Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ)
today announced the commencement of private offers to exchange the
8 outstanding series of notes listed in the table below and
maturing from 2024 through 2026 (collectively, the “Old Notes”), in
each case, for newly issued notes of Verizon due 2032 (the “New
Notes”) (the “Exchange Offers”), on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in an offering memorandum dated September 2,
2021 (the “Offering Memorandum”). The Offering Memorandum and the
accompanying eligibility letter constitute the “Exchange Offer
Documents”. Only holders who have duly completed and returned an
eligibility letter certifying that they are either (1) “qualified
institutional buyers” (“QIBs”) (as defined in Rule 144A under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) or (2)
non-“U.S. persons” (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities
Act) located outside of the United States and who are not acting
for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person and are “Non-U.S.
qualified offerees” (as defined in the eligibility letter) are
authorized to receive the Offering Memorandum and to participate in
the Exchange Offers (each such holder, an “Eligible Holder”).
The Exchange Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on
October 1, 2021, unless extended or earlier terminated (such date
and time with respect to an Exchange Offer, as the same may be
extended with respect to such Exchange Offer, the “Expiration
Date”). To be eligible to receive the applicable Total Exchange
Price (as defined below), which includes the applicable Early
Participation Payment (as defined below), Eligible Holders must
validly tender their Old Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern
time) on September 16, 2021, unless extended or earlier terminated
(such date and time with respect to an Exchange Offer, as the same
may be extended with respect to such Exchange Offer, the “Early
Participation Date”). Eligible Holders who validly tender their Old
Notes after the applicable Early Participation Date, but at or
prior to the applicable Expiration Date, will be eligible to
receive the applicable Exchange Price for any such series accepted,
which is equal to the Total Exchange Price minus the applicable
Early Participation Payment. Verizon will pay both the Total
Exchange Price and the Exchange Price by issuing the applicable
principal amount of New Notes. All Eligible Holders whose Old Notes
are accepted in an Exchange Offer will also receive a cash payment
equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on such Old Notes to, but
excluding, the relevant settlement date (as described below) (the
“Accrued Coupon Payment”) in addition to the Total Exchange Price
or Exchange Price, as applicable, payable for such Old Notes. The
Accrued Coupon Payment for any Old Notes exchanged for New Notes at
the Final Settlement Date (as defined below), if any, will be
reduced to offset any interest accrued on such New Notes from the
applicable Early Settlement Date (as defined below), as further
described in the Offering Memorandum.
Old Notes may be validly withdrawn at any time at or prior to
5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on September 16, 2021, unless extended or
earlier terminated, but not thereafter.
Verizon is offering to accept for exchange validly tendered Old
Notes using a “waterfall” methodology under which such Old Notes of
different series will be accepted in the order of their respective
Acceptance Priority Levels as listed in the table below, subject to
a $3.5 billion cap on the maximum aggregate principal amount of New
Notes that Verizon will issue in all of the Exchange Offers (the
“New Notes Cap”). However, subject to applicable law, Verizon, in
its sole discretion, has the option to waive or increase the New
Notes Cap at any time.
The Exchange Offers are subject to the terms and conditions
described in the Offering Memorandum, including (i) the Acceptance
Priority Procedures (as described below), (ii) the New Notes Cap
and (iii) only with respect to any validly tendered Old Notes to be
settled after the applicable Early Settlement Date, a tax
condition, which is satisfied as long as Verizon determines, in its
reasonable judgment, that it is highly likely that the New Notes
issuable in exchange for such Old Notes will be issued in a
“qualified reopening” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as
determined on the applicable Expiration Date (the “Tax Condition”).
In addition, the Exchange Offers are subject to a minimum issue
requirement, pursuant to which at the Early Participation Date, the
aggregate principal amount of New Notes to be issued on the Early
Settlement Date must be at least $1.0 billion (the “Minimum Issue
Requirement”). Verizon may not waive the Tax Condition or the
Minimum Issue Requirement.
