Document:

ex10f.htm

Exhibit 10-f

AT&T INC.

STOCK PURCHASE AND DEFERRAL PLAN

Adopted November 19, 2004

As amended through July 29, 2009

Article 1 - Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Stock Purchase and Deferral Plan (“Plan”) is to increase stock ownership by, and to provide savings opportunities to, a select group of management employees of AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”) and its Subsidiaries.

Article 2 - Definitions

For the purpose of this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context indicates otherwise:

Annual Bonus.  The award designated the “Annual Bonus” by AT&T (including but not limited to an award that may be paid in more frequent installments than annually), together with any individual discretionary award made in connection therewith, or comparable
awards, if any, determined by AT&T to be used in lieu of these awards.

 

           Base Compensation.  The following types of cash-based compensation paid by an Employer (but not including payments made by a non-Employer, such as state disability payments), before reduction due to any contribution
pursuant to this Plan or reduction pursuant to any deferral plan of an Employer, including but not limited to a plan that includes a qualified cash or deferral arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Code:

	
(a)  
	
base salary;

 

 (b)  lump sum payments in lieu of a base salary increase;  and

 (c) Annual Bonus.

Payments by an Employer under a disability plan made in lieu of any compensation described above, shall be deemed to be a part of the respective form of compensation it replaces for purposes of this definition.  Base Compensation does not include zone allowances or any other geographical differential and shall not include payments
made in lieu of unused vacation or other paid days off, and such payments shall not be contributed to this Plan.

Determinations by AT&T (the Committee with respect to Officer Level Employees) of the items that make up Base Compensation shall be final.  The Committee may, from time to time, add or subtract types of compensation to or from the definition of “Base Compensation” provided, however, any such addition or subtraction
shall be effective only with respect to the next period in which a Participant may make an election to establish a Share Deferral Account.  Base Compensation that was payable in a prior Plan Year but paid in a later Plan Year shall not be used to determine Employee Contributions or Matching Contributions in such later Plan Year.

Business Day.  Any day during regular business hours that AT&T is open for business.

Change in Control.  With respect to AT&T’s direct and indirect ownership of an Employer, a “Change in the effective control of a Corporation,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi)(A)(1), regardless of whether the Employer is
a corporation or non corporate entity as permitted by the regulation, and using “50 percent” in lieu of “30 percent” in such regulation.  A Change in Control will not apply to AT&T itself.

Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Executive Officer of AT&T Inc.

Code.  References to the Code shall be to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions.  Similarly, references to regulations shall
include amendments and successor provisions.

Committee.  The Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of AT&T Inc.

Disability. Absence of an Employee from work with an Employer under the relevant Employer's disability plan.

Eligible Employee.  An Employee who:

(a) is a full or part time, salaried Employee of AT&T or an Employer in which AT&T has a direct or indirect 100% ownership interest and who is on active duty or Leave of Absence (but only while such Employee is deemed by the Employer to be an Employee of such Employer);

(b) is, as determined by AT&T, a member of Employer's “select group of management or highly compensated employees” within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and regulations thereunder (“ERISA”), which is deemed to include each Officer Level Employee; and

(c) has an employment status which has been approved by AT&T to be eligible to participate in this Plan or is an Officer Level Employee.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, AT&T (the Committee with respect to Officer Level Employees) may, from time to time, exclude any Employee or group of Employees from being deemed an “Eligible Employee” under this Plan.

In the event a court or other governmental authority determines that an individual was improperly excluded from the class of persons who would be permitted to make Employee Contributions during a particular time for any reason, that individual shall not be permitted to make such contributions for purposes of the Plan for the period of
time prior to such determination.

            Employee.  Any person employed by an Employer and paid on an Employer’s payroll system, excluding persons hired for a fixed maximum term and excluding persons who are neither citizens nor permanent residents
of the United States, all as determined by AT&T. For purposes of this Plan, a person on Leave of Absence who otherwise would be an Employee shall be deemed to be an Employee.

Employee Contributions.  Amounts credited to a Share Deferral Account pursuant to Section 4.1 (Election to Make Contributions) of the Plan.

Employer.  AT&T Inc. or any of its Subsidiaries.

Exercise Price.  The price per share of Stock purchasable under an Option.

            Fair Market Value or FMV.  In valuing Stock or any other item subject to valuation under this Plan, the Committee may use such index or measurement as the Committee may reasonably determine from time to time,
and such index or measurement shall be the FMV of such Stock or other item, provided that for purposes of determining the Exercise Price of Stock Options, the Committee shall use a value consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.  In the absence of such action by the Committee, FMV means, with respect to Stock, the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) of the Stock on the relevant date, or if on such date the Stock is not traded on the NYSE, then the closing price
on the immediately preceding date such Stock is so traded.

Leave of Absence.  Where a person is absent from employment with an Employer on a leave of absence, military leave, sick leave, or Disability where the leave is given in order to prevent a break in the continuity of term of employment, and permission for such leave is granted
(and not revoked) in conformity with the rules of the Employer that employs the individual, as adopted from time to time, and the Employee is reasonably expected to return to service.  Except as set forth below, the leave shall not exceed six (6) months for purposes of this Plan, and the Employee shall Terminate Employment upon termination of such leave if the Employee does not return to work prior to or upon expiration of such six (6) month period, unless the individual retains a right to reemployment
under law or by contract.  A twenty-nine (29) month limitation shall apply in lieu of such six (6) month limitation if the leave is due to the Employee being "disabled" (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(4)).  A Leave of Absence shall not commence or shall be deemed to cease under the Plan where the Employee has incurred a Termination of Employment.

Officer Level Employee.  Any executive officer of AT&T, as that term is used under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any Employee that is an “officer level” Employee for compensation purposes
as shown on the records of AT&T.

Options or Stock Options.  Options to purchase Stock issued pursuant to this Plan.

Participant.  An Employee or former Employee who participates in this Plan.

Plan Year.  Each of the following shall be a Plan Year:  the period January 1, 2005, through January 15, 2006; the period January 16, 2006, through December 31, 2006; and, for all later Plan Years, it is defined as the period from January 1 through December 31.

Retirement or Retire.  Termination of Employment on or after the earlier of the following dates, unless otherwise provided by the Committee:  (a) for Officer Level Employees, the date the Participant is at least age 55 and has five (5) years of Net Credited Service;
or (b) the date the Participant has attained one of the following combinations of age and Net Credited Service:

 

              Net Credited Service                                    Age

                      10 years or more                                           65
or older

                      20 years or more                                           55
or older

                      25 years or more                                           50
or older

                      30 years or more                                           Any
age

For purposes of this Plan only, Net Credited Service shall be calculated in the same manner as “Pension Eligibility Service” under the AT&T Pension Benefit Plan – Nonbargained Program (“Pension Plan”), as amended from time to time, except that service with an Employer shall be counted as though the Employer
were a “Participating Company” under the Pension Plan and the Employee was a participant in the Pension Plan.

Shares or Share Units.  An accounting entry representing the right to receive an equivalent number of shares of Stock.

Share Deferral Account or Account.   The Account or Accounts established annually by an election by a Participant to make Employee Contributions to the Plan, with each
Account relating to a Plan Year.  For each Plan Year after 2008, there shall be (1) a separate Share Deferral Account for Share Units purchased with Employee Contributions of Base Compensation (excluding Annual Bonus) and related Matching Share Units and (2) a separate Share Deferral Account for Share Units purchased with Employee Contributions of Short Term Incentive Award and/or Annual Bonus and any related Matching Share Units.  Earnings on Share Units and Matching Share Units shall accrue
to the respective Share Deferral Accounts where they are earned.

Short Term Incentive Award.  A cash award paid by an Employer (and not by a non-Employer, such as state disability payments) under the Short Term Incentive Plan or any successor plan, together with any individual discretionary award made in connection therewith; an award
under a similar plan intended by the Committee to be in lieu of an award under such Short Term Incentive Plan, including, but not limited to, Performance Units granted under the 2006 Incentive Plan or any successor plan.  It shall also include any other award that the Committee designates as a Short Term Incentive Award specifically for purposes of this Plan (regardless of the purpose of the award) provided the deferral election is made in accordance with Section 409A.

Specified Employee.  Any Participant who is a “Key Employee” (as defined in Code Section 416(i) without regard to paragraph (5) thereof), as determined by AT&T in accordance with its uniform policy with respect to all arrangements subject to Code Section
409A, based upon the 12-month period ending on each December 31st (such 12-month period is referred to below as the “identification period”).  All Participants who are determined to be Key Employees under Code Section 416(i) (without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) during the identification period shall be treated as Key Employees for purposes of the Plan during the 12-month period that begins on the first day of the 4th month following the close of such identification period.

Stock.  The common stock of AT&T Inc.

Subsidiary.  Any corporation, partnership, venture or other entity or business with which AT&T would be considered a single employer under Sections 414(a) and (c) of the Code, using 50% as the ownership threshold as provided under Section 409A of the Code.

Termination of Employment. References herein to “Termination of Employment," “Terminate Employment” or a similar reference, shall mean the event where the Employee has a “separation from service,” as defined under Section 409A, with all Employers. For
purposes of this Plan, a Termination of Employment with respect to an Employer shall be deemed to also occur when such Employer incurs a Change in Control.

Article 3 - Administration of the Plan

3.1           The Committee.

Except as delegated by this Plan or by the Committee, the Committee shall be the administrator of the Plan and will administer the Plan, interpret, construe and apply its provisions and determine all questions of administration, interpretation and application of the Plan, including, without limitation, questions and determinations of eligibility,
entitlement to benefits and payment of benefits, all in its sole and absolute discretion.  The Committee may further establish, adopt or revise such rules and regulations and such additional terms and conditions regarding participation in the Plan as it may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  References in this Plan to determinations or other actions by AT&T, herein, shall mean actions authorized by the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Executive
Vice President of AT&T in charge of Human Resources, or their respective successors or duly authorized delegates, in each case in the discretion of such person.  All decisions by the Committee, its delegate or AT&T, as applicable, shall be final and binding.

3.2           Authorized Shares of Stock.

(a) Except as provided below, the number of shares of Stock which may be distributed pursuant to the Plan, exclusive of Article 8 - Options, is 21,000,000.  The number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Stock Options is 34,000,000 (together with an equal number of Stock Options).  Only
the actual number of shares of Stock that are issued (shares issued would not include, for example, any reduction in shares to be issued as a result of tax withholding in connection with a distribution of Stock, exercise of options, or otherwise) shall be counted against the authorized number of shares of Stock. To the extent an Option issued under this Plan is canceled, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, such Option shall again be available for issuance under the Plan.  Conversions of Stock
awards into Share Units and their eventual distribution (excluding the effects of any dividends on such Share Units) shall count only against the limits of the plans from which they originated and shall not be applied against the limits in this Plan.  To the extent Share Units are credited through deferrals of Stock or Employee Contributions where the distribution of which would be deductible by AT&T under Section 162(m) of the Code without regard to the size of the distribution, and such deductible
Share Units are available for distribution, such Share Units shall be distributed first.

(b)  In the event the Committee determines that continuing the issuance of Share Units under the Plan or Stock Options under the Plan may cause the number of shares of Stock that are to be distributed under this Plan or the number of Stock Options (as determined pursuant to subsection (a), above) to exceed the number of authorized
shares of Stock, then in lieu of distributing Stock, the Committee may provide after such determination and only with respect to Share Units that have not theretofore been credited to a Share Deferral Account, that such Share Units may be settled in cash equal to the value of the Stock that would otherwise be distributed based on the FMV of the Stock on the date of the distribution of such Share Unit.  The Committee may also provide after such determination and only with respect to Stock Options that
have not theretofore been issued that such Stock Options may only be settled on a Net-Settled basis in cash equal to the value of the Stock that would otherwise be distributed based on the FMV of the Stock on the day of exercise.

(c) In the event of a merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, separation, liquidation, stock dividend, stock split, share combination, or other change in the corporate structure of AT&T affecting the shares of Stock (including a conversion of Stock into cash or other property), such adjustment shall be made to the
number and class of the shares of Stock which may be delivered under the Plan (including but not limited to individual limits), and in the number and class of and/or price of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Options granted under the Plan, and/or in the number of outstanding Options and Share Units, or such other adjustment determined by the Committee, in each case as may be determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.

 

3.3           Claims and Appeals.

        

        (a)           Claims.  A person who believes that he or she is being denied a benefit to which he or she is entitled under this Plan (hereinafter referred to as a “Claimant”)
may file a written request for such benefit with the Executive Compensation Administration Department, setting forth his or her claim. The request must be addressed to the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department at its then principal place of business.

 

        (b)           Claim Decision.  Upon receipt of a claim, the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department shall review the claim and provide the Claimant with a written
notice of its decision within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed ninety (90) days, after the claim is received. If the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department determines that special circumstances require an extension of time beyond the initial ninety (90)- day claim review period, the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department shall notify the Claimant in writing within the initial ninety (90)-day period and explain the special circumstances that require the extension
and state the date by which the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department expects to render its decision on the claim. If this notice is provided, the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department may take up to an additional ninety (90) days (for a total of one hundred eighty (180) days after receipt of the claim) to render its decision on the claim.

