on a postpaid and prepaid basis. Postpaid connections represent individual lines of service for which a customer is billed in advance a monthly access charge in return for a monthly network service allowance, and usage beyond the allowances is billed monthly in arrears. Our prepaid service enables individuals to obtain wireless services without a long-term contract or credit verification by paying for all services in advance.

Operating Revenues and Selected Operating Statistics

 

(dollars in millions,
     except ARPA)
  

Three Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/  
   2013     2012     (Decrease)     2013     2012     (Decrease)  

Retail service

   $ 16,422     $ 15,230     $   1,192       7.8   $ 32,591     $   30,116     $   2,475       8.2

Other service

     656       546       110       20.1       1,215       1,070       145       13.6  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Service revenue

     17,078       15,776       1,302       8.3       33,806       31,186       2,620       8.4  

Equipment and other

     2,898       2,801       97       3.5       5,693       5,664       29       0.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Operating Revenues

   $ 19,976     $ 18,577     $ 1,399       7.5     $ 39,499     $ 36,850     $ 2,649       7.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   
                

Connections (‘000):(1)

                

Retail connections

             100,124       94,154       5,970       6.3  

Retail postpaid connections

             94,271       88,838       5,433       6.1  
                

Net additions in period (‘000):(2)

                

Retail connections

     1,038       1,178       (140     (11.9     1,758       1,912       (154     (8.1

Retail postpaid connections

     941       888       53       6.0       1,618       1,389       229       16.5  

Churn Rate:

                

Retail connections

     1.23     1.11         1.27     1.18    

Retail postpaid connections

     0.93     0.84         0.97     0.90    

Account Statistics:

                

Retail postpaid ARPA

   $ 152.50     $ 143.32     $ 9.18       6.4     $ 151.39     $ 141.95     $ 9.44       6.7  

Retail postpaid accounts (‘000)(1)

             34,958       34,646       312       0.9  

Retail postpaid connections per
account
(1)

             2.70       2.56       0.14       5.5  

(1) As of end of period

(2) Excluding acquisitions and adjustments

The increase in Wireless’ total operating revenues during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 was primarily the result of growth in service revenue.

Accounts and Connections

Retail (non-wholesale) postpaid accounts represent retail customers under contract with Verizon Wireless that are directly served and managed by Verizon Wireless and use its branded services. Accounts include single connection plans, family plans, Share Everything® plans and corporate accounts. A single account may receive monthly wireless services for a variety of connected devices. Retail connections represent our retail customer device connections. Churn is the rate at which service to a connection is terminated.

Retail connections under an account may include: smartphones, basic phones, Home Phone Connect, Home Fusion, tablets, and other Internet devices. We expect to continue to experience retail connection growth based on the strength of our product

 

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offerings and network service quality. Retail postpaid connection net additions increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012, primarily due to an increase in retail postpaid connection gross additions, partially offset by an increase in our retail postpaid connection churn rate. Higher retail postpaid connection gross additions were driven by gross additions of smartphones as well as tablets and other Internet devices which reflect the launch of our Share Everything® plans in the middle of 2012 coupled with new device introductions.

Retail Postpaid Connections per Account

Retail postpaid connections per account is calculated by dividing the total number of retail postpaid connections by the number of retail postpaid accounts as of the end of the period. Retail postpaid connections per account increased as of June 30, 2013 compared to June 30, 2012, primarily due to the increased use of tablets and other Internet devices.

Service Revenue

Service revenue increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily driven by higher retail postpaid service revenue, which increased largely as a result of an increase in retail postpaid connections as well as the continued increase in penetration of smartphones, tablets and other Internet devices through our Share Everything® plans. The penetration of smartphones was driven by an increasing percentage of smartphones activated by new customers as well as existing customers migrating from basic phones to smartphones.

The increase in retail postpaid ARPA (the average revenue per account from retail postpaid accounts) during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 was primarily driven by increases in smartphone penetration and retail postpaid connections per account. As of June 30, 2013, we experienced a 5.5% increase in retail postpaid connections per account, compared to June 30, 2012, with smartphones representing 64.4% of our retail postpaid phone base as of June 30, 2013 compared to 49.7% as of June 30, 2012. The increased penetration in retail postpaid connections per account is primarily due to increases in Internet data devices, which represented 9.9% of our retail postpaid connection base as of June 30, 2013 compared to 8.5% as of June 30, 2012, primarily due to activations of tablets and other Internet devices. Additionally, during the six months ended June 30, 2013, postpaid smartphone activations represented 84.3% of phones activated compared to 71.3% in the similar period in 2012.

