-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 FORM 11-K [X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 or [_] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the transition Commission file period from __ to ___ number 1-8607 BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan BellSouth Corporation 1155 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3610 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN Table of Contents Page ---- Report of Independent Accountants.......................................... 2 Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information as of December 31, 2000....................................... 3 Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information as of December 31, 1999....................................... 5 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information for the Year ended December 31, 2000.......................... 7 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information for the Year ended December 31, 1999.......................... 9 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information for the Year ended December 31, 1998.......................... 11 Notes to Financial Statements.............................................. 13 Signature Page............................................................. 24 Exhibit 23--Consent of Independent Accountants............................. 25 1 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS To the Participants and Plan Administrator of the BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan: In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan (the "Plan") at December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The Fund Information in the statements of net assets available for benefits and the statements of changes in net assets available for benefits is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the net assets available for benefits and changes in net assets available for benefits of each fund. The Fund Information has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Atlanta, Georgia June 25, 2001 2 BELLSOUTH RETIRE STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE December (In Tho Vanguard Index Fidelity BellSouth Indexed Interest Trust Growth Stock Stock Income Growth & Income Balanced Fund Fund Fund Portfolio Portfolio Fund ASSETS ---------- ---------- -------- --------- --------- -------- Share of Trust net assets................. $1,559,490 $1,102,940 $940,836 $260,329 $180,106 $104,327 Investment in BellSouth Retirement Savings Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust: Shares of BellSouth common stock allocated to participants....... -- -- -- -- -- -- Shares of BellSouth common stock held for future allocation..... -- -- -- -- -- -- Temporary cash investments........... -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Investments..... 1,559,490 1,102,940 940,836 260,329 180,106 104,327 Contributions receivable............. 1,818 1,420 822 838 568 403 Fund, BellSouth Savings and Security Plan and other transfers receivable--net........ -- -- 1,993 -- -- 6 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Assets.......... 1,561,308 1,104,360 943,651 261,167 180,674 104,736 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- LIABILITIES Distributions payable... 1,353 1,135 1,109 35 17 106 Fund, BellSouth Savings and Security Plan and other transfers payable--net........... 474 422 -- 764 72 -- Notes payable........... -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Liabilities..... 1,827 1,557 1,109 799 89 106 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Assets Available for Benefits............... $1,559,481 $1,102,803 $942,542 $260,368 $180,585 $104,630 ========== ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== The accompanying notes are an integ 3 MENT SAVINGS PLAN FOR BENEFITS, WITH FUND INFORMATION 31, 2000 usands) T. Rowe Personal DFA U.S. Employee Stock Price DFA U.S. Choice DFA Large Cap Ownership Plan Bond Mid-Cap 6-10 Value Retirement International Value II Participant ---------------------- Fund Growth Portfolio II Account Value II Fund Fund Loans Other Allocated Unallocated Total -------- -------- ------------ ---------- ------------- --------- ----------- ------- ---------- ----------- ---------- $101,672 $156,369 $70,023 $99,053 $38,750 $28,632 $68,799 $14,862 $ -- $ -- $4,726,188 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1,155,338 -- 1,155,338 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 446,931 446,931 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 536 13,420 13,956 -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ---------- -------- ---------- 101,672 156,369 70,023 99,053 38,750 28,632 68,799 14,862 1,155,874 460,351 6,342,413 124 489 165 -- 98 127 -- -- -- -- 6,872 -- -- 22 539 -- 5 1,461 -- 3,484 -- 7,510 -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ---------- -------- ---------- 101,796 156,858 70,210 99,592 38,848 28,764 70,260 14,862 1,159,358 460,351 6,356,795 -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ---------- -------- ---------- 38 36 22 -- -- 13 51 -- 353 -- 4,268 9 39 -- -- 85 -- -- 14,862 -- -- 16,727 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 208,784 208,784 -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ---------- -------- ---------- 47 75 22 -- 85 13 51 14,862 353 208,784 229,779 -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ---------- -------- ---------- $101,749 $156,783 $70,188 $99,592 $38,763 $28,751 $70,209 $ -- $1,159,005 $251,567 $6,127,016 ======== ======== ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ========== ======== ========== ral part of these financial statements. 4 BELLSOUTH RETIRE STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE December (In Tho Vanguard Index Fidelity BellSouth Indexed Interest Trust Growth Stock Stock Income Growth & Income Balanced Fund Fund Fund Portfolio Portfolio Fund ASSETS ---------- ---------- -------- --------- --------- -------- Share of Trust net assets................. $2,043,032 $1,249,328 $942,806 $250,596 $191,653 $113,737 Investment in BellSouth Retirement Savings Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust: Shares of BellSouth common stock allocated to participants....... -- -- -- -- -- -- Shares of BellSouth common stock held for future allocation..... -- -- -- -- -- -- Temporary cash investments........... -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Investments..... 