Back to GetFilings.com
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------------
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
/X/ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
OR
/ / TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
to
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-8607
------------------------
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
A GEORGIA I.R.S. EMPLOYER
CORPORATION NO. 58-1533433
1155 Peachtree Street, N.E., Room 15G03, Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3610
Telephone number 404 249-2000
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:
NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE
TITLE OF EACH CLASS ON WHICH REGISTERED
- - --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Common Stock New York, Boston, Chicago,
(par value $1 per share) Pacific and Philadelphia
and Stock Exchanges
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
Support Obligations for New York Stock Exchange
7.12% Debentures due 7/15/2097 of
BellSouth Capital Funding Corporation
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:
None.
At February 1, 1999, 1,942,470,779 shares of Common Stock and Preferred
Stock Purchase Rights were outstanding.
At February 1, 1999, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
nonaffiliates was $86,682,758,513.
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. / /
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes /X/ No / /
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement dated March 9, 1999,
issued in connection with the 1999 annual meeting of shareholders (Part III).
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM PAGE
- - --------- ---------
PART I
Safe Harbor Statement......................................................................................... 1
1. Business........................................................................................... 1
General............................................................................................ 1
Wireline Communications............................................................................ 2
Domestic Wireless.................................................................................. 9
International Operations........................................................................... 12
Advertising and Publishing......................................................................... 14
Other Services..................................................................................... 15
Research and Development........................................................................... 16
Employees.......................................................................................... 16
2. Properties......................................................................................... 17
General............................................................................................ 17
Capital Expenditures............................................................................... 17
Other Commitments.................................................................................. 18
Environmental Matters.............................................................................. 18
3. Legal Proceedings.................................................................................. 18
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders.................................................... 19
Additional Information -- Description of BellSouth Stock...................................................... 19
Executive Officers............................................................................................ 22
PART II
5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.............................. 23
6. Selected Financial and Operating Data.............................................................. 24
7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition.............. 25
Results of Operations.............................................................................. 26
Volumes of Business................................................................................ 27
Operating Revenues................................................................................. 30
Operating Expenses................................................................................. 32
Other Income Statement Items....................................................................... 34
Results of Segment Operations...................................................................... 35
Financial Condition................................................................................ 36
Operating Environment and Trends of the Business................................................... 38
Safe Harbor Statement.............................................................................. 43
8. Consolidated Financial Statements.................................................................. 44
Report of Management............................................................................... 44
Audit Committee Chairman's Letter.................................................................. 45
Report of Independent Accountants.................................................................. 45
Consolidated Statements of Income.................................................................. 46
Consolidated Balance Sheets........................................................................ 47
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.............................................................. 48
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income........................... 49
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements......................................................... 50
9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure............... 74
ITEM PAGE
- - --------- ---------
PART III
*10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant................................................. 74
*11. Executive Compensation............................................................................. 74
*12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management..................................... 74
*13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions..................................................... 74
PART IV
14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.................................... 74
Signatures.................................................................................................... 78
Consent of Independent Accountants............................................................................ 79
- - ------------------------
*Included in BellSouth Corporation's definitive proxy statement dated March 9,
1999 and incorporated herein by reference.
PART I
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
STATEMENTS THAT DO NOT ADDRESS HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE ARE "FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT
OF 1995 AND ARE BASED ON A NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
(1) CONTINUED DOMESTIC ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEMAND FOR BELLSOUTH'S SERVICES; (2)
ECONOMIC, MONETARY, REGULATORY AND POLITICAL STABILITY WHERE BELLSOUTH CONDUCTS
ITS INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS; (3) THE REASONABLE ACCURACY OF BELLSOUTH'S
EXPECTATIONS OF THE IMPACT ON ITS INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS OF WEAKENING
CURRENCIES IN LATIN AMERICA AS COMPARED TO THE U.S. DOLLAR; (4) THE REASONABLE
ACCURACY OF BELLSOUTH'S EXPECTATIONS OF THE RESULTS OF REGULATORY ACTIONS AS
WELL AS COSTS AND RECOVERIES WITH RESPECT TO ACCESS REFORM, UNIVERSAL SERVICE
AND INTERCONNECTION; (5) THE REASONABLE ACCURACY OF BELLSOUTH'S ESTIMATE OF
REGULATORY AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE WIRELINE LONG DISTANCE SERVICES AND THE
IMPACT OF COMPETITION IN ITS MARKETS; AND (6) SATISFACTORY IDENTIFICATION AND
COMPLETION OF YEAR 2000 SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE REVISIONS BY BELLSOUTH AND
ENTITIES WITH WHICH IT DOES BUSINESS. ANY DEVELOPMENTS SIGNIFICANTLY DEVIATING
FROM THESE ASSUMPTIONS COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM
THOSE FORECAST OR IMPLIED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
BellSouth Corporation (BellSouth) is a holding company providing
telecommunications services, systems and products primarily through two
wholly-owned subsidiaries, BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. (BellSouth
Telecommunications) and BellSouth Enterprises, Inc. (BellSouth Enterprises).
BellSouth has its principal executive offices at 1155 Peachtree Street, N.E.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3610 (telephone number 404 249-2000).
BellSouth was incorporated in 1983 under the laws of the State of Georgia.
On December 31, 1983, pursuant to a consent decree approved by the U.S. District
Court for the District of Columbia entitled "Modification of Final Judgment"
(the MFJ) settling antitrust litigation brought by the U.S. Department of
Justice (the Justice Department) in 1974 and the related Plan of Reorganization,
American Telephone and Telegraph Company, now AT&T Corp. (AT&T), formed several
holding companies, including BellSouth (the Holding Companies), and transferred
to them one or more of the operating telephone companies (the Operating
Telephone Companies) that were formerly part of the Bell System. As a result,
AT&T transferred to BellSouth its 100% ownership of South Central Bell Telephone
Company (South Central Bell) and Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company
(Southern Bell). On January 1, 1984, ownership of the Holding Companies was
transferred by AT&T to its shareholders. As a result, BellSouth became a
publicly traded company. BellSouth Telecommunications is the surviving
corporation from the merger of South Central Bell and Southern Bell, effective
at midnight, December 31, 1991.
Under the MFJ, the Operating Telephone Companies could provide local
exchange, network access, information access and long distance
telecommunications services within their assigned geographical territories,
termed "Local Access and Transport Areas" (LATAs). Although prohibited from
providing wireline service between LATAs, the Operating Telephone Companies
provided network access services that linked a subscriber's telephone or other
equipment in one of their LATAs to the transmission facilities of long distance
carriers, which provided telecommunications services between different LATAs.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act) supersedes the MFJ,
providing for the development of competition in local telecommunications
markets; the conditions under which the Holding Companies can provide interLATA
wireline telecommunications and other services; and the provision by the Holding
Companies of video services within their service areas. The ability of the
Holding Companies
1
to enter businesses previously proscribed to them by the MFJ is, however,
generally subject to numerous and rigorous criteria and the development of and
compliance with newly mandated regulations of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC). To date, the FCC has rejected all applications to provide
interLATA wireline service. (See "Wireline Communications--InterLATA Long
Distance Service.")
BellSouth is subject to increasing competition in all areas of its business.
Regulatory, legislative and judicial actions and technological developments have
expanded the types of available services and products and the number of
companies that may offer them. Increasingly, this competition is from large
companies and joint ventures that have substantial capital, technological and
marketing resources.
BellSouth has developed three key strategies that govern its business
decisions in the increasingly competitive telecommunications industry.
COMMUNICATIONS LEADERSHIP. Grow and systematically transform the core
wireline business to ensure that BellSouth is the leading communications
company in its nine-state region.
DOMESTIC WIRELESS STRATEGY. Grow the domestic wireless business
profitably, emphasizing strong in-region synergies.
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY. Grow the existing operations and expanding into
new markets and related network services, focusing on Latin America.
Overlaying each of the three key growth strategies is digital and data
communications. BellSouth does not view data as a separate strategy because it
is an integral, vital and essential part of each of the strategies.
BellSouth markets its domestic services and products under the BellSouth
brand name to give them a clear, consistent identity in the marketplace.
BellSouth believes that its brand name is widely recognized and held in high
esteem by its customers. A primary marketing strategy is to enhance the
recognition and reputation of this mark throughout its service territory by
jointly marketing BellSouth's services and products with special attention to
each customer base. BellSouth's goal is for its brand name to be synonymous with
quality service and state-of-the-art technology. BellSouth advertises in the
various media in its territory, in connection with major events, such as the
Olympics, the Super Bowl, PGA tournaments and NASCAR events, and through its
affiliation with several professional and collegiate sports organizations, which
offer BellSouth a broad platform to showcase its services and products.
WIRELINE COMMUNICATIONS
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
GENERAL
BellSouth Telecommunications provides wireline communications services,
including local exchange, network access and intraLATA long distance services.
For 1998, 1997 and 1996, BellSouth Telecommunications generated 71%, 74% and
77%, respectively, of BellSouth's total operating revenues. BellSouth
Telecommunications is the predominant telephone service provider in the
Southeastern U.S., serving substantial portions of the population within
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina and Tennessee. Total equivalent access lines, which include
traditional switched access lines as well as digital and data transmission
lines, increased 14.7% over the prior year to 37,187,000 at December 31, 1998.
This growth is attributable to increasing demand for high-capacity digital and
data services, continued economic expansion in the region and additional access
lines ordered by existing customers.
2
While BellSouth Telecommunications provides telephone service to the
majority of the metropolitan areas in its region, there are many localities and
some sizable geographic areas within the region that are served by nonaffiliated
telephone providers. In addition, BellSouth Telecommunications is increasingly
facing competition for local and intraLATA business customers, and to a lesser
extent, residential customers, within its territory.
BellSouth Telecommunications has organized its marketing efforts to parallel
its four major customer bases: consumer, small business, complex business, and
network and carrier services.
A substantial portion of the growth in BellSouth Telecommunications'
revenues from local service is derived from the sale of optional calling
services and additional residence lines to its residential customers. These
offerings are marketed in a variety of packages with varying pricing options
that are designed to appeal to a wide range of BellSouth Telecommunications'
residential customers. A substantial number of these sales are made by customer
service representatives, as they are contacted by subscribers on other matters.
BellSouth Telecommunications' small business services, which have varied
pricing and service options, are marketed by customer service representatives.
BellSouth Telecommunications' products and services, such as video conferencing,
ISDN service and telecommunications equipment and systems, are also demonstrated
and sold through marketing arrangements with retailers and other independent
sales representatives.
BellSouth Telecommunications markets highly specialized services and
products to large and complex business customers. In addition to telephone
lines, product and service offerings to these customers include Internet access,
special networks, high-speed data transmission, business teleconferencing and
industry-specific communications configurations.
In response to the 1996 Act, BellSouth Telecommunications has developed a
unit to market to competitors interconnection to its network and other related
services. The unit markets to both affiliated and nonaffiliated customers in six
carrier markets: wireless service providers, competitive local exchange carriers
(CLECs), competitive switched and special access providers, long distance
carriers, information service providers and public payphone service providers.
Through BellSouth Telecommunications' infrastructure, services are provided to
these carriers for voice, data and video transmission, as well as advanced
products, transport, interconnection and vertical services.
LOCAL SERVICE
Local service revenues for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996
accounted for approximately 41%, 41% and 42%, respectively, of BellSouth's total
operating revenues. Local service operations provide lines from telephone
exchange offices to subscribers' premises for the origination and termination of
telecommunications, including the following: basic local telephone service
provided through the regular switched network; dedicated private line facilities
for voice and special services, such as transport of data, radio and video;
switching services for customers' internal communications through facilities
owned by BellSouth Telecommunications; services for data transport that include
managing and configuring special service networks; and dedicated low- or
high-capacity public or private digital networks. Other local service revenue is
derived from information and directory assistance and public payphone services.
BellSouth Telecommunications offers various convenience features, such as
Caller ID, Call Waiting Deluxe, Call Return and 3-Way Calling on a monthly
subscription or per-use basis. Total revenues from such optional features were
approximately $1.5 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.0 billion for the years ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
3
NETWORK ACCESS
BellSouth Telecommunications provides network access and interconnection
services by connecting the equipment and facilities of its subscribers with the
communications networks of long distance carriers, CLECs and wireless providers.
These connections are provided by linking these carriers and subscribers through
the public switched network of BellSouth Telecommunications or through dedicated
private lines furnished by BellSouth Telecommunications.
Network access charges, which are payable by long distance carriers, CLECs,
wireless providers and end-user subscribers, provided approximately 20%, 22% and
23% of BellSouth's total operating revenues for the years ended December 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. These charges are designed to recover the
costs of the common and dedicated facilities and equipment used to connect
networks of long distance carriers with the telephone company's local network
and to subsidize the cost of providing local service to rural and other
high-cost areas.
LONG DISTANCE
Long distance services provided approximately 3%, 4% and 4% of BellSouth's
total operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively. These services include the following: intraLATA service beyond the
local calling area; Wide Area Telecommunications Service (WATS or 800 services)
for customers with highly concentrated demand; and special services, such as
transport of data, radio and video. In recent years, these revenues have
decreased as competition for such customers has intensified and as more
customers have subscribed to local area calling plans. Long distance revenues
from intraLATA calls are expected to continue to decline.
DIGITAL AND DATA
A key driver in BellSouth Telecommunications' growth in local service and
network access revenues is the provision of digital and data services. Revenues
from these services were $1.9 billion, $1.3 billion and $1.1 billion for 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively. These services and products are provided primarily
over non-switched access lines that typically have significantly greater
capacity per line than a traditional switched access line. These lines are well
suited for high-capacity applications that previously could not be provided over
traditional switched access lines. Uses of these lines include bulk data
transmission, video conferencing, ATMs, check/credit card authentication,
multimedia and interconnection with wireless networks.
BellSouth believes that the data telecommunications business will eventually
become substantially larger than the traditional voice telephony market, and
that BellSouth must significantly expand its operations in the data
communications market. Data communications, however, are subject to the same
laws and regulations as voice communications. BellSouth believes that it must be
allowed the freedom to offer interLATA data communications to fully compete in
the data communications marketplace.
OTHER WIRELINE
Other wireline revenues accounted for approximately 7% of BellSouth's total
operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996. Other
wireline revenues are primarily comprised of charges for inside wire maintenance
contracts, billing and collection services for long distance carriers and CLECs,
customer premises equipment sales and maintenance services, voice messaging
(MemoryCall-SM-) service, Internet access and interconnection charges to
unaffiliated wireless carriers.
4
REGULATION
LOCAL SERVICE
BellSouth Telecommunications is subject to regulation of its local services
by a state authority in each state where it provides intrastate
telecommunications services. Such regulation covers prices, services,
competition and other issues.
Traditionally, BellSouth Telecommunications' rates were set in each state in
its wireline service territory at levels that were anticipated to generate
revenues sufficient to cover its allowed expenses and to provide an opportunity
to earn a fair rate of return on its capital investment. Such a regulatory
structure, generally known as rate of return regulation, was acceptable in a
less competitive era. However, the regulatory processes have changed in response
to the increasingly competitive telecommunications environment.
Under the first generation of alternative regulation, generally known as
incentive regulation, economic incentives were provided to lower costs and
increase productivity through the potential availability of "shared" earnings
over a benchmark rate of return. Generally, when levels above targeted returns
were reached, earnings were "shared" by providing refunds or price reductions to
customers.
Under the next generation of alternative regulation, generally known as
price regulation, the state authorities established maximum prices that could be
charged for certain telecommunications services. While such plans limit the
amount of increases in prices for specified services, they enhance BellSouth
Telecommunications' ability to adjust prices and service options to respond more
effectively to changing market conditions and competition and provide an
opportunity to benefit more fully from productivity enhancements. The majority
of these plans, during the early years, have price cap provisions in effect on
basic local exchange services with provisions for inflation-based price
increases in later years. These plans are now operational throughout BellSouth
Telecommunications' wireline service territory although appeals relating to
plans in South Carolina and Tennessee are pending. While some plans are not
subject to either review or renewal, other plans contain specified termination
dates and/or review periods. Some plans are expected to be reviewed in 1999. No
assurance can be given that plans subject to review or renewal will retain
prices or other terms currently applicable.
NETWORK ACCESS
The FCC regulates rates and other aspects of interstate network access
services through its price cap and access charge rules. State regulatory
commissions have jurisdiction over the provision of network access to the long
distance carriers to complete intrastate telecommunications.
Historically, network access charges paid by long distance carriers have
been set at levels that subsidize the cost of providing local residential
service. The 1996 Act requires that the FCC identify the local service subsidy
implicitly provided by such network access charges; provide for the removal of
such subsidy from network access rates in order that network access charges
reflect underlying costs; arrange for a fund (the Universal Service Fund) to
ensure the continuation of universal service to high-cost, low-income service
areas; and develop the arrangements for payments into that fund by all carriers.
The FCC's price cap plan limits aggregate price changes to the rate of
inflation minus a productivity offset, plus or minus exogenous cost changes
recognized by the FCC. In May 1997, the FCC adopted orders regarding revisions
to the price cap plan, access charge reform and the establishment of the
Universal Service Fund. The orders on the price cap plan and access charge
reform resulted in access rate reductions related to per-minute-of-use charges
and increases to per-line charges. BellSouth Telecommunications has been pricing
its services based on a 6.5% productivity factor, which means that price
increases could only occur to the extent that the Gross Domestic Product Price
Index of the U.S.
5
(the Index) increased by greater than 6.5% over an annual period. If the Index
increases by less than 6.5%, price reductions would occur.
In October 1998, the FCC announced its intent to review the productivity
factor used in the calculation of interstate network access charges. Any
increase in this factor would result in reductions of network access charges
paid to BellSouth by long distance carriers, subscribers or both. The FCC also
solicited comments as to whether it should abandon its market-based approach to
the pricing of network access charges and adopt, instead, a prescriptive
approach. FCC represcription of network access rates could result in a reduction
of network access charge revenues.
The FCC's 1997 network access charge reform order, which has been upheld by
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, resulted in several changes to
the existing interstate network access rate structure designed to move network
access charges, over time, to more economically efficient levels and to create
more efficient rate structures. Non-traffic-sensitive costs, that were
previously recovered on a per-minute-of-use basis, were changed to be recovered
on a flat-rate, per-line basis. As part of this plan, subscriber line charges
(SLCs) were increased and a new presubscribed long distance carrier charge
(PICC) was established. As SLC and PICC levels are increased over time, usage
charges are reduced. At January 1, 1999, SLCs for primary residence and
single-line business access lines remained unchanged at $3.50 per line, per
month. Beginning in January 1999, SLCs for non-primary (or "additional")
residence access lines increased from $5.00 to $6.07 per line, per month, and
SLCs for multi-line business customers increased from $8.17 to $8.25 per line,
per month. PICCs were established on January 1, 1998 and are charged to long
distance carriers for recovery of non-traffic-sensitive costs not recovered
through SLCs. These charges were established for primary residence and
single-line business access lines, non-primary residence access lines and
multi-line business access lines and were initially set at $.53, $1.50 and
$2.75, respectively, per line, per month, beginning January 1998. BellSouth
believes that the net effect of these changes has been substantially
revenue-neutral.
The universal service order, which has been appealed to the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, established new funding mechanisms for high-cost,
low-income service areas. BellSouth Telecommunications began contributing to the
new funds on January 1, 1998 and is allowed recovery of its contributions
through increased interstate network access charges. Major changes to the
support mechanism to subsidize the provision of services to high-cost areas will
occur July 1, 1999. The new support mechanism, when implemented in 1999, will be
based on forward-looking economic costs.
The order also established significant discounts to be provided to eligible
schools and libraries for all telecommunications services, internal connections
and Internet access. It also established support for rural health care providers
so that they may pay rates comparable to those that urban health care providers
pay for similar services. Industry-wide annual costs of the program, estimated
at approximately $1.9 billion through June 1999, are to be funded out of the
Universal Service Fund. Local and long distance carriers' contributions to the
education and health care funds would be assessed by the fund administrator on
the basis of their interstate and intrastate end-user revenues.
INTERLATA LONG DISTANCE SERVICE
As a result of the 1996 Act, BellSouth and the other Holding Companies and
their affiliates are freed from the judicial restrictions of the MFJ that
generally prohibited the provision of interLATA communications throughout their
wireline service territories and elsewhere. The 1996 Act establishes in its
place a new restriction and a procedure for its removal. These companies may
apply to the FCC on a state-by-state basis to offer in-region interLATA wireline
service, and the FCC must act on each such application within 90 days. The FCC
must grant such application if it determines that the applicant (a) has met a
competitive checklist; (b) has shown (i) the presence of a facilities-based
provider offering both residential and business local services (Track A) or (ii)
if there is no such provider, a statement that has been approved or permitted to
take effect by state regulatory authorities of the terms under which it would be
willing to interconnect with a CLEC (Track B); (c) will operate in accordance
with the separate affiliate
6
requirement; and (d) has presented an application consistent with the public
interest. The FCC is required to consult with state regulatory authorities and
the Justice Department when reviewing the application.
BellSouth believes, that in order to remain competitive, it must
aggressively pursue a corporate strategy of expanding its offerings beyond its
traditional businesses and markets. These offerings include interLATA voice,
information and data communications. BellSouth plans to begin offering interLATA
wireline service in each of its in-region states as soon as the FCC approves its
application for each state. BellSouth has received favorable determinations from
the regulatory commissions in several states in its wireline service territory,
but the FCC has rejected all applications to provide in-region interLATA service
on which it has ruled. BellSouth and other Holding Companies have unsuccessfully
challenged portions of the 1996 Act as unconstitutional bills of attainder but
have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court (the Supreme Court) to consider the
issue. The Supreme Court has denied the other Holding Companies' requests, but
BellSouth's request remains pending.
BellSouth has a three-pronged approach to gaining authorization to provide
in-region interLATA service: (a) continuing to modify its facilities and
operating support systems to facilitate competition and aggressively seeking
approvals from the FCC and state commissions; (b) seeking judicial review of
adverse decisions which it believes to be erroneous; and (c) participating in
actions by Congress to urge the FCC to implement the 1996 Act in a timely
fashion. Because of the scrutiny of interLATA applications by the FCC and the
Justice Department; the time required to obtain judicial review of adverse
decisions; and the possible challenges by the existing long distance carriers of
any approved applications or proposed or enacted legislation, it is uncertain
when BellSouth will be authorized to commence interLATA service in any of its
in-region states.
COMPETITION
LOCAL SERVICE
The 1996 Act requires the elimination of state legislative and regulatory
barriers to competition for local telephone service, subject only to
competitively neutral requirements to preserve and advance universal service,
protect the public safety and welfare, maintain the quality of
telecommunications services and safeguard the rights of customers. The 1996 Act
also includes requirements that incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs), such
as BellSouth Telecommunications, negotiate with other carriers for
interconnection, use of network elements on an unbundled basis, access fees for
local calls terminating on the network of a carrier other than the originating
carrier and resale of telecommunications services. If a negotiated agreement
cannot be reached, either party may seek arbitration with the state regulatory
authority, or the FCC if the state fails to act. If rates are disputed, the
arbitrator must set rates for access to network elements on an unbundled basis,
based on cost, which may include a reasonable profit. ILECs are also required to
negotiate to provide their retail services at wholesale rates for the purpose of
resale by competing carriers. If agreement cannot be reached, the arbitrator
shall set the wholesale rates at the ILEC's retail rates less costs that are
avoided. BellSouth Telecommunications has executed numerous interconnection or
resale agreements with such carriers. Many of these agreements expire during
1999 and must be renegotiated. The arbitration results for the wholesale
discount rates vary by state from 14.8% to 21.8%. At December 31, 1998,
BellSouth Telecommunications had provisioned approximately 520,000 equivalent
access lines to such carriers for resale, an increase of 299,000 since December
31, 1997.
In connection with the requirements of the 1996 Act, in August 1996, the FCC
released an order adopting rules governing interconnection and related matters,
and in July 1997, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated
substantial aspects of the order. In January 1999, the Supreme Court reinstated
significant portions of the vacated order. The Supreme Court held that with
regard to setting the pricing of interconnection between ILECs and other
carriers, the FCC has jurisdiction to set pricing standards to be implemented by
the state commissions. The FCC has prescribed a forward-looking economic cost
approach for pricing interconnection and unbundled network elements. That
methodology is still under review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth
Circuit.
7
Under the 1996 Act, access to certain network elements can be given only
when "necessary" or when the failure to provide access would "impair" the
ability of the requesting carrier to provide service. The Supreme Court held
that the FCC did not adequately consider the "necessary" and "impair" standards
when adopting rules giving access to such network elements on an unbundled
basis. Until the FCC reconsiders this issue, it is uncertain which of BellSouth
Telecommunications' network elements it will be required to offer on an
unbundled basis, and at what prices.
The Supreme Court upheld the FCC's "all elements" rule which allows
competing carriers to provide local telephone service relying solely on the
elements in an ILEC's network, approving the FCC's refusal to impose a
requirement of facility ownership on carriers who seek to lease network
elements. The Supreme Court also upheld the FCC's rule forbidding ILECs from
separating already combined network elements before leasing them to a CLEC.
Finally, the Supreme Court upheld the FCC's "pick and choose" rule. This rule
requires that ILECs make available to requesting CLECs contractual provisions,
including related rates and terms, contained in any other agreements that have
been previously approved by the state commission for that same state. Exceptions
are allowed when the ILEC can prove to the state commission that providing the
particular item requested is either more costly than providing it to the
original carrier or is technically infeasible. These rulings may make it easier
for a CLEC to compete with BellSouth.
In attempting to comply with the technical requirements of interconnection,
BellSouth Telecommunications is incurring, and expects to continue to incur,
significant costs associated with the facilitation of interconnection. BellSouth
Telecommunications incurred approximately $367 million of costs associated with
these efforts in the year ended December 31, 1998. Of this amount, approximately
$232 million was expensed as incurred, and the remainder was capitalized. Total
costs incurred through December 31, 1998 were approximately $700 million.