Other service revenue increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 due to growth in wholesale connections, partially offset by a decrease in revenue related to third party roaming.

Equipment and Other Revenue

Equipment and other revenue increased during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012 primarily due to increases in equipment sales and revenue related to upgrade fees, partially offset by a decline in regulatory fees. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, Equipment and other revenue increased compared to the similar period in 2012 primarily due to an increase in revenue related to upgrade fees, partially offset by a decline in regulatory fees and equipment sales.

Operating Expenses

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      (Decrease)     2013      2012      (Decrease)  

Cost of services and sales

   $ 5,799      $ 5,558      $ 241        4.3   $ 11,450      $ 11,468      $ (18     (0.2 )% 

Selling, general and administrative expense

     5,666        5,295        371        7.0       11,114        10,523        591       5.6  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     2,047        2,011        36        1.8       4,053        3,929        124       3.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total Operating Expenses

   $ 13,512      $ 12,864      $   648        5.0     $ 26,617      $ 25,920      $   697       2.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

   

Cost of Services and Sales

Cost of services and sales increased during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012 primarily due to a $0.3 billion increase in cost of equipment sales and an increase in cost of network services, partially offset by decreased data roaming, a decline in cost for data services and a decrease in network connection costs due to the ongoing deployment of Ethernet backhaul facilities primarily targeted at sites upgrading to 4G LTE.

 

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During the six months ended June 30, 2013, Cost of services and sales was essentially unchanged compared to the similar period in 2012, as a decrease in network connection costs, due to the ongoing deployment of Ethernet backhaul facilities, primarily targeted at sites upgrading to 4G LTE, and decreases in cost for data services and data roaming were offset by increases in cost of network services and cost of equipment sales.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Selling, general and administrative expense increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to higher sales commission expense in our indirect channel, partially offset by lower costs associated with regulatory fees. Indirect sales commission expense increased $0.4 billion and $0.7 billion during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily as a result of an increase in the average commission per unit, as the mix of units continues to shift toward higher-priced smartphones and more customers activate data services.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization expense increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily driven by an increase in net depreciable assets.

Segment Operating Income and EBITDA

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013     2012     (Decrease)     2013     2012     (Decrease)  

Segment Operating Income

   $ 6,464     $ 5,713     $   751        13.1   $   12,882     $   10,930     $   1,952        17.9

Add Depreciation and
amortization expense

     2,047       2,011       36        1.8       4,053       3,929       124        3.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

    

Segment EBITDA

   $ 8,511     $ 7,724     $ 787        10.2     $ 16,935     $ 14,859     $ 2,076        14.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

    

Segment operating income margin

     32.4     30.8          32.6     29.7     

Segment EBITDA service margin

     49.8     49.0          50.1     47.6     

The changes in the table above during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 were primarily a result of the factors described in connection with operating revenues and operating expenses above.

 

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Wireline

The Wireline segment provides communications products and services including local exchange and long distance voice service, broadband video and data, IP network services, network access and other services to consumers, small businesses and carriers in the United States, as well as to businesses and government customers both in the United States and in over 150 other countries around the world.

Operating Revenues and Selected Operating Statistics

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      (Decrease)     2013      2012      (Decrease)  

Consumer retail

   $ 3,643      $ 3,478      $     165       4.7   $ 7,232      $ 6,919      $ 313       4.5

Small business

     648        667        (19     (2.8     1,299        1,329        (30     (2.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Mass Markets

     4,291        4,145        146       3.5       8,531        8,248        283       3.4  

Strategic services

     2,079        1,983        96       4.8       4,166        3,952        214       5.4  

Core

     1,557        1,837        (280     (15.2     3,223        3,720        (497     (13.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Global Enterprise

     3,636        3,820        (184     (4.8     7,389        7,672        (283     (3.7

Global Wholesale

     1,686        1,827        (141     (7.7     3,413        3,688        (275     (7.5

Other

     121        139        (18     (12.9     231        268        (37     (13.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total Operating Revenues

   $ 9,734      $ 9,931      $ (197     (2.0   $ 19,564      $ 19,876      $ (312     (1.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Connections (‘000):(1)

                    

Total voice connections

               21,828        23,278        (1,450     (6.2

Total Broadband connections

               8,939        8,776        163       1.9  

FiOS Internet subscribers

               5,773        5,144        629       12.2  

FiOS Video subscribers

               5,035        4,473        562       12.6  

(1) As of end of period

Wireline’s revenues decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily driven by declines in Global Enterprise Core, Global Wholesale and Other revenues, partially offset by higher Consumer retail revenues driven by FiOS services and increased Strategic services revenues within Global Enterprise.

