content: <PAGE>
  
  
  
                         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 (Date of earliest event reported): September 23, 2001
  
  
                                   VERISIGN, INC.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
                                      Delaware
               ------------------------------------------------------
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
  
  
          000-23593                                            94-3221585
  ----------------------------                         --------------------------
         (Commission                                         (IRS Employer
         File Number)                                      Identification No.)
  
  
         487 EAST MIDDLEFIELD ROAD, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA                 94043
  -------------------------------------------------------       -----------------
            (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)
  
  
                                   (650) 961-7500
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 5:  Other Events.
  
       On September 23, 2001, VeriSign, Inc. ("VeriSign"), Illuminet Holdings,
  Inc. ("Illuminet") and Illinois Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned
  subsidiary of VeriSign ("Merger Sub") entered into an Agreement and Plan of
  Merger (the "Merger Agreement"). Subject to the terms and conditions of the
  Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Illuminet, with Illuminet
  to survive the Merger and to become a wholly owned subsidiary of VeriSign (the
  "Merger"). Under the terms of the agreement, VeriSign will exchange 0.93 shares
  of VeriSign common stock for each outstanding share of Illuminet. VeriSign will
  issue approximately 30.4 million shares for all issued and outstanding shares of
  Illuminet and will assume Illuminet's outstanding employee stock options.
  Illuminet is a provider of intelligent network and signalling services to
  communications carriers.
  
       The transaction will be structured to qualify as a tax-free reorganization
  and will be accounted for as a purchase. In addition, VeriSign intends to add
  Roger Moore, the Chief Executive Officer of Illuminet, to its board of
  directors.
  
       The Merger is subject to several conditions, including approval by
  Illuminet's stockholders, the expiration of applicable waiting periods under
  antitrust laws and obtaining necessary consents.
  
  
                                         2
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
  
  
                                         VERISIGN, INC.
  
  
  
  Date:  September 27, 2001              By: /s/ JAMES M. ULAM
                                             ----------------------------------
                                         James M. Ulam
                                         Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                         and Secretary
  
  
                                         3
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text: 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 (Date of earliest event reported): September 23, 2001
  
                                   VERISIGN, INC.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                      Delaware
               ------------------------------------------------------
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
          000-23593                                            94-3221585
  ----------------------------                         --------------------------
         (Commission                                         (IRS Employer
         File Number)                                      Identification No.)
  
         487 EAST MIDDLEFIELD ROAD, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA                 94043
  -------------------------------------------------------       -----------------
            (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)
  
                                   (650) 961-7500
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  Item 5:  Other Events.
  
       On September 23, 2001, VeriSign, Inc. ("VeriSign"), Illuminet Holdings,
  Inc. ("Illuminet") and Illinois Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned
  subsidiary of VeriSign ("Merger Sub") entered into an Agreement and Plan of
  Merger (the "Merger Agreement"). Subject to the terms and conditions of the
  Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Illuminet, with Illuminet
  to survive the Merger and to become a wholly owned subsidiary of VeriSign (the
  "Merger"). Under the terms of the agreement, VeriSign will exchange 0.93 shares
  of VeriSign common stock for each outstanding share of Illuminet. VeriSign will
  issue approximately 30.4 million shares for all issued and outstanding shares of
  Illuminet and will assume Illuminet's outstanding employee stock options.
  Illuminet is a provider of intelligent network and signalling services to
  communications carriers.
  
       The transaction will be structured to qualify as a tax-free reorganization
  and will be accounted for as a purchase. In addition, VeriSign intends to add
  Roger Moore, the Chief Executive Officer of Illuminet, to its board of
  directors.
  
       The Merger is subject to several conditions, including approval by
  Illuminet's stockholders, the expiration of applicable waiting periods under
  antitrust laws and obtaining necessary consents.
  
                                         2
  SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
  
                                         VERISIGN, INC.
  
  Date:  September 27, 2001              By: /s/ JAMES M. ULAM
                                             ----------------------------------
                                         James M. Ulam
                                         Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                         and Secretary
  
                                         3