In May 1998, the FCC adopted an order that will allow telecommunications
carriers, such as BellSouth Telecommunications, to recover, over five years,
their carrier-specific costs of implementing long-term number portability, which
allows customers to retain their local telephone numbers in the event they
change local carriers. The order allows for such cost recovery to begin no
earlier than February 1, 1999 in the form of a surcharge from customers to whom
number portability is available. It remains unclear to what degree, if any,
BellSouth Telecommunications will be compensated for the noncarrier-specific
costs of interconnection.
The state public service commissions to which BellSouth Telecommunications
is subject have granted numerous carrier applications for authority to offer
local telephone service. As a result, substantial competition has developed for
BellSouth Telecommunications' business customers, which provide a greater
concentration of higher margin revenues than do its residential customers.
Competitors include long distance carriers and CLECs, which resell the local
services of BellSouth Telecommunications or provide services over their own
facilities. BellSouth believes that certain long distance carriers have been
slow to enter the local residential market due to lower margins compared to the
business market and to deter competition by the Holding Companies in the long
distance market. However, MCI WorldCom recently announced its intent to offer
residential local service in certain areas of the country using the unbundled
network elements of ILECs.
An increasing number of voice and data communications networks utilizing
fiber optic lines have been and are being constructed by telecommunications
providers in all major metropolitan areas throughout BellSouth
Telecommunications' wireline service territory. These networks offer certain
high-volume users a competitive alternative to the public and private line
offerings of BellSouth Telecommunications. Furthermore, wireless services, such
as cellular, personal communications service (PCS) and paging services, and
Internet services increasingly compete with wireline communications services.
Such wireless services are provided by a number of well-capitalized entities in
most of BellSouth's markets.
As technological and regulatory developments make it more feasible for cable
television networks to carry data and voice communications, BellSouth
Telecommunications will face increased competition within its region from cable
television ventures. For example, MediaOne began offering local wireline service
in Atlanta in 1998 over its enhanced cable television network, and AT&T has
stated that, after its acquisition of TCI, it intends to upgrade and use TCI's
cable facilities to offer telephony over coaxial cable and fiber optic lines.
AT&T has also announced that it intends to form joint ventures with other cable
television companies to expand such offerings nationwide.
8
Federal and state policies strongly favor further changes to Operating
Telephone Company networks and business operations to encourage local service
competition, and regulators have stated that such changes must be made before
they will allow Holding Companies to provide interLATA long distance services
within their local service territories. Therefore, BellSouth expects that local
service competition will steadily increase. While competition for local service
revenues could adversely affect BellSouth's results of operations, BellSouth is
working to support the opening of local markets to competition by facilitating
interconnection of its facilities and systems with those of CLECs. These
actions, among other things, can allow BellSouth to qualify to offer in-region
interLATA service as contemplated in the 1996 Act. (See "Regulation--InterLATA
Long Distance Service").
NETWORK ACCESS
FCC rules require BellSouth Telecommunications to offer expanded
interconnection for interstate special and switched network access transport. As
a result, BellSouth Telecommunications must permit competitive carriers and
customers to terminate their transmission lines on BellSouth Telecommunications'
facilities in its central office buildings through collocation arrangements. The
effects of the rules are to increase competition for network access transport.
Furthermore, long distance carriers are increasingly connecting their lines
directly to their customers' facilities, bypassing the networks of BellSouth
Telecommunications and thereby avoiding network access charges entirely. In
addition, commercial applications of Internet telephony are being developed.
This medium could attract substantial interLATA traffic because of its lower
cost structure, due to the fact that FCC rules do not currently impose access
charges on most Internet communications.
LONG DISTANCE
A number of companies compete with BellSouth Telecommunications in its
nine-state region for intraLATA long distance business by reselling long
distance services obtained at bulk rates from BellSouth Telecommunications or
providing long distance services over their own facilities. As of February 8,
1999, BellSouth Telecommunications has implemented intraLATA long distance
subscription (single digit access code 1+ dialing) in all nine states in its
region.
The 1996 Act permits the Holding Companies to offer interLATA long distance
service outside of the states containing their local wireline service
territories. Holding Companies and other carriers have announced plans to
compete for such interLATA long distance service in BellSouth
Telecommunications' territory. AT&T, MCI WorldCom, Sprint and a number of other
carriers, including other Holding Companies, currently provide long distance
service to BellSouth's local service customers.
FRANCHISES AND LICENSES
BellSouth Telecommunications' local exchange business is typically provided
under certificates of public convenience and necessity granted pursuant to state
statutes and public interest findings of the various public utility commissions
of the states in which BellSouth Telecommunications does business. These
certificates provide for franchises of indefinite duration, subject to the
maintenance of satisfactory service at reasonable rates.
DOMESTIC WIRELESS
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
BellSouth is one of the largest wireless communications providers in the
United States, with operations primarily in its wireline service territory.
BellSouth has cellular and PCS operations in 14 states, encompassing
approximately 78 million total POPs, 58 million on a proportionate ownership
basis. This extensive wireless footprint includes some of the top wireless
markets in the country including Los Angeles, Houston, Miami-Fort Lauderdale,
Atlanta and Tampa-St. Petersburg. BellSouth ended
9
1998 with approximately 4.8 million cellular and PCS customers on a
proportionate basis. BellSouth's penetration rate at December 31, 1998 was 8.2%
of the POPs in its domestic markets.
Domestic wireless revenues comprised approximately 12%, 13% and 12% of
BellSouth's total operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996, respectively. In addition, BellSouth has non-controlling financial
interests in a number of wireless businesses whose revenues are not reflected in
operating revenues because of the method of accounting for such investments.
Wireless revenues are derived from monthly access and airtime charges, sales of
phones and equipment, roaming charges, custom calling and convenience features,
long distance charges and service activation fees. Neither the FCC nor the state
regulatory commissions have power to regulate prices of wireless services.
BellSouth's proportional wireless customers have grown by 14.4%, 15.1% and
28.0%, while proportional revenues have grown by 6.1%, 10.7% and 22.8% for the
years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Excluding the impact
of certain ownership changes during 1998, proportional customers grew by 18.6%.
The growth trend in customers and revenues reflects the increasingly challenging
dynamics of adding new customers as penetration rises and competition
intensifies because of new entrants into BellSouth's markets.
One of the key competitive strengths of BellSouth's wireless service is the
BellSouth brand. BellSouth believes that its brand identity is a significant
factor in its success because of its high name recognition and reputation for
providing superior coverage, network reliability and customer service.
BellSouth and its partners are responding to the competitive conditions by
aggressively reducing expenses, offering a variety of innovative plans and new
products and targeting the lower-usage customer through use of prepaid calling
and other service options.
BellSouth has broadened its sales distribution channels to reduce the most
significant cost driver-- customer acquisition costs. Wireless services are
marketed through company-owned stores, authorized agents and national retail
outlets. In addition, BellSouth is increasingly utilizing cross-selling efforts
by BellSouth Telecommunications' customer service representatives, a less costly
alternative to independent agents and a natural entrant to selling bundled
services. New methods of addressing the issue of customer retention are also
being implemented, including the use of prediction models to identify customers
who are likely to discontinue service before it happens.
In response to competition, BellSouth has introduced variations of
fixed-rate calling plans that appeal to a broad base of customers. BellSouth is
also introducing new wireless products to differentiate its service, such as
BellSouth One Number Service, text messaging and multiple product offerings,
including Internet and wireline service. BellSouth has also introduced prepaid
cellular calling plans in many areas to further penetrate the market. These
plans allow consumers to receive service with no credit check, minimum contract,
monthly access or activation fees.
Under the MFJ, the Holding Companies generally were prohibited from
providing interLATA wireless communications. The 1996 Act lifted this
prohibition, and in February 1996, BellSouth began offering the interLATA
component of its wireless communication in conjunction with its wireless
offerings. Approximately 3.5 million customers subscribe to such interLATA
service. In areas where it does not have long distance telephone facilities,
BellSouth connects with the networks of long distance carriers.
TECHNOLOGY
BellSouth offers both analog and digital cellular service in most of its
markets as well as PCS in certain markets. BellSouth acquired the PCS licenses
as part of its strategy to extend the wireless footprint in its Southeastern
region. BellSouth has upgraded its cellular analog networks with a digital
transmission technology known as TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) in all its
markets. Both TDMA
10
and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technologies are currently
being utilized in the PCS markets.
Digital cellular technology offers many advantages over analog technology,
including a three-fold gain in channel capacity, the ability to provide advanced
services and functionality, inherent privacy and transmission security and the
opportunity to provide improved data transmissions.
The dual-mode network (analog and digital) will remain in place for the
foreseeable future due to the fact that analog networks provide the only common
roaming platform currently available throughout the U.S. Some manufacturers
currently offer dual-mode cellular phones capable of sending and receiving both
analog and certain digital transmissions, thereby facilitating roaming by
digital users. However, there is currently no dual-mode cellular phone capable
of receiving transmissions from multiple digital technologies. BellSouth
believes that its dual-mode network with its extended coverage currently
provides a significant competitive advantage over PCS providers.
COMPETITION
The FCC has jurisdiction over the licensing of wireless mobile radio
services in domestic markets. The FCC limits entry for providers of cellular
mobile telecommunications to two licensees for each defined metropolitan
statistical area (MSA) and each rural service area (RSA) within the country.
Each MSA and RSA in which BellSouth participates in the provision of cellular
mobile communications has a competing service provider. The functionality of PCS
and cellular service are very similar, and PCS offered by other carriers
competes with BellSouth's cellular service throughout its service territories.
The FCC grants licenses to offer PCS to multiple carriers. If all PCS licensees
construct and operate wireless businesses, there could be six or more PCS
systems and two cellular systems operating in certain areas.
The FCC has approved construction of enhanced specialized mobile radio
(ESMR) systems in many cities around the country. These digital mobile
communications systems provide service very similar to cellular telephone
service. There has been a consolidation of the licenses required to provide ESMR
service, so that control of this business is concentrated in the hands of a few
operators, giving them the ability to offer services like nationwide roaming on
their own network. ESMR systems currently compete with BellSouth in a number of
markets.
The presence of multiple aggressive competitors in BellSouth's wireless
markets makes it more difficult to attract new customers and retain existing
ones. Furthermore, while BellSouth does not compete primarily on the basis of
price, low prices offered by competitors attempting to build a subscriber base
have pressured BellSouth to reduce prices and develop pricing plans attractive
to lower usage customers. For this reason, BellSouth seeks to reduce costs to
protect profit margins.
LICENSES AND REGULATION
The domestic cellular and PCS systems in which BellSouth has an interest are
operated under licenses granted by the FCC. A carrier holding a license to
provide cellular service in a territory has limited eligibility for PCS
licensure covering the same territory. Prior approval by the FCC is required for
the assignment of a license or the transfer of control of a license. The
licenses are generally issued for up to 10-year periods. At the end of the
license period, a renewal application must be filed. BellSouth believes renewal
will generally be granted on a routine basis upon showing compliance with FCC
regulations and continuing service to the public. Licenses may be revoked and
license renewal applications may be denied for cause. With regard to cellular
licenses, the FCC has established the procedures and standards for conducting
comparative renewal proceedings, including the award of a "renewal expectancy"
that effectively eliminates the need to consider competing applicants when the
incumbent meets specified criteria.
11
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
BellSouth owns interests in consortia that hold licenses for, and are
building and/or operating, wireless telephone systems in Argentina, Brazil,
Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Germany, India, Israel, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru,
Uruguay and Venezuela. At December 31, 1998, these systems covered a population
of approximately 231 million and provided wireless service or PCS to a total of
approximately 7.1 million international customers. BellSouth's proportionate
share of those customers, based on its percentage ownership interests in such
systems, was approximately 3.4 million customers. BellSouth's proportionate
interests in the aggregate population covered by its international wireless
systems was approximately 108 million persons at December 31, 1998, and its
penetration rate, excluding areas in which service has not yet been initiated,
was approximately 3.5%.
The structure of BellSouth's international wireless interests typically
reflects government preferences or requirements that local owners hold
significant interests in their telecommunications licenses. In structuring its
international investments, BellSouth attempts to obtain operating influence
through board representation, the right to appoint certain key members of
management and consent rights with respect to significant matters, including
amounts of capital contributions. In addition, BellSouth tries to assure its
ability to maintain a position of influence in the venture by obtaining rights
of first refusal on future sales by other partners and issuances of equity by
the venture. The particular governance rights of BellSouth vary from venture to
venture, and often are dependent upon the size of BellSouth's investment
relative to other investors. Under the governing documents for some of these
ventures, certain key matters such as the approval of business plans and
decisions as to the timing and amount of cash distributions require the consent
of BellSouth's partners. BellSouth will likely enter into similar arrangements
to pursue additional opportunities.
BellSouth usually plays the lead role in the design, construction, operation
and maintenance of the wireless networks for the ventures in which it has
ownership interests.
COMPETITION
BellSouth's international wireless operations are subject to significant
competition, generally from at least one other wireless provider and
increasingly, from multiple new PCS providers. These competing service providers
generally have partners who are at least as well capitalized as BellSouth and
its partners. In some cases, the government-owned telephone companies have a
substantial investment in the competing cellular provider. In all cases, the
competing cellular providers generally have access to substantial financial
resources. Many governments have privatized the government-owned telephone
companies, and these privatized companies often become more formidable
competitors due to the availability of additional capital and technical
expertise. BellSouth anticipates an increasing number of facilities-based
competitors in its wireless service markets.
LICENSES AND REGULATION
BellSouth's international wireless operations provide services pursuant to
the terms of licenses granted by the telecommunications agency or similar
supervisory authority in the various countries. Such agencies typically also
promulgate and enforce regulations regarding the construction and operation of
network equipment. Other regulations commonly encountered in international
markets include legal restrictions on the percentage ownership of
telecommunications licensees by foreign entities, such as BellSouth, and
transfer restrictions or government approval requirements regarding changes in
the ownership of such licensees.
The terms of the licenses granted to BellSouth's international ventures and
conditions of the license renewal vary from country to country. The initial
terms of service under these licenses generally range
12
from 5 to 50 years. Although license renewal is not usually guaranteed, most
licenses do address the renewal process and terms, which BellSouth believes it
will be able to satisfy. As licenses approach the end of their terms, it is
BellSouth's intention to pursue renewal as provided by these license agreements.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE RISKS
Foreign currency exchange rates can affect BellSouth's results of operations
in several different ways. A significant weakening against the U.S. Dollar of
the currency of a country where BellSouth has operations can result in increased
obligations in local currency terms with respect to U.S. Dollar-denominated
liabilities. Further, a weakening currency often has a negative impact on the
local economy, which can adversely affect revenues and expenses. From the local
operation's perspective, a strengthening of the U.S. Dollar relative to local
currencies could increase BellSouth's obligations to make
local-currency-denominated capital investments. Where appropriate and feasible,
BellSouth attempts to mitigate the effects of foreign currency fluctuations
through the use of forward contracts and similar instruments. However, there can
be no assurance that these efforts will be successful or that all exposures will
be hedged.
During January 1999, the Brazilian currency suffered a significant
devaluation against the U.S. Dollar. (See "MD&A--Operating
Environment--International Operations" for further discussion of this matter and
its impact on BellSouth.)
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY
BellSouth's international strategy is to: (a) grow its existing businesses,
(b) evolve its wireless businesses into a wider array of telecommunications
services and (c) expand BellSouth's presence in Latin America.
GROWTH IN CUSTOMER BASES. BellSouth's market penetration is 3.5% of the POPs
in its international markets as compared to 8.2% in its domestic markets.
BellSouth believes that substantial additional growth is achievable in Latin
America, notwithstanding average per capita incomes being lower than the U.S.
average. BellSouth is offering prepaid wireless service in virtually all of its
international markets. BellSouth's prepaid wireless service has substantially
increased customers by making the service available to a broad customer base.
EVOLVING FROM A WIRELESS PROVIDER TO A FULL SERVICE PROVIDER. Where local
regulations permit, BellSouth's joint ventures offer wireless service that is
designed and priced to be directly competitive with traditional wireline
service. In several of its markets, BellSouth's joint ventures offer or plan to
offer international long distance services either to its wireless subscriber
bases or, in some cases, to the entire population. In addition, BellSouth offers
domestic long distance service in certain markets to its wireless subscribers
through its nationwide wireless facilities.
In May 1998, BellSouth won a bid for a concession to offer cellular
telephone service to more than 17 million people in Peru in the provinces
outside of Lima. BellSouth bid $35 million for the concession and expects to
invest over $200 million to build out and offer service in the new concession
area. BellSouth has also acquired directory businesses in Latin America. See
"Advertising and Publishing."
BellSouth's ability to introduce new products and services depends to a
large extent upon whether the new products and services are permitted by the
local laws and regulatory authorities. As countries have encouraged foreign
investment in telecommunications and have privatized their government-owned
wireless telephone companies, the general trend has been toward increasing
deregulation of telecommunications. In most of the Latin American countries in
which BellSouth does business, telecommunications regulatory bodies have
announced plans to deregulate telecommunications over time, which, if
implemented, should permit BellSouth's joint ventures to offer additional
products and services.
13
EXPANDING BELLSOUTH'S LATIN AMERICAN PRESENCE. BellSouth is developing
regional synergies among its Latin American joint ventures. To the extent
possible, BellSouth is using its BellSouth brand on a regional basis throughout
Latin America. BellSouth is currently using the BellSouth brand in its local
joint ventures or other operations in Chile, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama.
BellSouth is creating its own international network including advanced undersea
cables as well as regional switching centers, to be used to offer voice and data
international long distance services linking its wireless joint ventures and
other operations in Latin America when permitted by local law. In addition,
BellSouth has created the first roaming clearinghouse in Latin America,
permitting its Latin American and U.S. wireless customers who travel throughout
the Americas to roam when in a BellSouth service area.
BellSouth plans to continue pursuing selected opportunities to acquire
interests in telecommunications businesses throughout the world, focusing
primarily on Latin America. BellSouth believes its proven technical, operating
and marketing expertise make it a highly desired participant in consortia formed
to pursue new international opportunities and that such expertise has been a
significant factor in the success of license applications and bids by its
consortia. BellSouth measures each international investment against criteria
such as demographic factors, the degree of economic, political and regulatory
stability, the quality of local partners and the degree to which BellSouth will
control or meaningfully participate in management. During 1998, BellSouth began
offering wireless service in its Brazilian markets which resulted in the
addition of 350,000 proportionate customers. The pursuit of new international
wireless telecommunications opportunities is expected to remain highly
competitive and may introduce a greater degree of political and currency risk as
new opportunities are concentrated in developing economies.
BellSouth continually evaluates opportunities to increase its ownership in
its existing international ventures, especially where contractual rights of
first refusal provide BellSouth with favorable opportunities. In 1998, BellSouth
increased its equity interest in its joint ventures in Brazil, Ecuador, and
Venezuela. In November, BellSouth and Grupo Safra acquired additional interests
in BellSouth's Brazilian joint ventures. BellSouth's interest in its Sao Paulo
operating company increased from approximately 41% to 44.5% and in its Northeast
Brazil operation from 42.5% to 46.8%. In June, BellSouth acquired an additional
24.9% interest in its Venezuelan joint venture, increasing BellSouth's interest
to 78.2%. In July, BellSouth acquired an additional 28.2% of its joint venture
in Ecuador from its principal partner, increasing BellSouth's interest to 89.4%.
INTERNATIONAL DISPOSITIONS
On October 30, 1998, BellSouth sold to Vodafone Group Plc its 65% ownership
interest in BellSouth New Zealand for total proceeds of $254 million. The gain
totaled $180 million ($110 million after tax).
ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
BellSouth Enterprises owns a group of companies that publish, print, sell
advertising in, and perform related services concerning, alphabetical and
classified telephone directories. Advertising and publishing revenues are
derived primarily from sales of directory advertising, which represented
approximately 8%, 9% and 9% of BellSouth's total operating revenues for each of
the last three years.
BellSouth Enterprises' wholly-owned subsidiary, BellSouth Advertising &
Publishing Corporation (BAPCO), is one of the leading publishers of telephone
directories in the United States. In 1998, it published alphabetical white page
directories of business and residential telephone subscribers in over 500 of
BellSouth Telecommunications' markets and sold advertising in and published
classified directories under The Real Yellow Pages-Registered Trademark-
trademark in the same markets.
14
Another subsidiary of BellSouth Enterprises, The Berry Company (Berry), acts
as sales agent for advertising in yellow page directories of nonaffiliated
telephone companies and receives a portion of the advertising revenue as a
commission. During 1998, Berry contracted with 143 nonaffiliated telephone
companies to sell advertising in over 300 of these classified directories in
over 40 states. A Berry subsidiary also acts as agent for national yellow page
ad placements in all 50 states on behalf of over 700 companies.
In addition to publishing directories in traditional paper form, BellSouth
companies publish white and yellow page directories in other media. For example,
BAPCO offers white page directories on CD ROM for major markets of BellSouth
Telecommunications, and a separate subsidiary of BellSouth Enterprises publishes
Internet yellow page directories for most large market areas served by BellSouth
Telecommunications. This service links to similar on-line directories with
information for businesses nationwide. BellSouth sells additional advertising to
local and national businesses for its on-line yellow pages.
BellSouth seeks to expand its advertising and publishing business by
increasing advertising sales of its traditional directory products. In addition,
BAPCO has expanded its offerings to include a complementary line of advertising
products in other media, including radio, television, newspaper and billboards.
Recorded ads delivered by telephone are also available. BellSouth has also
developed and markets advertising in directory products for Latin America.
BellSouth also markets to organizations and companies with unique directory
needs. Export directories, audio text advertising, a restaurant and
entertainment guide, co-op advertising through other media, and Internet
directories are examples of such directory services and products.
BellSouth Enterprises owns a printing company, which prints substantially
all white and yellow pages and specialty directories distributed in BellSouth
Telecommunications' markets. In 1998, it printed 57 million white page, yellow
page and specialty directories. This company also prints other materials for
BellSouth and its affiliates and, to a limited extent, documents for
nonaffiliated companies.
BAPCO owns interests in companies that publish telephone directories in Peru
and Brazil. As BellSouth seeks further business opportunities overseas, it will
likely consider other investments in international directory companies to
complement its telecommunications service offerings there.
COMPETITION
Competition for advertising revenues continues to expand. Many different
media compete for advertising revenues, and some newspaper organizations and
other companies have begun publishing their own directories. Competition for
directory sales agency contracts for the sale of advertising in publications of
nonaffiliated companies also continues to be strong. Competitors offer directory
listings in various media such as CD ROM, the Internet and other electronic
databases. As such offerings expand and are enhanced through interactivity and
other features, BellSouth will experience heightened competition in its
directory advertising and publishing businesses. BellSouth has responded to the
increased competition and its changing market environment with new directory
products, product enhancements, multi-media delivery options, including Internet
directory services, pricing changes, competitive advertising, local promotions,
directory redeliveries and extended distributions.
OTHER SERVICES
INTERNET ACCESS
In 1996, BellSouth Telecommunications began providing Internet access, a
customized version of Netscape Navigator-TM-, electronic mail and a gateway to
local and national information. Internet access was provided as
BellSouth.net-SM- service to over 370,000 customers at December 31, 1998.
15
WIRELESS DATA
BellSouth owns interests in five wireless data communications networks
worldwide utilizing L.M. Ericsson's Mobitex technology. The networks provide
services in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and
Singapore and enable wireless data applications for two-way paging, corporate
transactions, access to information and messaging. The networks are also
well-suited for applications such as credit card, debit card and ATM
authorizations and telemetry.
ENTERTAINMENT
BellSouth develops, implements and manages video systems in several areas
within its region. These systems include wireline and wireless based systems
designed to compete with cable operators market by market. BellSouth currently
operates 100% digital wireless video systems covering more than one million
homes in Atlanta, New Orleans and Orlando. In addition, it operates wired
systems in subdivisions near Atlanta, Birmingham, Charleston, S.C. and
Jacksonville, FL. As of December 31, 1998, BellSouth had invested $465 million
in licenses and related fixed assets to operate these systems within its region.
Programming content for the cable systems is provided by
americast-Registered Trademark-, a joint venture partnership of which BellSouth
is a part owner.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
BellSouth conducts its research and development activities internally and
through external vendors, primarily Bell Communications Research, Inc.
(Bellcore). Bellcore provides research and development and other services to
BellSouth and the other Holding Companies. BellSouth has contracted with
Bellcore for ongoing support of engineering and systems. In addition, BellSouth
is a member of the National Telecommunications Alliance, an organization which
supports its commitment to national security and emergency preparedness.
EMPLOYEES
At December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, BellSouth and its consolidated
subsidiaries employed approximately 88,400, 81,000 and 81,200 persons,
respectively. Of those totals, approximately 60,600, 57,600 and 62,400,
respectively, were employees engaged in the telephone operations of BellSouth
Telecommunications. About 56% of BellSouth's employees at December 31, 1998 were
represented by the Communications Workers of America (the CWA), which is
affiliated with the AFL-CIO. In September 1998, members of the CWA ratified new
three-year contracts with BellSouth, effective August 9, 1998. The contracts
include basic wage increases totaling 12.39% over the three years covered by the
contracts. In addition, the agreement provides for a standard award of between
2% and 2.5% of base salary and overtime compensation which is subject to
adjustment based on company performance measures for plan years 1999 and 2000.
Other terms of the agreement include pension band increases and pension plan
cash balance improvements for active employees.
16
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
GENERAL
BellSouth's properties do not lend themselves to description by character or
location of principal units. BellSouth's investment in property, plant and
equipment consisted of the following at December 31:
1998 1997
---- ----
Outside plant.................................................... 39% 40%
Central office equipment......................................... 35 35
Operating and other equipment.................................... 12 9
Land and buildings............................................... 8 9
Furniture and fixtures........................................... 5 6
Plant under construction......................................... 1 1
---- ----
100% 100%
---- ----
---- ----
BellSouth's properties are divided among its operating segments as follows:
wireline communications, 86.7%; domestic wireless, 7.5%; international
operations, 3.9%; advertising and publishing, 0.5%; and other, 1.4%.
Outside plant consists of connecting lines (aerial, underground and buried
cable) not on customers' premises, the majority of which is on or under public
roads, highways or streets, while the remainder is on or under private property.
