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SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
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(2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.:
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(3) Filing party:
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(4) Date filed:
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<PAGE> 2
[BELL ATLANTIC LOGO]
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREOWNERS
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DATE: Friday, May 1, 1998
TIME: 2:00 p.m.
PLACE: The Playhouse Theatre
DuPont Building
10th & Market Streets
Wilmington, Delaware
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The purposes of the Annual Meeting are:
1. To elect directors;
2. To ratify the appointment of independent accountants;
3. To vote on the five shareowner proposals described on pages 8-13 of
this Proxy Statement, if they are introduced at the meeting; and
4. To transact any other business that may properly come before the
meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
P. Alan Bulliner March 16, 1998
Associate General Counsel
and Corporate Secretary
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Admittance to the meeting will be limited to shareowners eligible to vote or
their authorized representative(s). An admission ticket is attached to the proxy
card for this purpose. Beneficial owners holding shares through an intermediary
such as a bank or broker will be admitted upon proof of ownership.
The Playhouse Theatre is accessible to all shareowners. A sign language
interpreter will be provided if requested; requests should be directed to the
Corporate Secretary, Bell Atlantic Corporation, 1095 Avenue of the Americas,
38th Floor, New York, NY 10036, and received no later than April 10, 1998.
<PAGE> 3
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed, beginning
March 16, 1998, to owners of shares of Bell Atlantic common stock in connection
with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors for the 1998 Annual
Meeting of Shareowners. This proxy procedure is necessary to permit all Bell
Atlantic shareowners, many of whom live throughout the United States and in many
foreign countries and are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, to vote. The
Board of Directors encourages you to read this document thoroughly and to take
this opportunity to vote on the matters to be decided at the Annual Meeting.
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CONTENTS
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Voting Procedures........................................... 1
Corporate Governance........................................ 2
Election of Directors (Item 1 on Proxy Card)................ 3
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Accountants (Item
2 on Proxy Card)......................................... 8
Shareowner Proposals (Items 3 - 7 on Proxy Card)............ 8
Executive Compensation...................................... 14
Stock Performance Graph..................................... 20
Security Ownership of Directors and Officers................ 21
Pension Plans............................................... 22
Employment Agreements....................................... 23
Other Business.............................................. 24
</TABLE>
Bell Atlantic Corporation
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
<PAGE> 4
VOTING PROCEDURES
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT. Your shares can only be voted at the Annual Meeting
if you are present or represented by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend
the Annual Meeting, you are encouraged to vote by proxy to assure that your
shares will be represented. You may revoke this proxy at any time before it is
voted, by written notice to the Corporate Secretary, by submission of a proxy
bearing a later date, or by casting a ballot at the Annual Meeting. Properly
executed proxies that are received by the Proxy Committee before the Annual
Meeting's adjournment will be voted in accordance with the directions provided.
If no directions are given, your shares will be voted by the Proxy Committee as
recommended by the Board of Directors. If you wish to give a proxy to someone
other than the Proxy Committee named on the proxy card, you should cross out
those names and insert the name(s) of the person(s), not more than four, to whom
you wish to give your proxy.
WHO CAN VOTE? Shareowners as of the close of business on March 2, 1998 are
entitled to vote. On that day, approximately 787,945,000 shares of common stock
were outstanding and eligible to vote. Each share is entitled to one vote on
each matter presented at the Annual Meeting. A list of shareowners eligible to
vote will be available at the offices of Bell Atlantic -- Delaware, Inc., 901
Tatnall Street, Wilmington, Delaware, beginning April 17, 1998. Shareowners may
examine this list during normal business hours for any purpose relating to the
Annual Meeting.
HOW DO I VOTE? Other than by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person,
there are three ways registered shareowners may vote their shares by proxy:
- - By mail
- - By telephone
- - By Internet
To vote by mail, simply mark, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return
it in the postage-paid envelope provided. You may vote by telephone or Internet
24 hours a day, 7 days a week; refer to the enclosed proxy card for
instructions. If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee,
you will receive separate instructions from the nominee describing how to vote
your shares.
WHAT SHARES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROXY CARD? The proxy card represents all the
shares registered to your account and any full shares held in your Bell Atlantic
Direct Invest Plan account. If you are an employee participating in a Bell
Atlantic employee savings plan or hold shares in the 1976 Employee Stock
Ownership Plan ("1976 ESOP"), the card also represents those shares if they are
registered in exactly the same name.
HOW ARE VOTES COUNTED? The Annual Meeting will be held if a quorum, consisting
of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote, is
represented. Broker non-votes, votes withheld and abstentions will be counted
for purposes of determining whether a quorum has been reached. "Broker
non-votes" occur when nominees, such as banks and brokers, holding shares on
behalf of beneficial owners, do not receive voting instructions from the
beneficial owners by ten days before the Annual Meeting. In this event, the
nominees may vote those shares only on matters deemed routine by the New York
Stock Exchange, such as the election of Directors and ratification of the
appointment of independent accountants. On non-routine matters, nominees cannot
vote and there is a so-called "broker non-vote" on that matter. Because
proposals must be approved by a majority of the votes cast, broker non-votes and
abstentions have no effect on a proposal's outcome. Because Directors are
elected by a plurality of the votes cast, votes withheld from some or all
nominees for Director could have an effect on the outcome of the election.
If proxy cards representing shares in Bell Atlantic's employee savings plans
(including the 1976 ESOP) are not returned, those shares will be voted in the
same proportion as the shares for which signed proxy cards are returned by other
participants in the respective plans.
WHO WILL COUNT THE VOTE? Bell Atlantic's transfer agent, Boston EquiServe, will
tally the vote, which will be certified by an independent Inspector of Election.
IS MY VOTE CONFIDENTIAL? Bell Atlantic has a policy of vote confidentiality.
Proxies, ballots and voting tabulations are available for examination only by
the independent Inspector of Election and tabulators. Your vote cannot be
disclosed to the Board or management of Bell Atlantic except as may be required
by law and in other limited circumstances.
WHO IS THE PROXY SOLICITOR? Georgeson and Company, Inc. has been retained by
Bell Atlantic to assist in the distribution of proxy materials and solicitation
of votes for a fee of $15,000, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
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<PAGE> 5
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
In accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and the Bell Atlantic
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the Company's business, property and
affairs are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Although
Directors are not involved in the day-to-day operating details, they are kept
informed of the Company's business through written reports and documents
provided to them regularly, as well as by operating, financial and other reports
presented by the Chairman and other officers of the Company at meetings of the
Board of Directors and committees of the Board.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors held nine meetings in 1997. Each
of the incumbent Directors attended at least 75% of the Board and committee
meetings to which the Director was assigned; percentages for Directors who
joined the Board in August as a result of the Company's merger of equals with
NYNEX Corporation are computed by reference to the pre-merger meetings of the
NYNEX Board and its committees and the post-merger meetings of the Company's
Board and its committees. The incumbent Directors in the aggregate attended 92%
of their Board and assigned committee meetings.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors has established six standing
committees. Directors' committee memberships are included in their biographical
information beginning on page 4.
Executive Committee -- may exercise the full power and authority of the Board to
the extent permitted by Delaware law. This committee generally meets when action
is necessary between scheduled Board meetings when a limited time frame exists
and a Board quorum is not readily available. The committee met once in 1997.
Audit Committee -- monitors the auditing, accounting and financial reporting of
the Company. The committee makes recommendations to the Board concerning the
accounting firm to be employed as the independent accountants and consults with
these accountants with regard to the adequacy of internal controls and the scope
and results of their audits. The committee met five times in 1997.
Human Resources Committee -- is responsible for overseeing the management of
human resources activities of the Company, including management succession
planning, determination of compensation for senior management, the granting of
stock options, and the design of other tax-qualified employee pension and saving
plans. The committee met eleven times in 1997.
Finance Committee -- is responsible for ensuring that the finances of the
Company are managed prudently and cost effectively. In doing so, the committee
makes recommendations to the Board concerning investment policy and methods of
financing the Company's operations, oversees investments of the Company's
employee benefit plans, and evaluates new business and investment opportunities.
The committee met five times in 1997.
Governance and Board Affairs Committee -- is responsible for proposing changes
in the composition, size and organization of the Board and for reviewing and
making recommendations with regard to Outside Director compensation. This
committee is also charged with the responsibility of reviewing candidate
qualifications for Board membership and recommending Director nominations. The
committee met twice in 1997.
Public Responsibility Committee -- examines corporate policy and provides
guidance and perspective to the Board on major public policy issues affecting
the Company's role as a responsible corporate citizen. The committee, chartered
following the merger in August 1997 of the Company and NYNEX, met once in 1997.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION. Outside Director compensation is divided into cash and
stock components. The cash component consists of an annual retainer of $30,000
and a fee of $1,500 for each Board and committee meeting attended. Committee
chairpersons receive an additional annual retainer of $5,000. Directors may
defer the receipt of all or part of these retainers and fees in cash or share
equivalents. The stock component of Outside Director compensation provides for
an annual option grant to purchase 1,000 shares of Company stock and the choice
of an additional option grant to purchase 1,500 shares or a grant of shares
equivalent in value to the 1,500 options.
The Bell Atlantic Retirement Plan for Outside Directors ("Retirement Plan")
provides retirement benefits for certain Outside Directors. The normal benefit
is an annual amount equal to ten percent of the annual Board retainer payable to
a participating Director at the date of retirement, multiplied by the Director's
aggregate years of service as an Outside Director up to a maximum of ten years.
A participating Director is eligible to receive a
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retirement benefit at the later of age 65 or the date of retirement. Benefits
beginning before age 65, or deferred to age 70, are actuarially adjusted. In
November 1995, the Board voted to discontinue the Retirement Plan, effective for
Outside Directors initially elected to the Board after January 1, 1996. In
January 1996, each Outside Director who was a participant in the Retirement Plan
was given a one-time election to forfeit all benefits accrued under the
Retirement Plan in exchange for additional stock options.
Outside Directors are provided business-related travel accident insurance
coverage and may elect life insurance coverage. The total premiums paid by the
company for this insurance coverage for all participating Outside Directors in
1997 were $3,042.
Bell Atlantic Directors elected before 1992 participate in a charitable giving
program for which the Company is obligated to contribute, upon the Director's
death, an aggregate of one-half million dollars to one or more qualifying
charitable or educational organizations designated by each eligible Director.
Directors who formerly served as Directors of NYNEX participate in a similar
program for which the aggregate contribution is one million dollars, payable on
the earlier of the Director's retirement or death. Both of these charitable
programs are closed to future participants.
Three former Bell Atlantic Directors, William W. Adams, Thomas E. Bolger and
Frank C. Carlucci, received payments of $27,000 each in August 1997 in
connection with their departures from the Board prior to the mandatory
retirement age as a result of the completion of the merger with NYNEX.
Employee Directors receive no compensation for their Board service.
OTHER MATTERS. The Company Bylaws establish 70 years as the mandatory retirement
age. A Director who reaches retirement age must retire at or prior to the next
Annual Meeting.
The law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is providing ongoing
legal services to the Company in connection with various matters. Helene L.
Kaplan, a Director of Bell Atlantic, is Of Counsel to that firm.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
ITEM 1 ON PROXY CARD
Under the terms of the Company's Bylaws adopted in connection with the merger of
the Company and NYNEX, the Bell Atlantic Board consists of 22 members, eleven
each designated by the former Bell Atlantic and NYNEX Boards. The 22 nominees
named on the following pages were selected to serve on the initial post-merger
Board of the Company and have been recommended to the Board by the Governance
and Board Affairs Committee and renominated by the Board to serve as Directors
for an additional one-year term. Each nominee has consented to stand for
election and the Board does not anticipate that any nominee will be unavailable
to serve. In the event that one or more of the nominees should become
unavailable to serve at the time of the Annual Meeting, the shares represented
by proxy will be voted for the remaining nominees and any substitute nominee(s)
designated by the Board. The designation of substitute nominees by the Board is
subject to restrictions contained in the Company's Bylaws for the 1998 Annual
Meeting. If no substitute nominee(s) are designated, the size of the Board will
be reduced. Director elections are determined by a plurality of the votes cast.
