UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
|X| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005
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
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Georgia 58-1533433
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
1155 Peachtree Street, N. E., 30309-3610
Atlanta, Georgia (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number 404-249-2000
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 ___
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes __X__ No
At July 29, 2005, 1,832,345,019 common shares were outstanding.
Table of Contents
Item Page
Part I
1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Statements of Income 3
Consolidated Balance Sheets 4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 5
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
And Comprehensive Income 6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 7
2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations 17
3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about
Market Risk 31
4. Controls and Procedures 31
Part II
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use
of Proceeds 32
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 32
6. Exhibits 33
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
(Unaudited)
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
2004 2005 2004 2005
----------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Operating Revenues:
Communications Group $ 4,565 $ 4,598 $ 9,053 $ 9,191
Advertising and publishing 507 527 986 1,015
All other 11 17 20 27
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total Operating Revenues 5,083 5,142 10,059 10,233
Operating Expenses:
Cost of services and products
(excludes depreciation and
amortization shown
separately below) 1,789 1,925 3,587 3,845
Selling, general, and
administrative expenses 938 951 1,860 1,852
Depreciation and amortization 914 916 1,812 1,834
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total Operating Expenses 3,641 3,792 7,259 7,531
Operating income 1,442 1,350 2,800 2,702
Interest expense 211 285 426 576
Net earnings (losses) of equity
affiliates 151 68 255 (12)
Gain on sale of operations - - 462 -
Other income (expense), net 73 56 137 112
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income from Continuing Operations
Before Income Taxes 1,455 1,189 3,228 2,226
Provision for Income Taxes 516 394 1,139 748
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income from Continuing Operations 939 795 2,089 1,478
Income (Loss) from Discontinued
Operations, Net of Tax 57 - 506 381
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net Income $ 996 $ 795 $ 2,595 $ 1,859
========== ========== ========== ==========
Weighted-Average Common Shares
Outstanding:
Basic 1,832 1,831 1,832 1,831
Diluted 1,836 1,835 1,837 1,835
Dividends Declared Per Common Share $ 0.27 $ 0.29 $ 0.52 $ 0.56
Basic Earnings Per Share:
Income from Continuing Operations $ 0.51 $ 0.43 $ 1.14 $ 0.81
Income (Loss) from Discontinued
Operations 0.03 - 0.28 0.21
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net Income* $ 0.54 $ 0.43 $ 1.42 $ 1.02
========== ========== ========== ==========
Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Income from Continuing Operations $ 0.51 $ 0.43 $ 1.14 $ 0.81
Income (Loss) from Discontinued
Operations 0.03 - 0.28 0.21
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net Income* $ 0.54 $ 0.43 $ 1.41 $ 1.01
========== ========== ========== ==========
*Net income per share may not sum due to rounding
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
December 31, June 30,
2004 2005
--------------------------------
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 680 $ 485
Accounts receivable, net of allowance
for uncollectibles of $317 and $287 2,559 2,480
Material and supplies 321 335
Other current assets 1,071 951
Assets of discontinued operations 1,068 --
------------ ------------
Total current assets 5,699 4,251
------------ ------------
Investments in and advances to Cingular 22,771 21,952
Property, plant and equipment, net 22,039 21,853
Other assets 7,400 7,741
Intangible assets, net 1,587 1,529
------------ ------------
Total assets $ 59,496 $ 57,326
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Debt maturing within one year $ 5,475 $ 3,293
Accounts payable 1,047 1,027
Other current liabilities 3,018 3,444
Liabilities of discontinued operations 830 --
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 10,370 7,764
------------ ------------
Long-term debt 15,108 14,399
------------ ------------
Noncurrent liabilities:
Deferred income taxes 6,492 6,594
Other noncurrent liabilities 4,460 4,575
------------ ------------
Total noncurrent liabilities 10,952 11,169
------------ ------------
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $1 par value (8,650 shares
authorized; 1,831 and 1,832 shares
outstanding) 2,020 2,020
Paid-in capital 7,840 7,836
Retained earnings 19,267 20,053
Accumulated other comprehensive income
(loss) (157) (70)
Shares held in trust and treasury (5,904) (5,845)
------------ ------------
Total shareholders' equity 23,066 23,994
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $ 59,496 $ 57,326
============ ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN MILLIONS)
(Unaudited)
For the Six Months
Ended June 30,
2004 2005
-----------------------------
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Income from continuing operations $ 2,089 $ 1,478
Adjustments to reconcile income to cash
provided by operating activities from
continuing operations:
Depreciation and amortization 1,812 1,834
Provision for uncollectibles 195 165
Net losses (earnings) of equity affiliates (255) 12
Deferred income taxes and investment tax
credits 603 117
Pension income (242) (266)
Stock-based compensation expense 58 48
Loss on extinguishment of debt -- 42
(Gain) loss on sale/disposal of operations (462) --
Net Change in:
Accounts receivable and other current
assets (124) (163)
Accounts payable and other current
liabilities 103 391
Deferred charges and other assets (62) (40)
Other liabilities and deferred credits 33 204
Other reconciling items, net 49 (2)
---------- ----------
Net cash provided by operating activities
from continuing operations 3,797 3,820
========== ==========
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures (1,366) (1,579)
Purchases of short-term investments (1,846) (12)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments 1,036 28
Proceeds from sale of operations 525 930
Purchases of debt and equity securities (416) (103)
Proceeds from sale of debt and equity
securities 34 14
Net short term (advances to) repayments from
Cingular -- 666
Proceeds from repayment of loans and advances 109 123
Other investing activities, net (12) (14)
---------- ----------
Net cash provided by (used for) investing
activities from continuing operations (1,936) 53
========== ==========
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) of short-term debt (339) (1,630)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 696 --
Repayments of long-term debt (221) (1,267)
Dividends paid (914) (988)
Purchase of treasury shares (99) (83)
Other financing activities, net 51 15
---------- ----------
Net cash used in financing activities from
continuing operations (826) (3,953)
========== ==========
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents from continuing operations 1,035 (80)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents from discontinued operations (185) (115)
---------- ----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents 850 (195)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
period 2,947 680
---------- ----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 3,797 $ 485
========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(IN MILLIONS)
(Unaudited)
Number of Shares Amount
------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Accum. (a)
Shares Other Shares
Held in Compre- Held in
Trust hensive Trust
Common and Common Paid-in Retained Income and
Stock Treasury Stock Capital Earnings (Loss) Treasury Total
Balance at December 31, 2003 2,020 (190) $ 2,020 $ 7,729 $ 16,540 $ (585) $ (5,992) $ 19,712
Net Income 2,595 2,595
Other comprehensive income, net of tax 125 125
Total comprehensive income 2,720
Dividends declared (946) (946)
Purchase and sales of treasury stock
by grantor trust 2 (2) --
Purchase of treasury stock (4) (99) (99)
Share issuances for employee benefit plans 5 (61) (63) 175 51
Stock-based compensation 62 62
Tax benefit related to stock options 16 16
Balance at June 30, 2004 2,020 (189) $ 2,020 $ 7,748 $ 18,216 $ (460) $ (5,918) $ 21,516
Balance at December 31, 2004 2,020 (189) $ 2,020 $ 7,840 $ 19,267 $ (157) $ (5,904) $ 23,066
Net Income 1,859 1,859
Other comprehensive income, net of tax 87 87
Total comprehensive income 1,946
Dividends declared (1,024) (1,024)
Purchase of treasury stock (3) (83) (83)
Share issuances for employee benefit plans 4 (55) (49) 142 38
Stock-based compensation 48 48
Tax benefit related to stock options 3 3
Balance at June 30, 2005 2,020 (188) $ 2,020 $ 7,836 $ 20,053 $ (70) $ (5,845) $ 23,994
(a) Trust and treasury shares are not considered to be outstanding for
financial reporting purposes.
As of June 30,
2004 2005
Shares held in trust 26 26
Shares held in treasury 163 162
--- ---
Total 189 188
--- ---
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
NOTE A - PREPARATION OF INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In this report, BellSouth Corporation and its subsidiaries are referred to as
"we" or "BellSouth."
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared
based upon Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules that permit reduced
disclosure for interim periods. In our opinion, these statements include all
adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim
periods presented. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless
otherwise disclosed. Revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities can vary during
each quarter of the year. Therefore, the results and trends in these interim
financial statements may not be the same as those for the full year. For a more
complete discussion of our significant accounting policies and other
information, you should read this report in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements included in our latest annual report on Form 10-K.
Certain amounts within the prior year's information have been reclassified to
conform to the current year's presentation.
NOTE B - RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), "Share-Based
Payment." This standard amends and clarifies the accounting for stock
compensation plans under SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation"
(SFAS 123), which we adopted effective January 1, 2003. Generally, the approach
in the revised statement is similar to the approach described in SFAS 123. The
statement is effective January 1, 2006. We do not expect the adoption of this
statement to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial
position or cash flows.
In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, "Accounting for
Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations" (FIN 47). FIN 47 clarifies that the
term conditional asset retirement obligation as used in FASB Statement No. 143,
"Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations," refers to a legal obligation to
perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and (or) method of
settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the
control of the entity. The obligation to perform the asset retirement activity
is unconditional even though uncertainty exists about the timing and (or) method
of settlement. Uncertainty about the timing and (or) method of settlement of a
conditional asset retirement obligation should be factored into the measurement
of the liability when sufficient information exists. FIN 47 also clarifies when
an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair
value of an asset retirement obligation. FIN 47 is effective no later than the
end of fiscal years ending after December 15, 2005. We do not expect the
adoption of this statement to have a material impact on our results of
operations, financial position or cash flows.
NOTE C - EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average number of
common shares outstanding during each year. Diluted earnings per share are based
on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus net incremental
shares arising out of employee stock options and benefit plans. The earnings
amounts used for per-share calculations are the same for both the basic and
diluted methods. The following is a reconciliation of the weighted-average share
amounts (in millions) used in calculating earnings per share:
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Basic common shares outstanding 1,832 1,831 1,832 1,831
Incremental shares from stock
options and benefit plans 4 4 5 4
----- ----- ----- -----
Diluted common shares
outstanding 1,836 1,835 1,837 1,835
===== ===== ===== =====
Stock options excluded from
the computation 80 77 80 77
Options with an exercise price greater than the average market price of the
common stock for the periods presented or that have an anti-dilutive effect on
the computation are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.
NOTE D - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
In March 2004, we signed an agreement with Telefonica Moviles, S.A., the
wireless affiliate of Telefonica, S.A. (Telefonica), to sell all of our
interests in Latin America. During October 2004, we closed on the sale of 8 of
the 10 properties: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Nicaragua,
Uruguay and Panama. During January 2005, we closed on the sale of the operations
in the remaining two Latin American countries (Argentina and Chile) for gross
proceeds of $1,079 and a gain of $390, net of tax. The gain includes the
recognition of cumulative foreign currency translation losses of $68.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
NOTE D - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Continued)
Summarized results of operations for the discontinued operations are as follows:
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Revenue $ 679 $ -- $ 1,356 $ 66
Operating income (loss) 212 -- 283 (5)
Gain on sale of operations -- -- -- 629
Income before income taxes 109 -- 153 616
Income tax (benefit) expense 52 -- (353) 235
----- ----- ----- -----
Income from discontinued
operations $ 57 $ -- $ 506 $ 381
===== ===== ===== =====
NOTE E - INVESTMENTS AND ADVANCES TO CINGULAR
Investment
We own an approximate 40 percent economic interest in Cingular, a joint venture
with SBC Communications ("SBC"). Because we exercise influence over the
financial and operating policies of Cingular, we use the equity method of
accounting for this investment. Under the equity method of accounting, we record
our proportionate share of Cingular's earnings in our consolidated statements of
income. These earnings are included in the caption "Net earnings (losses) of
equity affiliates."
The following table displays the summary financial information of Cingular.
These amounts are shown on a 100 percent basis.