2,043,032 1,249,328 942,806 250,596 191,653 113,737 Contributions receivable............. 1,965 1,414 673 583 498 195 Fund, BellSouth Savings and Security Plan and other transfers receivable--net........ -- 424 -- 319 -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Assets.......... 2,044,997 1,251,166 943,479 251,498 192,151 113,932 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- LIABILITIES Distributions payable... 703 603 100 33 21 27 Fund, BellSouth Savings and Security Plan and other transfers payable--net........... 143 -- 702 -- 389 485 Notes payable........... -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Liabilities..... 846 603 802 33 410 512 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Assets Available for Benefits............... $2,044,151 $1,250,563 $942,677 $251,465 $191,741 $113,420 ========== ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== The accompanying notes are an integ 5 MENT SAVINGS PLAN FOR BENEFITS, WITH FUND INFORMATION 31, 1999 usands) T. Rowe Personal DFA U.S. Employee Stock Price DFA U.S. Choice DFA Large Cap Ownership Plan Bond Mid-Cap 6-10 Value Retirement- International Value II Participant ---------------------- Fund Growth Portfolio II Account Value II Fund Fund Loans Other Allocated Unallocated Total ------- ------- ------------ ----------- ------------- --------- ----------- ------ ---------- ----------- ---------- $97,496 $78,505 $62,984 $41,515 $39,662 $28,003 $67,106 $1,677 $ -- $ -- $5,208,100 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1,288,767 -- 1,288,767 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 643,593 643,593 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2,040 13,858 15,898 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------- ---------- 97,496 78,505 62,984 41,515 39,662 28,003 67,106 1,677 1,290,807 657,451 7,156,358 114 219 140 -- 84 85 -- -- -- -- 5,970 -- 144 343 2,311 486 277 247 -- -- -- 4,551 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------- ---------- 97,610 78,868 63,467 43,826 40,232 28,365 67,353 1,677 1,290,807 657,451 7,166,879 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------- ---------- 7 13 13 -- 2 4 -- -- 176 -- 1,702 11 -- -- -- -- -- -- 1,677 105 -- 3,512 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 264,056 264,056 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------- ---------- 18 13 13 -- 2 4 -- 1,677 281 264,056 269,270 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------- ---------- $97,592 $78,855 $63,454 $43,826 $40,230 $28,361 $67,353 $ -- $1,290,526 $393,395 $6,897,609 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ====== ========== ======== ========== ral part of these financial statements. 6 BELLSOUTH RETIRE STATEMENT OF CHANGES FOR BENEFITS, WITH Year Ended Dec (In Tho Vanguard Index Fidelity BellSouth Indexed Interest Trust Growth Stock Stock Income Growth & Income Balanced Bond Fund Fund Fund Portfolio Portfolio Fund Fund ---------- ---------- -------- --------- --------- -------- -------- Net Assets Available for Benefits, December 31, 1999...... $2,044,151 $1,250,563 $942,677 $251,465 $191,741 $113,420 $ 97,592 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Employee contributions.. 55,561 46,626 42,046 25,372 16,772 7,615 3,807 Transfer of participants' balances--net.......... (235,693) 9,117 45,389 78,930 (6,633) (11,252) (1,392) Supplemental contributions.......... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Allocation of shares to participants........... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Transfer for loan repayment.............. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Contributions, Allocations and Transfers.............. (180,132) 55,743 87,435 104,302 10,139 (3,637) 2,415 Share of Trust investment activities.. (140,385) (104,914) 49,094 (69,159) (4,001) 3,528 9,535 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total................... (320,517) (49,171) 136,529 35,143 6,138 (109) 11,950 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Less: Distributions to participants..... 164,153 98,589 136,664 26,240 17,294 8,681 7,793 Interest on notes payable.......... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Assets Available for Benefits, December 31, 2000...... $1,559,481 $1,102,803 $942,542 $260,368 $180,585 $104,630 $101,749 ========== ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== The accompanying notes are an integ 7 MENT SAVINGS PLAN IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FUND INFORMATION ember 31, 2000 usands) T. Rowe Personal DFA U.S. Employee Stock Price DFA U.S. Choice DFA Large Cap Ownership Plan Mid-Cap 6-10 Value Retirement International Value II Participant ----------------------- Growth Portfolio II Account Value II Fund Fund Loans Other Allocated Unallocated Total -------- ------------ ---------- ------------- --------- ----------- ------- ---------- ----------- ---------- $ 78,855 $63,454 $ 43,826 $40,230 $28,361 $ 67,353 $ -- $1,290,526 $ 393,395 $6,897,609 -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ---------- --------- ---------- 12,930 5,438 -- 4,010 2,628 -- -- -- -- 222,805 70,249 1,315 102,103 (1,834) (2,074) (12,206) (1,224) (27,913) -- 6,882 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 50,636 50,636 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 100,059 (100,059) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (16,723) 16,723 -- -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ---------- --------- ---------- 83,179 6,753 102,103 2,176 554 (12,206) (1,224) 55,423 (32,700) 280,323 7,289 5,928 (46,304) (178) 2,312 17,361 1,224 (114,698) (86,261) (469,629) -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ---------- --------- ---------- 90,468 12,681 55,799 1,998 2,866 5,155 -- (59,275) (118,961) (189,306) -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ---------- --------- ---------- 12,540 5,947 33 3,465 2,476 2,299 -- 72,246 -- 558,420 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 22,867 22,867 -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ---------- --------- ---------- $156,783 $70,188 $ 99,592 $38,763 $28,751 $ 70,209 $ -- $1,159,005 $ 251,567 $6,127,016 ======== ======= ======== ======= ======= ======== ======= ========== ========= ========== ral part of these financial statements. 