The following biographies provide a brief description of each nominee's
principal occupation and business experience, age (as of March 16, 1998), and
directorships held in other public corporations.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE LISTED NOMINEES.
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NOMINEES
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<TABLE>
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[PHOTO] LAWRENCE T. BABBIO, JR., President and Chief Executive
Officer - Network Group and Chairman - Global Wireless
Group, Bell Atlantic Corporation, since August 1997; Vice
Chairman (1995-August 1997); Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer (1994-1995); Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and President, Bell Atlantic Enterprises
International, Inc. (1991-1994). Director of Compaq Computer
Corporation; Grupo Iusacell, S.A. de C.V. Director of Bell
Atlantic since 1995. Age 53.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] RICHARD L. CARRION, Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer, Popular, Inc. (bank holding
company - formerly BanPonce Corporation), since 1990.
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, since 1993. Director
of Bell Atlantic since August 1997 (Director of NYNEX
1995-1997); member of Human Resources Committee. Age 45.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] JAMES G. CULLEN, President and Chief Executive
Officer - Telecom Group, Bell Atlantic Corporation, since
August 1997; Vice Chairman (1995-August 1997); President
(1993-1995); President and Chief Executive Officer, Bell
Atlantic - New Jersey, Inc. (1989-1993). Director of Johnson
& Johnson; Prudential Life Insurance Company; Advisory
Director of First Union Atlantic. Director of Bell Atlantic
since 1995. Age 55.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] LODEWIJK J.R. DE VINK, President and Chief Operating
Officer, Warner-Lambert Company, since 1991. Director of
Warner-Lambert Company. Director of Bell Atlantic since
August 1997 (Director of NYNEX 1995-1997); member of Finance
Committee. Age 53.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] JAMES H. GILLIAM, JR., Executive Vice President and General
Counsel, and Member of the Executive Committee, Beneficial
Corporation (financial services), since 1992. Director of
Beneficial Corporation; Beneficial National Bank. Trustee of
Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Director of Bell Atlantic
since 1989; member of Audit Committee and Human Resources
Committee. Age 52.
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
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[PHOTO] STANLEY P. GOLDSTEIN, Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, CVS Corporation, since 1987; President
(1985-1993). Director of Footstar Incorporated; LNT
Incorporated. Director of Bell Atlantic since August 1997
(Director of NYNEX 1990-1997); member of Audit Committee.
Age 63.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] HELENE L. KAPLAN, Of Counsel to the law firm of Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, since 1990. Director of The
Chase Manhattan Corporation; The May Department Stores
Company; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Mobil
Corporation. Director of Bell Atlantic since August 1997
(Director of NYNEX 1990-1997); Chair of Public
Responsibility Committee. Age 64.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] THOMAS H. KEAN, President, Drew University, since 1990.
Governor, State of New Jersey (1982-1990). Director of
Amerada Hess Corporation; ARAMARK Corporation; Beneficial
Corporation; Fiduciary Trust Company International; United
Healthcare Corporation. Chairman of Carnegie Corporation.
Director of Bell Atlantic since 1990; member of Public
Responsibility Committee. Age 62.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] ELIZABETH T. KENNAN, President Emeritus, Mount Holyoke
College, since 1995; President (1978-1995). Director of
Kentucky Home Mutual Life Insurance Company; Kentucky Home
Life Insurance Company; Northeast Utilities; Putnam Funds,
Inc.; Talbots Inc. Director of Bell Atlantic since August
1997 (Director of NYNEX 1984-1997); member of Audit
Committee, Human Resources Committee and Executive
Committee. Age 60.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] JOHN F. MAYPOLE, Managing Partner, Peach State Real Estate
Holding Company, Corporate Director and Consultant, since
1984. Director of Dan River Inc.; Massachusetts Mutual Life
Insurance Company. Director of Bell Atlantic since 1983;
Chair of Audit Committee and member of Finance Committee and
Executive Committee. Age 58.
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
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[PHOTO] JOSEPH NEUBAUER, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
ARAMARK Corporation (managed services), since 1984. Director
of Federated Department Stores; First Union Corporation.
Director of Bell Atlantic since 1995; member of Public
Responsibility Committee. Age 56.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] THOMAS H. O'BRIEN, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PNC
Bank Corp., since 1992; Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer (1988-1991). Director of Hilb, Rogal and
Hamilton Company. Director of Bell Atlantic since 1987;
Chair of Human Resources Committee and member of Executive
Committee. Age 61.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] ECKHARD PFEIFFER, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Compaq Computer Corporation, since 1991. Director of Compaq
Computer Corporation; General Motors Corporation; Hughes
Electronics Corporation. Director of Bell Atlantic since
1996; member of Finance Committee. Age 56.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] HUGH B. PRICE, President and Chief Executive Officer,
National Urban League, since 1994. Vice President of
Rockefeller Foundation (1988-1994). Director of Metropolitan
Life Insurance Company; Sears, Roebuck and Co. Director of
Bell Atlantic since August 1997 (Director of NYNEX
1995-1997); member of Governance and Board Affairs Committee
and Public Responsibility Committee. Age 56.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] ROZANNE L. RIDGWAY, Former Assistant Secretary of State for
Europe and Canada (1985-1989). Co-Chair, The Atlantic
Council of The United States (a private foreign policy
institute) (1993-1996); President (1989-1992). Director of
The Boeing Company; Citicorp and Citibank; Emerson Electric
Company; Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company; RJR
Nabisco; Sara Lee Corporation; Union Carbide Corp. Director
of Bell Atlantic since 1990; member of Governance and Board
Affairs Committee and Executive Committee. Age 62.
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
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[PHOTO] FREDERIC V. SALERNO, Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer/Strategy and Business Development,
Bell Atlantic Corporation, since August 1997, having served
NYNEX Corporation as Vice Chairman - Finance and Business
Development (1994-1997) and President - Worldwide Services
Group, Inc. (1991-1994). Director of Avenor, Inc.; Avnet
Inc.; The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.; Orange and Rockland
Utilities, Inc.; Viacom Inc. Director of Bell Atlantic since
August 1997 (Director of NYNEX 1991-1997). Age 54.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] IVAN G. SEIDENBERG, Vice Chairman, President and Chief
Operating Officer, Bell Atlantic Corporation, since August
1997, having served NYNEX Corporation as Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer (1995-1997), President and
Chief Executive Officer (January-March, 1995), Chief
Operating Officer (March-December, 1994) and Vice Chairman
(1991-1995). Director of AlliedSignal Inc.; American Home
Products Corporation; Boston Properties, Inc.; CVS
Corporation; Viacom Inc. Director of Bell Atlantic since
August 1997 (Director of NYNEX 1991-1997); member of
Executive Committee. Age 51.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] WALTER V. SHIPLEY, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer, The Chase Manhattan Corporation, since 1996.
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Chemical
Banking Corporation (1994-1996); President (1992-1993).
Director of Champion International Corporation. Director of
Bell Atlantic since August 1997 (Director of NYNEX
1983-1997); Chair of Finance Committee and member of
Executive Committee. Age 62.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] RAYMOND W. SMITH, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer, Bell Atlantic Corporation, since 1989. Director of
CBS Corporation; CoreStates Financial Corp; US Airways
Group, Inc. Director of Bell Atlantic since 1985; member of
Executive Committee. Age 60.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] JOHN R. STAFFORD, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer, American Home Products Corporation, since
1986 (did not hold the additional title of President for the
period 1990-1993). Director of AlliedSignal Inc.; The Chase
Manhattan Corporation; Deere & Company. Director of Bell
Atlantic since August 1997 (Director of NYNEX 1989-1997);
Chair of Executive Committee and member of Governance and
Board Affairs Committee. Age 60.
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
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[PHOTO] MORRISON DES. WEBB, Executive Vice President - External
Affairs and Corporate Communications, Bell Atlantic
Corporation, since August 1997, having served NYNEX
Corporation as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary (1995-1997), Vice President - Law (1994-1995) and
Vice President - General Counsel, New England Telephone
Company (1991-1994). Director of Bell Atlantic since August
1997. Age 50.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO] SHIRLEY YOUNG, Vice President, China Strategic Development,
General Motors Corporation, since 1996; Vice President,
Consumer Market Development (1988-1996). Director of The
Bombay Company, Inc.; Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.;
Consultant Director of Dayton Hudson Corporation. Director
of Bell Atlantic since 1986; Chair of Governance and Board
Affairs Committee. Age 62.
</TABLE>
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RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 2 ON PROXY CARD
Subject to shareowner ratification, the Board of Directors, acting upon the
recommendation of the Audit Committee, has reappointed the firm of Coopers &
Lybrand LLP, Certified Public Accountants, as independent accountants to examine
the financial statements of Bell Atlantic for the fiscal year 1998. Ratification
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of eligible shares present at the
Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting thereon. If this appointment
is not ratified by shareowners, the Audit Committee may reconsider its
recommendation.
One or more representatives of Coopers & Lybrand are expected to be at the
Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement and will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREOWNER PROPOSALS
ITEMS 3 - 7 ON PROXY CARD
The shareowners named below have told us that they intend to have the following
proposals presented at the Annual Meeting. Approval of a shareowner proposal
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of eligible shares present at the
Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting on the matter. The Board has
concluded that it cannot support these proposals for the reasons given.
ITEM 3 ON PROXY CARD:
Mrs. Evelyn Y. Davis, Watergate Office Building, Suite 215, 2600 Virginia
Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20037, record owner of 212 shares of the Company's
common stock, proposes the following:
"RESOLVED: That the shareholders recommend that the Board take the necessary
step that Bell Atlantic specifically identify by name and corporate title in all
future proxy statements those executive officers, not otherwise so identified,
who are contractually entitled to receive in excess of $250,000 annually as a
base salary, together with whatever other additional compensation bonuses and
other cash payments were due them.
REASONS: In support of such proposed Resolution it is clear that the
shareholders have a right to
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comprehensively evaluate the management in the manner in which the Corporation
is being operated and its resources utilized. At present only a few of the most
senior executive officers are so identified, and not the many other senior
executive officers who should contribute to the ultimate success of the
Corporation. Through such additional identification the shareholders will then
be provided an opportunity to better evaluate the soundness and efficacy of the
overall management. Last year the owners of 41,189,118 shares, representing
approximately 14.1% of shares voting, voted FOR this proposal. If you AGREE,
please mark your proxy FOR this proposal."
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' POSITION:
The Board of Directors does not believe the adoption of this proposal would
impart any meaningful additional information to shareowners. The Board believes
that the disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") currently provide shareowners with sufficient information with respect
to compensation matters. In accordance with SEC rules, the Company already
provides detailed information in its proxy statement regarding the compensation
of its most highly compensated executive officers, including the terms and
conditions of any contractual agreements.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
ITEM 4 ON PROXY CARD:
Mr. John J. Gilbert and Mrs. Margaret R. Gilbert, 29 East 64th Street, New York,
NY 10021-7043, who are co-trustees of family trusts holding 625 shares,
represent additional family holdings of 1,632 shares, and own 185 shares of the
Company's common stock, and Mrs. Edith Rudy and Mr. Edward Rudy, Box 7077,
Yorkville Station, New York, NY 10128-7077, who own 674 shares of the Company's
common stock, propose the following:
"RESOLVED: That the stockholders of Bell Atlantic Corporation, assembled in
annual meeting in person and by proxy, hereby request the Board of Directors to
take the steps necessary to provide for cumulative voting in the election of
directors, which means each stockholder shall be entitled to as many votes as
shall equal the number of shares he or she owns multiplied by the number of
directors to be elected, and he or she may cast all of such votes for a single
candidate, or any two or more of them as he or she may see fit.
