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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Dear Valued Friend:
On March 5, BellSouth announced an agreement to merge with AT&T, bringing together two
well-respected companies with complementary strengths. This union will combine two great
brands to create an industry leader in wireless, wireline, and broadband, as well as
advertising and publishing. Additionally, the new merged company will create a single
owner of Cingular, speeding the development of next generation services that integrate
wireless and wireline.
In the interim, the merger will not affect your current relationship with BellSouth or the
services we provide you. Your sales and service contacts will remain the same for all
aspects of your account. We remain committed to providing the superior customer service
that you rely on to support the operations of your business.
As always, you can expect BellSouth to remain a committed and prominent corporate citizen
in the areas that we serve. Post merger, we plan to maintain state headquarters locations
in our nine states to remain close to our customers and to continue our tradition of civic
leadership.
The merger is expected to close within the next 12 months and we will continue to update
you as information becomes available or you can visit our Web site at
www.bellsouth.com/business any time. The entire BellSouth team values your
business and will continue to work hard every day to meet your needs.
Sincerely,
[C&EA Manager]
We have included or incorporated by reference in this document forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from these
statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the
merger, including future financial and operating results, the combined companys plans, objectives,
expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements
are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the management of AT&T Inc. and BellSouth
Corporation and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and outside of our control.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those described in
the forward-looking statements in this document: the ability to obtain governmental approvals of
the merger on the proposed terms and schedule; the failure of AT&T shareholders to approve the
issuance of AT&T common shares or the failure of BellSouth shareholders to approve the merger; the
risk that the businesses of AT&T and BellSouth will not be integrated successfully or as quickly as
expected; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the merger, including any
savings and other synergies relating to the resulting sole ownership of Cingular Wireless LLC may
not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the merger
making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; and
competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues.
Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in AT&Ts, BellSouths, and
Cingular Wireless LLCs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are
available at the SECs Web site (http://www.sec.gov). Neither AT&T nor BellSouth is under any
obligation, and each expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any
forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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 preliminary
proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on February 10,
2006, and information regarding BellSouths directors and executive officers is available in
BellSouths 2005 Annual 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.