BellSouth currently self-insures all of its outside plant against casualty
losses. Central office equipment substantially consists of digital electronic
switching equipment and circuit equipment. Land and buildings consist
principally of central offices. Operating and other equipment consists of
wireless network equipment, embedded intrasystem wiring (substantially all of
which is on the premises of customers), motor vehicles and other equipment.
Central office equipment, buildings, furniture and fixtures and certain
operating and other equipment are insured under a blanket property insurance
program. This program provides substantial limits of coverage against "all
risks" of loss including fire, windstorm, flood, earthquake and other perils not
specifically excluded by the terms of the policies.
Substantially all of the installations of central office equipment for the
wireline communications business are located in buildings and on land owned by
BellSouth Telecommunications. Many garages, administrative and business offices
and telephone service centers are in leased quarters. Most of the land and
buildings associated with BellSouth's nonwireline businesses and administrative
functions are leased.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Capital expenditures consist of gross additions to property, plant and
equipment having an estimated service life of one year or more, plus the
incidental costs of preparing the asset for its intended use.
The total investment in property, plant and equipment has increased from
$42.0 billion at January 1, 1994 to $58.0 billion at December 31, 1998, not
including deductions of accumulated depreciation. Significant additions to
property, plant and equipment will be required to meet the growing demand for
telecommunications services and to continually modernize and improve such
services to meet competitive demands. Continued population and economic
expansion is projected by BellSouth in certain growth centers within its
nine-state area during the next five to ten years. In addition, growth in
international markets will require investment to expand existing wireless
networks.
17
BellSouth's capital expenditures for 1994 through 1998 were as follows:
MILLIONS
--------
1998........................................................ $ 5,212
1997........................................................ 4,858
1996........................................................ 4,455
1995........................................................ 4,203
1994........................................................ 3,600
BellSouth projects capital expenditures of approximately $4.8 billion to
$5.2 billion for 1999, consisting primarily of $3.5 billion for its wireline
communications and $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion primarily for BellSouth's
consolidated domestic wireless and international businesses. A majority of the
expenditures will be to expand, enhance and modernize its current wireline and
domestic cellular operating systems, to develop international wireless and other
businesses and for property additions for further construction of PCS systems in
the United States.
During 1998, BellSouth generated substantially all of its funds through
internal sources and, to the extent necessary, from external financing sources.
In 1999, these expenditures are expected to be financed primarily through
internally generated funds and, to the extent necessary, from external financing
sources.
OTHER COMMITMENTS
BellSouth has announced plans to purchase up to $3 billion of its
outstanding Common Stock during 1999. Such purchases are subject to a number of
factors, including market conditions, cash requirements and legal
considerations. BellSouth expects to finance the purchase primarily from
existing cash reserves and through internally generated funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
BellSouth is subject to a number of environmental matters as a result of its
operations and the shared liability provisions related to the divestiture from
AT&T. As a result, BellSouth expects that it will be required to expend funds to
remedy certain facilities, including those Superfund sites for which BellSouth
has been named as a potentially responsible party, for the remediation of sites
with underground fuel storage tanks and other expenses associated with
environmental compliance. At December 31, 1998, BellSouth's recorded liability,
related primarily to remediation of these sites, was approximately $30 million.
BellSouth monitors its operations with respect to potential environmental
issues, including changes in legally mandated standards and remediation
technologies. BellSouth's recorded liability reflects those specific issues
where remediation activities are currently deemed to be probable and where the
cost of remediation is estimable. BellSouth continues to believe that
expenditures in connection with additional remedial actions under the current
environmental protection laws or related matters would not be material to its
results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Following the enactment of the 1996 Act, BellSouth Telecommunications and
various CLECs entered into interconnection agreements providing for, among other
things, the payment of reciprocal compensation for local calls initiated by the
customers of one carrier that are completed on the network of the other carrier.
Numerous CLECs claim entitlement from BellSouth Telecommunications for
compensation associated with dial-up calls originating on BellSouth
Telecommunications' network and connecting with Internet service providers
(ISPs) served by the CLECs' networks. BellSouth Telecommunications has
maintained that, because the FCC has previously determined that Internet calls
over dedicated lines are jurisdictionally interstate, dial-up calls to ISPs are
not local calls for which terminating compensation is due under the
interconnection agreements. The courts and state commissions that
18
have considered the matter have ruled that such calls invoke the reciprocal
compensation obligation. The FCC has indicated that it would release an order in
which it would address the jurisdictional nature of switched ISP traffic.
BellSouth Telecommunications believes that it has a good basis for its claims
that such reciprocal compensation is not owed to the CLECs. However, at December
31, 1998, BellSouth Telecommunications' exposure related to unrecorded amounts
withheld from CLECs was approximately $135 million, including accrued interest.
In addition, BellSouth and its subsidiaries are subject to claims arising in
the ordinary course of business involving allegations of personal injury, breach
of contract, anti-competitive conduct, employment law issues, regulatory matters
and other actions. While complete assurance cannot be given as to the outcome of
any legal claims, BellSouth believes that any financial impact would not be
material to its results of operations, financial position or cash flows. (See
Note N to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SHAREHOLDERS
No matter was submitted to a vote of shareholders in the fourth quarter of
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.
------------------------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION OF BELLSOUTH STOCK
GENERAL
The Articles of Incorporation of BellSouth authorize the issuance of
4,400,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1 per share (the Common Stock),
and 100,000,000 shares of cumulative, first preferred stock, par value $1 per
share (the Preferred Stock). BellSouth's Board of Directors (the Board) is
authorized to provide for the issuance, from time to time, of the Preferred
Stock in series and, as to each series, to fix the number of shares in such
series and the voting, dividend, redemption, liquidation, retirement and
conversion provisions applicable to the shares of such series. No shares of
Preferred Stock are outstanding. The Board has created Series A First Preferred
Stock consisting of 30 million shares (the Series A Preferred Stock) for
possible issuance under BellSouth's Shareholder Rights Plan. (See "Preferred
Stock Purchase Rights" and "Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters.")
DIVIDEND RIGHTS
The holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive, from funds legally
available for the payment thereof, dividends when and as declared by resolution
of the Board. While any series of Preferred Stock is outstanding, no dividends
(other than dividends payable solely in Common Stock) may be declared or paid on
Common Stock, and no Common Stock may be purchased, redeemed or otherwise
acquired for value, (a) unless dividends on all outstanding shares of Preferred
Stock for the current and all past dividend periods have been paid or declared
and provision made for payment thereof and (b) unless all requirements with
respect to any purchase, retirement or sinking fund or funds applicable to all
outstanding series of Preferred Stock have been satisfied. Dividends on the
Preferred Stock would be cumulative.
VOTING RIGHTS
Except in connection with the "business combinations" and "fair price"
provisions discussed below, holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to
one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share held on the applicable record
date with respect to each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of
shareholders, but such holders do not have cumulative voting rights. The holders
of any series of Preferred Stock, when issued, may receive the right to vote as
a class on certain amendments to the
19
Articles of Incorporation and on certain other matters, including the election
of directors in the event of certain defaults, which may include non-payment of
Preferred Stock dividends.
LIQUIDATION RIGHTS
In the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation of BellSouth, holders
of the Common Stock will be entitled to receive, after creditors have been paid
and the holders of the Preferred Stock, if any, have received their liquidation
preferences and accumulated and unpaid dividends, all the remaining assets of
BellSouth.
PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS; CONVERSION RIGHTS; REDEMPTION
No shareholders of any class shall be entitled to any pre-emptive rights to
subscribe for or purchase any shares or other securities issued by BellSouth.
The Common Stock has no conversion rights and is not subject to redemption.
PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
The Board has declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right
(Right) for each share of Common Stock from time to time outstanding. Under
certain circumstances, each Right will entitle the holder to purchase one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value (Common
Equivalent Preferred Stock), which unit is substantially equivalent in voting
and dividend rights to one whole share of the Common Stock, at a price of $43.75
per one-hundredth of a share of Common Equivalent Preferred Stock (the Purchase
Price). The Rights are not presently exercisable and may be exercised only if a
person or group (Acquiring Person) acquires 10% of the outstanding voting stock
of BellSouth without the prior approval of the Board or announces a tender or
exchange offer that would result in ownership of 25% or more of the Common
Stock.
If an Acquiring Person becomes such without prior Board approval, the Rights
are adjusted, and each holder, other than the Acquiring Person, then has the
right to receive, on payment of the Purchase Price, the number of shares of
Common Stock, units of the Common Equivalent Preferred Stock or other assets
having a market value equal to twice the Purchase Price.
The Rights currently trade with the Common Stock and expire in December
1999.
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
The Georgia legislature has enacted legislation which generally prohibits a
corporation which has adopted a by-law electing to be covered thereby (which
BellSouth has done) from engaging in any "business combination" (i.e., a merger,
consolidation or other specified corporate transaction) with an "interested
shareholder" (i.e., a 10% shareholder or an affiliate of the corporation which
was a 10% shareholder at any time within the preceding two years) for a period
of five years from the date such person becomes an interested shareholder,
unless the interested shareholder (a) prior to becoming an interested
shareholder, obtained the approval of the Board of Directors for either the
business combination or the transaction which resulted in the shareholder
becoming an interested shareholder, (b) becomes the owner of at least 90% of the
outstanding voting stock of the corporation in the same transaction in which the
interested shareholder became an interested shareholder, excluding for purposes
of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by officers,
directors, subsidiaries and certain employee stock plans of the corporation or
(c) subsequent to the acquisition of 10% or more of the outstanding voting stock
of the corporation, acquires additional shares resulting in ownership of at
least 90% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and obtains
approval of the business combination by the holders of a majority of the shares
of voting stock of the corporation, other than those shares held by an
interested shareholder, officers, directors, subsidiaries and certain employee
stock plans of the corporation. BellSouth's "business combinations" by-law may
be repealed only by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the continuing
directors and a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the shareholders,
other than interested shareholders, and shall not be effective until 18
20
months after such shareholder vote. The Georgia statute provides that a domestic
corporation which has thus repealed such a by-law may not thereafter readopt the
by-law as provided therein.
FAIR PRICE PROVISIONS
"Fair price" provisions contained in the Articles of Incorporation require,
generally, in connection with a merger or similar transaction between BellSouth
and an "interested shareholder" (a 10% shareholder or an affiliate of BellSouth
which was a 10% shareholder at any time within the preceding two years), the
unanimous approval of BellSouth's directors not affiliated with the interested
shareholder or the affirmative vote of two-thirds of such directors and a
majority of the outstanding shares held by disinterested shareholders, unless
(a) within the past three years the shareholder has been an interested
shareholder and has not increased its shareholdings by more than one percent in
any 12-month period or (b) all shareholders receive at least the same
consideration for their shares as the interested shareholder previously paid.
Additionally, these provisions may be revised or rescinded only upon the
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors not affiliated with an
interested shareholder and a majority of the outstanding shares held by
disinterested shareholders.
BOARD CLASSIFICATION; REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Board classification provisions adopted by the shareholders and contained in
the By-laws prescribe a shareholder vote for approximately one-third of the
directors, instead of all directors, at each annual meeting of shareholders for
a three-year term. Additionally, such provisions provide that shareholders may
remove directors from office only for cause, and can amend the By-laws with
respect to the number of directors or amend the board classification provisions
only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding
shares entitled to vote for the election of directors.
LIMITATION ON SHAREHOLDERS' PROCEEDINGS
BellSouth's By-laws require that notice of shareholder nominations for
directors and of other matters to be brought before annual shareholders'
meetings must be provided in writing to the Secretary of BellSouth not later
than the 75th day nor earlier than the 120th day prior to the date which is the
anniversary of the annual meeting of shareholders held in the prior year. Such
By-laws also provide that a special shareholders' meeting may be called by
shareholders only upon written request signed by the holders of at least
three-quarters of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting.
------------------------
The provisions discussed under the five preceding sub-headings and the
ability to issue Preferred Stock, such as the Series A Preferred Stock described
above, with characteristics established by the Board and without the consent of
the holders of Common Stock and the ability to issue additional shares of Common
Stock may have the effect of discouraging takeover attempts and may also have
the effect of maintaining the position of incumbent management. In addition,
these provisions may have a significant effect on the ability of shareholders of
BellSouth to benefit from certain kinds of transactions that may be opposed by
the incumbent Board.
21
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The executive officers of BellSouth Corporation are listed below:
THIS
OFFICER OFFICE
NAME AGE OFFICE SINCE SINCE
- - ------------------------- --- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------- ------
F. Duane Ackerman 56 Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer 1983 1997
Richard A. Anderson 40 Group President -- BellSouth Business 1993 1998
C. Sidney Boren 55 Executive Staff Officer 1984 1997
Robert L. Capell, III 50 Senior Vice President -- Advanced Data Networks 1995 1998
Keith O. Cowan 42 Vice President -- Corporate Development 1996 1996
Francis A. Dramis, Jr. 50 Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer 1998 1998
Mark E. Droege 45 Vice President -- Financial Management and Treasurer 1996 1996
Jere A. Drummond 59 President and Chief Executive Officer -- BellSouth 1983 1998
Communications Group
Ronald M. Dykes 51 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 1988 1995
Donna A. Lee 44 Senior Vice President -- Managed Network Solutions 1998 1998
David J. Markey 58 Vice President -- Governmental Affairs 1986 1993
Charles C. Miller, III 46 President -- International 1990 1995
Charles R. Morgan 52 Executive Vice President and General Counsel 1998 1998
William C. Pate 38 Vice President -- Advertising and Public Relations 1997 1997
William F. Reddersen 51 Group President -- Value Added Services 1987 1998
John G. Robinson 36 Vice President -- Strategic Management 1997 1998
W. Patrick Shannon 36 Vice President and Controller 1997 1997
Richard D. Sibbernsen 51 Vice President -- Human Resources 1997 1997
Carl E. Swearingen 52 Senior Vice President -- Corporate Compliance and Corporate 1989 1998
Secretary
The following officers of the companies indicated may be deemed to be
executive officers of BellSouth Corporation:
Charles B. Coe 51 President -- BellSouth Telecommunications 1988 1998
Earle Mauldin 58 President and Chief Executive Officer -- BellSouth 1987 1995
Enterprises, Inc.
All of the executive officers of BellSouth, other than Mr. Cowan, Mr.
Dramis, Ms. Lee, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Pate, Mr. Shannon and Mr. Sibbernsen have for
at least the past five years held high level management or executive positions
with BellSouth or its subsidiaries. Mr. Cowan was a partner at the law firm of
Alston & Bird before joining BellSouth in 1996. Mr. Dramis joined BellSouth
December 1, 1998 from CIO Strategy, Inc., a Clifton, Virginia-based information
technology consulting firm. Prior to joining BellSouth in June 1998, Ms. Lee was
employed by AT&T where she was Vice President -- Global Services and responsible
for Internet and data services as well as other areas. Prior to joining
BellSouth in February 1998, Mr. Morgan was a partner with Mayer, Brown & Platt,
a Chicago-based international law firm, and prior to that was Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary of Chiquita Brands International, Inc. Mr. Pate,
prior to joining BellSouth in 1996, was employed by MCI where he was responsible
for that company's domestic and international advertising. Prior to joining
BellSouth in 1997, Mr. Shannon was employed by U S West, Inc. as Chief Financial
Officer of MediaOne, a company that provides cable television services. In 1997,
Mr. Sibbernsen joined BellSouth from TNT Limited, a worldwide transportation
company where he was head of corporate human resources and responsible for that
company's global human resources strategies and programs.
All officers serve until their successors have been elected and qualified.
22
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The principal market for trading in BellSouth Common Stock is the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. (NYSE). BellSouth Common Stock is also listed on the
Boston, Chicago, Pacific and Philadelphia exchanges in the United States and the
London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Swiss exchanges. The ticker symbol for
BellSouth Common Stock is BLS. At February 1, 1999, there were 978,796 holders
of record of BellSouth Common Stock. The market price and dividend information
listed below has been adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effective in
December 1998. Market price data were obtained from the NYSE Composite Tape,
which encompasses trading on the principal United States stock exchanges as well
as off-board trading. High and low prices represent the highest and lowest sales
prices for the periods indicated.
MARKET PRICES PER SHARE
------------------ DIVIDENDS
HIGH LOW DECLARED
------- ------- ----------
1996
First Quarter................................................................... $22 15/16 $18 $ .18
Second Quarter.................................................................. 21 3/16 17 5/8 .18
Third Quarter................................................................... 21 11/16 17 5/8 .18
Fourth Quarter.................................................................. 22 18 1/8 .18
1997
First Quarter................................................................... $23 13/16 $19 1/16 $ .18
Second Quarter.................................................................. 24 5/16 19 11/16 .18
Third Quarter................................................................... 24 1/2 21 21/32 .18
Fourth Quarter.................................................................. 29 1/16 22 5/8 .18
1998
First Quarter................................................................... $34 7/32 $27 1/16 $ .18
Second Quarter.................................................................. 34 3/4 30 1/2 .18
Third Quarter................................................................... 39 1/16 32 5/32 .18
Fourth Quarter.................................................................. 50 36 5/8 .19
STOCK TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. is BellSouth's stock transfer agent
and registrar.
23
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating Revenues................................ $23,123 $20,561 $19,040 $17,886 $16,845
Operating Expenses (1)............................ 17,219 15,185 14,261 14,594 12,787
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating Income.................................. 5,904 5,376 4,779 3,292 4,058
Interest Expense.................................. 837 761 721 724 666
Gain on Sale of Operations (2).................... 335 787 442 -- --
Other Income, net................................. 349 19 108 20 11
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income Before Income Taxes and Extraordinary
Losses........................................... 5,751 5,421 4,608 2,588 3,403
Provision for Income Taxes........................ 2,224 2,151 1,745 1,024 1,243
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income Before Extraordinary Losses................ 3,527 3,270 2,863 1,564 2,160
Extraordinary Losses, net of tax (3).............. -- (9) -- (2,796) --
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net Income (Loss)............................... $ 3,527 $ 3,261 $ 2,863 $(1,232) $ 2,160
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Earnings (Loss) Per Share (4):
BASIC:
Income Before Extraordinary Losses.............. $ 1.79 $ 1.65 $ 1.44 $ .79 $ 1.09
Extraordinary Losses, net of tax (3)............ -- -- -- (1.41) --
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net Income (Loss) (5)........................... $ 1.79 $ 1.64 $ 1.44 $ (.62) $ 1.09
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
DILUTED:
Income Before Extraordinary Losses.............. $ 1.78 $ 1.64 $ 1.44 $ .79 $ 1.09
Extraordinary Losses, net of tax (3)............ -- -- -- (1.41) --
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net Income (Loss)............................... $ 1.78 $ 1.64 $ 1.44 $ (.62) $ 1.09
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Dividends Declared Per Common Share (4)........... $ .73 $ .72 $ .72 $ .71 $ .69
Book Value Per Share (4).......................... $ 8.26 $ 7.65 $ 6.68 $ 5.95 $ 7.24
Return to Average Common Equity................... 22.3% 22.8% 22.4% (9.2%) 15.4%
Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding
(millions) (4):
Basic........................................... 1,970 1,984 1,987 1,986 1,985
Diluted......................................... 1,984 1,989 1,992 1,989 1,986
Return on Average Total Capital................... 15.1% 15.8% 15.0% (2.7%) 11.5%
Total Assets...................................... $39,410 $36,301 $32,568 $31,880 $34,397
Capital Expenditures.............................. $ 5,212 $ 4,858 $ 4,455 $ 4,203 $ 3,600
Long-Term Debt.................................... $ 8,715 $ 7,348 $ 8,116 $ 7,924 $ 7,435
Debt Ratio at End of Period....................... 43.0% 42.1% 43.5% 46.7% 39.3%
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges................ 7.09 7.17 6.55 4.24 5.34
Total Employees................................... 88,450 81,000 81,241 87,571 92,121
Telephone Employees (6)........................... 60,561 57,619 62,425 68,585 73,764
Telephone Employees per 10,000 Switched Access
Lines............................................ 25.2 24.8 28.2 32.5 36.5
Business Volumes (7):
Network Equivalent Access Lines in Service
(thousands):
Switched Access Lines......................... 24,025 23,201 22,135 21,133 20,220
Access Line Equivalents....................... 13,162 9,218 6,158 4,723 3,716
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total Equivalent Access Lines................. 37,187 32,419 28,293 25,856 23,936
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Access Minutes of Use (millions)................ 104,373 97,106 88,861 81,608 74,666
Long Distance Messages (millions)............... 784 894 1,023 1,374 1,559
Wireless Customers (thousands) (8):
Domestic...................................... 4,796 4,193 3,643 2,847 2,156
International................................. 3,439 1,882 1,244 655 361
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total Wireless Customers.................... 8,235 6,075 4,887 3,502 2,517
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
- - ------------------------------
(1) Operating Expenses for 1995 include a work force reduction charge of $1,082,
which reduced net income by $663.
(2) For 1998, represents the pretax gains associated with the sale of BellSouth
New Zealand as well as additional proceeds received in 1998 on the 1997 sale
of ITT World Directories, Inc. The pretax gains on those sales were $180
($110 after tax) and $155 ($96 after tax), respectively. For 1997,
represents the pretax gains on the sale of Optus Communications and ITT
World Directories, Inc. The pretax gains on such sales were $578 ($352 after
tax) and $209 ($128 after tax), respectively. See Note B to the Consolidated
Financial Statements. For 1996, represents the pretax gain on the sale of
BellSouth's paging business of $442 ($344 after tax).
(3) For 1997, reflects charges related to the extinguishment of long-term debt
issues. See Note E to the Consolidated Financial Statements. For 1995,
reflects charges of $2,718 ($1.37 per share) for the discontinuance of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the
Effects of Certain Types of Regulation," and $78 ($.04 per share) related to
the refinancing of long-term debt issues.
(4) Number of shares and per share amounts for prior years have been restated
for a 2-for-1 stock split which occurred in 1998.
(5) Basic earnings per share amounts for 1997 do not sum due to rounding.
(6) Telephone employees exclude those employees in BellSouth Telecommunications'
subsidiaries which are unrelated to telephone operations.
(7) Prior period operating data are revised at later dates to reflect the most
current information. The above information reflects the latest data
available for the periods indicated.
(8) Calculated on the equity basis, which includes customers served based on
BellSouth's ownership percentage in all markets served.
24
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
BellSouth Corporation (BellSouth) is a holding company headquartered in
Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has two principal and wholly-owned subsidiaries,
BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. (BellSouth Telecommunications) and BellSouth
Enterprises, Inc. (BellSouth Enterprises). For management purposes, the
operations of these subsidiaries are organized into five operating segments:
wireline communications; domestic wireless; international operations;
advertising and publishing; and other.
Wireline communications is comprised primarily of the operations of
BellSouth Telecommunications. BellSouth Telecommunications operates in nine
Southeastern states and primarily provides (i) local exchange and long distance
service within but not between geographic areas, called Local Access and
Transport Areas (LATAs), and (ii) network access services to enable interLATA
communications using the facilities of long distance carriers. Approximately
71%, 74% and 77% of BellSouth's Total Operating Revenues for the years ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, were from the wireline
communications business. Charges for local service, network access and long
distance service for the year ended December 31, 1998 accounted for
approximately 57%, 28% and 4%, respectively, of the revenues from the wireline
communications business. The remainder of such revenues was derived principally
from sales and maintenance of customer premises equipment and other nonregulated
services provided by BellSouth Telecommunications.
Domestic wireless is comprised of cellular and personal communications
service (PCS) businesses within the U.S. Approximately 12%, 13% and 12% of
BellSouth's Total Operating Revenues for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996, respectively, were from the domestic wireless business. In addition,
BellSouth Enterprises has noncontrolling financial interests in a number of
wireless businesses whose revenues are not reflected in operating revenues
because of the method of accounting for such investments.
International operations is comprised primarily of cellular and PCS
businesses in nine countries in Latin America as well as China, Denmark,
Germany, India and Israel. Approximately 9%, 5% and 3% of BellSouth's Total
Operating Revenues for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively, were from international operations. In addition, BellSouth
Enterprises has noncontrolling financial interests in a number of international
businesses whose revenues are not reflected in Total Operating Revenues because
of the method of accounting for such investments.
BellSouth's advertising and publishing business is comprised of companies
that publish, print, sell advertising in, and perform related services
concerning alphabetical and classified telephone directories. Advertising and
publishing revenues accounted for approximately 8%, 9% and 9%, respectively, of
BellSouth's Total Operating Revenues for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996.
BellSouth's other operating segment is comprised primarily of companies
providing Internet access, wireless data, entertainment and various start-up
operations.
25
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
PERCENT CHANGE
----------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
Net Income (a)..................................... $ 3,527 $ 3,261 $ 2,863 8.2% 13.9%
Earnings Per Share (a):
Basic............................................ $ 1.79 $ 1.64 $ 1.44 9.1 13.9
Diluted.......................................... $ 1.78 $ 1.64 $ 1.44 8.5 13.9
- - ------------------------
(a) Net Income and Earnings Per Share for 1997 include an Extraordinary Loss on
Early Extinguishment of Debt of $9.
Net Income for 1998 increased $266 (8.2%) compared to 1997. Diluted Earnings
Per Share increased $.14 (8.5%) and Basic Earnings Per Share increased $.15
(9.1%) when compared to 1997. The increases were due primarily to continued
strong growth in key business volumes in BellSouth's wireline communications
business and improved results from BellSouth's international operations. The
increases also include an after-tax gain of $110 resulting from the sale in 1998
of BellSouth New Zealand, an after-tax gain of $96 resulting from additional
proceeds received during 1998 in connection with the sale of ITT World
Directories and additional income of $62 which resulted from the early repayment
of a loan. (See Note B to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) Net Income
during 1997 was reduced by an after-tax charge of $47 related to a regulatory
settlement in South Carolina. The increases were partially offset by gains on
the sales of Optus Communications ($352 after tax) and ITT World Directories
($128 after tax), which occurred during 1997.
