Edgar Filing: VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC

Verizon Savings and Security Plan for Mid-Atlantic Associates

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

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

OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE

ACT OF 1934

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-8606

VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

FOR MID-ATLANTIC ASSOCIATES

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

1095 Avenue of the Americas

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036

VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR MID-ATLANTIC ASSOCIATES

TABLE OF CONTENTS


			Page(s)

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM			1

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2015 and 2014			2

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 2015			3

Notes to Financial Statements			4-19

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE *

Schedule H, Line 4(i)-Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)			20

SIGNATURE			21

EXHIBIT:

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.

LOGO

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Verizon Employee Benefits Committee:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Verizon Savings and Security Plan for Mid-Atlantic Associates (the Plan) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 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. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The supplemental information in the accompanying schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2015 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental information is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but includes supplemental information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. 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 in the accompanying schedule, 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 in the accompanying schedule is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

/s/ Mitchell & Titus, LLP

June 24, 2016

New York, New York

One Battery Park Plaza

New York, NY 10004

T +1 212 709 4500

F +1 212 709 4680

mitchelltitus.com

VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR MID-ATLANTIC ASSOCIATES

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014

(in thousands of dollars)


	2015		2014
Assets
Investments at fair value	$	2,287,117	$	2,340,858
Investments at contract value		224,359		230,082
Notes receivable from participants		126,356		130,651
Employer contributions receivable		916		365

Net assets available for benefits	$	2,638,748	$	2,701,956

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

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VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR MID-ATLANTIC ASSOCIATES

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

For the Year Ended December 31, 2015

(in thousands of dollars)


Additions
Participants contributions	$	94,523
Employer contributions		50,717

Total contributions		145,240

Net investment gain from investments in Master Trusts		65,566

Total additions		210,806


Deductions
Benefits paid to participants		269,982
Administrative expenses		3,541
Transfer to other plans, net		491

Total deductions		274,014


Net change		(63,208	)

Net assets available for benefits
Beginning of year		2,701,956

End of year	$	2,638,748

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

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VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR MID-ATLANTIC ASSOCIATES

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015

1. Description of the Plan

The following description of the Verizon Savings and Security Plan for Mid-Atlantic Associates (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.

Eligibility

The Plan is a defined contribution plan subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The Plan provides eligible employees, as defined in 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, Roth 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 October 28, 2012, 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 an employer profit sharing contribution 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.

Subsequent Event

On April 1, 2016, Verizon sold to Frontier Communications Corporation (“Frontier”) its local exchange business and related landline activities in California, Florida, and Texas. Upon the closing of the transaction, net assets of approximately $5.9 million were transferred from the Plan to the plan(s) sponsored by Frontier. This transfer had no impact on the current year’s Plan financial statements.

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.

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Administrative Expenses

Plan administrative fees may include legal, accounting, trustee, recordkeeping, and other administrative fees and expenses associated with maintaining the Plan. Verizon pays for some of the Plan administrative fees, but those fees are reduced by credits provided by the Plan trustee/recordkeeper with respect to amounts invested in certain Plan investment options. Other Plan administrative fees (including loan processing fees) are charged to and reflected in the expense ratios of most of the Plan investment options. Participants are provided with a detailed schedule of fees in the annual disclosure notice.

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 four optional forms of benefit payment, which include the following: (1) in Verizon shares for investments in the Verizon Company Stock Fund or the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) Shares Fund, with the balance in cash; (2) annual installments in cash of approximately equal amounts to be paid out for a period of 2 to 20 years, as selected by the participant; (3) in monthly or annual installments over a period equal to the life expectancy of the participant; or (4) for those participants eligible to receive their distribution in installments as described in (2) and (3) 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.