8 BELLSOUTH RETIRE STATEMENT OF CHANGES FOR BENEFITS, WITH Year Ended Dec (In Tho Vanguard Index Fidelity T. Rowe BellSouth Indexed Interest Trust Growth Price Stock Stock Income Growth & Income Balanced Bond Mid-Cap Fund Fund Fund Portfolio Portfolio Fund Fund Growth ---------- ---------- -------- --------- --------- -------- -------- ------- Net Assets Available for Benefits, December 31, 1998...... $2,251,426 $1,104,970 $910,241 $129,374 $180,281 $114,206 $119,840 $57,278 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- Employee contributions.. 59,895 46,729 31,079 17,866 16,939 7,306 4,558 6,967 Transfer of participants' balances--net.......... (30,420) (52,577) 74,445 69,439 (14,643) (9,183) (18,483) 3,624 Supplemental contributions.......... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Allocation of shares to participants........... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Transfer for loan repayment.............. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- Total Contributions, Allocations and Transfers.............. 29,475 (5,848) 105,524 87,305 2,296 (1,877) (13,925) 10,591 Share of Trust investment activities............. (88,643) 221,237 52,988 48,269 18,251 8,543 (2,110) 13,898 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- Total................... (59,168) 215,389 158,512 135,574 20,547 6,666 (16,035) 24,489 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- Less: Distributions to participants........... 148,107 69,796 126,076 13,483 9,087 7,452 6,213 2,912 Interest on notes payable.............. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- Net Assets Available for Benefits, December 31, 1999...... $2,044,151 $1,250,563 $942,677 $251,465 $191,741 $113,420 $ 97,592 $78,855 ========== ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======= The accompanying notes are an integ 9 MENT SAVINGS PLAN IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FUND INFORMATION ember 31, 1999 usands) Personal DFA DFA U.S. Employee Stock DFA U.S. Choice International Large Cap Ownership Plan 6-10 Value Retirement Value II Value II Participant ----------------------- Portfolio II Account Fund Fund Loans Other Allocated Unallocated Total ------------ ---------- ------------- --------- ----------- ----- ---------- ----------- ---------- $68,227 $ -- $32,888 $30,731 $59,546 $ -- $1,262,543 $549,469 $6,871,020 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- -------- ---------- 5,617 -- 3,055 2,951 -- -- -- -- 202,962 (14,894) 42,305 (46) (4,761) 3,489 (119) (10,649) -- 37,527 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 48,889 48,889 -- -- -- -- -- -- 130,890 (130,890) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (15,134) 15,134 -- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- -------- ---------- (9,277) 42,305 3,009 (1,810) 3,489 (119) 105,107 (66,867) 289,378 7,210 1,521 5,516 1,030 7,007 119 (36,417) (61,709) 196,710 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- -------- ---------- (2,067) 43,826 8,525 (780) 10,496 -- 68,690 (128,576) 486,088 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- -------- ---------- 2,706 -- 1,183 1,590 2,689 -- 40,707 -- 432,001 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 27,498 27,498 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- -------- ---------- $63,454 $43,826 $40,230 $28,361 $67,353 $ -- $1,290,526 $393,395 $6,897,609 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ===== ========== ======== ========== ral part of these financial statements. 10 BELLSOUTH RETIRE STATEMENT OF CHANGES FOR BENEFITS, WITH Year Ended Dec (In Tho Vanguard Index Fidelity BellSouth Indexed Interest Trust Growth Stock Stock Income Growth & Income Balanced Fund Fund Fund Portfolio Portfolio Fund ---------- ---------- -------- --------- --------- -------- Net Assets Available for Benefits, December 31, 1997...... $1,155,485 $1,040,696 $896,002 $ 46,552 $161,078 $105,313 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Employee contributions.. 38,881 49,196 31,162 8,531 15,368 7,731 Transfer of participants' balances--net.......... 195,300 (181,786) 17,034 49,022 (27,030) (10,731) Supplemental contributions.......... -- -- -- -- -- -- Allocation of shares to participants........... -- -- -- -- -- -- Transfer for loan repayment.............. -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Contributions, Allocations and Transfers.............. 234,181 (132,590) 48,196 57,553 (11,662) (3,000) Share of Trust investment activities.. 951,469 267,172 56,477 29,180 42,185 20,798 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total................... 1,185,650 134,582 104,673 86,733 30,523 17,798 ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Less: Distributions to participants..... 89,709 70,308 90,434 3,911 11,320 8,905 Interest on notes payable.......... -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Assets Available for Benefits, December 31, 1998...... $2,251,426 $1,104,970 $910,241 $129,374 $180,281 $114,206 ========== ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== The accompanying notes are an integ 11 MENT SAVINGS PLAN IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FUND INFORMATION ember 31, 1998 usands) T. Rowe DFA U.S. Employee Stock Price DFA U.S. 6- DFA Large Cap Ownership Plan Bond Mid-Cap 10 Value International Value II Participant ----------------------- Fund Growth Portfolio II Value II Fund Fund Loans Other Allocated Unallocated Total -------- ------- ------------ ------------- --------- ----------- ----- ---------- ----------- ---------- $110,032 $41,001 $102,314 $31,817 $37,756 $60,917 $ -- $ 671,576 $ 227,922 $4,688,461 -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- --------- ---------- 5,207 5,285 7,440 3,026 3,321 -- -- -- -- 175,148 4,693 3,946 (31,294) (4,852) (11,553) 35 (733) (11,693) -- (9,642) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 47,444 47,444 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 116,832 (116,832) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (12,910) 12,910 -- -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- --------- ---------- 9,900 9,231 (23,854) (1,826) (8,232) 35 (733) 92,229 (56,478) 212,950 9,655 9,425 (5,649) 4,538 3,751 4,941 733 547,026 409,620 2,351,321 -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- --------- ---------- 19,555 18,656 (29,503) 2,712 (4,481) 4,976 -- 639,255 353,142 2,564,271 -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- --------- ---------- 9,747 2,379 4,584 1,641 2,544 6,347 -- 48,288 -- 350,117 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 31,595 31,595 -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ---------- --------- ---------- $119,840 $57,278 $ 68,227 $32,888 $30,731 $59,546 $ -- $1,262,543 $ 549,469 $6,871,020 ======== ======= ======== ======= ======= ======= ===== ========== ========= ========== ral part of these financial statements. 