Mass Markets

Mass Markets operations provide local exchange (basic service and end-user access) and long distance (including regional toll) voice services, as well as broadband services (including high-speed Internet, FiOS Internet and FiOS Video) to Consumer retail and Small business subscribers.

Mass Markets revenues increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to the expansion of FiOS services (Voice, Internet and Video) as well as changes in our pricing strategies adopted in the third quarter of 2012, partially offset by the continued decline of local exchange revenues.

We have continued to grow our subscriber base and consistently improved penetration rates within our FiOS service areas during the six months ended June 30, 2013. As of June 30, 2013, we achieved penetration rates of 38.6% and 34.5% for FiOS Internet and FiOS Video, respectively, compared to penetration rates of 36.6% and 32.6% for FiOS Internet and FiOS Video, respectively, as of June 30, 2012.

The increase in Mass Markets revenues, driven by FiOS, was partially offset by the decline of local exchange revenues primarily due to a 5.2% decline in Consumer retail voice connections resulting primarily from competition and technology substitution with wireless, VoIP (voice over internet protocol), broadband and cable services. Total voice connections include traditional switched access lines in service as well as FiOS digital voice connections. There was also a decline in Small business retail voice connections, primarily reflecting competition and a shift to both IP and high-speed circuits.

 

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Global Enterprise

Global Enterprise offers Strategic services including network products and solutions, advanced communications services, and other core communications services to medium and large business customers, multinational corporations and state and federal government customers.

Global Enterprise revenues decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to a decline in Core customer premise equipment revenues and lower voice services and data networking revenues, which consist of traditional circuit-based services such as frame relay, private line and Asynchronous Transfer Mode services. These core services declined compared to the similar periods in 2012 as our customer base continued to migrate to next generation IP services. The decline in customer premise equipment revenues reflects our focus on improving margins by continuing to de-emphasize sales of equipment that are not part of an overall enterprise solutions bundle as well as lower revenue from federal government customers. This decrease was partially offset by higher Strategic services revenues. Strategic services revenues increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to growth in advanced services, such as IP communications, contact center solutions and our cloud and data center offerings as well as revenue from a telematics services business that we acquired during the third quarter of 2012.

Global Wholesale

Global Wholesale provides communications services including data, voice and local dial tone and broadband services primarily to local, long distance and other carriers that use our facilities to provide services to their customers.

Global Wholesale revenues decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to a decline in traditional voice revenues as a result of decreased MOUs and a 5.8% decline in domestic wholesale connections as of June 30, 2013 compared to June 30, 2012. The traditional voice product reductions are primarily due to competitors de-emphasizing their local market initiatives coupled with the effect of technology substitution. Also contributing to the decline in voice revenues is the continuing contraction of market rates due to competition. Partially offsetting the overall decrease in wholesale revenue was a continuing demand for high-speed digital data services from fiber-to-the-cell customers upgrading their core data circuits to Ethernet facilities as well as Ethernet migrations from other core customers. As a result of the customer upgrades, the number of core data circuits experienced a 7.4% decline as compared to the similar periods in 2012.

Other

Other revenues include such services as local exchange and long distance services outside of our network footprint and operator services which are no longer being marketed. The decrease in revenues from other services during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 was primarily due to reduced volumes outside of our network footprint.

Operating Expenses

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      (Decrease)     2013      2012      (Decrease)  

Cost of services and sales

   $ 5,407      $ 5,500      $ (93     (1.7 )%    $ 10,864      $ 11,072      $ (208     (1.9 )% 

Selling, general and administrative expense

     2,168        2,141            27       1.3       4,433        4,267            166       3.9  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     2,085        2,102        (17     (0.8     4,180        4,192        (12     (0.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total Operating Expenses

   $ 9,660      $ 9,743      $ (83     (0.9   $ 19,477      $ 19,531      $ (54     (0.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Cost of Services and Sales

