Acquisitions and Divestitures

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract]


Note 3. Acquisitions and Divestitures

Spectrum License Transactions

In February 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concluded Auction 107 for C-Band wireless spectrum. In accordance with the rules applicable to the auction, Verizon is required to make payments for our allocable share of clearing costs incurred by, and incentive payments due to, the incumbent license holders associated with the auction, which are estimated to be $7.6 billion. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, we made payments of $578 million and $1.6 billion, respectively, for obligations related to clearing costs and accelerated clearing incentives. In October 2023, we made additional payments of $3.7 billion related to accelerated clearing incentive obligations, which were accrued for as of September 30, 2023. We expect to continue to make payments of approximately $400 million for the remaining obligations through 2024. The final timing and amounts of these payments could differ based on the actual amount of incumbent holders’ reimbursement claims and the speed with which those claims are approved and processed. The carrying value of the wireless spectrum won in Auction 107 consists of all payments required to participate and purchase licenses in the auction, including Verizon’s allocable share of clearing costs incurred by, and incentive payments due to, the incumbent license holders associated with the auction that we are obligated to pay in order to acquire the licenses, as well as capitalized interest to the extent qualifying activities have occurred.

TracFone Wireless, Inc.

On November 23, 2021 (the Acquisition Date), we completed the acquisition of TracFone Wireless, Inc. (TracFone), a provider of prepaid and value mobile services in the U.S. Verizon acquired all of TracFone's outstanding stock in exchange for approximately $3.5 billion in cash, net of cash acquired and working capital and other adjustments, 57,596,544 shares of common stock of the Company valued at approximately $3.0 billion, and up to an additional $650 million in future cash contingent consideration related to the achievement of certain performance measures and other commercial arrangements. The fair value of the Verizon common stock was determined on the basis of its closing market price on the Acquisition Date. The estimated fair value of the contingent consideration as of the Acquisition Date was approximately $560 million and represents a Level 3 measurement as defined in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. See Note 7 for additional information. The contingent consideration payable is based on the achievement of certain revenue and operational targets, measured over a two-year earn out period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, Verizon made payments of $182 million and

$113 million, respectively, related to the contingent consideration, which is reflected in Cash flows from financing activities in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Contingent consideration payments are expected to continue through 2024. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, Verizon received net cash proceeds of $248 million for the final settlement of working capital, which was included in our consideration as of the Acquisition Date.