REASONS: Strong support along the lines we suggest were shown at the last annual
meeting when 23%, 41,942 owners of 65,611,011 shares, were cast in favor of this
proposal. The vote against included 5,086 unmarked proxies [representing
9,112,775 shares].
California law still requires that unless stockholders have voted not to have
cumulative voting they will have it. Ohio also has the same provision.
The National Bank Act provides for cumulative voting. In many cases companies
get around it by forming holding companies without cumulative voting. Banking
authorities have the right to question the capability of directors to be on
banking boards. In many cases authorities come in after and say the director or
directors were not qualified. We were delighted to see the SEC has finally taken
action to prevent bad directors from being on boards of public companies. The
SEC should have hearings to prevent such persons becoming directors before they
harm investors.
Many successful corporations have cumulative voting. Example, Pennzoil defeated
Texaco in that famous case. Texaco's recent problems might have also been
prevented with cumulative voting, getting directors on the board to prevent such
things. Ingersoll-Rand, also having cumulative voting, won two awards. FORTUNE
magazine ranked it second in its industry as "America's Most Admired
Corporations" and the WALL STREET TRANSCRIPT noted "on almost any criteria used
to evaluate management, Ingersoll-Rand excels." In 1994 and 1995 they raised
their dividend.
Lockheed-Martin, as well as VWR Corporation, now have a provision that if anyone
has 40% or more of the shares cumulative voting applies; it does apply at the
latter company.
In 1995 American Premier adopted cumulative voting. Alleghany Power System tried
to take away cumulative voting, as well as put in a stagger system, and
stockholders defeated it, showing stockholders are interested in their rights.
Also, Hewlett Packard, a very successful company, has cumulative voting.
Another reason for having cumulative voting is because of the large holdings of
the employee shareholders. Many employee shareholders have shown their interest
in having good directors on the board to see about pension funds, etc.
If you agree, please mark your proxy for this resolution; otherwise it is
automatically cast against it, unless you have marked to abstain."
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' POSITION:
The Board of Directors firmly believes that the present system of electing
Directors, in which those Directors receiving a plurality of the votes cast by
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the shareowners as a whole are elected, best assures that the directors will
honor their duties to represent the interests of all shareowners, and not just a
particular group. Cumulative voting, which the proponents recommend, would
permit a minority of shareowners to pool their voting power to attempt to elect
a candidate who would advocate the faction's special viewpoints, even when these
viewpoints diverge from the interests of the other shareowners. The resulting
inability to exercise independent judgment by one or more "special interest"
directors could adversely affect the Board's sound analysis and timely conduct
of affairs, to the detriment of the Company and all shareowners.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
ITEM 5 ON PROXY CARD:
Mr. Robert S. Kopach, 4309 San Carlos Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, who owns 1,000
shares of the Company's common stock, proposes the following:
"RESOLVED: I recommend that the current Short and Long Term Incentive Awards for
executive officers be abolished. The new Short Term Incentive Award that I
propose would be tied proportionally to the price of the stock at the year's
end. For example if the stock price at the end of the year is up 20% then the
incentive would be 20% of the officer's salary.
REASONS:
1. Management is adequately compensated by salary alone as illustrated in the
Summary Compensation table. As shareholders our money is at risk as are our
Executive Officers' Bonuses. Under my Short Term Incentive Plan executive
officers' salaries would be aligned with the shareholder's return. This would be
achieved by tying their bonuses to the stock price appreciation. This would be
clear and fair.
2. Under the current Short Term Incentive award, the Executive Officers are
being compensated from 85% to over 130% of their salary. The goals that are set
for bonuses must be easily attainable with this kind of return. This is absurd
and they talk about shareholder value.
3. There is no need for any Long Term Incentive award. Under the current
incentive package, the officers are getting rich at the expense of the
customers, employees and shareholders. These compensation packages keep going up
and up. It has gotten completely out of control. When and where will it end? My
plan would put a necessary limit on this abuse of these compensation packages.
4. We need to bring some justice and equity back into the workplace. There is
too big a gap between the salary of the executive officers and the pay of the
average worker. The pay an Executive Officer makes in a few years far exceeds
the average worker's lifetime earnings.
5. The Company says this level of compensation is necessary to attract and keep
quality people. They argue that their package is in line with other companies in
their peer group. We, as shareholders, in this company, want Bell Atlantic to be
better than not in line with others. Bell Atlantic needs to set an example by
installing my proposal and becoming a leader in this reform.
6. The only reason management gets away with this abuse of power is that most of
the shareholders do not take the time to read the proxy or vote, trusting
management to do the right thing. The media needs to expose these high salaries
and excessive compensation packages. They should not fear the loss of corporate
advertising dollars. They should fulfill their obligation to inform and educate
the public.
7. Management needs to be held accountable. A vote for my proposal will send a
clear message to management and remind them that they work for us, the
shareholders. Let's make it right and make management walk the talk."
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' POSITION:
As explained in detail in the Report of the Human Resources Committee on
Executive Compensation beginning on page 14, compensation of executive officers
is set at levels which are intended to be sufficiently competitive with
companies of similar size and complexity to permit the Company to attract and
retain the best possible individuals. The Company's compensation plans are
structured to provide incentives for executive officer performance that results
in continuing improvements in the Company's financial and operational results
and total return to shareowners over both the short term and long term. Since a
significant portion of incentive compensation is in the form of Company stock
options, the amount of value generated for the Company's shareowners is a key
factor -- but not the only factor -- in determining the value ultimately
realized by executive officers under the plans. In addition to stock price,
executive officer compensation is based on a number of other factors, including
Company financial performance, customer satisfaction and individual performance.
The Human Resources Committee believes that this combination of incentives for
executive officer performance is in the best interest of shareowners.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
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ITEM 6 ON PROXY CARD:
Edwin J. Ward, 32 Angela Lane, Bay Shore, NY 11706, owner of 1,721 shares of the
Company's common stock, and Robert A. Rehm, 50-11 Fairfield Way, Commack, NY
11725, owner of 849 shares of the Company's common stock, propose the following:
"RESOLVED: That the shareholders of Bell Atlantic urge their Board of Directors
to seek shareholder approval for all future or renewed severance agreements with
the Company's executive officers, including so-called "golden parachute" and
"golden good-bye" severance agreements, that provide more generous pay-outs than
the Senior Management Retirement Income Plan available to other senior managers.
For the purposes of this resolution, "golden parachutes" are defined as
severance agreements triggered when executives are terminated or resign after a
change in corporate control; and "golden good-byes" are defined as severance
payments made to executives who terminate their employment voluntarily,
including early retirement, or who are terminated without good cause.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT: "Golden parachute" and "golden good-bye" severance
agreements are among the most lucrative and anti-shareholder executive
compensation benefits. Without shareholder consent, such severance agreements
create potential conflicts of interest and undermine shareholder confidence that
executive pay is properly aligned with the interests of shareholders.
Resolutions requesting advance shareholder approval of golden parachute
agreements have been approved by a majority of stockholders voting at six public
companies since 1990. In 1996, the 12 golden parachute proposals included on
large public company proxies received the support of an average 40.6 percent of
shareholders voting, according to the Investor Responsibility Research Center
(IRRC).
Requiring shareholder approval of golden severance agreements is very popular
for a very good reason. Directors, including outside directors, typically owe
their lucrative board appointments to incumbent management. Corporate boards are
often not in the best position to question or challenge the value to
shareholders of executive severance agreements that -- at worst -- are
entrenchment devices that could deter a takeover bid, or that -- at best -- pay
an executive far more than the company's normal pension benefits for nothing
more than agreeing to resign or retire gracefully.
At Bell Atlantic, the six employee directors have all been awarded lucrative
"golden good-bye" agreements. For example, according to the Company's 1997 Proxy
Statement, if Mr. Seidenberg is terminated without cause, dies, or even if "the
Board fails to appoint [him] to the position of Chief Executive Officer or
Chairman", he "is entitled to receive post-separation payments" equal to the
value of all the compensation he would have received as CEO and Chairman had he
held those jobs through July of 2002!
Golden severance agreements are, on average, extremely costly to shareholders. A
1996 IRRC study of 179 recently merged companies revealed that among the 55
companies that disclosed the value of cash-only severance pay-outs triggered by
a change in control, total payments by each company ranged from $750,000 to
$75.5 million -- with a median pay-out of $11 million. The CEOs at these
companies received as much as $15.8 million, with a median pay-out of $3.4
million. And in 1995, Scott Paper's board awarded CEO Albert Dunlap a golden
good-bye severance package valued at between $90 and $100 million, according to
The Wall Street Journal.
Golden severance agreements also reduce shareholder value and tend to reward
mismanagement. A 1990 study by the United Shareholders Association of 1,000
major U.S. corporations found that the average annualized two-year return was 20
percent higher for the 559 companies whose management did not hold golden
parachutes.
We urge all shareholders to mark their proxy FOR this proposal."
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' POSITION:
The Board of Directors believes that a blanket prohibition on the use, without
shareowner approval, of "golden parachute" and "golden good-bye" agreements
would unduly restrict the key Board function of hiring, retaining and, when
necessary, terminating senior management of the Company. It has been the
Company's policy not to enter into such employment agreements on a routine basis
or with large classes of executives. While agreements have been entered into
with some executives, those agreements have been based on case-by-case
assessments of the past and future value of the executive's services, the
circumstances of the executive's departure, and other strategic considerations.
As noted by the proponents, the
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Company did enter into special, limited agreements with the six employee
Directors relating to their possible departures following the Company's merger
of equals with NYNEX Corporation. The Boards of both companies believed that, in
the context of one of the largest corporate mergers in history, these agreements
were both reasonable and appropriate as retention devices to ensure the most
effective integration process and the realization of the merger's benefits.
The Board believes that employment agreements, when used judiciously under
appropriate circumstances, will promote shareowners' interests by assisting the
Company in managing, recruiting and retaining the best executives possible to
lead our business. In most cases (e.g., mergers, unexpected executive
departures, etc.) it would simply not be feasible for the Company to wait the
several months necessary to seek shareowner approval before acting on such
crucial matters. Accordingly, the Board believes it should retain the
flexibility to use such agreements, where they are appropriate, without the
often impractical requirement of shareowner approval.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
ITEM 7 ON PROXY CARD:
The Association of BellTel Retirees Inc., 157 Main Street/P.O. Box 33, Cold
Spring Harbor, NY 11724, which owns 107 shares of the Company's common stock,
and John A. Parente, 2805 Granville Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12306-2225, who owns
5,207 shares of the Company's common stock, propose the following:
"RESOLVED: The shareholders of Bell Atlantic urge the Company's Board of
Directors to take the steps necessary to amend the Company's By-Laws, after the
1998 annual meeting, to provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of a
majority of independent directors and that no more than two directors shall be
current or former management employees ("insiders"). For these purposes, the
definition of independent director shall mean a director who:
has not been employed by the Company or an affiliate in the previous five years;
is not a relative of any member of the Company's management;
provides no other personal or professional services for pay to the Company;
is not employed by a significant supplier or provider of professional services
to the Company;
is not employed by a foundation, university or other nonprofit institution that
has received a grant or endowment from the Company within the last five years;
is not an officer of a company on which any of the Company's top five executive
officers also serves as a board member.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT: When the Company adopted its new post-merger By-Laws, it
failed to include a provision recognizing the growing consensus that a majority
of truly independent directors is critical to ensure investor confidence that
top management is being held accountable to shareholders. Bell Atlantic's board
has at least eight directors who are not independent, including six management
directors, or "insiders", and two who hold interlocking directorships with
Company officers.