Net Income for 1997 increased $398 (13.9%), and Diluted Earnings Per Share
increased $.20 (13.9%) compared to 1996. The increases were primarily
attributable to the after-tax gains on the sale in 1997 of Optus Communications
($352) and ITT World Directories ($128). (See Note B to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.) In addition, the increases were due to continued strong
growth in key business volumes and expense savings within the wireline
communications business due to employee reductions under BellSouth
Telecommunications' work force reduction plan initiated in 1995. The increases
were partially offset by a $344 after-tax gain on the sale of BellSouth's paging
business during the first quarter of 1996. The increases were further offset by
an after-tax charge of $47 related to a regulatory settlement in South Carolina
during the second quarter of 1997.
26
VOLUMES OF BUSINESS
WIRELINE COMMUNICATIONS VOLUMES
Equivalent Access Lines in Service at December 31 (thousands) (a):
PERCENT CHANGE
----------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
By Type:
Switched Access Lines:
Residence..................................... 16,457 15,841 15,140 3.9% 4.6%
Business...................................... 7,294 7,088 6,732 2.9 5.3
Other......................................... 274 272 263 0.7 3.4
--------- --------- ---------
Total Switched Access Lines................. 24,025 23,201 22,135 3.6 4.8
--------- --------- ---------
Access Line Equivalents (b)(c):
Basic Rate ISDN............................... 178 143 96 24.5 49.0
Primary Rate ISDN............................. 526 288 98 82.6 193.9
DS0........................................... 697 644 657 8.2 (2.0)
DS1........................................... 4,343 3,400 2,299 27.7 47.9
DS3........................................... 7,418 4,743 3,008 56.4 57.7
--------- --------- ---------
Total Access Line Equivalents............... 13,162 9,218 6,158 42.8 49.7
--------- --------- ---------
Total Equivalent Access Lines in
Service................................. 37,187 32,419 28,293 14.7 14.6
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Switched Access Lines By State
(thousands) (a):
Florida......................................... 6,496 6,237 5,899 4.2 5.7
Georgia......................................... 4,159 3,990 3,772 4.2 5.8
Tennessee....................................... 2,677 2,623 2,544 2.1 3.1
North Carolina.................................. 2,444 2,337 2,213 4.6 5.6
Louisiana....................................... 2,344 2,267 2,178 3.4 4.1
Alabama......................................... 1,960 1,928 1,857 1.7 3.8
South Carolina.................................. 1,456 1,404 1,344 3.7 4.5
Mississippi..................................... 1,280 1,238 1,193 3.4 3.8
Kentucky........................................ 1,209 1,177 1,135 2.7 3.7
--------- --------- ---------
Total Switched Access Lines............... 24,025 23,201 22,135 3.6 4.8
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
- - --------------
(a) Prior period operating data are often revised at later dates to reflect
updated information. The above information reflects the latest data
available for the periods indicated.
(b) Access line equivalents are based on conversion factors that result from the
estimated capacity of one switched access line. The conversion factors used
are as follows: Basic Rate ISDN, 2.5/1; Primary Rate ISDN, 24/1; DS0, 1/1;
DS1, 24/1; and DS3, 672/1. Basic Rate ISDN lines are included in BellSouth
Telecommunications' switched access line count as equaling one line. The
amounts shown as access line equivalents are the estimated incremental
equivalent access lines resulting from these lines.
(c) Revenues associated with digital and data services are derived from the sale
of specific high-bandwidth products provisioned over transmission lines with
DS0 or greater capacity. While access line equivalent counts have a
directional relationship with digital and data revenues, growth rates cannot
be compared on an equivalent basis.
27
Switched residence lines increased by 3.9% in the period ended December 31,
1998, compared to a growth rate of 4.6% in 1997. In addition to continued
economic growth in the region, the growth rate reflects demand for additional
lines related to home office purposes, access to on-line computer services and
children's phones. The number of such additional lines increased by 375,000
(19.9%) to 2,259,000 and accounted for approximately 61% of the overall increase
in switched residence access lines since December 31, 1997. The slower growth
rate in 1998 primarily reflects the higher penetration rates in the residential
market.
Switched business lines increased by 2.9% in the period ended December 31,
1998, compared to a growth rate of 5.3% in 1997. The decrease in the growth rate
was primarily due to the migration of business customers from traditional
business line services to digital and data services and, to a lesser degree, by
the increased presence of facilities-based competition.
Access line equivalents increased by 42.8% in 1998 compared to an increase
of 49.7% in 1997. The increase is attributable to continued growth in demand for
digital and data lines that provide services such as bulk data transmission,
video conferencing, ATMs, check/credit card authentication, multimedia and
interconnection with wireless networks.
Total equivalent access lines at December 31, 1998 include 520,000 resold
lines, an increase of 299,000 over the prior year.
PERCENT CHANGE
------------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Access Minutes of Use (millions).............. 104,373 97,106 88,861 7.5% 9.3%
Access minutes of use represent the volume of traffic carried by long
distance carriers between LATAs, both interstate and intrastate, using BellSouth
Telecommunications' local facilities. In 1998, access minutes of use increased
by 7,267 million (7.5%) compared to an increase of 9.3% in 1997. The increases
in access minutes of use were primarily attributable to access line growth,
promotions by the long distance carriers and intraLATA long distance
competition, which has the effect of increasing access minutes of use while
reducing long distance messages carried over BellSouth Telecommunications'
facilities. The growth rate in access minutes of use continues to be negatively
impacted by competition and the migration of long distance carriers to
categories of service (e.g., special access) that have a fixed charge as opposed
to a volume-driven charge and to high-capacity services.
PERCENT CHANGE
------------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Long Distance Messages (millions)............. 784 894 1,023 (12.3%) (12.6%)
Long distance messages are comprised of Message Telecommunications Service
and Wide Area Telecommunications Service within LATAs. Long distance messages
decreased by 110 million (12.3%) in 1998 compared to a decrease of 12.6% in
1997. The decrease in 1998 was primarily attributable to continued competition
from long distance carriers in the intraLATA long distance market as well as the
increased penetration of local area calling plans (LACPs) in existing calling
plan areas. Effects of competition and the increasing penetration in existing
LACPs result in the transfer of calls from long distance to the access and local
service categories, respectively, but the corresponding revenues are not
generally shifted at commensurate rates. Competition in the intraLATA long
distance market will continue to adversely impact long distance message volumes.
28
DOMESTIC WIRELESS VOLUMES
Cellular and PCS customers served at December 31 (equity basis) (thousands):
PERCENT CHANGE
------------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Customers............................................. 4,796 4,193 3,643 14.4% 15.1%
Domestic wireless customers (equity basis) increased by 603,000 (14.4%)
during 1998 compared to 550,000 (15.1%) during 1997. The decrease in the growth
rate is primarily due to a reorganization of BellSouth's ownership interests in
its Los Angeles and Houston/Galveston cellular investments. If all periods were
adjusted for the effects of the ownership changes, domestic wireless customers
would have increased 18.6% and 15.4%, respectively, for 1998 and 1997. Average
revenue per wireless customer decreased from 1997 to 1998. The decrease was due
primarily to the continuing shifts to lower-priced usage plans by existing
customers in response to competition and increased penetration into lower-usage
market segments. BellSouth expects these trends to continue.
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS VOLUMES
International wireless customers served at December 31 (equity basis)
(thousands):
PERCENT CHANGE
------------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Customers (a)(b)...................................... 3,439 1,882 1,244 82.7% 51.3%
- - ------------------------------
(a) International cellular customers at December 31, 1998 includes 247,000 net
customer additions resulting from BellSouth's purchase of additional
ownership interests in several Latin American markets and excludes the
customers of BellSouth New Zealand, which was sold in 1998. International
cellular customers at December 31, 1997 excludes the customers of Optus
Communications, which was sold in 1997.
(b) Excluding the customers resulting from the 1998 purchases (see note a), and
excluding the customers of Optus Communications and BellSouth New Zealand
from all periods, the number of international cellular customers (equity
basis) increased by 75% and 108.9%, respectively, for the years ended
December 31, 1998 and 1997.
International cellular customers (equity basis) increased by 1,557,000
(82.7%) since December 31, 1997 to 3,439,000. Such growth reflects increased
demand for wireless services in the international markets which BellSouth serves
as well as the effect of BellSouth's purchase of additional ownership interests
in several of its Latin American markets. This growth also included an increase
of 350,000 equity-basis customers resulting from the start-up of operations in
Brazil in mid-1998. These increases were offset by the sale of BellSouth's 65%
ownership interest in its operations in New Zealand during the fourth quarter of
1998. Excluding the effects of the purchases of additional ownership interest
from the 1998 period as well as the customers of BellSouth New Zealand from the
1997 period, equity-basis customers increased 75% from 1997 to 1998. Growth in
equity-basis customers and total minutes of use for international cellular
properties remained strong, primarily due to demand stimulated by successful
marketing programs such as prepaid cellular service and enhanced services and
due to underdeveloped land-line service. Average minutes of use per
international customer, however, declined due to increased penetration of
lower-usage market segments.
International cellular customers increased by 638,000 (51.3%) from December
31, 1996 to 1,882,000 at December 31, 1997. Such growth reflects increased
demand for wireless services in the international markets which BellSouth serves
and the impact of the acquisitions of cellular properties in Nicaragua, Ecuador
and Peru, partially offset by the sale of Optus Communications. Growth in total
minutes of use for international cellular properties remained strong, primarily
due to demand stimulated by market-driven pricing programs, enhanced services
and underdeveloped land-line service. However,
29
average minutes of use per international customer declined due to the addition
of customers in lower-usage market segments.
OPERATING REVENUES
Total Operating Revenues increased $2,562 (12.5%) in 1998 compared to an
increase of $1,521 (8.0%) during 1997. The increases resulted primarily from
increases in revenues from BellSouth's wireline communications segment coupled
with significant increases in revenues from BellSouth's international
operations. The increase in revenues includes revenues from certain businesses
in BellSouth's international operations and other services that had previously
been accounted for under the equity method and were consolidated for the first
time in either fourth quarter of 1997 or first quarter of 1998. If these
operations had been consolidated in all periods presented, and excluding the
effect of the South Carolina settlement in 1997, Total Operating Revenues would
have increased approximately $2,020 (9.6%) during 1998 and $1,754 (9.1%) during
1997.
The components of Total Operating Revenues were as follows:
PERCENT CHANGE
----------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
Wireline communications:
Local service................................ $ 9,399 $ 8,499 $ 8,082 10.6% 5.2%
Network access............................... 4,632 4,483 4,365 3.3 2.7
Long distance................................ 713 734 794 (2.9) (7.6)
Other wireline............................... 1,657 1,462 1,383 13.3 5.7
Domestic wireless.............................. 2,723 2,581 2,204 5.5 17.1
International operations....................... 1,995 948 547 110.4 73.3
Advertising and publishing..................... 1,891 1,837 1,651 2.9 11.3
Other services................................. 113 17 14 N/A 21.4
--------- --------- ---------
Total Operating Revenues..................... $ 23,123 $ 20,561 $ 19,040 12.5 8.0
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
LOCAL SERVICE revenues reflect amounts billed to customers for local
exchange services, which include connection to the network, optional services
such as custom calling features and certain digital and data services. Local
service revenues for 1998 increased $900 (10.6%) compared to an increase of $417
(5.2%) in 1997.
The increase for 1998 was due primarily to a 3.6% increase in switched
access lines since December 31, 1997, an increase of $246 due to higher customer
demand for optional services such as custom calling features, and an increase in
revenues from the provision of digital and data services. Also contributing were
net rate impacts of $161. These impacts were due primarily to revenue sharing
accruals recorded during 1997 as well as a nonrecurring revenue reduction of $64
in 1997 related to the local service portion of the regulatory settlement in
South Carolina.
The increase in 1997 was due primarily to a 4.8% growth in switched access
lines since December 31, 1996. Also contributing was an increase of $241 due to
higher customer demand for optional services. Such increases were partially
offset by rate impacts which reduced revenues by $252 primarily due to revenue
sharing accruals recorded in 1997 and a nonrecurring revenue reduction of $64
related to the local service portion of the regulatory settlement in South
Carolina.
NETWORK ACCESS revenues result from the provision of network access services
to long distance carriers to provide telecommunications services between LATAs,
both interstate and intrastate, and from end-user charges collected from
residential and business customers. Network access revenues also include special
access charges for the provision of certain digital and data services. Network
access revenues increased $149 (3.3%) in 1998 compared to an increase of $118
(2.7%) in 1997.
30
The increase in 1998 was attributable primarily to an increase of $148 due
to higher demand for special access services and increases in end-user charges
attributable to increases in switched access lines. Special access revenues are
comprised primarily of revenues from the provision of digital and data services.
Such increases were partially offset by rate reductions which decreased revenues
by $122 since December 31, 1997.
The increase in 1997 was attributable primarily to growth in access minutes
of use of 9.3%, an increase of $97 due to higher demand for special access
services and an increase in end-user charges attributable to growth in the
number of switched access lines. Such increases were partially offset by rate
reductions which decreased revenues by $243.
LONG DISTANCE revenues are received from the provision of long distance
services within LATAs. These services include intraLATA service beyond the local
calling area; Wide Area Telecommunications Service (WATS or 800 services) for
customers with highly concentrated demand; and special services, such as
transport of voice, data and video. Long distance revenues decreased $21 (2.9%)
in 1998 compared to a decrease of $60 (7.6%) in 1997.
The decrease for 1998 was primarily attributable to continuing competition
from long distance carriers in the intraLATA long distance market as well as the
increased penetration of LACPs in existing calling plan areas. The decreases
were partially offset by increases in charges to long distance carriers for
messages originating on BellSouth's public payphones as well as increased
revenues from the provision of digital and data services.
The decrease for 1997 was primarily attributable to continuing competition
from long distance carriers in the intraLATA long distance market as well as the
continuing expansion of LACPs, the effect of which reduced long distance
messages by 12.6%. The decrease was partially offset by $62 related to revenues
from long distance carriers beginning in the second quarter of 1997 for long
distance messages originating on BellSouth Telecommunications' public payphones.
The overall decline in intraLATA long distance revenues is expected to
continue over the long term.
OTHER WIRELINE revenues are principally comprised of revenues from customer
premises equipment sales, maintenance services and other services (primarily
inside wire, billing and collection and voice messaging services) offered by
BellSouth Telecommunications. Other wireline revenues also include billings for
interconnections by unaffiliated wireless carriers with BellSouth
Telecommunications' network. Other wireline revenues increased $195 (13.3%) in
1998 compared to an increase of $79 (5.7%) in 1997.
The increase for 1998 primarily reflects increased demand and prices for
nonregulated services totaling $162.
The increase for 1997 reflects increased demand and prices for nonregulated
services and higher billing-related fees at BellSouth Telecommunications
totaling $138. The increase was partially offset by the effect in 1996 of
positive rate impacts and the sale of a subsidiary which performed computer
maintenance.
DOMESTIC WIRELESS revenues include revenues from the domestic cellular and
PCS businesses. BellSouth's interests in the net income or loss of the
unconsolidated domestic wireless businesses within BellSouth Enterprises, which
are accounted for under the equity method of accounting, are recorded in Other
Income, net.
Domestic wireless revenues increased $142 (5.5%) in 1998 compared to an
increase of $377 (17.1%) in 1997. The increases for both years were primarily
due to continued growth in the domestic customer base. The decline in the growth
rate for 1998 is primarily attributable to decreases in per-customer revenue
which resulted from the increased use of lower-priced usage plans by existing
higher-
31
usage customers in response to competition and increased penetration into
lower-usage market segments.
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS revenues result primarily from wireless businesses
in Latin America. BellSouth's interests in the net income or loss of the
unconsolidated international businesses within BellSouth Enterprises, which are
accounted for under the equity method of accounting, are recorded in Other
Income, net.
International operations revenues increased $1,047 (110.4%) in 1998 compared
to an increase of $401 (73.3%) in 1997. Such increases include the revenues of
certain operations which had previously been accounted for under the equity
method and were consolidated for the first time in either first quarter 1998 or
fourth quarter 1997. If these operations had been consolidated in all periods
presented, international operations revenues would have increased approximately
$608 (43.8%) and $553 (66.3%), respectively, in 1998 and 1997. Such increases
were primarily due to continued growth in the customer bases of BellSouth's
established Latin American markets in 1998 and 1997 as well as the acquisition
in 1997 of wireless operations in Peru and Ecuador.
ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING revenues include revenues derived from
publishing, printing, selling advertising in, and performing related services
concerning, alphabetical and classified telephone directories. Advertising and
publishing revenues increased $54 (2.9%) in 1998 compared to a $186 (11.3%)
increase in 1997.
The increase for 1998 primarily reflects volume growth and price increases,
partially offset by the effects of one-time adjustments in 1997. The revenue
growth rate associated with increases in volume and pricing for 1998 was 4.1%.
The increase for 1997 primarily reflects volume growth, price increases and
the reclassification to Operating Expenses of commissions associated with
national accounts which had previously reduced revenues. The revenue growth rate
associated with increases in volume and pricing for 1997 was 6.7%.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Total Operating Expenses increased $2,034 (13.4%) in 1998 compared to an
increase of $924 (6.5%) in 1997. Such increases include expenses from certain
businesses in BellSouth's international operations and other segments that had
previously been accounted for under the equity method. These operations were
consolidated for the first time in either first quarter 1998 or fourth quarter
1997. If these operations had been consolidated in all periods presented, Total
Operating Expenses would have increased $1,501 (9.5%) and $1,094 (7.5%) during
1998 and 1997, respectively. The 1998 increase was primarily attributable to
growth within BellSouth's wireline communications and international operations.
The 1997 increase was primarily attributable to growth within BellSouth's
domestic wireless and international operations. The components of Total
Operating Expenses were as follows:
PERCENT CHANGE
------------------------
1998 VS 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Depreciation and amortization.............. $ 4,357 $ 3,964 $ 3,719 9.9% 6.6%
--------- --------- ---------
Other operating expenses:
Cost of services and products............ 7,080 6,254 6,072 13.2 3.0
Selling, general and administrative...... 5,782 4,967 4,470 16.4 11.1
--------- --------- ---------
12,862 11,221 10,542 14.6 6.4
--------- --------- ---------
Total Operating Expenses............... $ 17,219 $ 15,185 $ 14,261 13.4 6.5
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION increased $393 (9.9%) in 1998 compared to a
$245 (6.6%) increase in 1997. Adjusted for the effects of expenses related to
operations which were previously accounted for
32
under the equity method, the growth rates for Depreciation and amortization for
1998 and 1997 would have been $270 (6.6%) and $247 (6.4%), respectively.
The 1998 increase was primarily due to higher levels of property, plant and
equipment in the international operations and domestic wireless segments
resulting from the continued growth in the related customer bases and continued
modernization of the networks utilized. The increase also includes additional
amortization expense related to goodwill resulting from BellSouth's purchase of
additional ownership interests in several of its Latin American operations as
well as amortization of new wireless licenses.
The 1997 increase was due primarily to higher levels of property, plant and
equipment since December 31, 1996 resulting from continued growth in the
customer base for the international operations and domestic wireless businesses
and continued modernization of the networks.
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES are comprised of Cost of services and products and
Selling, general and administrative. Cost of services and products includes
employee and employee-related expenses associated with network repair and
maintenance, material and supplies expense, cost of tangible goods sold and
other expenses associated with providing services. Selling, general and
administrative include expenses related to sales activities such as salaries,
commissions, benefits, travel, marketing and advertising expenses and
administrative expenses.
Other operating expenses increased $1,641 (14.6%) in 1998 compared to an
increase of $679 (6.4%) in 1997. Adjusted for the effects of expenses related to
operations that were previously accounted for under the equity method, the
growth rate for Other operating expenses for 1998 and 1997 would have been
$1,231 (10.6%) and $847 (7.9%), respectively.
The 1998 increase was primarily due to increased expenses in the wireline
communications business of $561. These increases were primarily attributable to
increased labor costs of $263 in the telephone operations associated with higher
customer service staffing levels, increased expenses of $164 at unregulated
subsidiaries associated with higher business volumes, and payments to the fund
(Universal Service Fund) provided for by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the
1996 Act).
Also contributing to the 1998 increase was growth in expenses within
BellSouth's international operations and domestic wireless businesses of $375
and $112. Such increases reflect additional marketing, customer acquisition, and
operational costs which are associated with higher levels of sales and expanded
operations. The increase in other operating expenses also reflects expenses
related to start-up operations.
The 1997 increase was due primarily to increased expenses of $436 and $234
related to the international and domestic wireless customer bases, respectively,
reflecting additional marketing and operating costs associated with higher sales
and expanded operations. The increase in Other operating expenses also reflects
increased expenses of $167 in the advertising and publishing operations.
At the wireline communications business, Other operating expenses in 1997
increased $12 due principally to costs associated with 1996 Act compliance of
$230, as well as increased costs due to higher business volumes, new service
offerings and intensified marketing and advertising efforts. The increases were
partially offset by an estimated reduction of $232 in employee-related costs in
the core wireline communications business, including expenses for employee
benefits. The decrease in employee-related costs reflected net employee
reductions in BellSouth Telecommunications' telephone operations of
approximately 4,800 since December 31, 1996, partially offset by annual
compensation increases. The employee reductions were primarily attributable to a
work force reduction plan which was initiated in 1995 and substantially
completed in 1997. The increase in Other operating expenses at BellSouth
Telecommunications was further offset by the 1996 sale of a subsidiary which
performed computer maintenance.
33
OTHER INCOME STATEMENT ITEMS
PERCENT CHANGE
------------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Interest Expense................................... $ 837 $ 761 $ 721 10.0% 5.5%
Gain on Sale of Operations......................... 335 787 442 -- --
Other Income, net.................................. 349 19 108 -- --
Provision for Income Taxes......................... 2,224 2,151 1,745 3.4 23.3
INTEREST EXPENSE includes interest on debt, certain other accrued
liabilities and capital leases, partially offset by interest capitalized as a
cost of installing equipment and constructing plant. Interest Expense increased
$76 (10.0%) in 1998 compared to an increase of $40 (5.5%) in 1997.
The increase for 1998 was due primarily to higher average debt balances,
partially offset by an increase in interest capitalized for investments being
developed. The increase in average debt balances and related interest expense
primarily reflects the consolidation of several international operations which
had previously been accounted for under the equity method.
The increase for 1997 was primarily attributable to higher average debt
balances and interest rates on short-term borrowings.
GAIN ON SALE OF OPERATIONS for 1998 represents the pretax gains on the sale
of BellSouth New Zealand and additional proceeds received from the sale of ITT
World Directories of $180 and $155, respectively.
Gain on Sale of Operations for 1997 represents the pretax gains on the sales
of BellSouth's investments in Optus Communications and ITT World Directories,
which totaled $578 and $209, respectively.
OTHER INCOME, NET includes earnings and losses from unconsolidated
affiliates; income and losses from the sale of investments; interest and
dividend income; minority interests; and other nonoperating items. Other Income,
net increased $330 in 1998 compared to a decrease of $89 in 1997.
The increase from 1997 to 1998 was primarily attributable to improved equity
in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, increased interest income, and
additional income from the settlement of a loan. (See Note B to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.) This increase was partially offset by a decrease in other
nonoperating items.
Equity in earnings (losses) was $92 in 1998 compared to $(242) in 1997. The
improvement in overall equity in earnings primarily reflects (1) the first-time
consolidation in 1998 of the wireless data communications business; (2) more
favorable results at other unconsolidated international operations; and (3)
following its sale in July 1997, the cessation of recording losses incurred by
Optus Communications. The improvement was partially offset by expenses
associated with the start-up operations in Brazil in 1998.
The decrease in Other Income, net in 1997 was primarily attributable to
increased equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net, partially offset
by income from the sale of Bellcore, an increase in interest income and other
nonoperating items.
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates was $(242) in 1997 compared to
$(76) in 1996. The higher overall equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates
reflects losses incurred by recently acquired and start-up international
businesses, principally in Latin America, as well as increased losses in the
wireless data communications business and lower earnings from unconsolidated
domestic wireless operations. The increased losses were partially offset by more
favorable results at other unconsolidated international operations, principally
in Israel, Germany and Panama.
34
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES increased $73 (3.4%) in 1998 compared to an
increase of $406 (23.3%) in 1997. BellSouth's effective tax rates were 38.7%,
39.7% and 37.9% in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
The lower effective tax rate in 1998 resulted primarily from improved
results in foreign equity-method subsidiaries which are recorded net of tax
benefits or expense. The effective rate was further reduced by a change in the
mix of income among taxing jurisdictions. The decreases were partially offset by
a reduction in the benefit from investment tax credits.
The higher effective tax rate for 1997 compared to 1996 was due primarily to
a higher tax than book basis for a paging business which was sold in 1996. The
difference in the basis resulted in a lower gain on sale for computing tax
expense.
A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rates to these
effective tax rates is provided in Note J to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
RESULTS OF SEGMENT OPERATIONS
BellSouth's reportable segments reflect strategic business units that offer
products and services and/or serve different customers. They are managed
differently because each business requires different technologies and/or
marketing strategies. BellSouth evaluates performance based on the Net Income,
exclusive of certain intercompany and certain nonoperating transactions, of each
strategic business unit.
PERCENT CHANGE
------------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Segment Income:
Wireline Communications.................................... $ 2,751 $ 2,314 $ 2,005 18.9% 15.4%
Domestic Wireless.......................................... 283 333 303 (15.0) 9.9
International Operations................................... (62) (187) (190) 66.8 1.6
Advertising & Publishing................................... 530 543 526 (2.4) 3.2
Other...................................................... (210) (182) (116) (15.4) (56.9)
WIRELINE COMMUNICATIONS. Segment income for 1998 increased $437 (18.9%)
compared to $309 (15.4%) for 1997. The increase in both years was primarily
attributable to significant increases in revenues driven by increasing demand
for digital and data services, optional and unregulated services, and services
provided by unregulated subsidiaries. The increase in 1998 revenues was
partially offset by increases in other operating expenses of $561 due primarily
to increased staffing levels within customer service functions and increased
costs at unregulated subsidiaries. 1997 expenses were relatively flat with
increases in costs associated with 1996 Act compliance being offset by reduced
employee costs. In addition, segment income for 1997 was reduced by an after-tax
charge of $47 relating to a regulatory settlement in South Carolina.