12 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 1. Plan Description General The following description of the BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. For additional information, participants should refer to the Plan Prospectus/Summary Plan Description, as supplemented (SPD). A copy of the SPD can be obtained by calling the BellSouth Participant Service Center at 1-800-995-1000. In addition, copies of the Plan, trust agreement and other related documents which include details of the Plan can be obtained by writing to: Secretary, BellSouth Savings Plan Committee, Room 13C09, 1155 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3610. The Plan was established by BellSouth Corporation (BellSouth) to provide a convenient way for management employees to save for their retirement on a long-term basis and to acquire an ownership interest in BellSouth. The Plan consists of two parts: one is a profit sharing plan which includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement and which is intended to qualify as such under Sections 401(a), 401(k) and 401(m) and related sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code); the second part is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) which is designed as a stock bonus plan to invest primarily in shares of BellSouth Common Stock and which is intended to qualify under Sections 401(a), 401(m) and 4975(e)(7) and related sections of the Code. All regular full-time and part-time employees of participating BellSouth companies who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement, have attained the age of 18, and have completed at least one month of service are eligible to participate. The Plan is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Master Trust For investment purposes, the assets of the Plan are held in the BellSouth Master Savings Trust (the Master Savings Trust). The Master Savings Trust also holds the assets of the BellSouth Savings and Security Plan (SSP). Investment Options At December 31, 2000, the Plan's assets were comprised of the following investment vehicles: BellSouth Stock Fund, Indexed Stock Fund, Interest Income Fund, Bond Fund, Balanced Fund, Personal Choice Retirement Account and the following mutual funds: Fidelity Growth & Income Portfolio, Vanguard Index Trust Growth Portfolio, DFA U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio II, T. Rowe Price Mid- Cap Growth, DFA U.S. Large Cap Value II Fund and DFA International Value II Fund. All investments are valued on a daily basis. The Personal Choice Retirement Account, or PCRA, was added as an investment option in 1999. Unlike the other funds offered by the Plan, the PCRA is an individual brokerage account in which participants act as their own investment advisor and may choose from a broad range of investment options. The investment options include no-load and load mutual funds, most stocks listed on many U.S. securities exchanges, bonds and other fixed-income investments. Participants who open a PCRA are also assessed additional fees and commissions which are discussed in Note 4. There were 1,346 and 431 participants invested in the PCRA at December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Funds within the PCRA cannot be accessed directly for loans, withdrawals or distributions. Participants who want a loan, withdrawal or distribution to include amounts held in the PCRA must first transfer the desired amount from the PCRA to another fund in the Plan for a minimum of one day. 13 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 1. Plan Description--(continued) Concentrations of Risk At December 31, 2000 and 1999, the Plan's assets were significantly concentrated in shares of BellSouth Common Stock, the value of which is subject to fluctuations related to corporate, industry and economic factors. The Plan's other investment options include a variety of stocks, bonds, fixed income securities, mutual funds and other investment securities. Investment securities subject participants to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants' account balances and the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information. Vesting All participant and employing company contributions vest immediately. Participant Loans (Whole Dollars) Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50 percent of their before-tax account balances as defined by the Plan document and any amounts rolled over to the Plan from other qualified plans. Loan balances are secured by the assets allocated to the participant's accounts and bear interest at various rates which ranged from 7.00% to 11.00% at December 31, 2000. Principal and interest are paid ratably through periodic payroll deductions for active employees and by coupon for nonactive employees. As discussed earlier, amounts held in a PCRA are not directly available for loans. Service Providers As of May 1, 1999, State Street Bank & Trust Company serves as the Trustee for the Master Savings Trust. During 1998, and in 1999 prior to May 1, Bankers Trust Company served as the Trustee for the Master Savings Trust. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company serves as the recordkeeper and service center provider for the Plan. Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. provides brokerage services for the PCRA. 2. Accounting Policies The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. With respect to the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information for the years presented, allocated Share of Trust Net Assets includes investments at fair value, accrued interest income, accrued dividends, receivables for investments sold, payables for investments purchased and accrued administrative expenses of the Master Savings Trust. With respect to the Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information for the years presented, allocated Share of Trust Investment Activities includes the sum of realized gains, net of realized losses, the net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the fair value of the investments, interest income, dividends, investment manager fees and other administrative fees paid by the Master Savings Trust. 14 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 2. Accounting Policies--(continued) The values of investments in the Master Savings Trust are determined as follows: . Shares of BellSouth Common Stock and equity securities underlying the Indexed Stock Fund are valued on the basis of the closing price per share on December 31, 2000 and 1999 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange or, if no sales were made on that date, at the closing price on the next preceding day on which sales were made; . The values of mutual funds, all of which are traded on a national securities exchange, are based on published daily closing net asset values as reported by the respective securities exchanges; . Over-the-counter securities and government obligations are valued based on the bid prices on December 31, 2000 and 1999 from published sources where available and, if not available, from other sources considered reliable; . Common trusts are valued at amounts determined from published reports of the funds; . Securities in the PCRA are valued by methods which are consistent with the methods discussed above; and . Annuity contracts with insurance companies and synthetic contracts are valued at principal plus reinvested interest. Purchases and sales of securities are reflected as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the basis of average cost. Dividend income is recognized on the date the trust is entitled to the benefit. Interest earned on investments is recognized on the accrual basis. In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS No. 133"). SFAS No. 133 requires that an entity recognize all derivatives and measure those instruments at fair value. SFAS No. 133 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. Pursuant to SFAS No. 137, the Plan is required to adopt SFAS No. 133 effective January 1, 2001. Management has not yet been able to determine the impact of SFAS No. 133 on the Plan financial statements as a result of the inconsistency in accounting literature between SFAS No. 133, requiring derivatives to be measured at fair value, and the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide on "Audits of Employee Benefit Plans" and Statement of Position 94-4, "Reporting of Investment Contracts Held by Health and Welfare Benefit Plans and Defined- Contribution Pension Plans", requiring benefit responsive investment contracts (including synthetic GICs) to be measured at contract value. Until this discrepancy is resolved, management is unable to determine the impact that SFAS 133 will have on the Plan financial statements. The carrying value of benefit responsive investment contracts (including synthetic GICs) in the Master Trust is $1,219,984 at December 31, 2000. The carrying value of other derivative instruments in the Master Trust is $86,830 at December 31, 2000. The actual impact on the Plan's net assets available for plan benefits of adopting SFAS No. 133 will be made based on the derivative positions and hedging relationships at the date of adoption. 3. Contributions Employee contributions to the Plan are recorded based on Basic Contributions of up to 6% and Supplemental Contributions of up to 9% for those participants wishing to contribute additional amounts. Total contributions may not exceed 15% of compensation. Contributions are designated by the participants as before-tax or after-tax, subject to certain IRS limitations. 15 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 3. Contributions--(continued) As discussed in Section 3 of the Plan document, participants may also rollover amounts into the Plan from other qualified plans. Participants' Basic Contributions receive a matching contribution in BellSouth stock which is contributed to the ESOP Allocated Fund based on the following formula: Contribution Type % Company Match ----------------- ---- ----------------- Basic................................................. 2% 100% Basic................................................. 3-6 Varies by Company Supplemental.......................................... 7-15 None The matching percentage is based on company financial performance and the performance of BellSouth stock. The match percentage remains in effect for a twelve-month period from April 1 through March 31. The range of match rates on Basic Contributions in excess of 2% for the three years ended December 31, 2000 were as follows: 2000 1999 1998 ---------- ---------- ---------- January-March.................................. 25% - 100% 25% - 100% 25% - 85% April-December................................. 25% - 100% 25% - 100% 25% - 100% 4. Plan Expenses Each participant in the Plan is charged a flat annual fee for Plan administrative expenses, including recordkeeping, trustee and other expenses considered reasonable by the Plan administrator. The fee is divided on a pro rata basis among each investment option of the participant. The per- participant fee was $35.25 for 2000 and $33.00 for 1999 and 1998. Additional fees are charged to individual participants for various services provided by the Plan's recordkeeper and the BellSouth Participant Service Center. Participants who open a PCRA are charged a $50 fee for the initial transfer into the PCRA and are charged an additional monthly fee of $2.50 for each month that the participant maintains a PCRA balance. Investment manager fees are paid by the Master Savings Trust. The Plan's share of investment manager fees included in allocated share of Trust investment activities in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information for the years presented, were as follows: For the Year Ended December 31, --------------------- 2000 1999 1998 ------ ------- ------ BellSouth Stock Fund....................................... $ 329 $ 278 $ -- Indexed Stock Fund......................................... (93) 396 182 Interest Income Fund....................................... 405 417 363 Balanced Fund.............................................. 119 133 106 Bond Fund.................................................. 228 161 331 ----- ------- ----- $988 $1,385 $982 ===== ======= ===== The Master Savings Trust did not pay investment management fees for the BellSouth Stock Fund during 1998. 