December 31, 2004 June 30, 2005
Balance Sheet Information:
Current assets $ 5,570 $ 5,099
Noncurrent assets $ 76,668 $ 75,336
Current liabilities $ 7,983 $ 8,075
Noncurrent liabilities $ 29,110 $ 27,272
Minority interest $ 609 $ 526
Members' capital $ 44,536 $ 44,562
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Income Statement Information:
Revenues $ 4,187 $ 8,609 $ 8,154 $16,838
Operating income $ 671 $ 504 $ 1,221 $ 618
Net income (loss) $ 339 $ 147 $ 554 $ (93)
As of June 30, 2005, our book investment exceeded our proportionate share of the
net assets of Cingular by $456.
Advance
We have an advance to Cingular that, with interest, totaled $3,792 at December
31, 2004 and $3,671 at June 30, 2005. This advance earns an interest rate of 6.0
percent per annum and matures on June 30, 2008. During the six months ended June
30, 2005, Cingular repaid $121 on this advance.
Revolving Line of Credit
BellSouth and SBC provide unsubordinated short-term financing on a pro rata
basis for Cingular's ordinary course of business cash requirements based upon
Cingular's budget. Under the terms of the line of credit, Cingular's available
cash (as defined), if any, is applied first to repay amounts loaned to Cingular
under the line of credit. Remaining available cash is applied to the repayment
of the advance described above. Borrowings bear interest at 1-Month LIBOR plus
0.05 percent payable monthly. The line of credit terminates on July 31, 2007. As
of June 30, 2005, there were no amounts outstanding under the line of credit.
The amounts outstanding, including interest, at December 31, 2004 were $668.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
NOTE E - INVESTMENTS AND ADVANCES TO CINGULAR (Continued)
Subsequent Event
On July 29, 2005, Cingular repaid an additional $788 on the advances. The
majority of the funds used to make this payment arose from the July 2005 release
of remaining net proceeds from the sale of network assets in January 2005, which
had been held in a qualified trust. Cingular anticipates that it will be
required to borrow funds under the revolving credit agreement to pay for their
capital expenditures that were purchased as qualified replacement property under
the like-kind exchange agreement.
Provision of Services
We also generate revenues from Cingular in the ordinary course of business for
the provision of local interconnection services, long distance services, sales
agency fees and customer billing and collection fees.
Interest and Revenue Earned from Cingular
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Revenues $ 129 $ 160 $ 246 $ 334
Interest income on advances $ 56 $ 57 $ 113 $ 116
Interest income on advances is offset by a like amount of interest expense
recorded by Cingular and reported in our financial statements in the caption
"Net earnings (losses) of equity affiliates."
Receivables and payables incurred in the ordinary course of business are
recorded on our balance sheets as follows:
December 31, 2004 June 30, 2005
----------------- -------------
Receivable from Cingular $ 56 $78
Payable to Cingular $ 44 $46
NOTE F - OTHER ASSETS
On May 13, 2005, we signed an agreement with Discount Investment Corp Ltd.
("Discount") to sell our 50 percent interest in Tele-Man Netherlands B.V.
("Tele-Man"), which holds a 69.5 percent interest in Cellcom Israel Ltd.
("Cellcom"), a cellular communications operator in Israel. Discount, which
currently holds a 25 percent interest in Cellcom, has agreed to pay us $625 for
our 50 percent stake in Tele-Man. Under the Tele-Man shareholders agreement, our
partner has a right of first refusal to purchase BellSouth's interest at the
same price and on the same terms and conditions offered by a third party. If
this right is exercised, we are obligated to pay Discount an $18 "breakup fee",
effectively reducing our proceeds from the sale to $607. Based on the net book
value of our investment and the anticipated proceeds, we expect to record an
after-tax gain of approximately $220 to $235. The sale is expected to close by
the end of 2005.
Our book basis in the investment exceeds the tax basis by approximately $263. No
US tax expense was previously recognized on income generated by the Israeli
operations due to the essentially permanent duration of the investment. The
agreement with Discount provides evidence that the temporary difference will
reverse in the foreseeable future, and, accordingly, we will record a deferred
tax liability of $92 in 2005, of which $46 was recognized in the second quarter
of 2005. The remaining $46 will be recognized in the second half of 2005.
NOTE G - DEBT
On January 18, 2005, we redeemed $400 of 40-year, 6.75 percent debentures, due
October 15, 2033. The redemption price was 103.33 percent of the principal
amount, and resulted in recognition of a loss of $22, or $14 net of tax, which
includes $9 associated with fully expensing remaining discount and deferred debt
issuance costs.
On May 18, 2005, we redeemed $300 of 40-year, 7.625 percent debentures, due May
15, 2035. The redemption price was 103.66 percent of the principal amount, and
resulted in the recognition of a loss of $20, or $12 net of tax, which includes
$9 associated with fully expensing remaining discount and deferred debt issuance
costs.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
NOTE H - WORKFORCE REDUCTION AND RESTRUCTURING
Based on declining volumes, increasing productivity, and changing skill
requirements, we have periodically initiated workforce reductions and recorded
charges for early termination benefits. We announced the termination of
approximately 400 positions during the first half of 2005. Charges to earnings
have been recognized in accordance with provisions of SFAS No. 112, "Employer's
Accounting for Postemployment Benefits" (SFAS No. 112) and consisted primarily
of cash severance and payroll taxes under pre-existing separation pay plans.
The following table summarizes activity associated with the workforce reduction
and restructuring liability for the six months ended June 30, 2005:
Balance at December 31, 2004 $ 25
Accruals 18
Cash Payments (24)
Adjustments (3)
-------
Balance at June 30, 2005 $ 16
=======
Adjustments to the accrual are due to estimated demographics being different
than actual demographics of employees that separated from the Company.
NOTE I - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLANS
Substantially all of our employees are covered by noncontributory defined
benefit pension plans, as well as postretirement health and life insurance
welfare plans ("other benefits").
o The following details pension and postretirement benefit costs included in
operating expenses (in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative
expenses) in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Approximately
10 percent of these costs are capitalized to property, plant and equipment with
labor related to network construction. We account for these costs in accordance
with SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions" and SFAS No. 106,
"Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions."
Components of net periodic benefit costs were as follows for the periods shown:
Pension Benefits Other Benefits
For the Three Months For the Three Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Service cost $ 44 $ 51 $ 12 $ 30
Interest cost 174 147 108 146
Expected return on plan assets (329) (320) (80) (84)
Amortizations:
Unrecognized net obligation -- -- 18 18
Unrecognized prior service
cost (11) (11) 40 57
Unrecognized (gain) loss 1 -- 24 25
---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Net periodic benefit cost
(income) $(121) $(133) $ 122 $ 192
---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Pension Benefits Other Benefits
For the Six Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Service cost $ 88 $ 103 $ 23 $ 61
Interest cost 348 294 216 292
Expected return on plan assets (659) (642) (160) (168)
Amortizations:
Unrecognized net obligation -- -- 43 36
Unrecognized prior service
cost (22) (21) 93 113
Unrecognized (gain) loss 3 -- 45 51
---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Net periodic benefit cost
(income) $(242) $(266) $ 260 $ 385
---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
NOTE I - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLANS (Continued)
Employer Contributions
During the six months ended June 30, 2005, we made no contributions to our
pension plans and anticipate no funding for the remainder of 2005. During the
six months ended June 30, 2005, we contributed $231 to fund other benefits
(primarily retiree medical) and expect to contribute approximately $150 to $200
of funding for other benefits during the remainder of 2005.
Cash Balance Pension Plan
In July 2003, a Federal district court in Illinois ruled that the benefit
formula used in International Business Machines Corporation's (IBM) cash balance
pension plan violated the age discrimination provisions of ERISA. The IBM
decision conflicts with decisions of at least two other district courts,
including most recently a June 2004 decision of the Federal district court in
Maryland in a case involving ARINC, Inc. Proposed regulations validating the
cash balance design have been withdrawn by the Treasury Department while
Congress considers legislative action to clarify the legal status of cash
balance plans under age discrimination rules. At this time, it is unclear what
effect, if any, these decisions or Congressional action may have on our
tax-qualified cash balance pension plans or our financial condition.
NOTE J - SEGMENT INFORMATION
We have three reportable operating segments: (1) Communications Group; (2)
Domestic Wireless; and (3) Advertising and Publishing. We own an approximate 40
percent economic interest in Cingular Wireless, and share joint control of the
venture with SBC. We account for the investment under the equity method. For
management purposes we evaluate our domestic wireless segment based on our
proportionate share of Cingular's results. Accordingly, results for our domestic
wireless segment reflect the proportional consolidation of 40 percent of
Cingular's results.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2005, BellSouth began to include various
corporate entities, the largest of which is the Information Technology Group, in
the Communications Group segment for financial reporting purposes. These
entities previously billed their costs to the Communications Group. This change
simplifies management reporting, is principally timing in nature and does not
affect the consolidated financial statements. Prior period segment operating
results were recast to reflect the reporting change.
The following table provides information for each operating segment:
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
-------------------- --------------------
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Communications Group
External revenues $ 4,565 $ 4,598 $ 9,103 $ 9,191
Intersegment revenues 27 27 53 52
------- ------- ------- -------
Total segment revenues 4,592 4,625 9,156 9,243
Segment operating income 1,202 1,090 2,389 2,207
Segment net income 715 660 1,412 1,324
Domestic Wireless
Total segment revenues $ 1,675 $ 3,443 $ 3,262 $ 6,735
Segment operating income 272 283 496 371
Segment net income 89 77 148 44
Advertising and Publishing
External revenues $ 507 $ 527 $ 986 $ 1,015
Intersegment revenues 4 4 7 7
------- ------- -------- -------
Total segment revenues 511 531 993 1,022
Segment operating income 247 245 486 476
Segment net income 150 154 297 295
RECONCILIATION TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
-------------------- --------------------
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Operating revenues
Total reportable segments $ 6,778 $ 8,599 $13,411 $17,000
Cingular proportional
consolidation (1,675) (3,443) (3,262) (6,735)
South Carolina settlement -- -- (50) --
Corporate, eliminations and other (20) (14) (40) (32)
------- ------- ------- -------
Total consolidated $ 5,083 $ 5,142 $10,059 $10,233
======= ======= ======= =======
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
NOTE J - SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)
RECONCILIATION TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
-------------------- --------------------
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Operating income
Total reportable segments $ 1,721 $ 1,618 $ 3,371 $ 3,054
Cingular proportional
consolidation (272) (283) (496) (371)
South Carolina settlement -- -- (53) --
Severance charges (8) -- (21) --
Corporate, eliminations and other 1 15 (1) 19
------- ------- ------- -------
Total consolidated $ 1,442 $ 1,350 $ 2,800 $ 2,702
======= ======= ======= =======
Net Income
Total reportable segments $ 954 $ 891 $ 1,857 $ 1,663
Net gain (loss) on sale of
operations -- -- 295 --
South Carolina settlement -- -- (33) --
Severance charges (6) -- (14) --
Wireless merger integration costs -- (42) -- (63)
Early extinguishment of debt -- (12) -- (26)
Discontinued operations 57 -- 506 381
Corporate, eliminations and other (9) (42) (16) (96)
------- ------- ------- -------
Total consolidated $ 996 $ 795 $ 2,595 $ 1,859
======= ======= ======= =======
The Cingular proportional consolidation shown above represents the amount
necessary to reconcile the proportional results of Cingular to GAAP results.
Reconciling items are transactions or events that are included in reported
consolidated results but are excluded from segment results due to their
nonrecurring or nonoperational nature.
NOTE K - OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of the following
components:
December 31, 2004 June 30, 2005
------------------- -----------------
Cumulative foreign currency
translation adjustments $ (79) $ (1)
Minimum pension liability adjustment (129) (129)
Net unrealized losses on derivatives (12) (1)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities 63 61
------ ------
$(157) $ (70)
------ ------
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for our discontinued operations
included in the amounts above was $(77) as of December 31, 2004 and zero as of
June 30, 2005.
Total comprehensive income details are presented in the table below.