DOMESTIC WIRELESS. Segment income for 1998 decreased $50 (15.0%) compared
to an increase of $30 (9.9%) for 1997. Strong customer growth drove increases in
revenues for both years, although revenue per customer decreased as a result of
increased competition, increased penetration into lower-usage market segments
and the increased use of package pricing plans for existing higher-usage
customers. Total expenses increased during both years due to marketing costs
driven by competitive initiatives, customer acquisition costs and depreciation
associated with continuing build-out and upgrade of the network. 1998 expenses
as compared to 1997 increased due primarily to new marketing initiatives,
customer acquisition costs associated with higher customer additions and
expenses related to the build-out of the PCS network. 1997 expenses as compared
to 1996 increased primarily due to costs associated with the start-up of PCS
operations.
35
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS. Losses for the segment were $(62) in 1998
compared to $(187) in 1997 and $(190) in 1996. The overall improvement from 1997
to 1998 primarily reflects (1) improved operating results in BellSouth's
operations in Germany, Venezuela, Argentina and Denmark and (2) following its
sale in July 1997, the cessation of recording losses of Optus Communications.
The improvement was offset by losses associated with the start-up of BellSouth's
Brazilian operations as well as lower results at BellSouth's Chilean operations.
Results in 1997 were flat compared to 1996 and included improved results from
BellSouth's operations in Israel and New Zealand offset by losses associated
with the start-up of several operations in Latin America. Strong customer growth
during both years was partially offset by the effect of lower average monthly
revenue per customer.
ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING. Segment income remained relatively flat at
$530, $543 and $526 for 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. External revenues
increased in both 1998 and 1997 primarily due to increases related to volume and
pricing. Operating expenses increased due primarily to volume increases.
OTHER. Losses within the segment were $(210) in 1998 as compared to $(182)
in 1997 and $(116) in 1996. The increased loss for 1998 was primarily
attributable to losses associated with the wireless cable start-up operations,
offset by improved results in the wireless data business. The increased loss for
1997 compared to 1996 was primarily attributable to continuing losses within the
wireless data business as well as expenses related to preparations for entry
into the interLATA long distance business.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
BellSouth uses the net cash generated from its operations and external
financing to invest in and operate its existing and new businesses and to pay
dividends. While current liabilities exceeded current assets at both December
31, 1998 and 1997, BellSouth's sources of funds --primarily from operations and,
to the extent necessary, from readily available external financing
arrangements-- are sufficient to meet all current obligations on a timely basis.
BellSouth believes that such sources of funds will be sufficient to meet the
needs of its business for the foreseeable future.
PERCENT CHANGE
------------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities.......... $ 7,741 $ 7,039 $ 5,863 10.0% 20.1%
OPERATING ACTIVITIES. Net cash provided by operating activities increased
$702 (10.0%) in 1998 compared to an increase of $1,176 (20.1%) in 1997. The 1998
increase is primarily attributable to a $921 increase in operating income before
depreciation and amortization.
The increase in 1997 was primarily due to a decrease of $1,288 in cash
expenditures for accounts payable and other current liabilities. The increase
was also due to an $842 increase in operating income before depreciation and
amortization. The increases were partially offset by a decrease of $494 in other
liabilities and deferred credits.
PERCENT CHANGE
------------------------
1998 VS. 1997 VS.
1998 1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities.......... $ (5,627) $ (4,949) $ (4,199) 13.7% 17.9%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES. BellSouth's primary use of funds continues to be for
capital expenditures to support expansion and development of networks for its
wireline communications, domestic wireless and international operations
segments. Capital expenditures were $5,212 in 1998 and $4,858 and $4,455 in 1997
and 1996, respectively. BellSouth expects capital expenditures in 1999 to
aggregate approximately $5,000.
36
Net cash used for investing activities increased $678 (13.7%) during 1998
compared to 1997. The increase was primarily due to the purchase of additional
ownership interests in BellSouth's wireless operations in Venezuela, Ecuador and
Brazil during 1998 as well as capital expenditures. The increase was partially
offset by cash proceeds from the repayment of a loan in 1998. (See Note B to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.)
Net cash used for investing activities increased $750 (17.9%) in 1997
compared to 1996. The increase in 1997 was primarily due to investments in
unconsolidated international affiliates, specifically in Latin America.
Cash used in investing activities for 1998 and 1997 was partially offset by
proceeds from sales of various BellSouth interests. Proceeds of $410 in 1998
consisted of the sale of BellSouth's interest in BellSouth New Zealand ($255) as
well as additional proceeds associated with the sale of ITT World Directories
($155). Proceeds of $1,000 in 1997 consisted of the sale of BellSouth's
interests in Optus Communications ($735) and ITT World Directories ($265).
1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- ---------
Net Cash Used for Financing Activities................................ $ (1,681) $ (698) $ (2,197)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES. During 1998 and 1997, cash used for financing
activities totaled $1,681 and $698, respectively.
Dividends paid in 1998 were $1,420 as compared to $1,428 and $1,430 in 1997
and 1996, respectively. In December 1998, BellSouth announced a quarterly
dividend payment of $.19 per share, an annual rate of $.76 per share. Cash
dividends declared in each of the first, second and third quarters of 1998 were
$.18 per share. In 1997 and 1996, cash dividends were $.18 per share each
quarter, or $.72 for the year.
BellSouth increased its long-term debt and short-term borrowings by
approximately $1,115 in 1998. Approximately $361 of this increase relates to the
first time consolidation of certain businesses in BellSouth's international
operations and other segments. This compares to an increase of $814 in 1997 over
1996 balances.
BellSouth has committed credit lines aggregating $2,536 with various banks.
Borrowings under the committed credit lines totaled $634 and $241, respectively,
at December 31, 1998 and 1997. BellSouth also maintains uncommitted lines of
credit aggregating $169. At December 31, 1998, borrowings under the uncommitted
lines of credit totaled $45. There were no borrowings under the uncommitted
lines as of December 31, 1997. As of February 3, 1999, shelf registration
statements were on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which
$927 of debt securities could be publicly offered.
Treasury share purchases totaled $1,261 during 1998. In November 1998,
BellSouth announced its intent to repurchase up to $3,000 of its Common Stock
during 1999. BellSouth expects to finance the 1999 repurchase primarily through
cash generated from operations.
BellSouth's debt to total capitalization ratio was 43.0% at December 31,
1998, compared to 42.1% at December 31, 1997 and 43.5% at December 31, 1996.
MARKET RISK
BellSouth is exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course of
business, including the impact of interest rate changes and foreign currency
exchange rate fluctuations. To manage this exposure, BellSouth employs risk
management strategies including the use of derivatives such as interest rate
swap agreements, foreign currency forwards and currency swap agreements.
BellSouth does not hold derivatives for trading purposes.
37
INTEREST RATE RISK. BellSouth's objective in managing interest rate risk is
to maintain a balance of fixed and variable rate debt that will lower its
overall borrowing costs within reasonable risk parameters. Interest rate swaps
are used to convert a portion of BellSouth's debt portfolio from a variable rate
to a fixed rate or from a fixed rate to a variable rate.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK. BellSouth's objective in managing foreign exchange
risk is to protect against earnings and cash flow volatility resulting from
changes in foreign exchange rates. Short-term foreign currency transactions and
commitments expose BellSouth to changes in foreign exchange rates. BellSouth
occasionally enters into forward contracts and similar instruments to mitigate
the potential impacts of such risks.
BellSouth's equity investments in Brazil hold approximately $2,300 in U.S.
Dollar-denominated liabilities and recognize foreign currency gains or losses
when converting those liabilities into local currency. BellSouth's equity income
related to these investments is subject to fluctuations in the U.S.
Dollar/Brazilian Real exchange rate. (See "MD&A--Operating
Environment--International Operations.")
BellSouth is subject to risk from changes in foreign exchange rates for its
international operations which use a foreign currency as their functional
currency and are translated to U.S. Dollars. Such changes result in cumulative
translation adjustments which are included in Shareholders' Equity. At December
31, 1998, BellSouth had translation exposure to various foreign currencies with
the most significant being the Brazilian Real and the German Mark. Operations in
countries with hyperinflationary economies consider the U.S. Dollar the
functional currency and reflect translation gains and losses in the
determination of net income.
RISK SENSITIVITY. BellSouth's use of derivative financial instruments is
designed to mitigate foreign currency and interest rate risks, although to some
extent they expose BellSouth to credit risks. The credit risks associated with
these instruments are controlled through the evaluation and continual monitoring
of the creditworthiness of the counterparties. In the event that a counterparty
fails to meet the terms of a contract or agreement, BellSouth's exposure is
limited to the then current value of the currency rate or interest rate
differential, not the full notional or contract amount. Such contracts and
agreements have been executed with creditworthy financial institutions, and as
such, BellSouth considers the risk of nonperformance to be remote.
The following table provides information, by maturity date, about
BellSouth's interest rate sensitive financial instruments, which consist of
fixed and variable rate debt obligations. Fair values for the majority of
BellSouth's long-term debt obligations are based on quotes from dealers.
TOTAL
RECORDED
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 THEREAFTER AMOUNT FAIR VALUE
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Debt:
Fixed Rate Debt.............. $ 3,425 $ 476 $ 184 $ 318 $ 644 $ 6,778 $ 11,825 $ 12,118
Average Interest Rate........ 6.07% 6.61% 6.98% 7.66% 6.52% 6.65%
Variable Rate Debt........... $ 29 $ 38 $ 235 $ 19 $ 2 $ 51 $ 374 $ 398
Average Interest Rate........ 6.16% 6.08% 7.01% 6.08% 7.75% 6.55%
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT AND TRENDS OF THE BUSINESS
REGULATION
BellSouth's future operations and financial results will be substantially
influenced by developments in a number of federal and state regulatory
proceedings. Adverse results in these proceedings could materially affect
BellSouth's revenues and expenses and its ability to compete effectively against
other telecommunications carriers.
38
Federal policies being implemented by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) strongly favor access reform, whereby the historical subsidy for local
service that is contained in network access charges paid by long distance
carriers is eliminated. Unless compensatory changes are adopted, such as
Universal Service Fund contribution mandates, BellSouth's revenues from this
source, which constituted 20% of its revenues during 1998, are at risk. In
addition, other aspects of access charge regulation and Universal Service Fund
contribution requirements that are applicable to local service carriers such as
BellSouth are also under consideration and could result in greater expense
levels or reduced revenues.
As a result of litigation challenging a number of the FCC's rulings under
the 1996 Act, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the FCC has considerable
authority to establish many pricing, interconnection and other policies that
have been considered within the exclusive jurisdiction of the state public
service commissions. BellSouth expects the FCC to accelerate the growth of local
service competition by aggressively utilizing such power to require
interconnection with competing carriers and the sale of network elements to
competitors who wish to provide communications services to customers in
BellSouth's region.
BellSouth has petitioned the FCC for permission under the 1996 Act to offer
full long distance services. The FCC has denied all of BellSouth's petitions.
BellSouth expects that the FCC will require further changes in BellSouth's
network interconnection elements and operating systems before it will approve
such petitions. Such changes will result in significant additional expenses and
promote local service competition.
BellSouth's intrastate prices are regulated under price regulation plans
provided by statute or approved by state public service commissions. Appeals of
approvals of plans in South Carolina and Tennessee are pending. Some plans are
subject to periodic review and require renewal, with several plans scheduled for
renewal during 1999. These commissions generally required price reductions and
other concessions from BellSouth as a condition to approving these plans, and
there is no assurance that the commissions will not require further
modifications when they consider their renewal.
BellSouth Telecommunications is involved in numerous legal proceedings
associated with state and federal regulatory matters, the disposition of which
could materially impact its operating results and prospects. See Note N to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.
COMPETITION
There are many competitive forces that impact BellSouth's businesses. The
1996 Act removed the regulatory barriers to local service competition and
required BellSouth to open its network to other carriers. The auction of PCS
licenses has created as many as six new wireless competitors in BellSouth's
markets, and the deregulation of international communications markets has
introduced new global competitors to nearly all of BellSouth's international
businesses.
BellSouth expects local service competition to steadily increase,
particularly with respect to its business customers. While competition for local
service revenues could adversely affect BellSouth's results of operations,
opening of local markets can lead to qualification to offer in-region interLATA
long distance wireline services.
The presence of multiple aggressive competitors in BellSouth's domestic and
international wireless markets makes it more difficult to attract new customers
and retain existing ones. Furthermore, while BellSouth does not compete
primarily on the basis of price, low prices offered by competitors attempting to
obtain market share have pressured BellSouth to reduce prices and develop
pricing plans attractive to lower usage customers. These trends are expected to
continue and could adversely affect BellSouth's results of operations in the
future.
39
BellSouth plans to compete through aggressive marketing, competitive pricing
and technical innovation. It will offer consumers a full range of
services--local, long distance, Internet access, wireless and more--while
remaining committed to its high level of customer service and value.
TECHNOLOGY
BellSouth is continually upgrading its networks with digital and optical
technologies, making it capable of delivering a full complement of voice and
data services. This modernization of the network is critical to BellSouth's
success in providing the data connectivity demanded by its customers and to
compete with fiber networks being constructed or currently utilized by start-ups
and cable companies. This effort will require investment of significant amounts
of capital in the future.
BellSouth believes that its dual-mode network with its extended coverage
currently provides a significant competitive advantage over PCS providers.
Digital wireless technology, however, is rapidly evolving and the development of
a common roaming platform for digital wireless technologies could reduce this
advantage. This would result in more intense competition and could have an
adverse effect on BellSouth's results of operations.
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
BellSouth owns significant interests in a number of foreign operations,
primarily in Latin America, which are subject to greater political, monetary,
economic and regulatory risks than its domestic businesses. In particular,
BellSouth holds equity interests in two wireless communications consortia in
Brazil, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. At
December 31, 1998, the Brazilian operations had incurred approximately $2,300 in
U.S. Dollar-denominated liabilities. During January 1999 the Brazilian
government allowed its currency to trade freely against other currencies
resulting in an immediate devaluation of the Brazilian Real. For January 1999,
the latest internal financial reporting period, BellSouth will recognize a
foreign exchange rate loss resulting from the devaluation of approximately $364
through recording its share of equity in earnings of its Brazilian equity
investments. The aforementioned exchange loss is subject to further upward or
downward adjustment based on fluctuations in the U.S. Dollar/Brazilian Real
exchange rate.
The impact of the devaluation on an operation depends on the devaluation's
effect on the local economy and the ability of an operation to raise prices
and/or reduce expenses. Additionally, the economies of other countries in Latin
America could be adversely impacted by Brazil's economic and monetary problems.
The likelihood and extent of further devaluation and deteriorating economic
conditions in Brazil and other Latin American countries and the resulting
impacts on BellSouth's results of operations, financial position and cash flows
is not known.
YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE
BellSouth has initiated a company-wide program to identify and address
issues associated with the ability of its date-sensitive information, telephony
and business systems and certain equipment to properly recognize the Year 2000
as a result of the century change on January 1, 2000. The program is also
designed to assess the readiness of other entities with which BellSouth does
business.
Inability to reach substantial Year 2000 compliance in BellSouth's systems
and integral third party systems could result in interruption of
telecommunications services, interruption or failure of BellSouth's customer
billing, operating and other information systems and failure of certain
date-sensitive equipment. Such failures could result in substantial claims by
customers as well as loss of revenue due to service interruption, delays in
BellSouth's ability to bill its customers accurately and timely, and increased
expenses associated with litigation, stabilization of operations following such
failures or execution of contingency plans.
40
The Year 2000 program is being conducted by a management team that is
coordinating efforts of internal resources as well as third party providers and
vendors in identifying and making necessary changes to BellSouth's systems
hardware, software and date-sensitive equipment. The program also includes the
international and domestic companies in which BellSouth holds an interest. Some
of the changes that are necessary in BellSouth's operations are being made as a
part of ongoing systems upgrades.
BellSouth's Year 2000 program has been divided into six phases: planning;
inventory; impact analysis; conversion; testing; and implementation. BellSouth
monitors its progress within these six phases based on the number of inventoried
items that have been addressed. Management's target date for completion of all
phases for most of its mission critical applications is June 30, 1999. Mission
critical applications include those that (1) directly affect delivery of primary
services to BellSouth's customers; (2) directly affect BellSouth revenue
recognition and collection; (3) would create noncompliance with any statutes or
laws; and (4) would require significant costs to address in the event of
noncompliance.
BellSouth has identified three main areas of focus for its Year 2000
program. Each focus area includes the hardware, software, embedded chips, third
party vendors and suppliers as well as third party networks that are associated
with the identified systems.
The first focus area, network components, consists of the switches,
transmission systems and associated software that comprise the core of
BellSouth's telephony systems including land-line and wireless domestic and
international services. Outside suppliers provide all hardware and most software
that comprise BellSouth's networks; these components are being remediated by
those third party suppliers. Testing of these components for Year 2000
compliance is being performed by the vendors, BellSouth, and industry groups
such as the Telco Year 2000 Forum. As of December 31, 1998, the planning,
inventory and impact analysis phases for BellSouth Telecommunications were 100%
complete with the remaining phases each approximately 65% complete. The
planning, inventory and impact analysis phases for BellSouth's other domestic
operations were each almost 100% complete with the remaining phases each more
than 25% complete. The planning, inventory and impact analysis phases for
BellSouth's international operations were each approximately 70% complete with
the remaining phases each approximately 50% complete.
The second focus area, information technology systems, consists of those
systems that primarily support "customer care" operations such as order taking
and billing. The software for these systems was developed by both BellSouth and
vendors, and is being remediated and tested by both. As of December 31, 1998,
the planning, inventory and impact analysis phases for BellSouth
Telecommunications were each approximately 95% complete with the remaining
phases each approximately 70% complete. The planning, inventory and impact
analysis phases for BellSouth's other domestic operations were each almost 100%
complete with the remaining phases each approximately 75% complete. The
planning, inventory and impact analysis phases for BellSouth's international
operations were each approximately 70% complete with the remaining phases each
approximately 25% complete.
Building and environmental systems, the third focus area, includes various
products and systems that are not used in support of network or customer care
functions. Building and environmental systems are primarily provided by third
parties and include building operations, office equipment, utilities, etc. As of
December 31, 1998, the planning, inventory and impact analysis phases for
BellSouth Telecommunications were each almost 100% complete with the remaining
phases each approximately 15% complete. The planning, inventory and impact
analysis phases for BellSouth's other domestic operations were each almost 100%
complete with the remaining phases each approximately 10% complete. BellSouth's
international operations are currently in the planning, inventory and impact
analysis phases for their environmental systems.
BellSouth has developed numerous contingency plans for conducting its
business operations in the event of crises including system outages and natural
disasters. As a part of its Year 2000 compliance
41
efforts, BellSouth has chartered a Year 2000 Business Continuity project to
ensure that tested contingency plans are in place in the event that planned Year
2000 compliance activities for its mission critical applications are not
successfully accomplished. This effort is not limited to the risks posed by the
potential Year 2000 failures of internal information systems and
infrastructures, but also includes the potential secondary impact on BellSouth
of Year 2000 failures, including potential systems failures of business partners
and infrastructure service providers. A master Year 2000 Contingency Planning
Guide and associated workbook have been developed and internal training has been
completed. Other major milestones for the contingency planning project include
assessments by the end of first quarter 1999, and the completion of testing and
sign-off of contingency plans during third quarter 1999. Additionally, BellSouth
is a member, together with other large telecommunications companies, of several
industry groups that are addressing the Year 2000 issue and related contingency
plans.
Some of the costs associated with BellSouth's Year 2000 compliance efforts
were incurred in 1997 and 1998. The remainder has been or will be incurred
during 1999 and 2000. Costs are not incurred equally over all phases of the
project, but increase over time. BellSouth anticipates that the conversion and
testing phases will require an increase in spending over the earlier phases of
the project. As of December 31, 1998, approximately $87 of external costs had
been expended towards Year 2000 compliance. BellSouth estimates the total
external cost of its compliance efforts will be between $250 and $350 over the
life of the project. BellSouth intends to continually reassess the estimated
costs and status of Year 2000 remediation efforts.
BellSouth currently anticipates that most of its mission critical
applications will be Year 2000 compliant by June 30, 1999. However, no assurance
can be given that unforeseen circumstances will not arise during the performance
of the testing and implementation phases that would adversely affect the Year
2000 compliance of BellSouth's systems. Furthermore, the Year 2000 compliance
status of integral third party suppliers and networks, which could adversely
impact BellSouth's mission critical applications, cannot be fully known. As a
result, BellSouth is unable to determine the impact that any system interruption
would have on its results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
CWA CONTRACTS
In September 1998, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA)
ratified new three-year contracts with BellSouth, effective August 9, 1998. The
contracts include basic wage increases totaling 12.39% over the three years
covered by the contracts. In addition, the agreement provides for a standard
award of between 2% and 2.5% of base salary and overtime compensation which is
subject to adjustment based on company performance measures for plan years 1999
and 2000. Other terms of the agreement include pension band increases and
pension plan cash balance improvements for active employees.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES. In June 1998,
the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities." The standard requires that all derivative instruments (1)
be recognized as assets or liabilities and (2) be adjusted to fair value each
period. BellSouth will adopt SFAS No. 133 on January 1, 2000 and is currently
assessing the impact that adoption will have on its results of operations and
financial position.
CAPITALIZATION OF INTERNAL USE SOFTWARE. In March 1998, the AICPA issued
Statement of Position 98-1 (SOP 98-1), "Accounting for the Costs of Computer
Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use." SOP 98-1 requires
capitalization of certain direct costs and interest costs after preliminary
development efforts have been made. BellSouth adopted SOP 98-1 on January 1,
1999.
42
Adoption of SOP 98-1 will result in a temporary increase in earnings in the
year of adoption, compared to the prior period, as a result of the
capitalization of costs which had previously been expensed. BellSouth currently
believes that this increase will be approximately $375 to $425 ($225 to $250
after tax) for 1999. If expenditures remain at a consistent level, the
comparative earnings impact will decline in each year following the change. The
decline will continue until the amortization expense related to the capitalized
software costs equals the level of software costs treated as expense prior to
the change. In addition, adoption of SOP 98-1 will result in higher levels of
capitalized software costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Statements that do not address historical performance are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 and are based on a number of assumptions, including but not limited to:
(1) continued domestic economic growth and demand for BellSouth's services; (2)
economic, monetary, regulatory and political stability where BellSouth conducts
its international operations; (3) the reasonable accuracy of BellSouth's
expectations of the impact on its international operations of weakening
currencies in Latin America as compared to the U.S. Dollar; (4) the reasonable
accuracy of BellSouth's expectations of the results of regulatory actions as
well as costs and recoveries with respect to access reform, universal service
and interconnection; (5) the reasonable accuracy of BellSouth's estimate of
regulatory authorization to provide wireline long distance services and the
impact of competition in its markets; and (6) satisfactory identification and
completion of Year 2000 software and hardware revisions by BellSouth and
entities with which it does business. Any developments significantly deviating
from these assumptions could cause actual results to differ materially from
those forecast or implied in the aforementioned forward-looking statements.
43
ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT
To the Shareholders of BellSouth Corporation:
These financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles and have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, independent accountants, whose report is contained herein.
The integrity and objectivity of the data in these financial statements,
including estimates and judgments relating to matters not concluded by the end
of the year, are the responsibility of the management of BellSouth. Management
has also prepared all other information included therein unless indicated
otherwise.
Management maintains a system of internal accounting controls which is
continuously reviewed and evaluated. However, there are inherent limitations
that should be recognized in considering the assurances provided by any system
of internal accounting controls. The concept of reasonable assurance recognizes
that the cost of a system of internal accounting controls should not exceed, in
management's judgment, the benefits to be derived. Management believes that
BellSouth's system does provide reasonable assurance that the transactions are
executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations and
are recorded properly to maintain accountability for assets and to permit the
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. Management also believes that this system provides
reasonable assurance that access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management's authorizations, that the recorded accountability for assets is
compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and that appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences. Management also seeks to assure
the objectivity and integrity of its financial data by the careful selection of
its managers, by organizational arrangements that provide an appropriate
division of responsibility and by communications programs aimed at assuring that
its policies, standards and managerial authorities are understood throughout the
organization. Management is also aware that changes in operating strategy and
organizational structure can give rise to disruptions in internal controls.
Special attention is given to controls while the changes are being implemented.
Management maintains a strong internal auditing program that independently
assesses the effectiveness of the internal controls and recommends possible
improvements thereto. In addition, as part of its audit of these financial
statements, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP completed a review of the accounting
controls to establish a basis for reliance thereon in determining the nature,
timing and extent of audit tests to be applied. Management has considered the
internal auditor's and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's recommendations concerning
the system of internal controls and has taken actions that it believes are
cost-effective in the circumstances to respond appropriately to these
recommendations. Management believes that as of December 31, 1998, the system of
internal controls was adequate to accomplish the objectives discussed herein.
Management also recognizes its responsibility for fostering a strong ethical
climate so that BellSouth's affairs are conducted according to the highest
standards of personal and corporate conduct. This responsibility is communicated
to all employees through policies and guidelines addressing such issues as
conflict of interest, safeguarding of BellSouth's real and intellectual
properties, providing equal employment opportunities and ethical relations with
customers, suppliers and governmental representatives. BellSouth maintains a
program to assess compliance with these policies and our ethical standards
through its Senior Vice President -- Corporate Compliance and Corporate
Secretary.
/s/ F. Duane Ackerman /s/ Ronald M. Dykes
F. Duane Ackerman Ronald M. Dykes
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
February 3, 1999
44
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN'S LETTER
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists of four members who
are neither officers nor employees of BellSouth Corporation. Information as to
these persons, as well as their duties, is provided in the Proxy Statement. The
Audit Committee met six times during 1998 and reviewed with the Chief Corporate
Auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and management current audit activities,
plans and the results of selected internal audits. The Audit Committee also
reviewed the objectivity of the financial reporting process and the adequacy of
internal controls. The Audit Committee recommended, subject to shareholder
ratification, the appointment of the independent accountants and considered
factors relating to their independence. In addition, the Audit Committee
provided guidance in matters regarding ethical considerations and business
conduct, reviewed the operations of political action committees and monitored
compliance with laws and regulations. The Chief Corporate Auditor and
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP each met privately with the Audit Committee on
occasion to encourage confidential discussions as to any auditing matters.
