FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 425
Filed by AT&T Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: BellSouth Corporation
Commission File No.: 1-8607
Cingular Business Markets Group
Dear BMG Colleagues,
Our parents, AT&T and BellSouth, issued some very exciting news this week regarding their intention
to merge. This transaction will go through a number of approvals, and our parent companies
anticipate it will be completed in about a year. Announcements like this naturally raise questions
and I wanted to reach out today to discuss how the merger affects Cingular, BMG and you as a BMG
employee.
The merger is a very positive development for Cingular and our customers. It will create a
stronger and more nimble company with simpler governance to accelerate time to market for converged
wireless/wireline solutions. Our customers will benefit from a broader pool of resources and an
expanded product set. Since Cingular currently represents the wireless assets of our two parent
companies, we anticipate that Cingulars wireless operations will remain largely unchanged, with
headquarters in Atlanta.
BMG has established Cingular as a leader in B2B, with an unprecedented investment in
enterprise-optimized business infrastructure and services, and unmatched wireless business
expertise. Our parent companies recognize the value these capabilities will deliver.
During this time it is critical that each of you stay focused on your customers, BMGs Priorities,
the 4 Rs and your individual business goals. For those of you who were with us during the AT&T
Wireless/Cingular merger, you will remember that we approached that transaction with a strong
commitment to ensure a positive customer experience. It is imperative that we approach this merger
with the same sense of professionalism.
In your customer conversations, concentrate on the business value we can deliver for them with
wireless technology. When discussing the merger and its impacts, focus on what is known today and
dont speculate. BMG-specific talking points are included below to help you with questions from
your customers. I also encourage you to visit additional resources on my-cingular to stay informed
about the progress of the merger as more information becomes available.
I am extremely proud of what all of us in BMG have accomplished in the past year while we
implemented many changes to our infrastructure and processes. Youve done just a phenomenal job.
Together we will continue to deliver on our commitment to be the best in the business.
I look forward to our continued success in the coming year and beyond.
Sincerely,
Kent Mathy
President, Business Markets Group
AT&T/BellSouth Merger
Business Markets Group
Customer Talking Points and BMG Q&A
March 6, 2006
Use the talking points and Q&A below for your discussions with customers but please do not
forward this information to your customers. It is intended for internal-use only.
Talking Points
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1. |
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The merger of AT&T and BellSouth is very positive for Cingular Wireless and our
business customers. |
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2. |
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The transaction will simplify our governance, improve service to our enterprise
customers and accelerate introduction of converged wireless/wireline solutions. |
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3. |
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The merger process is anticipated to take about a year to go through all of the
approvals. Our parents are very early in the merger process and more information will
continue to be announced over time. |
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4. |
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AT&T has stated that the majority of Cingulars operations will remain unchanged, and
will continue to be headquartered in Atlanta, GA. |
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5. |
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Cingulars Business Markets Group has invested heavily to build enterprise-optimized
business support systems and is uniquely positioned to deliver best in class wireless
business solutions, today and tomorrow. |
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6. |
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In the pre-merger period, we will continue to work with our parent companies, as
appropriate as we have in the past, to deliver integrated products and services for our
customers. |
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7. |
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Our priority will continue to be to provide exceptional service and business value to
our customers now and in the future. |
BMG-specific Q&A
What does the announcement mean for Cingular and BMG?
Until the merger is completed, Cingular, AT&T and BellSouth will each operate as they do today
as separate companies. Please use existing guidelines for interacting with our parent companies.
Business customers will continue to have access to the resources and expertise of Cingulars
Business Markets Group:
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A premier wireless voice and data network, with more than $6 billion
investment in 2005, and similar amount invested this year to integrate our networks and
roll out advanced 3G services |
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Systems and processes tailored to the needs of business customers; backed by
$250 million investment over 2005/2006 in our B2B infrastructure |
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Rich portfolio of wireless business solutions from wireless email and
messaging to wireless line of business applications |
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Expertise in designing and delivering wireless business solutions for our
customers |
After the approval and closing of the transaction:
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AT&T has indicated that our name will change to reflect the world-class
global icon AT&T brand |
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Our parents will operate as one company, which will simplify the operations
and decision making; and enhance our ability to offer converged wireless/wireline services |
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The new company will provide an even better resource for our customers by
creating a more simple and nimble business |
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The new company will take advantage of Cingulars strengths, particularly the
investments weve made in creating a best-in-class B2B capabilities |
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The new company will leverage the unprecedented investment weve made in the
new customized business systems, as a platform to serve our business customers |
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AT&T has indicated that our wireless operations will be largely unchanged,
and continue to be headquartered in Atlanta, GA. |
As we get more information, we will share it with you.
Additional resources:
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Q&A for Cingular Employees |
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Stan Sigman: Exciting News about the Future of AT&T, BellSouth, and Cingular
[transcript] |
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QuickMail Extra 03-05-2006: AT&T and BellSouth Announce an Agreement to Merge |
© 2005 Cingular Wireless LLC
Copying, distribution or publication without express written permission is prohibited.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
We have included or incorporated by reference in this document financial estimates and other
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These
estimates and statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ
materially from these estimates and statements. Such estimates and 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 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 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/prospectus 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
statement and joint proxy statement, when they become 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 without charge 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, N.E., 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 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 statement and joint proxy statement, and the other relevant documents filed with the
SEC when they become available.