AT&T agreed to acquire BellSouth for $67 billion, representing a 17.9% premium to the closing price of BellSouth stock on March 3 and marking a key step in reconstituting the old AT&T empire.AT&T Chairman and CEO Edward E. Whitacre Jr. described the deal as "the next logical step," saying the combined company would be better positioned to "speed the convergence of new and improved services for consumers and businesses, and embrace the industry's shift to IP network-based technologies."By integrating the ownership of Cingular Wireless,...
