SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 10, 2001 BELLSOUTH CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Georgia 1-8607 58-1533433 (State or other (Commission (IRS Employer jurisdiction of File Number) Identification incorporation) No.) Room 15G03, 1155 Peachtree Street, N. E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3610 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (404) 249-2000 Item 5. Other Matters BellSouth Corporation stated today that it is taking a charge to earnings of five cents per share in the second quarter for prior claims from competitive local exchange carriers regarding reciprocal compensation for ISP traffic. The charge will be normalized as a special item in the second quarter. With respect to BellSouth's previously announced foreign exchange losses of five to six cents per share, those losses will be included in continuing earnings and will not be normalized. See Exhibit 99 for a copy of the related press release. Safe Harbor In addition to historical information, this document contains forward-looking statements regarding events and financial trends 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 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: - a change in economic conditions in domestic or international markets where we operate or have material investments which would affect demand for our services; - significant deterioration in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar in foreign countries in which we operate; - changes in U.S. or foreign 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; - a decrease in the growth rate of demand for the services which we offer; - the intensity of competitive activity and its resulting impact on pricing strategies and new product offerings; - protracted delay in our entry into the interLATA long distance market; - higher than anticipated start-up costs or significant up-front investments associated with new business initiatives; - unanticipated higher capital spending from, or delays in, the deployment of new technologies; and - the impact of the wireless joint venture with SBC Communications, known as Cingular Wireless, including marketing and product development efforts and financial capacity. (c) Exhibits Exhibit No. 99 July 10, 2001 Press Release 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/ W. Patrick Shannon W. Patrick Shannon Vice President - Finance and Supply Chain Management July 10, 2001