Participant Loans

The Plan includes an employee loan provision authorizing participants to borrow an aggregate amount generally not exceeding the lesser of (i) $50,000 or (ii) 50% of their vested account balances in the Plan subject to certain limitations. Loans are generally repaid by payroll deductions. The term of repayment for loans generally will not be less than six months nor more than five years (15 years for a loan to purchase a principal residence). For loans up to five years, each new loan will bear interest at a rate based upon the prime rate as of the last business day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date the loan is made. Loans for a period of longer than five years shall bear interest at such rate plus one percentage point. Participant loans have been classified as “Notes receivable from participants” in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits. Interest rates ranged from 3.25% to 10.50% for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Master Trusts

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan participated in the Verizon Master Savings Trust (the “Master Trust”) and owned a percentage of the net assets in the Master Trust. This percentage is based on a pro rata share of the net assets in the Master Trust. The Plan owned approximately 9.2% of the net assets in the Master Trust at both December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Fidelity Management Trust Company (the “Trustee” or “Fidelity”) has been designated as the trustee of the Master Trust and is responsible for the control and disbursement of the funds and portfolios of the Plan. Expenses of administering the Plan, including fees and expenses of the Trustee may be charged to 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. Investment fees are charged against the earnings of the funds and portfolios.

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At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan also owned a percentage of the net assets in the Bell Atlantic Master Trust (together with the Master Trust, the “Master Trusts”) for which The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”) is the trustee. The assets in the Bell Atlantic Master Trust include assets which are pooled between defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans. The fair value of the pooled assets allocated to defined contribution plans in the Bell Atlantic Master Trust at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $101.9 million and $112.4 million, respectively. The Plan owned approximately 1.6% and 1.4% of the net assets allocated to defined contribution accounts at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Other assets of the Plan that are held in separate accounts in the Bell Atlantic Master Trust are included in the table of the Master Trusts’ net investments (see Note 7).

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 (primarily contributions, benefit payments, and plan-specific expenses) that can be specifically identified as relating to such plan and by allocating, in proportion to the fair value of the assets assigned to such plan, income and expenses resulting from the collective investment of the assets of the Master Trusts.

Plan Modification

The Board of Directors of Verizon may terminate or partially terminate the Plan at any time. By action of its Board of Directors, Verizon also has the right to modify, alter or amend the Plan at any time, subject to collective bargaining requirements. The Verizon Employee Benefits Committee (or the Chairperson thereof) may also make amendments to the Plan that do not materially increase or decrease benefits under the Plan or materially alter the structure of the Plan. The Plan will be amended automatically to incorporate any amendments that result from an agreement between Verizon and a collective bargaining agent representing eligible employees or that are required by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as a condition to issuance of a favorable determination letter for the Plan. In the event the Plan terminates, participants will become fully vested in their accounts.

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.

2. Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).

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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.

Reclassification

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

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, 2015 or 2014. 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 Adopted Accounting Standards

During 2015, the Plan early adopted Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2015-07 related to disclosures for investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent). This standard update removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the NAV per share as a practical expedient. Investments that calculate NAV per share, but for which the practical expedient is not applied will continue to be included in the fair value hierarchy. The amendments in the standard update also remove the requirement to make certain disclosures for investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the NAV per share as a practical expedient. The Plan applied the amendments in this accounting standard update retrospectively to all periods presented. The adoption of this standard update did not have a significant impact on the Plan’s financial statements.

During 2015, the Plan early adopted ASU 2015-12 Part I & II related to plan accounting for defined contribution pension plans and health and welfare plans. This standard update reduces complexity in employee benefit plan reporting. Previous guidance required plans to measure, present and disclose investment contracts that meet the definition of Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts (“FBRIC”) at fair value with an adjustment to contract value on the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits. Under ASU 2015-12 Part I, FBRICs are measured, presented and disclosed only at contract value. ASU 2015-12 Part II includes amendments which eliminate the requirement to (1) disclose individual investments with a value equal to or greater than five percent of the net assets available for benefits, and (2) disclose the net appreciation or depreciation for investments disaggregated by “general type”; instead, plans will only need to disclose this amount in aggregate. The Plan applied the amendments in Part I retrospectively and Part II prospectively to all periods presented. The adoption of this standard update did not have a significant impact on the Plan’s financial statements.