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, Cost of services and sales decreased compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to a decrease in costs related to customer premise equipment which reflects our focus on improving margins by de-emphasizing sales of equipment that are not part of an overall enterprise solutions bundle, a decline in access costs resulting primarily from declines in overall wholesale long distance volumes, a favorable change in regulatory fees and the net effect of storm-related insurance recoveries. These decreases were partially offset by higher content costs associated with continued FiOS subscriber growth and vendor rate increases.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expense

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, Selling, general and administrative expense increased compared to the similar periods in 2012 primarily due to higher transaction and property tax expenses.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, Depreciation and amortization expense decreased compared to the similar periods in 2012 due to a decrease in net depreciable assets, partially offset by an increase in amortization expense related to non-network software and other intangible assets.

Segment Operating Income and EBITDA

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/     

Six Months Ended

June 30,

     Increase/  
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      (Decrease)      2013      2012      (Decrease)  

Segment Operating Income

   $ 74         $ 188         $ (114     (60.6)%       $ 87         $ 345         $ (258     (74.8)%   

Add Depreciation and
amortization expense

     2,085           2,102           (17     (0.8)             4,180           4,192           (12     (0.3)       
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

   

Segment EBITDA

   $   2,159         $   2,290         $   (131     (5.7)           $   4,267         $   4,537         $   (270     (6.0)       
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

   

Segment operating income margin

     0.8%         1.9%              0.4%         1.7%        

Segment EBITDA margin

     22.2%         23.1%              21.8%         22.8%        

The changes in the table above during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar periods in 2012 were primarily a result of the factors described in connection with operating revenues and operating expenses above.

 

Other Items

 

 

Pension Remeasurement

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, we recorded net pretax pension remeasurement credits of approximately $0.2 billion in accordance with our accounting policy to recognize actuarial gains and losses in the period in which they occur. The pension remeasurement credits relate to settlements for employees who received lump-sum distributions. The credits were primarily driven by an approximately 75 basis point increase in our discount rate assumption used to determine the current year liabilities of one of our pension plans. The change in discount rate resulted in a gain of $0.3 billion, partially offset by a loss resulting from the difference between our expected return on assets assumption of 7.5% at December 31, 2012 and our annualized actual return on assets of 7.2% at June 30, 2013, as well as other losses ($0.1 billion). Our weighted-average discount rate assumption increased from 4.2% at December 31, 2012 to 5.0% at June 30, 2013.

In accordance with our accounting policy for pension and other postretirement benefits, in the third and fourth quarters of 2013 we expect to remeasure our pension assets and liabilities based on updated actuarial assumptions. These remeasurements could result in significant charges or credits to one or more of our pension plans.

The Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA non-GAAP measure presented in the Consolidated Operating Income and EBITDA discussion (See “Consolidated Results of Operations”) excludes the pension remeasurement presented above.

 

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Consolidated Financial Condition

 

 

    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

       
(dollars in millions)    2013     2012     Change  

Cash Flows Provided By (Used In)

      

Operating activities

   $ 17,148     $ 15,271     $ 1,877  

Investing activities

     (7,835     (7,584     (251

Financing activities

     (10,618     (11,048     430  
  

 

 

 

Increase (Decrease) In Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ (1,305   $ (3,361   $   2,056  
  

 

 

 

We use the net cash generated from our operations to fund network expansion and modernization, repay external financing, pay dividends, repurchase Verizon common stock from time to time and invest in new businesses. Our sources of funds, primarily from operations and, to the extent necessary, from external financing arrangements, are sufficient to meet ongoing operating and investing requirements. We expect that our capital spending requirements will continue to be financed primarily through internally generated funds. Debt or equity financing may be needed to fund additional investments or development activities or to maintain an appropriate capital structure to ensure our financial flexibility. Our cash and cash equivalents are primarily held domestically in diversified accounts and are invested to maintain principal and liquidity. Accordingly, we do not have significant exposure to foreign currency fluctuations.

The volatility in world debt and equity markets has not had a significant effect on our ability to access external financing. Our available external financing arrangements include the issuance of commercial paper, credit available under credit facilities and other bank lines of credit, vendor financing arrangements, issuances of registered debt or equity securities and privately-placed capital market securities. As of June 30, 2013, we had available for issuance under our current shelf registration statement unsecured debt or equity securities with an aggregate offering price of up to $5.5 billion. We may also issue short-term debt through an active commercial paper program and have a $6.2 billion credit facility to support such commercial paper issuances.