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
-------------------- --------------------
2004 2005 2004 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Net Income $ 996 $ 795 $ 2,595 $ 1,859
Other comprehensive income,
net of tax:
Foreign currency translation:
Adjustments (8) (3) 105 10
Sale of foreign entities -- -- (13) 68
------ ------ -------- --------
(8) (3) 92 78
------ ------ -------- --------
Deferred gains (losses)
on derivatives:
Deferred gains (losses) 19 4 20 11
Reclassification adjustment
for (gains) losses
included in net income -- -- 3 --
------ ------ -------- --------
19 4 23 11
------ ------ -------- --------
Unrealized gains (losses) on
securities:
Unrealized holdings gains
(losses) ( 1) 9 7 (1)
Reclassification adjustment
for (gains) losses
included in net income 1 -- 3 (1)
------ ------ -------- --------
-- 9 10 (2)
------ ------ -------- --------
Other comprehensive income 11 10 125 87
------ ------ -------- --------
Total comprehensive income $ 1,007 $ 805 $ 2,720 $ 1,946
------ ------ -------- --------
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
Note L - CONTINGENCIES
GUARANTEES
In most of our sale and divestiture transactions, we indemnify the purchaser for
various items including labor and general litigation as well as certain tax
matters. Generally, the terms last one to five years for general and specific
indemnities and for the statutory review periods for tax matters. The events or
circumstances that would require us to perform under the indemnity are
transaction and circumstance specific. We regularly evaluate the probability of
having to incur costs associated with these indemnifications and have accrued
for expected losses that are probable. In addition, in the normal course of
business, we indemnify counterparties in certain agreements. The nature and
terms of these indemnities vary by transaction. Historically, we have not
incurred significant costs related to performance under these types of
indemnities.
REGULATORY MATTERS
In February 2005, the FCC released an order finding that certain prepaid card
services of AT&T were telecommunications services. The FCC held that revenue
from the services would accordingly be subject to the same universal service
fund and switched access charges as were all other similarly situated
telecommunications services. AT&T has estimated in a securities filing that it
had "saved" approximately $160 in universal service fund contributions and $340
in access charges through use of the prepaid card services that were the subject
of the FCC decision. We believe that some of the improperly avoided access
charges should have been paid to us for the use of our network. AT&T has not
provided information sufficient for us to reasonably estimate access charge
payments we may be owed. In addition, AT&T has appealed the FCC decision.
Accordingly, no revenue has been recognized with respect to this matter in our
consolidated financial statements.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Employment Claim
On April 29, 2002, five African-American employees filed a putative class action
lawsuit, captioned Gladys Jenkins et al. v. BellSouth Corporation, against the
Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Alabama. The complaint alleges that BellSouth discriminated against current and
former African-American employees with respect to compensation and promotions in
violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 USC. Section 1981.
Plaintiffs purport to bring the claims on behalf of two classes: a class of all
African-American hourly workers employed by BellSouth Telecommunications at any
time since April 29, 1998, and a class of all African-American salaried workers
employed by BellSouth Telecommunications at any time since April 29, 1998 in
management positions at or below Job Grade 59/Level C. The plaintiffs are
seeking unspecified amounts of back pay, benefits, punitive damages and
attorneys' fees and costs, as well as injunctive relief. At this time, the
likely outcome of the case cannot be predicted, nor can a reasonable estimate of
the amount of loss, if any, be made.
Securities and ERISA Claims
From August through October 2002, several individual shareholders filed
substantially identical class action lawsuits against BellSouth and three of its
senior officers alleging violations of the federal securities laws. The cases
have been consolidated in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia and are captioned In re BellSouth Securities Litigation.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, the court has appointed a Lead Plaintiff. The Lead Plaintiff filed a
Consolidated and Amended Class Action Complaint in July 2003 on behalf of two
putative classes: (1) purchasers of BellSouth stock during the period November
7, 2000 through February 19, 2003 (the class period) for alleged violations of
Sections 10(b) and 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (2)
participants in BellSouth's Direct Investment Plan during the class period for
alleged violations of Sections 11, 12 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. Four
outside directors were named as additional defendants. The Consolidated and
Amended Class Action Complaint alleged that during the class period the Company
(1) overstated the unbilled receivables balance of its Advertising and
Publishing subsidiary; (2) failed to properly implement SAB 101 with regard to
its recognition of Advertising and Publishing revenues; (3) improperly billed
competitive local exchange carriers (CLEC) to inflate revenues; (4) failed to
take a reserve for refunds that ultimately came due following litigation over
late payment charges; and (5) failed to properly write down goodwill of its
Latin American operations. On February 8, 2005, the district court dismissed the
Exchange Act claims, except for those relating to the write down of Latin
American goodwill. On that date, the district court also dismissed the
Securities Act claims, except for those relating to the write down of Latin
American goodwill, the allegations relating to unbilled receivables of the
Company's Advertising and Publishing subsidiary, the implementation of SAB 101
regarding recognition of Advertising and Publishing revenues and alleged
improper billing of CLECs. The plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount of
damages, as well as attorneys' fees and costs. At this time, the likely outcome
of the case cannot be predicted, nor can a reasonable estimate of loss, if any,
be made.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
Note L - CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
In February 2003, a similar complaint was filed in the Superior Court of Fulton
County, Georgia on behalf of participants in BellSouth's Direct Investment Plan
alleging violations of Section 11 of the Securities Act. Defendants removed this
action to federal court pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Litigation
Uniform Standards Act of 1998. In July 2003, the federal court issued a ruling
that the case should be remanded to Fulton County Superior Court. The Fulton
County Superior Court has stayed the case pending resolution of the federal
case. The plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount of damages, as well as
attorneys' fees and costs. At this time, the likely outcome of the case cannot
be predicted, nor can a reasonable estimate of loss, if any, be made.
In September and October 2002, three substantially identical class action
lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia against BellSouth, its directors, three of its senior
officers, and other individuals, alleging violations of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act (ERISA). The cases have been consolidated and on April 21,
2003, a Consolidated Complaint was filed. The plaintiffs, who seek to represent
a putative class of participants and beneficiaries of BellSouth's 401(k) plans
(the Plans), allege in the Consolidated Complaint that the company and the
individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties in violation of ERISA, by
among other things, (1) failing to provide accurate information to the Plans'
participants and beneficiaries; (2) failing to ensure that the Plans' assets
were invested properly; (3) failing to monitor the Plans' fiduciaries; (4)
failing to disregard Plan directives that the defendants knew or should have
known were imprudent and (5) failing to avoid conflicts of interest by hiring
independent fiduciaries to make investment decisions. The plaintiffs are seeking
an unspecified amount of damages, injunctive relief, attorneys' fees and costs.
Certain underlying factual allegations regarding BellSouth's Advertising and
Publishing subsidiary and its former Latin American operation are substantially
similar to the allegations in the putative securities class action captioned In
re BellSouth Securities Litigation, which is described above. At this time, the
likely outcome of the cases cannot be predicted, nor can a reasonable estimate
of loss, if any, be made.
Antitrust Claims
In December 2002, a consumer class action alleging antitrust violations of
Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act was filed against BellSouth, Verizon, SBC
and Qwest, captioned William Twombley, et al v. Bell Atlantic Corp., et al, in
Federal Court in the Southern District of New York. The complaint alleged that
defendants conspired to restrain competition by "agreeing not to compete with
one another and otherwise allocating customers and markets to one another." The
plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount of treble damages and injunctive
relief, as well as attorneys' fees and expenses. In October 2003, the district
court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim and the case is now
on appeal.
In June 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit affirmed the
District Court's dismissal of most of the antitrust and state law claims brought
by a plaintiff CLEC in a case captioned Covad Communications Company, et al v.
BellSouth Corporation, et al. The appellate court, however, permitted a price
squeeze claim and certain state tort claims to proceed. At this time, the likely
outcome of the case cannot be predicted, nor can a reasonable estimate of loss,
if any, be made.
OTHER CLAIMS
We 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, Inc. (BST) is also subject to claims attributable to
pre-divestiture events, including environmental liabilities, rates and
contracts. Certain contingent liabilities for pre-divestiture events are shared
with AT&T Corp. While complete assurance cannot be given as to the outcome of
these claims, we believe that any financial impact would not be material to our
results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
Note M - Subsidiary Financial Information
We have fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of the outstanding debt
securities of BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. (BST), which is a 100 percent
owned subsidiary of BellSouth. In accordance with SEC rules, we are providing
the following condensed consolidating financial information. BST is listed
separately because it has debt securities, registered with the SEC that we have
guaranteed. The Other column represents all other wholly owned subsidiaries
excluding BST and BST subsidiaries. The Adjustments column includes the
necessary amounts to eliminate the intercompany balances and transactions
between BST, Other and Parent and to consolidate wholly owned subsidiaries to
reconcile to our consolidated financial information.
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
NOTE M - SUBSIDIARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BST Other Parent Adjustments Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenues ........................ $ 4,243 $ 1,599 $ -- $ (759) $ 5,083
Total operating expenses ........................ 3,691 1,121 (13) (1,158) 3,641
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Operating income ................................ 552 478 13 399 1,442
Interest expense ................................ 124 4 136 (53) 211
Equity in earnings .............................. 275 154 980 (1,258) 151
Other income (expense), net ..................... 5 45 41 (18) 73
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Income from continuing operations before
income taxes................................... 708 673 898 (824) 1,455
Provision (benefit) for income taxes ............ 157 241 (41) 159 516
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Income from continuing operations................ 551 432 939 (983) 939
Income (loss) from discontinued operations,
net of tax .................................... -- 57 57 (57) 57
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Net income (loss) ............................... $ 551 $ 489 $ 996 $ (1,040) $ 996
============= ============= =========== =========== ==========
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BST Other Parent Adjustments Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenues ........................ $ 4,212 $ 1,808 $ -- $ (878) $ 5,142
Total operating expenses ........................ 3,778 1,314 (5) (1,295) 3,792
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Operating income ................................ 434 494 5 417 1,350
Interest expense ................................ 128 7 221 (71) 285
Equity in earnings .............................. 287 68 884 (1,171) 68
Other income (expense), net ..................... (12) 57 52 (41) 56
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Income from continuing operations before
income taxes .................................. 581 612 72 (724) 1,189
Provision (benefit) for income taxes ............ 91 212 (75) 166 394
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Income from continuing operations ............... 490 400 795 (890) 795
Income (loss) from discontinued operations,
net of tax .................................... -- -- -- -- --
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Net income (loss) ............................... $ 490 $ 400 $ 795 $ (890) $ 795
============= ============= =========== =========== ==========
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BST Other Parent Adjustments Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenues ........................ $ 8,431 $ 3,116 $ -- $ (1,488) $ 10,059
Total operating expenses ........................ 7,334 2,195 (19) (2,251) 7,259
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Operating income ................................ 1,097 921 19 763 2,800
Interest expense ................................ 248 10 275 (107) 426
Equity in earnings .............................. 531 257 2,176 (2,709) 255
Other income (expense), net ..................... 4 567 64 (36) 599
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Income from continuing operations before
income taxes .................................. 1,384 1,735 1,984 (1,875) 3,228
Provision (benefit) for income taxes ............ 309 628 (105) 307 1,139
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Income from continuing operations ............... 1,075 1,107 2,089 (2,182) 2,089
Income (loss) from discontinued operations,
net of tax .................................... -- 506 506 (506) 506
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Net income (loss) ............................... $ 1,075 $ 1,613 $ 2,595 $ (2,688) $ 2,595
============= ============= =========== =========== ==========
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BST Other Parent Adjustments Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenues ........................ $ 8,402 $ 3,519 $ -- $(1,688) $10,233