Among the business and shareholder groups that endorse a majority of independent
directors are the Business Roundtable, the National Association of Corporate
Directors (NACD), the Council of Institutional Investors (CII), the California
Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), the Investor Rights Association of
America (IRAA) and the Association of BellTel Retirees.
In November 1996, the NACD published a Blue Ribbon Commission Report on Director
Professionalism that took a strong stand against board candidates who have
business relationships or interlocking directorships with Company officers.
"Boards should ensure that any director candidate under consideration, with the
exception of their own CEO or senior managers, is independent", the NACD report
stated.
Bell Atlantic's board is both bloated and insufficiently independent of
management. An average 66 percent of directors of S&P 500 companies are
independent of management, according to an April 1997 report by the Investor
Responsibility Research Center.
At the simplest level, management directors are not independent. Bell Atlantic's
group of six "inside" directors undermine the board's ability to hold management
accountable to shareholders. To effectively perform their role as monitors of
management performance, directors must not be management employees who report to
the CEO and whose careers are at his mercy.
Financial studies support the argument that independent directors can enhance
share value.
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Companies with independent boards receive higher initial tender offer premiums,
concludes a 1996 study by Professor James Cotter in the Journal of Financial
Economics. In tender offers, target company gains are "about 20 percentage
points greater when the board is independent", Cotter finds. This is explained
by the fact that "when the board is independent, takeover resistance and poison
pills are likely to be used to enhance shareholder returns, rather than to
entrench target managers".
An amendment to the Company's by-laws is the only way to ensure that the Board
will at all times tend to operate independent of management control.
Please VOTE FOR this proposal."
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' POSITION:
The Board of Directors wholeheartedly agrees with the main premise of this
proposal -- that the Board of Directors should consist of a majority of
independent directors. In fact, the Bell Atlantic Board has consisted of a
majority of such independent directors, under any reasonable definition of
independence, at all times since the Company was founded in 1983. The proponents
do not claim that the Board currently fails to meet this test, even under their
own unduly restrictive definition of independence, and there is thus no basis
for the proponents' statement that the Board is "insufficiently independent of
management." There is no need to include such a well established commitment to
Board independence in the Bylaws.
Furthermore, the Board does not believe that a commitment to an independent
Board leads to the conclusion that the number of employee Directors must be
limited to an arbitrary number. From 1983 to 1997, the Company's number of
employee Directors ranged from one to four, reflecting a number of ever-changing
circumstances, including succession planning and the strengths and roles of the
various senior officers. In connection with the Company's 1997 merger of equals
with NYNEX Corporation, the Board was restructured to contain equal numbers of
non-employee Directors and equal numbers of employee Directors from each of the
two companies. The management and Boards of both companies believed that it was
important that the new Board have a maximum exposure to, and business
information from, the most senior officers of each company, and therefore agreed
that the new Board would contain six employee Directors out of a total of
twenty-two Directors. It is likely that the number of employee Directors will
decline once the process of integrating the two companies is complete.
Given the Board's history of independence, and concerns that any Bylaw
arbitrarily limiting the number of employee Directors would unnecessarily
restrict its flexibility to tailor the number of employee Directors to current
business circumstances, the Board has concluded that it cannot support this
proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
SUBMISSION OF SHAREOWNER PROPOSALS AND
DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
Shareowners wishing to have a proposal included in the Board of Directors' 1999
Proxy Statement must submit the proposal so that the Corporate Secretary
receives it no later than November 16, 1998. SEC rules set forth standards as to
what shareowner proposals are required to be included in a proxy statement. In
addition, the Company's Bylaws require that any shareowner wishing to make a
nomination for Director, or wishing to introduce a proposal or other business,
at a shareowner meeting must give the Company at least 60 days' advance written
notice, and that notice must meet certain requirements set forth in the Bylaws.
Shareowners may request a copy of the Bylaws from the Corporate Secretary, Bell
Atlantic Corporation, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, 38th Floor, New York, NY
10036.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
REPORT OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This report is made by the Human Resources Committee of the Board (the "HRC"),
which is the committee charged with establishing and administering the policies
and plans which govern compensation for the named executive officers listed in
the compensation tables in this proxy statement. In the case of the compensation
of named executive officers who are also members of the Board, the HRC makes
recommendations which are subject to approval by non-employee members of the
Board.
In connection with the Company's merger with NYNEX on August 14, 1997 (the
"Merger"), the HRC conducted a comprehensive review of the Company's executive
compensation programs. The HRC, with the advice and assistance of an independent
compensation consultant, surveyed executive compensation at 43 companies whose
revenues, number of employees and lines of business caused them to be considered
appropriate peer companies for review. The companies included not only the four
companies characterized as the "peer group" on page 20 of this proxy statement,
but also 39 other companies considered by independent consultants to be
appropriate for comparison. Based upon an assessment of the scope of
responsibilities of executive and senior management positions of the surveyed
companies, and the levels of compensation at those peer companies, the HRC
established post-Merger compensation levels for a Senior Management group
consisting of top executives of the Company. Each of the named executive
officers is a member of that Senior Management group. At the same time, the HRC
adopted post-Merger amendments to the Company's executive compensation plans and
policies. The HRC's amendments to the compensation plans and policies were
effective as of the date of the Merger, as were the HRC's approvals of
post-Merger compensation levels for each member of the Senior Management group.
This report summarizes not only the philosophy, structure and compensation
levels of the Company's post-Merger executive compensation programs for 1997,
but also the pre-Merger compensation programs maintained separately by the
Company and by NYNEX to the extent that they affected compensation earned by the
Company's named executive officers for the pre-Merger portion of 1997.
PHILOSOPHY
Both before and after the Merger, the compensation of the named executive
officers of the Company has been set at levels which are intended to be
sufficiently competitive with companies of similar size and complexity to permit
the Company to attract, retain and motivate the best possible individuals. The
HRC maintains a "total compensation" perspective and takes into account the
various components of remuneration, such as cash and stock compensation,
deferred compensation and retirement programs, health and welfare benefits and
perquisites, when approving the component parts of the compensation program.
The HRC periodically engages independent consultants to review total
compensation and component pay levels at comparable companies. For targeted
levels of performance, the post-Merger compensation program is designed to be
consistent with median pay levels of the 43 peer companies, after adjusting the
compensation paid at the smallest of the peer companies to take account of their
less than comparable size.
Both before and after the Merger, each of the named executive officer's
compensation is based upon both individual and Company performance, and the
program emphasizes a pay-for-performance philosophy. The compensation plans have
been structured to provide incentives for executive officer performance that
results in continuing improvements in the Company's financial results, customer
satisfaction, and stock price over both the short term and the long term. The
plans have also been designed to emphasize the creation of shareowner value.
This is accomplished by aligning the interests of the Company's executives and
its shareowners by providing for payment of a significant portion of incentive
compensation in the form of stock options. Thus, the value generated for the
Company's shareowners is a key factor in determining the value ultimately
realized by the named executive officers under the plans.
At the time of the Merger, the HRC demonstrated renewed commitment to the
pre-Merger emphasis by the Company and NYNEX on stock ownership by the named
executive officers. Each of the top two officers of the Company will be required
to acquire and hold Company shares with a value of five times the officer's base
salary rate then in effect. That multiple represents a 25% increase in the level
of
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required ownership of Company stock. Furthermore, the HRC extended the coverage
of the stock ownership guidelines to those members of the new Senior Management
group who were not covered prior to the Merger. Senior Managers other than the
top two officers of the Company will be required, over the course of five years,
to accumulate an ownership interest in Company stock with a value equal to one
to four times their respective base salary rates, depending upon the
individual's Senior Management compensation band. To reaffirm its commitment to
stock ownership by executives, the HRC's post-Merger compensation program places
a greater weighting on stock options as a percentage of total compensation.
COMPENSATION STRUCTURE
The structure for the compensation of the named executive officers effective
after the Merger consists of three principal parts: salary, a short term
performance-based incentive paid in cash, and a long term incentive in the form
of stock options.
As more fully described below, two of the three principal components of the
compensation program are performance-based and at risk, meaning that the
ultimate value of the total compensation depends on factors which include
company financial performance, customer satisfaction, individual performance,
and stock price. The long term incentive component, in the form of stock
options, is entirely tied to the performance of the Company's stock. The short
term incentive component is performance-based and tied to the achievement of
business, financial and customer satisfaction objectives. The salary component,
once established, is not subject to contingency and is paid in cash. The HRC
regularly reviews each component of executive compensation.
The HRC's January 1997 decisions affecting compensation of the named executive
officers for 1997 were based on an extensive market study which had been
conducted by the HRC's independent consultants in 1995 and brought up to date
for purposes of determining whether there should be any change in the 1997
compensation structure. As compared to the compensation structure in effect
during 1996, the HRC decided to increase the overall compensation structure by
three percent at the beginning of 1997.
Prior to the Merger, the Company's compensation structure for Senior Managers
(including executive officers) consisted of a set of approximately 15 salary
grades, each of which was pegged to an annual dollar amount known as the salary
midpoint. Under the terms of that prior program, the target amount of short term
incentive bonuses and the number of stock options granted per annum were uniform
for executive officers within any given salary grade. For the pre-Merger
compensation program, the HRC annually considered whether to adjust the stated
salary midpoint for each of the salary grades applicable to the executive
officers, usually adjusting each salary grade by the same percentage. The HRC
furthermore determined for each salary grade, from time to time, an appropriate
target short term incentive bonus under the Company's Short Term Incentive Plan
(the "STIP"), derived as a percentage of the salary grade midpoint. The
applicable percentage increased from the lower end of the salary grade range up
to the salary grade assigned to the Chief Executive Officer.
By contrast, the HRC's post-Merger modification of the Company's compensation
structure provides for a market-based set of four broad compensation bands, plus
two categories above those bands for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
and for the Vice Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer. For each of
the four broad bands and two categories, the HRC approved in August 1997 a range
of annual base salary rates, a short term incentive percentage and a long term
incentive percentage. For executive officers in a given band or category, the
product of the short term percentage times the individual's actual annual salary
rate determines the maximum short term incentive award for the ensuing year.
Likewise, the product of the long term percentage times the individual's actual
salary (as modified by a proration factor due to the date of the Merger) formed
the base value for the aggregate number of stock options granted in 1997. Under
the short term and long term incentive programs, however, the HRC reserves the
discretion to increase or decrease the short term award or the number of options
based on individual performance.
Under the post-Merger compensation program, the HRC approved, effective as of
the Merger date, the salary range for each band and category and the annual
salary rate for each Senior Manager, including the named executive officers.
Under the post-Merger program, it is contemplated that the HRC will review on an
annual basis, with the advice of an independent consultant, what adjustment (if
any) it is appropriate to make in the existing salary structure for the Senior
Management group.
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COMPONENTS OF COMPENSATION
SALARY. Salaries shown in Column (c) of the Summary Table represent the
non-contingent portion of cash compensation for the named executive officers for
1997. Changes in salary depend upon such factors as individual performance, the
period of time since the last change in the individual's salary or salary grade,
whether the individual's current salary is below or above the middle of the
range for that grade, and the economic and business conditions affecting the
Company at the time.
The post-Merger salary levels recommended to the HRC by management on the Merger
date reflected the results of an analysis of the scope of duties and
responsibilities of each position and the appropriate market-based salary for
such a position within the range afforded by the applicable Senior Management
compensation band or category.
SHORT TERM INCENTIVE. The amounts shown under "Bonus" in Column (d) of the
Summary Table for Messrs. Smith, Cullen and Babbio represent the aggregate
amount of the short term incentives awarded to the named executive officers for
the pre-Merger and post-Merger performance periods of 1997 pursuant to the STIP.