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Investments in Master Trusts

The Plan’s interests in the Master Trusts are stated at fair value (except for 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, 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.

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 – No observable pricing inputs in the market

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 placement within the fair value hierarchy.

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3. Non-Participant Directed Investments

Information about the net assets and the significant components of the changes in net assets related to the Plan’s non-participant directed investments is as follows (in thousands):


	As of December 31,
	2015					2014
Net Assets
Verizon common stock	$	2,786				$	1,428

Changes in Net Assets	Year ended December 31, 2015
Employer contributions			$	50,134
Net investment gain				22,731
Transfers in				36
Benefits paid to participants				(86,354	)
Change in diversification adjustment (Note 4)				29,784
Exchange out				(15,751	)
Other				778

Net increase			$	1,358

4. Vesting and Contributions

A participant shall be fully vested in the employer-matching and profit sharing contributions allocated to his or her 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, permanent layoff, temporary layoff that continues for twelve months, or involuntary separation that qualifies for benefits under a separation incentive program. Vesting shall also occur if a participant is hired by an entity subject to the Mandatory Portability Agreement within thirty days after terminating from Verizon.

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 for the year ended December 31, 2015 were immaterial. The balance in the forfeiture account was $1.7 million and $1.4 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The Plan is funded by employee 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 of the initial 6% of the participants’ contributions of eligible compensation for each payroll period during the Plan year. The matching contribution percentage is specified by the Plan or the participant’s collective bargaining agreement, as applicable, and different percentages may apply to participants in certain bargaining groups who are not eligible to earn pension benefits. Employees

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attaining the age of 50 or older can elect to make additional catch-up contributions to the Plan. Effective as of October 28, 2012, Verizon and its Participating Affiliates may make a discretionary, performance-based annual discretionary award 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 or Roth after-tax basis (“elective contributions”) or from currently taxed compensation (“after-tax contributions”). Each participant’s elective contributions for the 2015 Plan year were limited to $18,000. For 2015, the total amount of elective contributions, after-tax contributions, employer-matching contributions, profit sharing contributions and certain forfeitures that may be allocated to a Plan participant was limited to the lesser of (1) $53,000 or (2) 100% of the participant’s total compensation, and the compensation on which such contributions were based was limited to $265,000. The catch-up contribution limit is $6,000 for participants eligible to make catch-up contributions.

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, 2015, total employer-matching and profit sharing contributions of 1.1 million shares of Verizon common stock were made with a fair value at the date of contribution of $50.7 million, which included a discretionary profit sharing contribution amount of $0.9 million.

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). A participant who has completed at least three years of service 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. In Note 3, the “diversification adjustment” reflects employer-matching contributions that a participant may elect to transfer into any investment option available under the Plan, subject to the provisions of the Plan Document.

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 April 30, 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. Once qualified, 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 Plan 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, 2015, 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 2012.

7. Investments in Master Trusts

Valuation of 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. Over-the-counter securities, government obligations, corporate bonds and international bonds are valued at the bid 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 NAV. Commingled funds held by third-party custodians appointed by the fund managers provide the fund manager with a NAV. The fund manager has 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 reconciling item to total investments in the Master Trusts.

The following table summarizes redemption restrictions for investments for which fair value is estimated using NAV per share. This table does not include the real estate fund, which is noted below the table:

Liquidation

Period

Redemption

Frequency

Redemption

Notice

Redemption

Restrictions

Daily

None

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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 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.

The Plan’s interest in the fair value of the Master Trust and the Bell Atlantic Master Trust 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.