 

        If the claim is denied by the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department, in whole or in part, the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department shall provide a written decision using language calculated to be understood
by the Claimant and setting forth:  (i) the specific reason or reasons for such denial; (ii) specific references to pertinent provisions of this Plan on which such denial is based; (iii) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation of why such material or such information is necessary; (iv) a description of the Plan’s procedures for review of denied claims and the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit
the claim for review; (v) the time limits for requesting a review of a denied claim under this section and for conducting the review under this section ; and (vi)  a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA if the claim is denied following review under this section .

 

        (c)           Request for Review. Within sixty (60) days after the receipt by the Claimant of the written decision on the claim provided for in this section , the Claimant may request in writing
that the Committee review the determination of the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department.  Such request must be addressed to the Committee at the address for giving notice in this Plan.  To assist the Claimant in deciding whether to request a review of a denied claim or in preparing a request for review of a denied claim, a Claimant shall be provided, upon written request to the Committee and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and
other information relevant to the claim.  The Claimant or his or her duly authorized representative may, but need not, submit a statement of the issues and comments in writing, as well as other documents, records or other information relating to the claim for consideration by the Committee.  If the Claimant does not request a review by the Committee of the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department’s decision within such sixty (60)-day period, the Claimant shall be barred
and estopped from challenging the determination of the AT&T Executive Compensation Administration Department.

 

        (d)           Review of Decision.  Within sixty (60) days after the Committee’s receipt of a request for review, the Administrator will review the decision of the AT&T Executive
Compensation Administration Department.  If the Committee determines that special circumstances require an extension of time beyond the initial sixty (60)-day review period, the Committee shall notify the Claimant in writing within the initial sixty (60)-day period and explain the special circumstances that require the extension and state the date by which the Committee expects to render its decision on the review of the claim.  If this notice is provided, the Committee may take up to an additional
sixty (60) days (for a total of one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the request for review) to render its decision on the review of the claim.

 

During its review of the claim, the Committee shall:

 

(1)           Take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial review of the claim conducted pursuant to this section;

 

(2)           Follow reasonable procedures to verify that its benefit determination is made in accordance with the applicable Plan documents; and

 

(3)           Follow reasonable procedures to ensure that the applicable Plan provisions are applied to the Participant to whom the claim relates in a manner consistent with how such provisions have been applied to other similarly-situated Participants.

 

After considering all materials presented by the Claimant, the Committee will render a decision, written in a manner designed to be understood by the Claimant.  If the Committee denies the claim on review, the written decision will include (i) the specific reasons for the decision; (ii) specific references to the pertinent provisions
of this Plan on which the decision is based; (iii) a statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive, upon request to the Committee and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claim; and (iv) a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.

 

The Committee shall serve as the final review committee under the Plan and shall have sole and complete discretionary authority to administer, interpret, construe and apply the Plan provisions, and determine all questions of administration, interpretation, construction, and application of the Plan, including questions and determinations
of eligibility, entitlement to benefits and the type, form and amount of any payment of benefits, all in its sole and absolute discretion.  The Committee shall further have the authority to determine all relevant facts and related issues, and all documents, records and other information relevant to a claim conclusively for all parties, and in accordance with the terms of the documents or instruments governing the Plan.  Decisions by the Committee shall be conclusive and binding on all parties
and not subject to further review.

 

In any case, a Participant or Beneficiary may have further rights under ERISA. The Plan provisions require that Participants or Beneficiary pursue all claim and appeal rights described in this section before they seek any other legal recourse regarding claims for benefits.

 

Article 4 - Contributions

4.1           Election to Make Contributions.

(a) The Committee shall establish dates and other conditions for participation in the Plan and making contributions as it deems appropriate.  Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, each year an Employee who is an Eligible
Employee as of September 30 may thereafter make an election on or prior to the last Business Day of the immediately following November (such election shall be cancelled if the Employee is not an Eligible Employee on the last day such an election may be made) to contribute on a pre-tax basis, through payroll deductions, any combination of the following:

(1)  From 6% to 30% (in whole percentage increments) of the Participant’s monthly Base Compensation, other than Annual Bonus, during the calendar year (the Plan Year for such contributions) following the calendar year of such election.  The Employee Contributions shall be used to acquire Share Units to be credited
to the Share Deferral Account for that Plan Year.

(2)  Up to 95% (in whole percentage increments or limited to the target amount) of a Short Term Incentive Award, or from 6% to 30% (in whole percentage increments) of Annual Bonus, in each case such contributions shall be made during the second calendar year (which is the Plan Year for such contributions) following the year of
such election, except that in 2008 a separate election may be made with respect to contributions to be made in 2009. An Employee may make such an election with respect to the type of Award (Short Term Incentive Award or Annual Bonus) that the Employee is under as of the time the Employee’s eligibility to make such election is determined.  If because of a promotion or otherwise, the Employee receives a different type of Award instead of, or in partial or full replacement for, the type of Award
subject to the Employee’s election for the relevant Plan Year, the election will apply to the other Award as well, including but not limited to any individual discretionary award related thereto.

(b)  The Committee may permit an Eligible Employee to make an election to purchase Share Units under this Plan with compensation other than Base Compensation or Short Term Incentive Awards on such terms and conditions as such Committee may permit from time to time, provided that
any such election is made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.  In no event shall an acquisition of Share Units pursuant to this paragraph (b) or pursuant to the conversion of a right to receive Stock into Share Units (such as through a distribution of Stock under the 2001 Incentive Plan) result in the crediting of an AT&T Matching Contribution or Options.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, no election shall be effective to the extent it would permit an Employee Contribution or distribution to be made that is not in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent such election related to Employee Contributions that complied with such statute and
regulations thereunder, that portion of the election shall remain valid, except as otherwise provided under this Plan.

(d)  To the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, AT&T may refuse or terminate, in whole or in part, any election to purchase Share Units in the Plan at any time; provided, however, that only the Committee may take such action with respect to persons who are Officer Level Employees.

(e)  In the event the Participant takes a hardship withdrawal pursuant to Treasury Regulation §1.401(k)-1 from a benefit plan qualified under the Code and sponsored by an Employer, any election to make Employee Contributions by such Participant shall be cancelled on a prospective basis, and the Participant shall not be permitted
to make a new election with respect to Employee Contributions that would be contributed during the then current and immediately following calendar year.

4.2           Purchase of Share Units.

(a) Employee Contributions (as well as any corresponding AT&T Matching Contributions) shall be made pursuant to a proper election, only during the Participant’s lifetime; provided, however, with respect to Employee Contribution elections made prior to 2007, the Employee must remain an Eligible Employee while making any such contributions.  In
the event of a Change in Control of an Employer, subsequent compensation from the Employer may not be contributed to the Plan.  The Employer may continue the then current elections of the participants under a subsequent plan in order to comply with applicable tax laws.

(b)  The number of Share Units purchased by a Participant during a calendar month shall be found by dividing the Participant's Employee Contributions during the month by the FMV of a share of Stock on the last day of such month.

(c)  A contribution to the Plan shall be made when the compensation – from which the contribution is to be deducted – is to be paid (“paid,” as used in this Plan, includes amounts contributed to the Plan that would have been paid were it not for an election under this Plan), as determined by the relevant
Employer.   The Committee may modify or change this paragraph (c) from time to time.

4.3           Reinvestment of Dividends.

In the month containing a record date for a cash dividend on Stock, each Share Deferral Account shall be credited with that number of Share Units equal to the declared dividend per share of Stock, multiplied by the number of Share Units held in such Share Deferral Account as of such record date, and dividing the product by the FMV of a
share of Stock on the last day of such month.

 

Article 5 - AT&T Matching Contributions

5.1           AT&T Match.

(a) Each month AT&T shall credit the Participant's relevant Share Deferral Account with  the number of “Matching Share Units” found by taking eighty percent (80%) of the Participant's Employee Contributions from Base Compensation made to this Plan and to the Cash
Deferral Plan during the month with respect to the first six percent (6%) of the Participant’s monthly Match Eligible Compensation (as defined below) and dividing the resulting figure by the FMV of the Stock on the last day of such month. The monthly “Match Eligible Compensation” shall be the sum of:

(1) the monthly Employee Contributions from Base Compensation to this Plan and the Cash Deferral Plan (in the aggregate, “Deferred BC”), plus

(2) the amount of the Participant’s monthly Base Compensation in excess of the Deferred BC (“Non-Deferred BC”) but only to the extent such monthly Non-Deferred BC, when aggregated with the Participant’s total Non-Deferred BC for prior months in such Plan Year, as determined by the relevant Employer, exceeds the
limit in effect under Section 401(a)(17) of the Code applicable with respect to such Plan Year.

The foregoing formula shall apply regardless of whether or not the Participant makes contributions to a 401(k) plan.

A Participant may receive Matching Share Units in a Share Deferral Account for a particular form of compensation only if the Participant is then making contributions to the same Share Deferral Account; provided, however, this condition shall not apply for purposes of determining under Section
5.1(a)(2) whether the limit described therein has been reached.

 

As provided in the definition of Share Deferral Account, Matching Share Units shall be credited to the respective Share Deferral Account that is related to the same form of Employee Contributions (either (1) Base Compensation excluding Annual Bonus or (2) Annual Bonus).

(b) In the sole discretion of the Committee, in the event the Committee reduces the number of Options that AT&T issues for each Share Unit purchased, the Committee may provide for the contribution of a Bonus Matching Contribution on such terms as the Committee determines.  Such
Bonus Matching Contribution may not exceed 20% of the Participant’s Employee Contributions for the month.  The Bonus Matching Contribution shall be subject to such terms and conditions as required by the Committee and, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, to the same vesting and distribution requirements as AT&T Matching Contributions.

5.2           Distribution of Share Units Acquired with Matching Contributions.

A Participant's Matching Share Units shall be distributed in a lump sum, in accordance with the Plan's distribution provisions, in the earlier of: (a) the calendar year following the calendar year of the Termination of Employment of the Participant, or (b) the calendar year in which the Participant reaches age 55, in each case only with
respect to Matching Share Units relating to Share Deferral Accounts for Plan Years before such distribution calendar year.

Matching Share Units acquired as part of a Share Deferral Account that commences in or after the calendar year the Employee reaches age 55 or after the calendar year in which the Employee Terminates Employment will be distributed in the same manner and time as other Share Units in such Share Deferral Account.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, Matching Share Units acquired in 2008 and later shall be distributed at the same time as other Share Units (including those acquired with Employee Contributions) in the same Share Deferral Account.

Article 6 - Distributions

	
6.1
	
Distributions of Share Units.

(a)  Initial Election with Respect to a Share Deferral Account.  At the time the Participant makes an election to make Employee Contributions with respect to a Share Deferral Account, the Participant shall also elect the calendar year the Share Deferral Account shall be distributed, which may be from the first through
fifth calendar years after the Plan Year the Account commenced (except as otherwise provided in this Plan with respect to Matching Share Units).  For example, if an Account commenced in 2005, the Participant may elect to commence the distribution in any calendar year from and including 2006 to and including 2010.  If no timely distribution election is made by the Participant, then the Participant will be deemed to have made an election to have the Share Deferral Account distributed in a single
installment in the first calendar year after the calendar year the Account commenced.  However, for purposes of Initial Elections with respect to Plan Years prior to 2008 only, in the event the Participant Terminates Employment, the distribution of the Share Deferral Unit shall occur in the calendar year following the calendar year of the Participant’s Termination of Employment unless the Employee has made an irrevocable election under (b), below.

(b)  Election to Delay a Scheduled Distribution.  A Participant may elect to defer a scheduled distribution of a Share Deferral Account for five (5) additional calendar years beyond that previously elected (except as otherwise provided in this Plan with respect to Matching Share Units).  Unless otherwise provided
by the Committee, the election to defer the distribution must be made on or after October 1, and on or before the last Business Day of the next following December, of the calendar year that is the second calendar year preceding the calendar year of the relevant scheduled distribution.  To make this election, the Participant must be an Eligible Employee both on the September 30 immediately preceding such election and on the last day such an election may be made.  For example, an election to
defer a scheduled distribution in 2010 must be made during the period from October 1, 2008, through the last business day of December 2008, and the Participant must be an Eligible Employee both on September 30, 2008, and the last business day of December 2008.  An election to defer the distribution of a Share Deferral Account may not be made in the same calendar year that the election to establish the Share Deferral Account is made.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, (1)
an election to defer the distribution of a Share Deferral Account must be made at least 12 months prior to the date of the first scheduled payment under the prior distribution election and (2) the election shall not take effect until at least 12 months after the date on which the election is made.

(c)  A Participant’s Share Deferral Account shall be distributed to the Participant on March 10 (or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable as determined by AT&T) of the calendar year elected by the Participant for that Account.  In the event the distribution is to be made to a “Specified
Employee” as a result of the Participant’s Termination of Employment (other than as a result of a Change in Control), the distribution shall not occur until the later of such March 10 or six (6) months after the Termination of Employment, except it shall be distributed upon the Participant’s earlier death in accordance with this Plan.

6.2           Death of the Participant.

In the event of the death of a Participant, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, all undistributed Share Deferral Accounts shall be distributed to the Participant's beneficiary in accordance with the AT&T Rules for Employee Beneficiary Designations, as the same may be amended from time to time, within the later of
90 days following such determination or the end of the calendar year in which determination was made.