Total operating expenses ........................ 7,478 2,561 9 (2,517) 7,531
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Operating income ................................ 924 958 (9) 829 2,702
Interest expense ................................ 246 7 446 (123) 576
Equity in earnings .............................. 563 (10) 1,675 (2,240) (12)
Other income (expense), net ..................... (30) 105 109 (72) 112
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Income from continuing operations before
income taxes .................................. 1,211 1,046 1,329 (1,360) 2,226
Provision (benefit) for income taxes ............ 212 360 (149) 325 748
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Income from continuing operations ............... 999 686 1,478 (1,685) 1,478
Income (loss) from discontinued operations,
net of tax .................................... -- 381 381 (381) 381
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Net income (loss) ............................... $ 999 $ 1,067 $ 1,859 $(2,066) $ 1,859
============= ============= =========== =========== ==========
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND AS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
(Unaudited)
NOTE M - SUBSIDIARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
December 31, 2004 June 30, 2005
BST Other Parent Adjust- Total BST Other Parent Adjust- Total
ments ments
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ..... $ 7 $ 405 $ 265 $ 3 $ 680 $ 11 $ 99 $ 323 $ 52 $ 485
Short-term investments ........ -- -- 16 -- 16 -- -- -- -- --
Accounts receivable, net ...... 75 1,005 2,918 (1,439) 2,559 56 1,354 3,081 (2,011) 2,480
Other current assets .......... 528 4,418 144 (3,714) 1,376 467 623 27 169 1,286
Assets of discontinued
operations .................. -- 1,068 -- -- 1,068 -- -- -- -- --
Total current assets .......... 610 6,896 3,343 (5,150) 5,699 534 2,076 3,431 (1,790) 4,251
Investments in and advances to
Cingular .................... -- 21,232 1,539 -- 22,771 -- 21,201 751 -- 21,952
Property, plant and equipment,
net ......................... 21,339 665 3 32 22,039 21,194 624 3 32 21,853
Deferred charges and other
assets ...................... 8,782 747 39,305 (41,434) 7,400 8,938 818 34,476 (36,491) 7,741
Intangible assets, net ........ 1,072 391 9 115 1,587 1,034 383 8 104 1,529
Total assets ..................$ 31,803 $ 29,931 $ 44,199 $(46,437) $ 59,496 $31,700 $25,102 $38,669 $(38,145) $57,326
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Debt maturing within one year .$ 3,016 $ 15 $ 4,248 $(1,804) $ 5,475 $ 4,010 $ 158 $ 2,312 $ (3,187) $ 3,293
Other current liabilities ..... 3,941 1,165 4,905 (5,946) 4,065 4,045 1,415 238 (1,227) 4,471
Liabilities of discontinued
operations................... -- 830 -- -- 830 -- -- -- -- --
Total current liabilities ..... 6,957 2,010 9,153 (7,750) 10,370 8,055 1,573 2,550 (4,414) 7,764
Long-term debt ................ 3,704 107 11,874 (577) 15,108 2,971 103 11,875 (550) 14,399
Noncurrent liabilities:
Deferred income taxes ......... 5,063 1,735 (490) 184 6,492 5,193 1,562 (391) 230 6,594
Other noncurrent liabilities .. 2,974 791 596 99 4,460 3,082 730 641 122 4,575
Total noncurrent liabilities .. 8,037 2,526 106 283 10,952 8,275 2,292 250 352 11,169
Shareholders' equity........... 13,105 25,288 23,066 (38,393) 23,066 12,399 21,134 23,994 (33,533) 23,994
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity ........ $31,803 $29,931 $44,199 $(46,437) $59,496 $31,700 $25,102 $38,669 $(38,145) $57,326
Condensed Consolidating Cash Flow Statements
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004
BST Other Parent Adjustments Total
Cash flows from continuing operations:
Cash flows from operating activities ........ $ 3,020 $ 78 $ 1,846 $ (1,147) $ 3,797
Cash flows from investing activities ........ (1,329) 188 (112) (683) (1,936)
Cash flows from financing activities ........ (1,664) (181) (731) 1,750 (826)
Cash flows from discontinued operations ....... -- (185) -- -- (185)
Net (decrease) increase in cash ............... $ 27 $ (100) $ 1,003 $ (80) $ 850
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005
BST Other Parent Adjustments Total
Cash flows from continuing operations:
Cash flows from operating activities ........ $ 3,945 $ 724 $ 1,423 $ (2,272) $ 3,820
Cash flows from investing activities ........ (1,527) (258) 1,311 527 53
Cash flows from financing activities ........ (2,414) (657) (2,676) 1,794 (3,953)
Cash flows from discontinued operations ....... -- (115) -- -- (115)
Net (decrease) increase in cash ............... $ 4 $ (306) $ 58 $ 49 $ (195)
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
For a more complete understanding of our industry, the drivers of our business
and our current period results, you should read the following Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in
conjunction with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2004 and our other filings with the SEC.
Overview
We are a Fortune 100 company with annual revenues of over $20 billion. Our core
business is wireline communications and our largest customer segment is the
retail consumer. We have a significant interest in wireless communications
through our ownership of approximately 40 percent of Cingular Wireless
(Cingular), the nation's largest wireless company based on number of customers.
We also operate one of the largest directory advertising businesses in the
United States. The great majority of our revenues are generated based on monthly
recurring services.
We operate much of our business in one of the country's strongest regional
economies, where the population is increasing, real income growth is outpacing
the national average and a diverse mix of businesses require advanced
information and communication technology solutions. The Southeast is a positive
net migration region, with net migration averaging almost 500 thousand annually.
The region's real income is expected to grow 10 percent to 15 percent faster
than the national average in the next five years.
INDUSTRY DYNAMICS
The communications industry has experienced a very difficult period of
contraction brought on by over-investment in the late 1990s that created
significant excess capacity with many companies competing for the same business.
Demand in the traditional voice business has been negatively impacted by the
proliferation of wireless services led by one-rate pricing plans that include a
large bucket of minutes and free roaming and long-distance, the popularity of
e-mail and instant messaging, and technological advances such as cable and DSL
that obviate the need for additional telephone lines. After a period of
significant growth in the 1990s, access lines, a key driver of our business,
have declined steadily since 2001.
Based on comparisons to penetration rates in other parts of the world, there is
still significant growth potential in the wireless market in the United States.
There are currently five national wireless companies engaging in aggressive
competition in a growing market. The intense competition has driven down
pricing, increased costs due to customer churn and increased wireless usage as
companies attempt to differentiate their service plans. Meanwhile, significant
capital is being invested in networks to meet increasing demand and to upgrade
capabilities in anticipation of the development of new data applications.
REGULATION AND COMPETITION
Our wireless and wireline businesses are subject to vigorous competition. In
addition, both are subject to regulation.
Because of changes to federal law in the early 1990s, our wireless business is
now subject to somewhat more rational regulation than our wireline business. The
legal changes generally preempted states from exercising any entry or rate
regulation on commercial mobile services, while allowing states to regulate
other terms and conditions. Our wireline business is subject to dual state and
federal regulation. The Telecommunication Act of 1996 produced additional
regulation of our wireline business. Since its passage, the FCC has pursued a
course of sharing (unbundling) our network with competitors, and has prescribed
a pricing policy (TELRIC) that does not permit fair cost recovery. The
unbundling rules have been invalidated by the courts on three separate
occasions, but not before the unbundling required by its invalid policies had
been generally implemented in our contracts with competitors.
In February 2005, the FCC released its Triennial Review Remand Order (TRRO),
which effectively eliminated unbundled network element--platform (UNE-P) on a
nationwide basis (following a one-year transition period) and provided limited
unbundling relief on high-capacity loops and transport where certain competitive
thresholds had been met. The TRRO became effective on March 11, 2005. In
response to this decision as well as previous findings of the FCC and the
courts, BellSouth has entered into commercial agreements with over 150
competitors for services that replace UNE-P at negotiated rates. In addition,
the FCC is reviewing other regulations that impact our business, including: the
TELRIC methodology that underpins UNE pricing rules for remaining UNEs;
intercarrier compensation and access charge reform; and regulation of Voice over
Internet Protocol (VoIP).
We also obtained some broadband freedom through an FCC decision not to require
unbundling of installations that bring fiber optic technology within 500 feet of
a customer's premises. At the end of the second quarter of 2005, we had more
than 5.4 million miles of fiber, a more than 10 percent increase from June 30,
2004, and had deployed fiber-to-the-curb facilities to 1.1 million homes.
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
In June 2005, the Supreme Court decided the "Brand X" case, reversing a 9th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that had vacated an earlier FCC ruling. The FCC
had ruled that cable modem service is an information service and is not subject
to the rules and regulations imposed on telecommunications services. BellSouth
was an intervener in support of the FCC's ruling. We believe the Supreme Court's
decision permits the FCC to reduce the regulatory burdens on our DSL services
that compete with cable modem service, and we have urged the FCC to act on our
pending requests for relief from those burdens. Relief would provide greater
competitive choice for customers and would permit us to better respond to market
demand for broadband services.
In May and June 2005, several states approved legislation that will reduce
regulation of our services. In May, Alabama approved a bill that will
substantially decrease that state's regulation of our traditional phone
services. The Alabama bill will become effective during a transition that
extends into the first quarter of 2007. Also in May, a Tennessee deregulation
bill that became effective in June removed commission regulation of bundles of
BellSouth's products or services. This relief also eliminated the tariff process
for new or existing bundles such as Complete Choice(R), BellSouth Answers(R)
bundles and the majority of special contracts. In June, Florida approved
legislation removing regulation of broadband, VoIP, wireless and intrastate toll
services, and North Carolina approved legislation that eliminated regulation of
broadband services.
Despite these successes, our wireline business remains more regulated than
competing businesses that use cable or wireless technologies. We will
accordingly continue to encourage regulatory reform in every appropriate forum.
ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS
In May 2005, we agreed to sell our 34.75 percent interest in Cellcom, a cellular
communications operator in Israel and our last significant international
investment. The sale is expected to close by the end of 2005.
In October 2004, Cingular completed its previously announced acquisition of AT&T
Wireless. Since the closing, Cingular has seen success in the marketplace,
gaining over 3.9 million new customers. Its new advertising campaigns combined
with improvements in customer service and network coverage are driving customer
loyalty and growth. Customer churn has reduced appreciably, integration efforts
are well underway and cost synergies are contributing to margin expansion. This
acquisition substantially increases BellSouth's participation in the domestic
wireless industry, bringing wireless to 40 percent of our proportional revenues
including Cingular.
In March 2004, we signed an agreement with Telefonica Moviles, S.A., the
wireless affiliate of Telefonica, S.A., to sell all of our interests in our
Latin American operations. The sale was completed in the first quarter of 2005
and the proceeds were used to reduce debt associated with Cingular's purchase of
AT&T Wireless.
HIGHLIGHTS AND OUTLOOK
Consolidated revenue growth, which does not include our share of Cingular, is
being driven by long distance and DSL services. We added approximately 301,000
net long distance customers in the second quarter of 2005 to total almost 6.8
million at June 30, 2005, while net DSL subscriber additions of 124,000 brought
our total to over 2.4 million at June 30, 2005. Access lines continued to
decline during the second quarter of 2005 with retail access lines down 201,000,
which included positive business line growth of 2,000. Wholesale access lines
were down 294,000 compared to year-end 2004.
Our cost structure is heavily weighted towards labor and fixed asset related
costs. In order to sustain margins, we have to adjust our workforce as market
share of access lines shifts. Since the beginning of 2001, we have reduced our
domestic workforce by almost 18,000 employees, or 22 percent. Maintaining
current operating margin levels going forward will be challenging as competition
intensifies and we are forced to achieve continued increases in productivity.
This challenge was evident during the first half of 2005 as margins were down
140 basis points from the first half of 2004. While there have been some
encouraging developments on the regulatory front, there will be other events
such as increasing healthcare costs, continued loss of lines to wireless
substitution and the roll-out of VoIP telephony by cable providers that are
likely to continue to put pressure on margins.
Operating cash flow from continuing operations of $3,820 in the first half of
2005 was $23 higher than the same period in 2004. Capital expenditures were
$1,579 in the first half of 2005 and $1,366 in the first half of 2004. The
increase was driven by investment in broadband infrastructure. In the next two
years, operating cash flow will be negatively impacted by higher cash taxes as
we see a reversal of the benefit derived in recent years associated with
legislated tax incentives that provided for accelerated depreciation deductions
that expired at the end of 2004.
Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless added 1.1 million net customers in the second quarter of 2005,
bringing its nationwide customer base to 51.6 million customers. Customer churn
was steady at 2.2 percent in the second quarter of 2005. Compared to the same
period last year, revenue growth on a pro forma basis exceeded 5 percent in the
second quarter driven by subscriber growth and partially offset by a decline in
pro forma average revenue per user. Operating margins improved in the quarter
compared to the first quarter of 2005 due primarily to improved revenue growth,
lower gross customer additions and customer upgrades and workforce reductions
associated with merger synergies.
