Document


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K
(Mark one):

☒    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

OR

☐    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____ to _____
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-8606

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN
FOR WEST REGION HOURLY EMPLOYEES
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
1095 Avenue of the Americas
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
 






VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR WEST REGION HOURLY EMPLOYEES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page(s)

 
1

 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
 
2
 
 
3
 
 
4 - 16
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE *
 
 
 
17
 
 
18
 
 
 
 
 
23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 
* All other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 are omitted as not applicable or not required.




mitchelltitusllplogoa02.jpg
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Verizon Employee Benefits Committee and plan participants
Verizon Savings and Security Plan for West Region Hourly Employees

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Verizon Savings and Security Plan for West Region Hourly Employees (the Plan) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).

In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Supplemental Information

The supplemental information in the accompanying schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2017 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

/s/ Mitchell & Titus, LLP

We have served as the Plan’s auditor since 2002.

New York, New York

June 27, 2018
 
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, NY 10004
T +1 212 709 4500
F +1 212 709 4680
mitchelltitus.com

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VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR WEST REGION HOURLY EMPLOYEES
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016
(in thousands of dollars)

 
 
2017
 
2016
Assets
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
 
$
380,290

 
$
386,222

Investments at contract value
 
33,022

 
35,101

Notes receivable from participants
 
5,157

 
5,886

Employer contribution receivable
 
69

 
20

Net assets available for benefits
 
$
418,538

 
$
427,229

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


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VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR WEST REGION HOURLY EMPLOYEES
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
(in thousands of dollars)

 
 
Additions:
 
     Participant contributions
$
3,712

     Employer contributions
1,835

  Total contributions
5,547

 
 
  Net investment gain from investments in Master Trusts
35,966

  Interest income on notes receivables from participants
220

  Transfers from other plans and other, net
2,654

Total additions
44,387

 
 
Deductions:
 
  Benefits paid to participants
52,502

  Administrative expenses
576

Total deductions
53,078

 
 
Net change
(8,691
)
 
 
Net assets available for benefits
 
  Beginning of year
427,229

  End of year
$
418,538

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


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VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR WEST REGION HOURLY EMPLOYEES
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2017

1. Description of the Plan

The following description of the Verizon Savings and Security Plan for West Region Hourly Employees (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description and Plan Document for a complete description of the Plan’s provisions. The Plan is a defined contribution plan subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).
Eligibility
The Plan provides eligible employees, as defined by the Plan Document, of Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon” or “Plan sponsor”) and certain of its subsidiaries (“Participating Affiliates”) with a convenient way to save for both short-term and long-term needs.
Covered employees are eligible to make before-tax and/or after-tax contributions to the Plan and to receive matching employer contributions upon completion of enrollment in the Plan as soon as practicable following the date of hire. Beginning June 1, 2013, covered employees in certain bargaining groups who are not eligible to earn pension benefits and who are employed by Verizon or its Participating Affiliates on the last day of the year in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement, may receive employer annual discretionary awards (“profit sharing contributions”) under the Plan.
An individual’s active participation in the Plan shall terminate when the individual ceases to be an eligible employee; however, the individual shall remain a participant until the entire account balance under the Plan has been distributed or forfeited.
Investment Options
Participants direct their contributions to be invested in any of the current investment options.
Participant Accounts
Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions, rollovers, employer-matching contributions, profit sharing contributions, and allocations of Plan income. Allocations of Plan income are based on participant account balances. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.

Vesting

A participant shall be fully vested in the employer-matching and profit sharing contributions allocated to his or her account or Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) account and any income thereon upon completing three years of vesting service or upon death, disability, retirement from Verizon or its Participating Affiliates, attainment of normal retirement age, or involuntary termination (other than for cause or in connection with a business transaction).