 

Cash Flows Provided By Operating Activities

 

Our primary source of funds continues to be cash generated from operations. Net cash provided by operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2013 increased by $1.9 billion compared to the similar period in 2012 primarily due to higher consolidated earnings, and to a lesser extent, lower pension contributions.

 

Cash Flows Used In Investing Activities

 

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures continue to be our primary use of capital resources as they facilitate the introduction of new products and services, enhance responsiveness to competitive challenges and increase the operating efficiency and productivity of our networks.

Capital expenditures, including capitalized software, were as follows:

 

    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
(dollars in millions)    2013     2012  

Wireless

   $ 4,270     $ 3,933  

Wireline

     2,949       3,133  

Other

     397       364  
  

 

 

 
   $   7,616     $   7,430  
  

 

 

 

Total as a percentage of revenue

     12.9     13.1

The increase in capital expenditures during the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012 was primarily due to the continued build-out of our 4G LTE network, partially offset by lower capital expenditures at Wireline.

 

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Cash Flows Used In Financing Activities

 

We seek to maintain a mix of fixed and variable rate debt to lower borrowing costs within reasonable risk parameters and to protect against earnings and cash flow volatility resulting from changes in market conditions. During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, net cash used in financing activities was $10.6 billion and $11.0 billion, respectively.

During March 2013, we issued $0.5 billion aggregate principal amount of floating rate notes due 2015 in a private placement resulting in cash proceeds of approximately $0.5 billion, net of discounts and issuance costs. The proceeds were used for the repayment of commercial paper.

During April 2013, $1.25 billion of 5.25% Verizon Communications Notes matured and were repaid. During May 2013, $0.1 billion of 7.0% Verizon New York Inc. Debentures matured and were repaid. During June 2013, $0.5 billion of 4.375% Verizon Communications Notes and $0.1 billion of 7.0% Verizon New York Inc. Debentures matured and were repaid. In addition, during June 2013, we redeemed $0.25 billion of 7.15% Verizon Maryland LLC Debentures at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of the debentures.

Credit Facility and Shelf Registration

As of June 30, 2013, the unused borrowing capacity under a $6.2 billion four-year credit facility, maturing on August 12, 2016, with a group of major financial institutions was approximately $6.1 billion. The credit facility does not require us to comply with financial covenants or maintain specified credit ratings, and it permits us to borrow even if our business has incurred a material adverse change. We use the credit facility to support the issuance of commercial paper, for the issuance of letters of credit and for general corporate purposes.

As of June 30, 2013, we had available for issuance under our current shelf registration statement unsecured debt or equity securities with an aggregate offering price of up to $5.5 billion.

Dividends

As in prior periods, dividend payments were a significant use of capital resources. During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, we paid $2.9 billion and $2.6 billion in dividends, respectively.

Common Stock

During the first quarter of 2013, we repurchased $0.2 billion of our common stock, as part of our previously announced share buyback program. There were no such repurchases during the second quarter of 2013.

Covenants

Our credit agreements contain covenants that are typical for large, investment grade companies. These covenants include requirements to pay interest and principal in a timely fashion, pay taxes, maintain insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies, preserve our corporate existence, keep appropriate books and records of financial transactions, maintain our properties, provide financial and other reports to our lenders, limit pledging and disposition of assets and mergers and consolidations, and other similar covenants.

We and our consolidated subsidiaries are in compliance with all debt covenants.

Special Distribution

In May 2013, the Board of Representatives of Verizon Wireless declared a distribution to its owners, which was paid in the second quarter of 2013 in proportion to their partnership interests on the payment date, in the aggregate amount of $7.0 billion. As a result, Vodafone received a cash payment of $3.15 billion and the remainder of the distribution was received by Verizon.

 

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Increase (Decrease) In Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Our Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2013 totaled $1.8 billion, a $1.3 billion decrease compared to Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2012 for the reasons discussed above.

As of June 30, 2013, Wireless cash and cash equivalents and debt outstanding totaled $0.3 billion and $10.1 billion, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, Wireless cash and cash equivalents and debt outstanding totaled $0.8 billion and $10.1 billion, respectively.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that management believes is useful to investors and other users of Verizon’s financial information in evaluating cash available to pay debt and dividends. Free cash flow is calculated by subtracting capital expenditures from net cash provided by operating activities. The following table reconciles Net cash provided by operating activities to Free cash flow:

 

    

Six Months Ended

June 30,

        
(dollars in millions)    2013      2012      Change  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $   17,148      $   15,271      $   1,877  

Less Capital expenditures (including capitalized software)

     7,616        7,430        186  
  

 

 

 

Free cash flow

   $ 9,532      $ 7,841      $ 1,691  
  

 

 

 

The change in Free cash flow during the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the similar period in 2012 was a result of the factors described in connection with Net cash provided by operating activities and Capital expenditures above.