16 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 4. Plan Expenses--(continued) For the mutual funds, investment manager fees are not paid directly from the Master Savings Trust. However, these investments are subject to mutual fund management fees which reduce the overall return of the respective mutual fund. These fees, expressed as percentages of fund assets, which were assessed against the mutual funds by their respective managers, were as follows: For the Year Ended December 31, ---------------- 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- Vanguard Index Trust Growth Portfolio......................... 0.12% 0.12% 0.20% Fidelity Growth & Income Portfolio............................ 0.67% 0.68% 0.71% T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth.................................. 0.87% 0.91% 0.91% DFA U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio II.............................. 0.44% 0.44% 0.45% DFA International Value II Fund............................... 0.50% 0.50% 0.55% DFA U.S. Large Cap Value II Fund.............................. 0.37% 0.37% 0.39% 5. Tax Status The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed BellSouth by a favorable determination letter dated April 14, 1998 that the Plan and related Trust meet the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code and are exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(a) of the Code. The Plan has been amended subsequent to the determination letter referred to above. BellSouth believes that the Plan, in its current form, will maintain its tax exempt status. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan's financial statements. The federal income tax effects on participants with respect to the Plan are described in the SPD. 6. Termination Priorities BellSouth intends to continue the Plan indefinitely but reserves the right to terminate or amend it. In the event the Plan is terminated and if BellSouth or its subsidiaries sponsor another defined contribution plan, the participants may elect to have their account balances transferred to the other plan. If BellSouth or its subsidiaries do not sponsor such a plan, the participants would receive a lump-sum distribution of their account balances. 17 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 7. Interest in BellSouth Master Savings Trust The assets of the Plan are held in the Master Savings Trust and are commingled with the assets of the SSP. The assets of the Master Savings Trust are allocated to the Plan based upon the total of each individual plan participant's share of the Master Savings Trust's assets. The Plan's allocated share of the total net assets of all funds in the Master Savings Trust was 68.19369% at December 31, 2000 and 65.57168% at December 31, 1999. The Plan's allocated share of the net assets of each fund in the Master Savings Trust at December 31, 2000 and 1999 were as follows: 2000 1999 --------- --------- BellSouth Stock Fund..................................... 54.09021% 53.82512% Indexed Stock Fund....................................... 86.20217% 85.80108% Interest Income Fund..................................... 73.76164% 72.94221% Vanguard Index Trust Growth Portfolio.................... 72.77800% 73.57265% Fidelity Growth & Income Portfolio....................... 72.92631% 73.01791% Balanced Fund............................................ 82.02028% 81.91873% Bond Fund................................................ 92.17892% 92.69418% T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth............................. 74.76342% 79.40384% DFA U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio II......................... 84.22762% 84.92757% Personal Choice Retirement Account....................... 100.0000% 100.0000% DFA International Value II Fund.......................... 86.39532% 87.58686% DFA U.S. Large Cap Value II Fund......................... 76.79393% 75.17285% Participant Loans........................................ 63.24551% 63.13932% Other.................................................... 60.59535% 49.57092% 18 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 7. Interest in BellSouth Master Savings Trust--(continued) The financial position of the Master Savings Trust at December 31, 2000 and 1999 was as follows: 2000 1999 Assets: ---- ---- Investments at value: BellSouth Stock Fund: Shares of BellSouth Common Stock#...................... $2,867,936 $3,775,655 Temporary cash investments............................. 15,254 16,370 Distributable shares .................................. 18 63 Indexed Stock Fund: Equity Index Fund#..................................... 1,279,516 1,456,096 Interest Income Fund: General account investment contracts................... 74,600 93,672 Security backed investments............................ 1,145,384 1,096,133 Temporary cash investments............................. 48,616 96,209 Vanguard Index Trust Growth Portfolio: Securities............................................. 357,703 340,612 Fidelity Growth & Income Portfolio: Securities............................................. 246,970 262,475 Balanced Fund: Securities............................................. 114,758 126,019 Temporary cash investments............................. 12,333 12,975 Bond Fund: Securities............................................. 136,945 113,524 Temporary cash investments............................. 4,954 1,786 T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth: Securities............................................. 209,152 98,869 DFA U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio II: Securities............................................. 83,136 74,162 DFA International Value II Fund: Securities............................................. 44,852 45,283 Personal Choice Retirement Account: Securities............................................. 51,004 25,360 Mutual funds........................................... 