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Results of Operations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Key financial and operating data for the three and six months ended June 30,
2004 and 2005 are set forth below. All references to earnings per share are on a
diluted basis. The discussion of consolidated results should be read in
conjunction with the discussion of results by segment directly following this
section.
Following generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), our financial
statements reflect results for the Latin American operations as Discontinued
Operations. The operational results and the gain associated with the sale of the
Latin American businesses are presented on one line item in the income
statement.
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Percent Ended June 30, Percent
-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ ----------- ------------------------ -----------
2004 2005 Change 2004 2005 Change
-------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------
Results of operations:
-------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -----------
Operating revenues $ 5,083 $5,142 1.2% $ 10,059 $10,233 1.7%
Operating expenses
Cost of services and products 1,789 1,925 7.6% 3,587 3,845 7.2%
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 938 951 1.4% 1,860 1,852 -0.4%
Depreciation and amortization 914 916 0.2% 1,812 1,834 1.2%
----- ----- ----- -----
Total operating expenses 3,641 3,792 4.1% 7,259 7,531 3.7%
Operating income 1,442 1,350 -6.4% 2,800 2,702 -3.5%
Interest Expense 211 285 35.1% 426 576 35.2%
Net (losses) earnings of equity affiliates 151 68 -55.0% 255 (12) *
Gain (loss) on sale of operations -- -- 0.0% 462 -- *
Other income (expense), net 73 56 -23.3% 137 112 -18.2%
----- ----- ----- -----
Income from continuing operations before income taxes 1,455 1,189 -18.3% 3,228 2,226 -31.0%
Provision for income taxes 516 394 -23.6% 1,139 748 -34.3%
----- ----- ----- -----
Income from continuing operations 939 795 -15.3% 2,089 1,478 -29.2%
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax 57 -- -100.0% 506 381 -24.7%
----- ----- ------- ------
Net (loss) income $ 996 $ 795 -20.2% $2,595 $1,859 -28.4%
===== ===== ======= ======
* Not meaningful
Operating Revenues
Consolidated operating revenues increased $59 in the second quarter of 2005 and
$174 year-to-date compared to the same periods of 2004. Communications Group
revenues increased $33 in the second quarter of 2005 and $138 year-to-date
compared to the prior year periods reflecting growth in DSL and long distance
products partially offset by the impact of revenue declines associated with
competitive line losses and related pricing pressures. Revenues from DSL and
long distance together increased $154 in the second quarter of 2005 and $371
year-to-date compared to the same periods of 2004. Revenue trends are discussed
in more detail in the Communications Group and Advertising and Publishing Group
segment results sections.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses increased $151 in the second quarter of 2005 and $272
year-to-date compared to the same periods of the prior year. These increases,
primarily driven by increased labor costs of $102 in the second quarter and $186
year-to-date, include higher expense associated with pension and postretirement
benefit plans as well as overtime costs related to inclement weather and DSL
demand. As a result of the agreement with the Communications Workers of America
(CWA) in the third quarter of 2004, the increase in contractual limits of the
company-funded portion of retiree medical costs (referred to as caps) created a
substantive plan that is uncapped and resulted in a significant increase in the
benefit obligation. This obligation is currently being recognized over the
remaining years of future service to full eligibility of active plan
participants. Accordingly, current period and year-to-date expense is higher
than the corresponding prior year periods in which the benefit obligation was
treated as a capped plan. The impact of workforce reductions was substantially
offset by annual wage increases.
Cost of goods sold increased $52 in the second quarter and $89 year-to-date
compared to the same periods of 2004, primarily driven by higher volumes in long
distance services. Universal Service Fund contributions in the second quarter
and year-to-date increased $29 and $68 respectively, from the same periods in
2004. This is due to increases in fund contribution rates and a higher
assessment base driven by growth in DSL and long distance. Additionally, the
2005 year-to-date increase in Universal Service Fund contributions is related to
a one-time true up of prior years' expense. Advertising costs were $21 lower in
the second quarter of 2005 and year-to-date compared to the same periods last
year due to specific 2004 campaigns. Uncollectible expense was $30 lower
year-to-date compared to the same period in 2004
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
due to improved economic conditions. Access fees declined $22 year-to-date
compared to the same period last year due to lower volumes. Operating expense
trends are discussed in more detail in the Communications Group and Advertising
and Publishing Group segment results sections.
Interest Expense
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
---------------------- ----------------------
2004 2005 Change 2004 2005 Change
------ ------ ------- ------ ------ -------
Interest expense - debt $ 195 $ 260 $ 65 $ 395 $ 523 $ 128
Interest expense - other 16 25 9 31 53 22
------ ------ ----- ------ ------ -----
Total interest $ 211 $ 285 $ 74 $ 426 $ 576 $ 150
Average debt balances $13,309 $18,310 $5,001 $13,348 $18,953 $5,605
Effective rate 5.9% 5.7% -20 bps 5.9% 5.5% -40 bps
Interest expense associated with interest-bearing debt was higher in the second
quarter and year-to-date periods of 2005 as compared to the same periods in the
prior year reflecting higher average debt balances due to higher incremental
borrowings associated with our equity contributions to Cingular to fund its
acquisition of AT&T Wireless. The impact of the higher balances was partially
offset by savings associated with interest rate swaps and refinancing
higher-rate debt with lower-rate debt. The increase in interest expense-other
relates primarily to the reversal of interest accruals in the prior year related
to tax contingencies based on audit settlements.
Net earnings (losses) of equity affiliates
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
---------------------- ----------------------
2004 2005 Change 2004 2005 Change
------ ------ ------- ------ ------ -------
Cingular $ 141 $ 58 $(83) $ 236 $ (36) $(272)
Other equity investees 10 10 -- 19 24 5
------ ------ ----- ------ ------ -----
Total $ 151 $ 68 $(83) $ 255 $ (12) $(267)
Earnings from Cingular in second quarter and year-to-date 2005 were lower
compared to the same periods in the prior year primarily due to significant
growth in customers and the costs related to that growth, as well as impacts
from the AT&T Wireless acquisition, which included integration costs. In
addition, depreciation expense was higher in both periods of 2005 driven by
increased capital investments and a reduction in the remaining useful life of
TDMA assets.
Gain (loss) on sale of operations
Gain on sale of operations in the year-to-date period in 2004 related to the
sale of our interest in Danish wireless provider, Sonofon, for 3.68 billion
Danish Kroner to Telenor ASA. As a result of the sale, we recorded a gain of
$462, or $295 net of tax, which included the recognition of cumulative foreign
currency translation gains of $13.
Other income (expense), net
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
---------------------- ----------------------
2004 2005 Change 2004 2005 Change
------ ------ ------- ------ ------ -------
Interest income $ 70 $ 63 $ (7) $ 139 $ 126 $ (13)
Loss on early extinguishment
of debt -- (20) (20) -- (42) (42)
Other, net 3 13 10 (2) 28 30
------ ------ ----- ------ ------ -----
Total Other Income
(Expense), net $ 73 $ 56 $(17) $ 137 $ 112 $ (25)
Other, net in the second quarter and year-to-date 2005 periods is primarily
comprised of gains on sales of assets.
Provision for income taxes
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
----------------------- -----------------------
2004 2005 Change 2004 2005 Change
------ ------ -------- ------ ------ --------
Provision for income taxes $ 516 $ 394 $ (122) $1,139 $748 $ (391)
Effective tax rate 35.5% 33.1% -240 bps 35.3% 33.6% -170 bps
------ ------ -------- ------ ------ --------
The lower rate in both periods of 2005 was impacted by release of a valuation
allowance recorded against available capital loss carry forwards and a change in
state income tax rates. These benefits were partially offset by recognition of a
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
deferred tax liability for the excess of book basis over tax basis in Cellcom.
The release of the valuation allowance in second quarter 2005 is due primarily
to the expected capital gain on the sale of Cellcom, our cellular investment in
Israel.
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
In the first quarter of 2005, we sold the final two of the ten Latin American
properties, which resulted in a $390 gain, net of tax. The second quarter 2004
income includes results from operations of all ten Latin American properties.
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax for the year-to-date period in
2004 includes a $416 tax benefit related to excess tax basis over book basis in
our Latin American investments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Results by Segment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our reportable segments reflect strategic business units that offer similar
products and services and/or serve similar customers. We have three reportable
operating segments:
o Communications Group;
o Domestic Wireless; and
o Advertising and Publishing Group.
Management evaluates the performance of each business unit based on net income,
exclusive of internal charges for use of intellectual property and adjustments
for unusual items that may arise. Unusual items are transactions or events that
are included in reported consolidated results but are excluded from segment
results due to their nonrecurring or nonoperational nature. In addition, when
changes in our business affect the comparability of current versus historical
results, we adjust historical operating information to reflect the current
business structure. See Note J to our consolidated financial statements for a
reconciliation of segment results to the consolidated financial information.
The following discussion highlights our performance in the context of these
segments. For a more complete understanding of our industry, the drivers of our
business, and our current period results, you should read this discussion in
conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, including the related
notes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Communications Group
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Communications Group includes our core domestic businesses including: all
domestic wireline voice, data, broadband, long distance, Internet services and
advanced voice features. The Communications Group provides these services to an
array of customers, including residential, business and wholesale. Beginning in
the first quarter of 2005, we began to include various corporate entities, the
largest of which is the Information Technology Group, in the Communications
Group segment for financial reporting purposes. These entities previously billed
their costs to the Communications Group. This change simplifies management
reporting, is principally timing in nature and does not affect the consolidated
financial statements. Prior period segment operating results were recast to
reflect the reporting change.
During second quarter 2005, the Communications Group continued to emphasize
interLATA long distance and FastAccess(R) DSL, encouraging customers to purchase
packages containing multiple telecommunications services. We also continued to
experience retail access line market share loss due to competition and
technology substitution, and we expect these overall trends to continue during
the remainder of 2005.
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Percent Ended June 30, Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 2005 Change 2004 2005 Change
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment operating revenues:
Voice $3,154 $3,155 0.0% $ 6,323 $6,309 -0.2%
Data 1,115 1,165 4.5% 2,206 2,325 5.4%
Other 323 305 -5.6% 627 609 -2.9%
----- ----- ----- -----
Total segment operating revenues 4,592 4,625 0.7% 9,156 9,243 1.0%
Segment operating expenses:
Cost of services and products 1,724 1,850 7.3% 3,465 3,703 6.9%
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 758 775 2.2% 1,503 1,513 0.7%
Depreciation and amortization 908 910 0.2% 1,799 1,820 1.2%
----- ----- ----- -----
Total segment operating expenses 3,390 3,535 4.3% 6,767 7,036 4.0%
Segment operating income 1,202 1,090 -9.3% 2,389 2,207 -7.6%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment net income $ 715 $660 -7.7% $1,412 $1,324 -6.2%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment net income including unusual items $ 710 $648 -8.7% $1,365 $1,298 -4.9%
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Percent Ended June 30, Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 2005 Change 2004 2005 Change
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Key Indicators (000s except where noted)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Switched access lines(1):
Residence Retail:
Primary 11,876 11,595 -2.4%
Additional 1,447 1,257 -13.1%
----- -----
Total Retail Residence 13,323 12,852 -3.5%
Residential Wholesale:
Resale 127 151 18.9%
UNE-P 2,149 1,689 -21.4%
----- -----
Total Wholesale Residence 2,276 1,840 -19.2%
----- -----
Total Residence 15,599 14,692 -5.8%
Business Retail 5,282 5,253 -0.5%
Business Wholesale
Resale 63 59 -6.3%
UNE-P 740 700 -5.4%
--- ---
Total Wholesale Business 803 759 -5.5%
Total Business 6,085 6,012 -1.2%
Other Retail/Wholesale Lines (primarily payphones) 102 96 -5.9%
--- --
Total Switched Access Lines 21,786 20,800 -4.5%
DSL customers (retail and wholesale) 1,738 2,473 42.3%
Retail long distance customers 5,131 6,771 32.0%
Switched access and local minutes of use (millions) 17,755 15,617 -12.0% 36,474 31,768 -12.9%
Retail long distance minutes of use (millions) 4,998 6,301 26.1% 9,572 12,312 28.6%
----- ----- ----- ------
Total access minutes of use (millions) 22,753 21,918 -3.7% 46,046 44,080 -4.3%
Capital expenditures $ 726 $ 826 13.8% $1,352 $1,568 16.0%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 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.