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Forfeitures

A terminated employee’s non-vested employer-matching and profit sharing contributions are forfeited and offset against subsequent employer-matching and profit sharing contributions to the Plan. Forfeitures used to reduce employer-matching contributions were $19 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2017. The balance in the forfeiture account was $0.8 million and $0.7 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Contributions

The Plan is funded by participant contributions up to a maximum of 25% of compensation, by profit sharing contributions, and by employer-matching contributions in shares of Verizon common stock equal to a percentage specified by the Plan or the participant’s collective bargaining agreement, as applicable. For participants eligible to earn pension benefits, the matching contribution percentage may not exceed 82% of the initial 6% of the participants’ contributions of eligible compensation for each payroll period during the Plan year. Beginning June 1, 2013 for participants in certain bargaining groups who are not eligible to earn pension benefits, the matching contribution percentage is 100% of the initial 6% of the participants’ contributions of eligible compensation for each payroll period during the Plan year. Participants attaining the age of 50 or older can elect to make additional before-tax catch-up contributions to the Plan. Beginning June 1, 2013, Verizon and its Participating Affiliates may make a discretionary, performance-based profit sharing contribution to the Plan in an amount up to 3% of each eligible participant’s eligible compensation for the Plan year. Eligible participants are those in certain bargaining groups who are not eligible to earn pension benefits and who are employed by Verizon or its Participating Affiliates on the last day of the year in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
Participant contributions may be made on a before-tax basis (“elective contributions”) or from currently taxed compensation (“after-tax contributions”). Each participant’s elective contributions for the 2017 Plan year were limited to $18,000. For 2017, the total amount of elective contributions, after-tax contributions, employer-matching contributions and certain forfeitures that may be allocated to a Plan participant was limited to the lesser of (1) $54,000 or (2) 100% of the participant’s total compensation; and the compensation on which such contributions were based was limited to $270,000. The catch-up contribution limit is $6,000 for eligible participants.
Employer-matching contributions are made in Verizon common stock. Employer profit sharing contributions may be made in cash or in Verizon common stock as determined by Verizon. The Verizon common stock is held by the Plan in a unitized fund, which means participants do not actually own shares of Verizon common stock but rather own an interest in the unitized fund. For the year ended December 31, 2017, total employer-matching and profit sharing contributions of 38 thousand shares of Verizon common stock were made with a fair value at the date of contribution of $1.8 million, of which $69 thousand represents the 2017 discretionary profit sharing contribution.
Participants age 50 and older with one year of service are permitted to redirect up to 50% of these employer-matching contributions (100% after attaining age 55 or retiring). A participant who has completed at least three years of service or who has retired may transfer employer-matching contributions made on or after January 1, 2007 to any other investment option or options under the Plan. The same diversification rules apply to profit sharing contributions made or considered made in Verizon common stock. A participant may transfer all or a portion of employer-matching contributions (and related earnings) made before January 1, 2007 to any other investment option or options under the Plan. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the non-participant directed net assets invested in Verizon common stock were insignificant.

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Notes Receivable from Participants
The Plan includes an employee loan provision authorizing participants to borrow an aggregate amount generally not exceeding the lesser of (1) $50,000 or (2) 50% of their vested account balances in the Plan, subject to certain limitations. Loans are generally repaid by payroll deductions. The general term of repayment for loans is a minimum of six months and a maximum of five years (fifteen years for a loan to purchase a principal residence). Each new loan will bear interest at a rate based upon the prime rate as of the last business day of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the calendar quarter in which the loan is made. Participant loans have been classified as “Notes receivable from participants” in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits. Interest rates range from 3.25% to 9.50% for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Payment of Benefits
Benefits are recorded when paid. Benefits are payable in a lump sum cash payment unless a participant elects, in writing, one of the following three optional forms of benefit payment: (1) payment in Verizon shares for investments in the Verizon Company Stock Fund or the ESOP Shares Fund, with the balance in cash; (2) annual, semiannual, quarterly, or monthly installments in cash of approximately equal amounts to be paid out for a period of 2 to 20 years, as selected by the participant; or (3) for those participants eligible to receive their distribution in installments as described in (2) above, a pro rata portion of each installment payment in Verizon shares for investments in the Verizon Company Stock Fund or the ESOP Shares Fund, with the balance of each installment in cash.