 

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Market Risk

 

We are exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course of business, including the effects of interest rate changes, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in investment, equity and commodity prices and changes in corporate tax rates. We employ risk management strategies, which may include the use of a variety of derivatives including cross currency swaps, foreign currency and prepaid forwards and collars, interest rate swap agreements, commodity swap and forward agreements and interest rate locks. We do not hold derivatives for trading purposes.

It is our general policy to enter into interest rate, foreign currency and other derivative transactions only to the extent necessary to achieve our desired objectives in limiting our exposure to various market risks. Our objectives include maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt to lower borrowing costs within reasonable risk parameters and to protect against earnings and cash flow volatility resulting from changes in market conditions. We do not hedge our market risk exposure in a manner that would completely eliminate the effect of changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates on our earnings. We do not expect that our net income, liquidity and cash flows will be materially affected by these risk management strategies.

The functional currency for our foreign operations is primarily the local currency. The translation of income statement and balance sheet amounts of our foreign operations into U.S. dollars are recorded as cumulative translation adjustments, which are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of income in Other income, net. At June 30, 2013, our primary translation exposure was to the British Pound Sterling, the Euro, the Indian Rupee, the Australian Dollar and the Japanese Yen.

We are exposed to changes in interest rates, primarily on our short-term debt and the portion of long-term debt that carries floating interest rates. As of June 30, 2013, substantially all of the aggregate principal amount of our total debt portfolio consisted of fixed rate indebtedness. The interest rates on our existing long-term debt obligations are unaffected by changes to our credit ratings.

Cross Currency Swaps

Verizon Wireless previously entered into cross currency swaps designated as cash flow hedges to exchange approximately $1.6 billion of British Pound Sterling and Euro-denominated debt into U.S. dollars and to fix our future interest and principal payments in U.S. dollars, as well as to mitigate the effect of foreign currency transaction gains or losses. A portion of the gains and losses recognized in Other comprehensive income was reclassified to Other income, net to offset the related pretax foreign currency transaction gain or loss on the underlying debt obligations. The fair value of the outstanding swaps was not material at June 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, an immaterial pretax gain and a pretax loss of $0.1 billion, respectively, were recognized in Other comprehensive income. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, pretax losses of $0.1 billion and an immaterial amount, respectively, were recognized in Other comprehensive income.

 

Wireless License Transactions

 

During the first quarter of 2013, we completed license exchange transactions with T-Mobile and Cricket License Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless, to exchange certain AWS licenses. These non-cash exchanges include a number of intra-market swaps that will enable Verizon Wireless to make more efficient use of the AWS band. As a result of these exchanges, we received an aggregate $0.5 billion of AWS licenses at fair value and recorded an immaterial gain.

On April 18, 2012, we announced plans to initiate an open sale process for all of our 700 MHz lower A and B block spectrum licenses, subject to the receipt of acceptable bids. We acquired these licenses as part of FCC Auction 73 in 2008. On January 25, 2013, Verizon Wireless agreed to sell 39 lower 700 MHz B block spectrum licenses to AT&T in exchange for a payment of $1.9 billion and the transfer by AT&T to Verizon Wireless of AWS (10 MHz) licenses in certain markets in the western United States. Verizon Wireless also agreed to sell certain lower 700 MHz B block spectrum licenses to an investment firm for a payment of $0.2 billion. These transactions are subject to approval by the FCC. As a result of these agreements, $2.3 billion of Wireless licenses are classified as held for sale and included in Prepaid expenses and other on our condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2013. When finalized, the sales will complete the open sale process. We expect to deploy the remaining licenses as necessary to meet our own spectrum needs.