6.3           Unforeseeable Emergency Distribution.

If a Participant experiences an “Unforeseeable Emergency,” the Participant may submit a written petition to AT&T (the Committee in the case of Officer Level Employees), to receive a partial or full distribution of his Share Deferral Account(s).  In the event that AT&T (the Committee in the case of Officer
Level Employees), upon review of the written petition of the Participant, determines in its sole discretion that the Participant has suffered an “Unforeseeable Emergency,” AT&T shall make a distribution to the Participant from the Participant’s Share Deferral Accounts (other than Matching Share Units), on a pro-rata basis, within the later of 90 days following such determination or the end of the calendar year in which determination was made, subject to the following:

(a)       “Unforeseeable Emergency” shall mean a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s legal spouse, the Participant’s beneficiary, or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Code Section
152, without regard to Code Section 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)); loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty; or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.  Whether a Participant is faced with an Unforeseeable Emergency permitting a distribution is to be determined based on the relevant facts and circumstances of each case, but, in any case,
a distribution on account of Unforeseeable Emergency shall not be made to the extent that such emergency is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation from insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not cause severe financial hardship, or by cessation of deferrals under the Plan.

(b)       The amount of a distribution to be made because of an Unforeseeable Emergency shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the FMV of the Participant's vested Share Deferral Account, calculated as the date on which the amount becomes payable, as determined by AT&T (the Committee in the case of Officer
Level Employees) in its sole discretion, and (ii) the amount reasonably necessary, as determined by the AT&T (the Committee in the case of Officer Level Employees) in its sole discretion, to satisfy the emergency need (which may include amounts necessary to pay any Federal, state, local, or foreign income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the distribution).  Determinations of the amount reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need shall take into account any additional
compensation that is available if the plan provides for cancellation of a deferral election upon a payment due to an Unforeseeable Emergency.  The determination of amounts reasonably necessary to satisfy the Unforeseeable Emergency need is not required to, but may, take into account any additional compensation that, due to the Unforeseeable Emergency, is available under another nonqualified deferred compensation plan but has not actually been paid, or that is available due to the Unforeseeable Emergency
under another plan that would provide for deferred compensation except due to the application of the effective date provisions under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-6.

(c)       Upon such distribution on account of an Unforeseeable Emergency under this Plan, any election to make Employee Contributions by such Participant shall be immediately cancelled, and the Participant shall not be permitted to make a new election with respect to Employee Contributions that would
be contributed during the then current and immediately following calendar year.

6.4           Ineligible Participant.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan to the contrary, if AT&T receives an opinion from counsel selected by AT&T, or a final determination is made by a Federal, state or local government or agency, acting within its scope of authority, to the effect that an individual’s continued participation in the Plan would
violate applicable law, then such person shall not make further contributions to the Plan to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code.

	
6.5
	
Distribution Process.

A Share Deferral Account shall be distributed under this Plan by taking the number of Share Units comprising the Account to be distributed and converting them into an equal number of shares of Stock.  (Once distributed, a Share Unit shall be canceled.)

Article 7 - Transition Provisions

	
7.1
	
Stockholder Approval 

The Plan was approved by Stockholders at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

7.2           2005 Share Deferral Accounts.

Notwithstanding Article 4 to the contrary, if an Employee is an Eligible Employee on September 30, 2004, the Employee may make an election under Article 4 on or prior to December 15, 2004, with respect to the establishment of a Share Deferral Account for the (i) contribution of Base Compensation and/or Short Term Incentive Awards paid
during the period from January 1, 2005, through January 15, 2006, which shall be the Plan Year for such Share Deferral Account; and/or (ii) the conversion of a distribution of Stock that would be made during the same Plan Year pursuant to the 2001 Incentive Plan into an equal number of Share Units, so long as such conversion would not cause the recognition of income for Federal income tax purposes in respect of such distribution of Stock prior to distribution of Share Units under this Plan.

 

7.3           2007 Amendments.

(a) Amendments made to the Plan on November 15, 2007, shall be effective January 1, 2008. except for amendments to this Article 7, which shall be effective upon adoption.  Any Participants electing prior to November 15, 2007, to make Employee Contributions in 2008 shall have their elections canceled if they do not consent by
December 14, 2007, to all prior amendments to this Plan and to the Cash Deferral Plan.  Subject to the foregoing consent requirements, all Employee Contribution elections made prior to 2008, including but not limited to elections to contribute Stock that would be distributed under the 2001 Incentive Plan or a successor plan, shall remain in force, subject to all other terms of the amended Plan. In addition, all unvested but not forfeited Matching Share Units shall vest on November 15, 2007.  Matching
Shares that have been forfeited shall not be reinstated, and no amendment to this Plan shall be interpreted as reinstating such forfeitures.

 (b)  Not withstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, a Participant who as of December 29, 2006, was eligible for an additional payment pursuant to Section 4A of the BellSouth Corporation Executive Incentive Award Deferral Plan shall not, with respect to the 2008 Plan Year, receive Matching Share Units on Base Compensation
that exceeds $230,000.

7.4           2008 Amendments.

For Plan Years prior to 2009, Participants who, at the time of the determination of their eligibility to participate in an Account, are paid through a “sales plan” involving the use of commissions may elect to contribute up to 40% of Base Compensation.  For the 2008
Plan Year, only Salary and Short Term Incentive Awards paid after Termination of Employment may be contributed to the Plan.

Article 8 - Options

8.1           Grants.

Options may be issued in definitive form or recorded on the books and records of AT&T for the account of the Participant, at the discretion of AT&T.  If AT&T elects not to issue the Options in definitive form, they shall be deemed issued, and the Participants shall have all rights incident thereto as if they were
issued on the dates provided herein, without further action on the part of AT&T or the Participant.  In addition to the terms herein, all Options shall be subject to such additional provisions and limitations as provided in any Administrative Procedures adopted by the Committee prior to the issuance of such Options.  The number of Options issued to a Participant shall be reflected on the Participant's annual statement of account.

8.2           Term of Options.

The Options may only be exercised:  (a) after the earlier of (i) the expiration of one (1) year from date of issue or (ii) the Participant's Termination of Employment, and (b) no later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of their issue; and Options shall
be subject to earlier termination as provided herein.

8.3           Exercise Price.

The Exercise Price of an Option shall be the FMV of the Stock on the date of issuance of the Option, and an Option may not be repriced.

8.4           Issuance of Options.

(a)  For each Share Deferral Account established by a Participant:

(1)  on June 15 of the Plan Year for the Share Deferral Account, the Participant shall receive two (2) Options for each Share Unit acquired by the Participant as part of such Share Deferral Account during the immediately preceding January through May period with Employee Contributions of Base Compensation and/or Short Term Incentive
Award.  A fractional number of Options shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

(2)  on the February 15 immediately following the Plan Year for the Share Deferral Account, a Participant shall receive:

 

(i) two (2) Options for each Share Unit acquired by the Participant as part of such Share Deferral Account during the immediately preceding June through the remainder of the relevant Plan Year with Employee Contributions
of Base Compensation and/or Short Term Incentive Award; and

(ii)      two (2) Options for each Share Unit acquired prior to such date by the Participant with dividend equivalents that were derived, directly or indirectly (such as dividend equivalents paid on Share Units acquired with dividend equivalents), from Share Units acquired with Employee Contributions as part
of such Share Deferral Account.

(b) A fractional number of Options shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

(c) If Stock is not traded on the NYSE on any of the foregoing Option issuance dates, then the Options shall not be issued until the next such day on which Stock is so traded.

(d) If a Participant Terminates Employment other than (i) while Retirement eligible or (ii) because of death or Disability, no further Options shall be issued to or with respect to such Participant.  In the event of re-Employment following a Termination of Employment, the preceding sentence shall not apply to those Options resulting
from participation in the Plan after such re-Employment until a subsequent Termination of Employment.

(e) No more than 400,000 Options shall be issued to any individual under this Plan during a calendar year.  No Share Unit may be counted more than once for the issuance of Options.

(f) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, at any time, increase or lower the number of Options that are to be issued for each Share Unit acquired, not to exceed two (2) Options per Share Unit purchased.  However, if the Committee lowers the number of Options, then such change shall only be effective with respect to the next
Share Deferral Account a Participant may elect to establish.

(g) The Committee may also, at any time and in any manner, limit the number of Options which may be acquired as a result of the Short Term Incentive Award being contributed to the Plan.  Further, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, in determining the number of Options to be issued to a Participant with respect to a
Participant's contribution of a Short Term Incentive Award to the Plan and subsequent crediting of Share Units, Options may be issued only with respect to an amount which does not exceed the target amount of such award (or such other portion of the award as may be determined by the Committee).  Where a Participant’s election to contribute a Short Term Incentive Award to the Plan becomes applicable to Annual Bonus, the above limitation on options shall apply to the contribution of Annual Bonus
as though it were a Short Term Incentive Award.

(h) No options shall be issued to or in respect of a Participant for a particular issuance, unless at least ten (10) Options will be issued to that Participant.

8.5           Exercise and Payment of Options.

Options shall be exercised by providing notice to the designated agent selected by AT&T (if no such agent has been designated, then to AT&T), in the manner and form determined by AT&T, which notice shall be irrevocable, setting forth the exact number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and
including with such notice payment of the Exercise Price.  When Options have been transferred, AT&T or its designated agent may require appropriate documentation that the person or persons exercising the Option, if other than the Participant, has the right to exercise the Option.  No Option may be exercised with respect to a fraction of a share of Stock.

Exercises of Options may be effected only on days and during the hours that the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading or as otherwise provided or limited by AT&T.  If an Option expires on a day or at a time when exercises are not permitted, then the Options may be exercised no later than the immediately preceding
date and time that the Options were exercisable.

The Exercise Price shall be paid in full at the time of exercise.  No Stock shall be issued or transferred until full payment has been received therefore.

Payment may be made:

(a) in cash, or

(b) unless otherwise provided by the Committee at any time, and subject to such additional terms and conditions and/or modifications as AT&T may impose from time to time, and further subject to suspension or termination of this provision by AT&T at any time, by:

(i) delivery of Stock owned by the Participant in partial (if in partial payment, then together with cash) or full payment; provided, however, as a condition to paying any part of the Exercise Price in Stock, at the time of exercise of the Option, the Participant must establish to the satisfaction of AT&T that the Stock tendered
to AT&T must have been held by the Participant for a minimum of six (6) months preceding the tender; or

(ii) if AT&T has designated a stockbroker to act as AT&T's agent to process Option exercises, issuance of an exercise notice to such stockbroker together with instructions irrevocably instructing the stockbroker:  (A) to immediately sell (which shall include an exercise notice that becomes effective upon execution of
a sell order) a sufficient portion of the Stock to pay the Exercise Price of the Options being exercised and the required tax withholding, and (B) to deliver on the settlement date the portion of the proceeds of the sale equal to the Exercise Price and tax withholding to AT&T.  In the event the stockbroker sells any Stock on behalf of a Participant, the stockbroker shall be acting solely as the agent of the Participant, and AT&T disclaims any responsibility for the actions of the stockbroker
in making any such sales.  No Stock shall be issued until the settlement date and until the proceeds (equal to the Exercise Price and tax withholding) are paid to AT&T.

If payment is made by the delivery of Stock, the value of the Stock delivered shall be equal to the FMV of the Stock on the day preceding the date of exercise of the Option.

Restricted Stock may not be used to pay the Option exercise price.

8.6           Restrictions on Exercise and Transfer.

No Option shall be transferable except: (a) upon the death of a Participant in accordance with AT&T's Rules for Employee Beneficiary Designations, as the same may be amended from time to time; and (b) in the case of any holder after the Participant's death, only by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  During
the Participant's lifetime, the Participant's Options shall be exercisable only by the Participant or by the Participant's guardian or legal representative.  After the death of the Participant, an Option shall only be exercised by the holder thereof (including but not limited to an executor or administrator of a decedent's estate) or his or her guardian or legal representative.  In each such case the Option holder shall be considered a Participant for the limited purpose of exercising such
Options.

8.7           Termination of Employment.

(a)  Not Retirement Eligible.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if a Participant Terminates Employment while not Retirement eligible, a Participant's Options may be exercised, to the extent then exercisable:

(i) if such Termination of Employment is by reason of death or Disability, then for a period of three (3) years from the date of such Termination of Employment or until the expiration of the stated term of such Option, whichever period is shorter; or

(ii) if such Termination of Employment is for any other reason, then for a period of one (1) year from the date of such Termination of Employment or until the expiration of the stated term of such Option, whichever period is shorter.

(b)  Retirement Eligible.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if a Participant Terminates Employment while Retirement eligible, the Participant's Option may be exercised, to the extent then exercisable:  (i) for a period of five (5) years from
the date of Retirement or (ii) until the expiration of the stated term of such Option, whichever period is shorter.

(c) Re-Employment of a Participant after a Termination of Employment shall have no effect on the periods during which Options resulting from the prior Employment may be exercised.  For example, if the Option exercise period has been shortened because of the prior Termination of
Employment, it shall not be extended because of the re-Employment.

(d)  Notwithstanding any other definition of Termination of Employment under this Plan, for purposes of this Article 8 – Options only, a Termination of Employment shall mean the cessation of the Employee being employed by any corporation, partnership, venture or other entity
in which AT&T holds, directly or indirectly, a 50% or greater ownership interest, including but not limited to where AT&T ceases to hold such interest in the employing company.  In addition, the definition of Retirement for purposes of this Article 8 shall use the immediately foregoing definition of Termination of Employment in  lieu of any other definition.