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The following table represents the Master Trusts’ net investments by investment type measured at fair value on a recurring basis by the fair value measurement levels described in Note 2 as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):


	Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Investments
Cash and cash equivalents	$	815	$	275,663	$	–	$	276,478
Verizon common stock		6,677,923		–		–		6,677,923
Mutual funds
U.S. fixed income		1,213,764		–		–		1,213,764
U.S. equity		469,519		–		–		469,519
U.S. small cap		338,019		–		–		338,019
International equity		384,959		–		–		384,959
Global fixed income		223,888		–		–		223,888
Commodities		46,867		–		–		46,867
Alternative investments		10,919		–		–		10,919
Equity
International equity		2,127,937		–		–		2,127,937
U.S. equity		4,417,611		110		–		4,417,721
Fixed income
U.S. bonds		29,417		288,297		752		318,466
U.S. treasuries and agencies		341,792		242,733		–		584,525
Asset-backed securities		–		32,030		–		32,030
International bonds		–		781,178		–		781,178
Convertible securities		768		2,976		–		3,744


Total investments at fair value		16,284,198		1,622,987		752		17,907,937


Investments measured at NAV								7,900,012

Total investments	$	16,284,198	$	1,622,987	$	752	$	25,807,949

The following table states the change in fair value of the Master Trusts’ Level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2015 (in thousands):


	Fair Value January 1, 2015		Transfer Out			Transfer In		Acquisitions		Dispositions			Realized Loss			Change in Unrealized Gain		Fair Value December 31, 2015
Fixed income
U.S. bonds	$	7,830	$	(4	)	$	–	$	152	$	(6,847	)	$	(1,423	)	$	1,044	$	752

Total investments	$	7,830	$	(4	)	$	–	$	152	$	(6,847	)	$	(1,423	)	$	1,044	$	752

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 depreciation of $244.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year for all the Master Trusts’

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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 $601.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The Bell Atlantic Master Trust’s defined contribution net investments are held in unitized commingled defined benefit and defined contribution investment accounts measured at NAV per share as a practical expedient. The defined contribution net investments held in the Bell Atlantic Master Trust were $101.9 million and $112.4 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and are reflected in “Investments measured at NAV” on the fair value hierarchy tables. The net depreciation for the Bell Atlantic Master Trust’s net investments was $17.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 which is included in the total net depreciation.


	Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Investments
Cash and cash equivalents	$	–	$	500,073	$	–	$	500,073
Verizon common stock		6,913,485		–		–		6,913,485
Mutual funds
U.S. fixed income		1,302,196		–		–		1,302,196
U.S. equity		465,718		–		–		465,718
U.S. small cap		347,228		–		–		347,228
International equity		288,161		–		–		288,161
Global fixed income		224,776		–		–		224,776
Commodities		42,182		–		–		42,182
Equity
International equity		1,576,152		–		–		1,576,152
U.S. equity		2,891,184		–		–		2,891,184
Fixed income
U.S. bonds		72,237		275,157		7,830		355,224
U.S. treasuries and agencies		266,567		137,462		–		404,029
Asset-backed securities		–		20,276		–		20,276
International bonds		3,640		866,846		–		870,486
Convertible securities		1,882		4,769		–		6,651


Total investments at fair value		14,395,408		1,804,583		7,830		16,207,821


Investments measured at NAV								10,379,988

Total investments	$	14,395,408	$	1,804,583	$	7,830	$	26,587,809

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The following table states the change in fair value of the Master Trusts’ Level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2014 (in thousands):


	Fair Value January 1, 2014		Transfer Out			Transfer In		Acquisitions		Dispositions			Realized Loss			Change in Unrealized Loss			Fair Value December 31, 2014
Fixed income
International bonds	$	6,467	$	(6,467	)	$	–	$	–	$	–		$	–		$	–		$	–
U.S. bonds		–		–			8,320		2,018		(2,469	)		(28	)		(11	)		7,830

Total investments	$	6,467	$	(6,467	)	$	8,320	$	2,018	$	(2,469	)	$	(28	)	$	(11	)	$	7,830

Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts

The Plan holds a portfolio of synthetic investment contracts that meet the criteria of a FBRIC. These investment contracts are reported at contract value on the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits, as provided by the contract issuer. The contract value is the relevant measurement of the FBRICs because this is 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 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 $1.8 billion at both December 31, 2015 and 2014.

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+ at both December 31, 2015 and 2014.

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.

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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.

