Form 8-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report: September 12, 2005

(Date of earliest event reported)

 

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   1-8606   23-2259884
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York
  10036
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 395-2121

 

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

x Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

Attached as an exhibit hereto is a presentation containing information related to the proposed merger of MCI and Verizon and related information about MCI’s and Verizon’s businesses which is being provided by Michael Capellas, Chief Executive Officer of MCI, Inc., and Ivan Seidenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., to MCI investors in a series of meetings commencing on September 12, 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In connection with the proposed acquisition of MCI, Verizon filed, with the SEC on August 31, 2005, an amended registration statement on Form S-4, which includes a definitive proxy statement of MCI and a prospectus (Registration No. 333-124008) containing important information about the proposed acquisition. Investors are urged to read the proxy statement and prospectus and any other relevant materials filed by Verizon or MCI because they contain important information about Verizon, MCI and the proposed acquisition. The proxy statement and prospectus and other relevant materials and any other documents filed by Verizon or MCI with the SEC, may be obtained for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Investors may also obtain free copies of these documents at www.verizon.com/investor, or by request to Verizon Communications Inc., Investor Relations, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10036. Free copies of MCI’s filings are available at www.mci.com/about/investor_relations, or by request to MCI, Inc., Investor Relations, 22001 Loudoun County Parkway, Ashburn, VA 20147. Additionally, proxy materials can be obtained by contacting MacKenzie Partners, Inc. toll-free at (800) 322-2885, collect at (212) 929-5500 or by email at proxy@mackenziepartners.com. Investors are urged to read the proxy statement and prospectus and the other relevant materials before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed acquisition.

 

Verizon, MCI, and their respective directors, executive officers, and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from MCI shareowners with respect to the proposed transaction. Information about Verizon’s directors and executive officers is available in Verizon’s proxy statement for its 2005 annual meeting of shareholders, dated March 21, 2005. Information about MCI’s directors and executive officers is available in MCI’s proxy statement for its 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, dated April 20, 2005. Additional information about the interests of potential participants is included in the proxy statement and prospectus and other materials filed with the SEC.

 

NOTE: This document contains statements about expected future events and financial results that are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following important factors could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: a significant change in the timing of, or the imposition of any government conditions to, the closing of the transaction, if consummated; actual and contingent liabilities; and the extent and timing of our ability to obtain revenue enhancements and cost savings following the transaction. Additional factors that may affect the future results of Verizon and MCI are set forth in their respective filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.verizon.com/investor/ and www.mci.com/about/investor_relations/sec/.


SIGNATURE

 

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

 

        Verizon Communications Inc.
        (Registrant)

Date: September 12, 2005

     

/s/ Marianne Drost

       

     Marianne Drost

       

     Senior Vice President, Deputy General
     Counsel and Corporate Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description    


99    Presentation containing information related to the proposed merger of MCI and Verizon and related information about MCI’s and Verizon’s businesses which is being provided by Michael Capellas, Chief Executive Officer of MCI, Inc., and Ivan Seidenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., to MCI investors in a series of meetings commencing on September 12, 2005.