Article 9 - Discontinuation, Termination, Amendment.

9.1           AT&T's Right to Discontinue Offering Share Units.

The Committee may at any time discontinue offerings of Share Units under the Plan.  Any such discontinuance shall have no effect upon existing Share Units or the terms or provisions of this Plan as applicable to such Share Units.

9.2           AT&T's Right to Terminate Plan.

The Committee may terminate the Plan at any time.  Upon termination of the Plan, contributions shall no longer be made under the Plan.

After termination of the Plan, Participants shall continue to earn dividend equivalents in the form of Share Units on undistributed Share Units and shall continue to receive all distributions under this Plan at such time as provided in and pursuant to the terms and conditions of Participant's elections and this Plan.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the termination of the Plan shall be made solely in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and in no event shall cause the accelerated distribution of any Account unless such termination is effected in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.

	
9.3
	
Amendment.

The Committee may at any time amend the Plan in whole or in part including but not limited to changing the formulas for determining the amount of AT&T Matching Contributions under Article 5 or decreasing the number of Options to be issued under Article 8; provided, however, that no amendment, including but not limited to an amendment
to this section, shall be effective, without the consent of a Participant, to alter, to the material detriment of such Participant, a Share Deferral Account of the Participant, other than as provided elsewhere in this section.   For purposes of this section, an alteration to the material detriment of a Participant shall include, but not be limited to, a material reduction in the period of time over which Stock may be distributed to a Participant, any reduction in the Participant's number of vested
Share Units or Options, or an increase in the Exercise Price or decrease in the term of an Option.   Any such consent may be in a writing, telecopy, or e-mail or in another electronic format. An election to acquire Share Units with Employee Contributions shall be conclusively deemed to be the consent of the Participant to any and all amendments to the Plan prior to such election, and such consent shall be a condition to making any election with respect to Employee Contributions.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section of the Plan, the Committee may modify this Plan with respect to any person subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) to place additional restrictions on the exercise of any Option or the transfer
of any Stock not yet issued under the Plan.

The Plan is established in order to provide deferred compensation to a select group of management and highly compensated employees with in the meaning of Sections 201(2) and 301(a)(3) of ERISA. To the extent legally required, the Code and ERISA shall govern the Plan, and if any provision hereof is in violation of an applicable requirement
thereof, the Company reserves the right to retroactively amend the Plan to comply therewith to the extent permitted under the Code and ERISA.  The Company also reserves the right to make such other changes as may facilitate implementation of Section 409A of the Code.  Provided, however, that in no event shall any such amendments be made in violation of the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

Article 10 – Miscellaneous.

10.1           Tax Withholding.

Upon distribution of Stock, including but not limited to, shares of Stock issued upon the exercise of an Option, AT&T shall withhold shares of Stock sufficient in value, using the FMV on the date determined by AT&T to be used to value the Stock for tax purposes, to satisfy the minimum amount of Federal, state, and local taxes required
by law to be withheld as a result of such distribution.

Any fractional share of Stock payable to a Participant shall be withheld as additional Federal withholding, or, at the option of AT&T, paid in cash to the Participant.

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, when the method of payment for the Exercise Price is from the sale by a stockbroker pursuant to Section 8.5, hereof, of the Stock acquired through the Option exercise, then the tax withholding shall be satisfied out of the proceeds.  For administrative purposes in determining the
amount of taxes due, the sale price of such Stock shall be deemed to be the FMV of the Stock.

10.2           Elections and Notices.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, all elections and notices of every kind under this Plan shall be made on forms prepared by AT&T or the General Counsel, Secretary or Assistant Secretary, or their respective delegates or shall be made in such other manner as permitted or required by AT&T or the General
Counsel, Secretary or Assistant Secretary, or their respective delegates, including through electronic means, over the Internet or otherwise.  An election shall be deemed made when received by AT&T (or its designated agent, but only in cases where the designated agent has been appointed for the purpose of receiving such election), which may waive any defects in form.  Unless made irrevocable by the electing person, each election with regard to making Employee Contributions or distributions
of Share Deferral Accounts shall become irrevocable at the close of business on the last day to make such election. AT&T may limit the time an election may be made in advance of any deadline.

If not otherwise specified by this Plan or AT&T, any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to AT&T under the Plan shall be delivered to the principal office of AT&T, directed to the attention of the Senior Executive Vice President in charge of Human Resources for
AT&T or his or her successor.  Such notice shall be deemed given on the date of delivery.

Notice to the Participant shall be deemed given when mailed (or sent by telecopy) to the Participant's work or home address as shown on the records of AT&T or, at the option of AT&T, to the Participant's e-mail address as shown on the records of AT&T.  It is the Participant's responsibility to ensure that the Participant's
addresses are kept up to date on the records of AT&T.  In the case of notices affecting multiple Participants, the notices may be given by general distribution at the Participants' work locations.

By participating in the Plan, each Participant agrees that AT&T may provide any documents required or permitted under the Federal or state securities laws, including but not limited to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by e-mail, by e-mail attachment, or by notice by e-mail
of electronic delivery through AT&T's Internet Web site or by other electronic means.

10.3           Unsecured General Creditor.

Participants and their beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights, interest, or claims in any property or assets of any Employer.  No assets of any Employer shall be held under any trust for the benefit of Participants, their beneficiaries, heirs, successors, or assigns, or held in any
way as collateral security for the fulfilling of the obligations of any Employer under this Plan.  Any and all of each Employer's assets shall be, and remain, the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of such Employer.  The only obligation of an Employer under the Plan shall be merely that of an unfunded and unsecured promise of AT&T to distribute shares of Stock corresponding to Share Units and Options, under the Plan.

 

10.4           Non-Assignability.

Neither a Participant nor any other person shall have any right to commute, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate, mortgage, or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate or convey in advance of actual receipt, shares of Stock corresponding to Share Units under the Plan, if any, or any part thereof, which are, and all rights to which
are, expressly declared to be unassignable and non-transferable.  No part of the Stock distributable shall, prior to actual distribution, be subject to seizure or sequestration for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony or separate maintenance owed by a Participant or any other person, nor be transferable by operation of law in the event of a Participant's or any other person's bankruptcy or insolvency.

10.5           Employment Not Guaranteed.

Nothing contained in this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as a contract of employment or as giving any employee any right to be retained in the employ of an Employer or to serve as a director.

10.6           Errors.

At any time AT&T or an Employer may correct any error made under the Plan without prejudice to AT&T or any Employer.  Neither AT&T nor any Employer shall be liable for any damages resulting from failure to timely allow any contribution to be made to the Plan or for any damages resulting from the correction of, or
a delay in correcting, any error made under the Plan.  In no event shall AT&T or any Employer be liable for consequential or incidental damages arising out of a failure to comply with the terms of the Plan.

	
10.7
	
Captions.

The captions of the articles, sections, and paragraphs of this Plan are for convenience only and shall not control nor affect the meaning or construction of any of its provisions.

10.8        Governing Law.

To the extent not preempted by Federal law, the Plan, and all benefits and agreements hereunder, and any and all disputes in connection therewith, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict or choice of law principles which might otherwise refer the construction,
interpretation or enforceability of this Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

Because benefits under the Plan are granted in Texas, records relating to the Plan and benefits thereunder are located in Texas, and the Plan and benefits thereunder are administered in Texas, AT&T and the Participant under this Plan, for themselves and their successors and assigns, irrevocably submit to the exclusive and sole jurisdiction
and venue of the state or Federal courts of Texas with respect to any and all disputes arising out of or relating to this Plan, the subject matter of this Plan or any benefits under this Plan, including but not limited to any disputes arising out of or relating to the interpretation and enforceability of any benefits or the terms and conditions of this Plan.  To achieve certainty regarding the appropriate forum in which to prosecute and defend actions arising out of or relating to this Plan, and to
ensure consistency in application and interpretation of the Governing Law to the Plan, the parties agree that (a) sole and exclusive appropriate venue for any such action shall be an appropriate Federal or state court in Dallas County, Texas, and no other, (b) all claims with respect to any such action shall be heard and determined exclusively in such Texas court, and no other, (c) such Texas court shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction over the person of such parties and over the subject matter of any dispute
relating hereto and (d) that the parties waive any and all objections and defenses to bringing any such action before such Texas court, including but not limited to those relating to lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue or forum non conveniens.

10.9        Plan to Comply with Section 409A.

In the event any provision of this Plan is held invalid, void, or unenforceable, the same shall not affect, in any respect whatsoever, the validity of any other provision of this Plan.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan, each provision in this Plan shall be interpreted to permit the deferral of compensation
in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and any provision that would conflict with such requirements shall not be valid or enforceable.

10.10      Successors and Assigns.

This Plan shall be binding upon AT&T and its successors and assigns.

10.11       Loyalty Conditions.

 

(a) By making an Employee Contribution election under Section 4.1 of this Plan after September 1, 2009, a Participant acknowledges that AT&T would be unwilling to provide for such an election but for the loyalty conditions and covenants
set forth in this section, and that the conditions and covenants herein are a material inducement to AT&T’s willingness to sponsor the Plan and to offer Plan benefits for the Participants.  Accordingly, as a condition to making an Employee Contribution election under Section 4.1 of this Plan after September 1, 2009,  each such electing Participant is deemed to agree that he shall not, without obtaining the written consent of the Committee in advance, participate in activities that
constitute engaging in competition with AT&T or engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T, as those terms are defined in this section.

 

(b) Definitions.  For purposes of this section and of the Plan generally:

 

(i) an “Employer Business” shall mean AT&T Inc. and any of its Subsidiaries, or any business in which they or any affiliate of theirs has a substantial ownership or joint venture interest;

 

(ii) “engaging in competition with AT&T” shall mean, while employed by AT&T or any of its Subsidiaries, or within two (2) years after Participant’s Termination of Employment, engaging by the Participant in any
business or activity in all or any portion of the same geographical market where the same or substantially similar business or activity is being carried on by an Employer Business.  “Engaging in competition with AT&T” shall not include owning a non-substantial publicly traded interest as a shareholder in a business that competes with an Employer Business.  “Engaging in competition with AT&T” shall include representing or providing consulting services to, or
being an employee of, any person or entity that is engaged in competition with any Employer Business or that takes a position adverse to any Employer Business.

 

(iii) “engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T” means, while employed by AT&T or any of its Subsidiaries, or within two (2) years after Participant’s Termination of Employment, (i) soliciting for employment or
hire, whether as an employee or as an independent contractor, for any business in competition with an Employer Business, any person employed by AT&T or any of its Subsidiaries during the one (1) year prior to the Participant’s Termination of Employment, whether or not acceptance of such position would constitute a breach of such person’s contractual obligations to AT&T or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) soliciting, encouraging, or inducing any vendor or supplier with which Participant had business
contact on behalf of any Employer Business during the two (2) years prior to the Participant’s Termination of Employment (regardless of the reason for that termination) to terminate, discontinue, renegotiate, reduce, or otherwise cease or modify its relationship with AT&T or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) soliciting, encouraging, or inducing any customer or active prospective customer with whom Participant had business contact, whether in person or by other media (“Customer”), on behalf
of any Employer Business during the two (2) years prior to the Participant’s Termination of Employment (regardless of the reason for that termination), to terminate, discontinue, renegotiate, reduce, or otherwise cease or modify its relationship with any Employer Business, or to purchase competing goods or services from a business competing with any Employer Business, or accepting or servicing business from such Customer on behalf of himself or any other business.  “Engaging in conduct disloyal
to AT&T” shall also mean, disclosing Confidential Information to any third party or using Confidential Information, other than for an Employer Business, or failing to return any Confidential Information to the Employer Business following termination of employment.

 

(iv) “Confidential Information” shall mean all information belonging to, or otherwise relating to, an Employer Business, which is not generally known, regardless of the manner in which it is stored or conveyed to Participant,
and which the Employer Business has taken reasonable measures under the circumstances to protect from unauthorized use or disclosure.  Confidential Information includes trade secrets as well as other proprietary knowledge, information, know-how, and non-public intellectual property rights, including unpublished or pending patent applications and all related patent rights, formulae, processes, discoveries, improvements, ideas, conceptions, compilations of data, and data, whether or not patentable or
copyrightable and whether or not it has been conceived, originated, discovered, or developed in whole or in part by Participant.  For example, Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Employer Business’ business plans, budgets, operations, products, strategies, marketing, sales, inventions, designs, costs, legal strategies, finances, employees, customers, prospective customers, licensees, or licensors; information received from third parties under confidential
conditions; or other valuable financial, commercial, business, technical or marketing information concerning the Employer Business, or any of the products or services made, developed or sold by the Employer Business.  Confidential Information does not include information that (i) was generally known to the public at the time of disclosure; (ii) was lawfully received by Participant from a third party; (iii) was known to Participant prior to receipt from the Employer Business; or (iv) was independently
developed by Participant or independent third parties; in each of the foregoing circumstances, this exception applies only if such public knowledge or possession by an independent third party was without breach by Participant or any third party of any obligation of confidentiality or non-use, including but not limited to the obligations and restrictions set forth in this Plan.