Administrative Expenses
Plan administrative fees may include legal, accounting, trustee, recordkeeping, and other administrative fees and expenses associated with maintaining the Plan. The cost of administering the Plan is paid by participants through a combination of fees allocated to each participant’s account and fees that are paid as part of the investment fees that are allocated to the Plan’s investment options. Participants are provided with a detailed schedule of fees in the annual disclosure notice.
Master Trusts and Trustees
The Plan holds interests in the net assets of the Verizon Master Savings Trust (the “Master Trust”) and the net assets of the defined contribution account in the Bell Atlantic Master Trust (referred to collectively as the “Master Trusts”).
Fidelity Management Trust Company (the “Trustee” or “Fidelity”) has been designated as the trustee and record keeper of the Verizon Master Savings Trust and is responsible for the control and disbursement of the funds and portfolios of the Plan. The Trustee is also responsible for the investment and reinvestment of the funds and portfolios of the Plan, except to the extent that it is directed by Verizon Investment Management Corp. (“VIMCO”) or by third-party investment managers appointed by VIMCO.
The Bell Atlantic Master Trust holds both defined benefit and defined contribution assets, which are either pooled between defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans, or specific defined benefit plans, or specific defined contribution plans. The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”) is the trustee of the Bell Atlantic Master Trust.
Plan Modification and Plan Termination
The Board of Directors of Verizon may amend, terminate or partially terminate the Plan at any time. The most senior Human Resources officer of Verizon also has the right to modify, alter or amend the Plan at any time subject to collective bargaining requirements. The chief legal counsel to the Verizon Employee Benefits Committee may amend the Plan for changes required by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) in connection with a determination letter or

- 6 -



voluntary compliance application. No amendment may permit any of the assets held pursuant to the Plan to be used for any purpose other than for the exclusive benefit of Plan participants and their beneficiaries or for paying reasonable expenses of administering the Plan. In the event the Plan terminates, participants will become fully vested in their accounts.

2. Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).
Use of Estimates
U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements, accompanying notes and supplemental schedule. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable from participants represent participant loans that are recorded at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income on notes receivable from participants is recorded when it is earned. Related fees are recorded as administrative expenses and are expensed when they are incurred. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2017 or 2016. A participant loan is in default if loan repayments are delinquent beyond the end of the Plan’s grace period. Defaulted loans are treated as an offset distribution or deemed distribution for tax purposes and become taxable income to the participant in the year in which the default occurs. In the case of an offset distribution, the participant loan balance is reduced and a distribution is recorded on the participant’s account.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In February 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued the Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-06, “Employee Benefit Plan Master Trust Reporting.” This ASU requires an employee benefit plan to disclose the plan’s percentage interest in a master trust and a list of the investments held by the master trust, presented by general type, within the plan’s financial statements. This ASU also removes the requirement to disclose the plan’s overall percentage interest in a master trust for plans with divided interests and requires that all plans disclose the dollar amount of their interest in each general type of investment. In addition, the ASU requires the disclosure of the master trust’s other asset and liability balances and the dollar amount of the plan’s interest in each of those balances. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and will be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Plan sponsor is currently evaluating the impact that this ASU will have on the presentation of the financial statements and disclosures.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
The Plan’s interests in the Master Trusts are stated at fair value (except for Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts (“FBRICs”) which are reported at contract value). The Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits reflects the net investment gain from the Plan’s interests in the Master Trusts which consists of the realized gains or losses and the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) in fair value, or contract value of those investments,

- 7 -



as well as interest and dividends earned. Purchases and sales of investments are reflected as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the basis of average cost. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest earned on investments is recorded on the accrual basis. Net appreciation/(depreciation) includes gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan provides investment options for participants, who can invest in combinations of stocks, fixed income securities, and other investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market, equity price, and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in these financial statements.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The three-tier hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value, which prioritizes the inputs used in the methodologies of measuring fair value for assets and liabilities, is as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities
Level 3 – Unobservable pricing inputs in the market for assets and liabilities
Financial assets and financial liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Plan sponsor’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured and their categorization within the fair value hierarchy. Valuation techniques maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