29,181 8,592 Common trusts.......................................... 2,508 291 Temporary cash investments............................. 16,360 9,351 DFA U.S. Large Cap Value II Fund: Securities............................................. 37,284 37,252 Participant Loans: Loans to participants................................... 108,781 106,282 Contribution Account+: BellSouth Common Shares................................. 5,086 -- Temporary cash investments.............................. 1,346 42 Distribution Account+: Temporary cash investments.............................. 17,958 47 Expense Account+: Temporary cash investments.............................. 2,540 3,290 (Continued) 19 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 7. Interest in BellSouth Master Savings Trust--(continued) 2000 1999 ---- ---- Dividends and interest income receivable........... 9,029 7,787 Receivable for investments sold.................... 474 13,074 Other receivables.................................. 76 469 ---------- ----------- 6,923,754 7,821,740 Liabilities: Payable for investments purchased.................. 36,300 23,378 Variation margin payable........................... 42 224 Other payables..................................... 392 -- ---------- ----------- Trust net assets (excluding ESOP Trusts)........... 6,887,020 7,798,138 Investment in ESOP Trusts: Shares of BellSouth Common Stock allocated to participants...................................... 2,034,525 2,350,638 Distributable shares............................... 5 1 Shares of BellSouth Common Stock held for future allocation#....................................... 661,301 949,327 Temporary cash investments......................... 21,672 25,505 ---------- ----------- Total investments.................................. 9,604,523 11,123,609 Liabilities: Notes payable...................................... 306,959 391,429 ---------- ----------- Trust net assets................................... $9,297,564 $10,732,180 ========== =========== Investments at cost................................ $7,371,056 $ 7,276,780 ========== =========== -------- # Represents an individual investment which is 5% or more of the Net Assets of the Master Savings Trust. + These accounts are combined and presented as the "Other" fund in the accompanying financial statements. 20 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 7. Interest in BellSouth Master Savings Trust--(continued) Distributions from the BellSouth Stock Fund and the BellSouth Management Savings and ESOP Trust and the BellSouth Savings and Security ESOP Trust (the ESOP Trusts) that are payable in shares of BellSouth Common Stock are separated from the "Shares of BellSouth Common Stock" and "Shares of BellSouth Common Stock allocated to participants" lines and reflected as "Distributable Shares." Assets in the BellSouth Stock Fund, Bond Fund, Indexed Stock Fund, mutual funds and some of the assets in the Balanced Fund and the PCRA Fund are invested in securities which fluctuate in market value, therefore the values of the fund units fluctuate daily. Assets in the Interest Income Fund are invested in the following types of financial vehicles: . General Account Investment Contracts--These contracts are also referred to as traditional investment contracts. An investment contract is termed "general account" when the assets committed to the contract are commingled with other general assets of the contract issuer. The contract issuer promises to return the invested principal plus a stated rate of interest upon maturity. The quality of the promise is a function of the financial condition of the contract issuer. . Security Backed Investments--These are generic terms which refer to investment contracts other than "traditional" general account investment contracts as defined above. These investments consist of a combination of marketable securities, owned directly by the Plan or as units of a separate account or trust owned by the Plan, and an investment contract that provides liquidity for eligible employee benefits at book value. Market value securities are investments in fixed income securities owned by the Plan without a corresponding investment contract. Liquidation of these securities to pay eligible benefit events is at market value. -- Group Trust Investment Contracts--Group Trust refers to the INVESCO Group Trust for Retirement Benefit Plans. The INVESCO Group Trust contains a series of commingled investment funds, available only to INVESCO clients, constructed to provide a stable value portfolio with the beneficial elements of various fixed income management strategies. The Plan's investment in any one of the various INVESCO Group Trust Funds is unitized and may be "wrapped" by an independent financial institution through the issuance of an investment contract. -- Separate Account Investment Contracts--An investment contract is termed "separate account" when the assets committed to the contract are segregated from the general assets of the contract issuer through the use of a specifically identifiable separate account. The separate account may be comprised of investments from one Plan or Trust, or comprised of investments from multiple qualified retirement Plans and Trusts. Though ownership of the assets held in a separate account is retained by the contract issuer, the assets are protected from liabilities arising from the contract issuers' general operations. The investment performance of a separate account investment contract may be a function of the investment performance of the investments held in the separate account. -- Synthetic Investment Contract--The term "synthetic" investment contract is used to describe a variety of investment contracts under which a Plan retains ownership of the invested assets, or owns units of an account or trust which holds the invested assets. To ensure these invested assets may be accounted for at book value, a "synthetic" investment contract, also referred to as a "wrap" contract, is negotiated with an independent financial institution. Under the terms of these 21 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 7. Interest in BellSouth Master Savings Trust--(continued) investment contracts, the contract issuer ensures the Plan's ability to pay eligible employee benefits at book value. The investment performance of a synthetic investment contract may be a function of the investment performance of the invested assets. The value of the Interest Income Fund reflected in these financial statements is based upon the principal invested and the interest credited. The fair value of the Interest Income Fund, by investment type, at December 31, 2000 and 1999 was as follows: December 31, December 31, 2000 1999 ------------ ------------ General account investment contracts............... $ 74,600 $ 93,672 Security backed investments: Underlying assets................................. 