For Messrs. Seidenberg and Salerno, the amounts reported in Column (d) represent
the sum of the amounts awarded under the NYNEX Senior Management and Executive
Officer Short Term Incentive Plans ("NYNEX STIP") for pre-Merger 1997
performance, and the amount awarded under the STIP for post-Merger 1997
performance.
Under the STIP, the amount of the short term incentive awarded to each named
executive officer depends in part upon growth in Earnings Per Share ("EPS") and
in part on customer satisfaction indicators over the applicable performance
period (for 1997, treating the first 7 calendar months of the year as the
pre-Merger period and the last 5 calendar months as the post-Merger period). For
the 1997 pre-Merger performance period, the HRC made no changes in the financial
and customer satisfaction performance criteria, or in the ranges and factors for
converting criteria results into awards, which had been in effect under the STIP
for the 1996 performance year.
Furthermore, for a named executive officer who has management responsibilities
for a particular line of business or business sector, the short term incentive
also depends on certain additional financial results and strategic
accomplishments of that line of business or business sector, including the
business activities of one or more subsidiaries. During the year, the HRC may
decide to exclude from the determination of the applicable EPS growth the
effects of such factors as changes in accounting methods or items considered
extraordinary, unusual, or infrequently occurring. The HRC reviews the
applicable EPS growth and potential adjustments at each of its meetings and
reports regularly to the Board on any adjustments.
Under the NYNEX STIP for pre-Merger 1997, the amount of the short term incentive
awarded to Messrs. Seidenberg and Salerno depended upon certain financial,
service and management effectiveness criteria, as approved by the Committee on
Benefits of the NYNEX Board of Directors at the beginning of the performance
period.
For the pre-Merger portion of 1997 under the STIP, for the majority of executive
officers, the relative success of the Company and its subsidiaries in achieving
customer satisfaction had a 25% weighting when determining an individual's short
term incentive award for 1997, while financial and/or other strategic objectives
were generally weighted 75%, as had been the case in 1996. The final outcome for
the year, based on the EPS scale and customer satisfaction levels, is used to
determine the STIP for the Chief Executive Officer, and is also used in
determining amounts payable under the annual profit sharing plan applicable to
approximately one-third of the employees of the Company's subsidiaries.
In January 1998, the Committee found that the pre-Merger STIP performance
results were so nearly equal to the pre-Merger NYNEX STIP results that it would
be in the interest of the Company to determine the amount of all pre-Merger 1997
short term incentives (before any modifications for individual performance)
based upon the slightly higher factor achieved by pre-Merger NYNEX.
From time to time during 1997, the HRC made special awards to executive
officers, in addition to the STIP, for extraordinary achievement in furthering
the Company's strategic goals. Such awards have generally been granted primarily
in Company stock. On occasion, in connection with awards relating to the
Company's investments in businesses with publicly traded stock, the award may be
granted in the form of options in that stock.
STOCK OPTIONS. The long term incentive component of compensation arises from the
Company's grant of stock options under the Company's Stock Option Plan.
The HRC began the transition to the use of stock options as the sole component
of long term compensation in 1994, and accordingly increased substantially the
target value of annual stock option grants to be awarded at each salary grade
over the
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course of four grant years (1994-1997). Under the Stock Option Plan for
pre-Merger 1997, the HRC set the number of options to be granted based on the
recipient's salary grade. At the time of the Merger, in connection with the
approval of four broad compensation bands for the Senior Management group, the
HRC approved a policy of granting stock options based upon a long term incentive
percentage applicable to an individual's compensation band, the individual's
base salary at the time of the grant, and any increase or decrease in the size
of the individual grant which the Committee determines to be appropriate.
As a consequence of the market-based compensation study at the time of the
Merger, and based upon the policy described in the previous paragraph, the HRC
granted additional stock options to certain named executive officers on the date
of the Merger.
All stock options under the Plan are granted with exercise prices equal to the
fair market value of the stock on the date of grant and, therefore, any value
which ultimately accrues to executive officers is based entirely on the
Company's stock performance and bears a direct relationship to value realized by
the Company's shareowners.
For those individuals who were formerly executive officers of NYNEX, the 1997
long term compensation was partly in the form of stock options and partly in the
form of shares (or a mix of cash and shares of Company stock). The latter was
awarded under a Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") which has been terminated and
which delivered its two final awards in 1997 and 1998.
1997 COMPENSATION FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The plans and policies discussed above were the basis for the 1997 compensation
of Raymond W. Smith, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
The annual salary shown for Mr. Smith for 1997 in Column (c) of the Summary
Table resulted from an annual base salary which was $905,400 from January 1,
1997 through August 14, 1997, and $1,000,000 for the remainder of the year. Mr.
Smith's STIP award for 1997 was $1,566,100, out of a possible range of zero to
$1,566,100 established for him (prior to any discretionary adjustment for
individual accomplishments and performance). In determining the award, the HRC
compared (a) the Company's EPS growth from 1996 to 1997, after eliminating the
financial consequences of certain extraordinary, unusual or infrequent events,
and (b) customer satisfaction benchmarks established in 1996 and used again in
1997, and increased Mr. Smith's preliminary award from $1,409,490 to $1,566,100
for individual performance. During 1997, the HRC granted Mr. Smith a total of
237,669 stock options (included in the options set forth in the 1997 Option
Table). For his accomplishments in connection with the successful completion of
the Merger, the HRC recommended, and the Board approved, a special one-time
award of deferred compensation with an initial value of $4 million.
APPLICABLE TAX CODE PROVISION
The HRC has reviewed the potential consequences for the Company of Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which imposes a limit on tax deductions for
annual compensation in excess of one million dollars paid to any of the five
most highly compensated executive officers. In 1994, shareowners approved an
amendment to the Stock Option Plan, the purpose of which was to qualify amounts
paid under that plan as "performance-based" compensation which may be excluded
from the compensation to be taken into account for purposes of the one million
dollar limit. In the HRC's opinion, the modifications to the STIP which would be
necessary to similarly qualify payments under the STIP would not be in the
Company's best interest. In 1997, the limitation under Section 162(m) had a $2.8
million net tax effect on the Company, which the HRC does not consider to be
material to the Company's overall financial status. Section 162(m) is expected
to have an immaterial effect on the Company again in 1998.
Respectfully submitted,
Human Resources Committee
Thomas H. O'Brien, Chairman
Richard L. Carrion
James H. Gilliam, Jr.
Elizabeth T. Kennan
---------------------------------------------------------
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Mr. Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Company, is a Director of CVS Corporation and serves as a member of its
Compensation Committee. Mr. Goldstein, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of CVS Corporation, serves on the Company's Board of Directors but does
not serve on the Company's Human Resources Committee.
17
<PAGE> 21
COMPENSATION TABLES
The following tables contain compensation data for the Chief Executive Officer
and the four other most highly compensated executive officers; compensation paid
prior to August 14, 1997 by NYNEX Corporation to Messrs. Seidenberg and Salerno
is included.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dollars in Thousands
Long Term
Compensation
Annual Compensation ------------------
(a) -------------------------- (g) (h) (i)
Name and (b) (c) (d) (e) Options/ LTIP All Other
Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Other SARs (#) Payouts Compensation
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Raymond W. Smith 1997 $940.8 $1,566.1 $146.1(1) 245,811 $4,008.0(3)
Chairman and Chief Executive 1996 $905.4 $1,200.0 230,194 $ 7.5
Officer 1995 $842.4 $1,000.0 $ 71.9 158,030 $262.9 $ 7.5
Ivan G. Seidenberg 1997 $787.5 $1,799.3 $184.6(1) 161,026 $648.9(2) $3,480.2(3)
Vice Chairman, President 1996 $695.0 $1,603.4 $ 40.9 125,000 $332.8 $ 446.3
and Chief Operating Officer 1995 $640.0 $ 844.0 $ 50.6 105,727 $288.5 $ 369.6
Frederic V. Salerno 1997 $593.7 $1,001.1 $111.5(1) 88,524 $646.9(2) $1,370.7(3)
Senior Executive Vice President 1996 $530.0 $ 604.2 $ 41.7 87,500 $339.9 $ 287.4
and Chief Financial Officer/ 1995 $530.0 $ 699.6 $ 48.3 87,555 $289.4 $ 305.3
Strategy and Business Development
James G. Cullen 1997 $632.7 $ 903.6 165,413 $1,510.5(3)
President and Chief Executive 1996 $555.4 $ 802.5 154,315 $ 7.5
Officer - Telecom Group 1995 $446.7 $ 499.8 74,783 $ 58.4 $ 7.5
Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr. 1997 $626.9 $ 903.6 153,435 $1,510.5(3)
President and Chief Executive 1996 $531.5 $ 802.5 150,209 $ 7.5
Officer - Network Group and 1995 $434.5 $ 499.8 74,415 $ 53.0 $ 7.5
Chairman - Global Wireless Group
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) These amounts include incremental costs for personal use of the Company
aircraft by Messrs. Smith, Seidenberg and Salerno in the amounts of
$122,040, $146,470 and $64,601, respectively.
(2) Value of shares awarded under the NYNEX Corporation Senior Management Long
Term Incentive Award Plan.
(3) These amounts include Merger implementation bonuses for Messrs. Smith,
Seidenberg, Salerno, Cullen and Babbio in the amounts of $4,000,000,
$3,000,000, $1,060,000, $1,502,500, and $1,502,500, respectively, as well as
company contributions to the accounts of Messrs. Seidenberg and Salerno
under NYNEX's defined contribution retirement plan (described on page 22) in
the amounts of $422,725 and $259,475, respectively.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES
AND YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Unexercised Value of Unexercised
Options/SARs at Year-End In-the-Money Options/
Shares Value (# of Shares) SARs at Year-End ($000)
Acquired on Realized ------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Exercise(#) ($000) Exercisable Unexercisable(1) Exercisable Unexercisable(1)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Raymond W. Smith 15,990 $ 378.1 1,159,249 558,446 $40,687.2 $15,344.1
Ivan G. Seidenberg 10,384 $ 340.5 335,190 18,294 $10,300.0 $ 223.8
Frederic V. Salerno 110,633 $4,034.3 215,433 21,325 $ 6,565.7 $ 322.5
James G. Cullen 144,182 $3,631.0 348,888 302,597 $11,298.0 $ 7,927.5
Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr. 34,884 $1,000.2 385,171 283,395 $12,864.9 $ 7,261.4
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) For Messrs. Smith, Cullen and Babbio, certain options granted in 1994 are
not exercisable until nine years from grant date unless certain stock price
hurdles are achieved.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18
<PAGE> 22
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 OPTION/SAR GRANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Grants
---------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Securities % of Total Exercise
Underlying Options/SARs or Base
Options/SARs Granted to Price Expiration Grant Date
Name Granted(#) Employees ($/Share) Date Value(5)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ($000)
---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Raymond W. Smith 230,194(1) 2.85% $65.6875 1/2007 $2,348.0
7,475(2) 0.09% 75.4375 8/2007 76.2
1,357(3,4) 0.02% 73.6563 1/2001 13.8
1,357(3,4) 0.02% 73.6563 1/2002 13.8
1,357(3,4) 0.02% 73.6563 1/2003 13.8
1,357(3,4) 0.02% 73.6563 1/2004 13.8
1,357(3,4) 0.02% 73.6563 1/2005 13.8
1,357(3,4) 0.02% 73.6563 1/2006 13.8
Ivan G. Seidenberg 142,732(3) 1.76% $61.8489 1/2007 $1,455.9
11,975(2) 0.14% 75.4375 8/2007 122.1
1,550(4) 0.02% 83.8125 1/2000 15.8
1,192(4) 0.01% 83.8125 1/2001 12.2
1,192(4) 0.01% 83.8125 1/2002 12.2
1,192(4) 0.01% 83.8125 1/2003 12.2
1,193(4) 0.01% 83.8125 1/2004 12.2
Frederic V. Salerno 67,199(3) 0.82% $61.8489 1/2007 $ 685.4
21,325(2) 0.26% 75.4375 8/2007 217.5
James G. Cullen 145,525(1) 1.79% $65.6875 1/2007 $1,484.4
4,974(3,4) 0.06% 67.6250 1/2000 50.7
1,478(3,4) 0.02% 67.6250 1/2002 15.1
3,376(3,4) 0.04% 74.4063 1/2005 34.4
10,060(3,4) 0.12% 71.0938 1/2005 102.6
Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr. 145,525(1) 1.79% $65.6875 1/2007 $1,484.4
1,707(3,4) 0.02% 71.0000 1/2000 17.4
1,922(3,4) 0.02% 71.0000 1/2002 19.6
320(3,4) 0.00% 73.9063 1/2005 3.3
3,961(4) 0.05% 90.5625 1/2005 40.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) One-half currently exercisable and remaining one-half exercisable on January
27, 1999; eligible for reload options.