Provided that all conditions to the Exchange Offers have been
satisfied or waived by Verizon by the applicable Early
Participation Date, all Old Notes validly tendered at or prior to
the applicable Early Participation Date and accepted for exchange
in such Exchange Offers will be settled on the second business day
after the applicable Early Participation Date (the “Early
Settlement Date”). The “Final Settlement Date,” if any, is the date
on which Verizon will settle all Old Notes validly tendered and
accepted for exchange in such Exchange Offers, and not previously
settled on the Early Settlement Date. The Final Settlement Date is
expected to be the second business day after the applicable
Expiration Date, unless extended with respect to any Exchange
Offer.
Exchange Offers
On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Offering Memorandum, Verizon is offering to exchange the following
outstanding notes for the New Notes in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed the New Notes Cap (subject to any waiver or
increase in such New Notes Cap at Verizon’s discretion) as
described below:
Acceptance Priority Level |
CUSIP Number(s) |
Title of Security |
Principal Amount Outstanding |
Early Participation
Payment(1) |
Reference U.S. Treasury
Security(2) |
Bloomberg Reference Page |
Fixed Spread (basis points)
(2) |
Floating Rate Note Total Exchange
Price(3) |
1 |
92343VBY9 |
4.150% notes due 2024 |
$610,372,000 |
$50 |
0.250% due Mar. 15, 2024 |
FIT5 |
+25 |
N/A |
2 |
92343VGF5 |
0.750% notes due 2024 |
$1,750,000,000 |
$50 |
0.250% due Mar. 15, 2024 |
FIT5 |
+10 |
N/A |
3 |
92343VGD0 |
Floating Rate notes due 2024 |
$750,000,000 |
$50 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
$1,011.25 |
4 |
92343VCR3 |
3.500% notes due 2024 |
$1,499,188,000 |
$50 |
1.500% due Oct. 31, 2024 |
FIT5 |
+25 |
N/A |
5 |
92343VEN0/ 92343VEB6/U9221AAY4 |
3.376% notes due 2025 |
$2,491,207,000 |
$50 |
2.000% due Feb. 15, 2025 |
FIT5 |
+25 |
N/A |
6 |
92343VFS8 |
0.850% notes due 2025* |
$2,000,000,000 |
$50 |
0.750% due Aug. 31, 2026 |
FIT1 |
+5 |
N/A |
7 |
92343VGG3 |
1.450% notes due 2026* |
$2,750,000,000 |
$50 |
0.750% due Aug. 31, 2026 |
FIT1 |
+25 |
N/A |
8 |
92343VDD3 |
2.625% notes due 2026 |
$2,250,000,000 |
$50 |
0.750% due Aug. 31, 2026 |
FIT1 |
+40 |
N/A |
_____________(1) Payable in principal amount of
New Notes, as part of the applicable Total Exchange Price, per each
$1,000 principal amount of the specified series of Old Notes
validly tendered at or prior to the applicable Early Participation
Date and accepted for exchange (the “Early Participation Payment”).
The total consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of each
series of Old Notes validly tendered at or prior to the applicable
Early Participation Date is referred to as the “Total Exchange
Price” for such series. Eligible Holders who validly tender Old
Notes of a series after the applicable Early Participation Date,
but at or prior to the applicable Expiration Date, will receive the
exchange consideration for any such series accepted by us, which is
equal to the Total Exchange Price minus the applicable Early
Participation Payment (with respect to such series, the “Exchange
Price”).(2) The Total Exchange Price payable per
each $1,000 principal amount of a series of Old Notes validly
tendered for exchange other than the Floating Rate Notes (as
defined below) (the “Fixed Rate Notes”) will be payable in a
specified principal amount of New Notes and will be based on the
fixed spread specified in the table above (the “Fixed Spread”) for
the applicable series of Fixed Rate Notes, plus the yield of the
specified Reference U.S. Treasury Security for that series (as
quoted on the applicable Bloomberg Reference Page listed in the
table above) as of 9:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on September 17, 2021,
unless extended with respect to the applicable Exchange Offer (such
date and time with respect to an Exchange Offer, as the same may be
extended with respect to such Exchange Offer, the “Price
Determination Date”); provided that the Total Exchange Price as
determined in accordance with the procedures described herein shall
in no case be less than 100% of the principal amount of the
applicable Fixed Rate Notes tendered for exchange. The Total
Exchange Price does not include the applicable Accrued Coupon
Payment, which will be payable in cash in addition to the
applicable Total Exchange Price. (3) The Total
Exchange Price payable per each $1,000 principal amount of floating
rate notes due 2024 (the “Floating Rate Notes”) validly tendered
for exchange, which is inclusive of the applicable Early
Participation Payment, will be payable in a specified principal
amount of New Notes. Any Floating Rate Notes validly tendered after
the applicable Early Participation Date, but at or prior to the
applicable Expiration Date, and accepted by us, will receive the
Exchange Price, which is equal to the Total Exchange Price listed
above for the Floating Rate Notes minus the applicable Early
Participation Payment.