1,171,635 1,093,149 Wrapper contracts................................. (26,251) 2,984 ---------- ---------- Total contracts.................................. $1,219,984 $1,189,805 ========== ========== The contracts held by the Master Savings Trust in the Interest Income Fund are considered fully benefit-responsive in accordance with AICPA Statement of Position 94-4. The crediting interest rate was 6.60% at December 31, 2000 and 6.23% at December 31, 1999. The average yield was 6.51% in 2000 and 6.12% in 1999. Interest rates are reset on a semi-annual, quarterly or monthly basis to move the current book value of these investments toward the projected future market value over the life of the contract. During 1990, the ESOP Trusts issued medium-term notes in the aggregate amount of $850 million to fund the purchase of BellSouth Common Stock to be utilized at later dates to fulfill match obligations. Shares purchased with such funds are released for allocation to participant accounts based on a prescribed schedule coinciding with payments on the ESOP notes. Assets held in the Master Savings Trust are generally unavailable to service the ESOP debt; however, the notes are guaranteed by and are subject to direct recourse against BellSouth. BellSouth contributes to the ESOP Trusts an amount necessary, net of ESOP dividends and interest, to service the ESOP notes. Such contributions are classified as Supplemental Contributions in the accompanying Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information. These contributions are subject to the claims of holders of debt securities issued by the ESOP Trusts but are held at BellSouth and paid to the ESOP Trusts twice yearly to fund, on a same day basis, required payments by the ESOP Trusts on the notes. Such contributions would not remain in the ESOP Trusts unless there was a default on the debt securities by the ESOP Trustee after having received the required contributions from BellSouth. Therefore, holders of the debt securities should not rely on the assets of the ESOP Trusts in arriving at an investment decision with respect to the debt securities. In addition to Supplemental Contributions, BellSouth contributes amounts necessary to purchase any additional shares required to meet the match obligations after shares released by the ESOP Trusts have been used. Such contributions are classified as Employing Company Contributions in the accompanying Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information. In lieu of receiving cash dividends earned on shares of BellSouth Common Stock which have been allocated to participants from the ESOP Trusts, participant accounts are credited with equivalent shares of BellSouth Common Stock. Dividends on the related ESOP shares are transferred to the Unallocated ESOP Fund and are applied towards the service of the ESOP notes. The transfer of these earnings is classified as Transfer for Loan Repayment in the accompanying Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, With Fund Information. 22 BELLSOUTH RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued) (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per-Participant Amounts) 7. Interest in BellSouth Master Savings Trust--(continued) BellSouth made supplemental cash contributions to the ESOP Trusts in the amount of $75,497 in 2000, $73,389 in 1999 and $71,857 in 1998 for the purpose of servicing the guaranteed debt. A description of each debt issue is as follows: BellSouth Management Savings and ESOP Trust: Title Amount Interest Rate Due Date ----- -------- ------------- ------------ Amortizing Medium-Term Notes, Series A...... $275,000 9.125% July 1, 2003 Amortizing Medium-Term Notes, Series A...... $275,000 9.19% July 1, 2003 -------- Total..................................... $550,000 ======== BellSouth Savings and Security ESOP Trust: Title Amount Interest Rate Due Date ----- -------- ------------- ------------ Amortizing Medium-Term Notes, Series A...... $300,000 9.125% July 1, 2003 Maturities of the ESOP Trusts' long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2000 were as follows: 2001 2002 2003 Total ------- -------- -------- -------- Maturities................................... $94,128 $104,648 $108,183 $306,959 ======= ======== ======== ======== Investment activities of the Master Savings Trust are allocated to the Plan based upon the total of each individual Plan participant's share of the Master Savings Trust investment activities during the period ended December 31, 2000. The Master Savings Trust investment activities for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 were as follows: For the Year Ended December 31, ----------------------------------- 2000 1999 1998 ---------- ----------- ---------- Investment Activities: Dividends on shares of BellSouth Common Stock................................... $ 112,515 $ 119,742 $ 110,822 Interest Income Fund income.............. 70,326 71,112 78,395 Other interest........................... 37,067 66,375 46,717 Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments.......................... (1,575,258) (1,264,789) 2,617,133 Net realized gain on investments......... 589,455 1,084,574 1,161,504 Investment manager fees.................. (1,437) (1,880) (1,198) Other fees............................... (3,325) (2,999) (3,262) ---------- ----------- ---------- Net investment activities................. $ (770,657) $ 72,135 $4,010,111 ========== =========== ========== 23 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan has duly caused this annual report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan By: BellSouth Corporation, as Plan Administrator /s/ Clinton A. Demetriou By: _________________________________ Clinton A. Demetriou (Executive Director) Date: June 27, 2001 24