 

(c) Equitable Relief.  The parties recognize that any Participant’s breach of any of the covenants in this section will cause irreparable injury to the AT&T, will represent a failure of the consideration under which
AT&T (in its capacity as creator and sponsor of the Plan) agreed to provide the Participant with the opportunity to receive Plan benefits, and that monetary damages would not provide AT&T with an adequate or complete remedy that would warrant AT&T’s continued sponsorship of the Plan (including the accrual or granting of Share Units, Matching Share Units and Options) for all Participants.  Accordingly, in the event of a Participant’s actual or threatened breach of the covenants
in this section, the Committee, in addition to all other rights and acting as a fiduciary under ERISA on behalf of all Participants, shall have a fiduciary duty (in order to assure that AT&T receives fair and promised consideration for its continued Plan sponsorship and funding) to seek an injunction restraining the Participant from breaching the covenants in this Section.  AT&T shall pay for any Plan expenses that the Committee incurs hereunder, and shall be entitled to recover from the Participant
its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in obtaining such injunctive remedies.

 

(d) Uniform Enforcement.  In recognition of AT&T’s need for nationally uniform standards for the Plan administration, it is an absolute condition in consideration of any Participant’s ability to make Employee
Contribution elections under Section 4.1 of this Plan after September 1, 2009, that each and all of the following conditions apply to all such electing Participants:

 

(i) ERISA shall control all issues and controversies hereunder, and the Committee shall serve for purposes hereof as a “fiduciary” of the Plan and its “named fiduciary” within the meaning of ERISA.

 

(ii) All litigation between the parties relating to this section shall occur in federal court, which shall have exclusive jurisdiction; any such litigation shall be held in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Texas, and the only remedies available with respect to the Plan shall be those provided under ERISA.ex10g.htm

	
Exhibit 10-g

	
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION

	
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

	
Amended and Restated effective as of January 1, 2010

 

 

 

BELLSOUTH CORPORATION

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

	
ARTICLE I.     STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of the BellSouth Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan is to provide supplemental pension benefits to Executives and certain other employees of BellSouth Corporation and certain subsidiaries of BellSouth Corporation, hereinafter referred to as Participants, who retire or terminate from service.  The Plan
was originally effective as of January 1, 1984 and was subsequently amended from time to time.  The Plan was amended and restated, effective as of January 1, 2005, and as so amended and restated is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), with respect to all benefits accrued and vested on or after January 1, 2005.  Further, with respect to all benefits of Participants employed on or after January 1,
2007, the Plan is intended to fully comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A.  During the period from January 1, 2005, to the date of the adoption of this restated Plan document, the Plan has been operated in good faith compliance with the provisions of Code Section 409A, Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-1, the proposed Treasury Regulations for Code Section 409A, the Final Treasury Regulations for Code Section 409A, applicable Internal Revenue Services Notices and Announcements and any
other generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Service Bulletin.

Following the merger of AT&T Inc. and BellSouth Corporation, the Plan was amended and restated, effective January 1, 2008, to reflect the transition of certain participants to other AT&T retirement plans and/or other AT&T companies.  The Plan is now hereby amended and restated herein, effective January 1, 2010.  In
order for a Participant to accrue benefits on or after January 1, 2010, the provisions of Article VIII shall apply.  This amendment and restatement shall supersede in all respects the amendment and restatement previously effective January 1, 2008.

	
ARTICLE II.     DEFINITIONS

	
 1.
	
The term “ADEA” shall mean the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended from time to time.

	
 2.
	
The term "Affiliate" shall mean any corporation, other than BellSouth Corporation (or a Participating Company), which is a member of the same controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of Code Section 414(b)) as BellSouth Corporation and any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is under common control with BellSouth Corporation
within the meaning of Code Section 414(c).

	
 3.
	
The term "Annual Bonus Award" shall mean the bonus amount paid annually to a Participant that is included in the calculation of pension benefits under the Pension Plan.

	
 4.
	
The term “AT&T SERP Participant” shall mean an officer who is designated as a participant in the AT&T, Inc. 2005 Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (the “A&T SERP”).  The initial day of participation in such plan is the named officer’s “SERP Effective Date” as defined in the AT&T SERP.

	
  
	 

	
5.  
	
The term “AT&T SERP Vesting Date” shall mean the date that an AT&T SERP Participant becomes 100% vested in the AT&T SERP.

	
 6.
	
The terms "BellSouth Corporation" and "Company" shall mean BellSouth Corporation, a Georgia corporation, or its successors.

	
 7.
	
The terms "Chairman of the Board", "President" and "Board of Directors" or "Board" shall mean the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Board of Directors,
respectively, of the Company.

	
 8.
	
The term “Claim Review Committee” shall mean the BellSouth Corporation Employees’ Benefit Claim Review Committee appointed by the Committee to be the claims fiduciary for any claims brought under the Pension Plan.

	
 9.
	
The term "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

	
10.
	
The term "Committee" shall mean the Employee Benefit Committee of BellSouth Corporation appointed by the Company to administer the Pension Plan.

	
11.
	
The term “Disabled” or “Disability” means the following:

	
  
	
(a)
	
the inability of the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; OR

	
  
	
(b)
	
the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under a short-term disability plan covering employees of a Participating Company.

	
12.
	
The term "Executive" shall mean an employee on the active payroll of any Participating Company who holds a position that the Board of Directors has designated to be within the Company’s executive compensation group.

	
13.
	
The term “Executive Severance Agreement” means a BellSouth executive change in control agreement entered into by and between an executive who is a Participant in this Plan and BellSouth, as amended and/or superseded from time to time, providing certain benefits in the event of a change in corporate control of BellSouth Corporation.

	
13.
	
The term "Former Affiliate" shall have the same meaning as “Interchange Company”.

	
15.
	
The term "Included Earnings" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(a)(ii) of Article IV of this Plan.

	
16.
	
The term "Interchange Company" shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan.

	
17.
	
The term "Mandatory Retirement Age" shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan.

	
18.
	
The term “Merger” shall mean the merger, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 4, 2006 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among BellSouth, AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”), and ABC Consolidation Corp., a Georgia corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T (“Merger Sub”), pursuant
to which, at the “Effective Time” (as defined in the Merger Agreement), BellSouth was  merged with and into the Merger Sub.

	
19.
	
The term “Merger Severance Plan” means a severance plan (or plans) adopted under the terms of the Company Disclosure Letter to the Merger Agreement (as defined in Section 16 of this Article II).

	
20.
	
The term "Net Credited Service", except as expressly limited or otherwise provided in this Plan or under an individual Participant’s employment-related agreement with the Company, shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan and shall be interpreted in the same manner as that term is interpreted for purposes of
the Pension Plan.

	
21.  
	
The term "Participants" shall mean all Executives as defined herein, as well as all other management employees (i.e., non-collectively bargained employees) at pay grade E01 (or equivalent) and above and any other employees designated
by the Chief Executive Officer of BellSouth Corporation or his or her delegated representative.

No employee shall commence or re-commence participation in the Plan on and after February 8, 2007.

	
22.  
	
The term "Participating Company" shall mean BellSouth Corporation, and each subsidiary of BellSouth Corporation which shall have determined, with the concurrence of the senior human resources officer of BellSouth Corporation, to participate in the Plan.  Each Participating Company
participating in the Plan as of the adoption of this amendment and restatement shall be a Participating Company in the Plan.

In addition, any Participant who transfers employment on or after December 29, 2006 from a Participating Company to an Affiliate shall remain an eligible Participant in this Plan, and the employing Affiliate shall be considered a Participating Company for purposes of that Participant’s service and earnings hereunder.

	
23.
	
The term "Pension Act" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) as it may be amended from time to time.

	
24.
	
The term "Pension Commencement Date" shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan.

	
25.
	
The term "Pension Plan" shall mean the BellSouth Personal Retirement Account Pension Plan as in effect on the date of the Merger.

	
26.
	
The term "Plan" shall mean this BellSouth Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

	
27.
	
The term "Post-04 Benefit” shall mean the Participant’s Plan benefit accrued on or after January 1, 2005 determined in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 409A.

	
28.
	
The term "Pre-05 Benefit” shall mean the Participant’s Plan benefit accrued and vested as of December 31, 2004 determined in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 409A.

	
29.
	
The term “Rabbi Trust Agreement” shall mean each and all of the following: (i) BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s); (ii) BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s); (iii) BellSouth Enterprises, Inc. Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s); (iv) BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Executive
Benefit Plan(s) for Mobile Systems Executives; (v) BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s) for Advertising and Publishing Executives; (vi) Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s) for Certain BellSouth Companies; in each case, as amended from time to time.

	
30.
	
The term “Specified Employee” shall mean, for periods on or after December 29, 2006, any Participant who is a “Key Employee” (as defined in Code Section 416(i) without regard to paragraph (5) thereof), as determined by AT&T in accordance with its uniform policy with respect to all arrangements subject to Code Section 409A, based upon the 12-month period ending on each December 31st (such
12-month period is referred to below as the “identification period”).  All Participants who are determined to be Key Employees under Code Section 416(i) (without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) during the identification period shall be treated as Key Employees for purposes of the Plan during the 12-month period that begins on the first day of the 4th month following the close of such identification period.  For
periods prior to December 29, 2006, the term Specified Employee shall mean a specified employee under Code Section 409A.

	
31.
	
The term "Standard Annual Bonus" shall mean an amount determined by (1) a stated dollar amount, or (2) applying a target percentage of a Participant’s base pay rate, as determined by the annual compensation plan and the Participant’s current job or pay grade.

	
32.
	
The term "Vesting Service Credit", except as expressly limited or otherwise provided in this Plan or under an individual Participant’s employment-related agreement with the Company, shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan and shall be interpreted in the same manner as that term is interpreted for purposes
of the Pension Plan.

	
  
	
An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Vesting Service Credit (“VSC”) determined in the same manner that is determined in the Pension Plan; provided however, his VSC shall not increase after his AT&T SERP Vesting Date (i.e., years of VSC earned after that date will not be included for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit).

	
  
	
In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his VSC determined in the same manner that is determined in the Pension Plan; provided however, his VSC shall not increase after his SERP Effective Date.

	
33.
	
The use in this Plan of personal pronouns of the masculine gender is intended to include both the masculine and feminine genders.

	
ARTICLE III.     ADMINISTRATION

	
 1.
	
The Company shall be the Plan Administrator and the Plan Sponsor of the Plan as those terms are defined in the Pension Act.  The Company may allocate all or any part of its responsibilities for the operation and administration of the Plan, except to the extent expressly prohibited by the Plan's terms. The Company may designate in writing other persons to carry out its responsibilities under the Plan, and may
employ persons to advise it with regard to such responsibilities.  The Company, acting through the Committee, the Claim Review Committee or any other person designated by the Company, as applicable, shall have the exclusive responsibility and complete discretionary authority to interpret the terms of the Plan (including the power to construe ambiguous or uncertain terms), to control the operation and administration of the Plan and to resolve all questions in connection therewith, with all powers necessary
to enable it to properly carry out such responsibilities, including without limitation the powers and responsibilities set forth in this Article III, and its determinations shall be final, conclusive and binding on all  persons.

	
2.
	
The Plan Administrator shall have the power to determine status, coverage, eligibility for and the amount of benefits under the Plan and all questions arising in connection therewith, with respect to employees of each Participating Company, respectively, and shall have the power to authorize disbursements according to this Plan.

	
3.
	
The review and final determination of claims and appeals for Participants and beneficiaries under the Plan shall be determined by, and in the complete discretion of, the Plan Administrator acting through the Claim Review Committee and in accordance with the claims and appeals procedures set forth in the summary plan description for the Pension Plan and shall be administered and interpreted in accordance with the Pension
Act and procedures in effect under the Pension Plan.  All determinations of the Plan Administrator shall be final and binding and not subject to further administrative review.

	
4.
	
The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and/or the applicable Participating Company.

	
5.
	
The Company, the Committee and the Claim Review Committee, and each other Plan Administrator described herein, are each a named fiduciary as that term is used in the Pension Act with respect to the particular duties and responsibilities herein provided to be allocated to each of them.

	
6.  
	
Any person or group of persons may serve in more than one fiduciary capacity with respect to the Plan.

	
7.
	
Notwithstanding the preceding, effective as of the date of the Merger, responsibility for administration of the Plan shall be determined under the terms of the Rabbi Trust Agreements.  As provided in the Rabbi Trust Agreements, claims for benefits, appeals of benefit denials and Plan interpretations shall be made by a “Trust Contractor” or “Independent Fiduciary” (as such terms are
defined in the Rabbi Trust Agreements), as the case may be.  At any time during which a Trust Contractor or Independent Fiduciary shall, under the terms of the Rabbi Trust Agreements, have such Plan administrative responsibilities, the term “Plan Administrator” as used in this Plan shall refer to such Trust Contractor or Independent Fiduciary.

	
ARTICLE IV.     BENEFITS

	
 1.
	
Participation

	
  
	
All persons included in the definition of the term "Participants" are deemed participants in this Plan.  In addition, each individual who has participated in this Plan but who has ceased to be included in the definition of "Participants", whether due to demotion, termination or otherwise, shall continue to be a Participant in this Plan, except for purposes of accruing additional benefits under Section 4 of
this Article IV, and shall be entitled to a benefit under this Plan if, at the time such individual ceased to be included in the definition of "Participants", he or she had satisfied the service requirements for a deferred vested pension under the Pension Plan.  Each such individual shall receive a benefit under the terms of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to the effective date of such demotion, termination or other event, the amount of such benefit to be calculated as if the individual retired
(or otherwise terminated employment) on such date, it being the Company's intent that any such demotion, termination or other event removing individuals from the definition of "Participants" shall not adversely affect entitlement to such benefits.