Segment operating revenues
In the second quarter of 2005, revenue growth from long distance, DSL and small
business access line gains effectively offset revenue declines from residential
access line loss and large business services. Growth in Consumer long distance
and DSL revenue was partially offset by retail residential access line losses,
resulting in a 2.5 percent year-over-year increase in Consumer revenue. Revenue
for our small business unit increased 6.2 percent in the second quarter of 2005
compared to the same period in 2004 driven by increased penetration of long
distance and DSL and customer reacquisition and retention programs. Revenue for
our large business segment decreased 2.0 percent in the second quarter of 2005
compared to the same period last year. Revenue growth in complex long distance
services were overshadowed by competitive pricing pressure and access line
losses. Wholesale revenue decreased 0.2 percent in the second quarter of 2005
compared to the same period in the prior year as revenue declines in transport
services sold to inter-exchange carriers and switched access were nearly offset
by growth in wireless transport and UNE-P revenue.
Voice
Voice revenues remained relatively flat in the second quarter of 2005 and
decreased $14 year-to-date when compared to the same periods in 2004. Total
switched access lines declined 986,000, or 4.5 percent, year over year. The
access line decline was the result of continued share loss, wireless and
broadband technology substitution and, to a much lesser extent, access line
losses to cable providers.
Wholesale lines, which consist primarily of UNE-P lines, totaled over 2.6
million at June 30, 2005, down 475,000 lines year over year. As discussed under
the heading "Overview" above, the FCC recently abolished unbundled local
switching, the key component of UNE-P. As a result, we have reached commercial
agreements with more than 150 of our competitor-customers, placing more than 60
percent of our UNE-P lines under contract at negotiated rates. We believe the
change in the regulatory environment influenced the loss of UNE-P lines.
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
In efforts to combat share loss, we continue to grow our package services.
BellSouth Answers(R) is our signature residential package offering, which
combines various wireline, wireless, Internet services and/or DIRECTV(R) digital
satellite television services. The package combines the Complete Choice calling
plan of local service and multiple convenience calling features with BellSouth
Long Distance, BellSouth(R) FastAccess(R) DSL or dial-up Internet, and Cingular
Wireless services. During 2004, we began offering DIRECTV(R) digital satellite
television service through all sales channels as part of the BellSouth
Answers(R) portfolio. This agency relationship with DIRECTV(R) provides us with
a key competitive product with insignificant cost or capital requirements. We
ended second quarter 2005 with 4.8 million residential packages, representing a
42 percent penetration of our retail primary line residence base. As of June 30,
2005, over 85 percent of Answers customers have long distance in their package
and almost 45 percent have either DSL or BellSouth dial-up Internet.
Long distance voice revenue increased $96 in second quarter 2005 and increased
$235 year-to-date when compared to the same periods in 2004, driven primarily by
growth in interLATA and wireless long distance. InterLATA retail revenues
increased $93 in the second quarter and $218 year-to-date reflecting continued
large market share gains driven by marketing efforts and the BellSouth Unlimited
Long Distance Plans. Included in this increase is $8 for the quarter and $17
year-to-date related to growth in our long distance offerings in complex
business. At June 30, 2005, we had nearly 6.8 million retail long distance
customers and a mass-market penetration rate of over 53 percent of our retail
customer base.
Switched access revenues were relatively flat in second quarter 2005 and
decreased $8 year-to-date when compared to the same periods in 2004 due to
declines in volumes. Our entry into interLATA long distance shifted switched
access minutes from other carriers to our service, resulting in a transfer from
wholesale switched access revenues to retail long distance revenue. Excluding
our retail long distance traffic, switched access and local minutes of use
decreased 12.0 percent in the second quarter and decreased 12.9 percent
year-to-date when compared to the same periods in 2004. The decrease is due to
access line losses and alternative communications services, primarily wireless
and e-mail.
Data
Data revenues increased $50 in second quarter 2005 and $119 year-to-date when
compared to the same periods in 2004. Data revenues were driven by strong
growth from the sale of BellSouth(R) FastAccess(R) DSL service partially offset
by decreases in revenue from other data products. Combined wholesale and retail
DSL revenues of $287 in the quarter and $580 year-to-date were up $53 and $132,
respectively, when compared to the same periods in 2004 due primarily to a
larger customer base partially offset by lower average revenue per user (ARPU).
As of June 30, 2005, we had nearly 2.5 million DSL customers, an increase of
735,000 customers compared to June 30, 2004. Included in the data revenue
increase is $18 for the quarter and $38 year-to-date related to growth in our
long distance offerings in complex business.
Retail data services grew 11.7 percent in second quarter 2005 and remained
relatively flat year-to-date when compared to the same periods in 2004 driven
primarily by the growth from the sale of FastAccess(R) DSL service. BellSouth
provides tiered DSL speeds and associated pricing to meet a broad range of
customer needs. BellSouth(R) FastAccess(R) DSL Ultra runs at downstream
connection speeds of up to 1.5 megabits. For customers who want higher speeds,
the Company offers BellSouth(R) FastAccess(R) DSL Xtreme, delivering downstream
speeds of up to 3.0 megabits and upload speeds of up to 384 kilobits. The
Company also offers a lower speed version - BellSouth(R) FastAccess(R) DSL Lite
- that runs at downstream speeds of up to 256 kilobits. DSL net customer
additions of 124,000 in the second quarter of 2005 represented a decline from
prior quarters due in part to seasonality. Lower net additions also reflected
the impact of changes in market promotions to direct customers toward higher
speeds of service. During the second quarter of 2005, new residential
FastAccess(R) DSL customers could receive for the first three months a $23
discount on FastAccess(R) Ultra or a $15 discount on FastAccess(R) DSL Xtreme
with purchase of the BellSouth(R) Complete Choice plan and BellSouth(R)
Unlimited long distance. Revenue from other retail data products was flat for
second quarter and year-to-date 2005 when compared to the same periods in 2004.
Revenues from the sale of wholesale data transport services and wholesale DSL to
other communications providers, including long distance companies and CLECs,
declined 3.9 percent in the second quarter of 2005 and declined 3.2 percent when
compared to the same periods in 2004. The decrease was due to declines in data
transport sold to inter-exchange carriers that were partially offset by revenue
growth in transport sold to wireless carriers.
Other
Other revenues decreased $18 in second quarter and year-to-date 2005 when
compared to the same periods in 2004 reflecting a decline in revenues from
wholesale long distance due to lower volumes.
Segment operating expenses
Cost of services and products
Cost of services and products of $1,850 in second quarter 2005 and $3,703
year-to-date increased $126 and $238, respectively, from the same periods in
2004. The second quarter increase included $42 in labor due primarily to
increases
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
in retiree medical costs, overtime costs related to inclement weather and annual
wage increases, offset by workforce reductions; $29 related to Universal Service
Fund contributions related to increases in fund contribution rates and a higher
assessment base driven by growth in DSL and long distance; and $52 in costs of
goods sold principally driven by higher volumes in long distance services.
The year-to-date increase included $91 in labor due primarily to increases in
retiree medical costs, overtime costs related to inclement weather and DSL
demand, and annual wage increases, partially offset by workforce reductions; $68
related to Universal Service Fund contributions related to a one-time true up of
prior years' expense, increases in fund contribution rates and a higher
assessment base driven by growth in DSL and long distance; $89 in costs of goods
sold principally driven by higher volumes in long distance services; and $32 in
materials and supplies driven primarily by DSL modem cost associated with
customer growth, hurricane costs and increased fuel costs. These increases were
partially offset by a $22 decline in access fees due to lower volumes and a $16
decline in contract services due to specific 2004 process improvement
initiatives, partially offset by 2005 information technology platform
initiatives, fleet and plug-in repair volumes and inclement weather.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses of $775 in second quarter 2005 and
$1,513 year-to-date increased $17 and $10 respectively, from the same periods in
2004. The second quarter increase reflects an increase of $39 in labor costs
driven by retiree medical benefits and annual wage increases and a $10 increase
in uncollectibles related to increased 2004 reserve write downs, offset by $21
lower advertising due to specific 2004 campaigns.
The year-to-date increase reflects an increase of $56 in labor costs driven by
incremental retiree medical benefits, overtime costs associated with the Fair
Labor Standards Act, and annual wage increases, $14 increase in contract
services related to information technology platform initiatives offset by $21
lower advertising due to specific 2004 campaigns, and $17 lower uncollectibles
expense driven by improved economic conditions.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2 during second quarter 2005
and $21 year-to-date when compared to the same periods in 2004 reflecting
increased capital spending, partially offset by reduced depreciation rates under
the group life method of depreciation.
Unusual items excluded from segment net income
Unusual items that were excluded from this segment's net income consisted of the
following: for second quarter 2005, unusual items of $12 for the early
extinguishment of debt; for year-to-date 2005 unusual items of $26 for the early
extinguishment of debt; for second quarter 2004, unusual items of $5 for
severance; for year-to-date 2004, unusual items of $47 for the South Carolina
regulatory settlement and severance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic Wireless
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We own an approximate 40 percent economic interest in Cingular, a joint venture
with SBC Communications. Because we exercise influence over the financial and
operating policies of Cingular, we use the equity method of accounting for this
investment. Under the equity method of accounting, we record our proportionate
share of Cingular's earnings in our consolidated statements of income. These
earnings are included in the caption "Net earnings (losses) of equity
affiliates." For management purposes, we evaluate our Domestic wireless segment
based on our proportionate share of Cingular's results. Accordingly, results for
our Domestic wireless segment reflect the proportional consolidation of
approximately 40 percent of Cingular's results and taxes at the parent level,
excluding unusual items.
On October 26, 2004, Cingular completed the acquisition of AT&T Wireless,
creating the largest wireless carrier in the United States based on revenues and
number of customers. The wireless industry continued its strong growth
trajectory during the second quarter of 2005. Despite continued industry
consolidation, competition continues to be intense among the current five
national competitors, their affiliates and the smaller regional carriers. On a
pro forma basis, Cingular's average revenue per user (ARPU) declined 5.6 percent
from second quarter 2004 to second quarter 2005, driven primarily by lower
revenue derived from voice services partially offset by increased data-related
revenues. Data revenue played an increasingly important role in revenue
composition in 2004 and early 2005, and those impacts are expected to increase
through the remainder of 2005.
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Percent Ended June 30, Percent
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 2005 Change 2004 2005 Change
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment operating revenues:
Service revenues $1,534 $3,087 101.2% $2,967 $6,055 104.1%
Equipment revenues 141 356 152.5% 295 680 130.5%
--- --- --- ---
Total segment operating revenues 1,675 3,443 105.6% 3,262 6,735 106.5%
Segment operating expenses:
Cost of services and products 592 1,401 136.7% 1,186 2,776 134.1%
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 585 1,151 96.8% 1,133 2,310 103.9%
Depreciation and amortization 226 608 169.0% 447 1,278 185.9%
--- --- --- ---
Total segment operating expenses 1,403 3,160 125.2% 2,766 6,364 130.1%
Segment operating income 272 283 4.0% 496 371 -25.2%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment net income (loss) $ 89 $ 77 -13.5% $ 148 $ 44 -70.3%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment net income (loss) including unusual items $ 89 $ 35 -60.7% $ 148 $ (19) -112.8%
Key Indicators (100% Cingular):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cellular/PCS Customers (000s) 25,044 51,596 106.0%
Wireless service average monthly revenue per customer
- Cellular/PCS $ 50.75 $50.43 -0.6% $49.54 $50.01 0.9%
Capital Expenditures $ 783 $ 2,188 179.4% $ 1,117 $ 3,159 182.8%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment operating revenues
During the second quarter 2005, Cingular had net additions of 1.1 million
customers, bringing year-to-date net additions to 2.5 million and resulting in
51.6 million cellular/PCS customers on June 30, 2005. This represents a growth
of 26.6 million in Cingular's cellular/PCS customer base since June 30, 2004,
including approximately 22 million customers Cingular assumed in its acquisition
of AT&T Wireless. Postpaid gross additions were 79 percent of all gross
additions in second quarter 2005, up from 78 percent in second quarter 2004.