* Denotes a
series of Notes for which the calculation of the applicable Total
Exchange Price may be performed using the present value of such
Notes as determined at the applicable Price Determination Date as
if the principal amount of such Notes had been due on the Par Call
Date (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) or, as described in
Annex A to the Offering Memorandum, the scheduled maturity date, in
accordance with standard market practice. See “Description of the
Exchange Offers—Determination of the Total Exchange Price and
Exchange Price” in the Offering Memorandum.
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the
Exchange Offers, the “Acceptance Priority Procedures” will operate
as follows:
- first, if the
aggregate Total Exchange Price of all Old Notes validly tendered at
or prior to the applicable Early Participation Date by Eligible
Holders does not exceed the New Notes Cap, then Verizon will accept
all such Old Notes. However, if the aggregate Total Exchange Price
of all Old Notes validly tendered at or prior to the applicable
Early Participation Date by Eligible Holders exceeds the New Notes
Cap (subject to any increase or waiver in such New Notes Cap at
Verizon’s discretion), then Verizon will (i) accept for exchange
all validly tendered Old Notes of each series starting at the
highest Acceptance Priority Level (level 1) and moving sequentially
to Old Notes of each series having a lower Acceptance Priority
Level (the lowest of which is level 8) until the aggregate Total
Exchange Price of all validly tendered Old Notes of a series,
combined with the aggregate Total Exchange Price of all accepted
Old Notes of series with higher Acceptance Priority Levels, is as
close as possible to, but does not exceed, the New Notes Cap, (ii)
accept on a prorated basis validly tendered Old Notes of the series
with the next lower Acceptance Priority Level and (iii) not accept
for exchange (x) any such Old Notes of a series with an Acceptance
Priority Level below the prorated series or (y) any Old Notes
validly tendered after the applicable Early Participation Date;
and
- second, if the New
Notes Cap is not exceeded at the applicable Early Participation
Date, Verizon will repeat the steps described in the prior bullet
using the Exchange Price with respect to Old Notes validly tendered
after the applicable Early Participation Date, but at or prior to
the applicable Expiration Date, in order to determine the aggregate
principal amount of such Old Notes that Verizon will accept for
exchange. All Old Notes, regardless of Acceptance Priority Level,
that are validly tendered at or prior to the applicable Early
Participation Date will have priority over any Old Notes validly
tendered after the applicable Early Participation Date.
The New Notes will mature on March 15, 2032 and will bear
interest at a rate per annum (the “New Notes Coupon”) that will be
equal to the sum of (a) the yield of the 1.250% U.S. Treasury
Security due August 15, 2031, as calculated by the lead dealer
managers in accordance with standard market practice and as
described in the Offering Memorandum, plus (b) 100 basis points,
such sum rounded to the third decimal place when expressed as a
percentage. Pursuant to the Minimum Issue Requirement, Verizon will
not complete the Exchange Offers if the aggregate principal amount
of New Notes to be issued on the Early Settlement Date would be
less than $1.0 billion.