3. Investments in Master Trusts
The Plan’s interests in the net assets of the Master Trusts at December 31, 2017 and 2016 were approximately 1.3% and 1.4%, respectively. This percentage is based on a pro rata share of the assets in the Master Trusts, which may include receivables and payables from unsettled trades and accrued income and expenses.
The defined contribution net investments in the Bell Atlantic Master Trust are held in a unitized commingled account measured at net asset value (“NAV”) per share, as a practical expedient. The net investments are reflected as “Investments measured at NAV” presented as a component of the “Total investments at fair value” below. The net investments were valued at $162.8 million and $139.8 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, of which the Plan held an interest of approximately 0.1% in both years.
The Plan’s participating interest in the investment funds of the Master Trusts is based on account balances of the participants and their elected investment funds. The net assets of the Master Trusts are allocated by assigning to each plan participating in the Master Trusts those transactions that can be specifically identified as related to the plan, such as contributions, benefit payments, and plan-specific expenses. The income and expenses resulting from the

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collective investments of the Master Trusts’ assets are allocated in proportion to the fair value of the assets assigned to such plan.
On a monthly basis, investments, investment income and expenses are allocated to the Plans in accordance with their proportionate interest in the Master Trusts. Investment fees are charged against the earnings of the funds and portfolios.
The Plan’s interest in the fair value of the investments in the Master Trusts and the related investment gains are reported in “Investments at fair value” and “Net investment gain from investments in Master Trusts” in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits and in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, respectively.
The accounting records of the Master Trusts are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange at the end of each accounting period, with the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates reflected as an unrealized gain or loss in the fair value of the investments.
Cash receipts and payments derived from investment trades involving foreign currency denominated investments are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the respective transaction date. Net realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions result from the disposition of foreign currency denominated investments as a result of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates between the trade and settlement dates and the difference between the amount of net investment income accrued and the U.S. dollar amount actually received.
The foreign exchange effect on foreign currency denominated investments is not segregated from the impact of changes in market prices in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.

Valuation of Investments
Cash and cash equivalents include short-term investment funds (less than 90 days to maturity), primarily in diversified portfolios of investment grade money market instruments, and are valued using quoted market prices or other valuation methods. The carrying value of cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these investments.
Investments in securities traded on national and foreign securities exchanges are valued by the custodian at the last reported sale prices on the last business day of the year or, if no sales were reported on that date, at the last reported bid prices. Government obligations, corporate bonds, international bonds and asset-backed securities are valued using matrix prices with input from independent third-party valuation sources. Over-the-counter securities are valued at the bid and ask prices or the average of the bid and ask prices on the last business day of the year from published sources or, if not available, from other sources considered reliable such as multiple broker quotes.
Commingled funds not traded on national exchanges are valued by the custodian or fund administrator at their NAV. Commingled funds held by third-party custodians appointed by the fund managers provide the fund managers with a NAV. The fund managers have the responsibility for providing this information to the custodian of the respective plan. Hedge fund investments include those investments seeking to maximize absolute returns using a broad range of strategies to enhance returns and provide additional diversification. Hedge funds are valued by the custodian at NAV based on statements received from the investment manager. These funds are valued in accordance with the terms of their corresponding offering or private placement memoranda. Commingled funds and hedge funds for which fair value is measured using the NAV per share as a practical expedient are not leveled within the fair value hierarchy and are included as a component of the total investments in the Master Trusts.