(2) One-third exercisable on August 14, 1998; two-thirds exercisable on August
14, 1999; and fully exercisable on August 14, 2000; eligible for reload
options.
(3) Presently exercisable.
(4) Granted in connection with a stock-for-stock exercise; exercisable six
months from the date of grant; eligible for reload options.
(5) Black-Scholes calculation making the following assumptions: 5-year historic
dividend yield; 5-year historic volatility; 10-year zero coupon bond rate as
risk-free rate of return; and all options exercised at end of term.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19
<PAGE> 23
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG BELL ATLANTIC, OTHER RHCS, AND S&P 500
[STOCK PERFORMANCE LINE GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
DATA POINTS IN DOLLARS* BELL ATLANTIC OTHER RHCS S&P 500
1992 $100.0 $100.0 $100.0
1993 121.2 118.0 110.0
1994 107.0 115.7 111.5
1995 151.0 181.7 153.3
1996 152.9 178.7 188.5
1997 224.0 258.0 251.4
</TABLE>
The Company's peer group comprises Ameritech Corporation, BellSouth Corporation,
SBC Communications Inc., and US West, Inc., regional holding companies ("RHCs")
which, like the Company, commenced operations on January 1, 1984, following a
court-approved divestiture of certain assets of the Bell System. Data for US
West Communications common stock and US West Media Group common stock were
combined for purposes of the total return calculation. NYNEX Corporation,
formerly included in this peer group, is excluded as a result of its merger of
equals with the Company.
The following supplemental graph presents a comparison of the Company's stock
performance with that of the S&P 500 since the Company commenced operations.
None of the elements of executive compensation reported above were determined on
the basis of this comparison.
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
OF BELL ATLANTIC AND S&P 500
FROM DIVESTITURE THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1997
[COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
OF BELL ATLANTIC & S&P 500 BAR GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
BELL ATLANTIC S&P 500
1078 817
</TABLE>
20
<PAGE> 24
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The Board of Directors has instituted stock ownership requirements for all
executive officers and Directors. Under these requirements, by the end of a
five-year period each of the top two officers of the Company is required to
acquire and hold Company shares with a value of five times his base salary then
in effect; other Senior Managers, depending upon their position, are required to
acquire and hold shares having a value of one to four times salary. The Human
Resources Committee of the Board monitors compliance with these stock ownership
requirements on an annual basis. Additionally, Directors of the Company must
hold a minimum of 2,500 shares, to be acquired over a period of not longer than
five years.
On January 31, 1998, there were approximately 787,945,000 shares of Bell
Atlantic common stock outstanding. The following table sets forth information as
of January 31, 1998, regarding ownership of the Company's common stock by the
named executive officers and other Directors. These shares represent, in the
aggregate, less than one percent of the outstanding shares of the Company's
common stock. Except as otherwise noted, each individual or his or her family
member(s) has sole or shared voting and/or investment power with respect to such
securities.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES OPTIONS SHARES HELD
BENEFICIALLY EXERCISABLE UNDER
NAME OWNED IN 60 DAYS DEFERRAL PLANS(1) TOTAL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
Raymond W. Smith 96,980 1,397,585 -- 1,494,565
Ivan G. Seidenberg 47,450 238,731 -- 286,181
Frederic V. Salerno 22,650 146,373 22,102 191,125
James G. Cullen 25,820 498,713 -- 524,533
Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr. 21,703 470,303 4,146 496,152
OTHER DIRECTORS:
Richard L. Carrion 819 -- 111 930
Lodewijk J.R. de Vink 943 -- 168 1,111
James H. Gilliam, Jr. 254 3,000 3,977 7,231
Stanley P. Goldstein 5,138 -- 205 5,343
Helene L. Kaplan 5,454 -- 221 5,675
Thomas H. Kean 6,894 3,000 2,183 12,077
Elizabeth T. Kennan 4,493 -- -- 4,493
John F. Maypole 2,394 3,500 10,417 16,311
Joseph Neubauer 241 21,000 7,528 28,769
Thomas H. O'Brien 594 19,500 11,236 31,330
Eckhard Pfeiffer 3,000 5,000 1,283 9,283
Hugh B. Price 599 -- -- 599
Rozanne L. Ridgway 642 15,000 6,189 21,831
Walter V. Shipley 6,069 -- -- 6,069
John R. Stafford 6,334 -- 202 6,536
Morrison DeS. Webb 13,042 97,480 -- 110,522
Shirley Young 672 3,000 14,851 18,523
All of the above and other Executive
Officers as a Group (32 persons) 309,662 3,582,852 113,522 4,006,036
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) These shares may not be voted or transferred.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
The rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission require the Company to
disclose late filings of stock transaction reports by its executive officers and
Directors. Based solely on a review of reports filed by the Company on these
individuals' behalf and written representations from them that no other reports
were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements have been met during
calendar year 1997, except that the Company, as a result of administrative
oversight, filed one report late to reflect a single transaction or holding on
behalf of each of the following: Jacquelyn B. Gates, Alexander H. Good and
Melvin Meskin, executive officers of the Company; William W. Adams and Thomas E.
Bolger, former Directors of the Company; and Eckhard Pfeiffer, Director of the
Company.
21
<PAGE> 25
PENSION PLANS
FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO WERE COMPANY EXECUTIVES PRIOR TO THE COMPANY'S MERGER
WITH NYNEX
For Messrs. Smith, Babbio and Cullen and other executive officers who were
employed by the Company prior to its merger with NYNEX, the Company maintains a
noncontributory, nonqualified pension plan known as the Bell Atlantic Senior
Management Retirement Income Plan (the "Senior Management Retirement Plan").
The following table sets out, for a participant who has sufficient age and
service to qualify for a retirement pension, the estimated annual target pension
payable as a single life annuity under the Senior Management Retirement Plan for
a participant age 60 or older, for various levels of final average pay and years
of service:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL AVERAGE CREDITED YEARS OF SERVICE
PAY 15 20 25 30 35 OR MORE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 250,000 $ 75,000 $ 100,000 $ 118,750 $ 137,500 $ 150,000
500,000 150,000 200,000 237,500 275,000 300,000
1,000,000 300,000 400,000 475,000 550,000 600,000
1,500,000 450,000 600,000 712,500 825,000 900,000
2,000,000 600,000 800,000 950,000 1,100,000 1,200,000
2,500,000 750,000 1,000,000 1,187,500 1,375,000 1,500,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Under the Senior Management Retirement Plan, an executive officer accrues a
target pension in an amount equal to a percentage of "final average pay." This
percentage factor increases with service, up to a maximum of 60 percentage
points for an executive officer with 35 or more years of service. For purposes
of calculating the target pension, "final average pay" means the average of an
executive officer's base salary plus the Short Term Incentive Plan award for the
highest five years of the final ten years of employment prior to retirement. The
Senior Management Retirement Plan applies an early retirement discount of five
percent for each year by which the date of retirement precedes age 60, although
the Human Resources Committee may waive any or all of the discount on a
case-by-case basis. The pension benefit payable under the Senior Management
Retirement Plan is not subject to reduction for Social Security benefits, but is
reduced dollar-for-dollar by the amount of the benefit paid from the trust of
the Bell Atlantic Cash Balance Plan (the "BA Qualified Pension Plan").
The years of credited service under the Senior Management Retirement Plan, as of
December 31, 1997, were 38 for Mr. Smith, 33 for Mr. Cullen and 31 for Mr.
Babbio.
The BA Qualified Pension Plan is a noncontributory, qualified pension plan for
salaried employees, including executive officers who were employed by the
Company prior to the Merger and who are eligible to receive retirement benefits
under the Senior Management Retirement Plan. Under the BA Qualified Pension
Plan, retirement is mandatory at age 65 for certain executives, and retirement
before age 65 can be elected if certain conditions are met. Annual pensions
under the BA Qualified Pension Plan, as amended December 31, 1995, are computed
using a cash balance methodology, which provides for pay credits equal to 4
percent to 7 percent (depending on age and service) of the first $160,000 worth
of salary per annum, and monthly interest credits on the account balance (based
on prevailing market yields on certain U.S. Treasury obligations). Pension
amounts under the BA Qualified Pension Plan are not subject to reduction for
Social Security benefits or other offset amounts. Section 415 of the Internal
Revenue Code places certain limitations on pensions which may be paid from the
trusts of federal income tax qualified plans, including the BA Qualified Pension
Plan. Pension amounts for executive officers which exceed such Section 415
limitations will be paid from Company assets under the Senior Management
Retirement Plan.
FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO WERE NYNEX EXECUTIVES PRIOR TO THE MERGER
Messrs. Seidenberg and Salerno and other executive officers of the Company who
were employed by NYNEX prior to the Merger participated throughout 1997 in a
noncontributory, qualified pension plan known as the NYNEX Management Pension
Plan (the "NYNEX Qualified Pension Plan"). Under that plan, pensions are
computed on a single-life annuity basis and are not reduced for Social Security.
At retirement, participants are eligible to receive a pension based upon the
product of 1.6% times adjusted career-average compensation (after applying the
Internal Revenue Code limitation of $150,000 per annum in 1996 and certain prior
years and $160,000 per annum in 1997). Before applying those limitations, the
adjusted career-average compensation is
22
<PAGE> 26
equal to the sum of (a) average annual salary from 1986 through 1990 times years
of service as of December 31, 1990, plus (b) aggregate salary earned after that
date. Pension amounts for executive officers which exceed the Section 415
limitations of the Internal Revenue Code will be paid from Company assets under
the terms of a nonqualified pension plan. The table below sets forth the
benefits that an executive officer would be eligible to receive upon retirement
at age 65 under the NYNEX Qualified Pension Plan, assuming that the Internal
Revenue Code's current $160,000 limitation on benefit-bearing compensation were
in effect throughout the executive officer's career. As of December 31, 1997,
Mr. Seidenberg had accrued 31 years of service and Mr. Salerno had accrued 32
years of service. For purposes of the following table, "Final Average Pay" means
the result of dividing an individual's adjusted career-average compensation by
the number of years of service on the retirement date.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL AVERAGE CREDITED YEARS OF SERVICE
PAY 15 20 25 30 35 OR MORE
---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$250,000 $38,400 $51,200 $64,000 $76,800 $89,600
500,000 38,400 51,200 64,000 76,800 89,600
700,000 38,400 51,200 64,000 76,800 89,600
800,000 38,400 51,200 64,000 76,800 89,600
900,000 38,400 51,200 64,000 76,800 89,600
---------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Messrs. Seidenberg and Salerno and other executive officers of the Company who
were employed by NYNEX prior to the Merger also participated throughout 1997 in
a noncontributory, nonqualified defined contribution retirement plan. The annual
company contribution in 1997 was equal to 25% of base salary that exceeded
$160,000, plus 25% of the executive officer's short term incentive. The amount
of that company contribution for Messrs. Seidenberg and Salerno is included in
the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 18.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
Upon consummation of the Merger in August 1997, the Company entered into
employment agreements with Messrs. Smith and Seidenberg, with terms and
conditions substantially as disclosed to shareowners in connection with the
approval of the Merger in November 1996. These agreements provide for the
employment of Mr. Smith and Mr. Seidenberg by the Company through December 1998
and August 2001, respectively, with levels of base and incentive compensation,
benefits and perquisites which are each not less valuable than each executive's
respective remuneration, benefits and perquisites at the time the Merger was
consummated. In addition, the Company provides life insurance benefits for Mr.