8. Derivatives

In the normal course of operations, the Master Trust’s assets and liabilities may include derivative financial instruments. Derivatives involve, in varying degrees, elements of credit and market volatility risks in excess of more traditional investment holdings such as equity and debt instruments. 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 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, 2015 and 2014, 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.

Futures Contracts

Upon entering into a future 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.

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 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.

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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 Derivatives

An interest rate swap is a bilateral 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.

Credit Derivatives

A credit derivative is a bilateral contract between a buyer and a seller under which the seller agrees to provide protection to the buyer against the credit risk of a particular entity (“reference entity” or “reference credit”). Credit derivatives generally require that the seller of credit protection make payments to the buyer upon the occurrence of predefined credit events.

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.

Credit derivatives are used primarily to help mitigate credit risk in the Master Trust’s corporate bonds portfolio or to address investment managers’ views on the likelihood of future credit events. Through these contracts, the Master Trust either purchases or writes protection on either a single name or a portfolio of reference credits. The credit derivatives written by the Master Trust include credit default swaps (“CDS”).

A CDS is a contract in which, for a fee, a protection seller agrees to reimburse a protection buyer for any losses that occur due to a credit event on a reference entity. If there is no credit default event or settlement trigger, as defined by the specific derivative contract, then the protection seller makes no payments to the protection buyer and receives only the contractually specified fee. However, if a credit event occurs as defined in the specific derivative contract sold, the protection seller will be required to make a payment to the protection buyer.

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The notional amounts and fair values of the derivative instruments as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 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, 2015						December 31, 2014
	Notional Amount			Fair Value			Notional Amount			Fair Value
Equity
Futures contracts	$	30,734		$	(248	)	$	16,518		$	(103	)
Futures contracts		(10,392	)		(160	)		(1,015	)		(39	)

Total	$	20,342		$	(408	)	$	15,503		$	(142	)


Fixed Income
Futures contracts	$	201,971		$	(1,033	)	$	285,394		$	4,583
Futures contracts		(235,329	)		414			(138,876	)		(435	)
Fixed income options		–			–			1,458			1,724
Fixed income options		–			–			(1,388	)		(2,034	)
Interest rate swaps		130,979			785			268,069			(2,520	)
CDS		3,600			(16	)		5,900			(161	)
CDS		104,624			240			148,100			1,241

Total	$	205,845		$	390		$	568,657		$	2,398


Commodities
Futures contracts	$	33,417		$	(1,394	)	$	34,545		$	(2,266	)

Total	$	33,417		$	(1,394	)	$	34,545		$	(2,266	)


Foreign Exchange
Futures contracts	$	(790,072	)	$	815		$	–		$	–
Forwards contracts		34,215			(406	)		78,829			476
Forwards contracts		523,140			1,730			635,422			8,875
Forwards contracts		714,129			2,415			955,839			(18,274	)
Foreign exchange options		–			–			154			1,622
Foreign exchange options		(53	)		–			(163	)		(9	)

Total	$	481,359		$	4,554		$	1,670,081		$	(7,310	)

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9. 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 (in thousands):


	2015			2014
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements	$	2,638,748		$	2,701,956
Adjustment for deemed no post default payments		(2,158	)		(1,980	)
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts		–			4,613

Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500	$	2,636,590		$	2,704,589

The following table reconciles the Net change per the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits to Net income per the Plan’s Form 5500 Income and Expense Statement for the year ended December 31, 2015 (in thousands):


	2015
Net change per the financial statements	$	(63,208	)
Adjustment for deemed no post default payments		(178	)
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts		(4,613	)

Net income per Form 5500	$	(67,999	)

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VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN FOR MID-ATLANTIC ASSOCIATES

EIN: 23-2259884

Plan # 004

Schedule H, Line 4(i) – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

As of December 31, 2015

(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% - 10.50%	$ 126,356

* Party-in-interest

Cost information is not required because investments are participant-directed.

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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 MID-ATLANTIC ASSOCIATES



By:		/s/ Marc C. Reed
		Marc C. Reed
		(Chairperson, Verizon Employee Benefits Committee)

Date: June 24, 2016

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Exhibit Index

23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

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