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The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Master Trusts’ net investments by investment type measured at fair value as of December 31, 2017 (in thousands):


Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2017


Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total
Investments








Cash and cash equivalents

$
482


$
84,877


$


$
85,359

Verizon common stock

6,817,351






6,817,351

Mutual funds








U.S. fixed income

561,301






561,301

U.S. equity

496,695






496,695

U.S. small cap

450,061






450,061

International equity

386,719






386,719

Global fixed income

294,706






294,706

Equity








International equity

2,935,454


2,057




2,937,511

U.S. equity

6,992,015


1,537




6,993,552

Fixed income








U.S. bonds

14,336


1,028,012


2,034


1,044,382

U.S. treasuries and agencies

1,231,304


357,181




1,588,485

Asset-backed securities



130,241




130,241

International bonds

5,943


497,327


190


503,460

Convertible securities



22,578




22,578

Total investments in the fair value hierarchy

20,186,367


2,123,810


2,224


22,312,401

Investments measured at NAV







9,689,269

Total investments at fair value

$
20,186,367


$
2,123,810


$
2,224


$
32,001,670

The following table states the change in fair value of the Master Trusts’ Level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2017 (in thousands):
 


Fair Value January 1, 2017

Transfer Out

Transfer In

Acquisitions

Dispositions

Realized Gain/(Loss)

Change in Unrealized Loss

Fair Value December 31, 2017
Fixed income
















 
U.S. bonds

$
978


$


$


$
2,536


$
(1,315
)

$
(151
)

$
(14
)

$
2,034

 
International bonds

270








(270
)

194


(4
)

190

Total investments

$
1,248


$


$


$
2,536


$
(1,585
)

$
43


$
(18
)

$
2,224

Assets are monitored to assess the appropriate levels assigned within the fair value hierarchy. Changes in economic conditions, such as bankruptcy, default or delisting, may require the transfer of an asset from one fair value level to another. When such a transfer occurs, it is recognized as of the end of the reporting period.
The total net appreciation of $3.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2017 includes gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year, for all the Master Trusts’ investments. Interest and dividends, along with the net appreciation/(depreciation) in fair value or contract value of investments, are allocated to the Plan on a daily basis based upon the Plan’s participation in the various investment funds and portfolios that comprise the Master Trusts as a percentage of the total participation in such funds and portfolios. Interest and dividend income for the Master Trusts was $736.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The net appreciation for the Bell Atlantic Master Trust’s net investments was $40.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is included in the total net appreciation.

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The following table summarizes redemption restrictions for investments of the Master Trusts for which fair value is estimated using NAV per share as of December 31, 2017 (in thousands):
Asset Type
 
Fair Value
 Unfunded Commitments
Redemption Frequency
Redemption Notice
Commingled funds:
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. equity securities
$
5,977,658

N/A
Daily
Daily
International equity securities
 
1,300,740

N/A
Daily
Daily
U.S. fixed income securities
 
558,058

N/A
Daily
Daily
Hedge fund
 
22,040

N/A
Monthly
30 Days
Cash equivalents
 
1,186,304

N/A
Daily
Daily
Real estate
 
585,809

N/A
Daily
Daily
Commodities
 
58,660

 
 
 
Total
$
9,689,269

 
 
 

For a portion of the real estate fund, redemption requests will be scheduled for payment on the next valuation date which is at least three months after receipt of a written request for redemption (last business day of the quarter). Redemption requests are subject to fund management discretion based on cash available to meet redemption requests. In the event total redemption requests exceed the total cash available to honor such requests, available cash will be prorated among the contract-holders eligible for redemption.
The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Master Trusts’ net investments by investment type measured at fair value as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 

Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2016
 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total
Investments








Cash and cash equivalents

$
99


$
58,060


$


$
58,159

Verizon common stock

7,499,041






7,499,041

Mutual funds








U.S. fixed income

1,210,836






1,210,836

U.S. equity

370,219






370,219

U.S. small cap

401,443






401,443

International equity

284,670






284,670

Global fixed income

308,544






308,544

Equity








International equity

2,211,706






2,211,706

U.S. equity

6,067,660


117




6,067,777

Fixed income








U.S. bonds

5,520


1,003,669


978


1,010,167

U.S. treasuries and agencies

580,777


291,431




872,208

Asset-backed securities



145,488




145,488

International bonds

573


670,940


270


671,783

Convertible securities

2,262


6,530



 
8,792

Total investments in the fair value hierarchy

18,943,350


2,176,235


1,248


21,120,833

Investments measured at NAV







7,524,910

Total investments at fair value

$
18,943,350


$
2,176,235


$
1,248


$
28,645,743



- 11 -



The following table states the change in fair value of the Master Trusts’ Level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 