Smith in an amount comparable to the split-dollar life insurance coverage which
NYNEX has maintained for Mr. Seidenberg (and which, pursuant to his employment
agreement, Bell Atlantic continues to maintain for Mr. Seidenberg). Mr. Smith's
employment agreement also calls for the Board to give consideration to any
impairment of compensation or awards that Mr. Smith incurs as a result of
retiring at the end of the employment period under his employment agreement
rather than at some later time and to undertake to eliminate that impairment in
an appropriate manner on or before Mr. Smith's retirement. Each of the
agreements provides for various termination benefits in the event that the
respective executive is either terminated without cause, terminates on account
of death or disability, or is not appointed to the position of Chief Executive
Officer or Chairman at the applicable respective times. If any of such events
occurs, the executive is entitled to receive post-separation payments with a
value equal to the compensation, benefits and other remuneration which the
executive would have received if the executive had held the position(s)
specified for him for the duration of the term of the executive's agreement.
The Company is a successor to certain restated retention agreements which NYNEX
entered into with Messrs. Seidenberg and Salerno in 1996 and 1997, prior to the
Merger. Those agreements provide that, in the event of the executive's death,
separation due to disability, voluntary retirement with the consent of the
Company, or involuntary termination of employment without cause, then (1)
restrictions will lapse on certain restricted stock of the Company which was
previously granted to the executive, and (2) the executive (or his heirs) will
receive a severance payment equal to the monetary value of such stock on the
executive's last day of employment. Furthermore, under the same circumstances,
the executive (or his heirs) would receive an additional severance payment equal
to the balance of a deferred compensation account, established July 1, 1996,
23
<PAGE> 27
which is thereafter credited with earnings and losses based on the performance
of the Global Balance Fund investment option under the qualified Savings Plan in
which the executive participates. The opening balance of that deferred
compensation account in July 1996 was three times the then-applicable annual
base salary for Mr. Seidenberg and two times the then-applicable salary for Mr.
Salerno, and the minimum amount distributable from such accounts is the initial
dollar amount credited to the respective executive's account. Notwithstanding
any other provision of the restated retention agreement for Mr. Salerno, the
maximum amount payable under the agreement is limited so that any payments under
the agreement, when combined with any other like-kind payments owing to Mr.
Salerno, shall not result in excise tax attributable to an "excess parachute
payment" under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.
In June 1996, the Company and each of Messrs. Babbio and Cullen entered into
restatements (the "1996 Agreements") of their respective prior employment
agreements. The 1996 Agreements provide for: (i) stated salary increases which
became effective as of the date of the Merger with NYNEX; (ii) continuation of
the executive's salary grade (or a comparable compensation band); (iii) an
opportunity to receive a cash incentive equal to two times Pay (where "Pay"
means the sum of the executive's salary and short term incentive) for special
efforts relating to integrating the two businesses if the executive remains an
employee in good standing on the first anniversary of the Merger; (iv) an
opportunity to earn a cash incentive equal to one times Pay if the executive
remains an employee in good standing on the second anniversary of the Merger;
and (v) two years of additional service credit for purposes of the early
retirement discount under the Company's nonqualified pension plan if the
executive remains in service through at least July 1, 1998. If the executive is
terminated without cause, or is constructively discharged, during the period
ending two years after the Merger date, the Company will provide the pension
service credit which would otherwise have been earned, will afford the executive
an opportunity to exercise outstanding stock options as though the executive had
been retained in active employment through the second anniversary of the Merger
date, and will pay the executive a series of cash payments representing the
value of compensation, incentives and benefits which the executive would have
received during the remaining term of the agreement. A substantial portion of
such payments are conditioned upon the executive's refraining from competition
with the Company for 24 months following termination of employment.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER BUSINESS
The Company is not aware of any other matters that will be presented for
shareowner action at the Annual Meeting. If other matters are properly
introduced, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote the shares
they represent in accordance with their judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors
P. Alan Bulliner
Associate General Counsel
and Corporate Secretary
March 16, 1998
24
<PAGE> 28
1998 ANNUAL MEETING
ADMISSION TICKET
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1998, AT 2 P.M.
THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE
DUPONT BUILDING AT 1OTH & MARKET STREETS
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
(MAP AND DIRECTIONS BELOW)
PLEASE RETAIN AND PRESENT THIS TICKET FOR ADMISSION TO THE MEETING.
FROM BALTIMORE, THE DELAWARE MEMORIAL BRIDGE OR
DOWNSTATE DELAWARE:
Take I-95 North to Wilmington Exit 7 marked
"52 South, Delaware Avenue" and follow map.
FROM COMMODORE BARRY BRIDGE (NJ) AND
PHILADELPHIA ON I-95 SOUTH:
Take I-95 South to Exit 7A marked "52 South, [MAP]
Delaware Avenue" and follow map.
FROM ROUTE 202:
Take Route 202 to intersection with I-95 South.
Follow I-95 South to Exit 7A marked "52 South,
Delaware Avenue" and follow map.
\/----------Detach Proxy Card Here----------\/
[BELL ATLANTIC LOGO]
PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREOWNERS, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1998, 2 P.M., LOCAL TIME, AT THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE,
10TH & MARKET STREETS, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.
The undersigned hereby appoints L.T. Babbio, Jr., J.G. Cullen, F.V. Salerno, and
I.G. Seidenberg, and each of them, proxies, with the powers the undersigned
would possess if personally present, and with full power of substitution, to
vote all common shares held of record by the undersigned in Bell Atlantic
Corporation, upon all subjects that may properly come before the meeting,
including the matters described in the Proxy Statement furnished herewith,
subject to any directions indicated on the reverse side of this card. IF NO
DIRECTIONS ARE GIVEN, THE PROXIES WILL VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES
FOR DIRECTOR: L.T. BABBIO, JR., R.L. CARRION, J.G. CULLEN, L.J.R. DE VINK, J.H.
GILLIAM, JR., S.P. GOLDSTEIN, H.L. KAPLAN, T.H. KEAN, E.T. KENNAN, J.F. MAYPOLE,
J. NEUBAUER, T.H. O'BRIEN, E. PFEIFFER, H.B. PRICE, R.L. RIDGWAY, F.V. SALERNO,
I.G. SEIDENBERG, W.V. SHIPLEY, R.W. SMITH, J.R. STAFFORD, M. DES. WEBB AND S.
YOUNG, AND IN ACCORD WITH THE DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE OTHER SUBJECTS
LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS CARD AND AT THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER
MATTER THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
This card also constitutes your voting instructions for shares held of record
by Bell Atlantic Corporation for your account in the Direct Invest Plan and, if
shares are held in the same name, shares held in the 1976 Bell Atlantic
Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Savings Plan for Salaried Employees, or Savings
and Security Plan (Non-Salaried Employees).
IF YOU DO NOT SIGN AND RETURN A PROXY, VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THROUGH THE
INTERNET, OR ATTEND THE MEETING AND VOTE BY BALLOT, YOUR SHARES CANNOT BE VOTED,
NOR YOUR INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWED, EXCEPT THAT SHARES IN THE SAVING PLANS WILL BE
VOTED AS DESCRIBED ON PAGE 1 OF THE PROXY STATEMENT.
PLEASE SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
NOTATIONS:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 29
[BELL ATLANTIC LOGO] 1998 ANNUAL MEETING
ADMISSION TICKET
c/o Boston EquiServe
P.O. Box 9398
Boston, MA 02205-9398
VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET
QUICK - EASY - IMMEDIATE
Bell Atlantic encourages you to take advantage of two new cost-effective
and convenient ways to vote your shares. You may now vote your proxy 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, using either a touch-tone telephone or through the Internet.
Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares
in the same manner as if you marked, signed, and returned your proxy card.
VOTE BY PHONE: CALL TOLL-FREE ON A TOUCH-TONE TELEPHONE 1-888-807-7699
ANYTIME. THERE IS NO CHARGE TO YOU FOR THIS CALL.
You will be asked to enter the 13-digit CONTROL NUMBER located
above your name and address in the lower left of this form.
Then simply follow the instructions.
OR
VOTE BY INTERNET: POINT YOUR BROWSER TO THE WEB ADDRESS:
HTTP://WWW.EQUISERVE.COM/PROXY/ You will be asked to enter the
13-digit CONTROL NUMBER located above your name and address in
the lower left of this form. Then simply follow the
instructions.
OR
VOTE BY MAIL: Simply mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in
the postage-paid envelope. IF YOU ARE VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR
THE INTERNET, PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING
DETACH PROXY CARD HERE
[ X ] PLEASE MARK
VOTE AS IN
THIS EXAMPLE.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE "FOR": DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE "AGAINST"
THE SHAREOWNER PROPOSALS REGARDING:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
FOR WITHHOLD FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
1. Election of [ ] [ ] 2. Ratification of [ ] [ ] [ ] 3. Additional [ ] [ ] [ ]
All Directors Independent Compensation
Accountants Information
EXCEPTIONS:
[ ] To vote your shares for all director nominees, 4. Cumulative [ ] [ ] [ ]
-------------------------------------- mark the "FOR" box in Item 1. To withhold Voting
FOR ALL NOMINEES EXCEPT AS NOTED ABOVE voting for all nominees, mark the "WITHHOLD"
box. If you do not wish your shares voted 5. Executive [ ] [ ] [ ]
L.T. BABBIO, JR., R.L. CARRION, "FOR" a particular nominee, mark the Incentive
J.G. CULLEN, L.J.R. DE VINK, "EXCEPTION(S)" box and enter the name(s) Compensation
J.H. GILLIAM, JR., S.P. GOLDSTEIN, H.L. of the "EXCEPTION(S)" in the space provided.
KAPLAN, T.H. KEAN, E.T. KENNAN, J.F. The nominees are listed below the 6. Executive [ ] [ ] [ ]
MAYPOLE, J. NEUBAUER, T.H. O'BRIEN, E. "EXCEPTION(S)" box. Severance
PFEIFFER, H.B. PRICE, R.L. RIDGWAY, F.V. Agreements
SALERNO, I.G. SEIDENBERG, W.V. SHIPLEY,
R.W. SMITH, J.R. STAFFORD, M. DES. WEBB 7. Board
AND S. YOUNG Compensation [ ] [ ] [ ]
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
8. Eliminate [ ] 9. Indicate [ ]
duplicate notations
Annual Reports on reverse
side
-----------------------------------------
Please sign exactly as name or names
appear on this proxy. If stock is held
jointly, each holder should sign. If
signing as attorney, trustee, executor,
administrator, custodian, guardian or
corporate officer, please give full
title.
Signature(s) Date Signature(s) Date
------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------ ---------------------
</TABLE>
PLEASE SIGN THIS PROXY AS NAME(S) APPEAR ABOVE.