/s/ Ronald A. Terry
Ronald A. Terry
CHAIRMAN, AUDIT COMMITTEE
February 3, 1999
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders
BellSouth Corporation
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related
consolidated statements of income, cash flows and shareholders' equity and
comprehensive income present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of BellSouth Corporation and its subsidiaries at December 31, 1998 and
1997, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1998, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our
audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
February 3, 1999
45
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- ---------
Operating Revenues:
Wireline communications:
Local service....................................................... $ 9,399 $ 8,499 $ 8,082
Network access...................................................... 4,632 4,483 4,365
Long distance....................................................... 713 734 794
Other wireline...................................................... 1,657 1,462 1,383
Domestic wireless..................................................... 2,723 2,581 2,204
International operations.............................................. 1,995 948 547
Advertising and publishing............................................ 1,891 1,837 1,651
Other services........................................................ 113 17 14
--------- --------- ---------
Total Operating Revenues............................................ 23,123 20,561 19,040
--------- --------- ---------
Operating Expenses:
Cost of services and products......................................... 7,080 6,254 6,072
Depreciation and amortization......................................... 4,357 3,964 3,719
Selling, general and administrative................................... 5,782 4,967 4,470
--------- --------- ---------
Total Operating Expenses............................................ 17,219 15,185 14,261
--------- --------- ---------
Operating Income........................................................ 5,904 5,376 4,779
Interest Expense........................................................ 837 761 721
Gain on Sale of Operations (Note B)..................................... 335 787 442
Other Income, net....................................................... 349 19 108
--------- --------- ---------
Income Before Income Taxes and Extraordinary Losses..................... 5,751 5,421 4,608
Provision for Income Taxes (Note J)..................................... 2,224 2,151 1,745
--------- --------- ---------
Income Before Extraordinary Losses...................................... 3,527 3,270 2,863
Extraordinary Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt,
net of tax (Note E).................................................... -- (9) --
--------- --------- ---------
Net Income........................................................ $ 3,527 $ 3,261 $ 2,863
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding: (Notes A, G)
Basic................................................................. 1,970 1,984 1,987
Diluted............................................................... 1,984 1,989 1,992
Dividends Declared Per Common Share (Note G)............................ $ .73 $ .72 $ .72
Earnings Per Share: (Notes A, G)
Basic................................................................. $ 1.79 $ 1.64 $ 1.44
Diluted............................................................... $ 1.78 $ 1.64 $ 1.44
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
46
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
1998 1997
--------- ---------
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents...................................................................... $ 3,003 $ 2,570
Temporary cash investments..................................................................... 184 17
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for uncollectibles of $251 and $246...................... 4,629 4,750
Material and supplies.......................................................................... 431 393
Other current assets........................................................................... 459 387
--------- ---------
Total Current Assets......................................................................... 8,706 8,117
Investments and Advances (Note B)................................................................ 2,861 2,675
Property, Plant and Equipment, net (Note C)...................................................... 23,940 22,861
Deferred Charges and Other Assets................................................................ 1,028 702
Intangible Assets, net........................................................................... 2,875 1,946
--------- ---------
Total Assets................................................................................. $ 39,410 $ 36,301
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Debt maturing within one year (Note E)......................................................... $ 3,454 $ 3,706
Accounts payable............................................................................... 2,219 1,825
Other current liabilities (Note D)............................................................. 3,477 3,252
--------- ---------
Total Current Liabilities.................................................................... 9,150 8,783
--------- ---------
Long-Term Debt (Note E).......................................................................... 8,715 7,348
--------- ---------
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
Accumulated deferred income taxes.............................................................. 2,512 2,023
Unamortized investment tax credits............................................................. 167 213
Other liabilities and deferred credits (Note F)................................................ 2,756 2,769
--------- ---------
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities................................................. 5,435 5,005
--------- ---------
Shareholders' Equity (Note G):
Common stock, $1 par value (4,400 shares authorized; 1,950 and 1,984 shares outstanding)....... 2,020 1,010
Paid-in capital................................................................................ 6,766 7,714
Retained earnings.............................................................................. 9,479 7,382
Accumulated other comprehensive income......................................................... (64) 36
Shares held in trust and treasury.............................................................. (1,752) (575)
Guarantee of ESOP debt (Note H)................................................................ (339) (402)
--------- ---------
Total Shareholders' Equity................................................................... 16,110 15,165
--------- ---------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity................................................... $ 39,410 $ 36,301
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
47
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN MILLIONS)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
--------- ---------- ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income........................................................................ $ 3,527 $ 3,261 $ 2,863
Adjustments to net income:
Gain on sale of operations...................................................... (335) (787) (442)
Depreciation and amortization................................................... 4,357 3,964 3,719
Provision for uncollectibles.................................................... 334 304 254
Deferred income taxes and unamortized investment tax credits.................... 304 243 120
Pension income.................................................................. (259) (164) (14)
Dividends from unconsolidated affiliates........................................ 174 198 130
(Income) losses from unconsolidated affiliates, net............................. (92) 242 76
Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt.............................. -- 15 --
Additional income from settlement of loans and advances......................... (102) -- --
Net change in:
Accounts receivable and other current assets.................................. (458) (742) (645)
Accounts payable and other current liabilities................................ 300 580 (708)
Deferred charges and other assets............................................. 1 (125) (126)
Other liabilities and deferred credits........................................ (25) 87 581
Other reconciling items, net.................................................... 15 (37) 55
--------- ---------- ----------
Net cash provided by operating activities....................................... 7,741 7,039 5,863
--------- ---------- ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures.............................................................. (5,212) (4,858) (4,455)
Purchases of licenses and other intangible assets................................. (559) (328) (147)
Proceeds from sale of operations.................................................. 410 1,000 930
Proceeds from disposition of short-term investments............................... 210 267 355
Purchases of short-term investments............................................... (376) (233) (336)
Proceeds from investment dispositions and repayments of advances.................. 432 59 102
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates.......................... (637) (1,083) (620)
Other investing activities, net................................................... 105 227 (28)
--------- ---------- ----------
Net cash used for investing activities.......................................... (5,627) (4,949) (4,199)
--------- ---------- ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term borrowings........................... (71) 879 (497)
Proceeds from long-term debt...................................................... 1,752 645 392
Repayments of long-term debt...................................................... (782) (692) (544)
Dividends paid.................................................................... (1,420) (1,428) (1,430)
Purchase of treasury shares....................................................... (1,261) (157) (85)
Other financing activities, net................................................... 101 55 (33)
--------- ---------- ----------
Net cash used for financing activities.......................................... (1,681) (698) (2,197)
--------- ---------- ----------
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents................................ 433 1,392 (533)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period.................................... 2,570 1,178 1,711
--------- ---------- ----------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period.......................................... $ 3,003 $ 2,570 $ 1,178
--------- ---------- ----------
--------- ---------- ----------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
48
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(IN MILLIONS)
AMOUNT
NUMBER OF SHARES -------------------------------------
------------------------------
SHARES
COMMON HELD IN TRUST COMMON PAID-IN RETAINED
STOCK AND TREASURY STOCK CAPITAL EARNINGS
----------- ----------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1995........................ 1,007 (13) $ 1,007 $ 7,624 $ 4,099
Net income.......................................... 2,863
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment...........
Total comprehensive income......................
Dividends declared.................................. (1,430)
Share issuances:
Employee benefit plans............................ 1 1 14
Grantor trusts.................................... 1 (1) 1 34
Share purchases:
Treasury.......................................... (3)
Grantor trusts.................................... (1)
ESOP activities and related tax benefit............. 9
----- --- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1996........................ 1,009 (18) 1,009 7,672 5,541
Net income.......................................... 3,261
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment...........
Total comprehensive income......................
Dividends declared.................................. (1,428)
Share issuances:
Employee benefit plans............................ 2 (25)
Grantor trusts.................................... 1 (1) 1 59
Acquisition-related transactions.................... 2 8
Purchase of treasury stock.......................... (3)
ESOP activities and related tax benefit............. 8
----- --- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1997........................ 1,010 (18) 1,010 7,714 7,382
Two-for-one stock split (Note G).................... 1,010 (19) 1,010 (1,010)
Net income.......................................... 3,527
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment...........
Total comprehensive income......................
Dividends declared.................................. (1,435)
Share issuances for employee benefit plans.......... 3 (36) (2)
Acquisition-related transactions.................... 1 92
Share purchases:
Treasury.......................................... (36)
Grantor trusts.................................... (1)
Tax benefit related to stock options................ 6
ESOP activities and related tax benefit............. 7
----- --- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1998........................ 2,020 (70) $ 2,020 $ 6,766 $ 9,479
----- --- ----------- ----------- -----------
----- --- ----------- ----------- -----------
ACCUMULATED
OTHER SHARES
COMPREHENSIVE HELD IN TRUST GUARANTEE OF
INCOME AND TREASURY ESOP DEBT TOTAL
----------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Balance at December 31, 1995........................ $ (5) $ (374) $ (526) $ 11,825
Net income.......................................... 2,863
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment........... 30 30
---------
Total comprehensive income...................... 2,893
Dividends declared.................................. (1,430)
Share issuances:
Employee benefit plans............................ 11 26
Grantor trusts.................................... (35) --
Share purchases:
Treasury.......................................... (85) (85)
Grantor trusts.................................... (49) (49)
ESOP activities and related tax benefit............. 60 69
------ ------------- ------ ---------
Balance at December 31, 1996........................ 25 (532) (466) 13,249
Net income.......................................... 3,261
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment........... 11 11
---------
Total comprehensive income...................... 3,272
Dividends declared.................................. (1,428)
Share issuances:
Employee benefit plans............................ 85 60
Grantor trusts.................................... (60) --
Acquisition-related transactions.................... 89 97
Purchase of treasury stock.......................... (157) (157)
ESOP activities and related tax benefit............. 64 72
------ ------------- ------ ---------
Balance at December 31, 1997........................ 36 (575) (402) 15,165
Two-for-one stock split (Note G).................... --
Net income.......................................... 3,527
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment........... (100) (100)
---------
Total comprehensive income...................... 3,427
Dividends declared.................................. (1,435)
Share issuances for employee benefit plans.......... 89 51
Acquisition-related transactions.................... 33 125
Share purchases:
Treasury.......................................... (1,261) (1,261)
Grantor trusts.................................... (38) (38)
Tax benefit related to stock options................ 6
ESOP activities and related tax benefit............. 63 70
------ ------------- ------ ---------
Balance at December 31, 1998........................ $ (64) $ (1,752) $ (339) $ 16,110
------ ------------- ------ ---------
------ ------------- ------ ---------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
49
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE A -- ACCOUNTING POLICIES
ORGANIZATION. BellSouth Corporation (BellSouth) is a holding company
headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has two principal and wholly-owned
subsidiaries, BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. (BellSouth Telecommunications)
and BellSouth Enterprises, Inc. (BellSouth Enterprises). BellSouth
Telecommunications primarily provides (i) local exchange and long distance
services within geographic areas, called Local Access and Transport Areas
(LATAs) and (ii) network access services. BellSouth Enterprises owns businesses
providing domestic and international wireless communications services as well as
advertising and publishing products. For management purposes, these operations
are organized into five operating segments: wireline communications; domestic
wireless; international operations; advertising and publishing; and other.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the
accounts of BellSouth and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial
interest. Investments in certain partnerships, joint ventures and subsidiaries
are accounted for using the equity method. All significant intercompany
transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Certain amounts in the prior
period Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to
the current year's presentation.
USE OF ESTIMATES. BellSouth's Consolidated Financial Statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Such
financial statements include estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities and the amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS. BellSouth considers all highly liquid
investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash
equivalents. Investments with an original maturity of over three months to one
year are not considered cash equivalents and are included as temporary cash
investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Interest income on cash
equivalents, temporary cash investments and other interest-bearing instruments
was $313, $193 and $163 for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.
MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES. New and reusable material is carried in inventory,
principally at average original cost, except that specific costs are used in the
case of large individual items. Nonreusable material is carried at estimated
salvage value.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT. The investment in Property, Plant and
Equipment is stated at original cost. For plant dedicated to providing regulated
telecommunications services, depreciation is based on the remaining life method
of depreciation and straight-line composite rates determined on the basis of
equal life groups of certain categories of telephone plant acquired in a given
year. When depreciable telephone plant is disposed of, the original cost less
net salvage value is charged to accumulated depreciation. The cost of other
property, plant and equipment is depreciated using either straight-line or
accelerated methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Gains or
losses on disposal of other depreciable property, plant and equipment are
recognized in the year of disposition as an element of Other Income, net.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS. Intangible Assets consist of the excess consideration
paid over the fair value of net tangible assets acquired in business
combinations, and include acquired licenses and customer lists. Intangible
Assets are being amortized using the straight-line and accelerated methods over
periods of benefit. Such periods do not exceed 40 years. The carrying value of
Intangible Assets is periodically reviewed to determine whether such intangibles
are fully recoverable from projected net cash flows of
50
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE A -- ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
the related business unit. Amortization of such intangibles was $135, $58 and
$49 for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. At
December 31, 1998 and 1997, accumulated amortization of intangibles was $462 and
$321, respectively.
FOREIGN CURRENCY. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and equity
investees with a functional currency other than U.S. Dollars are translated into
U.S. Dollars at exchange rates in effect at the end of the reporting period.
Foreign entity revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. Dollars at the
average rates that prevailed during the period. The resulting net translation
gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments in
Shareholders' Equity as a component of other accumulated comprehensive income.
Operations in countries with hyperinflationary economies consider the U.S.
Dollar the functional currency.
Exchange gains and losses on transactions of BellSouth and its equity
investments denominated in a currency other than their functional currency are
generally included in results of operations as incurred unless the transactions
are hedged (see "Derivative Financial Instruments" below).
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS. BellSouth generally enters into
derivative financial instruments only for hedging purposes. Deferral accounting
is applied when the derivative reduces the risk of the underlying hedged item
effectively as a result of high inverse correlation with the value of the
underlying exposure. If a derivative instrument either initially fails or later
ceases to meet the criteria for deferral or settlement accounting, any
subsequent gains or losses are recognized currently in income.
REVENUE RECOGNITION. Revenues are recognized when earned. Certain revenues
derived from local telephone and wireless services are billed monthly in advance
and are recognized the following month when services are provided. Advertising
and publishing revenues and related directory costs are recognized upon
publication of directories. Revenues derived from other telecommunications
services, principally network access, long distance and wireless airtime usage,
are recognized monthly as services are provided. Allowances for uncollectible
billed services are adjusted monthly. The provision for such uncollectible
accounts was $334, $304 and $254 for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively.
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. The cost of maintenance and repairs of plant,
including the cost of replacing minor items not resulting in substantial
betterments, is charged to Operating Expenses.
INCOME TAXES. The Consolidated Balance Sheets reflect deferred tax balances
associated with the anticipated tax impact of future income or deductions
implicit in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in the form of temporary
differences. Temporary differences primarily result from the use of accelerated
methods and shorter lives in computing depreciation for tax purposes.
For financial reporting purposes, BellSouth is amortizing deferred
investment tax credits earned prior to the 1986 repeal of the investment tax
credit and also some transitional credits earned after the repeal. The credits
are being amortized as a reduction to the Provision for Income Taxes over the
estimated useful lives of the assets to which the credits relate.
EARNINGS PER SHARE. Basic Earnings Per Share is computed based on the
weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each year. Diluted
Earnings Per Share is based on the weighted-average number of common shares
outstanding plus net incremental shares arising out of employee stock options
and benefit plans. Net incremental shares included in the calculation of diluted
earnings per share were approximately 14 million, 5 million and 5 million,
respectively, for the years
51
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE A -- ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996. BellSouth's earnings, used for per share
calculations, are the same for both the basic and diluted methods.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS. In March 1998, the AICPA issued Statement of
Position 98-1 (SOP 98-1), "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software
Developed or Obtained for Internal Use." SOP 98-1 requires capitalization of
certain direct costs and interest costs after preliminary development efforts
have been made. BellSouth adopted SOP 98-1 on January 1, 1999. Adoption of SOP
98-1 will result in a temporary increase in earnings in the year of adoption,
compared to the prior period, as a result of the capitalization of costs which
had previously been expensed.
NOTE B -- INVESTMENTS AND ADVANCES
Investments and Advances as of December 31 consist of the following:
1998 1997
--------- ---------
Investments accounted for under the equity method.................................. $ 2,148 $ 2,007
Advances to and notes receivable from affiliates................................... 677 631
Other investments.................................................................. 36 37
--------- ---------
Total Investments and Advances................................................... $ 2,861 $ 2,675
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
BellSouth's equity method investments primarily include various partnerships
in domestic and international wireless properties and other international
communications consortia. Equity in earnings related to investments accounted
for under the equity method was $92 for the year ended December 31, 1998 while
equity in losses for these investments were $(242) and $(76) for the two years
ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, and are included as a component
of Other Income, net.
DOMESTIC WIRELESS. BellSouth's domestic wireless equity method investments
consist primarily of its noncontrolling interests in partnerships serving the
Los Angeles and Houston/Galveston Metropolitan Service Areas. In November 1998,
BellSouth and AT&T contributed their respective interests in these partnerships,
and AT&T contributed approximately $1,000, into a new joint venture. BellSouth's
ownership share of Los Angeles, Houston and Galveston changed from 60.0%, 43.6%
and 36.6%, respectively, to 44.4%, 44.4% and 38.8%, respectively. As a result of
the reorganization, BellSouth's proportionate share of the net assets of the new
venture exceeded BellSouth's aggregate book investment balance. The related
excess is being amortized into income using the straight-line method over a
period of approximately 30 years.
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS. BellSouth has equity investments in international
wireless operations in Latin America, Europe and other international markets
with ownership ranging from 22.5% to 46.8%.
During 1998, BellSouth purchased additional ownership interests in its
wireless operations in Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador for approximately $536.
These purchases increased BellSouth's ownership interest in Venezuela by 24.9%
to 78.2% and its interest in Ecuador by 28.2% to 89.4%. In Brazil, the purchases
increased BellSouth's investment in its Sao Paulo operating company to 44.5% and
in its Northeast operation to 46.8%. In all transactions, the excess of the
respective purchase price over the net book value of the assets acquired was
assigned to customer lists and wireless licenses. The excess consideration paid
over net assets acquired, along with other intangible assets, is being amortized
using either straight-line or accelerated methods over periods of benefit, which
do not exceed 40 years.
52
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE B -- INVESTMENTS AND ADVANCES (CONTINUED)
WIRELESS DATA. Prior to 1998, BellSouth and RAM Broadcasting Corporation
(RAM) were partners in an entity that owned and operated certain wireless data
communications networks in the U.S., the U.K. and various other countries.
During 1998, BellSouth purchased the issued and outstanding stock of RAM. As a
result of the transaction, BellSouth holds a 90.0% interest in the United States
operations and a 100% interest in the U.K. operations. Accordingly, these
operations were consolidated at December 31, 1998.
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF EQUITY INVESTEES. A summary of combined
financial information as reported by the equity investees of BellSouth is set
forth below:
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
1998 1997
--------- ---------
Balance Sheet Information:
Current Assets................................................................... $ 1,367 $ 1,294
Noncurrent Assets................................................................ 7,073 6,837
Current Liabilities.............................................................. 1,425 4,360
Noncurrent Liabilities........................................................... 6,070 3,928
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- ---------
Income Statement Information:
Revenues............................................................... $ 3,819 $ 4,734 $ 4,827
Operating Income....................................................... 179 120 91
Net Loss............................................................... (99) (592) (404)
ADVANCES AND NOTES RECEIVABLE. BellSouth has noncontrolling financial
interests ranging from 70% to 80% in the CSL Ventures and 1155 Peachtree
Associates real estate partnerships. BellSouth had notes receivable from and
advances to these partnerships totaling $161 and $194 at December 31, 1998 and
1997, respectively. The notes bear interest at rates ranging from 6.31% to 7.88%
while the advances bear interest at the federal funds rate plus .30%. Principal
amounts outstanding at December 31, 1998 are due and payable to BellSouth
between November 14, 2001 and January 15, 2038. The instruments require periodic
payments of interest and are collateralized by various real estate holdings.
During 1993, BellSouth entered into a credit agreement with Prime South
Diversified, Inc. (Prime) to provide up to $250 in financing, all of which was
outstanding as of December 31,1997. The loan was collateralized by the stock of
Prime, which indirectly owned Community Cable TV (CCTV) in Las Vegas. The loan
bore interest at a variable rate of 10% to 11%. The loan agreement specified
that in the event Prime sold CCTV, BellSouth would be repaid the principal
balance as well as additional amounts for contingent interest and prepayment
penalties. During 1998, Prime sold its investment in CCTV. As specified in the
loan agreement, BellSouth was repaid the full principal balance as well as
amounts for contingent interest, prepayment penalties and regular interest. As a
result, in 1998, BellSouth recorded additional income of $102 ($62 after tax),
for the amount related to the proceeds from contingent interest and prepayment
penalties.
SALE OF OPERATIONS AND INVESTMENTS. On October 30, 1998, BellSouth sold to
Vodafone Group Plc its 65% ownership interest in BellSouth New Zealand for total
proceeds of $254. The pretax gain on the sale was $180 ($110 after tax).
53
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE B -- INVESTMENTS AND ADVANCES (CONTINUED)
In 1997, BellSouth sold its 24.5% interest in Optus Communications to Cable
and Wireless, a U.K. telecommunications company. Under the agreement, BellSouth
received approximately $735 in cash for its 490 million shares in Optus
Communications. In addition, BellSouth was given an option to receive either an
ownership interest in a cellular communications company located in Colombia or
the equivalent value of that interest in cash. The pretax gain on the sale was
$578 ($352 after tax). During 1998, BellSouth exercised its option and received
an additional $64, which is included in other investing activities in the
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
In 1997, BellSouth sold its 20% interest in ITT World Directories (ITTWD) to
ITT Corporation (ITT) for total proceeds of $265. The pretax gain on such sale
was $209 ($128 after tax). The sale agreement contained certain provisions that
called for additional sales proceeds to be paid to BellSouth in the event that
ITT subsequently resold ITTWD above a certain price. As a result of ITT's
subsequent sale of ITTWD, BellSouth received additional proceeds that resulted
in a pretax gain of $155 ($96 after tax) in the first quarter of 1998.
In 1997, BellSouth Telecommunications sold to Science Applications
International Corporation its 14.3% interest in Bell Communications Research,
Inc. (Bellcore) for total proceeds of $65. The pretax gain on the sale, included
as a component of Other Income, net, was $38.
NOTE C -- PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment is summarized as follows at December 31:
ESTIMATED
DEPRECIABLE
LIVES
(IN YEARS) 1998 1997
------------- --------- ---------
Outside plant..................................................... 12-20 $ 22,496 $ 21,642
Central office equipment.......................................... 8-10 20,056 18,716
Operating and other equipment..................................... 5-15 6,262 4,523
Building and building improvements................................ 25-45 4,485 4,433
Furniture and fixtures............................................ 10-15 3,089 2,987
Station equipment................................................. 6 563 522
Land.............................................................. -- 207 190
Plant under construction.......................................... -- 816 815
--------- ---------
57,974 53,828
Less: Accumulated depreciation.................................. 34,034 30,967
--------- ---------
Total Property, Plant and Equipment, net...................... $ 23,940 $ 22,861
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
54
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE D -- OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Other current liabilities are summarized as follows at December 31:
1998 1997
--------- ---------
Advanced billing and customer deposits............................................. $ 754 $ 620
Taxes accrued...................................................................... 645 835
Dividends payable.................................................................. 379 365
Salaries and wages payable......................................................... 351 335
Interest and rents accrued......................................................... 340 309
Compensated absences............................................................... 254 248
Deferred taxes..................................................................... 207 41
Other.............................................................................. 547 499
--------- ---------
Total Other Current Liabilities.................................................. $ 3,477 $ 3,252
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
NOTE E -- DEBT
DEBT MATURING WITHIN ONE YEAR. Debt maturing within one year is summarized
as follows at December 31:
1998 1997
--------- ---------
Short-term notes payable:
Bank loans................................................................... $ 765 $ 465
Commercial paper............................................................. 2,378 2,438
Current maturities of long-term debt........................................... 311 803
--------- ---------
Total Debt Maturing Within One Year.......................................... $ 3,454 $ 3,706
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
Weighted-average interest rate at end of period:
Bank loans................................................................... 7.85% 7.05%
Commercial paper............................................................. 5.30% 5.92%
BellSouth has committed credit lines aggregating $2,536 with various banks.
Borrowings under the committed credit lines totaled $634 and $241, respectively,
at December 31, 1998 and 1997. BellSouth also maintains uncommitted lines of
credit aggregating $169. At December 31, 1998, borrowings under the uncommitted
lines of credit totaled $45. There were no borrowings under the uncommitted
lines as of December 31, 1997. There are no significant commitment fees or
requirements for compensating balances associated with any lines of credit.
55
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE E -- DEBT (CONTINUED)
LONG-TERM DEBT. Long-term debt, summarized below, consists primarily of
debentures and notes issued by BellSouth Telecommunications. Interest rates and
maturities in the table below are for the amounts outstanding at December 31,
1998.
WEIGHTED-
CONTRACTUAL AVERAGE
INTEREST RATES INTEREST RATE MATURITIES 1998 1997
------------------ -------------- -------------- --------- ---------
BellSouth Telecommunications..... 4.375% - 6% 5.70% 2000 - 2045 $ 1,495 $ 1,565
6.125% - 7% 6.48% 2000 - 2033 3,219 2,730
7.5% - 8.25% 7.79% 2032 - 2035 1,150 1,150
6.65% - 7% 6.92% 2095 654 644
--------- ---------
6,518 6,089
BellSouth Capital Funding
Corporation..................... 5.25% - 8.65% 6.45% 1999 - 2097 1,469 1,290
Guarantee of ESOP debt........... 9.125% - 9.19% 2003 467 534
Other................................................................................ 602 275
Unamortized discount, net of premium................................................. (30) (37)
--------- ---------
9,026 8,151
Current maturities................................................................... (311) (803)
--------- ---------
Total Long-Term Debt............................................................... $ 8,715 $ 7,348
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
Maturities of long-term debt outstanding (principal amounts) at December 31,
1998 are summarized below. Maturities after the year 2003 include $500 principal
amount of 6.65% debentures due in 2095. At December 31, 1998, such debentures
had an accreted book value of $154.