Fair Value January 1, 2016

Transfer Out

Transfer In

Acquisitions

Dispositions

Realized Gain/(Loss)

Change in Unrealized Gain

Fair Value December 31, 2016
Fixed income
















 
U.S. bonds

$
752


$


$


$
826


$
(653
)

$
(68
)

$
121


$
978

 
International bonds







265




5




270

Total investments

$
752


$


$


$
1,091


$
(653
)

$
(63
)

$
121


$
1,248

Assets are monitored to assess the appropriate levels assigned within the fair value hierarchy. Changes in economic conditions, such as bankruptcy, default or delisting, may require the transfer of an asset from one fair value level to another. When such a transfer occurs, it is recognized as of the end of the reporting period.
The following table summarizes redemption restrictions for investments of the Master Trusts for which fair value is estimated using NAV per share as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
Asset Type
 
Fair Value
 Unfunded Commitments
Redemption Frequency
Redemption Notice
Commingled funds:
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. equity securities
$
4,827,367

N/A
Daily
Daily
International equity securities
 
781,488

N/A
Daily
Daily
U.S. fixed income securities
 
228,447

N/A
Daily
Daily
International fixed income securities
 
28,220

N/A
Daily
Daily
Cash equivalents
 
1,107,174

N/A
Daily
Daily
Real estate
 
530,136

N/A
Daily
Daily
Commodities
 
22,078

 
 
 
Total
$
7,524,910

 
 
 
Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts
The Plan holds a portfolio of synthetic investment contracts that meet the criteria of a FBRIC. The underlying investments of the FBRICs are included in the Master Trust’s assets at contract value, which as reported by the insurance companies and banks, was approximately $0.7 billion at both December 31, 2017 and 2016.
The Plan’s share of the total contract value of the FBRICs was approximately $33 million and $35 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which is reflected in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits. The contract value is the relevant measurement of the FBRICs because it represents the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. The contract value of the investment contracts represents contributions plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses.
The synthetic investment contracts held by the Plan include wrapper contracts that provide a guarantee that the credit rate will not fall below zero percent. The wrap contracts are held with insurance companies and banks. In a typical wrap contract, the wrap issuer agrees to pay the fund the difference between the contract value and the fair value of the covered assets once the fair value has been totally exhausted. Though relatively unlikely, this could happen if the fund experiences significant redemptions during a time when the fair value of the fund’s covered assets is below their contract value and fair value is ultimately reduced to zero. Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) rated the issuers of these contracts and the contracts underlying the securities from AA- to A+ as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.


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Certain events limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuer. These events include the following: (1) substantive modification of the Plan, including complete or partial plan termination or merger with another plan; (2) any change in law, regulation, or administrative ruling that could have a material adverse effect on the fund’s cash flow; (3) the Plan’s failure to qualify under section 401(k) of the Code; (4) bankruptcy of the Plan sponsor or other Plan sponsor events which cause a significant withdrawal from the Plan; and (5) defaults in the debt securities that comprise the covered assets in excess of certain limits. The Plan administrator does not believe the occurrence of any such event is probable at this time.

In addition, certain events allow the issuer to terminate the contracts with the Plan and settle at an amount different from contract value. Those events may be different under each contract. Such events may include the following: (1) an uncured violation of the Plan’s investment guidelines; (2) a breach of material obligation under the contract; (3) a material misrepresentation; and (4) a material amendment to the agreements without the consent of the issuer.

