BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
o Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule14a-6(e)(2))
o Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
þ Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ No fee required
o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction
applies: |
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(2)
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how
it was determined): |
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(4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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(5)
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Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
and the date of its filing. |
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(1)
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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(2)
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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(3)
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Filing Party: |
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(4)
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Date Filed: |
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Understanding Long-Term Compensation
Q: What will happen to my stock options?
A: Upon closing, all BellSouth stock options (regular and special) would be converted into AT&T
stock options. All such options will be immediately vested and exercisable. The term of these
stock options (i.e., their expiration dates) will remain the same. The number of AT&T options that
you will be entitled to after the merger will be the number of your BellSouth options times 1.325.
The strike price of the new AT&T options will be the old strike price divided by 1.325. Below is a
summary of what would happen to the exercise periods of all the new AT&T stock options (regular and
special) in different situations:
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Situation |
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What Happens |
Remain employed by AT&T
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Remain exercisable until end of full
original term |
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Retirement
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Remain exercisable until end of full original term |
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Separate: non-retirement eligible
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Remain exercisable until end of full
original term |
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Involuntary termination (not for
cause) at anytime
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Remain exercisable until end of full
original term |
Q: What will happen to my restricted stock and restricted stock units (RSUs)?
A: Upon closing, BellSouth restricted stock and RSUs would be converted into AT&T restricted stock
and RSUs, respectively, with the same vesting periods as are applicable to your BellSouth grants.
The number of shares of AT&T restricted stock and RSUs that you will be entitled to after the
merger will be the number of your shares of BellSouth restricted stock or RSUs times 1.325. Below
is a summary of what would happen with the vesting schedule of your AT&T restricted stock and RSUs
(regular and special) in different situations:
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Situation |
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What Happens |
Remain employed by AT&T
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Normal vesting schedule |
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Retirement
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Regular and special restricted stock: |
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unvested forfeited; Regular RSUs: pro rata vest;
Special RSUs: unvested forfeited |
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Separate: non-retirement
eligible
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All unvested forfeited |
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Involuntary termination (not
for cause)within 2 years of
closing
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All fully vest |
Q: What will happen to my performance shares?
A: Shortly after closing, BellSouth performance shares would be paid out pro-rata (for the portion
of the performance period elapsed through the time of closing) based on actual
performance through the closing date. Remaining BellSouth performance shares would be forfeited. AT&T will issue
replacement AT&T performance shares (to replace the forfeited BellSouth performance shares). These
replacement AT&T performance shares will be based on AT&T performance measures and will have the
same performance periods as were applicable to your BellSouth grants. Below is a summary of what
would happen with the replacement AT&T performance shares in different situations:
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Situation |
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What Happens |
Remain employed by AT&T
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Normal payout |
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Retirement
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Determined by AT&T award agreement |
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Separate: non-retirement eligible
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Determined by AT&T award agreement |
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Involuntary terminated (not for
cause) within 2 years of closing
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Fully vest |
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Q: I have Special Regulatory and External Affairs (REG) performance shares. What will happen to
them?
A: Upon closing, BellSouth REG performance shares would be paid out pro-rata (for the portion of
the performance period elapsed through the time of closing) based on actual performance through the
closing date. Remaining shares are forfeited. AT&T will issue replacement AT&T performance shares
(to replace forfeited BellSouth REG performance shares). These replacement AT&T performance shares
will be based on AT&T performance measures and will have the same performance periods as were
applicable to your BellSouth REG grants. Below is a summary of what would happen with the
replacement AT&T REG performance shares in different situations:
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Situation |
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What Happens |
Remain employed by AT&T
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Normal payout |
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Retirement
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Determined by AT&T award agreement |
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Separate: non-retirement eligible
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Determined by AT&T award agreement |
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Involuntary terminated (not for
cause) within 2 years of closing
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Fully vest |
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NOTE: In connection with the proposed merger, AT&T intends to file a registration statement on
Form S-4, including a joint proxy statement of AT&T and BellSouth, and AT&T and BellSouth will file
other materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Investors are urged to
read the registration statement, including the joint proxy statement (and all amendments and
supplements to it) and other materials when they become available because they contain important
information. Investors will be able to obtain free copies of the registration and joint proxy
statement, when they becomes available, as well as other filings containing information about AT&T
and BellSouth, without charge, at the SECs Web site (www.sec.gov). Copies of AT&Ts filings may
also be obtained for free from AT&T at AT&Ts Web site (www.att.com) or by directing a request to
AT&T Inc. Stockholder Services, 175 E. Houston, San Antonio, Texas 78205. Copies of BellSouths
filings may be obtained without charge from BellSouth at BellSouths Web site (www.bellsouth.com)
or by directing a request to BellSouth at Investor Relations, 1155 Peachtree Street, Atlanta,
Georgia 30309.
AT&T, BellSouth and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of
management and employees are potential participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of
the proposed merger. Information regarding AT&Ts directors and executive officers is available in
AT&Ts 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2006 and AT&Ts proxy
statement for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2006, and
information regarding BellSouths directors and executive officers is available in BellSouths
2005Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2006 and BellSouths proxy
statement for its 2006 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on March 3, 2006.
Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in
the registration and joint proxy statement, and the other relevant documents filed with the SEC
when they become available.