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 THEREAFTER TOTAL
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Maturities.................. $ 311 $ 514 $ 419 $ 337 $ 646 $ 7,175 $ 9,402
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Debt issued by BellSouth's wholly-owned subsidiary, BellSouth Capital
Funding Corporation (Capital Funding) is used to finance the businesses of
BellSouth Enterprises and the unregulated subsidiaries of BellSouth
Telecommunications. BellSouth has agreed to ensure the timely payment of
principal, premium, if any, and interest on Capital Funding's debt securities.
In December 1998, Capital Funding issued $300 of 5.375% Notes, due December
22, 2008. The purpose of these issues was to retire commercial paper.
In June 1998, BellSouth Telecommunications issued $500 of 6 3/8% Debentures,
due June 1, 2028. In addition, during June 1998, BellSouth Telecommunications
issued $500 of 6% Reset Put Securities due June 15, 2012 (REPS). REPS are a debt
instrument with embedded put and call option features. The REPS are subject to
mandatory redemption from the existing holders on June 15, 2002 through either
(i) the exercise by the callholder of its right to purchase the REPS or (ii) the
repurchase of the REPS by BellSouth Telecommunications. If the call option is
exercised, the callholder will, based on BellSouth Telecommunications' then
current credit spreads, determine the interest to be paid on the REPS.
During 1997, BellSouth Telecommunications retired certain long-term debt
issues totaling $600. As a result of the early extinguishment of these issues,
extraordinary losses of $9, net of current tax benefits of $6, were recognized
in 1997.
56
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE E -- DEBT (CONTINUED)
At December 31, 1998, shelf registration statements were on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under which $927 of debt securities could be
publicly offered.
NOTE F -- OTHER LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED CREDITS
Other liabilities and deferred credits are summarized as follows at December
31:
1998 1997
--------- ---------
Postretirement benefits other than pensions (Note H)............................... $ 792 $ 787
Compensation related............................................................... 544 495
Accrued pension cost (Note H)...................................................... 470 559
Minority interests................................................................. 451 504
Postemployment benefits............................................................ 243 242
Other.............................................................................. 256 182
--------- ---------
Total Other Liabilities and Deferred Credits..................................... $ 2,756 $ 2,769
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
NOTE G -- SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
STOCK SPLIT. In November 1998, BellSouth's Board of Directors approved a
two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend, whereby each
shareholder of record as of December 3, 1998 received on December 24, 1998 one
additional share of Common Stock for each share owned as of the record date. As
a result of the split, 1,010,156,851 shares were issued and $1,010 was
transferred from Paid-In Capital to Common Stock. Also in November 1998,
BellSouth's Board of Directors approved an increase in the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock to 4,400,000,000 from 2,200,000,000. Amounts related to
common shares for all periods presented have been restated to reflect the stock
split.
PREFERRED STOCK AUTHORIZED. BellSouth's Articles of Incorporation authorize
100 million shares of cumulative First Preferred Stock having a par value of $1
per share, of which 30 million shares have been reserved and designated Series A
for possible issuance under BellSouth's Shareholder Rights Plan. As of December
31, 1998, no preferred shares had been issued.
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN. In 1989, BellSouth adopted a Shareholder Rights
Plan by declaring a dividend of one right for each share of Common Stock then
outstanding and to be issued thereafter. Each right entitles shareholders to buy
one one-hundredth of a share of Series A First Preferred Stock for $43.75 per
share. The rights may be exercised only if a person or group acquires 10% of the
Common Stock of BellSouth without the prior approval of the Board of Directors
or announces a tender or exchange offer that would result in ownership of 25% or
more of the Common Stock. If a person or group acquires 10% of BellSouth's stock
without prior Board approval, other shareholders are then allowed to purchase
BellSouth Common Stock at half price. The rights currently trade with BellSouth
Common Stock and may be redeemed by the Board of Directors for one cent per
right until they become exercisable, and thereafter under certain circumstances.
The rights expire in December 1999.
SHARES HELD IN TRUST AND TREASURY. During 1996 and 1997, BellSouth issued
shares to grantor trusts to provide partial funding for the benefits payable
under certain nonqualified benefit plans. The trusts are irrevocable, and assets
contributed to the trusts can only be used to pay such benefits with certain
exceptions. At December 31, 1998 and 1997, the assets held in the trusts consist
of cash and
57
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE G -- SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
35,578,926 and 34,313,326 shares, respectively, of BellSouth Common Stock. Of
the total shares of BellSouth Common Stock held by the trusts, 31,893,326 were
issued by BellSouth directly to the trusts out of previously unissued shares and
3,685,600 shares were acquired in open market transactions through use of the
trusts' funds.
The total cost of the shares issued by BellSouth as of the date of funding
the trusts is included in Common Stock and Paid-In Capital; however, because
these shares are not considered outstanding for financial reporting purposes,
the shares are included within Shares Held in Trust and Treasury, a reduction to
Shareholders' Equity. In addition, there is no earnings per share impact of
these shares. The cost of shares acquired in open market purchases by the trusts
are also included in Shares Held in Trust and Treasury.
In addition to shares held by the grantor trusts, Shares Held in Trust and
Treasury includes treasury shares purchased in connection with BellSouth's
announced plan to repurchase shares of its Common Stock. In 1998 and 1997,
BellSouth purchased 36,170,168 and 6,827,978 shares for an aggregate of $1,261
and $157, respectively. A total of 4,294,072 and 8,249,248 shares, respectively,
were reissued under various employee benefit plans and for other purposes.
In November 1998, BellSouth announced its intent to repurchase up to $3,000
of its Common Stock during 1999.
Shares Held in Trust and Treasury, at cost, as of December 31, 1998 and 1997
are comprised of the following:
1998 1997
------------------------ --------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
------------- --------- ------------- -----------
Shares Held by Grantor Trusts........................ 35,578,926 $ 557 34,313,326 $ 519
Shares Held in Treasury.............................. 34,316,794 1,195 2,440,698 56
------------- --------- ------------- -----
Total Shares Held in Trust and Treasury.......... 69,895,720 $ 1,752 36,754,024 $ 575
------------- --------- ------------- -----
------------- --------- ------------- -----
GUARANTEE OF ESOP DEBT. The amount equivalent to BellSouth's guarantee of
the amortizing notes issued by its ESOP trusts are presented as a reduction to
Shareholders' Equity. The amount recorded as a decrease in Shareholders' Equity
represents the cost of unallocated BellSouth Common Stock purchased with the
proceeds of the amortizing notes and the timing difference resulting from the
shares allocated accounting method. (See Note H.)
58
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE H -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS. Substantially all
nonrepresented and represented employees of BellSouth are covered by
noncontributory defined benefit pension plans, as well as postretirement health
and life insurance welfare plans. Principal plans are discussed below; other
plans are not significant individually or in the aggregate.
The pension plan covering nonrepresented employees is a cash balance plan,
which provides pension benefits determined by a combination of
compensation-based service and additional credits and individual account-based
interest credits. The cash balance plan is subject to a minimum benefit
determined under a plan in existence for nonrepresented employees prior to July
1, 1993 which provided benefits based upon credited service and employees'
average compensation for a specified period. The minimum benefit under the prior
plan is applicable to employees retiring through 2005. The 1998 and 1997
projected benefit obligations assumed interest and additional credits greater
than the minimum levels specified in the written plan. Pension benefits provided
for represented employees are based on specified benefit amounts and years of
service through 1998. During 1998, BellSouth established a cash balance plan for
represented employees based upon an initial cash balance amount, negotiated
pension band increases and interest credits effective January 1, 1999. The 1998
and 1997 represented pension obligations included the projected effect of future
bargained-for improvements. The accounting for the health care plan does not
anticipate future adjustments to the cost-sharing arrangements provided for in
the written plan for employees who retire after December 31, 1991.
59
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE H -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)
Effective for fiscal year 1998, BellSouth adopted SFAS No. 132, "Employers
Disclosure about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits." The new standard
revises and combines disclosures for pensions and other postretirement benefits,
but does not change the measurement or recognition of those plans. Accrued
health care costs and prepaid life assets have been combined. The following
tables, prepared in accordance with the new standard, reconcile the changes in
obligations, plan assets and funded status at December 31:
RETIREE HEALTH
PENSION BENEFITS AND LIFE
-------------------- --------------------
1998 1997 1998 1997
--------- --------- --------- ---------
CHANGE IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION
Benefit obligation at the beginning of the year....... $ 12,335 $ 11,303 $ 3,879 $ 3,590
Service cost.......................................... 273 247 34 37
Interest cost......................................... 841 818 263 263
Amendments............................................ 670 (55) 110 --
Actuarial losses...................................... 319 910 651 200
Benefits paid......................................... (932) (877) (247) (211)
Curtailments.......................................... (4) (13) -- --
Special termination benefits.......................... 2 2 -- --
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Benefit obligation at the end of the year............. $ 13,504 $ 12,335 $ 4,690 $ 3,879
--------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- ---------
CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year........ $ 17,313 $ 15,614 $ 2,597 $ 2,157
Actual return on plan assets.......................... 1,602 2,576 224 410
Employer contribution................................. -- -- 262 234
Plan participants' contributions...................... -- -- 9 7
Benefits paid......................................... (932) (877) (247) (211)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Fair value of plan assets at end of year.............. $ 17,983 $ 17,313 $ 2,845 $ 2,597
--------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- ---------
FUNDED STATUS
As of end of year..................................... $ 4,479 $ 4,978 $ (1,845) $ (1,282)
Unrecognized prior service cost....................... 380 (335) 162 86
Unrecognized net (gain) or loss....................... (4,714) (4,743) 243 (346)
Unrecognized net (asset) or obligation................ (89) (109) 740 823
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Prepaid or (accrued) benefit cost..................... $ 56 $ (209) $ (700) $ (719)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:
RETIREE HEALTH
PENSION BENEFITS AND LIFE
-------------------- --------------------
1998 1997 1998 1997
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Prepaid benefit cost.................................. $ 526 $ 350 $ 92 $ 68
Accrued benefit liability............................. (470) (559) (792) (787)
60
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE H -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)
The components of pension and retiree health and life (income) cost are as
follows:
PENSION BENEFITS RETIREE HEALTH AND LIFE
------------------------------- -------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST
Service cost.............................. $ 273 $ 247 $ 288 $ 34 $ 37 $ 47
Interest cost............................. 841 818 799 263 263 268
Expected return on plan assets............ (1,209) (1,101) (1,056) (167) (149) (136)
Amortization of prior service cost........ (40) (3) (1) 35 34 34
Amortization of (gain)/loss............... (103) (104) (23) (4) (2) 9
Amortization of transition
(asset)/obligation...................... (21) (21) (21) 82 83 83
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net periodic benefit/(income) cost........ $ (259) $ (164) $ (14) $ 243 $ 266 $ 305
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Effective December 31, 1997, the nonrepresented cash balance plans were
recombined from six into one cash balance plan. Although only one nonrepresented
cash balance plan exists, separate demographic pools are maintained to generate
pension income based upon specific company information. The change in net
pension income and net retiree health and life costs is affected by several
variables, including changes in actuarial assumptions such as discount rate,
return on plan assets and plan amendments. The consolidated net pension income
and postretirement cost amounts above are exclusive of curtailment effects
reflected in the work force reduction activity and do not reflect pension
curtailment gains in the amount of $9, $36 and $43 in 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.
During 1998, BellSouth modified the presentation of the salary rate
assumption to reflect a more comparable weighted-average compensation increase.
The revised presentation has been included for all years and has no impact on
BellSouth's expenses or obligations. The significant actuarial assumptions at
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 were as follows:
PENSION BENEFITS RETIREE HEALTH AND LIFE
------------------------------- -------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE ASSUMPTIONS AS OF DECEMBER
31:
Discount rate........................... 6.75% 7.00% 7.50% 6.75% 7.00% 7.50%
Expected return on plan assets.......... 8.25% 8.25% 8.25% 8.25% 8.25% 8.25%
Rate of compensation increase........... 5.10% 5.00% 5.00% 5.10% 5.00% 5.00%
Health care cost trend rate............. -- -- -- 8.50% 8.00% 8.50%
The health care cost trend rate used to value the accumulated postretirement
obligation in 1998 and 1997 is assumed to decrease to 5% by 2003. Assumed health
care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the
health care plan. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost
trend rates would have the following effects as of December 31, 1998:
1-PERCENTAGE- 1-PERCENTAGE-
POINT INCREASE POINT DECREASE
----------------- -----------------
Effect on total of service and interest cost components......................... $ 23 $ (18)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation..................................... $ 322 $ (253)
61
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE H -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS. BellSouth maintains several contributory
savings plans which cover substantially all employees. The BellSouth Retirement
Savings Plan and the BellSouth Savings and Security Plan (collectively, the
Savings Plans) are tax-qualified defined contribution plans. Assets of the plans
are held by two trusts (the Trusts) which, in turn, are part of the BellSouth
Master Savings Trust.
In 1990, a leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was incorporated
into the Savings Plans. The Trusts borrowed $850 by issuing amortizing notes
which are guaranteed by BellSouth. The Trusts used the loan proceeds to purchase
shares of BellSouth Common Stock in the open market. These shares are held in
suspense accounts in the Trusts; a scheduled number of shares is released for
allocation to participants as each semiannual loan payment is made. The Trusts
service the debt with contributions from BellSouth and with dividends paid on
the shares held by the Trusts. None of the shares held by the Trusts is subject
to repurchase.
A portion of employees' eligible contributions to the Savings Plans is
matched by BellSouth at rates determined annually by the Board of Directors.
BellSouth's matching obligation is fulfilled with shares released from the
suspense accounts semi-annually for allocation to participants. The number of
shares allocated to each participant's account is based on the market price of
the shares at the time of allocation. If shares released for allocation do not
fulfill BellSouth's matching obligation, BellSouth makes further contributions
to the Trusts to fund the purchase of additional shares in the open market to
fulfill the remaining obligation.
BellSouth recognizes expense using the shares allocated accounting method,
which combines the cost of the shares allocated for the period plus interest
incurred, reduced by the dividends used to service the ESOP debt. Dividends on
all ESOP shares are recorded as a reduction to Retained earnings, and all ESOP
shares are included in the computation of Earnings Per Share.
1998 1997 1996
-------------- -------------- --------------
Compensation cost..................................... $46 $76 $58
Interest expense...................................... $28 $31 $33
Actual interest on ESOP Notes......................... $44 $50 $56
Cash contributions, excluding dividends paid to the
Trusts............................................... $80 $90 $91
Dividends paid to the Trusts, used for debt service... $42 $43 $44
Shares allocated to participants...................... 38,310,726 33,421,214 28,611,834
Shares committed to be released....................... -- -- --
Shares unallocated.................................... 25,246,722 30,136,234 34,945,614
NOTE I -- STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
At December 31, 1998, BellSouth has stock options outstanding under several
stock-based compensation plans. The BellSouth Corporation Stock Plan (the Stock
Plan) provides for grants to key employees of stock options and various other
stock-based awards. One share of BellSouth Common Stock is the underlying
security for any award. The aggregate number of shares of BellSouth Common Stock
which may be granted under the Stock Plan in any calendar year cannot exceed one
percent of the shares outstanding at the time of grant. Prior to adoption of the
Stock Plan, stock options were granted under the BellSouth Corporation Stock
Option Plan. Stock options granted under both plans entitle an optionee to
purchase shares of BellSouth Common Stock within prescribed periods at a price
62
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE I -- STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS (CONTINUED)
either equal to, or in excess of, the fair market value on the date of grant.
Options granted under these plans generally become exercisable at the end of
three to five years and have a term of 10 years.
BellSouth applies APB Opinion 25 and related Interpretations in accounting
for its stock plans. Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for
grants of stock options. Had compensation cost for BellSouth's stock-based
compensation plans been determined in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No.
123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," BellSouth's Net Income and
earnings per share would have been changed to the pro forma amounts indicated
below:
1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- ---------
Net income -- as reported.............................................. $ 3,527 $ 3,261 $ 2,863
Net income -- pro forma................................................ $ 3,488 $ 3,242 $ 2,852
Basic earnings per share -- as reported................................ $ 1.79 $ 1.64 $ 1.44
Basic earnings per share -- pro forma.................................. $ 1.77 $ 1.63 $ 1.44
Diluted earnings per share -- as reported.............................. $ 1.78 $ 1.64 $ 1.44
Diluted earnings per share -- pro forma................................ $ 1.76 $ 1.63 $ 1.43
The pro forma amounts reflected above are not representative of the effects
on reported Net Income in future years because, in general, the options granted
in 1998, 1997 and 1996 do not vest for several years and additional awards are
made each year.
The following table summarizes the activity for stock options outstanding:
1998 1997 1996
-------------- -------------- --------------
Options outstanding at January 1...................... 45,122,812 37,142,784 28,575,496
Options granted....................................... 17,963,592 12,507,766 10,753,026
Options exercised..................................... (2,784,312) (4,001,490) (1,385,090)
Options forfeited..................................... (1,099,182) (526,248) (800,648)
-------------- -------------- --------------
Options outstanding at December 31.................... 59,202,910 45,122,812 37,142,784
-------------- -------------- --------------
-------------- -------------- --------------
Weighted-average option prices per common share:
Outstanding at January 1............................ $18.67 $17.06 $15.28
Granted at fair market value........................ $31.95 $22.23 $21.25
Exercised........................................... $15.35 $14.69 $13.12
Forfeited........................................... $23.47 $20.02 $16.86
Outstanding at December 31.......................... $22.77 $18.67 $17.06
Weighted-average fair value of options granted at fair
market value during the year......................... $7.22 $4.38 $3.83
Options exercisable at December 31.................... 14,733,210 12,065,032 13,046,582
Shares available for grant at December 31............. 19,504,179 19,835,596 19,821,384
63
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE I -- STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS (CONTINUED)
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the grant date using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions:
1998 1997 1996
----------- ----------- -----------
Expected life (years).............................................. 5 5 7
Dividend yield..................................................... 2.40% 3.24% 3.39%
Expected volatility................................................ 21.0% 19.0% 15.4%
Risk-free interest rate............................................ 5.42% 6.22% 5.56%
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding
at December 31, 1998:
OPTIONS OUTSTANDING OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
NUMBER WEIGHTED- WEIGHTED- NUMBER WEIGHTED-
RANGE OF OUTSTANDING AVERAGE REMAINING AVERAGE EXERCISABLE AVERAGE
EXERCISE PRICES AT 12/31/98 CONTRACTUAL LIFE EXERCISE PRICE AT 12/31/98 EXERCISE PRICE
- - ----------------- ------------- -------------------- --------------- ------------- ---------------
$12.10-$15.08 13,766,824 4.73 years $ 14.27 7,598,268 $ 13.79
$15.13-$21.28 14,994,422 6.62 years $ 20.25 3,957,306 $ 20.12
$21.38-$29.22 12,938,740 8.09 years $ 22.27 2,305,338 $ 21.90
$30.91-$44.48 17,502,924 9.33 years $ 31.99 872,298 $ 30.96
------------- -------------
$12.10-$44.48 59,202,910 7.30 years $ 22.77 14,733,210 $ 17.77
------------- -------------
------------- -------------
NOTE J -- INCOME TAXES
In accordance with SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," the
Consolidated Balance Sheets reflect the anticipated tax impact of future taxable
income or deductions implicit in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in the form of
temporary differences. These temporary differences reflect the difference
between the basis in assets and liabilities as measured in the Consolidated
Financial Statements and as measured by tax laws using enacted tax rates.
64
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE J -- INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
The provision for income taxes is summarized as follows:
1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- ---------
Federal:
Current................................................................ $ 1,652 $ 1,619 $ 1,389
Deferred, net.......................................................... 221 252 147
Investment tax credits, net............................................ (45) (65) (77)
--------- --------- ---------
1,828 1,806 1,459
--------- --------- ---------
State:
Current................................................................ 234 289 235
Deferred, net.......................................................... 34 36 27
--------- --------- ---------
268 325 262
--------- --------- ---------
Foreign:
Current................................................................ 34 -- 1
Deferred, net.......................................................... 94 20 23
--------- --------- ---------
128 20 24
--------- --------- ---------
Total provision for income taxes..................................... $ 2,224 $ 2,151 $ 1,745
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Temporary differences which gave rise to deferred tax assets and
(liabilities) at December 31 were as follows:
1998 1997
--------- ---------
Compensation related............................................................ $ 657 $ 748
Allowance for uncollectibles.................................................... 97 94
Work force reduction charge..................................................... 53 66
Regulatory sharing accruals..................................................... 47 58
Other........................................................................... 138 186
--------- ---------
992 1,152
Valuation allowance............................................................. (81) (72)
--------- ---------
Deferred Tax Assets............................................................. 911 1,080
--------- ---------
Depreciation.................................................................... (2,297) (2,206)
Equity investments.............................................................. (530) (266)
Licenses........................................................................ (238) (199)
Issue basis accounting.......................................................... (236) (214)
Other........................................................................... (329) (259)
--------- ---------
Deferred Tax Liabilities...................................................... (3,630) (3,144)
--------- ---------
Net Deferred Tax Liability.................................................. $ (2,719) $ (2,064)
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
The valuation allowance, which increased by $9 and $8 in 1998 and 1997,
respectively, primarily relates to state net operating losses that may not be
utilized during the carryforward period. Of the Net Deferred Tax Asset
(Liability) at December 31, 1998 and 1997, $(207) and $(41), respectively, were
current and $(2,512) and $(2,023), respectively, were noncurrent.
65
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE J -- INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to BellSouth's
effective tax rate follows:
1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- ---------
Federal statutory tax rate....................................................... 35.0% 35.0% 35.0%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit............................ 3.0 3.9 3.7
Amortization of investment tax credits........................................... (0.5) (1.2) (1.7)
Equity of unconsolidated subsidiaries............................................ 0.6 1.6 1.6
Miscellaneous items, net......................................................... 0.6 0.4 (0.7)
--- --- ---
Effective tax rate............................................................. 38.7% 39.7% 37.9%
--- --- ---
--- --- ---
NOTE K -- SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- ---------
CASH PAID FOR:
Income Taxes............................................................. $ 2,021 $ 1,839 $ 1,427
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Interest................................................................. $ 838 $ 759 $ 740
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
In 1998, BellSouth contributed its ownership interests in certain domestic
wireless operations to a new joint venture. As a result of the transaction, net
assets were increased by approximately $300 with a corresponding increase to
liabilities.
In 1998 as well as in 1997, BellSouth began consolidating certain operations
which had previously been accounted for under the equity method. Such
consolidation resulted in an increase in assets of $519 and $375 (net of
decreases of $228 and $225 in Investments and Advances), respectively, and
corresponding increases in liabilities.
NOTE L -- SEGMENT INFORMATION
BellSouth Corporation has four reportable operating segments: (1) wireline
communications; (2) domestic wireless; (3) international operations; and (4)
advertising and publishing. Wireline communications include local exchange and
access services to business and residential customers in a nine-state region
located in the Southeastern United States. Domestic wireless consists primarily
of cellular and PCS businesses throughout BellSouth's nine-state wireline
service region and in certain other markets. International operations include a
variety of communications services, mainly wireless telephony, in areas within
nine countries in Latin America, as well as China, Denmark, Germany, India and
Israel. Advertising and publishing businesses publish, print and sell
advertising in alphabetical and classified telephone directories. The operations
of all other businesses which fall below the reporting thresholds are included
in the "Other" segment below, and includes entities providing Internet access,
wireless data, entertainment and various start-up operations.
66
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE L -- SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
BellSouth's reportable segments reflect strategic business units that offer
different products and services and/or serve different customers. They are
managed differently because each business requires different technologies and/or
marketing strategies. BellSouth evaluates performance based on the net income,
exclusive of certain intercompany and certain nonoperating items of each
strategic business unit.
The accounting policies underlying the reported segment data are the same as
those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (see Note A).
Generally, BellSouth accounts for intersegment sales and transfers as if the
sales and transfers were to third parties at current market prices. Corporate
and Eliminations includes intercompany eliminations as well as certain
nonoperating items.