4. Derivatives

In the normal course of operations, the Master Trust’s assets may include derivative financial instruments. Derivatives are synthetic instruments used to get various market exposures with limited margin requirements and therefore with leverage risk involved. The contract or notional amounts disclosed in this footnote provide a measure of the Master Trust’s involvement in such instruments but are not indicative of potential loss. The intent is to use derivative financial instruments to gain market exposure or as economic hedges to manage various risks such as market volatility risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, interest rate risk or credit risk associated with the Master Trust’s investment assets or to express investment managers’ views of future market movements efficiently.
At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Master Trust utilized futures, options, foreign currency forwards, interest rate and credit derivatives to manage risks such as price risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, interest rate sensitivity and credit risk.
The following table presents the effect of gains with respect to these derivative instruments, by type of derivative. The gains are located on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits under “Net investment gain from investments in Master Trusts” (in thousands):


For the year ended December 31, 2017
Futures

$
135

Options

29

Swaps

5,387

Foreign currency forward contracts

889

Total

$
6,440

Futures Contracts
Upon entering into a futures contract on behalf of the Master Trust, the investment manager is required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash or securities equal to the minimum “initial margin” requirements of the exchange on which the contract is traded. Pursuant to the contract, the investment manager agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded on a daily basis by the trustee as a realized gain or loss equal to the difference in the value of the contract between daily closing prices.

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Option Contracts
Purchased and written option contracts are agreements between two parties giving the owner, under a purchased option, the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specified item at a fixed price (“exercise” or “strike”) during a specified period and, under a written option, the obligation to buy or sell a specified item at a fixed price. When the investment manager buys or writes an option contract, a nonrefundable fee (the “premium”) is paid or received by the Master Trust, recorded as an asset or liability and subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option purchased or written. The premiums paid or received from buying or writing options together with the option settlement amounts are recorded as realized gains or losses when the options expire. The difference between the premium and the amount paid or received on effecting a closing purchase or sale transaction is also treated as a realized gain or loss. If an option is exercised, the premium paid or received is recorded as a realized gain or loss if sold or an adjustment to cost of the underlying investment if acquired upon exercise.

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
Foreign currency forward contracts are agreements to exchange foreign currencies at a specified future date and rate, the terms of which are not standardized on an exchange. Risk arises both from the possible inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of the contracts (credit risk) and from the movements in foreign currency exchange rates (market risk). The contracts are recorded at fair value on the date the contract is entered into, which is typically zero.
Interest Rate Swaps
An interest rate swap is a contract between a buyer and a seller under which the buyer and seller agree to exchange payments based on interest rate movements, typically fixed versus floating rates on an agreed upon notional amount. Counterparty risk, or the risk associated with the party one enters into a contract with, is an important consideration for all forms of contractual agreement that are settled over-the-counter.
Inflation Swaps
An inflation swap is a contract used to transfer inflation risk from one party to another through an exchange of cash flows. One party pays a fixed rate cash flow while the other party pays a floating rate linked to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index.
Currency Swaps
A currency swap involves the exchange of interest and/or principal in one currency for the same in another currency. Interest payments are exchanged at fixed dates through the life of the contract.

Credit Default Swaps

A credit default swap ("CDS") is a particular type of swap designed to transfer the credit exposure of fixed income products between two parties. In a credit default swap, the buyer of the swap makes payments to the swap’s seller up until the maturity date of a contract. In return, the seller agrees that, in the event that the debt (“reference name”) issuer defaults or experiences another credit event, the seller will pay the buyer the security’s principal as well as all interest payments that would have been paid between that time and the security’s maturity date.


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These triggering events may include the market standard of failure to pay on indebtedness, bankruptcy of the reference credit, debt restructuring, or the acceleration of indebtedness. The seller of such protection may not be required to make payments until a specified amount of losses has occurred with respect to the portfolio and/or may only be required to pay for losses up to a specified amount.