<PAGE> 30
BELL ATLANTIC PROXY TELEPHONE SCRIPT
MARCH 8, 1998
TOPIC CODE: 1030
DESCRIPTION: Control Number Entry
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: Welcome to Shareholder Direct Telephone Proxy. Please be
assured that your telephone-based vote is strictly
confidential. (Pause) Please use your telephone key pad to
enter your thirteen-digit control number located above your
name in the lower left portion of your proxy card.
TOPIC CODE: 1020
DESCRIPTION: You Have Selected...
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: You have selected...
TOPIC CODE: 9999
DESCRIPTION: Company Name
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: BELL ATLANTIC CORPORATION
TOPIC CODE: 9997
DESCRIPTION: Company Intro Message...
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: [empty]
TOPIC CODE: 2000
DESCRIPTION: Vote All
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: To vote your proxy in accordance with the Board of Directors'
recommendations as indicated on your proxy card and in the
proxy statement, please press 1. To vote on each issue
separately, press 2.
TOPIC CODE: 2010
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote - All In Favor of Management
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to vote your proxy in accordance with the
Board of Directors' recommendations.
TOPIC CODE: 2020
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote - Vote Ballot Selectively
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to vote on each proposal separately.
<PAGE> 31
TOPIC CODE: 3001
DESCRIPTION: Director Election (Withhold Selectively)
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: You will now vote for the Directors: The Board of Directors
recommends a vote for each of the listed nominees. To accept
all of the Nominees, press 1. To withhold your vote from all
of these Nominees,press 2. To withhold your vote from only
some of the nominees, press 3.
TOPIC CODE: 3010
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote - Accept All
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to elect all of the Nominees.
TOPIC CODE: 3020
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote - Withhold All
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to withhold your vote from all of the Nominees.
TOPIC CODE: 3030
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote - Withhold Selectively
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to vote on a per Nominee basis.
TOPIC CODE: 3100
DESCRIPTION: Individual Director Election - Instructions
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: Please vote for the following individuals. After hearing the
name, you may choose to accept, or you may choose to withhold
your vote from the Nominee.
TOPIC CODE: 3160
DESCRIPTION: Please Consider...
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: Please consider Nominee...
TOPIC CODE: 3101
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: L. T. Babbio, Jr.
TOPIC CODE: 3102
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: R. L. Carrion
TOPIC CODE: 3103
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: J. G. Cullen
TOPIC CODE: 3104
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: L. J. R. de Vink
<PAGE> 32
TOPIC CODE: 3105
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: J. H. Gilliam, Jr.
TOPIC CODE: 3106
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: S. P. Goldstein
TOPIC CODE: 3107
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: H. L. Kaplan
TOPIC CODE: 3108
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: T. H. Kean
TOPIC CODE: 3109
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: E. T. Kennan
TOPIC CODE: 3110
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: J. F. Maypole
TOPIC CODE: 3111
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: J. Neubauer
TOPIC CODE: 3112
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: T. H. O'Brien
TOPIC CODE: 3113
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: E. Pfeiffer
TOPIC CODE: 3114
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: H. B. Price
<PAGE> 33
TOPIC CODE: 3115
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: R. L. Ridgway
TOPIC CODE: 3116
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: F. V. Salerno
TOPIC CODE: 3117
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: I. G. Seidenberg
TOPIC CODE: 3118
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: W. V. Shipley
TOPIC CODE: 3119
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: R. W. Smith
TOPIC CODE: 3120
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: J. R. Stafford
TOPIC CODE: 3121
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: M. Webb
TOPIC CODE: 3122
DESCRIPTION: Board of Directors Nominee
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: S. Young
TOPIC CODE: 3170
DESCRIPTION: Accept or Withhold Menu
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: To vote for this Nominee as a director, press 1. To withhold
your vote from this Nominee, press 2.
TOPIC CODE: 3171
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote - Accept
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to vote for...
<PAGE> 34
TOPIC CODE: 3172
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote - Withhold
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to withhold your vote from...
TOPIC CODE: 4003
DESCRIPTION: Appointment of Auditors
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: The Board of Directors recommend a vote FOR proposal 2.
(pause) Ratification of Independent Accountants
TOPIC CODE: 4004
DESCRIPTION: Additional Compensation
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: The Board of Directors recommend a vote AGAINST shareowner
proposals 3 through 7. (pause) Proposal 3. Additional
Compensation Information
TOPIC CODE: 4005
DESCRIPTION: Cumulative Voting
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: Proposal 4. Cumulative Voting
TOPIC CODE: 4006
DESCRIPTION: Executive Compensation
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: Proposal 5. Executive Incentive Compensation
TOPIC CODE: 4007
DESCRIPTION: Executive Severance
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: Proposal 6. Executive Severance Agreements
TOPIC CODE: 4008
DESCRIPTION: Board Composition
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: Proposal 7. Board Composition
TOPIC CODE: 4043
DESCRIPTION: Voting Issues Menu (Without the Terminate Option)
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: To vote for, press 1. To vote against, press 2. To abstain,
press 3.
TOPIC CODE: 4051
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote - For
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to vote for this proposal.
TOPIC CODE: 4052
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote -
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to vote against this proposal.
<PAGE> 35
TOPIC CODE: 4053
DESCRIPTION: Confirm Vote -
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: You have chosen to abstain from voting on this proposal.
TOPIC CODE: 1590
DESCRIPTION: If This Is Correct
VOICE ARTIST: Male
MESSAGE: If this is correct, press 1. If this is not correct, press 2.
TOPIC CODE: 9998
DESCRIPTION: If you plan to attend... or other ending message.
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: [Empty]
TOPIC CODE: 1600
DESCRIPTION: Thank You. And Good-bye.
VOICE ARTIST: Female
MESSAGE: Thank-you for participating. Good-Bye.
<PAGE> 36
BOSTON EQUISERVE
Web Proxy Voting
================================================================================
Bell Atlantic Corporation
You may now cast your vote by proxy for the Bell Atlantic
Corporation Annual Meeting to be held on May 1, 1998 for
shareowners of record as of March 2, 1998.
CUSIP:077853-10-9
================================================================
Proxy Voting Instructions
PLEASE SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:
() Vote all proposals in accordance with the Board of
Directors' recommendations as indicated on your proxy card
and in the proxy statement
() Vote each proposal selectively
--------
Submit
--------
==========================================================================
Copyright (C) 1998 by Boston EquiServe, L.P. and Direct Report Corporation
All rights reserved
Internet services provided by Shareholder Direct
================================================================================
<PAGE> 37
BOSTON EQUISERVE
Web Proxy Voting
================================================================================
Bell Atlantic Corporation
VOTE EACH PROPOSAL SELECTIVELY
Please vote proposals 1 through 7 below by clicking on the box that indicates
how you would like your shares voted on each proposal. When you have finished,
click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
1. Election of Directors
NOMINEES:
L.T. BABBIO, JR.
R.L. CARRION
J.G. CULLEN
L.J.R. DE VINK
J.H. GILLIAM, JR.
S.P. GOLDSTEIN
H.L. KAPLAN
T.H. KEAN
E.T. KENNAN
J.F. MAYPOLE
J. NEUBAUER
T.H. O'BRIEN
E. PFEIFFER
H.B. PRICE
R.L. RIDGWAY
F.V. SALERNO
I.G. SEIDENBERG
W.V. SHIPLEY
R.W. SMITH
J.R. STAFFORD
M. DES. WEBB
S. YOUNG
() Vote For All Nominees
() Vote withheld from all Nominees
() Withhold Selectively
=========================================================================
Place a check mark next to each nominee from whom you would like to
WITHHOLD your vote.
[ ] L.T. BABBIO, JR.
[ ] R.L. CARRION
[ ] J.G. CULLEN
<PAGE> 38
[ ] L.J.R. DE VINK
[ ] J.H. GILLIAM, JR.
[ ] S.P. GOLDSTEIN
[ ] H.L. KAPLAN
[ ] T.H. KEAN
[ ] E.T. KENNAN
[ ] J.F. MAYPOLE
[ ] J. NEUBAUER
[ ] T.H. O'BRIEN
[ ] E. PFEIFFER
[ ] H.B. PRICE
[ ] R.L. RIDGWAY
[ ] F.V. SALERNO
[ ] I.G. SEIDENBERG
[ ] W.V. SHIPLEY
[ ] R.W. SMITH
[ ] J.R. STAFFORD
[ ] M. DES. WEBB
[ ] S. YOUNG
=========================================================================
2. Ratification of Independent Accountants
() For
() Against
() Abstain
=========================================================================
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "AGAINST" THE SHAREOWNER PROPOSALS 3
THROUGH 7 REGARDING:
3. Additional Compensation Information
() For
() Against
() Abstain
=========================================================================
4. Cumulative Voting
() For
() Against
() Abstain
=========================================================================
5. Executive Incentive Compensation
() For
() Against
<PAGE> 39
() Abstain
=========================================================================
6. Executive Severance Agreements
() For
() Against
() Abstain
=========================================================================
7. Board Composition
() For
() Against
() Abstain
=========================================================================
-------- ---------------
Submit Revise Ballot
-------- ---------------
==========================================================================
Copyright (C) 1998 by Boston EquiServe, L.P. and Direct Report Corporation
All rights reserved
Internet services provided by Shareholder Direct
================================================================================
<PAGE> 40
BOSTON EQUISERVE
Web Proxy Voting
================================================================================
Bell Atlantic Corporation
PROXY CONFIRMATION
PLEASE REVIEW YOUR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS INDICATED BELOW. YOU MAY THEN
EITHER SUBMIT YOUR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS OR REVISE WHAT YOU HAVE ENTERED.
PROPOSAL 1. Election of Directors
Vote all Nominees
(for/withheld/withheld selectively)
=======================================================
PROPOSAL 2. Ratification of Independent Accountants
(for/against/abstain)
=======================================================
PROPOSAL 3. Additional Compensation Information
(for/against/abstain)
=======================================================
PROPOSAL 4. Cumulative Voting
(for/against/abstain)
=======================================================
PROPOSAL 5. Executive Incentive Compensation
(for/against/abstain)
=======================================================
PROPOSAL 6. Executive Severance Agreements
(for/against/abstain)
=======================================================
PROPOSAL 7. Board Composition
(for/against/abstain)
=======================================================
-------- --------
Submit Revise
-------- --------
==========================================================================
Copyright (C) 1998 by Boston EquiServe, L.P. and Direct Report Corporation
All rights reserved
Internet services provided by Shareholder Direct
================================================================================
<PAGE> 41
BOSTON EQUISERVE
Web Proxy Voting
================================================================================
Bell Atlantic Corporation
THANK YOU FOR VOTING YOUR PROXY.
Please check any of the following that apply.
1. Do you wish for us to discontinue duplicate mailings? [ ]
2. Please change my address.
My new address is...
------------------------------------------------
/\
\/
------------------------------------------------
3. I have the following comments:
My comments are...
------------------------------------------------
/\
\/
------------------------------------------------
4. If you would like to receive an email confirmation of your vote,
please enter your email address:
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
--------
Submit
--------
==========================================================================
Copyright (C) 1998 by Boston EquiServe, L.P. and Direct Report Corporation
All rights reserved
Internet services provided by Shareholder Direct
================================================================================
<PAGE> 42
BOSTON EQUISERVE
Web Proxy Voting
================================================================================
Bell Atlantic Corporation
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
IF YOU WISH TO VOTE ANOTHER PROXY OR CHANGE YOUR VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE VOTE AGAIN. OUR SYSTEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY
COUNT ONLY YOUR LAST VOTE.
------------
Vote Again
------------
==========================================================================
Copyright (C) 1998 by Boston EquiServe, L.P. and Direct Report Corporation
All rights reserved
Internet services provided by Shareholder Direct
================================================================================