	
  
	 

	
 2.
	
Mandatory Retirement Age

	
  
	
Each Participant, whether or not eligible for benefits under this Plan, shall cease to be eligible for continued employment no later than the last day of the month in which such Participant attains the Mandatory Retirement Age.

	
 3.
	
Eligibility

	
  
	
(a)
	
Service Benefit

An individual who is both a Participant in this Plan and who is eligible for a service pension pursuant to the terms of the Pension Plan at the time of employment termination or whose age and Net Credited Service recognized under this Plan would satisfy the eligibility requirements of the Pension Plan for a service pension is eligible for
a service benefit pursuant to this Plan.  Additionally, each Participant who has attained age 62 or older and whose Net Credited Service is ten years or more at the time of employment termination is eligible for a service benefit under this Plan.  Each Participant whose employment terminates pursuant to and under the terms of the Merger Severance Plan may also be eligible for a service benefit under this Plan, if at the time of employment termination the Participant's age and Net Credited
Service meets the requirements established under such severance program to be deemed service pension eligible for purposes of this Plan.  Each Participant whose employment terminates pursuant to and under the terms of an Executive Severance Agreement shall be deemed to be eligible for a service pension for purposes of this Plan.

	
  
	
(b)
	
Deferred Benefit

	
  
	
(i)
	
Any individual not described in Section 3(a) of this Article IV who is a Participant in this Plan at the time of voluntary employment termination is eligible for a deferred vested pension pursuant to this Plan, provided he is eligible for a deferred vested pension pursuant to the Pension Plan.

	
  
	
(ii)
	
In the event that a Participant’s employment is terminated involuntarily prior to his or her becoming eligible for a deferred benefit under this Plan, and the termination is not for cause, such Participant shall nevertheless be entitled to a deferred benefit hereunder, based upon the Participant’s Vesting Service Credit at his or her date of termination.

 

	
  
	
(c)
	
Disability Pension

 

	
  
	
An individual who while a Participant in this Plan has become eligible for a disability pension pursuant to the terms of the Pension Plan and who is also determined to be Disabled shall be eligible for a disability pension hereunder, calculated as follows:  the amount is determined in accordance with Section 4 of this Article IV calculated to one year after date of Disability (pro-rata if less than 20 years
of service) with no reduction factor but offset by the actual service or deferred benefit determined under Section 4 of this Article IV applying all applicable early retirement reduction factors (determined assuming that the service or deferred benefit is payable as an annuity).  Should the disability pension be discontinued pursuant to the terms of the Pension Plan, the disability pension hereunder shall be discontinued as well.  Regardless of the Participant’s Disabled status, the
disability pension hereunder shall be discontinued upon the Participant’s attaining age 65.

	
4.
	
Benefit Amounts

	
  
	
(a)
	
Computation of Benefit

	
  
	
(i)
	
(A)
	
Benefit Formula

	
  
	
The aggregate annualized benefit of each Participant payable as provided in the Plan shall be determined by adding the sum of two percent (2%) of Included Earnings for each year of the Participant's Vesting Service Credit for the first twenty years, plus one and one-half percent (1.5%) of Included Earnings for each year of the Participant's Vesting Service Credit for the next ten years, plus one percent (1%) of Included
Earnings for each year of the Participant's Vesting Service Credit for each additional year up to the month in which the Participant retires less (1) 100% of the retirement benefit (unreduced for survivor annuity) payable from the Pension Plan and (2) 100% of the Primary Social Security benefit payable at age 65.

An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Pension Plan benefit and Primary Social Security benefit calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Vesting Date for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit.

In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his Pension Plan benefit and Primary Social Security benefit calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Effective Date.

	
  
	
(B)
	
Special Rules

	
  
	
(1)
	
With respect to service benefits, the benefit reduction to be applied pursuant to Section 4(a)(i)(A)(1) above for the  benefit payable from the Pension Plan shall be the amount of such benefit that would be payable on the date that benefits are eligible to be paid (or become payable) under this Plan (regardless of the Participant’s actual pension commencement date under the Pension Plan) and determined
assuming that the Participant elected a single life annuity (regardless of the actual form of benefit elected under the Pension Plan).

	
  
	 

	
  
	
(2)
	
With respect to deferred vested benefits, the benefit reduction to be applied pursuant to Section 4(a)(i)(A)(1) above for the benefit payable from the Pension Plan shall be the amount of such benefit that would be payable on the Participant’s 65th birthday (regardless of the Participant’s actual pension commencement date under
the Pension Plan) and determined assuming that the Participant elected a single life annuity (regardless of the actual form of benefit elected under the Pension Plan).

	
  
	
(3)
	
In the case of any Executive (i) who has attained the age of sixty-two (62) or more or who is deceased, (ii) who was previously employed by a Former Affiliate, (iii) who serves or has served as an officer (as such term is used in the employment practices and policies of the relevant company) of BellSouth Corporation or an Affiliate, and (iv) whose service with a Former Affiliate is disregarded in determining the Executive's
Vesting Service Credit under the Pension Plan, for purposes of this Plan, the Executive’s Vesting Service Credit and Net Credited Service shall be increased by

	
  
	
(x)  the Executive's Vesting Service Credit and Net Credited Service with the Former Affiliate(s) (determined under the rules of the Pension Plan as if the Executive had been employed by BellSouth Corporation during such period and had no other service covered under the Pension Plan), multiplied by

	
  
	
(y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of whole years (not to exceed ten (10)) of such Executive's Net Credited Service as an officer of BellSouth Corporation or an Affiliate and the denominator of which is ten (10).

	
  
	
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Executive's Vesting Service Credit or Net Credited Service, for purposes of this Plan shall be increased for service with a Former Affiliate to the extent that any such service would otherwise be considered, directly or indirectly, in determining such Executive's benefits under this Plan by virtue of the terms of any other agreement, plan or arrangement.

 

	
                                     (4)
	
In the case of any Participant whose Vesting Service Credit or Net Credited Service includes a period of service with an employer with respect to which the Participant is entitled to any retirement benefit payable from defined benefit pension plan(s ) (including qualified plans and nonqualified plans such as excess benefit and supplemental executive retirement
plans), including any Executive whose Vesting Service Credit and Net Credited Service under this Plan is increased pursuant to Section 4(a)(i)(B)(3) preceding, the benefit reduction described in Section 4(a)(i)(A)(1) above for the retirement benefit payable from the Pension Plan shall include any such retirement benefit payable by such employer.  The determination of the benefit reduction for any such benefit shall be made using approaches which approximate as nearly as practicable the approaches used
in making such determinations with respect to benefits payable under the Pension Plan, as described above in this Section 4(a)(i).  In the case of any Executive whose Vesting Service Credit and Net Credited Service under this Plan is increased pursuant to paragraph (B)(3) of this Section 4(a)(i), the benefit payable by such employer shall first be multiplied  by the fraction described in that paragraph and the product thereof shall be the amount of the benefit reduction.

	
                                        (5)  
	
A Participant’s service or deferred benefit (the value of which is expressed as an annuity) at the time of termination of employment shall not be less than the service or deferred benefit that would have been payable to the Participant if the Participant had terminated employment on any prior December 31 (using pay, service, offsets and all factors
applicable on the previous dates and assuming an immediate benefit commencement).

	
                                        (6)  
	
In the case of each Participant who terminates employment pursuant to the terms of the Merger Severance Plan, the service benefit or deferred vested benefit calculated hereunder shall be calculated by adding additional months of Vesting Service Credit and an equal amount of months of age with the amount of such months equaling (i) 24, minus (ii) the
number of months that have elapsed since the closing of the Merger (but not below zero).

	
                                        (7)  
	
The terms and conditions set forth in Article VIII shall apply to any benefits accrued under any provision of this Plan on or after January 1, 2010, and in order for a Participant to accrue (or collect) such Plan benefits on or after January 1, 2010, the Participant must comply with the terms and conditions set forth in Article VIII.

	
  
	
(ii)
	
Included Earnings

Included Earnings shall equal the 12 month average of the sum of (1) the last sixty (60) months of base pay, plus (2) the Annual Bonus Awards payable during or after that sixty (60) month period.  The amounts of base pay and other payments used to determine Included Earnings as described above include all amounts during the specified
period including those amounts previously deferred pursuant to other plans.  If a Participant terminates employment while eligible for a benefit under this Plan and thereafter receives compensation of the types described in clause (ii) of this Section 4(a), the additional Included Earnings shall be deemed to have been paid as of the date the Participant terminated employment, and the amount of benefit payable under this Plan shall be corrected accordingly.

An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Included Earnings calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Vesting Date for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit.

In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his Included Earnings calculated and frozen as of his SERP Effective Date.

 

	
  
	
(b)
	
Minimum Benefit

	
  
	
In no event shall a Participant, whose Vesting Service Credit has been five years or more, who terminates employment on or after his or her sixty-second birthday, or who is retired on a service or disability pension under the Pension Plan or is otherwise eligible for a service pension benefit hereunder, receive a total annual retirement benefit (including any benefit under the Pension Plan) from the Company of less
than 15% of the employee's annual base salary plus Standard Annual Bonus in effect on the employee's last day on the active payroll.

An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Minimum Benefit calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Vesting Date for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit.

In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his Minimum Benefit calculated and frozen as of his SERP Effective Date.

	 	
(c)
	
Early Retirement Discount

	
  
	
(i)
	
The service benefit amount, determined in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4, for each Participant who is granted a service benefit, shall be reduced (before the offset for benefits under the Pension Plan) by one-half percent (0.5%) for each calendar month or part thereof by which the commencement of benefits under this Plan precedes the Participant’s 62nd birthday, except that each employee retired
with thirty (30) or more years of service (either Net Credited Service or Vesting Service Credit) shall receive a service benefit reduced by one-quarter percent (0.25%) for each calendar month or part thereof by which the commencement of benefits under this Plan precedes the Participant’s 62nd birthday. With respect to Participants who terminate employment and receive benefits under the Merger Severance Plan, the preceding sentence shall be applied by substituting “twenty-eight (28) or more”
for the words “thirty (30) or more.”  Further, with respect to a Participant who retires during 2006, in no event shall the amount by which such Participant’s benefit is reduced pursuant to this provision be greater than the amount by which such benefit would have been reduced pursuant to this provision had the Participant retired on December 31, 2005.

	
  
	
(ii)
	
The deferred vested benefit amount, determined in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4, for each Participant who is granted a deferred vested benefit, shall be reduced (after the offset for benefits under the Pension Plan) by an actuarially equivalent amount, using mortality rates and other assumptions then in effect under the Pension Plan, for each calendar month or part thereof by which the commencement
of benefits under this Plan precedes the Participant’s 65th birthday.

 

	
  
	
(iii)
	
An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Early Retirement Discount calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Vesting Date for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit.

 

In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his Early Retirement Discount calculated and frozen as of his SERP Effective Date.

(d)           Survivor/Death Benefits for Participant’s Terminating Employment prior to January 1, 2007

	
                     (i)  
	
Benefit Payable Before Benefit Commencement

If a Participant who has not made a valid lump sum election with respect to his or her Pre-2005 Benefit dies prior to termination of employment (or commencement of benefits for Participants with a deferred benefit) and leaves a surviving spouse at the time of his death, a pre-retirement survivor benefit is payable to the surviving spouse
as an immediate life annuity equal to 100% of the service benefit or deferred benefit that the Participant would have received with respect to his or her Pre-2005 Benefit had he survived and terminated employment on the date of his death and commenced benefit payments.  In addition, with respect to the Participant’s Post-2004 Benefit, such benefit shall be paid to the surviving spouse as soon as administratively feasible following the Participant’s death in a single sum payment calculated
in accordance with Section 5 of this Article IV.  If such Participant does not have a surviving spouse at the time of his death, the entire survivor benefit described in this paragraph shall be paid to the Participant’s estate as soon as administratively feasible following the Participant’s death (even if the Participant was a Band BB officer or above) in the form of a single sum payment calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of this Article IV.

	
                       (ii)  
	
Benefit Payable After Benefit Commencement

	
  
	
If the Participant was receiving benefits in the form of an annuity with respect to his Pre-2005 Benefit (or was eligible to receive benefits in the form of an annuity because of termination of employment), and leaves a surviving spouse at the time of his/her death, then such surviving spouse shall automatically receive a survivor annuity for life equal to 50% of the net pension benefit that the Participant was receiving
(or eligible to receive) just prior to his death.  If the Participant was eligible to receive payment of his Post-2004 Benefit but had not yet received such payment, then his Post-2004 Benefit shall be paid to the spouse, if any, and otherwise to the Participant’s estate in the form of a single lump sum payment calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of this Article IV.

	
                       (iii)  
	
Lump Sum Election

In the event of the death of a Participant who has made a valid lump sum election under the Plan with respect to his or her Pre-2005 Benefit, his surviving spouse (or his estate if there is no surviving spouse) shall be entitled to receive 100% of the lump sum payment that would have been payable to the Participant as of the date of his
death (including the lump sum payment of the Participant’s Post-2004 Benefit), and such lump sum shall be payable as soon as administratively feasible following the Participant’s death (even if the Participant was an Executive designated as a Band BB officer or above).

	
                       (iv)  
	
Lump Sum Settlement

If a Participant has already received a lump sum settlement of his entire benefit under the Plan, then no further benefits are payable under this subparagraph (d).