Promptly after the Price Determination Date, Verizon will issue
a press release specifying, among other things, (i) the Exchange
Offer Yield (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) and the Total
Exchange Price for each series of Fixed Rate Notes, (ii) the New
Notes Coupon, (iii) the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes
validly tendered at or prior to the applicable Early Participation
Date and accepted for exchange in each Exchange Offer, (iv) the
proration factor (if any) to be applied and (v) the aggregate
principal amount of New Notes to be issued on the applicable Early
Settlement Date.
Registration of the New Notes
If and when issued, the New Notes will not be registered under
the Securities Act or any other laws. Therefore, the New Notes may
not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or
an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Verizon
will enter into a registration rights agreement with respect to the
New Notes.
Global Bondholder Services Corporation will act as the
Information Agent and the Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offers.
Questions or requests for assistance related to the Exchange
Offers, including for assistance in completing an eligibility
letter, or for additional copies of the Exchange Offer Documents
may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (866)
470-3800 (toll free) or (212) 430-3774 (collect). You may also
contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or
other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offers. The
eligibility letter for the Exchange Offers can be accessed at the
following link https://www.gbsc-usa.com/eligibility/verizon.
If Verizon terminates any Exchange Offer with respect to one or
more series of Old Notes, it will give prompt notice to the
Exchange Agent and all Old Notes tendered pursuant to such
terminated Exchange Offer will be returned promptly to the
tendering holders thereof. With effect from such termination, any
Old Notes blocked in the Depositary Trust Company will be
released.
Eligible Holders are advised to check with any bank,
securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Old
Notes as to when such intermediary needs to receive instructions
from a holder in order for that holder to be able to participate
in, or (in the circumstances in which revocation is permitted)
revoke their instruction to participate in, the Exchange Offers
before the deadlines specified herein and in the Exchange Offer
Documents, as applicable. The deadlines set by any such
intermediary and each clearing system for the submission and
withdrawal of exchange instructions will also be earlier than the
relevant deadlines specified herein and in the Exchange Offer
Documents, as applicable.
This announcement is for informational purposes only. This
announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an
offer to purchase any Old Notes. The Exchange Offers are being made
solely pursuant to the Offering Memorandum and related documents.
The Exchange Offers are not being made to holders of Old Notes in
any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would
not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of
such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws
or blue sky laws require the Exchange Offers to be made by a
licensed broker or dealer, the Exchange Offers will be deemed to be
made on behalf of Verizon by the dealer managers or one or more
registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of
such jurisdiction.
This communication has not been approved by an authorized person
for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and
Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, this
communication is not being directed at persons within the United
Kingdom save in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does
not apply.
In particular, this communication is only addressed to and
directed at: (A) in any Member State of the European Economic Area,
qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus
Regulation, (B) in the United Kingdom, qualified investors within
the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation and (C) (i) persons
that are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) persons in the United
Kingdom falling within the definition of investment professionals
(as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Financial Promotion
Order”)) or within Article 43 of the Financial Promotion Order, or
to high net worth companies, and other persons to whom financial
promotions may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article
49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order (such persons
together being “relevant persons”). The New Notes are only
available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe,
purchase or otherwise acquire such New Notes will be engaged in
only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant
person should not act or rely on either the Offering Memorandum or
any of its contents. For purposes of the foregoing, the “Prospectus
Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the “UK Prospectus
Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of
domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
In this communication Verizon has made forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical
facts, but only predictions and generally can be identified by use
of statements that include phrases such as “will,” “may,” “should,”
“continue,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “appear,”
“project,” “estimate,” “intend,” or other words or phrases of
similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives,
plans or goals also are forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
which could cause actual results to differ materially from those
currently anticipated, including those discussed under the heading
“Risk Factors” contained in the Offering Memorandum and under
similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by
reference into the Offering Memorandum. Eligible Holders are urged
to consider these risks and uncertainties carefully in evaluating
the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking
statements included in this press release are made only as of the
date of this press release, and Verizon undertakes no obligation to
update publicly these forward-looking statements to reflect new
information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events might or
might not occur. Verizon cannot assure you that projected results
or events will be achieved.
Media contact:Eric
Wilkens201-572-9317eric.wilkens@verizon.com
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