For both the second quarter and year-to-date 2005, the cellular/PCS churn rate
was 2.2 percent, down from 2.7 percent for both periods in the corresponding
period of the prior year. Approximately 10 basis points of the reduction in
Cingular's overall churn rate quarter-over-quarter resulted from operational
improvement. Partially offsetting this decline was an increase in the churn rate
among Cingular's legacy prepaid customers. The remaining reduction in churn is
attributable to Cingular's adoption of a new reseller churn calculation
methodology that is more comparable with its major competitors and changes to
conform churn calculation methodologies of Cingular and AT&T Wireless.
Segment operating revenues, consisting of service revenue and equipment sales,
increased $1,768 in the second quarter 2005 and $3,473 year-to-date, when
compared with the same periods of 2004. The increase in both periods is
primarily a result of the increased revenues associated with Cingular's
acquisition of AT&T Wireless in fourth quarter 2004. The growth in service
revenue of $1,553 during the second quarter and $3,088 year-to-date was
primarily the result of increased revenues driven by growth in the average
number of customers, including the 22 million customers acquired in the AT&T
Wireless transaction. Increases in data revenues also favorably impacted total
service revenues. The $195 and $368 increase in data revenues for the second
quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively, as compared to the prior year
periods were driven by increased data service penetration and usage of SMS short
messaging and other data services by Cingular's cellular/PCS customers,
including those data customers assumed with the AT&T Wireless acquisition.
Partially offsetting these increases was the loss of revenues from Cingular's
Mobitex data business, which was sold during the fourth quarter of 2004. ARPU
declined less than 1 percent to $50.43 in the second quarter, down from $50.75
in the prior year quarter. Cingular experienced a $0.47 increase in year-to-date
ARPU as compared to the same period of 2004. Lower access revenue from
FAMILYTALK(R) and reseller customers added to Cingular's subscriber base, and
lower airtime charges resulting from free mobile-to-mobile calling features of
many of its plans, larger bucket plans and rollover plans caused a decline in
ARPU. This decline was partially offset for the second quarter and more than
offset year-to-date by increased per unit contributions from monthly access,
data, long distance and regulatory fee revenues. Additionally, ARPU declined in
both periods from decreased roaming revenues due to Cingular's acquisition of
AT&T Wireless, previously its largest roaming partner.
Equipment sales contributed to the increase in total operating revenues by $215
during the second quarter 2005 and $385 year-to-date, driven primarily by
incremental revenue from higher unit sales reflecting a 79.5 and 85.2 percent
increase in gross customer additions, respectively, and increased upgrade sales
as Cingular continued to migrate former AT&T Wireless customers to Cingular rate
plans.
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
Segment operating expenses
Cost of services and products
Cost of services and products increased $809 in second quarter 2005 and $1,590
year-to-date when compared to the same periods of 2004. Cingular's systems
expense growth during the second quarter was driven by increased costs
associated with the AT&T Wireless acquisition, including an increase in local
network system costs; an increase of $82 in third-party network system costs
(i.e., roaming and long distance costs); higher interconnection fees associated
with a 154.3 percent growth in system minutes of use; higher facilities related
costs resulting from the increase in cell sites and with maintaining additional
duplicate TDMA and GSM networks; and increased USF and regulatory fees from the
increase in the customer base. Local network system costs also increased
approximately $76 from the prior year quarter as a result of the termination of
Cingular's joint venture with T-Mobile, GSMF. Third-party network system cost
increases for the second quarter compared with the corresponding prior year
period included a $50 increase in incollect roaming costs and a $33 increase in
long distance costs. Both increases were driven by higher volumes of minutes,
including those minutes associated with the acquired AT&T Wireless subscribers,
which more than offset rate decreases for both our incollect minutes and long
distance minutes, and the elimination of intracompany roaming between former
AT&T Wireless customers and Cingular.
Additionally, the growth of equipment-related expenses of $290
quarter-over-quarter and $593 year-to-date compared to the prior year periods
were driven by increased gross additions and upgrade activity from the migration
of former AT&T Wireless customers to Cingular common service offerings and a
shift to more advanced handsets as a result of Cingular's GSM/GPRS/EDGE network
overlay.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $566 in second quarter
2005 and $1,177 year-to-date when compared to same periods of 2004. The growth
for both periods was primarily due to the incremental expenses associated with
the recently acquired AT&T Wireless markets. Additionally, growth was also
driven by volume through increased sales personnel costs associated with the
acquired AT&T Wireless sales force, higher advertising and promotions expenses
and increased commissions expenses related to the 79.5 percent and 85.2 percent
increase in gross customer additions for the second quarter 2005 and
year-to-date 2005, respectively. Costs for maintaining and supporting Cingular's
customer base also increased principally due to higher customer service expenses
driven by increased headcount acquired from AT&T Wireless to support a larger
subscriber base, an increase in upgrade commissions primarily driven from
migrating former AT&T Wireless customers to Cingular service offerings and an
increase in billing and bad debt expenses also related to the growth in
Cingular's subscriber base.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $382 for the second quarter
2005 and $831 year-to-date compared to the same periods of 2004. Depreciation
expense for the second quarter increased primarily due to incremental
depreciation associated with the property, plant and equipment acquired in the
AT&T Wireless acquisition and depreciation related to Cingular's ongoing capital
spending associated with its GSM network. Additionally, depreciation expense
increased over the prior year period as a result of a reduction of the useful
lives of certain TDMA and other equipment in connection with Cingular's
migration to GSM technology.
Depreciation expense during the second quarter also included a $23 adjustment,
which was attributable to prior quarters and had the effect of reducing
depreciation expense, related to a reduction to former AT&T Wireless assets
resulting from Cingular's rationalization plans approved in the second quarter
and other adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation.
Intangibles amortization expense for the second quarter totaled $184,
representing an increase of $168 compared with the prior year period, primarily
due to amortization of the customer relationship and other intangible assets
recorded with the AT&T Wireless acquisition. This increase was partially offset
by a decrease in amortization associated with intangible assets that became
fully amortized during 2004. Intangible amortization is also $18 lower in the
second quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2005, reflecting the
declining trajectory of amortization expenses of the customer lists.
Unusual items excluded from segment net income
Unusual items that were excluded from this segment's net income consisted of the
following: unusual items of $42 in second quarter 2005 and $63 year-to-date 2005
for wireless merger integration costs including increased depreciation expense
as a result of reductions of useful lives of certain legacy Cingular assets
associated with the finalization of phase one of Cingular's network
rationalization plan related to its AT&T Wireless acquisition. There were no
unusual items excluded from the same periods of 2004.
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertising and Publishing Group
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Advertising and Publishing Group is comprised of companies in the US that
publish, print, and sell advertising in and perform related services concerning
alphabetical and classified telephone directories and electronic media
offerings.
In the second quarter of 2005, our Advertising and Publishing Group continued to
see the favorable impact from strategic initiatives implemented in 2004 and from
an improving economy, offset by continued competitive pressures.
For the Three Months For the Six Months
Ended June 30, Percent Ended June 30, Percent
2004 2005 Change 2004 2005 Change
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment operating revenues $511 $ 531 3.9% $ 993 $1,022 2.9%
Segment operating expenses:
Cost of services and products 90 99 10.0% 170 189 11.2%
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 167 180 7.8% 323 343 6.2%
Depreciation and amortization 7 7 -- 14 14 --
--- --- --- ---
Total segment operating expenses 264 286 8.3% 507 546 7.7%
Segment operating income 247 245 -0.8% 486 476 -2.1%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment net income $150 $ 154 2.7% $297 $295 -0.7%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment net income (loss) including unusual items $150 $154 2.7% $ 297 $ 295 -0.7%
Capital expenditures $ 6 $ 3 -50.0% $ 14 $ 12 -14.3%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment operating revenues
Segment operating revenues increased $20 in the second quarter of 2005 and $29
year-to-date compared to the same periods of 2004. These increases include an
improvement in print revenues as a result of core print growth and new products,
and growing electronic media revenues.
Segment operating expenses
Cost of services and products increased $9 in the second quarter of 2005 and $19
year-to-date compared to the same periods of the prior year primarily reflecting
the impact of increased distribution volumes. Selling, general, and
administrative expenses increased $13 in the second quarter and $20 year-to-date
compared to the same periods of the prior year, primarily driven by increases in
employee healthcare, pension and post-retirement medical costs. Variable costs
associated with selling also increased as a result of higher revenues and the
new electronic product sales channel. Partially offsetting these increases was a
decline in uncollectible expense. The decrease reflects the impact of improved
collection performance between periods. Depreciation and amortization expenses
were flat between periods.
Unusual items excluded from segment net income
There were no unusual items excluded from this segment's net income.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liquidity and Financial Condition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used for):
For the Six Months
Ended June 30,
2004 2005 Change
----------------------------- ---------- --------- --------------------
Continuing Operations
Operating activities...... $ 3,797 $ 3,820 $ 23 0.6%
Investing activities...... $ (1,936) $ 53 $ 1,989 *
Financing activities...... $ (826) $ (3,953) $ (3,127) *
Discontinued Operations $ (185) $ (115) $ 70 37.8%
----------------------------- ---------- --------- --------------------
*Not meaningful.
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash generated by operations increased $23 during the first half of 2005
compared to the prior year period. Operating income before depreciation and
amortization expense in the first half of 2005 was comparable to the first half
of 2004. The cash flows from operations in the first half of 2004 were
negatively impacted by a payment of approximately $81 to MCI WorldCom related to
its emergence from bankruptcy. In addition, the first half of 2005 included
lower tax payments, substantially offset by higher interest payments as compared
to the same period in the prior year.
Net cash used for investing activities
Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures consist primarily of (a) gross additions to property, plant
and equipment having an estimated service life of one year or more, plus
incidental costs of preparing the asset for its intended use, and (b) gross
additions to capitalized software. Our capital expenditures of $1,579 during the
first half of 2005 and of $1,366 during the first half of 2004 were incurred to
support our wireline network, to promote the introduction of new products and
services and to increase operating efficiency and productivity. The increase in
capital expenditures compared to the prior period relates primarily to the
timing of increased spending on broadband initiatives to meet increasing demand.
We expect our capital to revenue ratio to be in the mid-teens for 2005.
Other investing activities
During the first half of 2005, we received net proceeds of $930 for the sale of
our Latin American operations. Cingular paid us $666 on the revolving line of
credit and $121 on the advances. In addition, we purchased and sold equity
securities for a net cash expenditure of $89.
On July 29, 2005, Cingular repaid an additional $788 on the advances. The
majority of the funds used to make this payment arose from the July 2005 release
of remaining net proceeds from the sale of network assets in January 2005, which
had been held in a qualified trust. Cingular anticipates that it will be
required to borrow funds under the revolving credit agreement to pay for their
capital expenditures that were purchased as qualified replacement property under
the like-kind exchange agreement.
During the first half of 2004, we received $525 for the sale of our investment
in Sonofon and $109 for the repayment of our shareholder loan and accrued
interest, reduced by a settlement of $17 associated with currency swap
contracts. In addition, we purchased and sold equity securities for a net cash
expenditure of $382 and purchased and sold short-term investments for a net cash
expenditure of $810.
Net cash used for financing activities
During the first half of 2005, we utilized cash from operations, debt repayments
from Cingular, sales proceeds, and proceeds from debt issued in the fourth
quarter 2004 to reduce short-term borrowings by $1,630 and pay down long-term
debt by $1,267. In addition, we paid dividends of 54 cents per share totaling
$988 and purchased 3.2 million shares of our common stock for an aggregate of
$83, primarily to offset dilution from share issuances under employee benefit
plans.