(e)           Survivor/Death Benefits for Participant’s Terminating Employment on or after January 1, 2007

	
                     (i)  
	
Benefit Payable Before Benefit Commencement

If a Participant dies prior to termination of employment and leaves a surviving spouse at the time of his death, a pre-retirement survivor benefit is payable to the surviving spouse in the same form as elected by the Participant for payment of his benefit (i.e., single lump sum,
10 year installments, or single life annuity) in an amount equal to 100% of the service benefit or deferred benefit that the Participant would have received with respect to his benefit had he survived and terminated employment on the date of his death and commenced benefit payments; provided, if the survivor benefit is payable in a single life annuity, there will be no payment of an additional survivor annuity upon the surviving spouse’s death.  If such Participant does not have a surviving spouse
at the time of his death, the entire survivor benefit described in this paragraph shall be paid to the Participant’s estate as soon as administratively feasible following the Participant’s death (even if the Participant was a “specified employee” as defined under Code Section 409A) in the form of a single sum payment calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of this Article IV.

	
                      (ii)  
	
Benefit Payable After Benefit Commencement

	
                                        (A)  
	
Life Annuity.  If the Participant leaves a surviving spouse and was receiving benefits in the form of an annuity (or was eligible to receive benefits in the form of an annuity because of termination of employment and because the Participant had elected an annuity form of payment
in accordance with Section 5 of this Article IV),  then such surviving spouse shall automatically receive a survivor annuity for life equal to 50% of the net pension benefit that the Participant was receiving (or eligible to receive) just prior to his death.  If the Participant does not leave a surviving spouse and was receiving benefits in the form of an annuity (or was eligible to receive benefits in the form of an annuity because of termination of employment and because the Participant
had elected an annuity form of payment in accordance with Section 5 of this Article IV), then no further benefits will be payable after the Participant’s death, subject to the provisions of Section 6(b)(iii) of this Article IV.

	
                                       (B)  
	
10-Year Installments.  If the Participant leaves a surviving spouse and was receiving benefits in the form of 10-year installments, then the remaining installments shall continue to be paid to the surviving spouse.  If the Participant was receiving benefits in the form
of 10-year installments and does not leave a surviving spouse, then the remaining installments shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payable to his estate, subject to the provisions of Section 6(b)(iii) of this Article IV.

	
                                       (C)  
	
Lump Sum Payment.  If the Participant was eligible to receive a single lump sum payment of his Plan benefit but dies prior to the payment being made, then the single lump sum payment shall be made to his surviving spouse, if applicable, and otherwise to his estate, subject to the
provisions of Section 6(b)(iii) of this Article IV.

	
                       (iii)  
	
Lump Sum Settlement

If a Participant has already received a lump sum settlement of his entire benefit under the Plan, then no further benefits are payable under this subparagraph (e).

	
  
	
(f)
	
Special Increases

Service and disability benefit payments of retired Participants shall be increased by the same percentage and pursuant to the same terms and conditions as are set forth in the Pension Plan.

	
5.
	
Form of Benefit Payments

	
               (a)
	
Rules Applicable to Participants who terminate Employment Prior to January 1, 2007

	
  
	
(i)
	
Annuity Payments.  With respect to a Participant who has not made a valid lump sum election in accordance with subparagraph (ii) hereof, such Participant’s Pre-2005 Benefit shall be paid in monthly payments.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at the time of the Participant’s termination of employment, the present value of
the benefit of a Participant, whether payable as a service benefit, a deferred benefit, or a survivor’s benefit, is less than $20,000, such benefit shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with subparagraph (c) of this Section 5.

	
  
	
(ii)
	
Lump Sum Benefit Payment

	
  
	
(1)
	
Pre-2005 Benefit.   A Participant may elect to receive his Pre-2005 Benefit hereunder, whether payable as a service benefit, a deferred benefit or a survivor’s benefit, paid in the form of a single lump sum payment,  calculated in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (c) of this Section 5; provided, any such election
must be made in accordance with procedures established by the Company and must be on file with the Company, or its designee, for at least 12 consecutive calendar months prior to the Participant’s termination of employment or death in order to be valid and in effect.

	
  
	
(2)
	
Post-2004 Benefit.  All Post-2004 Benefits, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (c) of this Section 5.

	
   (b)
	
Rules Applicable to Participants who terminate Employment on or after January 1, 2007

	
  
	
(i)
	
Lump Sum Benefit Payment.   Absent an election to the contrary in accordance with subparagraph (iv) hereof, a Participant’s entire benefit under the Plan, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit, shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (c)
of this Section 5.

	
  
	
(ii)
	
10-Year Installments.  If a Participant made a valid election for 10-year installments under subparagraph (iv) hereof, such Participant’s entire benefit under the Plan, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit, shall be paid in the form of annual installments payable over a period of 10 years.  The amount of
the annual installments shall be determined by calculating the Participant’s benefit under the Plan as a single lump sum in accordance with subparagraph (c) of this Section 5 and then paying 1/10th of the amount each year plus interest annually at the rate then specified under the Pension Plan.

 

	
                            (iii)  
	
Life Annuity.  If a Participant made a valid election for a life annuity under subparagraph (iv) hereof, such Participant’s entire benefit under the Plan, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit, shall be paid in the form of monthly payments payable over
the life of the Participant.  The amount of the monthly payments shall equal the Participant’s annualized benefit determined under Section 4(a)(i)(A) of Article IV divided by 12.

If a Participant is Disabled, the disability pension described in Section 3(d) of Article IV shall be paid in the form of monthly payments until the earlier of the Participant’s death or attaining age 65.

	
  
	
(iv)
	
Election Opportunity

	
                                 (1)  
	
Initial Election.  Participants who are participating in the Plan as of September 30, 2006 (or become newly eligible during October 2006) may elect a single lump sum payment, 10-year installments or a life annuity during the period between October 1, 2006 and November 30, 2006.  Participants
who first become Participants in the Plan on or after November 1, 2006 may elect a single lump sum, 10-year installments or a life annuity; provided such election must be made within 30 days of the Participant’s initial participation in the Plan.

	
                                  (2)  
	
Subsequent Elections.  Participants may elect to change the form of payment (and the timing of payment) during a time other than that specified under subparagraph (1) above; however, such election must comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and applicable regulations
thereunder, which means that the subsequent election will only be effective if made at least one year prior to the time at which the distribution would be made absent the subsequent election AND if the first payment under the form of payment elected is delayed for at least a five year period.

Participants may not make a payment election with regard to any disability benefit that may become payable under the Plan.

	
  
	
(v)
	
De Minimis Cash-Out.  Notwithstanding any election made under subparagraph (iv) of this Section 5(b), if at the time of the Participant’s termination of employment, the present value of the benefit of a Participant, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit, is less than $20,000, such benefit shall be paid in the form of
a single lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with subparagraph (c) of this Section 5.  The preceding paragraph will no longer apply for distributions made after December 31, 2008.

(c)           Lump Sum Calculation

Benefits payable in a single lump sum in accordance with the Plan shall be the amount that is the actuarial present value of the Participant’s benefit, or applicable portion thereof, expressed as a single life annuity and shall be determined using (i) the applicable interest rate then in effect under the Pension Plan, and (ii)
the applicable mortality table then in effect under the Pension Plan.

6.           Timing of Payment of Benefits

Except for the reasons specified below, benefits granted under this Plan shall commence on the day following the date of termination of employment from the Company and all Affiliates.

	
(a)  
	
For Terminations of Employment Occurring Prior to January 1, 2007

	
                     (i)  
	
An Executive who is a Band BB officer or above and who has made a valid lump sum election shall receive the lump sum payment (including interest accrued annually at the applicable interest rate in effect under the Pension Plan) as soon as administratively feasible following the date that is 2 years following his date of retirement or other termination
of employment.

	
  
	
(ii)
	
Participants eligible for a deferred vested benefit will have their entire benefit commence at such time as the individual otherwise elects to commence payment of benefits under the Pension Plan provided such benefits commence on or before December 31, 2008.  Otherwise, payment of the deferred vested benefit will automatically commence as soon as administratively practicable following July 1, 2009.

	
  
	
(iii)
	
Participants who have a Post-2004 Benefit and who are Executives or otherwise Specified Employees at the time of his or her termination of employment shall receive the lump sum payment (including interest accrued annually at the applicable interest rate in effect under the Pension Plan) as soon as administratively feasible following the date that is 6 months following his or her date of retirement or other termination
of employment.

	
  (b)  
	
For Terminations of Employment On or After January 1, 2007

	
  
	
(i)
	
Participants electing a single lump sum payment or 10-year installment payments and who are Executives or otherwise Specified Employees at the time of his or her termination of employment shall receive the single lump sum payment or the first installment under the 10-year installment form of benefit (each including interest accrued annually at the applicable interest rate in effect under the Pension Plan) as soon as
administratively feasible following the date that is 6 months following his or her date of retirement or other termination of employment.

	
  
	
(ii)
	
Participants electing a life annuity payment form and who are Executives or otherwise Specified Employees shall receive the first annuity payment as soon as administratively feasible following the date that is 6 months following his or her retirement date or other termination of employment and this first payment shall equal 7 monthly annuity payments.

	
  
	
(iii)
	
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Participant whose benefit is delayed under subparagraphs (i) or (ii) of this Section 6(b) dies prior to the payment of such delayed amounts, such delayed amounts shall be paid in a single lump sum payment to the Participant’s estate.  The remainder of such Participant’s benefit (if any) shall be paid in accordance with Section 4(e) of this Article
IV.

7.           Treatment During Subsequent Employment

Employment with any Participating Company or Affiliate for which a Participant is an eligible employee, subsequent to retirement or termination of employment with entitlement to any type of benefits described heretofore, shall result in the permanent suspension of the benefit for the period of such employment or reemployment.  Upon
termination of such subsequent employment, the full benefit payable hereunder shall be recalculated and then offset by any amounts previously paid to the Participant using assumptions set forth under the Pension Plan.  The benefit will commence following the subsequent termination of employment but shall be subject to the provisions set forth in Section 6 of this Article IV regarding the timing of payment of benefits.  This Section 7 shall not apply on or after January 1, 2009, provided, however,
that any Participant whose benefits were suspended as of December 31, 2008 shall be grandfathered and shall continue to have his benefits suspended subject to the provisions of this Section 7.

8.           Employment with Cingular

Individuals who were Participants as of December 23, 2001 and who transferred to Cingular Wireless, LLC on or before December 23, 2001 pursuant to the Contribution Agreement by and between BellSouth Corporation and AT&T Inc. (formerly SBC Communications, Inc.) continue to be treated as actively employed by the Company for all purposes
of this Plan while they remain actively employed by Cingular Wireless, LLC or an AT&T Affiliate, subject to all conditions and provisions set forth in this plan.

	
ARTICLE V.    DEATH BENEFITS

	
1.
	
Eligibility and Administration

All individuals who became eligible to participate in the Plan prior to January 1, 2006 shall be eligible for death benefits under this Plan.  With respect to individuals who become eligible to participate in the Plan on or after January 1, 2006, no death benefits shall be payable pursuant to this Article V.  Death benefits
described herein are in addition to death benefits payable under the Pension Plan but shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of, and administered in the same manner as, corresponding death benefit provisions of the Pension Plan.

2.           Amount of Death Benefit

For an Executive, the benefit equals the annual base salary plus two times the Standard Annual Bonus.  The above stated amounts of base salary and Standard Annual Bonus are those amounts in effect at the earlier of retirement or death including those amounts previously deferred pursuant to other plans. For all other Participants,
the benefit equals the Standard Annual Bonus in effect at the earlier of retirement or death.  In addition, the death benefit for all Participants will include the amount of death benefit, if any, that would otherwise have been payable under the Pension Plan had there been no deferral of compensation under any plan of the Company.  The benefit amount will also include the amount of death benefit, if any, that would otherwise have been payable under the Pension Plan had the restriction on the
amount of compensation that may be taken into account under Code Section 401(a)(17) not been applicable.

3.           Death Benefits After 2005

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2 of this Article V, with respect to each Participant in the Plan on December 31, 2005, the amount of any death benefit payable pursuant to Section 1 of this Article V shall in no event be based on base salary and/or Standard Award amounts greater than such Participant’s base salary and
the Standard Award applicable with respect to such Participant on December 31, 2005.

	
4.
	
Form and Source of Payments

All death benefits payable pursuant to this Article V of the Plan shall be paid in a single lump sum as soon as administratively feasible following the death of the Participant and shall be paid from Company or Participating Company's operating expenses, or through the purchase of insurance from an insurance company as the Company may determine.

ARTICLE VI.    GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.           Effective Date

 

  This Plan was originally effective January 1, 1984 and this restatement of the Plan is effective January 1, 2010.