The follow table provides information for each operating segment:
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
WIRELINE DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING TOTAL CORPORATE AND
COMMUNICATIONS WIRELESS OPERATIONS AND PUBLISHING OTHER SEGMENTS ELIMINATIONS
------------------ ----------- --------------- --------------- --------- ----------- ---------------
Operating Revenues:
External revenues... $ 16,401 $ 2,723 $ 1,995 $ 1,891 $ 113 $ 23,123 $ --
Intersegment
revenues.......... 221 7 -- -- 227 455 (455)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Total Operating
Revenues........ 16,622 2,730 1,995 1,891 340 23,578 (455)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation &
amortization...... 3,363 513 357 25 94 4,352 5
Other operating
expense........... 8,387 1,843 1,404 1,017 607 13,258 (396)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Total Operating
Expenses........ 11,750 2,356 1,761 1,042 701 17,610 (391)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Operating Income...... 4,872 374 234 849 (361) 5,968 (64)
Interest Expense...... 551 84 85 7 26 753 84
Gain on Sale of
Operations.......... -- -- -- -- -- -- 335
Other Income, net:
Interest income..... 3 17 27 -- 19 66 247
Equity in earnings
(losses) of
unconsolidated
subsidiaries...... -- 165 (69) (4) -- 92 --
Other nonoperating
items............. -- (5) (50) 9 46 -- (56)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Income Before Income
Taxes............... 4,324 467 57 847 (322) 5,373 378
Provision for (Benefit
from) Income
Taxes............... 1,573 184 119 317 (112) 2,081 143
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Segment Net Income.... $ 2,751 $ 283 $ (62) $ 530 $ (210) $ 3,292 $ 235
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Total Assets.......... $ 23,916 $ 6,540 $ 4,449 $ 1,288 $ 1,273 $ 37,466 $ 1,944
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Capital Expenditures.. $ 3,512 $ 692 $ 710 $ 36 $ 253 $ 5,203 $ 9
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Equity Method
Investments......... $ -- $ 1,610 $ 521 $ -- $ 61 $ 2,192 $ (44)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
CONSOLIDATED
---------------
Operating Revenues:
External revenues... $ 23,123
Intersegment
revenues.......... --
---------------
Total Operating
Revenues........ 23,123
---------------
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation &
amortization...... 4,357
Other operating
expense........... 12,862
---------------
Total Operating
Expenses........ 17,219
---------------
Operating Income...... 5,904
Interest Expense...... 837
Gain on Sale of
Operations.......... 335
Other Income, net:
Interest income..... 313
Equity in earnings
(losses) of
unconsolidated
subsidiaries...... 92
Other nonoperating
items............. (56)
---------------
Income Before Income
Taxes............... 5,751
Provision for (Benefit
from) Income
Taxes............... 2,224
---------------
Segment Net Income.... $ 3,527
---------------
---------------
Total Assets.......... $ 39,410
---------------
---------------
Capital Expenditures.. $ 5,212
---------------
---------------
Equity Method
Investments......... $ 2,148
---------------
---------------
67
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE L -- SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
WIRELINE DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING TOTAL CORPORATE AND
COMMUNICATIONS WIRELESS OPERATIONS AND PUBLISHING OTHER SEGMENTS ELIMINATIONS
------------------ ----------- --------------- --------------- --------- ----------- ---------------
Operating Revenues:
External revenues... $ 15,178 $ 2,581 $ 948 $ 1,837 $ 17 $ 20,561 $ --
Intersegment
revenues.......... 168 8 -- 7 185 368 (368)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Total Operating
Revenues........ 15,346 2,589 948 1,844 202 20,929 (368)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation &
amortization...... 3,332 446 126 22 33 3,959 5
Other operating
expense........... 7,826 1,731 758 967 312 11,594 (373)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Total Operating
Expenses........ 11,158 2,177 884 989 345 15,553 (368)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Operating Income...... 4,188 412 64 855 (143) 5,376 --
Interest Expense...... 534 59 37 5 33 668 93
Gain on Sale of
Operations.......... -- -- -- -- -- -- 787
Other income, net:
Interest income..... 4 13 15 -- 59 91 101
Equity in earnings
(losses) of
unconsolidated
subsidiaries...... -- 164 (220) 11 (197) (242) --
Other nonoperating
items............. 37 33 (4) 2 38 106 (37)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Income Before Income
Taxes and
Extraordinary
Losses.............. 3,695 563 (182) 863 (276) 4,663 758
Provision for (Benefit
from) Income
Taxes............... 1,372 230 5 320 (94) 1,833 318
Extraordinary Loss on
Early Extinguishment
of Debt, net of
tax................. (9) -- -- -- -- (9) --
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Segment Net Income.... $ 2,314 $ 333 $ (187) $ 543 $ (182) $ 2,821 $ 440
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Total Assets.......... $ 23,226 $ 5,859 $ 3,278 $ 1,262 $ 1,326 $ 34,951 $ 1,350
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Capital Expenditures.. $ 3,440 $ 823 $ 412 $ 21 $ 158 $ 4,854 $ 4
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Equity Method
Investments......... $ -- $ 1,338 $ 693 $ -- $ 112 $ 2,143 $ (136)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
CONSOLIDATED
---------------
Operating Revenues:
External revenues... $ 20,561
Intersegment
revenues.......... --
---------------
Total Operating
Revenues........ 20,561
---------------
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation &
amortization...... 3,964
Other operating
expense........... 11,221
---------------
Total Operating
Expenses........ 15,185
---------------
Operating Income...... 5,376
Interest Expense...... 761
Gain on Sale of
Operations.......... 787
Other income, net:
Interest income..... 192
Equity in earnings
(losses) of
unconsolidated
subsidiaries...... (242)
Other nonoperating
items............. 69
---------------
Income Before Income
Taxes and
Extraordinary
Losses.............. 5,421
Provision for (Benefit
from) Income
Taxes............... 2,151
Extraordinary Loss on
Early Extinguishment
of Debt, net of
tax................. (9)
---------------
Segment Net Income.... $ 3,261
---------------
---------------
Total Assets.......... $ 36,301
---------------
---------------
Capital Expenditures.. $ 4,858
---------------
---------------
Equity Method
Investments......... $ 2,007
---------------
---------------
68
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE L -- SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
WIRELINE DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING TOTAL CORPORATE AND
COMMUNICATIONS WIRELESS OPERATIONS AND PUBLISHING OTHER SEGMENTS ELIMINATIONS
------------------ ----------- --------------- --------------- --------- ----------- ---------------
Operating Revenues:
External revenues... $ 14,624 $ 2,204 $ 547 $ 1,651 $ 14 $ 19,040 $ --
Intersegment
revenues.......... 152 3 7 -- 123 285 (285)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Total Operating
Revenues........ 14,776 2,207 554 1,651 137 19,325 (285)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation &
amortization...... 3,255 324 98 21 16 3,714 5
Other operating
expense........... 7,814 1,497 481 800 187 10,779 (237)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Total Operating
Expenses........ 11,069 1,821 579 821 203 14,493 (232)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Operating Income...... 3,707 386 (25) 830 (66) 4,832 (53)
Interest Expense...... 552 41 28 3 -- 624 97
Gain on Sale of
Operations.......... -- -- -- -- -- -- 442
Other income, net:
Interest income..... 8 4 19 1 30 62 100
Equity in earnings
(losses) of
unconsolidated
subsidiaries...... -- 195 (163) 23 (131) (76) --
Other nonoperating
items............. 12 (22) 11 (2) (12) (13) 35
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Income Before Income
Taxes............... 3,175 522 (186) 849 (179) 4,181 427
Provision for (Benefit
from) Income
Taxes............... 1,170 219 4 323 (63) 1,653 92
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Segment Net Income.... $ 2,005 $ 303 $ (190) $ 526 $ (116) $ 2,528 $ 335
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Total Assets.......... $ 23,038 $ 5,294 $ 1,369 $ 1,226 $ 767 $ 31,694 $ 874
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Capital Expenditures.. $ 3,206 $ 985 $ 177 $ 28 $ 55 $ 4,451 $ 4
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
Equity Method
Investments......... $ -- $ 1,355 $ 294 $ 46 $ 136 $ 1,831 $ (155)
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
-------- ----------- ------- ------- --------- ----------- -------
CONSOLIDATED
---------------
Operating Revenues:
External revenues... $ 19,040
Intersegment
revenues.......... --
---------------
Total Operating
Revenues........ 19,040
---------------
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation &
amortization...... 3,719
Other operating
expense........... 10,542
---------------
Total Operating
Expenses........ 14,261
---------------
Operating Income...... 4,779
Interest Expense...... 721
Gain on Sale of
Operations.......... 442
Other income, net:
Interest income..... 162
Equity in earnings
(losses) of
unconsolidated
subsidiaries...... (76)
Other nonoperating
items............. 22
---------------
Income Before Income
Taxes............... 4,608
Provision for (Benefit
from) Income
Taxes............... 1,745
---------------
Segment Net Income.... $ 2,863
---------------
---------------
Total Assets.......... $ 32,568
---------------
---------------
Capital Expenditures.. $ 4,455
---------------
---------------
Equity Method
Investments......... $ 1,676
---------------
---------------
Net revenues to external customers are based on the location of the
customer. Geographic information as of December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 is as
follows:
UNITED
STATES INTERNATIONAL TOTAL
--------- ------------- ---------
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
Revenues.................................................................. $ 21,128 $ 1,995 $ 23,123
Long-lived assets......................................................... 27,082 3,622 30,704
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
Revenues.................................................................. $ 19,613 $ 948 $ 20,561
Long-lived assets......................................................... 25,948 2,236 28,184
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
Revenues.................................................................. $ 18,493 $ 547 $ 19,040
Long-lived assets......................................................... 25,102 1,168 26,270
69
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE M -- FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The recorded amounts of cash and cash equivalents, temporary cash
investments, bank loans and commercial paper approximate fair value due to the
short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value for BellSouth
Telecommunications long-term debt is estimated based on the closing market
prices for each issue at December 31, 1998 and 1997. Fair value estimates for
the Guarantee of ESOP Debt, Capital Funding long-term debt, foreign exchange
contracts, foreign currency swaps and interest rate swaps are based on quotes
from dealers. Since judgment is required to develop the estimates, the estimated
amounts presented herein may not be indicative of the amounts that BellSouth
could realize in a current market exchange.
Following is a summary of financial instruments where the fair values differ
from the recorded amounts as of December 31, 1998 and 1997:
1998 1997
------------------------ ------------------------
ESTIMATED ESTIMATED
RECORDED FAIR RECORDED FAIR
AMOUNT VALUE AMOUNT VALUE
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE SHEET FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Long-Term Debt:
BellSouth Telecommunications.............................. $ 6,518 $ 6,771 $ 6,089 $ 6,142
Capital Funding........................................... 1,469 1,523 1,290 1,324
Guarantee of ESOP Debt.................................... 467 519 534 584
OFF BALANCE SHEET FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Interest Rate Swaps......................................... -- (13) -- (6)
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts.......................... -- -- -- (3)
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS. BellSouth is, from time to time, party to
currency swap agreements, interest rate swap agreements and foreign exchange
forward contracts in its normal course of business for purposes other than
trading. These financial instruments are used to mitigate foreign currency and
interest rate risks, although to some extent they expose the company to market
risks and credit risks. The credit risks associated with these instruments are
controlled through the evaluation and continual monitoring of the
creditworthiness of the counterparties. In the event that a counterparty fails
to meet the terms of a contract or agreement, BellSouth's exposure is limited to
the then current value of the currency rate or interest rate differential, not
the full notional or contract amount. Such contracts and agreements have been
executed with creditworthy financial institutions. As such, BellSouth considers
the risk of nonperformance to be remote.
CURRENCY SWAP. BellSouth entered into a currency swap in 1994 to hedge
European Currency Units (ECU) 125,000,000 debt issued by Capital Funding. The
currency swap and related debt mature in February 1999. At December 31, 1998,
the net currency swap receivable, which equals the fair value of the swap, was
$7 and the related net interest receivable was $7, both of which are included in
accounts receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1998.
INTEREST RATE SWAPS. BellSouth enters into interest rate swap agreements to
exchange fixed and variable rate interest payment obligations without the
exchange of the underlying principal amounts. As of December 31, 1998 and 1997,
BellSouth was a party to various interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional
amount of $920. Under swap agreements, BellSouth paid fixed rates averaging
6.11% and 7.13% at December 31, 1998 and 1997 and received variable rates
averaging 5.54% and 5.69% at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. BellSouth
also paid variable rates averaging 5.69% and
70
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE M -- FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)
received fixed rates averaging 6.00% at December 31, 1998. The swaps mature at
dates ranging from 2001 to 2002.
OTHER. BellSouth has also issued letters of credit and financial guarantees
which approximate $523 at December 31, 1998. Of this total, $360 represents the
U.S. Dollar equivalent of the outstanding debt of E-Plus (a partially-owned
wireless communications company located in Germany) guaranteed by BellSouth.
BellSouth has agreed to guarantee E-Plus borrowings up to a U.S. Dollar
equivalent of $422 (705 million German Marks) at December 31, 1998. Since there
is no market for the instruments, it is not practicable to estimate their fair
value.
CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK. Financial instruments which potentially
subject BellSouth to credit risk consist principally of trade accounts
receivable. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to these receivables,
other than those from long distance carriers, are limited due to the composition
of the customer base, which includes a large number of individuals and
businesses. At December 31, 1998 and 1997, approximately $472 and $485,
respectively, of trade accounts receivable were from long distance carriers.
NOTE N -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
LEASES. BellSouth has entered into operating leases for facilities and
equipment used in operations. Rental expense under operating leases was $242,
$273 and $269 for 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Capital leases currently in
effect are not significant.
The following table summarizes the approximate future minimum rentals under
noncancelable operating leases in effect at December 31, 1998:
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 THEREAFTER TOTAL
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---------- ------
Minimum rentals......................... $212 $197 $181 $168 $148 $663 $1,569
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ------
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ------
OUTSIDE PLANT. BellSouth currently self-insures all of its outside plant
against casualty losses. The net book value of outside plant was $7,234 and
$7,408 at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Such outside plant, located
in the nine Southeastern states served by BellSouth Telecommunications, is
susceptible to damage from severe weather conditions and other perils, including
hurricanes.
OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS. Beginning in 1997, BellSouth Telecommunications
contracted with various entities to outsource the performance of certain
engineering functions, as well as its information technology operations and
application development. These contracts expire at various dates through 2008,
are generally renewable, and are cancelable upon the payment of additional fees
or for nonperformance. Future minimum payments for these contracts range from
$400 to $625 annually over the next nine years.
RECIPROCAL COMPENSATION. Following the enactment of the Telecommunications
Act of 1996, BellSouth Telecommunications and various competitive local exchange
carriers (CLECs) entered into interconnection agreements providing for, among
other things, the payment of reciprocal compensation for local calls initiated
by the customers of one carrier that are completed on the network of the other
carrier. Numerous CLECs claim entitlement from BellSouth Telecommunications for
compensation associated with dial-up calls originating on BellSouth
Telecommunications' network and connecting with Internet service providers
(ISPs) served by the CLECs' networks. BellSouth Telecommunications has
71
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE N -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
maintained that, because the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
previously determined that Internet calls over dedicated lines are
jurisdictionally interstate, dial-up calls to ISPs are not local calls for which
terminating compensation is due under the interconnection agreements. The courts
and state commissions that have considered the matter have ruled that such calls
invoke the reciprocal compensation obligation. The FCC has indicated that it
would release an order in which it would address the jurisdictional nature of
switched ISP traffic. BellSouth Telecommunications believes that it has a good
basis for its claims that such reciprocal compensation is not owed to the CLECs.
However, at December 31, 1998, BellSouth Telecommunications' exposure related to
unrecorded amounts withheld from CLECs was approximately $135, including accrued
interest.
OTHER CLAIMS. BellSouth and its subsidiaries are subject to claims arising
in the ordinary course of business involving allegations of personal injury,
breach of contract, anti-competitive conduct, employment law issues, regulatory
matters and other actions. BellSouth Telecommunications is also subject to
claims attributable to predivestiture events involving environmental
liabilities, rates, taxes, contracts and torts. Certain contingent liabilities
for predivestiture events are shared with AT&T Corp.
While complete assurance cannot be given as to the outcome of any legal
claims, BellSouth believes that any financial impact would not be material to
its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
NOTE O -- QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
In the following summary of quarterly financial information, all adjustments
necessary for a fair presentation of each period were included. The results for
fourth quarter 1998 include a pretax gain of $180 ($110 after tax) on the sale
of BellSouth's operation in New Zealand as well as additional income of $102
($62 after tax) which resulted from the early repayment of a loan. First quarter
1998 results include a pretax gain of $155 ($96 after tax) resulting from
additional proceeds from the sale of ITT World Directories. The results for
third quarter 1997 include pretax gains on sales of operations of $787, which
increased net income by $480.
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
--------- --------- --------- ---------
1998
Operating Revenues........................................... $ 5,426 $ 5,664 $ 5,865 $ 6,168
Operating Income............................................. $ 1,454 $ 1,434 $ 1,463 $ 1,553
Net Income................................................... $ 892 $ 818 $ 814 $ 1,003
Earnings Per Share--Basic and Diluted(a)..................... $ .45 $ .41 $ .41 $ .51
1997
Operating Revenues........................................... $ 4,845 $ 4,923 $ 5,193 $ 5,600
Operating Income............................................. $ 1,353 $ 1,224 $ 1,346 $ 1,453
Net Income................................................... $ 693 $ 654 $ 1,185 $ 729
Earnings Per Share--Basic and Diluted(a)..................... $ .35 $ .33 $ .60 $ .37
- - ------------------------
(a) Due to rounding, the sum of quarterly EPS amounts may not agree to
year-to-date EPS amounts.
72
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
NOTE P -- SUBSEQUENT EVENT
BellSouth holds equity interests in two wireless communications consortia in
Brazil, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. At
December 31, 1998, the Brazilian operations had incurred approximately $2,300 in
U.S. Dollar-denominated liabilities. During January 1999 the Brazilian
government allowed its currency to trade freely against other currencies
resulting in an immediate devaluation of the Brazilian Real. For January 1999,
the latest internal financial reporting period, BellSouth will recognize a
foreign exchange rate loss resulting from the devaluation of approximately $364
through recording its share of equity in earnings of its Brazilian equity
investments. The aforementioned exchange loss is subject to further upward or
downward adjustment based on fluctuations in the U.S. Dollar/Brazilian Real
exchange rate.
73
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
No change in accountants or disagreements on the adoption of appropriate
accounting standards or financial disclosure has occurred during the periods
included in this report.
PART III
ITEMS 10 THROUGH 13.
Information regarding executive officers required by Item 401 of Regulation
S-K is furnished in a separate disclosure on page 22 in Part I of this report
since the registrant did not furnish such information in its definitive proxy
statement prepared in accordance with Schedule 14A.
The additional information required by these items will be included in the
registrant's definitive proxy statement dated March 9, 1999 as follows, and is
herein incorporated by reference pursuant to General Instruction G(3):
PAGE(S) IN
DEFINITIVE
PROXY
ITEM DESCRIPTION STATEMENT
- - ----------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.......................... 4-7
11. Executive Compensation...................................................... 10-11; 19*-25
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management...................................................... 2; 12
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.............................. 7
- - ------------------------
* Beginning with "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation"
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
PAGE(S) IN THIS
FORM 10-K
-------------------
a. Documents filed as a part of the report:
(1) Financial Statements:
Report of Independent Accountants........................................................ 45
Consolidated Statements of Income........................................................ 46
Consolidated Balance Sheets.............................................................. 47
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.................................................... 48
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income................. 49
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................................... 50
(2) Financial statement schedules have been omitted because the required information is
contained in the financial statements and notes thereto or because such schedules are not
required or applicable.
(3) Exhibits: Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the SEC, are
incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto. All management contracts or
compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K
Report pursuant to Item 14(c) are filed as Exhibits 10a through 10dd inclusive.
74
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
- - ---------
3a Amended Articles of Incorporation of BellSouth Corporation as of April 27, 1998. (Exhibit 3a to Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998, File No. 1-8607.)
3b Bylaws of BellSouth Corporation as Amended on November 23, 1998.
4 BellSouth Corporation Shareholder Rights Agreement. (Exhibit 4-b to Form 8-K. Date of report November
27, 1989.)
4a No instrument which defines the rights of holders of long and intermediate term debt of BellSouth
Corporation is filed herewith pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A). Pursuant to this
regulation, BellSouth Corporation hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any such instrument to the SEC upon
request.
10a BellSouth Corporation Officer Short Term Incentive Award Plan. (Exhibit 10y to Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10b BellSouth Corporation Executive Long Term Incentive Plan. (Exhibit 10e to Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1991, File No. 1-8607.)
10c BellSouth Corporation Executive Long Term Disability and Survivor Protection Plan as amended and
restated effective January 1, 1994. (Exhibit 10c-1 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993,
File No. 1-8607.)
10d BellSouth Corporation Executive Transfer Plan. (Exhibit 10ee to Registration Statement No. 2-87846.)
10e BellSouth Corporation Death Benefit Program. (Exhibit 10ff to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1989, File No. 1-8607.)
10f BellSouth Corporation Plan For Non-Employee Directors' Travel Accident Insurance. (Exhibit 10ii to
Registration Statement No. 2-87846.)
10g BellSouth Corporation Executive Incentive Award Deferral Plan as amended and restated effective
September 23, 1996. (Exhibit 10g to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10h BellSouth Corporation Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan as amended and restated effective November
25, 1996. (Exhibit 10h to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10i BellSouth Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan as amended on March 23, 1998. (Exhibit 10i
to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998, File No. 1-8607.)
10j BellSouth Corporation Directors Retirement Plan. (Exhibit 10qq to Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1986, File No. 1-8607.)
10k BellSouth Corporation Financial Counseling Plan. (Exhibit 10r to Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1992, File No. 1-8607.)
75
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
- - ---------
10k-1 Amendment dated November 3, 1995 to the BellSouth Corporation Financial Counseling Plan for Executives.
(Exhibit 10l-1 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, File No. 1-8607.)
10l BellSouth Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. (Exhibit 10gg to
Registration Statement No. 2-87846.)
10m BellSouth Corporation Executive Life Insurance Plan as amended and restated as the BellSouth
Split-Dollar Life Insurance Plan, effective August 31, 1998.
10n BellSouth Corporation Non-Employee Director Stock Plan. (Exhibit 10z to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1997, File No. 1-8607.)
10o Form of Executive Officer Successor and Retirement Agreement. (Exhibit 10aa to Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10p BellSouth Non-Employee Directors Charitable Contribution Program. (Exhibit 10z to Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1992, File No. 1-8607.)
10q BellSouth Personal Retirement Account Pension Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 1998.
10q-1 Amendment dated December 22, 1998 to the BellSouth Personal Retirement Account Pension Plan.
10r BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s) as amended April 28, 1995. (Exhibit 10u-1 to
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1995, File No. 1-8607.)
10r-1 Amendment dated May 23, 1996 to the BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s).
(Exhibit 10s-1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10s BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s) as amended April 28, 1995.
(Exhibit 10v-1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1995, File No. 1-8607.)
10s-1 Amendment dated May 23, 1996 to the BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. Trust Under Executive Benefit
Plan(s). (Exhibit 10t-1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10t BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Board of Directors Benefit Plan(s) as amended April 28, 1995. (Exhibit
10w-1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1995, File No. 1-8607.)
10t-1 Amendment dated May 23, 1996 to the BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Board Directors Benefit Plan(s).
(Exhibit 10u-1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10u BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. Trust Under Board of Directors Benefit Plan(s) as amended April 28,
1995. (Exhibit 10x-1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1995, File No. 1-8607.)
10u-1 Amendment dated May 23, 1996 to the BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. Trust Under Board of Directors
Benefit Plan(s). (Exhibit 10v-1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10v BellSouth Corporation Stock Plan as amended on September 23, 1996 and November 24, 1996. (Exhibit 10v to
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10w BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan as amended and restated effective July 1, 1996. (Exhibit 10x to Form
10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10w-1 Amendment dated February 18, 1997 to the BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan. (Exhibit 10w-1 to Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 1997, File No. 1-8607.)
76
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
- - ---------
10w-2 Amendment dated June 24, 1997 to the BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan. (Exhibit 10w-2 to Form 10-Q/A
for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, File No. 1-8607.)
10w-3 Amendment dated May 5, 1998 to the BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan. (Exhibit 10w-3 to Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended March 31, 1998, File No. 1-8607.)
10w-4 Amendment dated December 23, 1998 to the BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan.
10x BellSouth Corporation Officer Estate Enhancement Plan and Agreement. (Exhibit 10x to Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10y BellSouth Change in Control Executive Severance Agreements. (Exhibit 10y to Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996, File No. 1-8607.)
10z BellSouth Compensation Deferral Plan as amended and restated effective October 1, 1997. (Exhibit 10z to
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998, File No. 1-8607.)
10aa BellSouth Employee Stock Investment Plan. (Exhibit 10aa to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
1998, File No. 1-8607.)
10aa-1 Amendment dated November 27, 1996 to the BellSouth Employee Stock Investment Plan. (Exhibit 10aa-1 to
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998, File No. 1-8607.)
10aa-2 Amendment dated March 21, 1997 to the BellSouth Employee Stock Investment Plan. (Exhibit 10aa-2 to Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998, File No. 1-8607.)
10aa-3 Amendment dated May 5, 1998 to the BellSouth Employee Stock Investment Plan. (Exhibit 10aa-3 to Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998, File No. 1-8607.)
10bb BellSouth Officer Motor Vehicle Policy. (Exhibit 10bb to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998,
File No. 1-8607.)
10cc BellSouth Supplemental Life Insurance Plan, as amended and restated effective August 31, 1998.
10dd Agreement with Chief Executive Officer.
11 Computation of Earnings Per Share.
12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
21 Subsidiaries of BellSouth.
24 Powers of Attorney.
27 Financial Data Schedule.
99a Annual report on Form 11-K for BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998 (to be filed as an amendment hereto within 180 days of the end of the period covered by this
report.)
99b Annual report on Form 11-K for BellSouth Savings and Security ESOP Plan for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (to be filed as an amendment hereto within 180
days of the end of the period covered by this report.)
b. Reports on Form 8-K:
DATE OF EVENT SUBJECT
- - -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20, 1999 BellSouth Recognizes Brazilian Currency Devaluation
January 25, 1999 Fourth Quarter 1998 Earnings Release
77
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
/s/ W. PATRICK SHANNON
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
W. Patrick Shannon
VICE PRESIDENT AND CONTROLLER
February 24, 1999
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER:
F. Duane Ackerman*
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD,
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER:
Ronald M. Dykes*
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER:
W. Patrick Shannon*
VICE PRESIDENT AND CONTROLLER
DIRECTORS:
F. Duane Ackerman* John G. Medlin, Jr.*
Reuben V. Anderson* Leo F. Mullin*
James H. Blanchard* Robin B. Smith*
J. Hyatt Brown* C. Dixon Spangler, Jr.*
Armando M. Codina* William S. Stavropoulos*
Phyllis Burke Davis* Ronald A. Terry*
Kathleen F. Feldstein* J. Tylee Wilson*
*By: /s/ W. PATRICK SHANNON
---------------------------------
W. Patrick Shannon
(INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)
February 24, 1999
78
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We consent to the incorporation by reference of our report, dated February
3, 1999, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of BellSouth
Corporation as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1998, which report is included in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K, in the following Registration Statements:
- Form S-3 (File No. 33-51449),
- Form S-3 (File No. 33-63173),
- Form S-3 (File No. 333-21233),
- Form S-3 (File No. 333-31301),
- Form S-3 (File No. 333-45607),
- Form S-8 (File No. 33-38265),
- Form S-8 (File No. 33-38264),
- Form S-8 (File No. 33-49459),
- Form S-8 (File No. 333-13783),
- Form S-8 (File No. 333-49045),
- Form S-8 (File No. 333-49047),
- Form S-8 (File No. 333-49169).
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
February 24, 1999
79