Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'A' rating to Verizon Communications' proposed three tranche offering of US$4.5 billion of senior unsecured notes. The proceeds will be used to retire prior to maturity all or a portion of US$1.75 billion of debt due in 2013, US$2 billion of debt due in 2018 and to fund a tender offer, contingent upon completing the offering, for any or all of the US$1.25 billion 8.95% senior unsecured notes due in 2039. Remaining proceeds may be used for general corporate purposes. The Rating Outlook is Stable.

Verizon's ratings are supported by strong free cash flows (FCF) which, in turn, provide the company flexibility with respect to operating within its target leverage range of 1.3 times (x)-1.4x. This leverage range is conservative relative to Fitch's expectations of around 1.5x for the category. Additional supporting factors include the significant scale and scope of the company's domestic wireline and wireless businesses and the high proportion of revenues from wireless and wireline growth areas.

­An important component of Verizon's ratings is the expectation for continued relatively strong growth in Verizon Wireless' revenue, EBITDA, and FCF. In the first nine months of 2012, the domestic wireless segment produced approximately 65% of total consolidated revenues.

Gross leverage for the last 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2012 was 1.4x. Consolidated cash balances declined from $13.4 billion at the end of 2011 to $9.7 billion at Sept. 30, 2012 as Verizon Wireless paid a $10 billion dividend in January, of which $4.5 billion was to Verizon Wireless's 45% owner, Vodafone Group. The support for the distribution is provided by Verizon Wireless's strong FCF generation. Over the year ending Sept. 30, 2012, Verizon Wireless's simple FCF (EBITDA less capital spending) was approximately $21.5 billion.

The ratings also incorporate Verizon's recently disclosed plans to contribute $3.4 billion to its pension plans in 2012, $2.1 billion higher than the company estimated at the beginning of 2012. The new 2012 contribution amount funds the transfer of the company's management pension plan to Prudential Insurance Company of America as well as maintains the existing funding percentage with the pension plans that remain the obligation of Verizon. Through the first nine months of 2012, Verizon contributed $1.8 billion to its pension plans and expects to contribute $1.6 billion to the plans during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Concerns include the ongoing competitive pressures in the residential wireline market from wireless substitution and cable telephony competition, and the effect of the slow economic recovery on revenues from business and residential customers.

There is event risk regarding Verizon's potential acquisition of Vodafone 45% interest in Verizon Wireless, as there would be concerns with regard to its initial outlay and financing. At the current time, the companies are strongly committed to the partnership, particularly given the distribution in early 2012 and expected strong cash flows that would support potential future distributions.

At Sept. 30, 2012, Verizon had $52.8 billion in debt on a consolidated basis. 

In the year ending Sept. 30, 2012, FCF after dividends and capital spending (but prior to the Verizon Wireless distribution to Vodafone) was approximately $12.7 billion. In 2012, Fitch expects Verizon's FCF (after capital spending, pension contributions and dividends but prior to distributions to Vodafone and the acquisition of wireless spectrum) to be in a $10.5 billion to $11.5 billion range, an increase from the $8 billion generated in 2011. Fitch believes that as FCF continues to grow, and in the absence of other investment alternatives, the company will have the flexibility to consider stock repurchases within the context of maintaining leverage within its 1.3x-1.4x target range.

In 2012, Fitch expects consolidated capital spending to be down slightly relative to 2011 levels, when spending totaled approximately $16.2 billion. Verizon has not provided capital spending guidance by business segment for 2012. In 2012, key areas of capital spending will consist of the continued buildout of advanced networks, including the 4G wireless network and FiOS, well as core network spending on IP and data center enhancements.