 

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Table of Contents

Other Factors That May Affect Future Results

 

 

Regulatory and Competitive Trends

 

There have been no material changes to Regulatory and Competitive Trends as previously disclosed in Part II. Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

Environmental Matters

 

During 2003, under a government-approved plan, remediation commenced at the site of a former Sylvania facility in Hicksville, New York that processed nuclear fuel rods in the 1950s and 1960s. Remediation beyond original expectations proved to be necessary and a reassessment of the anticipated remediation costs was conducted. A reassessment of costs related to remediation efforts at several other former facilities was also undertaken. In September 2005, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) accepted the Hicksville site into the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. This may result in the ACE performing some or all of the remediation effort for the Hicksville site with a corresponding decrease in costs to Verizon. To the extent that the ACE assumes responsibility for remedial work at the Hicksville site, an adjustment to a reserve previously established for the remediation may be made. Adjustments to the reserve may also be made based upon actual conditions discovered during the remediation at this or any other site requiring remediation.

 

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Table of Contents

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

In this report we have made forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “hopes” or similar expressions. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The following important factors, along with those discussed elsewhere in this report could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:

 

   

adverse conditions in the U.S. and international economies;

 

   

competition in our markets;

 

   

material changes in available technology or technology substitution;

 

   

disruption of our key suppliers’ provisioning of products or services;

 

   

changes in the regulatory environments in which we operate, including any increase in restrictions on our ability to operate our networks;

 

   

breaches of network or information technology security, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or significant litigation and any resulting financial impact not covered by insurance;

 

   

an adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations or adverse conditions in the credit markets affecting the cost, including interest rates, and/or availability of financing;

 

   

changes in our accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could affect earnings;

 

   

material adverse changes in labor matters, including labor negotiations, and any resulting financial and/or operational impact;

 

   

significant increases in benefit plan costs or lower investment returns on plan assets; and

 

   

the inability to implement our business strategies.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Information relating to market risk is included in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under the caption “Market Risk.”

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2013.

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting during the second quarter of 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Part II - Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

On September 15, 2010, the U.S. Bank National Association (U.S. Bank), as Litigation Trustee for the Idearc Inc. Litigation Trust (Litigation Trust), filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas against Verizon and certain subsidiaries challenging the November 2006 spin-off of Verizon’s former directories business then known as Idearc Inc. U.S. Bank, which represents a group of creditors who filed claims in Idearc’s bankruptcy, alleged that Idearc was insolvent at the time of the spin-off or became insolvent shortly thereafter. The Litigation Trust sought over $9 billion in damages. Following a two-week trial in October 2012 limited to the question of the value of Idearc Inc. on the date of the spin-off, on January 22, 2013, the Court issued a decision finding that the value was “at least $12 billion.” As $12 billion exceeds the value of the debt and cash that Idearc transferred to Verizon on the date of the spin-off, the Court issued a related Order to Show Cause directing the Litigation Trust to submit a brief that “explains why any (or all) of its legal claims are viable in light of the court’s finding on Idearc’s value.” In its June 18, 2013 decision, the Court entered judgment for Verizon and its subsidiaries and ruled that U.S. Bank would “take nothing” on its claims. U.S. Bank’s counsel has filed a notice of appeal.

On October 25, 2011, a Litigation Trust created during the bankruptcy proceedings of FairPoint Communications, Inc. filed a complaint in state court in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, against Verizon and other related entities. The complaint claims that FairPoint’s acquisition of Verizon’s landline operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in March 2008 was structured and carried out in a way that left FairPoint insolvent or led to its insolvency shortly thereafter and ultimately to its October 2009 bankruptcy. The Litigation Trust seeks approximately $2 billion in damages. Verizon removed the case to the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in November 2011. At the close of discovery in February 2012, Verizon filed a summary judgment motion to dismiss the two counts in the complaint – constructive fraudulent transfer and actual fraudulent transfer. At a hearing in April 2013, the judge originally assigned to the case recused himself due to a conflict of interest and the case was reassigned. On June 12, 2013, the Court granted Verizon’s summary judgment motion in part, dismissing the Litigation Trust’s constructive fraudulent transfer claim. A two-week bench trial limited to the actual fraudulent transfer claim is set for December 2, 2013.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to our risk factors as previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Verizon did not repurchase any shares of Verizon common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2013. At June 30, 2013, the maximum number of shares that could be purchased by or on behalf of Verizon under our share buyback program was 96.5 million.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

12    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document.
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document.
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 

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Signature

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Date: July 25, 2013     By   /s/ Anthony T. Skiadas
           Anthony T. Skiadas
           Senior Vice President and Controller
           (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

12    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document.
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document.
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 

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