2.           Rights to Benefit

There is no right to any benefit under this Plan except as may be provided by the Company or each Participating Company.  Participants have the status of general, unsecured creditors of the Participating Company and the Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Participating Company to make benefit payments in the future.  A
Participant shall have only a contractual right to receive the benefits provided for hereunder if and when he complies with all of the conditions set forth herein.  Nothing contained in this Plan and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind.  The Plan is intended to be "unfunded" for purposes of the Pension Act and the Code. If any payment is made to a Participant, his or her surviving spouse or other beneficiary with
respect to benefits described in this Plan from any source arranged by the Company or a Participating Company including the Rabbi Trust Agreements and also including, without limitation, any other fund, trust, insurance arrangement, bond, security device, or any similar arrangement, such payment shall be deemed to be in full and complete satisfaction of the obligation of the Company or Participating Company under this Plan  to the extent of such payment as if such payment had been made directly by the
Company or Participating Company.  If any payment from a source described in the preceding sentence shall be made, in whole or in part, prior to the time payment would be made under the terms of this Plan, such payment shall be deemed to satisfy the obligation of the Company or Participating Company to pay Plan benefits beginning with the benefit which would next become payable under the Plan and continuing in the order in which benefits are so payable, until the payment from such other source is fully
recovered. In determining the benefits satisfied by a payment, Plan benefits, as they become payable, shall be discounted to their value as of the date such actual payment was made using an interest rate equal to the valuation interest rate for deferred annuities as last published by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation prior to the date of such actual payment.  If the benefits which actually become payable under this Plan, after applying the discount described in the preceding sentence, are less
than the amount of any prepayment described herein, any such shortfall shall not be collected from or enforced against the Participant as a claim by the Company or Participating Company.

3.           Liability for Payment of Benefits

Where a Participant's period of service includes service in more than one Participating Company or in a company that is not a Participating Company, the last Participating Company to employ him or her immediately prior to his or her retirement or termination of employment with entitlement to a benefit hereunder shall be responsible for the
full benefit under this Plan.

4.           Governing Law

The Company intends that this Plan be an unfunded deferred compensation plan maintained primarily for a select group of management and highly compensated employees exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of the Pension Act by reason of the exemptions set forth in Sections 201(a), 301(a) and 401(a) of the Pension Act and from Part 1 of the
Pension Act by reason of the exemption set forth in Section 2520.104-23 of applicable United States Department of Labor regulations.  This Plan shall be interpreted and administered accordingly.  This Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas to the extent such laws are not preempted by the Pension Act.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan, each provision of this Plan shall be interpreted to permit the deferral of compensation
and the payment of deferred amounts in accordance with Code Section 409A and any provision that would conflict with such requirements shall not be valid or enforceable.

 5.           Assignment or Alienation

Benefits payable, and rights to benefits, under this Plan may not in any manner be anticipated, sold, transferred, assigned (either at law or in equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered or subject to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process.

 

6.           Employment at Will

Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed as conferring upon a Participant the right to continue in the employ of the Company.

7.           Savings Clause

In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

8.           Payments to Others

Benefits payable to a former employee or retiree unable to execute a proper receipt may be paid to other person(s) in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in the Pension Plan.

9.           Plan Termination

Subject to the limitations described below, the Company retains the right to terminate, in whole or in part, and each Participating Company retains the right to withdraw from this Plan, at any time, for any reason, with or without notice.  The Company will continue to make payments, in accordance with the terms and conditions of
the Plan, to all Participants who were either retired or terminated prior to Plan termination, and will also continue to recognize its obligation to the surviving spouse of the aforementioned individuals.  Additionally, Participants who have satisfied the service requirements for a deferred vested pension under the Pension Plan on the date of Plan termination shall receive benefits under the terms of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to its termination, the amount of such benefit to be calculated
as if the Participant retired (or otherwise terminated employment) on the termination date of the Plan, it being the Company's intent that termination of the Plan shall not adversely affect any entitlement to such benefits and any amendment, modification or termination of this Plan inconsistent with this expression of intent shall be null and void.

ARTICLE VII.    INTERCHANGE OF BENEFIT OBLIGATION

The same transfer of service credit provisions contained in interchange agreements presently in existence under the Pension Plan, or as they may be amended from time to time, by and between the Company, on behalf of all Participating Companies, and any Interchange Company shall apply to the transfer of service credit for purposes of this
Plan.

ARTICLE VIII.    LOYALTY CONDITIONS

	
1.  
	
Generally

 

AT&T would be unwilling to provide Plan benefits but for the loyalty conditions and covenants set forth in this Article VIII, and the conditions and covenants herein are a material inducement to AT&T’s willingness to sponsor the Plan and to offer Plan benefits for the Participants on or after January 1, 2010.  Accordingly,
as a condition of accruing and/or receiving any Plan benefits on or after January 1, 2010, each Participant is deemed to agree that he shall not, without obtaining the written consent of AT&T in advance, participate in activities that constitute engaging in competition with AT&T or engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T, as those terms are defined in Article VIII, Section 2 hereof.  Further, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, all benefits provided under the Plan with respect
to a Participant shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of this Article VIII if the Participant, without the consent of AT&T, participates in an activity that constitutes engaging in competition with AT&T or engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T, as so defined.

 

	
2.  
	
Definitions.

 

For purposes of this Article VIII and of the Plan generally:

 

	
     (a)  
	
an “Employer Business” shall mean AT&T, any subsidiary of AT&T, the Company, a Participating Company, an Affiliate, and any business in which any of them or a subsidiary or an affiliated company of theirs has a substantial ownership or joint venture interest;

 

	
     (b)  
	
“engaging in competition with AT&T” shall mean, while employed by an Employer Business or within two (2) years after the Participant’s termination of employment, engaging by the Participant in any business or activity in all or any portion of the same geographical market where the same or substantially similar business or
activity is being carried on by an Employer Business.  “Engaging in competition with AT&T” shall not include owning a nonsubstantial publicly traded interest as a shareholder in a business that competes with an Employer Business.  However, “engaging in competition with AT&T” shall include representing or providing consulting services to, or being an employee or director of, any person or entity that is engaged in competition with any Employer Business or that
takes a position adverse to any Employer Business.

 

	
    (c)  
	
“engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T” means, while employed by an Employer Business or within two (2) years after the Participant’s termination of employment, (i) soliciting for employment or hire, whether as an employee or as an independent contractor, for any business in competition with an Employer Business, any person
employed by an Employer Business during the one (1) year prior to Participant’s termination of employment, whether or not acceptance of such position would constitute a breach of such person’s contractual obligations to any Employer Business; (ii) soliciting, encouraging, or inducing any vendor or supplier with which Participant had business contact on behalf of any Employer Business during the two (2) years prior to Participant’s termination of employment, to terminate, discontinue, renegotiate,
reduce, or otherwise cease or modify its relationship with AT&T or its affiliate; or (iii) soliciting, encouraging, or inducing any customer or active prospective customer with whom Participant had business contact, whether in person or by other media (“Customer”), on behalf of any Employer Business during the two (2) years prior to Participant’s termination of employment, to terminate, discontinue, renegotiate, reduce, or otherwise cease or modify its relationship with any Employer Business,
or to purchase competing goods or services from a business competing with any Employer Business, or accepting or servicing business from such Customer on behalf of himself or any other business. “Engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T” also means, disclosing Confidential Information to any third party or using Confidential Information, other than for an Employer Business, or failing to return any Confidential Information to the Employer Business following termination of employment.

 

	
     (d)  
	
“Confidential Information” shall mean all information belonging to, or otherwise relating to, an Employer Business, which is not generally known, regardless of the manner in which it is stored or conveyed to Participant, and which the Employer Business has taken reasonable measures under the circumstances to protect from unauthorized use or
disclosure.  Confidential Information includes trade secrets as well as other proprietary knowledge, information, know-how, and non-public intellectual property rights, including unpublished or pending patent applications and all related patent rights, formulae, processes, discoveries, improvements, ideas, conceptions, compilations of data, and data, whether or not patentable or copyrightable and whether or not it has been conceived, originated, discovered, or developed in whole or in part by Participant.  For
example, Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Employer Business’ business plans, budgets, operations, products, strategies, marketing, sales, inventions, designs, costs, legal strategies, finances, employees, customers, prospective customers, licensees, or licensors; information received from third parties under confidential conditions; or other valuable financial, commercial, business, technical or marketing information concerning the Employer Business, or
any of the products or services made, developed or sold by the Employer Business.  Confidential Information does not include information that (i) was generally known to the public at the time of disclosure; (ii) was lawfully received by Participant from a third party; (iii) was known to Participant prior to receipt from the Employer Business; or (iv) was independently developed by Participant or independent third parties; in each of the foregoing circumstances, this exception applies only if such public
knowledge or possession by an independent third party was without breach by Participant or any third party of any obligation of confidentiality or non-use, including but not limited to the obligations and restrictions set forth in this Plan.

 

	
3.  
	
Forfeiture of Benefits

 

	
  
	
A Participant’s right to receive Plan benefits accrued on or after January 1, 2010 shall be forfeited and no benefits accrued on or after January 1, 2010 shall be provided under this Plan if the Committee determines that, within the time period and without the written consent specified, Participant either engaged in competition with AT&T or engaged in conduct disloyal to AT&T, as defined in Article VIII,
Section 2, hereof, regardless of the position or duties the Participant takes and regardless of whether or not the employing company, or the company that Participant becomes associated with or renders service to, is itself engaged in direct competition with an Employer Business.

 

	
4.  
	
Equitable Relief

 

The parties recognize (i) that any Participant’s breach of any of the covenants in this Article VIII will cause irreparable injury to the Company, and will represent a failure of the consideration under which the Company (in its capacity as creator and sponsor of the Plan) agreed to provide the Participant with the opportunity to accrue
Plan benefits on and after January 1, 2010, and (ii) that monetary damages would not provide the Company with an adequate or complete remedy that would warrant the Company’s continued sponsorship of the Plan and payment of Plan benefits for all Participants.  Accordingly, in the event of a Participant’s actual or threatened breach of covenants in this Article VIII, the Committee, in addition to all other rights and acting as a fiduciary under ERISA for the limited purpose of enforcing the
provisions hereof on behalf of all Participants, shall have a fiduciary duty (in order to assure that the Company receives fair and promised consideration for its continued Plan sponsorship and funding) to seek an injunction restraining the Participant from breaching the covenants in this Article VIII.  To enforce its repayment rights with respect to a Participant, the Plan shall have a first priority, equitable lien on all Plan benefits that are paid to the Participant.  In addition, the
Company shall pay for any Plan expenses that the Committee incurs hereunder, and shall be entitled to recover from the Participant its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in obtaining such injunctive remedies.  In the event the Committee succeeds in enforcing the terms of this Section through a written settlement with the Participant or a court order granting an injunction hereunder, the Participant shall be entitled to collect Plan benefits prospectively, if the Participant is otherwise
entitled to such benefits, net of any fees and costs assessed pursuant hereto (which fees and costs shall be paid to AT&T as a repayment on behalf of the Participant), provided that the Participant complies with said settlement or injunction.

 

	
5.  
	
Uniform Enforcement.

 

In recognition of AT&T’s need for nationally uniform standards for the Plan’s administration, it is an absolute condition in consideration of any Participant’s accrual or receipt of benefits under the Plan on or after January 1, 2010 that each and all of the following conditions apply to all Participants and to any benefits
that are accrued on or after January 1, 2010 and that are thereafter paid or are payable under the Plan:

 

	
     (a)  
	
ERISA shall control all issues and controversies hereunder, and the Committee shall serve for the limited purposes of this Article VIII as a “fiduciary” of the Plan.

 

	
     (b)  
	
All litigation between the parties relating to this Section shall occur in federal court, which shall have exclusive jurisdiction, any such litigation shall be held in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the only remedies available with respect to the Plan shall be those provided under ERISA.

 

	
     (c)  
	
If the Committee determines in its sole discretion either (I) that the Company or any Employer Business that employed the Participant terminated the Participant’s employment for cause, or (II) that equitable relief enforcing the Participant’s covenants under this Article VIII is either not reasonably available, not ordered by a court of competent
jurisdiction, or circumvented because the Participant has sued in state court, or has otherwise sought remedies not available under ERISA, then in any and all of such instances the Participant shall not be entitled to collect any Plan benefits accrued on or after January 1, 2010, and if any such Plan benefits have been paid to the Participant, the Participant shall immediately repay all such Plan benefits to the Plan (which shall be used to pay Plan administrative expenses or Plan benefits.) upon written demand
from the Committee.  Furthermore, the Participant shall hold the Company and each Employer Business harmless from any loss, expense, or damage that may arise from any of the conduct described in clauses (I) and (II) hereof.

 

ARTICLE IX.     PLAN MODIFICATION

The Company may, in its sole discretion, from time to time make any changes in the Plan as it deems appropriate, provided, that no such action shall accelerate or postpone the time or schedule of payment of any Plan benefit except as may be permitted under Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder; and provided further, such modifications
shall not result in a reduction of benefits to either: (i) those participants or their surviving spouses already receiving benefits under this Plan, or (ii) those participants who have satisfied the service requirements for a deferred vested pension under the Pension Plan.  Specifically, no Plan modification shall have the effect of reducing a Participant's benefits under the Plan to which he or she would be entitled under the terms of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to its modification, the
amount of such benefit to be calculated as if the Participant retired (or otherwise terminated employment) on the date the Plan was modified, it being the Company's intent that any modification of the Plan shall not adversely affect any entitlement to such benefits and any amendment, modification or termination of this Plan inconsistent with this expression of intent shall be null and void.  In addition, the Company may authorize the execution of agreements providing retirement benefits subject generally
to the terms and conditions of the Plan and benefits under such agreements shall be deemed provided hereunder, and any such amendments authorized prior to the amendment and restatement of the Plan shall be incorporated herein by reference.

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