The notional amounts and fair values of the derivative instruments as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 are presented below. The fair values presented in the tables are included in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits under “Investments at fair value” (in thousands):



December 31, 2017

December 31, 2016
Type of Contract
Position

Notional Amount

Fair Value

Notional Amount

Fair Value
Equity









Futures contracts
Long

$
15,579


$
306


$
13,241


$
242

Futures contracts
Short

(2,810
)

(8
)

(5,612
)

35

Equity Total


$
12,769


$
298


$
7,629


$
277











Fixed Income









Futures contracts
Long

$
322,539


$
(822
)

$
453,199


$
263

Futures contracts
Short

(284,728
)

658


(304,554
)

425

Fixed income options
Short

(13,000
)

(59
)

(15,800
)

(69
)
Inflation swaps
Long

61,124


(189
)

4,325


(372
)
Inflation swaps
Short



(63
)



(4
)
Interest rate swaps
Long

180,801


2,231


72,418


7,617

Interest rate swaps
Short



(93
)



(40
)
Currency swaps
Long

27,731


27,712


23,354


23,365

Currency swaps
Short
 

 
(25,071
)
 

 
(31,082
)
Credit default swaps
Long
 
48,719

 
1,340

 
31,012

 
994

Fixed Income Total


$
343,186


$
5,644


$
263,954


$
1,097











Foreign Exchange









Forward contracts
Cross

$
1,779


$
(10
)

$
2,617


$
11

Forward contracts
Long

442,295


(4,221
)

718,762


24,581

Forward contracts
Short

282,304


5,120


503,503


(13,950
)
Foreign exchange options
Short



54


(13,929
)

(11
)
Foreign Exchange Total


$
726,378


$
943


$
1,210,953


$
10,631


5. Related-Party Transactions

VIMCO, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon, is the investment advisor for certain investment funds and, therefore, qualifies as a party-in-interest. VIMCO received no compensation from the Plan other than reimbursement of certain expenses directly attributable to its investment advisory and investment management services rendered to the Plan. In addition, certain investments held by the Master Trusts are managed by BNY Mellon, as trustee, and Fidelity, as trustee and record keeper. Therefore, these investments qualify as parties-in-interest transactions. The Plan also allows investment, through a unitized fund, in Verizon common stock, which is a party-in-interest transaction. All of these transactions are exempt from the prohibited transaction rules.

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6. Income Tax Status

The Plan has received a determination letter from the IRS dated May 26, 2015, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (“the Code”) and, therefore, the related trusts are exempt from taxation. The Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The Plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trusts are tax exempt.
U.S. GAAP requires the Plan's management to evaluate uncertain tax positions taken by the Plan. The financial statement effects of a tax position are recognized when the position is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, to be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2017, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes the Plan is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2014.

7. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

The following table reconciles the Net assets available for benefits per the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits to the Plan’s Form 5500 Asset and Liability Statement at December 31, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
2017
 
2016
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
 
$
418,538

 
$
427,229

Adjustment for deemed distributions with no post-default payments
 
(829
)
 
(979
)
Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500
 
$
417,709

 
$
426,250

The following table reconciles the Net change per the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits to Net income and Transfers of assets per the Plan’s Form 5500 Income and Expense Statement for the year ended December 31, 2017 (in thousands):
 
 
2017
Net change per the financial statements
 
$
(8,691
)
Adjustment for deemed distributions with no post-default payments
 
150

Net income and transfers of assets per Form 5500
 
$
(8,541
)

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VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR WEST REGION HOURLY EMPLOYEES
EIN: 23-2259884 Plan # 105
Schedule H, Line 4(i) – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
As of December 31, 2017
(in thousands of dollars)

 
Identity of Issue,
Borrower, Lessor, or Similar
Party
 
Description of Investment,
Including Maturity Date, Rate of
Interest, Collateral, Par, or
Maturity Value
 
Current Value
 
 
 
 
 
Notes receivable from participants*
 
0 - 15 years maturity at 3.25% - 9.50%
 
$
5,157

* Party-in-interest
Cost information is not required because investments are participant-directed.


- 17 -



SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Verizon Employee Benefits Committee has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR WEST REGION HOURLY EMPLOYEES
By:
/s/ Marc C. Reed
 
 
 Marc C. Reed
 
 
(Chairperson, Verizon Employee Benefits Committee)
Date:     June 27, 2018


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Exhibit Index
23.1    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


- 19 -