During the first half of 2004, we utilized cash from operations to reduce
short-term borrowings by $339. We also issued $700 of new long-term debt to take
advantage of favorable interest rates. The proceeds were used to refinance $200
in maturing debt during the second quarter and $500 of callable debt in the
third quarter. In addition, we paid dividends of 50 cents per share totaling
$914 and purchased 3.9 million shares of our common stock for an aggregate of
$99.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
The following table represents cash flows from our discontinued operations:
For the Six Months
Ended June 30,
2004 2005
------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Net cash provided by (used for):
Operating activities.............. $ 224 $ 10
Investing activities.............. $ (336) $ (125)
Financing activities.............. $ (73) $ --
------- -------
Total cash flows from discontinued
operations $ (185) $ (115)
------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
In first quarter 2005, we purchased $125 of third party Argentine debt in
connection with the sale of our Latin American properties.
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
In the first half of 2004, capital expenditures were $137 and expenditures
related to the purchase of interest and other rights of minority partners in
Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador totaled $177. Other investing activity included
$16 of net proceeds related to the purchase and sale of equity securities and
$44 in expenditures for the purchase of short-term investments. The financing
activities included net debt repayments of $18 and distributions to minority
partners of $55.
Anticipated sources and uses of funds
General
The Communications Group and Advertising and Publishing Group generate
substantially all of our consolidated cash provided by operating activities.
These segments generate sufficient cash flow to fund their investing and
financing activities. Should other investing opportunities arise, we believe we
are well positioned to raise capital in the public debt markets.
An objective of our Board of Directors is to maintain a competitive dividend.
They evaluate the cash dividend on a quarterly basis and make decisions
regarding the dividend within the context of long-term free cash flow
projections.
At June 30, 2005, our long-term debt rating was A2 from Moody's Investor Service
and A from Standard and Poor's. Our short-term debt rating at June 30, 2005 was
P-1 from Moody's and A-1 from Standard and Poor's. Moody's outlook on both our
short and long-term ratings remains negative. The reasons cited were our
expanded competitive challenges in the wireline business which could erode our
ability to reduce debt levels as planned and the possibility of lower earnings
and cash flow at Cingular if the AT&T Wireless integration is more expensive and
time consuming than anticipated. Standard and Poor's also has a negative outlook
on our long-term debt rating. The reasons given are increasing competition in
our wireline business from the cable television companies, which could drive
down pricing and squeeze operating margins, and near term pressures from the
integration of AT&T Wireless.
Our authorized commercial paper program as of June 30, 2005 was $10.5 billion,
with $1.6 billion outstanding. We believe that we have ready access to the
commercial paper market in the event funding in excess of our operating cash
flows is needed. We also have a registration statement on file with the SEC
under which $3.1 billion of long-term debt securities could be issued. Our
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. We believe that these sources of funds
will be sufficient to meet the operating needs of our business for at least the
next twelve months.
Domestic Wireless
BellSouth and SBC provide unsubordinated short-term financing on a pro rata
basis to Cingular to fund its cash needs arising from the ordinary course of
business. During the second quarter of 2005, Cingular repaid all amounts
outstanding under the revolving line of credit; therefore, there were no amounts
outstanding as of June 30, 2005. Cingular has terminated its bank credit
facilities and no longer issues commercial paper or long-term debt.
Cash management
BellSouth Corporation's primary source of cash flow is dividends from its
subsidiaries. Generally, we do not permit our subsidiaries to accumulate cash,
requiring them to pay out either net income or cash flow available in the form
of dividends. Any funding requirements for wholly owned domestic subsidiaries
are fulfilled by BellSouth Corporation.
Debt instruments
BellSouth and BellSouth Telecommunications currently have debt outstanding under
various indentures that we have entered into over the past twelve years. None of
these indentures contain any financial covenants. They do contain limitations
that restrict the Company's (or the affiliate of the company that is a party to
the indenture) ability to create liens on their properties or assets (but not
the properties or assets of their subsidiaries) except in specified
circumstances. None of these indentures contains any provisions that are tied to
the ratings assigned to the company or its affiliates by an external debt rating
agency. Further, none of these indentures contains cross-default provisions.
Effective April 29, 2005, we entered into a new syndicated line of credit in the
amount of $3.0 billion. The syndicated line of credit serves as a backup
facility for our commercial paper program. The new $3.0 billion line of credit
will expire on April 29, 2008.
Except as described in this paragraph, the syndicated line of credit contains no
financial covenants or requirements for compensating balances. Further, the line
of credit does not contain any provisions that are tied to the ratings assigned
to us or our affiliates by an external debt rating agency. The line of credit
provides that the debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries is not
permitted to exceed 300 percent of consolidated earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization for the preceding four quarters. In addition, the
line of credit prohibits the Company and its significant subsidiaries from
permitting liens to be placed on their properties or assets except in specified
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and as Otherwise Indicated)
circumstances. If BellSouth or any of our subsidiaries defaults on any
outstanding debt in excess of $200, an event of default will occur under the
line of credit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Market Risk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For a complete discussion of our market risks, you should refer to the caption
"Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk" in our annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. Our primary exposure to
market risks relates to unfavorable movements in interest rates. We do not
anticipate any significant changes in our objectives and strategies with respect
to managing such exposures.
To manage our risk from fluctuations in interest rates, we enter into interest
rate swap agreements to exchange fixed and variable rate interest payment
obligations without the exchange of the underlying principal amounts. In the
first half of 2005, we entered into two additional interest rate swaps with a
combined notional value of $200, bringing the total notional value of our fair
value hedges to $1,600 as of June 30, 2005. Subsequent to the second quarter of
2005, we entered into an additional fair value interest rate swap with a
notional value of $100.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other than pay downs of debt as discussed in the Liquidity and Financial
Condition Section, there are no material changes with respect to off-balance
sheet arrangements and aggregate contractual obligations as presented in our
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
In most of our sale and divestiture transactions we indemnify the purchaser for
various items including labor and general litigation as well as certain tax
matters. Generally, the terms last one to five years for general and specific
indemnities and for the statutory review periods for tax matters. The events or
circumstances that would require us to perform under the indemnity are
transaction and circumstance specific. We regularly evaluate the probability of
having to incur costs associated with these indemnifications and have accrued
for expected losses that are probable. In addition, in the normal course of
business, we indemnify counter parties in certain agreements. The nature and
terms of these indemnities vary by transaction. Historically, we have not
incurred significant costs related to performance under these types of
indemnities.
We do not have transactions, arrangements or relationships with "special
purpose" entities, and we do not have any off-balance sheet debt.
Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk
See the caption labeled "Market Risk" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated
to the management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. Management necessarily applied its judgment in assessing the costs
and benefits of such controls and procedures, which, by their nature, can
provide only reasonable assurance regarding management's control objectives. We
also have investments in certain unconsolidated entities. As we do not control
or manage these entities, our disclosure controls and procedures with respect to
such entities are necessarily more limited than those we maintain with respect
to our consolidated subsidiaries.
The Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls can prevent all
errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and
operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the
objectives of the control system are met. There are inherent limitations in all
control systems, including the realities that judgments in decision-making can
be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.
Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of one or more
persons. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain
assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and, while our disclosure
controls and procedures are designed to be effective under circumstances where
they should reasonably be expected to operate effectively, there can be no
assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all
potential future conditions. Because of the inherent limitations in any control
system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an
evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management,
including the Chief Executive Officer along with the Chief Financial Officer, of
the effectiveness, of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b). Based upon
the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer along with the Chief Financial
Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at
providing reasonable assurance that all material information relating to
BellSouth (including consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in our
Exchange Act reports is reported in a timely manner. In addition, based on such
evaluation we have identified no change in our internal control over financial
reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this report that
has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this document contains forward-looking
statements regarding events, financial trends and critical accounting policies
that may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows.
These statements are based on our assumptions and estimates and are subject to
risks and uncertainties. For these statements, we claim the protection of the
safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
There are possible developments that could cause our actual results to differ
materially from those forecast or implied in the forward-looking statements. You
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements,
which are current only as of the date of this filing. We disclaim any intention
or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
While the below list of cautionary statements is not exhaustive, some factors,
in addition to those contained throughout this document, that could affect
future operating results, financial position and cash flows and could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking
statements are:
o a change in economic conditions in the markets where we operate or have
material investments which could affect demand for our services;
o the impact and the success of Cingular Wireless, our wireless joint
venture with SBC, including marketing and product development efforts,
technological changes and financial capacity;
o Cingular Wireless' failure to realize, in the amounts and within the
timeframe contemplated, the capital and expense synergies and other
financial benefits expected from its acquisition of AT&T Wireless as a
result of technical, logistical, regulatory and other factors;
o changes in laws or regulations, or in their interpretations, which
could result in the loss, or reduction in value, of our licenses,
concessions or markets, or in an increase in competition, compliance
costs or capital expenditures;
o continued pressures on the telecommunications industry from a
financial, competitive and regulatory perspective;
o the intensity of competitive activity and its resulting impact on
pricing strategies and new product offerings;
o changes in the federal and state regulations governing the terms on
which we offer retail and wholesale services;
o continued successful penetration of the interLATA long distance market;
o the impact on our business of consolidation in the wireline and
wireless industries in which we operate;
o the issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other
accounting bodies of new accounting standards or changes to existing
standards;
o changes in available technology that increase the impacts of technology
substitution;
o higher than anticipated start-up costs or significant up-front
investments associated with new business initiatives;
o the outcome of pending litigation; and
o unanticipated higher capital spending from, or delays in, the
deployment of new technologies.
PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following table contains information about our purchases of our equity
securities during the second quarter of 2005.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Total Number of Approximate
Shares Purchased Dollar Value
Total Number Average as Part of a that May Yet Be
Period of Shares Price Paid Publicly Purchased Under
Purchased(1) per Share Announced Plan the Plan
------ ------------ ---------- --------------- ---------------
April 1 - 30, 2005 8,963 $ 26.17 -- --
May 1 - 31, 2005 13,342 $ 26.75 -- --
June 1 - 30, 2005 34 $ 26.70 -- --
------------------ ------------ ---------- --------------- -----------------
Total 22,339 -- --
------------------ ------------ ---------- --------------- -----------------
(1) Represents shares purchased from employees to pay taxes related to the
vesting of restricted shares, at an average price of $26.52. Excludes
shares purchased from employees to pay taxes related to the exercise of
stock options.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Our annual meeting of shareholders was held on April 25, 2005. The voting
results were as follows:
Number of Shares Outstanding as of Record Date: 1,859,666,125
Number of Shares Present: 1,546,018,449
Percent of Shares Present: 83.13%
Proposal Number 1:
Election of Directors
For Withheld
------------- -----------
F. Duane Ackerman 1,498,154,245 47,864,204
Reuben V. Anderson 1,459,290,125 86,728,324
James H. Blanchard 1,457,385,118 88,633,331
J. Hyatt Brown 1,262,670,833 283,347,616
Armando M. Codina 1,502,235,833 43,782,616
Kathleen F. Feldstein 1,514,152,555 31,865,894
James P. Kelly 1,513,363,716 32,654,733
Leo F. Mullin 1,470,056,125 75,962,324
Robin B. Smith 1,505,697,570 40,320,879
William S. Stavropoulos 1,508,880,950 37,137,499
Proposal Number 2:
Ratify the Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
For Against Abstain
--------------------------- ----------------- ------------------
1,498,120,775 33,779,922 14,117,752
Proposal Number 3:
Shareholders' Proposal re: Political Contribution Disclosure
For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes
------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------
143,959,432 1,039,734,656 110,934,386 251,389,975
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
-------------
4a No instrument which defines the rights of holders of our long-
and intermediate-term debt is filed herewith pursuant to
Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A). Pursuant to this
regulation, we agree to furnish a copy of any such instrument to
the SEC upon request.
11 Computation of Earnings Per Common Share.
12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
31a Section 302 certification of F. Duane Ackerman.
31b Section 302 certification of Ronald M. Dykes.
32 Statement Required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements 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
By /s/ Pat Shannon
---------------
PAT SHANNON
Senior Vice President - Finance and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
August 2, 2005
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
-------------
4a No instrument which defines the rights of holders of our long-
and intermediate-term debt is filed herewith pursuant to
Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A). Pursuant to this
regulation, we agree to furnish a copy of any such instrument to
the SEC upon request.
11 Computation of Earnings Per Common Share.
12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
31a Section 302 certification of F. Duane Ackerman.
31b Section 302 certification of Ronald M. Dykes.
32 Statement Required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.